Why do the general public who go into retail tend to disrespect employees?

[Anonymous]

where I typically work, customers seem to be rude often and not appreciative of what we do for them. that being said.. today I had a lady asking for tape, when I showed her where it was she then turns around saying she couldn't trust me cause she was looking for glue. I wonder if she was bipolar...

also at our job, we have months of computer training and have to sign or try to get credit card applications. I can be working till 11pm at night and be assigned to come in at 9 am the next morning and some customers don't understand the sacrifices we make to be there to help them! they never apologize for being rude and seem to never say thank you. What have you done lately to appreciate a retail associate (a human being, stranger, person with feelings) in your life so far? What makes them any different from you? they are people too, I do not understand why rude people are allowed to act like this, it's as if their parents never taught them manners or class. So what's your take? what have you done lately to be kind to a helpful employee?

Updates

+1 y

I'm in general sick of the rude answers on here. obviously some of you, your parents were rude and lacked the time and courtesy to teach you manners

[VoiceOfReason]

Anytime you work in an environment where you're exposed to the public, you're going to encounter the many personalities that embodies the public for that geographical area. Its unfortunate, as well as an unfortunate truth.

I know how you feel when someone comes in with a sense of privilege, self entitlement, or even a basic belief that they for one reason or another, are better than you. Its never good or healthy. All you can do is put your best foot forward and try to defuse their behavior and get through that interaction. You aren't going to please everyone, no matter how hard you try, but you can carry a sense of self pride and self worth knowing you did your best and that actually makes you a better person than your rude customer.

On the flip side, I am pretty down to earth guy and there have actually been times when people in retail have been rude toward me. The good thing about my situation is that I can always leave and patronize another business which is what I will do. Unfortunately, unless you resign, you don't have that option.

Basically being rude isn't a customer thing, nor is it a employee trait. Its something that is individual and it can manifest from either side of the bargaining table. The best way to try and overcome it is to learn to recognize certain behaviors and employ a personality tactic that can best counter it in a polite way. While it may not always work, it sometimes does and at the very least it will help minimize the amount of negative encounters you have to endure.

[Asker]

i am seeing some individuals on here already who are rude, people are people, they have feelings, they probably don't even want to do their job...and if they do or try hard...it's unappreicated and acceptable by some to be depreciating...i wonder about this society .

[Anonymous]

having been a server at a place that decided to go from upper middle class patrons to then competing with golden corral bottom dollar bs I have seen some stupid people.

"this coupon is expired, can I still use it?"

"no that is not the price... [brings menu to show prices] ...no that is not the price that I saw earlier [tell mgr & get a wtf look, tell him to see this] ...sir this is not the price..."

"[after just ordering $50 of food] ...awe mane I can't afford a tip... you know them gas prices is so high right now" ~way to not break stereotypes~

But I also don't go out of my way to do anything extra special just because you deal with the general public. I am polite and treat you like any other person until you give me a reason not to...

[Asker]

yeah I'm starting to think I shouldn't do any thing extra special. I mean, I never get a good word or anything even spending an hour with one customer...it sucks. or they act bipolar and want one thing and then say 'i don't trust u' or something odd. its funny if I run into them at church and I had that experience, of course I have a different impression of them now. they were ungrateful, hypocritical and think they're 'good' people, but really rude to any one just means they're rude

[beautifulsoul]

I work at a movie theater, girl. You can imagine the amount of hate I get because of the high ass prices for the food (I work in concession). One lady the other day said to me "you're just trying to jack my money! I ain't buying that! " and she threw the popcorn at my face... x_x. Sighh. Some people have no respect.

The starbucks near my house has the nicest baristas ever. One of them actually gave me my drink for free the other day and even though I insisted I'd pay, he wanted to just be generous. So I went and bought a box of chocolates for everyone working there because they are all sweethearts :) I think it's important to be nice to one another. Even if they are employees, they are still human beings.

[dollme777]

give them the best customer service as possible. But maybe you should look into a job with your degree, or look into warehouse work they pay between 12 and 16 dollars an hr and you could just be packing boxes. And the hours are always good and you don't have to worry about customers and you only will have to work one job. I graduated hs and did some college but I work at a warehouse place that make plastic packs for fast food restaurants and all I do is stand there and pack the boxes for 13 an hr and I get 40 hours a week and during busy season more. LOOK INTO IT YOU MAY LIKE IT

[aMuse]

People are there to look for and buy what they want, they don't want someone to tell them about the latest sale, up sell them on items, try to sign them up for credit cards, follow them around and watch them, etc. If they have a question they will ask, they are just there to get what they want. As a sales person, it's your job to convenes them to get crap they don't want and manipulate them and overcome their objections. People don't like that.

[aMuse]

*convince

[Asker]

not all sales people are like that and unfortunately you sound like the typical assumptuous person. just like at your job selling crap probably, at leat I will talk to you with some respect cause that's how momma and poppa taught me but in this case...it doesn't give you the right to be an a**hole to a retail associate , do you get it?

[aMuse]

I'm a computer programmer transitioning towards a scientist... I don't do sales, but I understand the business and have done it before. It's not something I enjoy doing. That aside, you sound like the a**hole.

[aMuse]

and you're the one making huge assumptions...

[aMuse]

@update: Obviously they taught you to bitch, moan, and accused while never putting up a fight against you.

[beastman88]

ill admit I've been very rude to some employees at a restaurant only because they were very rude to me first. I've worked a lot of places an get treated like dirt on a daily basis. just try not to let it get you down. remember all the times where people have been nice to you. not everybodys a miserable twat.

[beastman88]

@ your update, you seem depressed and only able to focus on negative things

[Anonymous]

I don't respect employees. They are also human like me, and I treat them well. I say "Thank you" and "Please" whenever necessary.

[Asker]

just like I dont' respect your kindeither. employees are people. not animals like you sir

[Anonymous]

Not in my experience.