If sure if you scour the web you will find post after post of the poor customer service that seems to be the norm these days. Whether you are at the grocery store, gas station, nail salon, or car wash. Great customer service is hard to come by these days. I get it, you are working at gonna go no where job, you want to be home with your family, cruising with your friends, anywhere but flipping burgers, waiting on whining kids, or scanning item after item all day long. We go to a job for many reasons but the number one reason is money. We put up with things we would prefer not to take home that paycheck.
This post isn’t about customer service though it is about common courtesy and good manners. Have they too become a thing of the past in the customer service world? Being polite seems more of an effort these days, harder then tying your shoes. No Hi, who are you doing?, have a great day! It seems words have escaped many customer service employees at least at my local Walmart.
I don’t have enough fingers on my hands to count the number of times I have checked out and not one word was spoken by the cashier. Even after I say have a great day when handed a receipt, it was like I was talking to a wall, or my kids for that matter. I’m not an overly in your face have to know all your business type of person but I always greet people with a smile, tell them to have a great day and mind my q’s and p’s.
This weekend during our normal weekly grocery trip to Walmart I passed by what I thought might be a cute outfit. I don’t know about you but I must try things on, if not I would end up spending a lot more time in the return line then I do in the check out line. I picked up the outfit and went to the waiting room. The attendant was on the phone. I waiting until she got off to show her my own item. She looked at me, no words came out of her mouth. I said I had one item, then she turned away. No pointing to a room, no thank you go in. That was it not one word came out of her mouth.
While I understand not enjoying your job it saddens me to see what has become of what should be common courtesy to people in general. When did your problems and aggressions need to be expressed to all those around you.
To those in customer service, the many that are, that are not like this Thank You! Thank you for the smile, for the how are you doing’s and have a great day’s! For the rest of you smile a little more life might be more fun!
Kelly says
OMG! I know! And Walmart is the absolute worst. I wrote a blog on it a while back. Customer Service is so bad that it actually stands out when someone is pleasant & courteous! It’s like we are surprised they are being polite.
Alison says
Wow that’s just very rude!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I just don’t understand why people no longer care at all. I don’t know what happened!
Eileen says
I’d like to know what AGE the person might have been Colleen? I know there are a ton of worried, angry adults out there who are working at Walmart now, with the crappy economy. That’s one set of employees. But the younger employees are the ones that get me. I honestly think they don’t know HOW to communicate! Think how many hours are spent texting, on facebook, and very little face to face contact. Heck, even kids with online classes now and no teachers? I have talked to my kids about this. Couple this lack of communication skill with an entitlement our kids feel….lets face it, many kids are given way too much, in my opinion. You have angry or snotty kids who don’t really want to be there…maybe with a butt load of student loans to pay off and no “real” job prospects. Now I know there are people who work for Walmart who really like their jobs…some are in management positions and it obviously is a successful store and SOMEone has to be happy about that. But really, we know it’s not the “little people” watching over changing rooms or at the checkout. I sure dont feel sorry for anyone who can’t smile, be kind, or God forbid do their job in ANY capacity in any job…but WHO is teaching these people to act like this or better yet who is NOT teaching our society simple manners and proper job etiquette? I hope my kids remember to thank someone for a ride EVERY time, to ask a teacher PLEASE for help, to get the door for an elderly person or mom with a small child…to just do it because you should, not because you are being paid for it while working somewhere. Society HUGE fail!
Colleen says
This is very true. I would say the girl I was speaking about in the dressing area was probably early 20’s.
I actually have total opposite kids. I could see my oldest being reserved and not want to talk. He is probably better off NOT going into anything customer service. My youngest son, that is where he thrives he is the most friendly, kid there is. He can talk to anyone with no problem.
However I think you make a great point regarding communication now a days and how that has changed people.
Jenn says
This is one reason I love living in a small Southern town. Even Walmart and fast food employees are generally polite. We visit my parents an hour away in a larger area and can hardly stand to shop or eat out!
april yedinak says
That is what I was going to say. As someone who has lived and traveled all over I have found that you find better manners in the south, especially in the smaller communities. Yes, I get some surly employees once in a while (especially at walmart and mcdonalds), but for the most part, young or old people in my area are polite. In fact, if there is a gentleman around, I almost never have to even touch a door- they just hold it open for everyone. It is like a southern man instinct. Haha!
Colleen says
I’ve always liked to live in a large city because everything is so easy to get too, but I have to say as I get older I would like a nice quiet, everyone knows everyone little town.
Canadian Mom Blogger says
I know what you mean. I am so surprised at how some people treat others.
Jo-Ann Brightman says
I agree that there are too many people who don’t show common courtesy. What I find interesting is that some of the older employees in some stores complain about their younger counterparts saying this same thing! Yet I have had young employees be very courteous in some stores. I can’t fathom the reason . I just wish that all people were more polite. It doesn’t take much effort and it makes most people feel better.
Jenn @therebelchick says
There is really no such thing as good manners and customer service anymore, it’s so sad!
Christine M says
Ohh how I loathe bad customer service. I have stopped shopping at many places because of it. I used to dread the commissary but there is one cashier whom I just adore who tells me ‘see you next wk’ and I always do! She is friendly and talkative and just as sweet as can be. I hate the WM workers who act like you are inconveniencing them and making them do their job. I want to shout “you should be happy you have a job” but I usually just file a complaint =)
Colleen says
That is it, you feel like YOU are the one that is bothering them. Like I said I understand this may not be the job you want but you should still do the best at whatever job you do have, no need to take it out on the customer.
Denise C says
You are so right, and Walmart has the worst customer service of any of the stores I frequent. It’s a terrible combination of poor management and unpleasant people who were clearly not raised to be courteous or respectful.
If a cashier doesn’t speak to me, then I just stand there and look at them until they do. If there are other people waiting in line behind me, then I speed the process up a bit by asking what they want. I just can’t stand when they just stand there looking at you and don’t even tell you the total amount. Say something! If you don’t tell me how much it costs, then I guess it must be free 🙂
Colleen says
I wonder what they would do if you just walked away. I’m sure they would speak then LOL.
Rhiannon Rowland says
I so agree with your entire post. Walmart employees do seem to not be very friendly or have manners. I will not say they all do, but many fit the bill. And Walmart is not the only offender, many places you go anymore you do not get a hello or have a nice day. I was a manager at a grocery store back when I was a young woman and always smiled said hello, asked how the person was and even more. I always got compliments on how happy I was and how happy the customer was when they saw me walk in the door, they were glad that I was going to wait on them. That made me feel good, I loved my customers.
I do have to mention the bright spot at our Walmart and that is door greeter Nathan, he has Williams Syndrome. He is such a joy, when you walk in the door he has a smile and a hello, how are you and for someone like me who has known him for years…I get a great big hug and sometimes a kiss on the cheek too. Our Walmart at one time decided to let him go…for the hugs…but the town let them know real quick that they better keep him or risk losing many of their shoppers. He does not hug everyone, just people he knows. People with Williams Syndrome are known for not knowing a stranger, but Nathan has learned to keep himself in check so as to not upset other people. (sorry to have been so long winded)
Colleen says
That is a sweet story.
I agree that I seem to remember and notice those that always say Hi and smile. I will say that it does go both ways. I have seen employees be friendly and are met with an icy stare like “just ring up my order and be quiet”. Unfortunately I think this seems to be the way of our society now.
Torie says
I have often wondered why people do this too. I think it is because as a society we are spoiled. People from other countries would be happy to have some of these jobs. People without jobs would be happy to have those jobs and put bread on the table. I also think that this smileless and chatless service becomes more common in larger populated areas. I live in a rural area and it is much friendlier that highly populated areas.
Colleen says
Agreed, living in South Florida we are definitely not the friendliest area and it is just sad. I know when I lived in Georgia it seemed like everyone had a smile.
Tricia Night Owl Mama says
I asked for a butcher to cut my meat a specific way today and I got a rolling of the eyes and an I Suppose.
and I called him out on it we got to talking and found out he was missing his daughters high school graduation. poor guy
but yes rudeness isn’t nice at all
Colleen says
Oh I feel terrible for him. I can’t imagine, I get so upset when work doesn’t understand family things. Good for you for finding out what was wrong.
Notorious Spinks says
I get so tired of bad customer service and bad manners that I just walk out. I have no problem leaving products where they are.
Colleen says
I’ve only done that once or twice when I was really angry. I tried to take back some shoes I bought at KMart. I bought three of the same color because I liked them. When I got home and tried to walk in them, they were too small so I wanted to exchange them. They refused to let me since I didn’t have a receipt. I walked out and left them with the shoes. I had no use for them.
Billie says
This makes me so sad, if you have a bad day fine whatever, but just not having manners? Boo!
Colleen says
I know, it just seems like I see it more and more and it sucks that so many people feel that way. I try to be positive and happy as much as I can.
Stefanie says
I actually don’t have too many problems with customer service anywhere, but I am the most impatient person..I hate when employees are slow to do anything
Colleen says
Agreed, it is amazing the difference sometimes between cashier’s anywhere some are super quick and some just take their time.
Courtney says
There are some amazing people in customer service, but I agree I tend to deal with those who are PAL ( pissed at life)
Colleen says
Agreed, not ALL customer service is like this. My husband use to work in it and he was always pleasant. I just can’t imagine going through the day with that much lack of life in me that I can’t even say Hi.
martha lawson says
I worked Customer Service for many years and proud to say I always was pleasant to the customers. It felt so good when some would tell the owners of the stores how I treated them respectfully and always smiled. It doesnt cost anything to be nice. I use to tell the other ladies when they had a difficult customer that they should just remind themselves this person was only in their lives for a few minutes, they didnt have to go home with them. I pitied the families of some of these doozies. They are not taught certain basic rules of politeness that I was raised with I guess.
Apryl @ Christian Clippers says
It seems like it’s just going downhill!
Zippy Sandler says
Customer service is the ONE reason that I return to stores, restaurants, etc. I am not a coupon clipper, I don’t just go to a store because it’s cheaper, instead I make it a point to only go back to places that give me good customer service.
debra says
If I remember a cashier that wasn’t pleasant, I’ll go to another line no matter the wait.
Rachel @ Following In My Shoes says
It does seem to be way more acceptable these days to be rude or apathetic at work.
jenn says
Unfortunately, I dont think its going to get any better. I remember back when they had more mom and pop stores and as i recall the employees were so much friendlier, is that because alot of the places were family run and so they were vested into the company? Now, if it;s not their company alot of people just don’t care. Most of the jobs that have poor customer service are easy to come by so maybe people just figure they can work anywhere and don’t try to help further the company