The "I'm So Rude" Thread

[draggar]

I've been "rude" for not installing a 3rd party application (one I've never heard of) on someone's server thus creating a risk of a date breach for a very large chain of fast food restaurants. (rinse and repeat for 3-5 requests a week from different sites and different chains).

I've also been "rude" for not sending sales data from a restaurant's competition to them.

I'm also "rude" for not adding an administrative / manager account to a site's system for any person who calls wanting one.

[RealUnimportant]

I've had a rash of people complaining about my "attitude" because I was able to answer their thick-as-pigshit questions without having to consult anything other than the information screens displayed directly opposite my ticket window. Apparently the fact I've done this job for so long that I know many of the ticket prices & best routes by heart is poor customer service, and I should make them feel less dumb by having to laboriously look up every little thing to reinforce just how complicated it is to use public transport... Er, no. Not happening.

[WishfulSpirit]

I should make them feel less dumb by having to laboriously look up every little thing to reinforce just how complicated it is to use public transport... Er, no. Not happening.

As someone who relies on public transit and who can also get lost in an empty room, I rather appreciate transit employees who can answer questions quickly and accurately. I just want to get home, not have a long conversation. I'm aware I have the directional sense of a rock, and I don't need anyone to soothe my ego. I am intelligent in a lot of areas, it's just that finding my way around doesn't happen to be one of them.

[South Texan]

I would not dismiss a speeding ticket when the woman came up to my desk and swore the officer must have lied as to how fast she was going. I told her it needed to be set for trial if she disputed the allegation. She complained to my manager that I was rude and unhelpful.

Then I was rude and "ruined Christmas" because I would not dismiss a speeding in a school zone (30 miles over the limit) and no insurance tickets or set the fines to $0 because the guy said insurance was too expensive (with his moving violations record, that was not a surprise) and he wanted to buy Christmas presents.

I also was rude because I objected to a young woman rubbing my shaved head "for luck" without first asking my permission.

[Dreamstalker]

My shift lead was 'rude' for telling a customer that she should look to see if the previous customer had finished before starting to scan her crap (C had swiped payment and left without finalizing, SC jumped in and started scanning her stuff THEN decided 'her' total was far too high).

I'm 'rude' for not holding any one person's hand. I'm NOT a cashier. You want someone to ring for you, go to an actual cashier.

A CW was suspended for 'rudeness' for telling someone with a cartload "this is a 12 items or less line" (SC had not started putting her stuff on the belt, so CW was perfectly within her rights to tell SC this)

[wolfie]

A CW was suspended for 'rudeness' for telling someone with a cartload "this is a 12 items or less line" (SC had not started putting her stuff on the belt, so CW was perfectly within her rights to tell SC this)

WTF? Management sets a policy, then punishes employees for following it? Why is it more important to satisfy the one entitled bozo than the half-dozen people behind them, each with 1 or 2 items and wanting to get through quickly?

[Thana]

I was recently rude for..

Asking a customer what they wanted a lidded container for. I only have 2 lidded containers....lids for chili cups and lids for potato boats. Telling me "a miscellaneous amount of food" does not help me figure out how much food therefore I decided to err on the side of caution and gave the customer a bag.

Today..customer came into the restaurant with a bag..great they've just come through drive and drive forgot something. I have 4 customers talking to me so I don't even have a chance to greet the guy who walked up to the counter..which apparently was fine by him because he just walked up, leaned over the counter and was like "Yeah I just came through drive and y'all forgot my fries.." Mind you we're short staffed..so nobody heard him. I finished up with my customers and approached him and the following exchange happened..
Me: What can I do for you?
Him: I dunno. I just went through drive and they forgot my fries. Some fries would be nice.
Me: Alright what size fries.
Him: I dunno. Just fries. I ordered a number three.
Me: What. size. fries? Small. Medium. or. Large?
Him: I don't know! Just fries! regular or whatever comes with the number three. I paid $xx.xx
Me: What size was your drink?
Him: I dunno. Large chocolate frosty. Can I please just get some fries?!
Me: -screaming on the inside but plasters fake smile to face- Alright Give me a moment please
Me: =-wanders over to drive and taps awesome manager on the shoulder- So I have this @$#@#@ upfront saying he came through drive and y'all forgot his fries but he can't tell..
Awesome Manager: Large fry! I'll deal with him.
Awesome manager goes and deals with him, I'm dealing with more customers and the dude says to my manager as he's leaving "You need to retrain her. She's rude and kept asking questions instead of getting my fries."

Speaking too softly while dealing with customers. It's not that I was speaking softly on purpose today... I was freaking losing my voice and towards the end of my shift it had that really pinched breathy pitch that screams "this voice is just about gone!!!"

[Enjis]

As someone who relies on public transit and who can also get lost in an empty room, I rather appreciate transit employees who can answer questions quickly and accurately. I just want to get home, not have a long conversation. I'm aware I have the directional sense of a rock, and I don't need anyone to soothe my ego. I am intelligent in a lot of areas, it's just that finding my way around doesn't happen to be one of them.

Oh, this, this, a thousand times this! I most definitely want someone giving me directions to know absolutely where to go and how to get there! And I thank them for it!

[Dreamstalker]

WTF? Management sets a policy, then punishes employees for following it? Why is it more important to satisfy the one entitled bozo than the half-dozen people behind them, each with 1 or 2 items and wanting to get through quickly?

I don't know if it's an actual policy, but I was always told that we can say something if they haven't unloaded their stuff. At some companies, managers can and will back cashiers on the 12-item limit, but apparently we don't. I get that things are competitive, but we don't turn away the small orders (which is basically what's happening by implying that the store doesn't care about getting customers through checkout quickly).

[wolfie]

I guess the people under the limit need to become the "squeaky wheels" and complain that someone with a full cart was NOT turned away. After all, the management crackdown on cashiers turning away over-limit people probably started when the "rules don't apply to me" people complained about not being allowed to take their 100+ items through the "12 items or fewer" lane.

[Dreamstalker]

When I'm an express cashier I will encourage others to complain about the jerk who comes in with 3 items only to have a family member teleport in with a full cart and unload everything ('policy' is that we can't turn a customer away once they have items on the belt and the abusers know this all too well).

CW was at work today; I suspect it was a snap decision by D and the union said no (there's been a bit of that recently, groundless suspensions that are then reversed).

Back on topic: I was rude for not being able to instantly determine what a mushmouth SC was looking for...or being able to produce it once I did figure out it was something we no longer have.

[XCashier]

Speaking too softly while dealing with customers. It's not that I was speaking softly on purpose today... I was freaking losing my voice and towards the end of my shift it had that really pinched breathy pitch that screams "this voice is just about gone!!!"

My sympathies. I'm just now getting over my annual bout of laryngitis, and wouldn't you know it, when your voice is going and your throat is hurting, that's when every customer you get wants you to explain each and every little thing about every item they're getting, and asks you more and more questions, even though it's blatantly obvious that you cannot speak and you're in freaking pain.

[Shyla]

Last time I only had about 15 things I went to the express lane and there was a huge cart unloading. I went to the service desk and mentioned it and they checked me out right there at the service desk. That worked. But the people who pull that crap are jerks. The cashier doesn't even have room for all those items.

[Totiono]

The other day I was rude for following procedure and not letting an old man into one of our stadiums early for a show.

All of our stadiums open up exactly one half hour prior to showtime. This decision is not up to me and as far as I know it has always been like this. It even says right at the bottom of the map underneath the showtimes that all stadiums open up 30 minutes to showtime. I'm just out there to control the crowds and make sure the line is nice and orderly for when we do open up. Loading guests into a stadium has a very specific procedure to go along with safety protocol. If we just let left the gates open all day it would interfere with operations and could result in chaos and injury.

The ONLY time we open up early is on particularly busy days when the lines are long enough to create fire hazards, and even in these cases we need to get proper approval from numerous park officials and performers first. Even then, it is not a call I make. It is something the leads have to coordinate. This day was not one of those busy days. It was cold and it was getting dark and I had a whopping three guests at my gate.

He was irate for having to wait 15 more minutes. His wife was in a wheelchair and even after learning that we let in disabled guests (+ their families) a few minutes earlier than the general population he still wasn't satisfied. For those 15 minutes I got an earful from him and learned that I am rude because:

- I didn't have the authority to change a decades-old procedure for him and him alone.
Had I let him in I would likely be fired on the spot and he'd be escorted right back out, probably delaying the entry procedure even further
- I have no respect for veterans, as he fought in Vietnam for 10 years and this was the thanks he got.
Was I was somehow supposed to already be aware of his service?
- I did not have my CEO's personal phone number. He wanted to call my CEO right then and there to complain about having to wait.
The CEO runs a chain of theme parks that employs at least 100,000+ nationwide. Why would a base level, barely above minimum wage worker such as myself have his number on hand
- I apparently patronized and belittled him for pointing out and offering up a bench for him to sit on while he waited.
I thought maybe his legs were tired from standing and walking all day and that might be why he wanted in so badly
- I seemed more interested in listening to the chatter on my walkie than listening to his concerns.
When we are staffed at the gates our only means of communication with the lead/supervisors/manager is the walkie. I need to be aware of what is going on at all times so when I hear people talking over my department's channel I bring the walkie close to my ear


Just another example of how some sucky customers who think that being told no = poor customer service.

[Shyla]

This veterans thing is stupid. No one can tell if you're a veteran by looking at you. Especially if you're ancient. And it does not give you the right to demand special treatment any time at any place.