Look them in their eye and say “Who hurt you!!”

Anonymous wrote:Definitely. Most of the times I just walk away, recognizing their job is annoying and to give people grace. I have been quick to write in with a compliment when customer service is great, most recently at Total Wine and Lowe’s.

I had one experience lately at Staples where the girl berated me, to the point I called and complained. She was screaming at me and I walked away in tears! I am a tough cookie, so it was truly a bizarre interaction.

Re: the bold: I encourage people on this thread to do as PP does, and I do this too -- please take time to let employers know when an employee provides exceptional customer service. Last week I was frustrated and upset when I had to call a doctor's office with an odd question. The staffer with whom I spoke was so helpful and calm and recognized that I was frazzled. She got me what I needed. When we ended I was sure to get her name and thank her, then I immediately emailed the doctor to praise the staffer. The doctor replied within half an hour, to my surprise!, and thanked me for the feedback. I plan to do the same for a phone company rep who just explained things to me that the company's store staff couldn't explain accurately when I tried to get answers in person.

Please take a moment to praise good service, so employers know customers value it. And maybe the employees who give good service will benefit!

Anonymous wrote:I use self checkout whenever I can, as well as food delivery instead of going out to eat.
Fortunately even places like the DMV let you do more and more things online, too.

NP. I'm not criticizing those choices, PP, and I do a lot of the same things myself. But I do think one reason for the precipitous decline in customer service is that since the pandemic started, some types of business have shifted so heavily toward self-service, self-checkout, takeout, delivery, that they have little incentive to hire people who have good service skills and less incentive to train employees in how to provide good customer service. And many restaurants during the pandemic lost their experienced, longtime servers, and the replacements are inexperienced and often just don't care about providing service.

I previously worked in customer service. I try to gauge what is in that person's control or not. I escalate if I can tell whatever my issue is, is above that person's pay grade and I need to talk to someone else for resolution. I also think you get what you pay for, and if it's obviously a low paid position, it is what it is.

I use self checkout whenever I can, as well as food delivery instead of going out to eat.
Fortunately even places like the DMV let you do more and more things online, too.

I honestly don’t encounter this much at all, with the exception of doctors offices which seem to be the worst. I never take it personally and I never complain or give attitude back. Just not worth it. However, if they are not able/willing to fulfill their job I do escalate it in whatever way makes sense, but I am polite about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have been rude AF everywhere. Do I let it slide? Depends on how nasty they are to me but as New Yorker I do usually stand up for myself.

Yeah but if you are a white woman and complain about sh*t service you get called a “Karen.” Because we are apparently all supposed to be ok with the decline of manners.

You don’t make the rules about “manners” (which I suspect is simply code for maintaining your privilege). Don’t be so thinned skinned.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just ask to speak to the manager.

Okay Karen!

"Karen" was created to pressure people to accept bad customer service and save corporate $$$. It didn't work for long.

Anonymous wrote:They have been rude AF everywhere. Do I let it slide? Depends on how nasty they are to me but as New Yorker I do usually stand up for myself.

Yeah but if you are a white woman and complain about sh*t service you get called a “Karen.” Because we are apparently all supposed to be ok with the decline of manners.

They have been rude AF everywhere. Do I let it slide? Depends on how nasty they are to me but as New Yorker I do usually stand up for myself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some blue haired B was following and watching me around a store subtly until I noticed. I'm a poc. Plan to report that shthead

I'm Asian, middle-aged, average-looking female living in the suburbs of DC. I get followed and watched by personnel of all races, ages and genders.

I've been followed around stores lately too I think these stores have hired overzealous loss prevention they won't actually stop anyone leaving with cart fulls of unpaid for mech. but they're letting everyone know they are there to "deter" shoplifting. It's getting really old now though.

Anonymous wrote:Some blue haired B was following and watching me around a store subtly until I noticed. I'm a poc. Plan to report that shthead

I'm Asian, middle-aged, average-looking female living in the suburbs of DC. I get followed and watched by personnel of all races, ages and genders.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe I'm noticing more or getting more sensitive but I notice more that some customer service people are not only rude but it's like they are waiting for their next victim. Their next victim to approach and even if I'm kinder than a kitten, it's like they are ready to say something rude or do something annoying.

Is it just me?

Nope not just you. We are all at their mercy right now...

I usually get decent service or no service. I worked both fast food and retail when I was young and know what thankless soul sucking jobs they are and how no matter how hard you work, it’s never going to pay all the bills in the same month, so those employees are likely working two soul sucking thankless jobs and are exhausted. I’m just happy they showed up. BTDT. It would have to be REALLY bad for me to say anything.

No. It's very rare that I don't get passably friendly service.