"Are you having a bad day?"

[Food Lady]

I'm not sure if that's really sucky, but I'm really bothered by it.

We had intense spurts of busy-ness every half hour or so today. Staffing has been such an issue that Electronics Guy practically spent his whole shift up front ringing. I wasn't as chatty as usual when this happened because it was a busy moment.

At some point I accidentally ripped her coloring book and called a manager to grab another off the floor. Just as manager came to see what was wrong the lady was explaining why she needed to buy all this stuff. I really didn't care, but was trying to listen in case I needed to respond in a socially acceptable manner. Manager's question distracted me and at that point I was asked the title question. It shocked me because outside of the busy-ness I had actually had a pretty good day, so I said no, I was fine. I explained that I was trying to be quick because it was very busy today and we were short on cashiers and customers don't like to wait. The response was "I know; I used to do this, too."

The things that bother me:
--Even if I am having a bad day, why do I need to justify it? It makes me feel guilty for not being PollyAnna.
--If she had worked retail, she should've seen how busy it was and accepted that customer service wasn't going to be over-the-top friendly, but low-medium friendly.

And to boot I told her at the end that her book would be there shortly and she just wandered off. Manager had to go look for her.

Maybe it's a brain fart on her part since she hasn't worked in retail for a long time. Maybe it's my fault for letting the stress show. (I must have.) Maybe it's the company's fault for basing staffing on sales. I don't know; I just feel annoyed and guilty at the same time and I hate that feeling.

I need a job wher no one sees my face.

[RealUnimportant]

It might have been meant innocently enough, but as an ex-peon they should have known better than to phrase it that way; I think it was a case of them FTSTS in their choice of words.

Coupled with them wandering off, I have to wonder if they weren't the one having a bad day!

[notalwaysright]

I've been checked out or otherwise helped by employees who clearly have something going on in their life. Or maybe they just had a rude customer, or got told off by their manager. Whatever, they have a look like they're upset or angry or sad.

You know what I do? I ignore it and just have a regular transaction. It's that easy. I don't know in what situation I'd feel like I needed to comment on or ask about an employee's mood. I don't comment when someone is super cheerful, why would I comment if their facial expression isn't the definition of happy? Oh right, I'm not nosy and controlling.

[Shyla]

Your customer worked retail for 3 months when she was 16 and remembers it as a lovely experience since she only worked 10 hours a week.

[AyreBiskits]

i don't know, i think SC seem to be more rude when they don't see your face.

[Minflick]

Your customer worked retail for 3 months when she was 16 and remembers it as a lovely experience since she only worked 10 hours a week.

OR - her manager person thought she was the cutest thing since sliced bread, and indulged the hell out of her, so she never came face to face with the ridiculousness of the average SC.

[Jay 2K Winger]

Signs Of Too Much Undertale:

You misread the OP title and hear Sans' voice.

[gremcint]

for me it started playing that stupid song from the work playlist "you've had a bad day"

[EricKei]

J2K - That's nothing. I'm now hearing a metal remix of that song in my head ('Megalovania'). Not that that's a bad thing.

[Jay 2K Winger]

J2K - That's nothing. I'm now hearing a metal remix of that song in my head ('Megalovania'). Not that that's a bad thing.

I spent most of my shift on Sunday listening to remixes of Megalovania, so you're not alone.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Try having one of those for a manager. I do. Our new apparel manager who looks like she's 15.

Every day, every time she sees me she says "How's it going?" and I give her the usual "It's going" and she says "That doesn't sound very positive!" or "Don't be so negative!"

I'm picking up a very Moon Unit vibe from her. Saturday morning I and the rest of the general merchandise freight lackeys are scrambling trying to stock a large truck while apparel manager is chillaxing with her people in the backroom telling them "We aren't going to stress out about the truck; the fitting rooms are a mess and returns aren't done." Gee, wish the expectations placed on me were 25% of what they are.

[Crai]

I call them the Hippie Managers. In her case I bet she has flash backs to concerts she wasn’t alive to attend. If you’re old enough to have lived in the Hippy days I have no beef live, love, peace. If your 15 and think you’re magic crystal will power your karma on your cosmic quest to make everyone happy.... good luck lol. Now get to work kid!