The Pressure Customer

This customer is almost like the “Keep-Asking Customer” only that this shopper takes it to every level possible. Can’t satisfy his/her needs, they will certainly put so much pressure on you until you give in. They are like a pittbull that will not let go until they have the answer they wanted to hear. They do not care if they are in the wrong because in their head everyone is wrong except them.

Not having it in the store is not going to stop them. You, supervisors and managers are going to have to stop, drop and roll for this customer to get what they need by yesterday. I always shake my head with this customer, e.g. it is Halloween and you decide to come in last minute for a costume and make up and you actually expect to find it here. Or Back To School, did you forget that there are other kids that need school supplies and not just your child? Sorry to disappoint you but that stuff was sold out fast. The early bird catches the worm, remember that phrase? 

Well I do try to give you alternatives but you are just not happy with any of the options I give you and for some reason in your mind this is the only store on the earth you can get these products at. Come on, think outside the box! Go explore your surroundings and voila, look at that, there are actually other stores close by where you can find those products. Yeah, but just complain and tell us how we never have anything on hand because YOU failed to buy things on time.

The 5-Minutes-Before-The Store-Closes Customer

After a long and exhausting day at work we are just happy to leave this prison we nicely call job and head home to enjoy a good meal and spend time with our families. But sometimes fate comes in between and messes with our plans.

Stores nowadays are open for long periods of time (excluding 24/7 stores for obvious reasons). I am pretty sure that ten hours is a long enough time to get your shopping done. We all understand that you might be working as well and need to get something really quick. Believe me you are not the problem. You know exactly what you want, go for it. Walk in store - find product - buy product - leave. But walking in five minutes before we close just because you are bored and have nothing else to do, that is simply unacceptable.

Believe me you might see us smiling and trying to help you find whatever you need but inside we are cursing the living out of you! How many times have I had customers looking for a specific product before we close. You've gotta be kidding me?! You want me to find that ring with the yellow and blue diamond on it that was shaped like a carrot. Uhmm no, that is not going to happen. And then you want to tell me you did not know your friend’s birthday would pop up out of nowhere. Oh and now you decide to look at every single product closely and examine it for the billionth time and ask my opinion on it.

And after staying open after our official closing times you decide to check in some other day. Wow, well I hope you have a pleasant evening as well while I stand here, feet and back hurting, mad and now having to count the money and organize everything for the next day. 

Oh it's all fine, I really didn't want to go home anyways and I did not want to kick up my feet and call it a day and watch my favorite movie on TV.

The True Definition of "Customer"

According to Google.com

Customer

ˈkʌstəmə/

Noun

1. a person who buys goods or services from a shop or business.

"Mr Harrison was a regular customer at the Golden Lion"

Synonyms: shopper, consumer, buyer, purchaser

The actual Meaning

Customer

1. a person who has forgotten the ability to fold clothes; pick things up after themselves; has lost their sense of seeing and understanding (see Zombie for further explanation); thinks they are king/queen of the entire universe; speaks gibberish when agitated and bored; sees the associate as babysitter; psychologist and butler free of charge and after all the above mentioned still wants to be treated as if you were forever in their debt.

The Start of Something Great!

At first this blog was all a silly idea (actually it was supposed to be a book but I think that a blog is faster to update and can reach out to more people). I would come home from work and still feel exhausted about the customers, coworkers and supervisors I had to deal with. I started realizing patterns and things that would really stand out and certainly get on my nerves. As I shared my idea with friends and certain coworkers I realized they were going through the same things with their customers and for many of them this blog is their cry for help.

Many people expect retail associates to always be friendly and act almost like robots but to be honest we all are humans. We have days when we shine but also have days that are our doom and if you get cranky with us then, just be careful because you might get something you didn’t ask for. We have problems and issues we have to deal with in- and outside of our job and sometimes it is just hard for us to separate them. I mean, you have to admit to yourself, you as a customer aren’t always the easiest to get along with, so why would you expect it from us. Your excuse is always, “well you get paid for that”. True but we don’t get paid to babysit YOUR children, to solve YOUR personal issues or to even put up with YOUR unthankful attitude. 

We drag ourselves into work every day to fulfill everyone’s needs and sometimes it just takes a toll on us. So instead of keeping things for myself or just ranting to my coworkers and family, I decided to put an end to it all and work on what only started out as a list of specific customers. I am sure everyone has caught themselves being one of these customers, even myself.

This blog is not to offend anyone, so don't take it to heart but maybe stop and rethink before acting. I hope this blog opens the eyes of customers and maybe even associates. I just wish all the best for the associates struggling and that there may be a way to work things out.