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when I'm in a bad mood and trying to hold it together without offending anyone?
I have been hating my job lately, more than usual because of all the sucktomers I've been having due to the holidays. On top of that they put me on the register with the 2-foot countertop, so that's always a struggle with everyone's large items. I was not in the mood for this today.
I had an older couple with two cheap candle holders from the dollar bins. Of course when I went to scan one the handle came off. They pop right back in, which I did, but not before the lady said, "Ohhhh, she broke it! It's free, then!" Yeah, not funny the first time I heard it 1,000 years ago; not funny now. I don't think I responded and she said, "Oh, we're just teasing you." I don't think I responded to that either, which will probably net me a complaint.
She then explained that one of the ones they wanted were broken. She meant a different one they left in the bin but I misunderstood and said "One of these is damaged? Do you want us to check backstock?" [Hey, they can't complain I didn't try to help them.] She explained it better and I said something else--don't remember what--and finished the transaction.
So at the end she asked in a jokingly cheerful way if I'd put my nametag on upside-down for a reason. Um, who cares? I said no, it was a mistake. [I actually do it often when I'm in a hurry and only coworkers ever mention it. Most people are too into their own lives to notice.]
I guess they were trying to be funny and nice, but what's sucky is failing to notice your jokes aren't landing. If they aren't, you can still be friendly, but don't keep teasing the person or pointing out mistakes. The kindest thing you can do is not draw attention to the fact that maybe this isn't a good day for the person. Just let it be. You don't have to be class clown all the time.
I have been hating my job lately, more than usual because of all the sucktomers I've been having due to the holidays. On top of that they put me on the register with the 2-foot countertop, so that's always a struggle with everyone's large items. I was not in the mood for this today.
I had an older couple with two cheap candle holders from the dollar bins. Of course when I went to scan one the handle came off. They pop right back in, which I did, but not before the lady said, "Ohhhh, she broke it! It's free, then!" Yeah, not funny the first time I heard it 1,000 years ago; not funny now. I don't think I responded and she said, "Oh, we're just teasing you." I don't think I responded to that either, which will probably net me a complaint.
She then explained that one of the ones they wanted were broken. She meant a different one they left in the bin but I misunderstood and said "One of these is damaged? Do you want us to check backstock?" [Hey, they can't complain I didn't try to help them.] She explained it better and I said something else--don't remember what--and finished the transaction.
So at the end she asked in a jokingly cheerful way if I'd put my nametag on upside-down for a reason. Um, who cares? I said no, it was a mistake. [I actually do it often when I'm in a hurry and only coworkers ever mention it. Most people are too into their own lives to notice.]
I guess they were trying to be funny and nice, but what's sucky is failing to notice your jokes aren't landing. If they aren't, you can still be friendly, but don't keep teasing the person or pointing out mistakes. The kindest thing you can do is not draw attention to the fact that maybe this isn't a good day for the person. Just let it be. You don't have to be class clown all the time.
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It only happens Eight Days A Week ...
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