[jamboogy]

(Original post by jo d)
heh heh... you don't understand business processes well, evidently.

heh heh... you don't understand the process of chilling the **** out

[thunder_chunky]

(Original post by RandomPeopleDancin)
As they always say "the customer is always right". It sounds a bit rude to me just to move straight on as you said they did and you have every right to be annoyed if you want.

The whole "customer is always right" thing is often nonsense though and it seems to give some customers the right to sometimes act like dickheads.
I worked in retail for a total of four and a half years across two jobs, one in a supermarket and one in an off license/wine shop and I found that certainly in the latter many of the customers were *****. Rude, often drunk and all too often abusive and clearly in the wrong, I was frequently kicking people out and dealing with scrotes who thought they knew better than me when they were clearly wrong.
Ah retail, it would have been a lot of fun if it hadn't of been for all those damn customers.

[Megaross]

(Original post by jo d)
Yet the customer provides firms with revenue. pooh-poohing customer service is silly, when there are laws, business/industry practices, etc. enforcing as such.

You'd think so wouldn't you, I once told a bloke if he clicked his fingers at me again I'd snap them off.
(Some old indian dude was just clicking his fingers and whistling to get me over, like I'm a dog or something).
My manager heard me, come over, took me out to the warehouse and said "Yeah I don't blame you thats seriously ****ing rude just don't do it again" and that was the end of it.

I had so many informal "warnings" in that place it was unreal but I was the best on the department in terms of efficiency and quality of output. At one point I had checkout throughput more than double what some of the others had on the department, plus I was multiskilled and pretty good at basically anything else in the store, I still get casual work in there if i want it as well even though I've left.

People will still shop at places like tescos because they're too lazy/ poor to go elsewhere. It's a budget supermarket, surely budget service is kind of expected.

One final point, good customer service doesn't entail putting up with rude/ demanding customers who treat you like a slave. Or demand **** they aren't entitled to "oh but I thought it cost this much, so I should have it for this much". People are so ****ing stupid I swear.

(Original post by zara55)
They do at the branches I visit anyway. Maybe it's different in v. busy places like London?

Clothes and stuff they do, but not food, especially not whole trolleys. Only places like Harvey Nicks still have bag packers in my experience.

[kka25]

(Original post by Megaross)
You'd think so wouldn't you, I once told a bloke if he clicked his fingers at me again I'd snap them off.
(Some old indian dude was just clicking his fingers and whistling to get me over, like I'm a dog or something).
My manager heard me, come over, took me out to the warehouse and said "Yeah I don't blame you thats seriously ****ing rude just don't do it again" and that was the end of it.

Someone I know did that to me once to get my attention; I came to him and said something similar But I was 19 at that time

But yeah, it IS incredibly rude for anyone to do that really

[cambio wechsel]

I got irate in the M and S foodhall when the cashier upended my individual sponge-custard dessert before putting it in the bag.

I felt foolish afterwards, mind. It was really only a trifle.

[Megaross]

(Original post by kka25)
Someone I know did that to me once to get my attention; I came to him and said something similar But I was 19 at that time

But yeah, it IS incredibly rude for anyone to do that really

One thing I did love about retail, the majority of managers who I worked with were legends.

[kka25]

(Original post by Megaross)
One thing I did love about retail, the majority of managers who I worked with were legends.

Yeah; some of them are great people

[Chumbaniya]

Either your life is so wonderful that by comparison not having your bags packed for you was horrifying (in which case I envy you) or you're the sort of self-important ass that gets angry about every occasion where people don't bend over backwards to do things for you which you should be capable and willing to do for yourself (in which case I pity you).

Neither of these cases justifies your anger.

[Palatial Veranda]

Did you hear about the girl raped by a troupe of mime artists?

They performed unspeakable acts on her.

[metric]

I don't have sympathy for her and I worked in M&S everyday for eight months. I had some really bad days when I was feeling really ill but still I would try and be nice to the customers just because it's polite to be and at the end of the day if your customers are grumpy it makes you grumpy too.

However I hated when customers asked me to pack for them even if they were completely capable of packing themselves and would just stand and watch, fair enough if someone was elderly or carrying a lot but some people were just lazy.

[Ice Constricter]

(Original post by Steezy)
Right or wrong, the confusion I'm feeling at attempting to decipher the possible reason for starting such a thread is..... quite palpable.

Exactly I'm just sitting there thinking, "is that it?"

At least exaggerate the OP somewhat to make it sound more interesting.

[hippieglitter]

(Original post by jo d)
I was buying some items and the cashier after scanning them just dumped my stuff next to the bags and moved on to the next customer. She even started placing her items in bags. I said "excuse me, but is that customer service?"

Was this wrong?

Having worked in Marks and Spencer myself although we do not operate a customer is always right policy, she should have asked you if you wanted a bag and then packed your items appropriately for you if you said yes. I would have complained considering that is not how Marks and Spencer staff is trained or expected to behave.

[BookLover]

I like to pack my own bags but when they leave you fumbling to get stuff into your bag, the next person is giving you death-glares because you're not quick enough... I think that's rude. An offer of help would be lovely (but I guess not necessary, I understand) but they should definitely not scan the next customers items through when you're still packing. If nothing else...what if stuff gets mixed up? I'm sick of the evil glares too... It's very rude. Especially when the cashier has a lovely chat with the next person when you're still struggling and gives you "hurry up" looks (while scanning their items).

I'd get annoyed...but I'd probably just glare or say in a cheerful manner "hang on a sec, I'm not finished - wouldn't want to mix everything up now!" and smile. Depends what mood I was in. We're only human, after all - cashiers and customers.

[la-penseur]

It does seem a bit rude to be honest. Though at my job it's extremely busy and sometimes I worry that people might think I'm being rude by moving on to the next customer very quickly. I work in an express coffee shop so it's maybe a bit different.

[zara55]

Am I the only one who finds it annoying constantly being asked "shall I pack your bag for you"? I mean, I suppose they have to ask this in case you have some hidden disability and want to sue them, but it gets pretty irritating being asked it over and over again every time you go back to Marks.

[Leighcakes]

If you're a student and there was a big queue, I can kind of understand. I work as a cashier in M&S, too, and sometimes we need to get the queues down quicker, especially mid-month as this is often when the stores are evaluated (queues, cleanliness, stock etc).

However, I always make a point of asking a) would they like a bag, and if yes b) would they like any help packing. It's just what we were told to do, and if it's like one item I usually assume they can put it in the bag themselves, unless they're fumbling around with their purse. Which is almost always.

Just chill. It's not the end of the world! The worst thing that happened to me was scanning a bag of crisps, the bag splitting and being covered in M&S cheesey tortilla chips...

[Mr Dangermouse]

(Original post by Megaross)
One thing I did love about retail, the majority of managers who I worked with were legends.

Really? Most of the ones I know tend to be quite trumped up.

[jeddows]

Not accusing the OP of this, but customer service stuff is pretty bloody trying.
Examples? How about when it's the busiest period, there's a long queue, and the customer takes an age to get their wallet out and then tries (and usually fails) to get the right change. Are you surprised that we're asking you for money?!
Or how about when again there's a queue, you've had a good few minutes to look at the menu boards (which, to be blunt, are pretty limited in the options), yet the customer still hasn't got a clue what they want and is still surprised when we ask them what they'd like. Or people who can read the line that says 'bacon roll' yet can't read the words 'stops at 1130' right next to it. I could go on, but I'd rather enjoy my day off :/

I'm not saying customer service is all about the employee, because it isn't. We're here to provide the best possible service, and I can honestly say I try to do that every day. But **** me, some people treat us like ****. Just because we're in a 'crap' job, doesn't mean we're a lower form of life form to be talked down to. You can't expect someone to give 100% all the time, because it's impossible. We're human, and unfortunately we're going to slip up some times (you've come in for, say, half an hour at 3pm. I've been here since half 6) and not on purpose. If there's a massive queue and you're under pressure, could you really do any better, as a full time job?

Oh, and please don't look so offended when I ask if you'd like a large or regular coffee. Seriously, it's not as if I've just asked to smash your back doors in ¬_¬

[jeddows]

(Original post by zara55)
Am I the only one who finds it annoying constantly being asked "shall I pack your bag for you"? I mean, I suppose they have to ask this in case you have some hidden disability and want to sue them, but it gets pretty irritating being asked it over and over again every time you go back to Marks.

It does feel pretty awkward having to ask everyone it :L Especially if they're younger or fitter than you :L
But in a lot of stores it's a customer service policy unfortunately (as some people aren't able to, like the old or ill, and some are just above packing their bags...)

[Megaross]

(Original post by Mr Dangermouse)
Really? Most of the ones I know tend to be quite trumped up.

Young ones do I find, they try to be in charge of everything and most of the time everyone ignores them.
The older managers were always legends though, they know if you want to get people to do stuff you've got a much better chance if you're nice about it and not pushing some sort of superiority.

It's a question of experience I reckon.