Don't think it was deliberately sucky but still annoying

[Pixilated]

MrsEclipse's most recent post reminded me of this incident:

I had a similar situation in a bookstore recently: elderly customer was chatting to the cashier ... and chatting ... and chatting ... even after she finished her transaction. She had her back to me; the cashier was facing me. To her credit, the cashier did apologize for the delay, but I think if it had been me, at some point, I'd have kept nodding and smiling at the elderly woman but I also would've pointedly looked past her and said to the waiting customer, "Can I help you?" It would be a polite way to let the woman know there's somebody behind her and to encourage the next customer to step up to the counter and begin their transaction.

[bankworking]

I've had to walk customers to the door to get them to let go of the conversation. If we're really busy, I've also interrupted them with an "I'm so sorry, but I have someone else waiting. You have my card, right? Please come by and see me again." That while walking them out of my office, because sometimes they'll agree that they need to go, then keep on chatting.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Oh, yeah, those customers. Luckily most of mine will side step to let me interact with the next customer while still having half an ear to what they are saying.

I think some of them are just kind of lonely, so even having only half of my ear while my main focus of attention is on the person I'm server is enough for them.

[MoonCat]

We get those on the phone,too. Usually older people, and I feel bad trying to get them to stop talking, I figure they probably don't have anyone else to talk to.

Then there was this guy, probably around my own age....You CANNOT stop him talking. Literally. His conversation runs off on every tangent that occurs to him, and no matter what you say, you can't make him get to the point until he's damn well good and ready. Arrgh.

[Headset Hellion]

I talked to a customer on the phone the other day for FORTY MINUTES. Keep in mind that my department actually wants us to lengthen our call times to "build customer relationships" with an expectation of ~10 minutes per call, but still! It's supposed to be "valuable" conversation, not just idle chit-chat. I could not get off the phone with this woman or steer the conversation back to anything banking related. She was so sweet, though, and I think she was just lonely.

[An Haddock]

We have a few chatterboxes... not as much you can do when they're in the store (except for try to graciously excuse yourself to do a task or something) but my guys keep getting stuck on the phone with people who just won't SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP.

I keep telling them "tell them a customer just walked in!" but they're trying to be polite. Well, there's a fine line between polite and someone wasting your time because they're desperate for human conversation.

I've gotten stuck talking to people in person before but I can usually end it with "Sorry, but I have to piss like a race horse." - that usually ends things quickly enough.

[Pixilated]

Now there's a line that will end probably any conversation ...

I agree: a lot of these customers are probably lonely. I often end up chatting with people about anything and everything in my job as well ... but only if there's nobody else who needs attention.

But it is easier said than done to sweep them out the door or away from the counter, especially if you're trying hard to keep it polite.

[Jay 2K Winger]

I get the occasional caller at The Client's IT service desk that launches into "the life story" of the issue they're calling in with, even before I get the chance to ask their name or ID# or anything to identify them.

Since they can't see me, I usually end up rolling my eyes and either miming the "blah blah blah" hand motion, or making the "wrap it up" hand motion.

[lachesis]

I've fallen back on the old "well it was nice chatting with you, but I have other calls coming in." There's two customers that I'm currently using that one on. They never seem to realize I've used it on them before. When I was on the teller line, my supervisor got mad at me often because i could never get a talker out of my line fast enough. There's definitely a fine line between listening politely (to a point) and "shut up, I don't care. Go away."

[An Haddock]

I've used a trick before where I punch the store's number into my cell phone (out of sight of the customer) and used it call here. Or pre-program it for easier access!

[EricKei]

Aaaand, lemme guess...You're not allowed to hang up on these people, put them on Hold of Death, or try to "force" them to hang up, are you? You just gotta wait until they run out of breath, yes? Places with policies such as that, where you have NO control over call length, tend to be the ones that are most hardcore about call times ~_~