This is such a small thing but it bugs me. Anytime - ANYTIME - we wrap something at my store, we remove the prices. Without a question. And every so often when a customer asks for something to be wrapped, they’ll add “and take off the prices.” Do you think we don’t know how to do that? Truly, we’d rather your loved ones see what a cheapskate you are. There’s a gift receipt if you ask for one, in which case if they return the items they’ll still see how much you spent. Pleeeeeeease trust that we know to take the prices off! Especially at the holiday season. I know it’s just out of nerves on the customer’s part but please trust us.
I may be below her, butbat least I’ve never been arrested in a tax probe! (check the link)
Uh…butbat. I’ll have to sneak that into my next game of Scrabble… :smack: (but at)
I know you know to remove the tags, but there are millions of clerks who don’t. Trust me, there are. I guess I’m a bad customer because if I’m having something wrapped that I can’t check later, I want to know that the tags have been removed. I also haggle, but only at flea markets, craft fairs, etc.
Oh, I’m well aware of her arrest (it kinda completes the Leona Helmsley image). I was one of the ones cackling gleefully when she got busted.
That’s true. Sometimes I forget. And if I do, I’ll remember it once I’ve handed the bag to the customer, “Oh I apologize. I forgot to remove the tags. Would you like me to do that?” Mostly, they’ve been kind and say they know we’re busy and they can do it at home. But when I’m on my toes, I always ask the customer if they’d like me to remove the tag before I wrap. Even though I know the answer is usually yes. They seem to get the impression that I’m doing something above and beyond the call of duty and treat me very nicely as a result. That’s cool. 
I just have to agree, as a cashier, with those who say that the worst people are those who think you owe them something–who think it’s your life’s mission to serve their every whims and needs. Those kind of people give me a world-class migraine by the end of my shift.
Best not to thwart her father either, the Mature Man Mad at Mankind™. He’s hostile from the moment he approaches. No facial expression, won’t make eye contact, and man, can he be a peevish, implacable dick to the poor schlub who can’t come up with that book that was in window a while back about submarines. No, I don’t know how long ago. You don’t know the one I mean? How long have you been working here? Don’t they train you how to find anything? I would think you’d know the books you stock. No, I don’t know the author, either, but I’m sure someone here does. You must have it listed somewhere. Go ask the manager, he’ll know. :rolleyes:
When I worked at Hallmark I actually had a woman instruct me to put the price stickers back on! She’d spent about $50 on gifts for her boss and wanted him to know it. :rolleyes:
{In a meek voice} I’m a customer. I hate shopping. I especially hate Christmas shopping. I’ve never worked retail sales, but I’ve been a waiter and tended bar, so I feel your pain. If you’re even moderately competent, I’m really, really nice. Polite, friendly, don’t mind waiting: I’ll even make small-talk if you like - I know you want to be working in this mall at Christmas slightly less than I want to be shopping here. Oddly enough, I tend to get quite good service.
I worked in a big department store when I was young.
We sold some beautiful hand-engraved animals (on thick circular glass, if you see what I mean). They were expensive, but worth it.
The floor manager asked for a volunteer to mug up on them - how long the engraving took, what tools the artist used etc. I liked the idea, so got the job.
It went pretty well. I would wait until a customer was studying the product, then say “Would you like to learn about this?”
Usually I could tell when to stop before they got bored.
One day a scruffy looking bloke wandered in. I thought privately he might try to nick one, but was careful to be polite anyway.
He listened to the whole lecture carefully, then revealed … he was the artist. :eek:
He thought I had done well. 
Oh and let’s not forget the ones who turn you into their lapdog. Follow them from department to department because they’re either pointing and saying “and one of those, and that, and this” or because they can’t make up their mind and want you to show them everything you have.
As to the responses about the ticket-removal issue - Like I said I know it’s nerves on the part of the customer. At my store, we’re fairly anal about it. If you hand your items over to someone else to wrap you’ll usually tell them whether or not you’ve taken off the prices. If it gets handed over to someone else after that the exchange will happen again (cashier → runner → wrapper, as the case may be). I could be in the middle of wrapping something and I’ll check twice to make sure all prices are off, but maybe that’s just me being slightly OCD, heh.
[slight hijack]Do you find that having been a retail employee, you have a better appreciation for other retail employees? Like do you make a point of being easier on or nicer to employees elsewhere if they helped you with something?[/hijack]
Yes, but I also find that I’m less patient with bad service. So having retail experience works both ways, at least IME.
(I also did telemarketing for one brief, hellish stint, and have never been rude to a telemarketer since – though I honestly don’t remember the last time I was called by one.)
Same here. Although, I’m a bit more perceptive when the bad service is as a result of the salesperson having a really bad day (too many evil customers or something) and is not just a complete dimwit, lazy good-for-nothing, or sourpuss who should not be in customer service. As a result, I’m much, much more sympathetic to the point of saying, “Hey, I’ve been there. If it’s any consolation this day will end. Hang in there and don’t let the evil bastards get you down. That’s what they want, ya see.” 
It’s usually enough to cheer them up for a few seconds until the fuckwit behind me gets a piece of 'em. :mad:
Darn it, sorry for the language. Guess I’ve been spending a little too much time in the Pit. :smack:
Mods, please don’t hurt me. :o
Yeah- they enter the premises.