How Not to Ask A Question

[rapana1]

We have a couple of customers who, when I am at the counter doing nothing and can't see them, don't come over to me and ask a question.
Neither do they pop their head out so they know I can see them, wave or call me over, and then ask a question when I come over.
Instead, they simply stand where I can't see them and they can't see me, on the other side of the store, and ask their question. The other day it was "How hard is this fabric to stitch?"
First, I had no Idea where in the store she was. So I had to call out to her that I was coming to find her. Then she was looking at something else by then, so I had to find out what fabric she was asking about in the first place.
This lady does this every single time she shops with us. Eventually, I told her I have trouble hearing from a distance, so I couldn't always hear her when she called out. Don't think she will remember for next time. Oh well.

[simplyanother]

I work behind a display case which holds various seafoody things. That means the closest people can be is..what 3 or 4 feet? People often like to stand about 4 feet away from THAT...and then mumble their order. Behind my head, there is a fan/thing that is very loud, and the steamers are very loud. And they're in that range where it's not an uncomfortable loudness, but it does make it difficult to hear anything anyone says.

The folks who don't stand on the other side of the damned store, will come up to the counter and mumble. and then get really pissed off when I can't quite understand wtf they want. repeated "I'm sorry, I can't hear over the machines, could you speak louder"..sort of pleas... just gets them to repeat it, in the same damned low stupid voice.

And these aren't people who aren't capable of talking loudly. I have customers who aren't. You know what they do? They let me know. I bring my ass around the counter, so I can hear them and they can hear me. But, no I'm not going to do that for little miss can't not mumble.


I like the people who order shit, and just walk away. I don't mean, we go through the process, I weigh things, and we get prices and stuff--and they walk away while I steam them. I mean "I want 4 lbs of sea creatures...." and they wander off. Then they come back, wanting their order. You have to actually FINISH your order.

Bah. Retail is fun.