Why do people think it’s okay for retail and service workers to treat people poorly?

[Anonymous]

I get if if someone’s rude to a retail/service worker and they give it right back. All power to you! But people think it’s okay for people who are supposed to be professional to take their bad day out on customers.

People say “you don’t work in retail/service so you don’t know what it’s like”. Guess what? Y’all may not know this but us middle aged Karen’s and Daren’s at one point worked in retail and/or service. We had to be polite and respectful even when the customers were jerks.

I do treat everyone with respect and I get how stressful it can be. Unless you wanna be rude to me. I don’t deserve to be treated like shit because you had a bad day. The same as you don’t deserve customers beinf assholes because they had a bad day.

But I get it. Everyone’s on social media now and needs to be a victim. I’m sorry working at Starbucks or Walmart sucks. But you shouldn’t take it out on people who haven’t done anything to you

[Anonymous]

Bro when I worked at McDonald's I hated those kind of coworkers more than the rude customers. They start shit with the customer and 9 times out of 10, when the customer gets mad, they run into the back and hide and I would have to talk the customer down and give them free shit.

[Asker]

You’re right!!! And they make customers who aren’t rude into rude ones. Because people tend to get angry when treated poorly. So it only makes the problem worse

[avery58]

@asker it doesn't give anyone the right to be rude to other people, in either case.

[Opinion Owner]

Facts 💯 that job was just easy pocket money for me so I didn't care that much about the job. If they want to go to war with the customer regardless if they did or didn't start it, at least have the same enegery when the customer gets mad. Don't make it my problem because I'm just trying to get these people in and out so I can clock out and go home

[Opinion Owner]

@avery58 when did I justify anyone's bad behavior?

[avery58]

It was about the asked saying that it makes normal customers into rude customers since no one likes to be treated poorly, not about the original opinion. All I'm saying is no one should be rude to anyone who didn't do anything to them based on past experiences cause that's the same excuse that rude retail workers make

[avery58]

Asker*

[Opinion Owner]

@avery58 my bad.

but at the same time, the customers aren't the ones being paid to be nice. Whenever a customer was really testing my patience, I would just remind myself that if I'm rude back the manager is just going to kiss their ass and give them free shit.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Sometimes I don’t blame them. This country has really let the working class down.

[Asker]

Like Biden or whoever’s behind the scenes

[Telekinetic-Potato]

This man is anon but he's obviously a genius.

[avery58]

I don't really see many people justifying retail workers randomly being rude to customers who didn't do anything, but I did know a lady who was like that at my first job. We all tried to tell her that she shouldn't be rude to customers who weren't bothering her, and it was embarrassing when she was.

But if someone is being rude to you, you definitely don't have to keep excellent customer service with them. Just walk away and ignore them. The truth is lots of people do use retail workers as punching bags for having a shitty day (or just feel entitled), more often than the other way around. But it's not an excuse to see and treat all customers are the same way. If you felt they really treated you unfairly let their supervisor know so they can talk to them.

[Asker]

I’ve seen it. People complain about bad service and a bunch of mostly younger people. Sit there and defend them being rude.

[avery58]

How am I defending them? I told you to tell their supervisor

[Asker]

I never said you did. You said you don’t see it but I was telling you where I see it

[Asker]

Also I have gotten someone’s supervisor. I mean if someone has resting bitch face/resting dick face. If someone seems stressed. But overall they’re helpful and friendly. I don’t push it.

But if someone has a bad attitude

[Anonymous]

yeah as a retail work im always respectful to customers even when im having a shitty day myself. When they’re rude to me i’ll be rude right back, but if they’re being respectful I’ll be respectful too. I think part of it is maybe the stress of dealing with the customers that actually are assholes, but tbh that’s still not an excuse.

[Asker]

I agree. If someone’s being a ass to a worker especially if it’s uncalled for and completely out of their control… Then okay I won’t care if they snap back.

[Asker]

But. If someone’s going to be rude to me that isn’t deserved. Fuck em

[Opinion Owner]

Agreed! Just because someone has a shitty day doesn't mean they should take it out on other people.

[Dongie]

Ask to speak with the manager. It's time we take the privilege of fast food back. We are not a punching bag for them to take their frustrations of life out on.

[Asker]

I agree and I get that plenty of customers do this to them. But at the same time…. If I’ve been respectful I don’t deserve it. They just tend to piss more people off and it makes it worse.

I’ve asked to speak to a manger before when someone is unreasonably rude. I don’t do it often. But if someone’s a dick/bitch. Absolutely

[Asker]

And I know millennials and zoomers all want to play the victim. Like I said…. They may not realize but us middle aged Xoomers and Boomers many times started out working retail and fast food…. We been there done that. So then saying we don’t know what it’s like is not true

[Dongie]

Right, but we still went along with the saying. The customer's always right.

[paledreams]

True true man - I wish I had answers other than, it's differences

[DrPepper12]

Cuz their mean, shallow and petty. When you see these people intervine and theyl STFU