Comments on: On Retail, Food Service, And Speshul Snowflakes

By: Susan Simko

Susan Simko — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:05:12 +0000

I learned a long time ago that if you’re nice about a problem or mistake, it usually gets fixed faster and you can often make a friend in the process.

I don’t know if I agree with the fact that people aren’t worse now than they were when “we” were young. I work in a university and I have seen the behaviour worsen over the years. The attitude of self-entitlement is outrageous as is the lack of respect for those around them.

Most egregious is the complete dismissal of the maintenance and support staff, to a lot of the student body, these people don’t even exist and they treat them like I imagine serfs were treated in the middle ages. OTOH, I believe firmly in the saying that “there but for the grace of ghod go I”. They’re humans also and should be treated with respect until they prove they are not deserving of it.

I know that I will walk the extra mile to help people if they treat me with kindness and respect. Why shouldn’t I think that other people feel the same way too?

By: Kim Hice

Kim Hice — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:18:54 +0000

I work in the grocery business, and rude and lazy-assed people are there, also. Nothing pisses me off more than having to carry out 1 or 2 sacks for someone who is too lazy to do it themselves. When they say “I guess this is your job”, my reply is “Yes, along with unloading trucks, stocking shelves, and working dairy and frozen. These same lazy-asses are also too lazy to help you put them in the vehicle, so when they say “Just put them in anywhere”, I answer”You bet!” , and I just start tossing them in the car. They can’t complain because they said just put them anywhere. I know it kinda childish, but it makes me feel better!!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:44:55 +0000

You can be the old lady with the cane and I’ll be the old lady with the 12-gauge. I just know the ka-shink sound of pumping the shell into the chamber will be far too satisfying for future-me to resist. And it’s a better defense from both children AND zombies, so there’s that too.

I also wish the rain would come back because the sun is harshing my writing mellow. I was just getting to the darkest most miserable part of my novel (which takes place in the SNOW) when the sun started shining and it’s pretty damn impossible to write personal tragedy when you find yourself dancing along to Hannah Montana in your sunny kitchen. Stupid sun.

Not to mention how it always brings out the flesh parade. I think there must be some kind of scientific formula to explain it – a pasty white skin to self-entitlement ratio, or something. I blame SHORTS. We should start a petition.

PS – I’m the mommy blogger from last month’s writer’s mixer at Cover to Cover. I’ve been uncharacteristically shy about commenting here, but it was nice to meet you!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:00:41 +0000

I have always said that it should be a federal requirement that every person should be required to work a minimum of six months in retail or six months in food & beverage (specifically as an employee that depends on tips as a portion on the wages) Or a full year. And this should be before they reach 21. That *should* be enough to beat some humility and patience into the most of the rude, obnoxious twits. Hopefully.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:08:50 +0000

Can I just say three words? I. Love. You.

Like those who have previously stated, I’ve seen some behavior that really is just… horrid. When I go out and be the little consumer, I do my best to make sure I’ve got my bases covered so I’m not some idiot in the long line of idiots that retail and food service people have to contend with and make sure that I’m polite and easy-going (to a point). But, thank you so much for ranting about this. It’s nice to know that even a consumer feels this way about people who work in retail and food service.

By: gaylin in vancouver, bc

gaylin in vancouver, bc — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:41:06 +0000

I am an office worker, clerk, receptionist, whichever suits that day. I do answer the phone, a lot. Let me tell you, people are no less rude or entitled when they are calling on the phone. It turns out I can’t magically make people appear in the office just because THEY have called. And no, if one of the higher ups is in a meeting, I can’t psychically know exactly when the meeting will be done so I can tell them THEY have called . . .

I have developed an excruciatingly polite, civil phone manner with those folks. They still don’t get what they want and I can’t help them and I enjoy being ever so unhelpful to them.

I do so enjoy helping the friendly, kind people who call, who know what they want, understand if it can’t be provided immediately.

I also like living on the Wet Coast. I own 5 umbrellas but no rain boots. It is extremely sunny today, just seems weird.

By: May

May — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:57:03 +0000

Oh gawd do I get the weather thing.

I live in Manchester, which is northern England. This means it’s cold, wet and gloomy all year round and summer lasts for two weeks IF it’s a good year — and I’m usually home in Singapore during that time.

I get so annoyed with my friends (who are all university students, and therefore chose to move to Manchester) complain that it’s dark and gloomy and than London/somewhere down south is nice and sunny.

By: rosedemon

rosedemon — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:18:22 +0000

As someone who works in food service, I can attest to the fact that some people are just beyond rude.

I tell myself that no matter what happens with this particular table that in the morning I will wake up again. I will be loved, will love and have a wonderful life ahead of me.

For the rude guest at the table, he or she will still be rude the next morning and someday someone bigger and nastier than they are will make their life miserable.

By: K.B. Wagers

K.B. Wagers — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:41:03 +0000

“Working retail and food service is NOT for the weak. And it’ll teach you more about human nature than just about anything.”

Boy that is the truth. *sighs* Never have I hated the human race as much as when I worked retail.

Course it helped we had an awesome boss who put up a sign that said “if you are rude, nasty, or just plain mean there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.” and we got to point to it when customers were rude.

*grins* It shut a lot of people up really quickly.

By: C.J. Redwine

C.J. Redwine — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:20:58 +0000

Well, you know from my response on Twitter last night that I heartily concur. As a waitress, I get treated to just about EVERY form of bad behavior on the planet. As I often refuse to bite my tongue, it’s a wonder I still have a job. But seriously, someone who gets themselves all bent out of shape because the cost of a side of potatoes went up ten cents since last time they visited the restaurant (and feels this is justification for yelling at me and calling me names) deserves whatever reply springs to mind, yes?