Just because you are standing there doesn't mean you'll get served!

[RetailSlave]

You have to love the SC logic shown in all three stories:

Story 1: The SC thinks that people who are buying things are less important to the business than people who are returning things.
(SNIP)

Do they not know how businesses work?

My Customer Service Lines Leader has actually told us that if there are lines at both the Service Desk and the checkout lanes, that we should jump on a register and make the people at the Service Desk wait! I pointed out to her that probably 90% of the people who come to the Service Desk are already pissed off because their merchandise was defective, broken or something they came in for was not in stock...or they are complaining about the long lines....you don't want to tick them off more by walking away and leaving them standing there with no one to wait on them.

[MageAkyla]

I love when you're called up to the register because of lines and SC's wait in your oncoming path because they want help this second! And no, they weren't one of the people waiting to be cashed out.

I have the misfortune of being one of the tallest people at work and this often happens to me as they see me coming. Unfortunately company policy requires you help said SC because they are the closest customer to you AND to take them to the item in question personally.

As fate would have it, it's usually on the other side of the store and it's never just one thing.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

My Customer Service Lines Leader has actually told us that if there are lines at both the Service Desk and the checkout lanes, that we should jump on a register and make the people at the Service Desk wait! I pointed out to her that probably 90% of the people who come to the Service Desk are already pissed off because their merchandise was defective, broken or something they came in for was not in stock...or they are complaining about the long lines....you don't want to tick them off more by walking away and leaving them standing there with no one to wait on them.

Sadly a lot of businesses today are tunnel focused on selling and upselling, with a severe lack of effort given to after sales service. Simply put: If it's not going to make them money, they don't want to bother with you.

[Dips]

Since two people have mentioned it, I guess I need to clarify my point.

The OP wasn't trying to give people buying stuff a higher priority than people returning stuff or selling stuff. He was giving the three SCs the exact same priority as people buying stuff. I was pointing out the extreme logic fail on their part thinking that they were somehow more special to the business than paying customers.

[Jester]

At least magicians are allowed to pelt these people with rabbits, or something.

Well, no, but we do get to be smartasses, and we do get to use lines like "I get paid to make an ass out of myself--you're doing it for free!" and "If I throw a stick, will you leave?" and "Where are you from? Chicago? There's a bus leaving for Chicago in 15 minutes. Be under it."

We also get to blow their puny little minds with something as simple as a deck of cards. Oftentimes that is better revenge than being the biggest asshole. Not always, mind you, but often enough.

I've come so close...so close. One of these days, the brain to mouth filter will fail and I'll tell the customer that he/she has to wait in line like everyone else.

How is that a filter fail? It is simply the truth!