Thursday, December 10, 2009

Customers think it's all about them


I'm currently working for a fashion chain store in Sydney. The job entails me to fold cardigans. Fold t-shirts. Fold shorts. Rush round after customers who've picked up a skirt and left them lying in the fitting room. Whenever customers crumple a piece of clothing, I have to rush around and put them back again. I don't complain. This is what I'm paid to do.

By ten o'clock, the routine becomes monotonous. It is rather depressing to fold clothes the way the chain store wants it to be. To place different items of clothing into different clothes hangers. At times, I want to scream, "BLOODY HELL! IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUY IT, DON'T PICK IT UP." I don't. I don't complain. This is what I'm paid to do.

Some customers are polite. Others just see through you when you're a sales assistant. Others simply think you're stupid. I don't complain. This is what I'm paid to do.

However, there are times that you want to laugh at the customer. They put a smile on your monotonous routine. Recently, a lady came up to me, complaining that one side of the shoes was HALF A SHADE LIGHTER than the other. Not to mention, the shoes she's currently holding were identical to the one she already has on.

"You must give me a 50% discount. I like the shoes. It's a shame one half is half a shade lighter than the other," the customer said.
"I'm sorry I can't give you a 50% discount. I can give you a 20% discount," I answered. After all, it was 20% off everything in the store.
The customer's cheeks turned red. Ok, just keep calm. Everyone knows the customer is the troublemaker.
"This is ridiculous! If one side of the shoe is HALF A SHADE LIGHTER than the other, I deserve a huge discount!"
"Is there a problem there?" chimes my manager.
"I want a huge discount for these pair of shoes. One side is HALF A SHADE LIGHTER than the other!"
The customer glares at me, as if I'm some imbecile. The manager sees it and sighs.
"Fine, I'll give you a 30% discount".

The customer begrudgingly accepts the deal. She still mumbles, "They should've given me a 50% discount."

As I place the box of shoes into the bag and hand it to the customer - she still complains. All the other sales assistants look at me and chuckle. I chuckle too.

Happy reading,
5ft0

5 comments:

Alex. said...

So much sounds like my job. Same deal, every day.
I feel your pain.

Death Wears Diamond Jewellery said...

this exact thing has happened to me when i was a SA working in a shoe store! the shoes were already on sale and she was demanding a further 50% off.

and i obviously said no. and she wanted to see the manager. who also said no. and she grumbled and glared and stormed out.

i hate customers, seriously.

Emma xx said...

i totally know how you feel...

Icy said...

GAH! Why was your manager rewarding poor behaviour from the customer? It just means she'll only try it again, either at your store or somewhere else.

If she thinks the shoes are faulty, she just shouldn't buy them!

What a poor excuse for a person.

frockandrollonline.com said...

Hahaha oh, I know this feeling! I once worked at David Jones as an Assistant Manager in Ladies Fashion a few years ago and it was, undoubtedly, one of the worst career experiences that I have ever had!

Five Foot Nothing © 2008 | Coded by Randomness | Illustration by Wai | Design by betterinpink!