Only in America?

[Earthquake923]

We are not just talking about a difference in watches. Arenegeth, what do you do for a living, how long have you been doing it, and how old are you? I am not trying to be rude, but if you've never been on the other side of the counter, you really can't imagine:
1)How many poeple you interact with in 1 day.
2)How butt holes really stand out during a day.
If 5% of the people you deal with give you crap, that could easily be 20 for the day. That's alot of crap to take.

I said it in another post on this board. I ALWAYS try to treat people behind the register nicely. I know what it's like.
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If anybody asks about the avatar, I did it for Jess.

[sybillious]

while that's a nice sentiment, arenegeth, you're making the assumption that we treat everyone like crap, and that's not true.

as far as someone waiting to show up until closing or nearly closing, think of how that disrupts things; most companies REQUIRE their employees to have everything related to closing the store completed within an hour or less-often, the list is long and cannot fully be accomplished within said allotted hour, so various tasks have to be shuffled around and completed before that time, and those that can't have to be completed after.

anyone showing up can disrupt this, making closing take longer than it's supposed to; the shift lead in charge is responsible for justifying this overage, and in some cases, can get fired, even though the overage couldn't be avoided *something to think about before you take that high and mighty attitude of 'i take my job seriously, blah blah.' just because people want to complete things as they should without the thoughtlessness of someone showing up just BEFORE this time doesn't mean they don't take their job equally as serious as you do.*

as far as mistreating workers, i can only speak for myself; i don't mistreat them-even when they're rude. i understand their situation *being in it myself* and try to stay out of their way; if they are rude, i simply leave-no arguments, no rudeness on my part, i just leave.

[Wataru]

[Benit149]

One stupid story I watched on Cold Case Files was of a dead body found in a bog, and alligators would've eaten it were it not for the cops intervening. The body turned out to be a dead serial rapist. What's even more bizarre is that he was killed b/c he molested a serial murderer's kids. I mean... why? I see several things wrong with this picture:

1. Serial rapist. Serial murderer. You do the math.
2. How in the world can a serial murderer have KIDS and manage to hide his past?
3. Is there really such a thing as justice in this case? If there is, it's VERY convoluted.
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"Luca Blight, patron saint of population decrease." -- Benit, MST149

Benit149: First Lady of Addervon, Princess of Slight Fever, defender of the Nameless.

[Kekoa Alejandro]

Ahhh, the unpleasant customers.

Yeah, the showing up at closing time issue is a good one. I do indeed agknowledge I have a duty when at work, but my duty specifies working until closing time - not "until whenever". Do I stay late if necessary? Sure. I'm not a jerk, I want to help my customers and co-workers, but it certainly is irritating when people come in that late, ignore the announcements we make about closing, and then show up with a variety of items and an inconveninent form of tender.

I can understand that we are a drug store, and that you'd like to get your medication; I can definitely sympathize with those who show up late, because I'm none too quick about getting out the door myself (getting to work excluded). But I have the decency to hurry, and if I know I won't have time, I wait until the next day. It's my fault that I'm not there in time, not the employees'.

For the most part, though, the customers are agreeable. I really don't run into all of these jerks and morons that others mention, not so many, anyhow. Maybe I'd get more if I worked in the pharmacy? As it is, I do pretty well with the customers. I try to be polite, and I really honestly like helping others, so that makes for smooth sailing. But I do have moments - I suffer from some mental illnesses (of the emotional variety), and sometimes things begin to get to me. My mind won't function as well, everything becomes irritating or impossibly difficult, every problem becomes personal, every obstacle speaks ill of my abilities, and I get increasingly stressed. I'll eventually break, so when I sense that coming I have to get out of there and take a break. I can seem rude until I do, and I suppose I am, though it's far from my intent. My mind simply doesn't work the same way as it usually does in those cases.

I'm the stupid part of the equation all too often. ...forgetful, mostly. I have a memory like a fruit fly; I have honestly - and I mean honestly - blanked out when I have to write my name on something at work. I have had my manager list two endcaps I have to work on three different times before I could remember properly, no matter how hard I was trying. BLEAGH. I hate looking that stupid.

Yeah, I need to run into more stupid people. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.

[Arenegeth]

First of all Wataru man there is a reason why I said locally so don't get offended about the bank thing specifically, the US is the biggest country in the world where I live is just a hell hole and that sort of behavior happens all the time.

And over paid as in working for five hours and making $2500 to $5000 a month with all the benefits of course.


Next I don't think you guys got the reason of my post, it was to show you that not all customers are simply stupid but like you they have life's and some times due to reasons beyond their control can't make it on time, and that some times you can find your selves in their place.

I guess you guys have being abused in the work place by customers and you are really feeling bitter about it, and as I said some people really are bad customers I have being in the receiving end of bad treatment my self.

I didn't assume that you treated people badly in general but just on closing hours.

And about acting high and mighty, if you didn't noticed I repeatedly said that only someone clearly not sane would do what I do, putting your self, your health and your sanity back to help people is not something to be proud about I'm sure that you are committed to your jobs, but I'm still guessing how people around me operate always take that in mind people were I'm at aren't committed In an...

I shouldn't go on about this since I just got the urge to look for a shotgun.

Now to honor Earthquake923 (you're not rude) I will give some personal actual experience.

I will give the most recent one though not behind a counter.

I was a security guard in a water park, my job was basically to walk around the place overlooking things and helping people when necessary, and people were asking questions not stupid questions I might add (though asking me when the park closes while a sign behind me show the open and closing hours was stupid, but then again what would you expect from an 6 year old) the reason that nobody asked me any stupid questions is because all this time I was interacting with tourists.

But god almighty when a local comes up to me and asks me to hold his child for a while until he gathers his stuff and I wait for like a half an hour with a wee little girl in my arms and find the father at the cantina drinking beer and laughing when he left his kid with the "baby sitter", it kind of got to my nerves, but I kept it cool and waited for a few minutes the father was still conversing and the child was getting restless I went up to him, when he saw me he was like "sorry man I forgot" no thank you no nothing.

After that I was reassign to a parking lot that was hell it self I'm actually traumatized by my experience there (where is MY shotgun) and quitted after two days, why?

Not because of the torment but because I was paid $12 a day to do so.

So as you can see I know what you're talking about because I was abused too and at the same time mistreated by employs.

The point that I'm trying to make is that you guys shouldn't look this from your own perspective only and keep an open mind not everyone is simply stupid.

And I repeat I say all this by the experience I had locally this may not apply in any other part of the world.
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"I am ye who walks his own path and thus I walk alone"

[Wataru]

Sometimes people do have extenuating circumstances, but when people are calculating about it, that's when I get mad. People show up five minutes before closing not because they have other things going on in their lives or they can't get there any other time. They get there at that time because they think they won't have to wait. I have heard many many people say that verbally to each other when they are suprised to see a line out the door at 4:28. Plain and simple. My bank closes at 4:30 p.m. on most days. I would absolutely love to have a job that allows me to be up and around and visiting the bak at 4:30 p.m., but unfortunately I do not have one, nor does anyone I know. These people are most likely off from work or have been off from work for a while and just up and decied to go then because they think it will be the quickest experience for them. And I don't care what your day is like. If the only time you can go to the store is 10:25 p.m. then you need to take a few courses in time management. Its all calculated.

[Arenegeth]

I know what you mean some people are like "Lets go to the bank is closing time there won't be anyone there" this kind of people should be shot at.

I guess I was trying to be helpful, that was part of my job there, and people some times treat their kid's like luggage.

My mother works 8 to 10 hours a day EVERY day even Sundays, ALL holydays, yes Christmas, New Year, Easter the works and all assorted local holidays, NO benefits whatsoever which means no pension fund and she only gets herself paid $600 a month, some times she does not even get a bonus Christmas time.
All this in a card club making coffee for old men cleaning the place and be responsible for the "rights"* they have to pay for playing there.

So don't tell me about the law, POLICE MEN buy pirate games where I'm at AND they suggest that you should too.

There is no "law" here is like the very bowels of hell (I guess now you can partly understand why I say I live in hell).

I worked a six hour shift you can calculate how much that is an hour.

*The person who wins that particular deck pays for the right of playing there coffee and all assorted beverages and food are part of that right, this a VERY old method used back in the 30's I think and is still being carried over all this years.
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"I am ye who walks his own path and thus I walk alone"

[sybillious]

arenegeth, that has to be the most contrary group of answers ever; first you say 'they have the right' without understanding the reply, then you change your answer to try and cover up your initial ignorance of what others are saying.

i've worked from retail to janitorial and many things in between, to include military service; i've seen a wider scope of just how ignorant and stupid people can behave. granted, this doesn't apply to all people, just to those who can't seem to dislodge their heads from their fifth point of contact long enough to carry out business with some courtesy.

nope, they chat on their cell phones, snap at workers and treat them like crap, yet we're supposed to accept this as 'part of the job?' not just no, but hell no; there are limits to what a customer can do, abusing workers definitely doesn't fall within that scope.
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prinny...DOOD!

gotta gotta get a...SPICE WEASEL!

to paraphrase my fellow mod, parallax:
I hate my job with the passionately burning intensity of a thousand fiery suns.

[Arenegeth]

Yes I sound contradictive because I'm not with side A or side B.

And I didn't try to cover up anything.

Oh and I forgot about "We don't have to take that crap" you're right you don't.
I don't tolerate certain things either, things that are outside the job description.
If someone on the water park had told me to polish their cars for instance, I'll tell them in a polite manner that I obviously can't, if they insisted I would have contacted the manager.

So again I try to differentiate if someone was simply being demanding within the job description then I would have shut up and do as they asked.

Of course if they offend me then that's a different thing.

What you don't understand sybillious is the point of my posts.

You guys were looking only at black and white.

So you see I don't agree or disagree with you, you're not wrong and I'm right and vice versa.

All I was trying to do with my posts is make you people understand that not everyone is stupid not everyone is anything actually.

Don't be absolute.

Hehe I get the feeling some times that you guys take the things said here a reason to start a war.

Remember to respect each others opinions I do respect yours since I can understand your point of view.
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"I am ye who walks his own path and thus I walk alone"

[Sophita]

[Noot]

What I think Arenegeth is trying to say is that we shouldn't be so quick to point at all these people and label them stupid and feel that we are on top of an untouchable pedestal. I would wager that everyone here has done something incredibly stupid (possibly multiple times) and we should remember to stay humble. Even if you think you haven't done something stupid, just remember that most people have seen at least one Pauly Shore movie in their lives. You are tainted as well! ;)

But still, everyone who has worked in a customer service position has some horror stories and general pet peeves they acquired, and most times it does fall into the stupid people category. I'm in no way saying that all customers I have, or even most of them, are stupid, it just so happens that this is a thread devoted to stupid people! So I'm sharing some of the things that urk me the most on the job.

If someone made a thread about good people they've met at work (or in general), I'd be happy to tell you guys about some of nice people who are regulars at my store, and those who are understanding when I'm the only one on the floor and their is a line of 10 people at the counter, and those who accept the fact that I messed up the transaction and have to void it out, and those who are patient when I need to get change or check on a movie, and those who understand when I tell them that the title they are looking for is unavailable and don't yell it me because I can't order it. If only every customer I had was a patient, understanding, respectful individual, my life would be so much easier.

As for the attitudes exhibited by employees at closing time, believe me, it's hard to stay alert and helpful when it's 15 minutes past closing and a customer decided just then to put something on layaway. I have to stand at the door on guard at those times and tell people who for some reason are still at the mall after hours that we're closed after this last transaction, and I don't let them in. There's nothing I can do.

First of all, it's company policy, as Sophita mentioned. I am usually on the clock for a 5 hour period (I only work part time) that ends at 9:30 pm. The gates close at 9 pm. The district manager will "have a talk with" my boss if people are constantly leaving the store at 10, 10:30, 11 pm every night. The business hours of the store are clearly marked at the entrance, and we have to abide by it.

Secondly, at the end of the day, the only thing I am thinking about is straightening up the store for the opening shift the next day and NOT customers. Sure, I help the few that are left if they need it, but my job is more than helping customers and standing at the counter. It usually takes me 15-30 minutes after closing every night to straighten, and when a customer comes in and lolly-gags around the store and doesn't seem to concerned over the fact that it's been a long day for me and my co-worker while we have a lot left to do before we can leave, it really gets under my skin.

I remember being a shopper. I didn't go to the mall very often, but whenever I go to a music store or whatever, I always put stuff back where I got it from. It's common freaking sense. I was never told that I shouldn't make a mess of a browser, or leave my McDonald's cup sitting on the floor because I was done with it and was too lazy to throw it away, I was always respectful of the store and the employees who worked hard to maintain it. That was only reinforced when I started working at Suncoast. I just don't get people who act like morons because we don't have the obscure 1970 sci-fi movie that was never put on DVD that they were looking for. I just don't get people who think that I am their indentured servant and not a regular person who has a knowledge of the layout of the store.

I never treat customers badly, but I treat them as humans. I'm willing to joke with them or tell them a movie sucked, because I'm a movie fan just like they are. I don't pretend to be something I'm not, and it's just nice when you have customers who will treat you like a human.
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~~Harmonian Tenhei Star~~

It's hard to bargle naudle zauss with all these marbles in my mouth.

[sybillious]

it can be, soph, but it depends; unfortunately, i was enlisted, so my skills weren't in great demand post military. people tend to treat those in cleaning service jobs like crap, since most seem to think that people take jobs like that *maid services or janitorial* because they're less intelligent *not so, but they can have their misconceptions and shove them...*

arengeth, i realise there is no black and white; to insinutate that i don't is beyond insulting-i've been around too long and have worked at too many different jobs to foolishly believe so. i will treat those around me with respect when that respect is due-it comes at first, but if they're abusive, they get cold civility and nothing more.

as much as i'd like, i don't get nasty with them, even if they're being total a-holes with me; if things get too ugly, i call in a manager or shift and let them take care of it while i step out to cool off. better that than me going nuts on said person and possibly ending up with an assault charge against me, don't you think?

i do my best to treat others in retail with courtesy, since i know what they go through, but then again, sophita summed up my thoughts far more eloquently, and i won't reiterate points already made.
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prinny...DOOD!

gotta gotta get a...SPICE WEASEL!

to paraphrase my fellow mod, parallax:
I hate my job with the passionately burning intensity of a thousand fiery suns.

[Arenegeth]

First of all I want to remind everyone that I base all I say with my experience locally,
And by the looks of things the US is a LOT different than "hell".

I guess you're right I shouldn't expect that from people I say this because people here don't even care about basic things and I just wanted to be treated right for once.

To be more specific about the closing time I rather define to some people that we close at 11:55 a second later we wont let you in, but that is just me with my unique opinions on pretty much everything.
So I always get people telling me I'm crazy and other stuff is something I have to take
I just can't change they way I think.

And about over time yes it is silly I was talking about my crazy old self I would expect every one else to be at the last moment and not do free over time.

But I didn't phrase it right.

I would however expe..

Why do I go on with this we obviously live in a different world.

In your case Sopthia now that you explained your particular job I see what you mean, however not all jobs like the one you described have that many complications.

Yes about career jobs, you see again judging locally people who haven't even finished school are in high positions here that is because everything works in a "family system" "his married to my daughter" "I owe his father a favor"
That is how things are done over here unsuitable people get positions they don't deserve because of that.

About the tired part of course I get physically tired I simply denied and I fall like a leaf to bed when I go home, that's what I meant but yet again I didn't phrase it right. (I don't seem to be able to do anything right lately)

I will just like someone to do their job because they like it I know about the money incentive that was why I worked all I worked in my life but I don't like to see people getting stressed and not doing their job properly because they don't like it at all.
But now that you mention you're right "mercenaries" are better trusted because with money their goal they will go out of hand to serve you.

And if unintentionally (again I guess I'm stupid my self) have I offended anyone I sincerely apologize, no one is beneath me because you can't get lower than me.

After all this I want to ask you all a question.

Would you rather live in the country I described but with people of ordinary intelligence?

Or you would rather live in the US as you do with the same stupid people?

I don't even see a dilemma.

This is the first time I talked about this on a forum it made me realize as I said before that this "hell" I live in is real and is happening before my eyes while you people get to live by rules and regulations.

This is the first time ever that I have even thought of killing my self but I have to hold on, I will be out of here soon.

So be happy of they way you live and work and try not to complain about some obviously stupid people, the are things a lot more worst out there and enjoy life while it lasts as best as you can.

I have nothing more to say on the subject unless any of you guys refer directly to me.

And sybillious man sorry if I offended you specifically by what I said I wasn't trying to but I guess I'm as much stupid as the people that you're talking about.
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"I am ye who walks his own path and thus I walk alone"

[sybillious]

no, not implying you're stupid, since i don't know you, just that it's not what you're taking it to be, but that's a done deal.

as for a country/people, i'd go for average intelligence as long as it comes paired with common sense and the country really doesn't matter too terribly much.

i understand nepotism; it's bad, but not much can be done about it if it's a strictly family owned business-i try to avoid places like that *already worked for one and am the sorrier for it.* it's sad and frustrating to see anyone incompetent in a position of authority/responsibility, especially for those working under them-those people will be too busy cleaning up their supervisor's screw ups to accomplish much, unfortunately.
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prinny...DOOD!

gotta gotta get a...SPICE WEASEL!

to paraphrase my fellow mod, parallax:
I hate my job with the passionately burning intensity of a thousand fiery suns.