Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
No manners and poor customer service in retail industry, TJ Maxx, Seekonk, Massachusetts, staff bad attitude, discount stores, female sales associates, attentiveness or rude behavior
Hello..If you want customer service, stop shopping at discount stores. It's like going to McDonald's and complaining that the waiters ignored you.
How dare you tell someone where they need to STOP shopping!!! Some of us are low-income or retired on soc. sec. I cannot afford to go anyplace else. I feel that NO MATTER WHAT kind of store; Saks Fifth Avenue, or Kmart....when you work there as a CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, then that is what you are supposed to do, YOUR JOB. Dont like helping the customers? then let someone else have the job. There are plenty of others who would love that $8 an hour!
I dont think the person actually told the staff person to "Fetch" something, that was just the word she chose to describe the act of selecting another outfit. ya know?
Can I ask what the average age of these ignorant CSReps were? I betcha they were ALL UNDER 25, weren't they? I'm sorry but the generations are getting dumber or just dont give a sh*t? do they?
In the grocery store one day, couldn't find this weeks' Sales item paper...so I asked a cashier "excuse me, do you have a Salespaper up here? Where are they?"...she looked at me like I was speaking Swahili or something...DUH....I had to repeat and explain WHAT A SALES paper was! OMG, who hires these genius' kids? also they dont use decent english when speaking to customers, usually hunches their shoulders, or just toss a green & Purple spiked hair in the general direction of the aisle you asked for.
Excuse me, but I'm a 21-year-old who is a five-year veteran of the retail industry, and I take great offense to your broad generalization that we are all "dumb" and "don't give a sh*t." I'm actually en route to graduate school, thank you very much, and I think I have a firmer grasp of the English language than many middle-aged people on this forum who have never heard of a punctuation mark, let alone a capital letter.
I walk into work everyday wondering how I can make the shopping experience for our clientèle at Lowe's a pleasant one that is superior to that of our orange-clad competitor. Even when I'm feeling depressed and lonely inside I still forge onward with a smile, a salutation of some sort, and some sort of introductory comment such as "Is there something I could help you with today?" As a salesperson we're instructed by management to ask "What project are you working on today?" but I'm honestly not going to say something that generic to someone looking at a patio cushion in my department when that obviously is not a "project."
When something on the shelf is empty I will gladly first scan our top shelves before logging onto the nearest terminal and doing an inventory look-up for the item in question. If it says we have none of the product on hand I will also call the store just across the river to see if they have anything in stock. Due to our sheer volume of business I try not to take down a customer's phone number with a promise to call them when the item arrives since I know they may get lost in the fray, but on occasion I have done so as per the customer's request.
Often times people don't realize that employees at big-box home improvement stores like Lowe's or Home Depot are only specialized and highly-trained in one specific department of the store, but if someone asks me a question about something in another department that I am ignorant of I will either call an associate from that department on the phone to address the customer's inquiry or I will walk the customer to an associate in that department myself.
Since our store is habitually and intentionally understaffed I have on occasion taken customers up to our registers, opened up a new line to ring up the customer, and then load the customer's purchase into their vehicle before thanking them for their patronage and wishing them well.
I'm really tiring of reading comments like yours about how "kids today...yada, yada, yada." Trust me, I've seen PLENTY of senior citizens in my area in rusty Buicks whom I've had to blare my car horn at sharply due to their "rude" failure to use a turn signal. Do I classify "all" senior drivers as being inept? No. Why then is Generation Y so easily scapegoated? If anything I'm happy that my generation is enlightened enough to not judge people based upon their skin color, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. I can't say the same for many older people I know.
Maybe you folks that constantly run into bad service need to shop where I live. I currently live in a mid-sized midwestern city. Sales personnel here are very friendly.
It doesn't matter what type of store, large or small, I've observed that customers are almost always greeted. In smaller stores, one is greeted as soon as one walks in. In larger stores, one is greeted while traveling the aisles. Having grown up on the East Coast, where this isn't the custom, the constant greetings took me by surprise when I first got here but I'm a little more used to it now. I must say, I sometimes feel a little "pounced upon" when I enter a store, but I think they think they're just being friendly.
Most of the time, the sales people are helpful, too. Many I've encountered were not only knowledgeable about their specific area but about other areas of the store as well. Often, if they aren't sure where an item is, they'll walk with you to their best guess and/or consult with another salesperson.
I've noticed that this happens with the younger employees, as well as older ones, with the tattoo'd and pierced ones as well as the plain-skinned ones. Green hair, pink hair, traditional hair... black, white, Latino, Asian (well, I haven't seen many Asian salespeople around here )... none of it seems to make any difference. Even the people at the Returns Desk and Customer Service are personable.
Surly store personnel really are the odd ducks here. It's quite refreshing!
Hello..If you want customer service, stop shopping at discount stores. It's like going to McDonald's and complaining that the waiters ignored you.
Well, I hear where you are coming from, and what angle you are looking at it.
But, however, customer service and knowledge about the store has nothing to do with WHAT kind of store it is.
Customer service should be emphasized in every and all public stores, because ultimately, they depend on it.
So, even if I do happen go to a discount store (or a McDonald's), I STILL expect store knowledge and customer service.....period.
Quote:
Can I ask what the average age of these ignorant CSReps were? I betcha they were ALL UNDER 25, weren't they? I'm sorry but the generations are getting dumber or just dont give a sh*t? do they? ..........................
I have to agree with ScanBarre on this one.
I am a 23 year Retail Veteran, and have seen my fair share on just about everything and anything imaginable!
Yes.....I did see in the past, and present, that some people (old or young) don't care about their job, and they see it more of a "burden" to be there, and only have the goal of bringing home a paycheck.
I've seen project kinds working at my stores, as well as College kids.....all the way to people, which HAVE a college degree (and are VERY smart), but can't find a job in their field, resorting to working at a grocery or retail store in the meantime...just to make ends meet.
It all depends on the individual, and what they make out of their unique situation and life, and exactly WHAT kind of mind frame their are in.
I still think, and know, that the overall attitude, knowledge and the "ra-ra-ra" atmosphere in retail stores really depends largely and foremost on the direct Managers.
Proper training, encouragement, knowledge, help....those are essential for growing a good attitude and "back bone" (so to speak)
Unfortunately, did I observe in many retail stores that people "in charge" are in many ways way to quick to offer criticism and the "coming down on people"...instead of sharing the knowledge, guidance and words of encouragement.
Remember, positive and upbeat attitude is contagious!
So, it really is a very broad spectrum, on many different levels, and all across the board.
But, I wouldn't dare to stereotype individuals, and throw them all in one pot....that would be a totally wrong assumption in my opinion.
I am working in the meat room in a large grocery chain here in Florida. And, we have a saying that "the crew is only as good....(or bad)...as the manager is. And, your manager is only as good (or bad) as his crew is."
He or she, as the manager in charge, can make (or break) the moral of his/ her workers!
In my 23 years, did I find out, more then once, on how true that really is!
I have dealt with rude crotchety old sales people and rude snotty young sales people. I've witnessed nasty customers hurl insults at the cashier. I have even been looked down upon & ignored by snooty "I'm better-than-you" Sales ASSociates.
This is not just a NJ trend. It happens all over the country.
Is it me or what?!?! Today I went shopping at T.J. Maxx in Seekonk, MA. There are plenty of employees walking around totally ignoring me, like usual, so that is not the part that annoyed me. What annoys me is when I go to the dressing room! No matter what, the dressing room attendant always looks at me like I have 5 heads and the last thing on earth they would want to do is help me. They have this "rule" that you have to count out one by one the items to try on, and place them on a rack while doing so. Then I have to take them all off the rack myself and they say nothing while I continue on my way to a room. They don't tell me to go to one, they don't bring me to one....they just stand there....lifeless....what is the deal? I'm not some prissy primadonna who expects royal service, but for crying out loud!!!! A smile, a hello perhaps...it wouldn't kill ya! Learn some damn manners!!! And if you don't like working with the public...DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I then proceeded to check out Payless Shoes and Target in the same plaza, and of course found the same crappy attitude in those stores too. I never thought of Seekonk as stuck up...I don't know, I just shop there sometimes...but what is the deal???? Any thoughts? Or similar experiences? Thanks!
You sound high maintenance! maybe you are shopping at the wrong stores?
How dare you tell someone where they need to STOP shopping!!! Some of us are low-income or retired on soc. sec. I cannot afford to go anyplace else. I feel that NO MATTER WHAT kind of store; Saks Fifth Avenue, or Kmart....when you work there as a CUSTOMER SERVICE REP, then that is what you are supposed to do, YOUR JOB. Dont like helping the customers? then let someone else have the job. There are plenty of others who would love that $8 an hour!
What, you want a Lexus for the price of a Honda???
Sorry, but the poor schlub getting paid minimum wage at TJ Maxx is not going to be as attentive to your needs as is the salesperson making twelve bucks an hour at a more upscale place. I agree that there needs to be a minimum standard upheld, but you DO get what you pay for. If you want well trained, quality service then you need to be prepared to pay more for it.
There was a Rite-Aid near my house in Portland that was almost always empty and had the worst customer service reps I'd seen in a long time. I think they were so bored that they didn't care anymore. I tried very hard not to go there, because you had to scour the floor to find someone to ring up your items. They never cracked a smile and just were the most lackluster people I had ever encountered. I ultimately decided it wasn't a real business and just a front for some hippie orange smuggling outfit.
I don't care where you are shopping, you are entitled to some courtesy from the employees. I don't expect high level service at a McDonald's or discount stores, but common pleasantries aren't out of the order.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
)... none of it seems to make any difference. Even the people at the Returns Desk and Customer Service are personable.
Young & Old
I've witnessed nasty customers hurl insults at the cashier. I have even been looked down upon & ignored by snooty "I'm better-than-you" Sales ASSociates. 
