Customer Rant

[LVSteve]

Well IMNSHO the phone number is none of their dammed business be it cash or CC. If the CC is approved they do not need anything more!

As far as a zip code many times that info is used so that the store can see where their customers come from. That determines the advertising. Its more cost effective to advertise in areas that do the most business.

I will never give out my phone to a store, the zip codes give them one from a adjoining area, they will never know!

I also give out the wrong zip, and if they really need a number, they can speak with the AWOS at McCarran Airport.

 

[djohns6]

Before my wife retired , anytime somebody got pissed off and asked for the Manager , she usually got tasked with putting out the fire . The actual store Manager would run and hide and she usually knew more than he did about resolving the issue anyway . Some of the stories she would come home with .. No freaking way would I have been able to keep my cool with some of those idiots .
On the other hand , she did have people that would come in and ask for her by name if they had an issue because she was good at fixing problems . John Schneider ( Dukes Of Hazard ) was one of those . He had some property that he was renovating and came in often and bought a LOT of stuff .

 

[Capt Steve]

Retail tails...

I was working part time at Boat US in San Diego on a busy Saturday and was on the register with several people backed up in line. Had a guy who was being a serious jerk trying to use a very old, stale dated coupon for 10% off on a less than $20 purchase.

I explained several times the computerized cash register would not permit me to lower the price after scanning his out of date coupon. Once he started to swear we were done and I took his purchase off of the counter and pointed him towards the door. As he stomped off in a serious huff/snit/tizzy I called out to him;

"Say hi to Beavis for me". A couple of folks line and one of my coworkers got it but not this guy.


On another busy Saturday a customer slid a 10% off coupon onto the counter and I scanned it without looking up and said:

"It's not much but better than a sharp stick in the eye."

When I looked up there stood a lovely lady about 40 with the biggest God awful bandage you ever saw completely covering her right eye.

The silence was deafening until she smiled and said "you're right but that's not what happened."

Had there been a large rock available I would have crawled under it...
Everyone should have to work retail for a few months at least once in their lives.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I walked into a Guitar Center to buy a set of strings. The price was right, so I picked up 2 sets and laid my cash on the counter. The clerk asked for my phone number and zip code - thinking he was new and wasn't clear I was paying cash, I told him I was paying cash. He told me he still needed the info; I said, "No." An older counter guy with a different colored nameplate had been listening and told me the clerk had to have the info to complete the sale. I left the strings on the counter and haven't been in a Guitar Center since.

Our local "Time and Temperature" number is 221-8211 and the old Spegal catalog zip code is Chicago 60609 (just ask Carol Barrel!) I never tried Sample's Auto sales phone number: BR459

That is marketing demographics, and I don't care if they build another store in downtown Chicago!

Ivan

 

[Tom S.]

How much for pencils

Cash or charge card?

 

[Yaworski]

I hate "the customer is always right." I'm not even sure what it is supposed to mean because most of the time my customers are so wrong that it isn't funny. Most of the time the customer has no clue and is an idiot.

Today, I had a customer call and ask for a price on a particular refrigerator. I gave him our price and he says, "XYZ" has it for $800 less. I'd never heard of XYZ, turns out they are 30 miles away. I called XYZ and am told that their price is $200 less than our price. Lying sack of manure.

I love the people who come in and say stuff like "My brother-in-law says that ABC makes a washer that does ....." No, they don't. They did fifteen years ago.

Or the people who say, "I say this at Home Depot for less. .. " No, you didn't, Home depot doesn't sell that.

 

[DUSTYDOGDAN]

Sounds like one of the Californians moved to Northeast Ohio instead of Idaho...LOL

 

[johngalt]

I will confess that I am not always a good customer, at least for today's business model. I believe my personal information is mine. So when I balk at requests for phone numbers, mother's first pet and DNA, the sales person gets huffy and says something like, "Well, I need this to complete the sale", it's game on.

My usual response these days is a very deadpan, "Are you going to continue holding up the line, or are you going to sell me this item?"

Ah, the days of trying to buy batteries at Radio Shack!

 

[Yaworski]

So when I balk at requests for phone numbers, mother's first pet and DNA, the sales person gets huffy and says something like, "Well, I need this to complete the sale", it's game on.

I had a customer refuse to give me his phone number or address until I asked, "How are we going to deliver it if we don't know where to go?"

 

[Autonomous]

The counter person asking for information is just doing as told. I respectively decline, maybe tell them it's a secret or, sorry, I can't, I'm on a mission, etc.
You can decline and still keep it light

 

[nicky4968]

My youngest son worked at a very busy 7-11 for many years. They sold a lot of fuel.
One fine day, a woman stormed in with a complaint. She was very angry.
Apparently, the prices of gasoline and diesel were the same. She "knew" the diesel should be higher and wanted him to change the prices.
Despite being told that corporate set the prices, she furiously demanded that she speak with the manager.
Leaving the register, my son walked back to the office, removed his red shirt, retrieved his black shirt, put on his name tag, and returned to the register.
"Yes, madam," he asked, "how may I help you?"
The reaction was incredible.

 

[coltle6920]

As a customer I like messing with cashiers that I haven't seen before. It's always just to see what reaction I'll get from them.

Walk up with two cases of beer and say "Aren't these buy one and get one free?". Without missing a beat I'm told "That sale ended yesterday". I said "That's the story of my life always a day late."

Another time my grocery bill came to $85.73. I said it was too much. She said "Let me see what I can do about that" and punched a few buttons. "Your new price is $85.73" she said. I said "That's better" and handed her the money.

Both employees knew I was joking around and we all had a laugh as well as the person behind me who was listening in.

As far as giving out personal info to a cashier I just tell them I'm already married or they're not my type.

 

[pittpa]

My youngest son worked at a very busy 7-11 for many years. They sold a lot of fuel.
One fine day, a woman stormed in with a complaint. She was very angry.
Apparently, the prices of gasoline and diesel were the same. She "knew" the diesel should be higher and wanted him to change the prices.
Despite being told that corporate set the prices, she furiously demanded that she speak with the manager.
Leaving the register, my son walked back to the office, removed his red shirt, retrieved his black shirt, put on his name tag, and returned to the register.
"Yes, madam," he asked, "how may I help you?"
The reaction was incredible.

I don't know you, but I will bet he takes after you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[StrawHat]

One of the things we ask for is a phone number so we can contact the customer when the items are ready to be picked up. One guy refused and said, I will be back later to pick them up. I replied, with no phone number, best bet would be to come back tomorrow. He came back 4 or 5 times. Each time I was still doing intakes for other customers. Each time I replied to not come back until tomorrow or supply a way to contact him. Everyone gets to make a choice. Some make stupid choices.

Kevin

 

[tops]

I do that or tell them I'll give them my number but if a woman answers just hang up and call back later. Larry

 

[SAFireman]

Oh the stores that want a phone number.........


I was asked for a phone number. I replied "911".....

I was in full uniform with metal badge and handheld radio (running non-stop fire-EMS calls).

The cashier looked up and and quickly realized that I was there buying stuff for the firehouse.....no further questions.....

 

[mmb617]

I know I'd have never made it in retail sales. Many times I read posts from people complaining about poor customer service and realize it's not the vendor who is at fault, it's the "customer" with unrealistic expectations.

Or I'll read an online one star review of a product that the reviewer complains because it doesn't work with this or that, and right in the product description it plainly states that it doesn't work with this or that. They've simply bought the wrong product for the job and now it's the fault of the vendor?

 

[mtgianni]

As an apprentice plumber I often worked the store side when we were in between calls or restocking. One person had to talk to the boss who was doing his monthly financials. I got him to answer the phone and heard "Yes, we carry faucet washers". The shop dog could have told him that.

 

[Tom K]

It is akin to "There are no stupid questions . . ."



There are without a doubt stupid questions . . .

There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.

 

[Dougaz]

This happened just this week

I sell commercial construction materials and received a PO from a GC that I don't know. The material ordered is a special, non standard item that requires 3 weeks to manufacture and ship from NY, NY. So we have the manufacturing time , plus shipping time from NY ...... Another 5 days depending on weather.

I contacted the customer to keep him in the loop and was cussed out about the bad "service".

My response was that I was going to cancel the order altogether so to allow him the chance and opportunity to go to another supplier that might do a better job.

His answer was "don't cancel the order, I'm too deep into this job to change now"

People are odd

 

[StrawHat]

…I contacted the customer to keep him in the loop and was cussed out…

That is one thing I do not accept, either in person or on the phone. As soon as the cussing starts, they are done. If on the phone, I hang up. If in person, I gather their things, bundle them as they were handed to me and return them with a polite "change your attitude and language or go elsewhere".

Funny thing, most of them shut up, immediately. The few that storm off may or may not return, frankly, I don't care.

And I understand that a satisfied customer tells 5 or 6 friends and an unsatisfied customer tells everybody! But if they post on social media, I remind them of the language they used and how, in polite society, that is not tolerated. Surprisingly few get any support after that.

Kevin

 

[johngalt]

My sister once took over managing a local parade for a holiday, I think it was independence day. Another parent started complaining about something. She handed over a clipboard and said 'Thanks for volunteering'. I guess the expression was pretty funny.

 

[swsig]

In the past I, too, have used 867-5309 and 777-9311.

One time a Morris Day fan caught me. He just chuckled.

Phone number 567-7203 works for me.

Name: Hawkshaw Hawkins

I wonder if anyone would catch on if I used 634-5789. They'd have to be Wilson Pickett fans or seen "Blues Brothers 2000."

I'm so old, I don't recognize any of these numbers. However, I once tried to give my phone number as "Pennsylvania Six Five Oh Oh Oh". All I got in return was a blank stare, so I left the string of pearls I was buying on the counter and departed.

 

[Beemerguy53]

My Number 1 son is a service writer at a medium sized auto dealership. He's always been in sales, he loves and understands cars, and he's a people person, so it's the perfect job for him. He makes a good living and likes what he does.

When they get one of those customers who is just plain unreasonable, who will not be satisfied, or who crosses the line into vulgarity or threats, my son's boss (the service manager) simply tells them they are no longer welcome in the dealership, and they'll have to take their business elsewhere. It's a given that such folks are going to trash the dealership in an online review anyway, so why put up with their nonsense in the future?

 

[kaaskop49]

Ah, the days of trying to buy batteries at Radio Shack!

"Trying" is the right word! You almost never could buy ANYTHING at Radio Shack. There would usually be a teenager chit-chatting with the clerk about a 10-cent item or some other folderol and not spending any money.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. HELP! Rusty et al, what are those phone numbers? I did recognize Wilson Pickett. Nobody mentioned the Marvelettes Beechwood 45789. Gotcha!

 

[16thVACav]

HELP! Rusty et al, what are those phone numbers?

867-5309:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boaJCrHNRMA[/ame]

 

[Golddollar]

Phone number 567-7203 works for me.

LO7-7203

Name: Hawkshaw Hawkins

I didn't recognize the number at first, but when I saw the name Hawkshaw Hawkins then I remembered he recorded "LOnesome 7-7203. He was killed in the plane crash along with Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. I remember the days when phone numbers started with the first two letters of a word.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Morris Day and the Time.

I got to see them when they opened for Prince.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OGICyxp8lSM[/ame]

 

[meaneyedcatz]

People try to get their way by bullying instead of being cordial.
If a person wants to pay cash with me and and asks for a discount, it all depends on their attitude, IE, a senior comes in and is polite and cordial I often extend a small discount. If anyone expects or demands a discount I I just say no. Conversation done, I don't elaborate.

I was writing an estimate for some dudes wrecked Silverado. He wanted me to save his deductible so I said we never do that. He then states I should write it high so he makes some money off it. Told him no, I write what I see. Well you won't get the job otherwise he said. I told him I don't want the job and turned and walked inside. His tire marks were on our blacktop for awhile.

 

[Autonomous]

IMO, anyone that gives guff to a counter or phone person at a legitimate business, even if they stupidly think it is a joke, needs to reconsider their actions. A fun, lighthearted joke is not what I am talking about here.
I am the most respectful person you have ever met. But, to expand on my post #30, I have thoroughly enjoyed putting the fear into ugly customers.
Talk is cheap, let's have a person-to-person discussion.