Working Pet Peeves

• by Judi ~ April 7, 2008

I work with customers every day at the flea market. For the most part, I love my job, though there is always room for improvement.

One of my biggest pet peeves with the customer side of things, Monique touched on and even aptly named the post. I’ve thought for months of posting here, the redundant questions I deal with daily.

Is this where you pay for things?
The sign above my head says “Cashier”, the lighted sign above your head says “Cashier”.. um.. yes.. you may pay for your items here.

Are you Open?
Yes… yes, I am open. Trust me, I have not been sitting/standing here, in the same spot all day for the fun of it.

I’m not done looking around, can you hold this for me because I don’t want to carry it around with me?
Yes, just put it on the next counter, not mine.. you see, other customers come up to mine counter who are ready to check out and I don’t have room to hold your stuff there.

You could grab a cart up by the front door.. No? You don’t want to push a cart around? Hmm.. wonder what Kroger would say if I asked them to hold my milk for me because I wasn’t done shopping and I didn’t feel like pushing a cart or carrying my own milk.. whatever, yes, I’ll hold it for you.. but if someone else wants to buy it, I can’t guarantee I will remember where it came from.

Ring.. Ring… (telephone)
me: Old Roberds.. may I help you?
customer: yes, I was just calling to see if you are open today?
me – thinking: well, duh.. I answered the phone.. do you think I want to come in on a day we’re closed just to answer the phone to tell people we aren’t open? WHY don’t you just ask “What are you hours today”?
me: Yes, we’re open 9-5 on weekends and 10-6 through thru the week.

Customer: Would you call the vendor….
… this [item] is $3.00.. will you see if they’ll take any less?
… I want this [item] will you see if they’ll take 60% less for it because I don’t want to pay this much for it.

Customer:I’m interested in [item].. would you call the vendor for me?
Me: Sure.. what is the booth number?
customer: I don’t know.. do you want me to go get it?
Me: well.. I can’t call the vendor if I don’t know who it is…

Do you take credit cards?
We accept cash and credit.
But, do you take credit cards?

Be Considerate.. No Cell Phones at the Counter…
For which when I ask “May I help you?” I get a wave and a “hold on” from the customer blocking my counter. How friggin’ rude must you be to think this is acceptable behavior, from an adult no less?!

One woman, a vendor at that… I repeatedly told her the amount, and she ignored me. I went to concession and made popcorn.. She got mad at me because I left her at the counter. Of all the rudeness!!

And then the vendors… this one gets me the most.
vendor: That vendor has x, y, z. or is doing x, y, z… why can’t I?

OMG.. How old ARE you? Didn’t you learn this when you were a kid, or when you had kids? Just because one person is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s OK, or allowed, or even that anyone else can do it. And for those that want to do something against our rules.. why do you think You are so special? Don’t you realize if we let you do it, we’ll have 10 other vendors saying “well, they are doing it, why can’t I?” And at that point, what good are rules? We have rules for a reason. Abide by them and all is good.

There is so much.. but the redundant questions.. for which I have made signs.. are the ones that grate on my nerves. What I keep thinking is our country is so concerned (rightfully so!) about our kids being able to read… yet, signs that are plainly visible, adults ignore. I know they can read them.. it’s pure laziness they don’t bother with it.