hey-o! today's thoughts are all about patronage and how to be a customer that an employee doesn't dread. having done my fair share of time behind a counter, I feel like the best way to make the world a better place would be to force everyone to work in food service or retail before they "make it big." here are a few ways to make sure that you're not a complete lunatic when you walk into an establishment.
don't make assumptions about the employees. seriously. you don't know their life! not everyone working in food service or retail is going to be in one of those industries for the rest of their lives! when you say demeaning things like "and this is why you still work here" to employees, you'd better be able to guarantee that they will never end up your boss. a lot of people in these industries are working to pay for their educations, and even if they are "lifers," you have no business insulting them.
don't try to establish your dominance. keep in mind that the employees can't argue with you. "the customer is always right," and all that. I will never understand why customers think they can be rude to the first person that can't talk back, but it doesn't make you a big person. It makes you an ass-hat.
don't try to haggle about the price. there are specific exceptions to this rule, such as mom and pop shops or miscellaneous kiosks on the streets of Hawai'i, but in general, keep your grumbling to a minimum when it comes to the price. it's amazing to me that people will treat the employees like the scum between their toes and then expect them to have power over the pricing on the menus of a large, corporate establishment. the individual employees have absolutely nothing to do with the pricing, and complaining about it makes you look cheap (which you probably are!) if it's a large purchase, such as a sofa, it is appropriate to ask when these sorts of items go on sale, but be prepared to find out that the employees might not know!
don't go into a store 5 minutes before it closes. yes, it's quieter in the store, and yes, the employees are more willing to help, but it's because all of the decent people have left already. it's disrespectful, and you're preventing the employees from getting home to their families.
say hi back. when you walk into a store and someone says hello to you, at least have the decency to look up, make eye contact, smile, and say "hi." they aren't trying to sell you anything (yet), and they are human beings, for heaven's sake!
make up your darn mind. if you aren't ready to order yet, don't step up to the register. don't have an employee walk you to thirty different items on a gift registry. to clarify, this is only true when there are other customers in the store. there are many times when an employee would love to help you through every item on the menu or offer up a plethora of gift ideas. when it is busy, however, you need to find your sea legs and float on your own, matey.
put your phone away. this is SO rude. I don't care if you're in a drive-up, waiting in a long line, or on the phone with the president. when you are interacting with another human, put your phone away.
don't shop at the stores where something bad ALWAYS happens. I love hearing a conversation between a customer and an employee where they say "this happens every time I come in here!" why do you keep going back if it is the only store that can't get your order right?
in short, I definitely think that your attitude determines your service. what are your least-favorite customer habits?
