So Busy

ploppysirploppy · 23-06-2007, 18:11

I work in a shop in Accy (don't wanna say which one) every Saturday. I've been there for two and a half years and loved it.... but it can get very busy.... and we get alot of complaints.... alot... I've even had people been very abusive over how big the queues are... but the company won't employ anyone... people shout like it's our fault the queues are huge.
When I'm shopping and have to wait ages, I don't bat an eyelid... It's stressful enough that we have huge queues... but they just won't take on more staff.
Lea
x

Lilly · 23-06-2007, 18:20

How frustrating for you.You don't know how rude some people can be until you've had a job dealing with the general public do you? I know I've had to bite my tongue on a few occasions at work when people have become abusive.I say to them something like 'I can understand your frustrations but please don't speak to me like that,I'm doing my best to help you.If you carry on with your abusive language I shall terminate the call.'
I deal with customers over the phone rather than face to face you see.Keeping calm and assertive usually has the desired effect and they calm down.If you're lucky they might even apologise! It's not easy though when you just feel like telling them to shove it,I know.

andrewb · 23-06-2007, 18:27

I'd tell them "My employer won't employ additional staff to meet the demand so please take it up with them" and give them an address.

ploppysirploppy · 23-06-2007, 18:28

Thank god someone else knows the feeling... it's horrible... even been brought to tears in the middle of the shop because of stress and customers throwing a paddy... that was even more embarrassing than being called all sorts in front of a huge queue. I wish I had you're patience... I just go bright red and stutter hehe
Lea
x

cashman · 23-06-2007, 18:29

know what you mean, suppose i was lucky,used to have my own business, if i used to get an obnoxious customer my favourite line was - Never mistake me for someone who gives a s***, worked very well most of the time.

ploppysirploppy · 23-06-2007, 18:35

Lol, I should use that line....don't care if i get sacked... I'm leaving for Uni anyway
Lea
x

katex · 23-06-2007, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by ploppysirploppy

Lol, I should use that line....don't care if i get sacked... I'm leaving for Uni anyway
Lea
x

Never leave a job on those terms ploppy ..even a Saturday job looks good on a CV .. bite yer tongue til then..x

katex · 23-06-2007, 21:31

What's know as professionalism .. summat you may find is important in today's 'buzz' world of commercial enterprises.

fc:stanley · 24-06-2007, 17:15

Ploppy if they actually do recruit then will you send us a pm im after a job

Margaret Pilkington · 24-06-2007, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by katex

Never leave a job on those terms ploppy ..even a Saturday job looks good on a CV .. bite yer tongue til then..x

I'm with Katex on this one......in fact I used to say...
Be sure your words are soft and sweet, you never know from day to day which ones of them you'll have to eat!

There is never any justification for rudeness, be it from a sales assistant to a customer or vice versa.
If a customer is rude and you are rude, back then you have just lowered your standards down to theirs......and that can't be a good thing.

Margaret Pilkington · 24-06-2007, 18:07

And who knows....you may want to work during those long Uni holidays.

ploppysirploppy · 25-06-2007, 06:52

All true indeedy... I've already been suspended in the passed.... not for those reasons.. in fact I think it was very unfair I got suspended.... (it was paid suspension and apparently I wasn't meant to be suspended so I'm not fussy!).. do you think people looking for staff would take that into account.... My reasons are fair!
Lea
x

WillowTheWhisp · 25-06-2007, 07:35

Unfortunately yes anyone looking for staff will draw up a short list and if there's any reason to suspect you might not be an ideal member of staff you are likely not to make the short list.

I had a job which involved dealing with the general public and sometimes the general public can be a total pain in the posterior, especially when they are complaining about something over which you have no control.

They used to moan about us having less staff on the counter during the busy lunchtime periods but we actually took on part time staff to work those specific hours so that the full time staff could have staggered lunch breaks.

You just can't please some people but it's best to learn to distance yourself from the aggro. You can choose to let it upset you and get you stressed or you can choose to ignore them, be pleasant to them, and just get on with it. They are then the ones who look like unreasonable idiots and you look like a professional who does a good job. If someone is shouting and bawling at you you can choose not to acknowledge them until they calm down and behave in a civilised manner.

lettie · 25-06-2007, 07:57

Oh dear, I have to agree that working with the general public sometimes leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. If you struggle with abuse from the public then don't ever apply for a job in the NHS....

We are terminally short staffed and most Trusts have a recruitment freeze at the moment as far as nursing staff are concerned. We tend to find that patient's relatives are the worst when it comes to abusing staff, the poor patient usually apologises for their relative's outburst after they have gone.

I usually recommend that complaints about waiting times etc are directed to your MP. It's no good complaining to NHS managers, you will receive an apology but nothing will ever be done about the lack of nursing staff on the wards until the government realise that the cash poured into the NHS is being vastly mis-spent on needless managers, accountants and hare-brained schemes.

eggstoocool · 25-06-2007, 08:14

I know exactly how you feel Ploppy!! I work in a really busy service station.... we are so busy that we never have less than 6 cars lined up at each petrol pump... from the minute we open until almost closing time... people have to wait to get petrol.. then they have to wait to pay... we have 8 pumps and 2 cash registers.... its mad... we get abused constantly about waiting times, and we get the blame when the cost goes up... which really is nothing to do with us... the oil company sets the price.. not the retail outlet... and if a customer decides to wander round the shop to buy something, then we get abused even more by the ones waiting behind them at the pump, because they were held up longer waiting for the person to find what they want to buy.

Still life is never dull there and the days fly by because its so busy!!