Veteran retail workers, who are typically the worst customers?
Posted by PaddedValls@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 350 comments
Saw a woman in Markies today just clearly not listening to what the young checkout girl was telling her. Can't imagine having to keep my cool in that situation.
Uncoolusername007@reddit
The older middle class ladies. They never say please or thank you and are generally rude as fuck.
Sea-Wolf-5785@reddit
How'd do you know they're middle class? Find shopping in Lidl super depressing as people have 0 manors, they don't even both putting out the next customer blocks at the check outs, they start unpacking their shopping while your still putting yours in the conveyor belt (super odd) they're either half blind or just completely ignorant of others.
J4c0w@reddit
Currently sat outside the Iceland I work at coming to the end of a 9 hour shift. This is the answer. Everyone else is generally sound, but if I have a problem with a customer, 90% of the time, it's this demographic.
Bundirra@reddit
Old middle class ladies shop at Iceland?
Mysterious_Bite_3207@reddit
😭
230195@reddit
They will with Waitrose bags.
saigonstowaway@reddit
I’ve seen similar with Lidl- obviously well off people go there, buy groceries and then it’s all packed into bags from other supermarkets like Sainsbury’s, M&S or some random local farm shop or something because heaven help you if the neighbours knew you shopped there.
Overdriven91@reddit
I mean I do that just because I go to so many different shops. Why would I use a bag specific to that store when I already have 10 from everywhere else I can just re-use?
WVA1999@reddit
I KNOW MY RIGHTS
neatcleaver@reddit
THIS IS LEGAL TENDER. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T ACCEPT £50 NOTES???
I CAME IN HERE 6 MONTHS AGO NOW EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE. WHY??? THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
Swear if everyone was forced to work retail for a month or two the world would be a kinder place lol
WVA1999@reddit
THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT. END OF.
Icy_Meat_554@reddit
I used to work for Safeway in the mid 90’s and I recall (and have been scarred ever since) by a huge poster they had just before you entered the shop floor that read:
“The customer whether in person or by telephone is the most important person, ever. They are not an interruption of our work,they are the purpose of it “
No-Nefariousness9539@reddit
Safeway… now that’s a name I’ve not heard for a longggg time
godgoo@reddit
Remember Gateway?
Broonmoose@reddit
Yep. Remember Presto?
WVA1999@reddit
That corporate paragraph is 🤢
I'd have had to have thrown an item at the "shop boy" customer
AnkinSkywalker93@reddit
The way they looked at me when I told them the full quote
sanitarypotato@reddit
I kinda believe in a national service, but not the military. At 18 you do 4 years where you work retail, garages, charity shops, telephone customer services, cleaning, bars, restaurants - All that jazz. You get paid for it and all.
After all that you can go to uni or tech or whatever but you have an actual idea of what the world is like and what you enjoy and don't.
messyanywhere@reddit
Yeah man this would be perfect!
JJY93@reddit
Yes! I think retail should be mandatory for six months, and for another six months you can choose between retail, healthcare, military and civil service
Bundirra@reddit
When I worked retail I always used to love those people who'd say they were never coming back.
Like a 19 year old working for minimum wage gives a shit where you shop.
MercyCapsule@reddit
Always used to channel my inner Willy Wonker.
'Oh no, please don't go'
KateEllaBeans@reddit
90% of people would be, but then you get the "I had to deal with this so you do too" arseholes
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Why do you not take £50 notes? Genuine question.
SufficientBox3389@reddit
the note that we get the most fakes of
No-Tone-6853@reddit
Couldn’t take them at the pub I worked in unless they were English but a manager still had to check them. Tbf that’s the only £50 note I’ve seen in years.
PitBullCH@reddit
Here in Switzerland you can quite happily present a CHF 1000 note (approx £950) in most shops, and yes they will have the cash float to cover it for change several times over.
TangoMikeOne@reddit
Same for me when I worked in a McDonald's, I'd always check it, then get a manager to verify it and then if it passed, accept it - I saw a few. We did get a few Mickey Mouse fivers, tenners and scores and looking and feeling them I had no idea how some of them were accepted (standard printer paper, no raised areas, "bearded" Queen, etc)
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Fine but you have a counterfeit note checker don't you?
bezdancing@reddit
There was counterfeit notes around twenty years ago that passed uv pen and light tests.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Has tech not moved on?
Drath101@reddit
No because it is cheaper and easier to not take 50's for most businesses
squidgy314159@reddit
Almost always used to pay for a £10 or less sale because they just want to break it into smaller notes and all the banks are gone, so all your note change is cleared out after 2 or 3 of these.
pajamakitten@reddit
Saw this in Sainsbury's last week. She was complaining that there was only one manual checkout open and the queue was taking too long. It is not like this was a new development, that has been the case at that Sainsbury's for years now. All she did was make it so a kid had to put the food back (and waste anything that could not be) and wasted her own time going to another supermarket to do her shopping again.
NOT-Bolvar-Fordragon@reddit
"in matters of taste"
GODS I miss saying that to entitled little shits
ViscountGris@reddit
Can I speak to the manager please.
AnkinSkywalker93@reddit
Even that’s too polite! “I want to speak to YOUR manager!” Is more the tone of the Karen
qt4u2nv@reddit
Okay Karen 🙂↔️
TheLittleSquire@reddit
Oh God this hurts my soul.
Victorius_Meldrus@reddit
See also:
Elderly people who suddenly become significantly more wobbly and infirm whenever they want something or when making a complaint, before straightening up and striding to their Range Rover double parked across two disabled bays.
cactusdan94@reddit
My dad knows someone who has been cabin crew for years.
She said she would pick a plane full of rowdy drunk stag and hen do's, over a quite flight full of older middle class couples ANY DAY.
She said they talk to you like literal shit.
Westsidepipeway@reddit
I have told my mum off about this so many times. She makes me cringe with the way she talks to people. So rude
Smooky28@reddit
I absolutely agree with this. There's something either in their psych-y or something deeply seated that makes them utter bastards. Younger women report being easily bullied by them and I don't know why. We should always be there for them, instead of these old bitter wrinkly bats.
LankyYogurt7737@reddit
This is where the Karen meme comes from btw
Upbeat-Fish-3348@reddit
I've not done retail but have spent the last 3/4 years doing customer service on the phones and I have to agree. I regularly get these "Karens" who tell me to get on with it on, shut up or that they don't want to listen to me because I'm talking rubbish.
I had one the other day who was a complete arse & she kept pressing the buttons on her phone, asking me to hurry up and kept putting me on hold whilst driving. I was so close to rage quitting and telling her to fuck off & crash.
ashensfan123@reddit
I hate it when people keep pressing the buttons on their phone when I'm talking to them as if that'll suddenly get their answer quicker when I'm in the middle of talking to them.
BandNervous@reddit
The people that are ‘rich’ but not crazy money are generally the rudest, as a general rule the very very successful have to have decent people skills and know that most people will help you more if you’re polite
jamesbest7@reddit
100% this!
L-EH77@reddit
I concur. Most of them have never worked a day in their lives.
One-Staff5504@reddit
The ones that reply “okay” when you thank them. Utter twats.
boooogetoffthestage@reddit
“Morning, how’re you?” “2 bags” people enter a shop and forget all their home training. Talking on the phone through the entire process and then deliberately avoiding you hand to put money directly on the counter
Vampirero@reddit
I've never really worked in retail, but as a customer I just cannot imagine being this rude. People who work in retail work long hours for very little pay and deserve a lot of gratitude in my book. I couldn't imagine working every day with so many members of the random public who may be so horrible.
popshares@reddit
Remember during Covid when the lowly retail worker suddenly became an essential worker? All those people who thought the sun shone out their arses suddenly became unimportant, but we had to have shop workers and lorry drivers or we were going to starve.
Once the emergency was over, how quickly we forgot the people we really rely upon.
Ohtherewearethen@reddit
I always say that, much like 'National Service', every single person should have to spend a year working in a people-facing role with members of the public. I honestly think it would make society as a whole a better place.
MathematicianOnly688@reddit
You’re right. I worked retail for 19 years and honestly probably 95-99% of the time just eye contact and a smile or nod is more than enough for me.
Literally just acknowledge my existence, that’s how low the bar is.
However, there is something about the way a certain demographic says ‘okay’ that is particular condescending.
ChaosControl-@reddit
Adding to that, the ones who reply "okay" when you say hello to them.
MathematicianOnly688@reddit
You’re right. I worked retail for 19 years and honestly probably 95-99% of the time just eye contact and a smile or nod is more than enough for me.
There is something about the way a certain demographic says ‘okay’ is particular condescending.
jebiccaaa@reddit
I've always said this!! especially the ones who are mums
Agitated_Parsnip_178@reddit
Increasingly deaf, technologically inept, mournful of the loss of their adult children and aware of their deteriorating social currency = a formula for bitterness in public.
YogurtclosetPale4218@reddit
snuck in some incel speak for good measure did you
Agitated_Parsnip_178@reddit
Have a Google of 'aging' and actually talk to these people about their regrets, frustrations and fears. This isn't rocket science.
hocfutuis@reddit
Absolutely, and whilst not exactly middle class, I'm conscious that I'm heading into what has always been my 'danger age' regarding customers, so I try to be extra nice. Unfortunately, where I work now, they make up our main base, but I'm a bit more confident now, and not willing to put up with their crap the way I did when I was younger.
pajamakitten@reddit
They are rude everywhere, not just in retail. They always seem to think they are better than you and seem to expect you to drop everything to help them.
newuser34562@reddit
Hahah, was about to say the same. From a customer service perspective, It’s always the married ones. Then they gaslight their husbands into getting involved, but they don’t communicate with each other. So you give one of them an answer and then you have the other call the next day, absolutely fuming, saying you never gave them an update. Fucking arseholes.
wiggle987@reddit
Holy moly, had one the other day, our contactless payments went down for a period and the woman who wanted to pay contactless said "well if I can't pay for it then you have to give it to me, they do it in Asda!" With the straightest face imaginable.
h00dman@reddit
It always made me laugh when these couples would come into the shop looking for men's clothes, and so often I'd ask the man if he was happy and he'd turn to his wife and ask "Darling, do we like this?"
Bonar_Ballsington@reddit
They always start with that accusational “Uuummm” sound of outrage
nottomelvinbrag@reddit
I suspect you already know this bit it's the same in hospitality
beernon@reddit
Absolutely this! In their 40s-60s. They always force this unpleasant air of superiority to them. They refuse to even give you a single world as if you’re not worth it.
cbrownmufc@reddit
Worked in retail years ago. I found posh people were far more likely to be arrogant and less friendly than working class people.
One day I said, ‘morning mate’ to which he replied, ‘do not address me as mate. I am no mate of yours’
BungadinRidesAgain@reddit
"Sorry, cunt!"
AlwaysTheKop@reddit
Women 35+
Younger customers are actually really polite! Obviously you have your odd ones who aren't but the majority are lovely.
But yeah, women over 35 all the way to old age, unfortunately more times than not, they can be insufferable and mean.
Most men are quite nice, some are annoying and think they are funny, but rarely from a place of nastiness though, just acting the clown, which depending on the circumstance can be a pain.
_weedkiller_@reddit
If someone lives to 70 years old 35 is only half way through their life. You are trying to insinuate they are “old” and therefore going to bed early?
Anyway, I’ve read all the way down to your comment and most of the comments ahead of yours say older people (not middle aged people) in particular older men.
AlwaysTheKop@reddit
I'm 35... where the hell did you get the 'insinuate they are going to bed early' part lol!? Don't get butt hurt because your age range and sex is listed... If you're offended by it that tells me you know you're one of the problem customers mentioned... Like I said 'most'.. not all.
_weedkiller_@reddit
“35+ crowd heading to bed”
AlwaysTheKop@reddit
It was past like 10pm when I commented... A very standard time for bed...
Victorius_Meldrus@reddit
I work for a Builder's Merchant.
The tradesmen. Usually the joiners.
It's utterly terrifying how many of these blokes (it's always the men, the women tradies invaribaly hold their work to a higher standard, in my experience) either have no fucking idea what they're doing, or simply don't care because most of their customers won't have the knowledge to spot anything resembling poor handywork beyond basic fit and finish.
I'd estimate that about half of them confuse Phillips and Pozidriv standards and then blame the screws because they keep rounding off the heads. A frightening number are hanging large, modern flat screen televisions on walls with speed plugs. And an even larger number have never been shown how to install a hammer fixing correctly.
The amount of times I've heard "I'm not fussed, it's not my house", or "I'll be long gone before there are any issues" is exasperating.
And when they do ask for advice, and you tell them something they don't want to hear, you're met with "I've been doing this X years, I think I know better than you!"
Then there's the farting. The endless farting. Bad farts, too. Burgers, chips and fizzy drink farts.
Besides gas and major electrical jobs, I do all my own work on my house now. They'te not all bad, but fuck me, these guys need to be properly licensed.
MDK1980@reddit
Customers who like to sound like they've got one up on you by throwing around "the customer is always right" without knowing it's actually "the customer is always right in matters of taste".
qgwheurbwb1i@reddit
Older people. I don't work in retail anymore, but I did 10 years while I was studying and finding my feet.
I worked in the home shopping department. So I'd walk around the shop and pick the items that someone had ordered online and a driver would deliver them. I'd be walking around the shop just doing my job as teenager, and I'd regularly get old people shouting at me.
"Why have YOU put the price of bread up?! It's 5p more than last week, why have YOU done that??"
I earned minimum wage and was spoken to like shit by everyone in charge, do you really think that one of the biggest supermarkets in the country would leave its pricing in the hands of a teenage girl?
No one asked or cares, but whenever I was shouted at or spoken to like shit my management, I would put free items in the shopping order. My manager shouted at me in the middle of an aisle surrounded by customers because I came off my break 2 minutes later than I should have done. I stood and nodded while he ranted at me, and as soon he turned around I gave the order I was picking an extra two bottles of whiskey and a joint of beef. I fucking hated that job, I gave so much free shit away 🤣 I did it on the tills too, if a customer had multiple of one thing on the conveyor belt, I'd just scan one and let them have the rest for free.
Tony_Meatballs_00@reddit
Recently it's the "cash is king" twats
Like we accept cash anyway but these pests will still make a fuss at the drop of a hat
You encounter them as a customer too. I use cash sometimes and often mention to whoever is behind me in the line to go ahead if they're using card as I'm waiting on the cash checkout and usually you'll get a "ah thanks" but often when the person is using cash they get all annoyed you had the nerve to think they're using card
I didn't know why so many people seemed to be getting annoyed at me saying "you can go on ahead if you're using card" till it clicked recently
squidgy314159@reddit
Cash handling is now more expensive than card, but you trying convincing them of that.
Possible-Highway7898@reddit
How is it more expensive? I'm not doubting you, just asking for more information.
squidgy314159@reddit
Hi, no problem, always happy to answer questions if I can.
Natwest, my business bank, charges 95p per £100 paid in, I could pay in around £2000 per week cash, costing me around £190 in charges. Instead I use some of the cash to pay local suppliers.
When I need change I have to buy it from the bank, I have had a quick look for the costs but cannot find the exact figure I pay, I guess it's around 1 or 2 percent. Again this all eats in and I try to buy my change from a few people who have cash only businesses and end up with too much change.
My card services cost me about 80p per £100, but that is across £40,000 sales per week.
The last big thing for me is theft, safety and security, if I was taking £20k or £30k cash a week, as I have done the equivalent in businesses in the 1990's, the chances of staff theft, robbery and after hours break ins are many, many times higher than now, I used to have to have a Securicor van pull up 3 times a week, now I have a small safe with never more than £4000 in it, including the coins.
Possible-Highway7898@reddit
That all makes sense, thanks for the answer
sequentialogic@reddit
I automatically assume they're a magna carta sovereign citizen. Likewise any small business that is cash only / cash preferred is always diddling their taxes. Cash is more expensive to handle than card.
Tony_Meatballs_00@reddit
They're absolutely on the Facebook comment section spectrum to one degree or another
Fuckin pests
Zerosix_K@reddit
People with higher class / paying jobs that think they are better than retail workers. Usually the type that were furloughed during COVID and didn't get the kick up the arse that told them their job wasn't as important as they think it is.
frottagecore@reddit
First ones that come to mind: • customers who follow me around the shop asking for a discount. bear in mind I work in the spenny supermarket and these people can afford it • a middle aged man who shouted at me because he thought I deliberately wasn’t taking 50p off his croissant • multiple couples trying to fight me on whether it’s really after 7pm, because our meat and fish counter closes at 7. Also can I reopen it when the only person trained on it has already closed it down and gone home • ancient people who are well beyond driving smashing into parked vehicles in our car park • one particular middle aged woman who never says please or thank you and constantly looks like she’s sucking a lemon, is known in the shop as “arsey woman” • “It used to be here but you moved it” well it’s never been here and I’m correct because I’m here 4 times a week for years, but sure, the customer is always right 🤪
Renownaba@reddit
not retail exactly but have spent some years in customer facing roles in the fraud department at a bank. probably my biggest overarching observation is that boomers across all socioeconomic statuses are the ones who fall for the sorts of scams a blind person could see and then abandon any sense of responsibility after the fact. just to illustrate an example: they'll click on a scam link on facebook, put their card details across, either they will alert the bank or the bank will alert them of suspicious charges, and then they'll go absolutely wild about having to have their card reissued and go through the chargeback process to try and recover funds.
contrary to what you might expect the silent generation tend to be surprisingly switched on by comparison to boomers. obviously some of them still get catfished big time by fraudsters but i think when older people get past a certain point and increasingly vulnerable they enter into a sort of self-preservation mindset and the sorts of behaviours they adopt seems to reduce their risk of being scammed.
boomers, by comparison, are old enough to think they know everything but still young enough to learn a lesson. i've seen many of them learn some seriously expensive lessons through the dangerous combination of arrogance and ignorance.
in my younger days i worked for a clown in his drive-thru operation. i think the public treat you differently in different settings. in a telephony or chat-based role most of them would say things they wouldn't dare say to someone face to face even if their subconscious told them the person they're berating or thinking of berating is likely going to have the courage to match their energy. main trend i observed from face to face was that when annoyed, men tend to be difficult more than anything else but women can be seriously nasty.
Adventurous_Deal2788@reddit
Middle aged men and older ladies in my experience. If you've been doing retail a while and I'm not talking about seasoned veterans with 10 years service even in the first year you will be able to pick out the Karen's from their facial expressions
Ill-Appointment6494@reddit
A lot of shoppers at Christmas. It brings out the worst in people.
glasgowgeg@reddit
The people that go shopping at Christmas appear to never leave their house the other 11 months of the year.
SatiricalScrotum@reddit
‘Tis the season
forzamaria@reddit
The ones who act fake nice because they want something and the rude ones who don't say please or thank you and use their phone whilst youre serving them
glasgowgeg@reddit
I used to just tell them they could rejoin the queue once done with their phone call and serve the next person.
beehive-cluster@reddit
to be fair, many servers these days ignore you as much as possible too
forzamaria@reddit
That's fair but to be talking on the phone is pure ignorance
forzamaria@reddit
Down voters probably never worked a day dealing with humans in their life lmao
knight-under-stars@reddit
Old people.
Entitled, ignorant, unprepared, rude and they think their age allows all this.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
I'm 50 odd, you be asking me for I'd to buy a lottery ticket or get an energy drink, you're damn right I'll be entitled, ignorant, unprepared and rude. I'll also take my business elsewhere.
knight-under-stars@reddit
theworldsaplayground@reddit
My wife got ID for a scratchcard, she was 36 so, yes they absolutely do ID for lottery and energy drinks. People get ID'd for things like plastic knives.
You sound like one of those middle aged women that everyone in the thread complains about.
knight-under-stars@reddit
I can only reply to what you write. If that is barely literate to the point it is misunderstood that is on you.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
What are you taking about?
knight-under-stars@reddit
I replied to the incoherent original comment you made.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Just because you have reading difficulties doesn't make it incoherent.
knight-under-stars@reddit
Nothing wrong with my comprehension skills bub.
Your writing skills, and well let's be honest maturity levels for someone in their 50s are quite frankly however embarrassing.
2wrtjbdsgj@reddit
Awful grammar in this sentence, oh literate one.
leonardo_davincu@reddit
You are literally that middle aged women, but you’re so arrogant, so self centered, that you don’t even realise it.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Thanks man.
onyx_gaze@reddit
Actually, it seems like the person misunderstood what you said because you misspelled ID'd.
2wrtjbdsgj@reddit
That's not what he was saying re point no. 2
He's saying that he gets asked for ID when he buys lottery tickets or energy drinks
Extra_Actuary8244@reddit
We literally do not give a fuck if you take your business elsewhere we get paid the same regardless but if we don’t follow orders we lose our jobs, go be a prick in another shop
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Bruh, know you don't gaf but if enough people stood up to these stupid ideas and left a trolley full of shopping at the checkout everytime an 80 year old is id'd for a lighter maybe the management might realise it's costing them money and relax a bit.
leonardo_davincu@reddit
50 years old and using words like “bruh” and “gaf”
Hahahaha oh boy!
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Bruh.
Viking-Bastard-XIV@reddit
Someone that’s serving you and is just doing their job, and you admit you’re going to be entitled, ignorant and rude to them. Do you think it’s their idea to make these offers to you?
It’s not your age, as you’re only 50, you’re just a wazzock.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
No I think it's the company employing them but I also think is a stupid idea. Honestly, it would be more of a statement than anything else but in these trying times we gotta make a stand.
Successful-Soup-7733@reddit
Sure bud, take a stand against some kid asking for your ID for a lottery ticket 😂 you’ll go down in the history books for that
theworldsaplayground@reddit
Missing the point bud. Why is the kid iding a 50 year old, are they that stupid?
knight-under-stars@reddit
Because if they don't they risk losing their job.
Are you that stupid?
theworldsaplayground@reddit
I think you're the stupid one. This is going so far over your head. Why, are we, as a nation in a position that a kid will get fired for iding? I understand protecting the youth from knives, cigarettes, gambling and alcohol but it's either bad training, stupidity or both that thinks asking a 50 year old dude with a long grey beard, tattoos and stood there with wife and kids is a good idea and the fact that the Company agrees with these insane actions and people like you are too.
pajamakitten@reddit
Martin Luther King would be proud of you.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
I have a dream...
I dream that one day my two children will be able to go into a store, when clearly over the age of 18 to any normal person and buy a restricted item..
onyx_gaze@reddit
Oh nooo.
sci-fi_hi-fi@reddit
You've very succinctly proved the point.
Successful-Soup-7733@reddit
Case and point haha
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
I sadly got to agree with it. Young people are fine (unless they try to show off) they are easy to handle
wildOldcheesecake@reddit
Generally if found younger people to be quite polite and courteous.
Cal2k1@reddit
Not just me who thinks this then!
h00dman@reddit
On this website? You couldn't possibly have thought you were alone.
Commercial-Judge437@reddit
Sounds exactly like my 85 year old father - he can’t do polite to anyone!
RhubarbSalty3588@reddit
A family friend who has worked as a manager of a local shopping centre for some 50 years has always said this.
Emilyx33x@reddit
Can be men or women but they’re always 60+. Not all but a rare few, when they don’t get their way (specific situation I’m thinking of is when i said no they cannot return something over a year after they bought it).
They will play all the cards - ‘my consumer rights’, ‘i’m a retired solicitor’, ‘i’ve come all this way’, ‘you need to have some respect’, ‘i’m not leaving until…’, ‘i want to speak to your manager’.
Love that last one so I can whip out the ‘i am the manager’. But they do it to try and intimidate and belittle. I’m 24 but get mistaken for a teenager ‘you’re just a saturday girl so what do you know’ so they think they can wear me down and get their way by being rude and arrogant. Never works for them.
non-hyphenated_@reddit
Honestly, it's all of them. The young that just grunt or stare, the middle aged that think they're smart, the old that can't or won't understand. Every. Single. Demographic has it's awful people
smay1989@reddit
I think old people have to be the worst, struggle to hear you, struggle with technology, are increadibly slow in a busy fast paced environment, take forever to understand the simplest transactions and then get arsey because you dont have the patience of a saint.
Fattydog@reddit
So you think the most awful people are those who can’t really help most of the issues you listed.
Imagine blaming the deaf for not hearing properly. That’s mean as fuck.
AlwaysSnacking22@reddit
I agree, we constantly used to have heroin addicts coming in stealing high value items because we had a no questions asked cash refund policy even without a receipt (Lakeland Limited).
And one angry aggressive posh older man physically threatened me and called me stupid.
People who struggled with technology, mobility or disability were a joy to serve compared to this.
smay1989@reddit
Im not blaming them, im just saying that having worked in retail i hate them
Kim_catiko@reddit
This made me lol. So blunt.
Extra_Actuary8244@reddit
They can help it 99% of the time they’re just being lazy and they also speak to you like absolute shit for trying to help or explain to them what they need to do
pajamakitten@reddit
No excuse for not knowing how things like self service work. It has been common for close to twenty years now.
h00dman@reddit
Stick a pair of headphones on them and this has practically described Gen's Z and Alpha (except for the crack of dawn part).
AlwaysSnacking22@reddit
We used to have a possibly mentally ill, highly strung, upper class artist come into my shop. He called me stupid and lifted his arm threatening to hit me once when I didn't answer a question to his liking.
Some are definitely worse than others.
ChoakIsland@reddit
If everyone you meet seems like an a hole, it might be you?
Buffetwarrenn@reddit
That’s not what they said
ChoakIsland@reddit
Really?
non-hyphenated_@reddit
Are you struggling here big guy? Let me help you. Every demographic - that means all people regardless of age, income or background. So all people. The next bit refers to the fact that some people in all groups are awful. Is that a big leap? To say that no matter your age, income or social background, there are awful people in that cohort?
onyx_gaze@reddit
"Them" meaning demographics, not people. It should be pretty obvious when he says "Every. Single. Demographic has its awful people."
ChoakIsland@reddit
I'm not replying to OP. But the person who actually says old, middle aged and the young all of them.
Expensive_Star8981@reddit
They are right though. Every demographic has its nightmare customers, just as every demographic also has it's absolutely brilliant customers. Just as a customer observing other customers, Gen Z and Gen Alpha can have stunted social skills so mostly mean no harm but are nonetheless rude af. Millennials tend to be sound but the ones pushing 40 can be particularly vile (hate to sound sexist as I am a woman and this is coming for me one day but peri-menopausal women can particularly be menacing). Gen X are becoming boomerified, Boomers are boomers but deaf now, love that. Doesn't take away the fact a lot of customers in these demographics are also so lovely and very polite.
Menaces in every walk of life, I guess.
disappointingcryptid@reddit
They said every demographic has awful people, not that everyone is awful
Huge___Milkers@reddit
Not sure how you got to this conclusion from the comment.
You reading something else?
RuinedMyHoliday@reddit
Spoken like someone who's never worked retail 😅
applepiezeyes@reddit
The correct answer.
Reasonable-Cut-6137@reddit
Only good customer service you will ever find in this country is from indepedent businesses run by owners. Self service is and online the best thing that ever happened in retail. Dont have to deal with retail staff anymore. Good riddance!
BigFloofRabbit@reddit
Tradesmen, drunk people and middle class women. Without a doubt.
leonardo_davincu@reddit
Tradesmen 1000%.
Tradesmen have this weird victim complex where they think everyone from desk job workers to CEO’s look down on them. Yet they treat shop workers like literal shit.
Drath101@reddit
Tradesmen are either absolutely solid, or complete arseholes in my experience. They have a weird complex about having THE hardest job. I might be sat on a till now at 9am, but at 4am I was out in the pissing rain emptying a lorry on a yard, and I'll be back there again in 20 minutes. Yet, they're always going "you think you're tired? We're out on the SITE at NINE AM in the RAIN". Yeah mate sounds terrible, I couldn't possibly imagine
kavik2022@reddit
In fairness most trades also do like a hour of actual work a day
DevilishlyHandsome63@reddit
Haha so true. Just had some building work done where I work,and most of their days were spent looking at holes or gaps on site, in groups, sucking air through their teeth.
Drath101@reddit
As a retail manager, I did have numerous former-trades employees give up on doing backdoor because they couldn't hack ACTUALLY being expected to stay moving their whole shift, not sitting drinking coffee between each lorry
aenemyrums@reddit
Are you sure it's only the tradies who "have a weird complex about having THE hardest job"?
Drath101@reddit
Fairly certain, yes
Worktop-pigeons@reddit
Not a retail manager, but I do work nights in a large supermarket. Every once in a while, a tradie (usually day labourer) starts because it’s near enough the same pay but they think it’s easier. They usually last a couple of days before leaving due to the heavy work load. One lasted a month once.
Drath101@reddit
Nights work hard, in my experience. I did days and nights at different points in life and the physical graft surprises quite a few new starters
Bitter_Tradition_938@reddit
That is a ridiculous thing to say!
get_muni@reddit
Working retail is not a difficult job btw
Drath101@reddit
Mate all you post about is drugs and designer clothes, come off it
get_muni@reddit
And you’re winging about working retail. Know what one of us I’d rather be
Wasn’t even having a dig at you either
sweepyjones@reddit
*whinging
get_muni@reddit
Cheers mate
Drath101@reddit
"Which one", bud. It's melting your brain
get_muni@reddit
What’s melting my brain? The cocaine I don’t use? Proper bitter you mate
Death_Binge@reddit
Oh man, my dad is like this. I come from a family of tradies, but he's the worst for it - will happily drone on and drone about how hard his job is. It's a weird sort of puritanism almost, like physical labour makes your work morally superior or something.
The best thing to do, I've found, is to agree. Don't try to out-misery them. Yes, dad, rolling out of bed 30 minutes before I start my desk job shift from home is pretty cushy, I agree! It's why I continue to work the job!
WVA1999@reddit
Hard work tax dodging tbf
IcyKnowledge6321@reddit
Tradesmen are also the pickiest eaters, i've found (hospitality), and they sulk if you don't do things exactly how they like it. Looking at the menu of 30 items and complaining that we 'don't have anything' because we're out of burgers.
Aaron123111@reddit
The one having a conversation on their phone and getting annoyed because of you can’t read minds so have no idea what they want from you
WaspsForDinner@reddit
With online retail, it's typically the people who spend the least that make the biggest fuss - especially if it's over nothing.
releasethekaren@reddit
Those middle aged women who somehow have a smaller, angrier middle aged woman accompanying them who will argue with everything you say
BlackJackKetchum@reddit
This is all profoundly depressing. I’m in my high fifties and work on the basis that everyone I encounter is entitled to civility, eye contact and recognition of shared humanity. Not a lot of effort’s required for that, is it?
LauraPa1mer@reddit
Oh, I never look into people's eyes. Didn't realise people thought that was disrespectful? I am just autistic and it's too intense to look into people's eyes. Plus they always look away when I do, making it feel more awkward.
_weedkiller_@reddit
I am autistic too. I find eye contact overly intimate and intrusive especially when done by a stranger. I understand non autistic people do not experience it that way but I don’t think either way is more or less valid. I do believe non autistics are more likely to judge though whereas autistic people are more open minded about social styles.
FlippedHope@reddit
Lots of people gaze at the area between the eyebrows from time to time. Far less intense and works socially.
BlackJackKetchum@reddit
I try to make a bit of eye contact, but don’t hold long because no-one (?), including me, is comfortable with too much of it.
Nice_Departure3051@reddit
same here (except in my early 30s). cannot imagine why anyone would do otherwise.
i always make eye contact and ask how they are - but it’s kinda sad when it’s met with surprise, because it shows how seldom this happens.
Raspberry_Rippled@reddit
Older middle class ladies. You could spot them a mile off, they always get dressed up to shop.
Amazing-Horse732@reddit
An older dressed up lady once snapped her fingers at me when I worked in Waitrose. Not the worst though, that was a woman coming through with her young daughter who said while I was scanning that she wanted to do that job when she's older. I just laughed and said it was fun but her mum told her not to be so stupid, you'll do something much better. Squished her bread when I packed it though so I'm the real winner
Unique-Recipe-4499@reddit
A woman once said to her daughter while I was scanning her shopping 'if you don't pay attention at school, you'll be wasting your life like this girl, no offence." She got very quiet when I told her that I was doing my masters degree!
lizzie_knits@reddit
A woman once did the same in front of me. I told her I gave up my place in medical school to work to support my little brother and sister after our parents died in a car crash. Her face was an absolute picture. It was all a lie, I just wanted her to fuck off.
No_External_417@reddit
I mean they're really the stupid ones, how would they buy their shopping if no one worked on tills or stacked shelves? Even self service needs someone on it.
rocketscientology@reddit
Snap! I once made a small mistake while scanning a woman’s groceries and she said to her daughter, “see? that’s where you’ll end up if you don’t pay attention at school!” I was halfway through a fucking law degree, but even if I hadn’t been, what an unbelievably cunty thing to say in front of anyone lol.
Kdramakweenn@reddit
Omg i am so sorry, what an asshole.
Ro_designs@reddit
I was helping a disabled person carry her shopping to her car one time when someone stopped me and asked me where the eggs were. I told her, then turned to continued, arms full of like 3 heavy bags, and heard an exhasperated sigh, before putting her hand on my shoulder really hard, digging her nails in, and demanding I go and get her a box of eggs.
Now, this is a shop where you bring your groceries to the till yourself. I only help the first customer because she can't carry much by herself. (and she asks really nicely, and waits unil there's a lapse in the queue to ask.)
I say sorry, i'm busy, I help the first customer then go back to the till where a queue is forming again. Later my manager says she went on a long rant at him about how rude I was. He told her she had to get her own eggs and she literally screamed at him.
the walk to the managers office is 2x as far as the eggs. :/
Arabatta@reddit
100%, even not middle class women. Any around that age seem to be the rudest.
SoggyWotsits@reddit
Any bad attitude aside, there’s nothing wrong with making an effort!
Raspberry_Rippled@reddit
Not at all, it's nice to get dressed up. However that combination (middle aged woman and dressed up for shopping) is one to be wary of if you work in retail.
Thankfully I no longer work in retail.
ParkerR666@reddit
Older middle class women. My favourite was a lady who stood in the wrong place on a busy day completely missing the queue. I politely apologised but said I’d have to ask her to join the line. She was so mortified to turn and see the queue of death stares looking at her that her instinct was to be rude to me instead and subsequently put down her baskets and walk out when I refused to serve her. It was clearly that night’s tea and we were the only shop open that time on a Sunday so I did chuckle to myself.
section20sniper84@reddit
Those people only after the yellow label final reductions on purpose
Professional-Long-D@reddit
Had a guy today, who after being warned we're closing soon and due to our alcohol trading license we won't be able to sell him the booze in his basket in a few minutes. He proceeded to have a very loud phone call on loudspeaker till after our trading licence expired then got really shitty that he couldn't buy his beers. People like him are the worse. Have some awareness please.
jimmywhereareya@reddit
The women whose partners are drug dealers. Cheeky little slags
TommyRibena@reddit
Without taking the moral high ground and saying “all types of people” ima go ahead and just say it. It’s black women in restaurants (not all ofc), they are loud, obnoxious, rude, demanding, and just generally rude compared to everyone else.
But ofc I would come across as racist, but I’d rather be a correct racist than a liar racist
PlanktonLopsided9473@reddit
Old middle class people. They are the most entitled group of people you will ever meet
Immediate-Fix6393@reddit
Smackheads.
darkrisingmitch@reddit
entitled people, needy and ignorant to their own responsibilities in a civilised society. they can come from any demographic, education level or political persuasion from my experience. (24 yrs retail management)
lucylucylane@reddit
The boomers are the worst by a long shot, they have a feeling that they are a better harder working tougher generation when in reality hey are the most privileged lucky wealthiest generation
MrPejorative@reddit
The middle aged couples who shop during the day are the worst. The day-walkers I called them. Woman pushing the trolley, middle aged man in jeans with his hands in his pockets lumbering behind her. They have all the time in the world and comment on everything they see. They're friendly and rude at the same time. They take up so much of your time.
They're also the most likely to accuse you of moving things "just to confuse them", the biggest myth in retail.
Queasy-Ice-2575@reddit
I literally had a guy come up to me in the middle of the store asking where the checkouts are, despite the fact they take up about a quarter of the store and he would've walked past them to get around. Genuine questions I can understand but lazy lazy people who just cannot be arsed to look for things are just embarrassing. You left your house and found your way across the city to be here, you can find the milk section, I promise.
Prudent-Level-7006@reddit
People on the high end of posh and really stuck up, or really thick hostile chav. Polar opposites but they're the rudest. Somewhere in the middle is the middle class or just rich loud bro who's a bit chav. Also lack of decent sense of humour.
I'm only calling the actually rude ones rude, like not actually typecasting, most of them are lovely, just come off a bit brash or high strung. But some customers have zero self awareness, or empathy, think the world revolves around them, they can do no wrong and basically treat you like an object
throwaway_321236@reddit
A middle-aged white woman. Nothing compares to their self - entitlement
CuppaJos@reddit
I worked in CEX through college and was physically attacked, spat at, stalked and verbally harassed multiple times
ThePhantomKyodai@reddit
Former Cinema Worker here and I frequently found that when kids were trying to blab their way into a 15/18 film, it wasn't the kids who were the problem, it was the parents.
"He's 15, As his parent you should believe me"
or
"I know my son and he wouldn't lie about his age"
There was one occasion where I refused entry to a clearly under 15 year old who didn't have ID. Kid rang his father and the father demanded to speak to me over the phone to which I said "you could have anyone on the other end of that phone and you still don't have ID" The Father ended up coming into the cinema, shouted abuse at staff, management and ended up having to be escorted out of the building by security.
Ah, fun times.
Fancy-Childhood-7116@reddit
Stuck up old people who refuse to understand that things change. Or parents who let their young children run wild.
turdboithe2nd@reddit
I'm a teen and find parents letting toddlers run free annoying so whoever does that fuck you
Scottyrubix@reddit
Christ that's me.
My son is 2 and absolutely loves running around Aldi on a Friday night. He's harmless, high energy and runs up and down the aisles whilst my wife does the shopping and I chase him. It's one of the highlights of the week for me
Extra_Actuary8244@reddit
I’m assuming this is rage bait but if it’s not, it’s not harmless because your kid is throwing and knocking shit on the floor when you’re not watching and being a major inconvenience for everyone around them trying to not knock your kid over
turdboithe2nd@reddit
That's fine, it's the ones with kids that bother people, ask questions, mess with stuff and the parents are just acting as if it's completely fine and just looking at their phone that pisses me off
Terrible_Captain7112@reddit
Tbf, I don't think a Dad a son playing is what they're describing, actually
Its the parents that let their 3-8 year old children full on sprint around the Isles without any supervision or a care for what they're doing and never tell them off.
That stuff used to bother me. A father playing with his toddler, I find cute.
Beginning-Poetry373@reddit
Just do you. I find the presence of teens annoying
Unlucky-Public-2947@reddit
Used to work in the west end about 30 years ago and this really rude farmer type came in one day completely smelling of shit, mentioned it to some other people and they had see him as well but on a different day.
Seems like once a month he would cover himself in manure and come to london and just walk about being rude to people and laughing to himself.
SatiricalScrotum@reddit
I dunno, man. I kinda love this guy.
Unlucky-Public-2947@reddit
I mean I sort of get it, but the smell was mental.
HatOfFlavour@reddit
Man shits himself to trigger others.
Unlucky-Public-2947@reddit
He definitely didn’t shit himself, he wasn’t a human smell, I grew up in the countryside, it was manure.
Chronically_Quirky@reddit
Not retail work but I used to work in a high street bank.
The rudest customers were those in the age bracket of 60 - 75 mainly and middle class people, especially if you needed to see ID, it was like a red rag to a bull the moment you asked and would dread asking.
I never had any issues with younger people.
Ok-Salary3550@reddit
Agree with this. Once got told by some old geezer I shouldn’t be in my job (that I’d been in for about a month) because I didn’t recognise him straight off the bat.
Ah well, he’s probably dead now.
obstinatia@reddit
They're the same ones who moan about security procedures... like OK, I'll just let any ole stranger into your account Sir!
Chronically_Quirky@reddit
"BuT i'Ve BeEn CoMiNg HeRe FoR fOuRtY yEaRs"
I hated asking the mandatory questions which they'd either ignore or give sarcastic answers to.
They're often the ones in the news after being scammed because they know best.
obstinatia@reddit
The single braincell get lonely rattling round their empty skulls.
Chronically_Quirky@reddit
Nurse, nurse...he's out again.
L_Gray71@reddit
Engineers and a certain nationality also, but I'm not willing to say which one
DoctorSkelly@reddit
People addicted to scratchcards. I have so much I need to do, but I can't because I'm glued to the till because you keep winning a few quid off of scratchcards and reinvesting it.
krabbkat@reddit
We had quite a few customers who we limited to 5 cards a visit because they were taking the piss so badly
krabbkat@reddit
I used to work in a convenience opposite a local Wetherspoons, and the worst customers by far were the 40+ men who would be up the door half an hour before opening to buy the Sun or the Daily Mail and then repeatedly pop back in throughout the day while they nursed a single pint over the road. Rude, entitled, stupid and they’d make very personal comments about us because we were mostly a team of students (this was a middle class area). Quite often regulars would refuse to speak to us at all and would snatch their items the second we scanned everything and throw the cash down like an afterthought.
Second worst was American soldiers visiting the local army base. Refused to use self serve but pretended we didn’t exist or snapped their fingers at us and demanded discounts, special service etc.
Norman_debris@reddit
Wtf is Markies?
redux_call@reddit
Im guessing a shorthand for Marks and Spencers? It's "Marx-eez" where Im from in the North East, and I think London is typically "Marks and Sparks."
SatiricalScrotum@reddit
My Londoner grandma always just called it Marks.
knight-under-stars@reddit
It's very obviously Marks & Spencer.
Norman_debris@reddit
Could've been some regional shop I've never heard of. Nobody says Markies.
Tumeni1959@reddit
I call it Markies. So do many of my family.
knight-under-stars@reddit
It's hardly difficult to extrapolate.
Norman_debris@reddit
Haha. Absolutely mental response.
Just saying I've never heard that in my life after living all over the country. It's like suddenly hearing Waities all of a sudden and everyone going "omg it's obviously Waitrose".
Historical-Path-3345@reddit
Just found the demographic your talking about.
Arbycutter@reddit
I’m assuming Marks and Spencer’s?
Norman_debris@reddit
Probably. But does anyone say that? Never heard it in my life.
Terrible_Captain7112@reddit
It's a Scottish thing
Arbycutter@reddit
Nah same not once ever!!
Jimmyj84@reddit
Why are you swearing???
deformedfishface@reddit
Old white men. Like 50 - 70. Don't read things properly. Don't listen properly. Don't understand how technology works. Often are going deaf or blind but won't wear hearing aids or glasses. Always complain about the prices. Also most likely to try for a discount. Absolute fuckers
Proper old boys 70+ are generally nicer...
changhyun@reddit
I used to be a waitress and every customer who ever yelled at me or called me a name came from this demographic. Every single one.
Customers of other ages or genders could still be rude or dismissive, but I only ever got screamed at by middle-aged men.
IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN@reddit
Never been a waitress but I have the same experience as a woman in every customer facing job I've ever done.
I assume for a large portion of their lives they've bullied all the women around them until they got what they want and it's worked, and see no issues with doing it to service staff either. They tend to get the most enraged when doing that doesn't give them what they want too.
pajamakitten@reddit
Not just women. These types are equally happy bullying any man they think they can take on.
changhyun@reddit
Yeah, that sounds very likely.
Interestingly, like the person I replied, men over seventy were rarely a problem. They were usually sweethearts, either kept to themselves or were pleased at the chance to chat. I can't really think of any bad experiences I had with them. Or women over seventy for that matter.
IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN@reddit
Yeah most of my experiences with properly old people were generally pleasant too, occasionally some slightly questionable comments but meant with good intentions.
Chronically_Quirky@reddit
I used to work in a bank and I had so much abuse from men in this demographic. They mostly had passbooks which they'd had for years but they started phasing them out a few years ago.
The amount of abuse we all got because they had to have a card instead was unreal.
Don't get me started on trying to get them to use the app!
MargotChanning@reddit
This is my answer. Complain about paying for carrier bags, even though that’s been a thing for years. Act like complete smart arses about every sale/deal we do and act like we’re trying to rip them off somehow. Always trying to nose at our inventory screens like they know what they’re looking at.
Can you tell I’ve dealt with a few of these today?
deformedfishface@reddit
Our POS applies discount vouchers in a stupid way and it's always these idiots who can't understand what I'm telling them and make out like I'm trying to fuck them over. Why would I care enough to try and take your money? I earn the same no matter what? What earthly reason do I have to try and rob you? Absolute pillock.
ComparisonFickle2674@reddit
Boomers
theslowrunningexpert@reddit
I’m ex-military and work in retail, and I originally misread this thinking it was specifically targeted at me.
My 2 pence though- older people tend to be worse. I work in a greggs and had a 50-something year old guy want a scrap over a cold steak bake a few weeks ago. In general that 40ish-60ish age range seem to be ruder than those outside the bracket on either side.
I do actually find it really interesting how people treat retail workers, especially when I have had a previous job that people tend to show respect to- you see a stark difference despite me being the same person. I honestly think customer’s just go mind blank and don’t see us as people when we’re behind a till, and I also think that they feel safe knowing (or at least thinking) we won’t match their tone.
Drath101@reddit
There is a certain type of bloke in their 60's-70's who seem obsessed with "having you out" for a "scrap" as if majority of my substantially young staff wouldn't absolutely maul them
theslowrunningexpert@reddit
Absolutely. Too many people are happy being verbal without having the physical capability to actually back up what they say. I think of this as the ‘never been chinned’ syndrome- people who haven’t been in fights think they’d be alright in a fight, whereas once you’ve been chinned a couple of times you realise it’s better to just avoid fighting altogether.
pajamakitten@reddit
Their mouth has a cheque their arse can't cash.
htimchis@reddit
As someone dumb (or just disturbed) enough to get into a lot of fights when I was younger - even when you win you lose!
I've knocked blokes out with one punch... and then spent the next month nursing a couple of broken knuckles - and that shit hurts- constatnt pain when you do anything with your hand, and the first few days it'll swell up and keep you awake at night with that throbbing, gnawing pain you get from broken bones, even small ones.
Years down the line both my hands are a mess of arthritis now, from boxing & scrapping.
And you don't want to see the infection you get if you cut your hand open on someone's teeth... us human beings are large, dirty animals - and you'll get an infection from that no matter HOW much you clean the wound. And it won't respond well to antibiotics either.
That's before we even start on how much looking over your shoulder you do, as well - did they report it to the old bill? Am I gooing to run into that fella again in town one night, when he's got 7 mates with him? And if you get a bit of a reputation in your area, trouble WILL come lookig for you.
And, of course, that's when you win. Nobody wins every fight, nobody. When you're very young (teens) you can shrug most batterings off - you win some, you lose some- and you heal quick. 10 years later? It stays with you, physically and mentally.... There's nothing quite like beiing rolled into a ball, trying to shield your head and your balls, while two or three blokes go to town on you, and you're all out of options beyond just hoping that they haven't had too much booze and sniff to not know to stop before they kill you or put you in a wheelchair.....
Fighting's a mugs game. It's more of a mark of real toughness to be able to hold on to your temper, or turn round and walk away, and not give a fck if they think you're bottling out
Drath101@reddit
My old man was a boxer and gave me a lifelong hobby of various martial arts. I'm very thankful cause it taught me two lessons young. Namely, getting punched in the head sucks and on the hierarchy of "hard men", I'm absolutely not at the top of it and I'd rather not find out that the other guy is.
HatOfFlavour@reddit
I firmly believe everyone should do 6 months of retail work and the world would be a more accomodating place.
AussieHxC@reddit
6 months of retail or hospitality then 6 months of military service.
HatOfFlavour@reddit
Urgh no, the 6 months of being yelled at by sargeants will undo any good the 6 months of being yelled at by the general public managed to impart.
China--Doll@reddit
I’ve never seen anyone get as annoyed with a retail worker as those I’ve seen get angry over cold sausage rolls or a 20 min wait for a warm steak bake.
I’ve never in my life asked for anything to specifically be warm in Greggs because I don’t think the world revolves around me. If it’s warm great if it isn’t that’s the luck of the draw.
The attitudes I’ve seen in that shop my hat goes off to any and all Greggs workers, it gets so rough my locals all have security.
tiasaiwr@reddit
I matched a lady's tone one time as the customer behind her in the queue at the till. She was berating the person working at the till because the size of the packet of whatever it was was smaller than the last time she had bought it. It's hard to fathom what she thought the min wage employee was going to be able to do about it.
She probably had a reasonable grievance against the supermarket for the shrinkflation but she was was being a total bitch to a teenage cashier so I called out a bit loudly and dramatically 'waagh waagh waagh my ice lolly isn't big enough.' She stormed off in a huff though so I feel a bit guilty as someone probably had to put her trolley full of goods back on the shelf.
AlwaysTheKop@reddit
I work at Greggs and I make my manager's (god bless her) job a misery because I do match their tone... so she's always having to get me out of trouble.
I've gone through too much in my life to allow a middle aged woman who lives on the same council estate as me but acts like they live in Chelsea talk to me like I'm a sub human.
realfakethrowawaycom@reddit
Anyone that doesn't say please or thank you.
Ok_Material_5634@reddit
The assumers.
They assume that, because you're in customer service, that you're stupid. So they talk down to you and act impatient and entitled. When they find out you're actually the supervisor covering for your employee's lunch hours, they blink a few times, and then change their tone of voice. All of a sudden they're SO polite. Lady, you already showed me your true colors, so don't think you're fooling me. And no, I can't change the rules for you.
FraggleGoddess@reddit
Its been a few decades, but it was the entitled ones / those who looked down their nose at me. Quite often older men, actually, rarely women.
I once served a certain Scottish politician and proved what a [rule wouldn't let me put the word] he was. I get not wanting to chat, but not returning my greeting, not even looking at me, half chucking the money at me, finally glancing at me when I gave him the change with a disgusted sneer. Says it all really, you can likely guess who.
Another time, I was running the customer service and tobacco and photoshop at a big store on Xmas eve due to absences. This eejit man demanded a bag for the item he could have went to a checkout for or just carried. I said there's some behind you but he insisted I leave the desk and get it. I was in the middle of putting in change and I slammed it down before getting his bag. He then demanded a manager - a spineless toad who I told to stick the complaint until he got staff to help me.
Then there was a woman who wanted a refund for a manky old iron.... with no box nevermind a receipt. Spineless manager gave her it after I refused and oh the smugness of that woman.
discoveredunknown@reddit
My guess is Alex Salmond
GruffScottishGuy@reddit
The whole "manager caves in to the customer after you were doing as instructed" thing was absolutely rage inducing.
bacon_cake@reddit
We used to have a bus from a religious institution arrive every few weeks and it was utter hell.
Every visit they'd return mountains of stuff often clearly used, they'd constantly barter on individual items in their baskets and leave stuff at the tills, they'd encourage their kids to try stuff out in the shop then ask for discounts because it was "shop soiled", they'd ignore the shop closed warnings, they'd ask for senior staff to confirm there were no discounts available, they were rude if we didn't have the time to demonstrate products.
Utter nightmare. Staff used to try and time their holiday to miss them.
HyraxAttack@reddit
Worked at a place that charged a not expensive annual membership fee, guess this made it feel safe & exclusive to bored retired people who’d wander around each day.
Fine if they minded their own business but when they’d start trying to make up scenarios to find problems it got annoying. “Well, I can read this sign, but what if my much shorter daughter were here?!”
craig-charles-mum@reddit
When I worked in the supermarket near my uni during term time it was students from a certain country (You know which one). When I was working at the one back home during holidays it was middle aged women.
TipSilent8281@reddit
Which county? I worked in retail and never knew there was a particular county that had lots of rude customers
lemonsqueezy34@reddit
Old people. Rude & entitled.
Additional-Nobody352@reddit
Older people. I used to be a supervisor at asda and if customers wanted to complain they could ring the store and be put through to someone.
I remember one Wednesday morning about 8am I got a call put through where some old bloke complained and got really angry that smart price peaches had gone up 2p in price per tin.
He also complained that one when he was in we had run out of carling black label (this was 2010/11) and I said oh carling lager and he got angry again.
EvilRobotSteve@reddit
Customers who can't wrap their heads around "the customer is always right" is just a concept. In practice, if what you're asking for is unreasonable or (as in some cases I've personally experienced) literally isn't possible you're going to be told "no" and no amount of standing there arguing with me is going to change that.
In fact I'd even go so far as to add the ones that try and argue anything. Retail workers are not looking for arguments and confrontation. They just want to get the job done with as little resistance as possible and go home. If they say "no" to something, there's probably a very good reason for it. Just accept the "no" and either work around it or go somewhere else.
Sadly what happens in some cases when the worker is more easily flustered is that they'll get nervous about the queue forming behind the arguing customer and give them whatever they want even when they're not entitled to it and it'll end up going against the worker just to get the line moving again. The customer will then get all smug about and think "that's the way to deal with them" and I'm actually getting angry just remembering these people. Anyone reading this who's new to retail. please don't give into these assholes and validate them.
And finally, the ones that still believe "I'll take my business elsewhere!" is some kind of threat. Please, you'll be doing me a favour.
OrangeSodaMoustache@reddit
All of them. Most people are stupid as fuck. I work in the construction industry and seemingly nobody can measure a room or reply to emails or answer their phone. The general public is shockingly braindead.
Briecap@reddit
Middle class people pretending to be rich. Actual rich people are really, really nice 99% of the time. Poor people are generally just normal. Middle class people LARPing as rich people are awful because they think acting like cunts makes them appear richer?
AmbitiousAd543@reddit
It’s not “cheeky kids@ that cause the problems.
Agitated_Ad_361@reddit
Those who were born in the late 40’s / 50’s. All of the entitlement of those who taught in the war when all they did was fuck the country and get everything for free. They are the rudest, most dishonest, most entitled customers you’ll ever serve.
Bonar_Ballsington@reddit
I have a feeling a lot of folk from that age group never worked in retail (despite their claims to have been working from the age of 5 - probably just meant getting pocket money for cleaning up after themselves at home). I think that’s why there’s such a steep cut off in rudeness because a lot of young folk have had to work shit public facing jobs at some point to get by.
IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN@reddit
A local at a pub I used to go to would often go on tirades about how young people have no idea these days, can't imagine what it was like after the war, no respect for the country or people who died for it etc.
He was born in the fucking 60s and never served in any armed forces.
HatOfFlavour@reddit
They probably ate a lot of lead.
Outrageous-Ad4895@reddit
I did retail for 10 years and I whole heartedly say older posher type people were the worst. No respect of manners and barked orders at you like you worked for them personally. I refused to help one lady because she spoke to me like a I was a piece of shit so she threatened to report to me to the CEO of the company whom she personally knew and frequently met up with for drinks 😂 like that was even true and even if it was I made minimum wage do you really think I care 😂
NotMyFirstChoice675@reddit
Markies? Is that Marks and Spencer?
Browneskiii@reddit
When i worked retail, i wouldn't take shit from anyone because i couldnt give a fuck if i get fired or in trouble. If i see a customer verbally abusing a colleague, I'd go take them away and give it back to the customer. Old women are definitely the worst. Single old men can be bad but the married ones tend to just be in the background watching.
One time, i was called to do till work, and something had no barcode on, so i get someone to grab it, and typically it was with an older woman, and she asked why its taking so long, obviously i dont know, and then for some reason called me a cunt for wasting her time, so i just looked at her and said "takes one to know one", and she demanded the manager of course, and the manager was on my side surprisingly and she stormed off after paying.
Manager then privately told me that technically I'm in the wrong but they dont care as they know i did all the work well.
I found the banter with younger people was easy though, its like they want to be abused back. Old people are far too entitled and they know they can be.
R3ddit300@reddit
I know this is probably something that is inappropriate to say, but it's just the truth. When I worked retail, by fair the worst were what you might call 'members of the traveller community'.
GruffScottishGuy@reddit
Worked for a chain retailer years ago and the local stores would phone one another when they were in the area so we could prepare. Standard practice would be to get every staff member we could out on the shop floor when they arrived.
The usual tactic from them would be a group of women would attempt some sort of dodgy refund and try to be argumentative with or bamboozle the person on the till and while that distraction was going on the kids would be scattered around the shop floor looking for stuff to steal.
The whole idea was to have so many staff out there we could keep an eye on everybody and every manager or senior staff member we had could cock block the dodgy refund attempt.
They obviously eventually realized we knew what they were up to and were actively ready for it and stopped coming in.
SweetTechnical311@reddit
that cunt with the purple bodywarmer
WRA1THLORD@reddit
The time vampires. The ones who never buy anything, but have 4 thousand questions about every product you sell, even if they're totally unsuitable for them. They will chew your ear off for hours, and then make a huge scene if you try and go and help another customer who is actually wanting to buy stuff.
No, this kite doesn't come with an inbuilt heater, yes, this pencil will write on standard paper, and yes, the calendar does include February
TheBluePapaBear@reddit
7 years removed from any sort of retail shitshow but the answer is people who "know the law" but apply elements of it selectively, specifically the consumer rights act 2015 and sales of goods act 1979.
Holska@reddit
Older people, particularly older women. Had so many mid50s-mid60s women who act like they’ve been sent from head office whenever there’s an issue, and they have no interest in listening to the whys behind anything.
Parents of older babies/toddlers. They create a ridiculous amount of extra work, and they’re usually more demanding than other customers. Once had someone ask where the high chairs were, and then she complained on feedback because I’d only told her where they were, rather than fetching her one. We were short staffed on a Saturday, every table was covered in dirty pots, and I’d just picked up a huge overloaded tray when she asked. There were 3 adults in the group to one baby, so frankly there’s no excuse for not fetching your own high chair. Had she been alone, I’d happily fetch one.
TheLittleSquire@reddit
I work as a complaints manager and have done retail so I've met all. Older women, 60s onwards are either the nicest people or the worst.
I also speak with a lot of mentally ill people who present there own challenges through no fault of there own. But dealing with 3 suicidal people in one day is taxing.
throwaway593090@reddit
All of them. Especially the ones that complain about self service checkouts. Just read the screen, and leave you fool. Older men being too friendly or trying to be funny when buying viagra.
DarthScabies@reddit
My favourite line to hear was "I pay your wages". Erm. No you don't. Piss off.
disappointingcryptid@reddit
“Can I have a raise then?”
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
Plummy voiced middle class women with gloss cheeks, those faux silk neck scarves, jodhpur-leggings, pringles sweater and that silly gilet they all wear, even though none of them have been near a horse since they were twelve.
squidgy314159@reddit
This is scarily accurate, I have dealt with 3 of them just today! And will be dealing with more of them tomorrow.
Belle_TainSummer@reddit
How many of them still wore an Alice band in their hair?
squidgy314159@reddit
Have you hacked my CCTV?! How are you describing my customers so perfectly?
They all do, it's like a uniform isn't it?
Real_Collection_6399@reddit
There’s too many types to list. Generally it’s all of the general public.
BaseballFuryThurman@reddit
I worked at a cinema for 6 years and overall, the worst ones (and this will apply to anywhere) are the ones who think they know better than the people who are paying paid to know the things they're arguing about. No, the website didn't say a different time yesterday. The times are programmed in for the week on a Monday and have remained unchanged for several days. And no, we didn't used to sell that particular product or do that particular thing. I was hired when this place opened, you are wrong.
Though in terms of viewers for a specific film, I am not exaggerating when I saw Fifty Shades of Grey brought in the absolute worst people. Far worse than any group of teenagers coming in to see a horror or silly comedy. It was a genuinely awful experience dealing with people who came in to see the Fifty Shades films.
IAM_THE_LIZARD_QUEEN@reddit
I worked in a Blockbusters that couldn't sell food or drinks as part of the rental agreement, and it had always been like that but about once a week I'd have someone argue with me that we "definitely" sold popcorn the last time they came in.
SkipsH@reddit
I will say that there are far too many customer service people out there that I've seen arguing with others that seem to assume that the customer knows everything they know.
S14NN4N@reddit
Boomers who think they know everything.
squidgy314159@reddit
36 years in DIY retail
50's and under you get the few idiots, but they are manageable for the most and don't make me break a sweat.
Over 60's, a much higher ratio of problem customers, of course there are great customers I look forward to seeing, but there are some I dread and some I would happily ban from the shop if it wouldn't cause absolute chaos for me.
Leather_Bat5939@reddit
When i was working in screwfix the majority of the tradesmen were very sound, the one group i did have a problem with were the indian sparkies who thought they were better than everyone or the posh older women who never listened and complained if things were out of stock and also had no manners.
vegan_voorhees@reddit
Everyone should be made to work in retail for a week, they'd soon change their attitudes towards staff.
I always found the blokes around 55-65 the worst. Condescending, entitled, and occasionally creepy.
Can remember one guy used to come into the Co-op I worked in and would pick up an apple that had rolled from it's place into the adjacent space for plums or whatever, and would start telling us it was a breach of the trade descriptions act because we were claiming an apple is a plum. Dude, it just rolled out of its box.
Arabatta@reddit
I work in beauty sales and women in their 60s and 70s are the most entitled and rude.
painteroftheword@reddit
Old people are the worse
preaxhpeacj@reddit
Used to work in M&S, the customers were either the nicest or the absolute worst
StripClubPizza@reddit
When I worked at the pub it was late 30s middle class white men who rarely came to the pub and thought they knew it all. When I worked in the cinema it was black women in their late 20s because they would always be so slow to decide anything.
david4460@reddit
Human ones
PineappleFrittering@reddit
Old people, both male and female. No not all of them but the worst dickheads were always older people with a sense of entitlement.
ChaosWithBoundaries@reddit
Older customers by far Especially middle class/bit posh
blumpkinator2000@reddit
Staff were always the worst customers. If someone you were dealing with was being difficult or downright nasty, nine times out of ten they'd whip out a staff discount card at the till, and we'd be thinking to ourselves "Oh, what a fucking surprise. Didn't see that one coming at all".
Alone_Clothes2329@reddit
I was a warehouse worker for next and was told to go help with stock at the shop during the summer sale.
I was outside the stock room waiting for someone. A woman roughly in her 40's, white and seemed like your typical higher pay scale type, asked me where the children's shoes were.
I had no idea and started looking in all directions. Before I could see where, she smirked, shook her head and said "absolutely useless" loudly as she moved her family on. That was my only experience in retail customer service.
TeaAndCrumpetGhoul@reddit
"Damn, damn...Dammmnn. Hold on lady." Would be my reaction. That's harsh to say out loud.
Alone_Clothes2329@reddit
Yeah, as a very timid 19 year shy guy, it was a real confidence killer
blueheart86cat@reddit
What a horrible cow . Sorry that happened to you
F1nut92@reddit
The ones who just park their trolley in the middle of the aisle and spend 30 mins chatting with another person who’s also blocked the aisle, then look at you with disgust as if you’re the one interrupting their day by having the audacity to be working down the same aisle as they’re blocking.
CheesecakeZookeeper@reddit
Junkies junkies bastards ya
Bulbasaurus__Rex@reddit
Worked retail quite a few years in my youth. The worst were always the middle aged middle class, or older middle class. Just rude AF, no manners, treat you like a slave, think they know better and complain about the prices as though you're the one who sets them. Also the worst were the pervy men. You just have to stand there and take it and be polite even though you'd much rather stomp on their foot and prod their eyes.
finestryan@reddit
Pensioners
Exotic-Suggestion425@reddit
I worked at Subway for 5 years, and by far the worst customer type belonged to a certain dynamic. A couple consisting of a mouthy and confrontational girl and a man who looks like he can fight but clearly doesn't give a shit about anything. They effectively pin you into submission.
Rossco1874@reddit
Anyone over 55. They do their own thing, make up own rules, are rude and condescending. As soon as give a little back they demand a manager trying to get you sacked.
-myeyeshaveseenyou-@reddit
Not retail but as a former hotel receptionist and manager I have to say rich old people on a whole. Not all obvious but largely. American rich old people are by far the worst.
A lot of rich old men didn’t want to speak to me presumably just because I was a woman in my mid to late 30s. Would blame their errors or banking issues on me. I just handled them with as much kindness as possible. On a lot of occasions this even ended up with them apologising.
I like to kill with kindness, makes it much harder for them to continue being rude. Usually diffuses most situations and frankly I feel like a better person for not stooping to their level. And if I genuinely turn someone’s issue around into an apology to me I know I’ve done a good job and potentially helped someone struggling with where they are in life and the limitations they have that leads to frustration and anger.
I do still on a whole hate people and prefer not to work with them as it is so exhausting. I was a chef prior to being in foh roles and I went back to it. I can swear like a sailor all day again if I want to
D1789@reddit
It’s been a while since I worked in retail, but back when I did, one thing I learnt is that any type of person out there can be an absolute tosser at times.
Ultimately, anyone can be a tosser.
bartread@reddit
Same.
Also worth bearing in mind that anyone can have a bad day so, unless they're persistently dickheads, I try not to judge.
Drath101@reddit
I do judge them, actually. Have some emotional control. I've had some horrific days and not screamed at a shop worker. As a shop worker, I've been headbutted by a drunk, carried on with work and haven't been able to swear at a customer just because I'm having a "bad day".
applepiezeyes@reddit
Wow. Its really hard to remember this. Good on you. 🙂
DrakeManley@reddit
Completely agree and also a long time since I've worked retail.
I've been surprised on a number of occasions, expecting an interaction to turn out one way based on a person's demeanor as they approach you, only for it to end up being the complete opposite of what you expected.
BungadinRidesAgain@reddit
Hospitality here. Not always, but whenever I get arsey attitudes it's from middle-class boomer types.
Aggravating-Day-2864@reddit
People...
Neither_Respect_4429@reddit
Used to work retail and it’s definitely the old bastards who move quicker than they ever have just to refuse the, nonexistent may I add, card reader charity add-on payment.
Vivid_Employment8635@reddit
McDonald’s so not technically retail, but same shit. I would say tourists, especially the rich ones, and well-off foreign students. 90% of them have zero manners and will openly treat you like the shit on their shoe. At least posh Brits normally pretend to be polite when they’re being arseholes.
MollieMansfield2@reddit
Old white women. The worst.
AdAggressive9224@reddit
Psychopaths, they literally just steal, and don't have any concept of property ownership or any fear. They will just randomly attack you for no reason if you try to intervene or stop them. Literally no concept of right and wrong.
Firthy2002@reddit
There's really no particular demographic in retail that you can blanket tag as "worst"; it's more of a learned behaviour. People on their phone at the tills, the ones who insist they can reach for something up high and cause a spillage/breakage when they inevitable can't, the ones who can't be bothered putting stuff back, the ones who eat/drink the stock in the shop without paying and stash the wrapper/empty bottle behind other stock, etc.
Ok-Opening9653@reddit
Homo sapiens
Knowlesdinho@reddit
The worst customers by a country mile are Derrick and Barbara that used to work in the industry, but retired in 1998 on their final salary pension scheme. They can tell you a thing or two you know! None of it relevant to the current way we work though.
kaseridion@reddit
Was in Superdrug the other day and an old man with a cane was being very rude and somewhat aggressive when the deal that was apparently on the things he was buying didn’t come up. Luckily it was an older woman on the other side who wasn’t taking his shit as he was throwing the product down on the counter even though she was just waiting for the manager to check the deal.
I’ll take passive aggressive or people who never say please or thank you any-day!
Jlaw118@reddit
Not physical retail but we run an online shop on our own website, Amazon, eBay, Vinted and Etsy and I can say wholeheartedly that Amazon customers are the absolute worst of all people and constantly try to scam us.
We get people purposely damaging fragile products because they bought the wrong thing and then returning them, despite the fact they can return for free. Some have even claimed it was damaged on arrival and then returned a completely different and unrelated product.
We sell some collectible toy figurines where some are common, others are rare. People will spend more money on the rare ones, then complain it’s too expensive for the size of it, returning it without protection and then gets damaged. Despite the fact the product dimensions are listed and people just don’t want to read but then it’s our fault.
Some people on there are understanding when things go wrong but most are extremely rude and condescending.
We sell the same products on eBay, Vinted and our website using the same packaging and don’t even get a fraction of the claims and complaints we get on Amazon.
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