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After I got laid off after nearly 5 years at WAL-FART and dealing with crappy, insane customers daily, I took a job at the local Home Depot. And LO AND BEHOLD...I have been there for 3 months now, interact with customers on a daily(more like minute-by-minute)basis, and in all this time, I have not had ONE upset or rude customer in any way!
Could it be that my store attracts SERIOUS shoppers who instead of whine and complain and even threaten store employees like at WM, come into the store with the main reason being that they actually want to FIND the items they're looking for, to pay for them, and then to LEAVE in a good mood? Being new and all, I don't know where EVERYTHING would be in the store at this time when customers ask me where a certain item is, but EVERY DAY, this is how the average conversation goes:
Customer: Oh, hi there! Can you help me find *certain store item*?
Me: I'm actually new, here, sir/ma'am, and I'm still trying to find where we keep these items too. Could I page someone to help you find what you're looking for?
At this point, the customer smiles in complete understanding, jokes about how big the store is, so that they're not surprised how tough it is for us to find these things too, and whether they accept my help or not, the same thing is said to me in complete cheerfulness:
Customer: Thank you for helping me anyway. Have a good day, sir!
Wow, imagine that! The other day, this one customer comes up to me, a regular who usually buys at least $300 of stuff, and always treats our employees with respect.
Customer: Can I ask you a question?
Me: Only if I can give you an answer!!!(I was in a joking mood)
The customer stares at me for a moment, then bursts into laughter. "Oh! You got me there! That's pretty good!" I helped him with the assistance needed and then afterwards, he says, "You have a good attitude, and you make me laugh! I'm telling your manager at how awesome you are!" He then writes down my name and the store number. 15 minutes later, he calls the store at home and proceeds to tell my manager about how cool and helpful and funny I was.
In the past week, 37 customers have personally called the store to thank them for how I helped them, or in the case of YESTERDAY, have gone up to my manager in front of me and starts saying, "This guy here is the BEST! He has done *this and this* for me. I love this store and I'm definitely coming back because of people like him!"
Needless to say, my bosses are holding me in very high regard right now. How many people work in Retail and get to enjoy their jobs BECAUSE of how the customers treat them? Not ONE upset or rude customer in any way. This must be a new record!
Could it be that my store attracts SERIOUS shoppers who instead of whine and complain and even threaten store employees like at WM, come into the store with the main reason being that they actually want to FIND the items they're looking for, to pay for them, and then to LEAVE in a good mood? Being new and all, I don't know where EVERYTHING would be in the store at this time when customers ask me where a certain item is, but EVERY DAY, this is how the average conversation goes:
Customer: Oh, hi there! Can you help me find *certain store item*?
Me: I'm actually new, here, sir/ma'am, and I'm still trying to find where we keep these items too. Could I page someone to help you find what you're looking for?
At this point, the customer smiles in complete understanding, jokes about how big the store is, so that they're not surprised how tough it is for us to find these things too, and whether they accept my help or not, the same thing is said to me in complete cheerfulness:
Customer: Thank you for helping me anyway. Have a good day, sir!
Wow, imagine that! The other day, this one customer comes up to me, a regular who usually buys at least $300 of stuff, and always treats our employees with respect.
Customer: Can I ask you a question?
Me: Only if I can give you an answer!!!(I was in a joking mood)
The customer stares at me for a moment, then bursts into laughter. "Oh! You got me there! That's pretty good!" I helped him with the assistance needed and then afterwards, he says, "You have a good attitude, and you make me laugh! I'm telling your manager at how awesome you are!" He then writes down my name and the store number. 15 minutes later, he calls the store at home and proceeds to tell my manager about how cool and helpful and funny I was.
In the past week, 37 customers have personally called the store to thank them for how I helped them, or in the case of YESTERDAY, have gone up to my manager in front of me and starts saying, "This guy here is the BEST! He has done *this and this* for me. I love this store and I'm definitely coming back because of people like him!"
Needless to say, my bosses are holding me in very high regard right now. How many people work in Retail and get to enjoy their jobs BECAUSE of how the customers treat them? Not ONE upset or rude customer in any way. This must be a new record!
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