I just complained about a grocery store employee who was rude to me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say that I was out of the country the last week or so. And, all wait staff, service people, BnB owners etc. are so competent and pleasant. It is so relaxing and satisfying (this was Europe). Quite literally, within 5 minutes of landing and trying to grab a quick bite in the airport during a long layover, I encountered a restaurant who got my order wrong twice and then had the nerve to tell me that I was wrong (I wasn't; the person in line next to me as well as my DH heard what i asked for). Then the surly guy at the ticket counter. Then the grumpy taxi person. American customer service has taken a deep nose dive in the last 20 years or so and it shows. OP did the right thing. Why should incompetence, be in the individual or the store in how it trains its employees, be tolerated? Since when is it rude to point out that someone did something wrong when you're in a SERVICE position (for the record, I'm not some rich snob- I worked in the service industry since I was 14, all the way through high school, college, and as a second job while in grad school).

You are lucky. I've lived in France twice, currently live in Portugal and have traveled fairly extensively around this continent. One of the few things I miss about the US is customer service! You want to return a pair of pants with a defect? Here, it takes at least a week to get the requisite manager's signature. And they can't refund your credit card until the item is sent back to the factory for analysis. I've seen plenty of restaurant managers throughout Europe tell other customers with an eye roll that if they don't like the food, don't come back. I've had a taxi driver tell me 'I don't know how to get there, get out' and leave me & family on the side of the road (wtf?!). I don't see these types of issues in the US. True, you don't get rushed service here, and the quality is generally quite high. But in Europe, the customer isnt always right - only if it's convenient to the store owner or clerk!

[Anonymous]

Me too OP.

I just sent my complaint off to corporate at Walgreens. Over the last couple years, they have just gone downhill in my opinion at my current location. Even if nothing is done, at least my complaint was acknowledged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And it felt damn good and cathartic. I've never done that to anyone who is working minimum wage before, but this person was so egregious, so I went on the website and followed the "give feedback" instructions.

Feels great!

You're pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to say that I was out of the country the last week or so. And, all wait staff, service people, BnB owners etc. are so competent and pleasant. It is so relaxing and satisfying (this was Europe). Quite literally, within 5 minutes of landing and trying to grab a quick bite in the airport during a long layover, I encountered a restaurant who got my order wrong twice and then had the nerve to tell me that I was wrong (I wasn't; the person in line next to me as well as my DH heard what i asked for). Then the surly guy at the ticket counter. Then the grumpy taxi person. American customer service has taken a deep nose dive in the last 20 years or so and it shows. OP did the right thing. Why should incompetence, be in the individual or the store in how it trains its employees, be tolerated? Since when is it rude to point out that someone did something wrong when you're in a SERVICE position (for the record, I'm not some rich snob- I worked in the service industry since I was 14, all the way through high school, college, and as a second job while in grad school).

Well said and I totally agree. Also rude personnel tend to prey on the vulnerable. You are highly educated and had your DH with you to back you up, so you could stand up to the restaurant server. But what about someone who doesn't speak great English? Or is simply meek? Or is having a hard time and just doesn't have the energy to put up a fight? Inevitably those types of people will really affect the most vulnerable, the ones who actually have to put up with their BS. It's working in everyone's interest, including the most vulnerable, to get nasty people removed from customer service positions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here:

I didn't expect this to blow up and just went to bed last night after posting.

Anyway, here's what happened:

I was in the self checkout section, of my fairly large neighborhood grocery. There are two people manning the self checkout. I couldn't find anyone, and was searching for a while, before I finally found a woman, who seemed to know that I was approaching (body language) but didn't look up or acknowledge me. Finally I got close enough and said- Excuse me, I just need you to verify my age (to buy wine).

She looked up at me, then looked away dismissively and said "You're not in my section."

I was thinking, "What the hell?" but another checkout worker had come up, so I moved over to her and told her what i needed to do. Then, because I just had a feeling about how I had been treated, I asked her whether she was able to do all the sections of the self checkout, and she said she was. I asked if all the workers were able to and she said yes- she seemed kind of confused as to why I was even asking such a silly question.

It was such unneccessary rudeness and hostility for no reason.

At the end both workers were next to each other and I think the nice worker could tell I looked kind of annoyed, and she said to me, "Was everything okay?" so I asked her, "How do I go about giving customer service feedback?" And she directed me to the website. The whole time rude cashier lady was standing behind her, literally staring me down.

I don't think someone like that should be working with customers. I truly doubt I'm the first one she treated that way as the hostility came out of nowhere

OK...so you wanted her to do you a favor basically, because she is assigned to a section and you were not in it. Because you "didn't like her tone," your original post insinuates you hope she loses her job or gets some other bad consequence. Maybe she was having a terrible day. Maybe someone close to her is very ill or she doesn't know how she's going to pay the light bill this month. Maybe her car broke down. But you wish ill upon her for not doing you a favor.

You need professional help to deal with your superiority complex and sense of entitlement, and lack of empathy and patience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a manager at Whole Foods today about an employee in the butcher section who did not know what the number on the scale should say when I told him "one third of a pound". He got the scale saying .74 and when I said "Oh, you're going in the opposite direction - it's one third, not three fourths" he STILL didn't know.

I told the manager maybe they could put a chart on each scale that has a chart for how to translate what people say to what the scale should say. Embarrassingly, the manager said "I recognize you - you've said this to me before." I didn't remember that and just said "Oh, well, it's still an issue."

OR, if you know this is hard for them, you could be nice and ask for 0.33 lbs.

Why make things simple when you can make them complicated, eh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here:

I didn't expect this to blow up and just went to bed last night after posting.

Anyway, here's what happened:

I was in the self checkout section, of my fairly large neighborhood grocery. There are two people manning the self checkout. I couldn't find anyone, and was searching for a while, before I finally found a woman, who seemed to know that I was approaching (body language) but didn't look up or acknowledge me. Finally I got close enough and said- Excuse me, I just need you to verify my age (to buy wine).

She looked up at me, then looked away dismissively and said "You're not in my section."

I was thinking, "What the hell?" but another checkout worker had come up, so I moved over to her and told her what i needed to do. Then, because I just had a feeling about how I had been treated, I asked her whether she was able to do all the sections of the self checkout, and she said she was. I asked if all the workers were able to and she said yes- she seemed kind of confused as to why I was even asking such a silly question.

It was such unneccessary rudeness and hostility for no reason.

At the end both workers were next to each other and I think the nice worker could tell I looked kind of annoyed, and she said to me, "Was everything okay?" so I asked her, "How do I go about giving customer service feedback?" And she directed me to the website. The whole time rude cashier lady was standing behind her, literally staring me down.

I don't think someone like that should be working with customers. I truly doubt I'm the first one she treated that way as the hostility came out of nowhere

OK...so you wanted her to do you a favor basically, because she is assigned to a section and you were not in it. Because you "didn't like her tone," your original post insinuates you hope she loses her job or gets some other bad consequence. Maybe she was having a terrible day. Maybe someone close to her is very ill or she doesn't know how she's going to pay the light bill this month. Maybe her car broke down. But you wish ill upon her for not doing you a favor.

You need professional help to deal with your superiority complex and sense of entitlement, and lack of empathy and patience.

Asking a grocery store clerk for help checking out to purchase something is not doing OP a "favor". It's doing their job and clearly that is too much for some. It sounds like the shitty attitude you see a lot of in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here:

I didn't expect this to blow up and just went to bed last night after posting.

Anyway, here's what happened:

I was in the self checkout section, of my fairly large neighborhood grocery. There are two people manning the self checkout. I couldn't find anyone, and was searching for a while, before I finally found a woman, who seemed to know that I was approaching (body language) but didn't look up or acknowledge me. Finally I got close enough and said- Excuse me, I just need you to verify my age (to buy wine).

She looked up at me, then looked away dismissively and said "You're not in my section."

I was thinking, "What the hell?" but another checkout worker had come up, so I moved over to her and told her what i needed to do. Then, because I just had a feeling about how I had been treated, I asked her whether she was able to do all the sections of the self checkout, and she said she was. I asked if all the workers were able to and she said yes- she seemed kind of confused as to why I was even asking such a silly question.

It was such unneccessary rudeness and hostility for no reason.

At the end both workers were next to each other and I think the nice worker could tell I looked kind of annoyed, and she said to me, "Was everything okay?" so I asked her, "How do I go about giving customer service feedback?" And she directed me to the website. The whole time rude cashier lady was standing behind her, literally staring me down.

I don't think someone like that should be working with customers. I truly doubt I'm the first one she treated that way as the hostility came out of nowhere

OK...so you wanted her to do you a favor basically, because she is assigned to a section and you were not in it. Because you "didn't like her tone," your original post insinuates you hope she loses her job or gets some other bad consequence. Maybe she was having a terrible day. Maybe someone close to her is very ill or she doesn't know how she's going to pay the light bill this month. Maybe her car broke down. But you wish ill upon her for not doing you a favor.

You need professional help to deal with your superiority complex and sense of entitlement, and lack of empathy and patience.

You don't see the irony of riding in on your moral high horse accusing people of having a superiority complex?

Btw, maybe, she is terrible at her job and does this to customers all day. As an employer, I would want to know. Maybe she doesn't lose her job today or maybe she does, because this isn't the first time. Life is tough. Suck it up and do your job.

[Anonymous]

Wait. Your complaint was based on the fact the clerk did not immediately look up at you because you could tell she sensed you were coming? And she told you that you were not in her section?

Did it ever occur to you that she did not hear the royal music playing as you marched up? Or that she was busy doing something else? Or maybe she was still learning her job? When you get into self-checkout lines with alcohol you run the risk of waiting awhile. Thus is just plain sense.

karma will find ypu op.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here:

I didn't expect this to blow up and just went to bed last night after posting.

Anyway, here's what happened:

I was in the self checkout section, of my fairly large neighborhood grocery. There are two people manning the self checkout. I couldn't find anyone, and was searching for a while, before I finally found a woman, who seemed to know that I was approaching (body language) but didn't look up or acknowledge me. Finally I got close enough and said- Excuse me, I just need you to verify my age (to buy wine).

She looked up at me, then looked away dismissively and said "You're not in my section."

I was thinking, "What the hell?" but another checkout worker had come up, so I moved over to her and told her what i needed to do. Then, because I just had a feeling about how I had been treated, I asked her whether she was able to do all the sections of the self checkout, and she said she was. I asked if all the workers were able to and she said yes- she seemed kind of confused as to why I was even asking such a silly question.

It was such unneccessary rudeness and hostility for no reason.

At the end both workers were next to each other and I think the nice worker could tell I looked kind of annoyed, and she said to me, "Was everything okay?" so I asked her, "How do I go about giving customer service feedback?" And she directed me to the website. The whole time rude cashier lady was standing behind her, literally staring me down.

I don't think someone like that should be working with customers. I truly doubt I'm the first one she treated that way as the hostility came out of nowhere

OK...so you wanted her to do you a favor basically, because she is assigned to a section and you were not in it. Because you "didn't like her tone," your original post insinuates you hope she loses her job or gets some other bad consequence. Maybe she was having a terrible day. Maybe someone close to her is very ill or she doesn't know how she's going to pay the light bill this month. Maybe her car broke down. But you wish ill upon her for not doing you a favor.

You need professional help to deal with your superiority complex and sense of entitlement, and lack of empathy and patience.

You don't see the irony of riding in on your moral high horse accusing people of having a superiority complex?

Btw, maybe, she is terrible at her job and does this to customers all day. As an employer, I would want to know. Maybe she doesn't lose her job today or maybe she does, because this isn't the first time. Life is tough. Suck it up and do your job.

As an employer I would want to know also and be relieved that OP brought it to my attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I spoke with a manager at Whole Foods today about an employee in the butcher section who did not know what the number on the scale should say when I told him "one third of a pound". He got the scale saying .74 and when I said "Oh, you're going in the opposite direction - it's one third, not three fourths" he STILL didn't know.

I told the manager maybe they could put a chart on each scale that has a chart for how to translate what people say to what the scale should say. Embarrassingly, the manager said "I recognize you - you've said this to me before." I didn't remember that and just said "Oh, well, it's still an issue."

You would think, after multiple complaints of this sort, they would have figured out a way to make it happen. It's not exactly a difficult request!

You'd also think that after multiple complaints OP would just say "point 33 pounds" rather than continuing to waste her time. That's not exactly difficult either.

[Anonymous]

OP, this employee had probably been harassed all day by people just like you and had reached a saturation point. You could have diffused a bad situation by simply asking him if he'd had a bad day, smiled at him, and acted like a decent human being. You missed your chance to be nice and it would have cost you nothing. Instead, you are bragging on an anonymous chatroom that you possibly got someone fired today. Careful that it doesn't come back to you ten-fold!

[Anonymous]

OP please don't listen to these ridiculous hyenas. You asked a cashier to verify your age - something that was HER JOB - and then followed up with another employee that indeed, she should have been able to help you. She was rude to you, and you let management know. Nothing at all wrong with that.

These other ladies can read into your supposed entitlement all they want (I read nothing indicating that in your OP or your follow up post), but if they need to spin stories to make them feel superior and sleep better at night, then let them have at it. Apparently it's all they've got.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, this employee had probably been harassed all day by people just like you and had reached a saturation point. You could have diffused a bad situation by simply asking him if he'd had a bad day, smiled at him, and acted like a decent human being. You missed your chance to be nice and it would have cost you nothing. Instead, you are bragging on an anonymous chatroom that you possibly got someone fired today. Careful that it doesn't come back to you ten-fold!

Are we reading the same post? OP did not harrass employee, just asked for help. Employee lied to OP that she could not help her.

[Anonymous]

I have never experienced so many rude grocery store check out clerks as I did during my 5 years living in DC. I had a few clerks I would avoid because they were so rude it was bordering on hostile.

I don't expect a lot. Just a small greeting acknowledging I'm standing there something like "hi there" or "hello" while they scan my groceries and maybe a "thanks" or "goodbye" at the end. I don't need chit chat or ass kissing.

I'm happy to help bag, but I also have to take care of the unloading and payment, so until I get that part done, I can't do the bagging too. If you are standing there staring at me and refusing to bag while also maintaining a steely silent glare, I do not have good feelings about you!

Moving to the suburbs seems to have solved this problem. But good god the Safeway on 6th and NY has the rudest people working the check outs I've ever encountered.