So I have several pet peeves that I run into at work a lot. Number one, when I ask a customer how they are, instead of actually letting me know how they are, they say, "grande coffee", or, "venti pumpkin spice latte." or something else like that. And so I ask again how they are, they say, "oh, no, that's all." so I tell them their total and they pay, and I try for the third time to ask, and they are say, "what?" and I repeat it, and they say, "what?" I say it the 3rd time, and then they get it, and tell me fine or good or something. But the funny thing is, when I ask them if they want room for cream, they hear perfectly fine. Why is that? Why is it so hard for people to hear a simple, "how are you?"? I've come to the conclusion, that when it comes to customer service jobs, customers are just there for themselves, and don't realize we actually care. And I know that usually at places like fast food joints or other places like target or ross, they don't ask you how you are. They just ask what they can get for us. So i think people are so used to that mentality that they don't realize that there actually people out there who do care about how they are doing, even if it's rare.
Another thing is, people don't trust us to do our job right. They are always repeatedly asking us the same questions about their drinks. When they order, they see us writing down the order, so the bar person can get it right, (cause we can't read minds yet. Shocker!) and so they order something like, "grande nonfat decaf pumpkin spice latte." and then they go down to the pick up place to get it, and decide to question you there. first if there is another drink before theirs like an iced latte they'll say, I wanted that hot! and we have to tell them it's not there's. and they'll say, 'well just make sure it's hot.' (i want to say well it is a hot cup, but I'm going to make it cold") and so i make their drink and give it to them, and they say, "is that decaf?" and i tell them of course it is, but really i want to tell them, "no it's not decaf, I made it full caff just so you'll become more crazy, and i don't really know how to do my job, even though I'm the MANAGER, so would you like to come back here and make it yourself?" but that's not really nice to say, so I just hold it inside and act all sweet to them.
I could go on with more stories, but I'm not going to, because i don't want this to be 10 pages so I'll stop there. But really that's only a few of the customers. I have a lot of nice ones too. And I just have to remember that I'm here for them, and I can't let the bad ones ruin my day, and most importantly I'm at work for God, and I just have to remember that. He's the only one that I'm there for. Nothing else matters. and knowing that and remembering that will impact my day and make it more enjoyable for me and everyone around me. Because I care so much about the people I work with. That's probably why when I don't have to work, I'm usually there too. haha.
Miriam,
ReplyDeleteI'm supposed to be nice and service customers? And here i thought I could do wthat I wanted...haha. And there should really be a training class for customers on how to act in a retail store and how to treat employees that are serving them. Well until that time comes that people do take mistake us for idiots...i guess i continue pretending to be nice, but one of these days I'm going to tell a customer what I really think...until then.
-Ryan
I totally agree on sending customers to training, and we should teach the class. well....maybe not. I probably won't have patience for it and you might kill someone. haha. but it might be good for a customer if we tell them what we really think. Hopefully it would make them realize that they need to respect us. but I think thats being way too optimistic. haha oh well.
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