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  • Idiotic Parent

    *Background info* I teach elementary school during the week, and cashier at a grocery store on Saturdays. I've been with said grocery store for 5 years - since I was in high school. It's a good job, and it's good for extra money.


    Today, I'm standing by my register waiting to take the next customer when I see a kid go flying by. Not on Heelies, but he's running. Fast. I tell him "woah woah woah - this isn't a playground. Walk please." It's important to note that I holler at kids 5 days a week to quit running inside. It's kind of second nature. It's also important to note that there was NO parent in sight. Duh.

    So speedy comes through my line with his dad and sister. I mention to speedy that I wasn't yelling at him, I was just concerned that someone was going to get hit - as it's not safe to run in the store. He says "yes, but I play sports" - he was probably 9-ish. I told him how great that was, and explained that not everyone does. In fact, he almost knocked an elderly lady over, and I told him that he doesn't want to have responsibility for that. Essentially, explaining to him why I said something. Then, speedy walks away with his sister while dad is paying, and dad is quite irate - telling me I should say something to the parent, not the child. I explained to the father that (a), he wasn't there, and (b)I DO teach elementary school - I work with the child, and I feel it's important for the child to realize that I'm not arbitrarily hollering at him - he needs to realize that there's a reason for it. He's all like "well, I'm here now. Tell the parent - you need to trust me on this". I apologized for the confusion, but I stood by my actions. I didn't do anything wrong.

    So he goes and complains to the store manager, but nothing has come of it (and I'd honestly be shocked if something DID come of it). Management trusts me to make judgment calls that way, and in this case, a customer was in danger (the elderly lady - with a cane!) and he shouldn't have been running in the store. That, and if his dad was watching him to begin with, I wouldn't HAVE to say anything to him. When he almost knocked the lady over, it took every bit of restraint I had to not make him go back and try it again - excusing himself this time.

    Gah - I wish these parents knew what menaces they were creating. Nothing is ever the child's fault!

    Oh, and I found out from someone who heard part of the complaint that he told the manager "look - she's a teenager, and I'm the parent...". Um, excuse me? I TOLD you I teach. I'm 22. Yes, I look young, but don't underestimate me. I hold incredibly high standards for kids' behavior, and they reach the bar. I have a college degree, and am in my career. Please, don't belittle me that way (no offense to teenagers on the boards - he meant it in a derogatory way).

    *rant over*, now back to work!
    Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

    Proverbs 22:6

  • #2
    Back when I was a child my dad would have thanked the cashier for putting me in my place. Of course my dad would have been watching me anyway.

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    • #3
      One of the reasons I can't stand customer's attitudes toward us as 'lowly retail people' is that they have no idea what degrees or other qualifications we have, nor why we chose to work there. Even if someone can only do a grocery store job, they're at least working at an honest job. I wish people would learn to respect us more.

      Personally I do have an Associate's degree, in science. I hope to one day teach at a University, but I need more schooling for that, obviously. In the mean time, I'm making some money. People treat me like I can't even add 1 and 1 sometimes.

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      • #4
        I hate that bull crap. "Don't you yell at MY child! You tell ME and I will take care of it!"

        Next time, I'll stop what I'm doing while your child is still being a jackass and find you to tell you to take care of your kid's behavior. And then what are you going to do about it? Most likely, nothing.

        So, we'll just stick to the original plan plus a new addition. I'll yell at your kid and so will you.

        I can't stand brats.
        Check out my cosplay social group!
        http://customerssuck.com/board/group.php?groupid=18

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        • #5
          Quoth Rubystars View Post
          One of the reasons I can't stand customer's attitudes toward us as 'lowly retail people' is that they have no idea what degrees or other qualifications we have, nor why we chose to work there. Even if someone can only do a grocery store job, they're at least working at an honest job. I wish people would learn to respect us more.

          Personally I do have an Associate's degree, in science. I hope to one day teach at a University, but I need more schooling for that, obviously. In the mean time, I'm making some money. People treat me like I can't even add 1 and 1 sometimes.
          Oh me too...I work full time, have a masters in management, and work part time in retail. I love my part time job; got it mainly because once it was done with grad school I had a lot of free time...so what better way to keep me busy and make some money! And some customers think just because you work in retail, or in a grocery store, you are dumb....or don't have any motivation to do anything else.

          I personally don't give a hoot whether or not what level of education someone has; I was fortunate enough to be able to get where I am, but in my mind, it has no bearing on how someone does their job. I've known PLENTY of people who have only a HS education, and are very successful, and plenty of people with multiple degrees, who couldn't find their way out of a paper bag if their life depended on it!

          I'm a firm believer in if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to do it...so good luck Rubystars....

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          • #6
            I didn't want kids before, and retail pretty much assured me that I didn't. Nothing would kill me more than overwrought mom, distracted dad, older son or daughter trying to get dad's attention by feigning interest in his latest toy, and the other 2-3 younger siblings. Always a squalling, dirty, disorganized mess--always foisted on ME. ....Yeah...fun.

            I think you totally were in the right to tell that kid not to run in the store. As a side note to that, if Bratleigh had actually hurt that woman, who would have been to blame? I can already hear "WELL WHY WASN'T SOMEONE WATCHING HIM!"

            HERE'S A CLUE, PARENTS! RETAIL WORKERS AREN'T BABYSITTERS!

            As for "Retail workers r dum!" type comments, I get those attitudes often. Funny enough, though, I have a BA and started working on my MA this fall (the major reason I'm quitting BBuy until the holidays). One of my coworkers (the mag hag) had a BA in Chemistry and an MA in microbiology--and was a complete moron.

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            • #7
              [QUOTE=WorkAtBBuy;178994]I didn't want kids before, and retail pretty much assured me that I didn't. Nothing would kill me more than overwrought mom, distracted dad, older son or daughter trying to get dad's attention by feigning interest in his latest toy, and the other 2-3 younger siblings. Always a squalling, dirty, disorganized mess--always foisted on ME. ....Yeah...fun.[QUOTE]

              Exactly why my mom very rarely took me shopping with her anywhere! And it was just me...she figured it was bad enough to be shopping; especially at the grocery store...so she just went when i was at school or when my dad could watch me!

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              • #8
                Yeah, I'm pretty sure my parents would have tanned my hide if I ever had to be spoken to by a retail worker.

                My occupation and degree status comes up sometimes during conversations with customers. I generally get a befuddled look with a "then why are you here?". I answer: "I've been here since high school, and it's a great job and good for extra money. It keeps me out of trouble [with my gigantic innocent grin on my face]".

                The general public doesn't seem to understand that (a) jobs are hard to come by, and (b) well-paying jobs are even harder to come by. Sometimes, we have other jobs to make ends meet, or just take up some time.

                That being said, even WITHOUT my degree and other "qualifications", I would have still had every right to say something to that kid. I never did hear anything about it from the manager. That tells me that the chances of anything happening are essentially nil. I've only gotten one other customer complaint during my time there, and it was because I checked a customer's ID on a credit card, and then he wouldn't let me SEE it. I had undiagnosed astigmatism at the time, so focusing on something like that was incredibly difficult. The fact that HE was being difficult sent up red flags (and the order total was close to or over $100, if I remember correctly). I didn't get in trouble then either, after I explained my position. In fact, when customers BEGIN to complain about me, they're normally stopped halfway through and told that I'm following the procedures correctly, and they need to get over it.

                I'll let y'all know if anything comes of this. In the meantime, rant away!
                Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

                Proverbs 22:6

                Comment


                • #9
                  The general public doesn't seem to understand that (a) jobs are hard to come by, and (b) well-paying jobs are even harder to come by
                  This is why I'm still working retail despite graduating from college with a degree in journalism. I got out of school to find almost no jobs in my field and nobody willing to hire me even though I felt I did good work and my portfolio would reflect that.

                  So then I set my sights lower and still couldn't get a job, or much less an interview. The job market around here is tight and I don't have the money to go move someplace else.

                  Yeah, the pay kinda stinks, and I don't feel like I'm accomplishing much compared to a lot of people I went to school with, but I'm working full time so I have health, dental, life and vision insurance and I can pay all my bills, and that's what's most important to me.
                  Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil.

                  "I never said I wasn't a horrible person."--Me, almost daily

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                  • #10
                    With no parent around, what did he expect? I can imagine just how impressed he'd be if you'd taken the kid around the store, looking for the parent to say "Discipline your kid, they just did something that you didn't see." And then you'd actually be in trouble with the manager, for wasting time like that.

                    You did right, he's a twit, and needs to get a clue.
                    Ba'al: I'm a god. Gods are all-knowing.

                    http://unrelatedcaptions.com/45147

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      That's when you pull out the old 'It takes a village to raise a child' chestnut.

                      If (certain types of) parents want other people to watch their kids for them, then they're going to have to put up with those people disciplining their kids too. You can't have it both ways - either parent your child, dammit, or let the 'village' do it!

                      * Note the 'certain types of' disclaimer. Lots of people do parent their children - and those people's kids aren't going to need to be disciplined by anyone else.
                      Seshat's self-help guide:
                      1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                      2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                      3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                      4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                      "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Quoth Rubystars View Post
                        One of the reasons I can't stand customer's attitudes toward us as 'lowly retail people' is that they have no idea what degrees or other qualifications we have, nor why we chose to work there. Even if someone can only do a grocery store job, they're at least working at an honest job. I wish people would learn to respect us more.

                        Personally I do have an Associate's degree, in science. I hope to one day teach at a University, but I need more schooling for that, obviously. In the mean time, I'm making some money. People treat me like I can't even add 1 and 1 sometimes.
                        Agree. When I was a flight attendant I flew with people with Master's degrees and people who could speak several languages.

                        When I worked retail at college most of my co-workers were students working there part-time.

                        Even if people have no qualifications they are still entitled to respect, at least they are working and not living off benefits too!
                        No longer a flight atttendant!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Quoth thegiraffe View Post
                          He's all like "well, I'm here now. Tell the parent - you need to trust me on this". I apologized for the confusion, but I stood by my actions. I didn't do anything wrong.
                          My feeling about this - and correct me if I'm wrong - is that the father was not upset that you told his son to stop running, but that you had the second conversation with his son while the father was there.

                          I know you feel its important to explain your actions to the child, but that's really a concern for the parent, not you.

                          You did your job when you told an unsupervised child not to run in the store. Its up to the parents to deal with their children's emotional and mental well-being.

                          Just my two cents, anyway.

                          If you have to ask, it's probably better posted at www.fratching.com

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                          • #14
                            Example

                            Quoth Rubystars View Post
                            One of the reasons I can't stand customer's attitudes toward us as 'lowly retail people' is that they have no idea what degrees or other qualifications we have, nor why we chose to work there. Even if someone can only do a grocery store job, they're at least working at an honest job. I wish people would learn to respect us more.
                            Same for me working as a cook now. I have a college degree, I have been a computer tech/programmer for over 35 years! I am sick of helping people and their computer problem.

                            My present job pays the bills, I only work 4 hours a day. My vacation cabin is paid for, my truck is paid for, I live rent free, I am going on a Caribbean vacation in December with two lovely women.

                            Yes, I am boasting.

                            But why with a life like that do people think I want to join in the rat-race that is their lives. They look down on me because they have more money, but I don't see the gain since they work 10+ hours a day and even on breaks/vacation must have cell phone so the office can call them *ANYTIME*.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Quoth Boozy View Post
                              My feeling about this - and correct me if I'm wrong - is that the father was not upset that you told his son to stop running, but that you had the second conversation with his son while the father was there.

                              I know you feel its important to explain your actions to the child, but that's really a concern for the parent, not you.

                              You did your job when you told an unsupervised child not to run in the store. Its up to the parents to deal with their children's emotional and mental well-being.

                              Just my two cents, anyway.

                              He appeared to be upset about both - based on how he complained to the manager. The only reason I had the second conversation with the child was so that he realized WHY I did it. Because the parent wasn't there, he couldn't even begin to explain why I told him to quit running - which became even more clear when he complained because I hollered at his kid. Sorry, but my rules are: your kid does something stupid/dangerous, I'm going to say something. I feel a personal responsibility for kids that I see simply because of who I am, and that includes explaining why I hollered at them.
                              Last edited by thegiraffe; 08-26-2007, 05:39 PM.
                              Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

                              Proverbs 22:6

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