What is it about complaining?
You approach the counter
Already rehearsing your clever, witty rejoinder.
Then, confronted by the hapless helper
With a smile and a ‘can I help you?’
All leant during role play
On the training away day
Where they forgot to hand out contacts
That hide the fear in his eyes,
You explain your dilemma.
Soberly, clearly, beginning to give some lee way.
This could be your son.
But
He slips and lets go a ‘who told you that, sir?’
And ‘it’s not company policy, sir’
And off I go
Skywards
Fuelled by
Justified indignation
And a righteous grievance.
Pontificating,
Gesticulating
Oscillating
Humiliating
Me.
It gets me nowhere
All humanity gone and
We’re back to role play.
Bugger it.
The smug pacifying but immovable shop assistant in polyester and gel
Versus
The grumpy old man in anorak and incoherence.
Having worked the other side of the counter in customer service I live this 💜
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I understand who the poor soul has to put up with a lot of nonsense, but that doesn’t make it any easier when you know you’re being treated as a halfwit
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I agree Geoff, I hope I never did that! At Waitrose (namedropping) we had it drummed into us the customer is always right, even when they are wrong! I always found a smile a refund and a replacement usually worked well if that failed a double refund worked. Our motto on customer service was ” we will lie on the floor feel free to walk all over us” I do know that that’s not always the case as I have found out personally ! Did you resolve the issue, you could always escalate the problem by email or letter, store manager, the area manager right up to CEO! Good luck 🍀
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After 15 years in retail, I seldom complain anymore. I know how they feel. MInd you, I will return something that doesn’t work. After all, it is my hard-earned money. There usually isn’t a problem.
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It is all about attitude on both sides. I sympathise but that doesn’t stop me want to scream…
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Most places I worked at had a liberal return policy but one guy wanted to return a cookbook which we didn’t accept and he got mad and threatened to hit me with a battle axe. It was scary. (In case you are wondering, yes we sold cookbooks and battle axes)
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Excellent, Geoff. Thoroughly entertaining.
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Good to know
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Some store policies really don’t make much sense and can be infuriating. On the other hand, I was in a large department store once when the lady in front of me tried to tell the clerk that she had so many coupons they should be paying her to shop. What’s “in anorak”?
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A type of winter coat worn by geeky young men and grumbly oldsters
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I have to keep reminding myself that they aren’t paid enough to have to listen to me. Sometimes it work.
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I know. My dentist complains about my teeth grinding though it keeps him in business
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Turns out that dentists are being flooded with ground down teeth during the pandemic. The podiatrists are noting a big increase in broken toes. Apparently every one working at home is barefoot and tripping over stuff!
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Superb old git
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One of my favorites. Deftly described……a universal experience. Delicious treat today.
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So glad you enjoyed…
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Grumpy old men need to be heard! 🙂
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Quite.
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