This crazy person keeps coming to my Uscan, but guess what... For some strange and bizarre, unknown, reason, they don't want me to help them. So I stand there, while they wave for someone else to come and help them. Other customers, inform them, that I, the attendant, is right there to help them. They tell them they dont want my help. And they go, "okay..."
I mean, I have never met this person before. Never said anything to this person that would be deemed offensive. Yet, in their mind, they don't want me to help them.
Two other cashiers, service desk person, a security guard, and this one ACSM, who have encountered her while they refused my help have all come to the conclusion, within one minute of talking to them, that they're crazy.
Now, this one ACSM who came to help her, because they didn't want my help, decided they're not going to help them either. Why? Because he asked them why they didn't want my help and he asked them why they don't use the other two Uscans or the other cashier checkout lanes. Their response? Nothing but rudeness to the ACSM as he was helping them pay.
The ACSM told me that either they stop coming to my Uscan or they go to a different store. Now I want to be able to stand my ground and tell this crazy customer that, but I'm not sure I'm allowed to say such a thing to a customer. Am I? I mean, like today, if that one ACSM was here, I would have gone to them and have them deal with the person, but he wasn't here today. Another ACSM was and when I went to them, they just told me to have a bagger deal with them. And then when the crazy person wanted more help, they came directly to that ACSM and the ACSM helped them, despite me telling them the story behind this crazy person.
You know what I mean? There would be no backing me up if I told the customer to feck off. Because you know as soon as I do that they're going to go crying for a store manager. I was hoping the ACSM would get fed up, after being flagged by that customer FIVE times in a row. Like the other ACSM was, the one who said next time they should feck off.
So, I'm asking you all for your outside opinion. Would I be within my rights to tell this customer, politely of course, that if they don't want my help they should use another checkout lane instead of bothering other cashiers and managers who have their own customers to attend to. That or they should leave the store.
Or would that be opening the door to me being fired?
Have you actually tried asking them (in as polite a way as you can) "Can you please tell me why you don't want me to wait on you??"
Maybe it's something about your appearance? From previous posts, I understand that you (a man) wear your hair very long. Some people are intimidated by men with long hair. Perhaps that is it?
Yeah, on the first interaction I did. Their response was that they wanted a quote on quote, "female attendant." On the second interaction, an ACSM had to do a price check on some item they wanted, then the ACSM told me to give it to them for that price. I went up to them, asked them if they wanted this item for that price. Their response was to yell to the security guard standing by that I'm taking their stuff and won't let them leave (with the stuff they haven't even paid for).
On a third interaction, I was just standing in the middle of the floor, and she yells at me "can you not walk back and forth around me, you're scaring me." I mean, there's other customers on this Uscan. I have to walk to them to help them. So... I'm not talking to them again.
She is CRAZY. Everyone who talked to her knew that within one minute of interacting with them.
Fine, I can play this game. Keeps coming to my Uscan when there's plenty of other checklanes available. Just watch them make a fool of themselves and wait for the other managers to get sick of her. This will be an interesting time.
Maybe it's something about your appearance? From previous posts, I understand that you (a man) wear your hair very long. Some people are intimidated by men with long hair. Perhaps that is it?
My previous posts? I have never said anything about my hair on this forum.
You should not tell a customer that. That type of comment should only be made by store managers or ACSM.
Can't fix crazy. Kill her with kindness is all you can do.
No, I'm not talking to them again. That's only going to give them more fuel to say I'm harassing them. If other customers ask me why I'm not helping her, I'll tell them they don't want my help.
She doesn't want my help and then stands there getting annoyed and frustrated when no one else is coming to help them as she's waving her hands in the air like a maniac... because they're effing busy helping other customers....
Maybe it's something about your appearance? From previous posts, I understand that you (a man) wear your hair very long. Some people are intimidated by men with long hair. Perhaps that is it?
My previous posts? I have never said anything about my hair on this forum.
Never mind.............I must be thinking of another poster. I remember some cashier telling about wearing his hair long (perhaps in a ponytail).
You should not tell a customer that. That type of comment should only be made by store managers or ACSM.
I'm curious. Can office clerks doing the role of FES (with the red vest on) do that too? Or is it strictly the ACSMs and store managers?
Our store has gotten to the point where, on some shifts, there is no ACSM around, just a couple office clerks running the floor and doing the service desk.
You should not tell a customer that. That type of comment should only be made by store managers or ACSM.
I'm curious. Can office clerks doing the role of FES (with the red vest on) do that too? Or is it strictly the ACSMs and store managers?
Our store has gotten to the point where, on some shifts, there is no ACSM around, just a couple office clerks running the floor and doing the service desk.
I am not sure. We represent Kroger with our attitude and actions. I think a store manager has the authority to tell a customer that. The ACSM has dealt with enough strange people that they would know when it is right to tell a customer that. As glamorous as our jobs are, I would not risk my job for a disruptive customer.
We moved into a new store that was much larger than our previous building. I had an elderly lady screaming at one of my co workers at 11pm at night because the store was too big. We were as nice as possible and she finally left. You never know which customer is going to flip out.
Never mind.............I must be thinking of another poster. I remember some cashier telling about wearing his hair long (perhaps in a ponytail).
F * K's that got to do with anything? You saying people shouldn't leave the house without making sure their hair style dorsn't offend anyone?
Let me tell you the same thing I'd tell them: It rhymes with duck foo
Anon, You misunderstood my post. I was just trying to think of POSSIBLE (though silly or unreasonable) reasons why the customer refused to let the cashier wait on them (her?). I, personally, couldn't care less about how someone wears their hair. I'm sure that you do realize that customers can (and Do) have some REALLY off-the-wall reasons why they do the things they do, and act the way they act, and say the things they say!
If I was you, I would be polite and just stand your ground when needed. If the customer decides to checkout at the SCO your operating, let them. You as an associates have to perform your duties, which is moving about the SCO's and assisting. When the SCO is stopped (HELP IS ON THE WAY), offer assistance politely and help as much as you can. If the customer tell you to go away, just leave the customer standing there without assisting and let them flag someone down. Whenever you have a difficult customer over and over again, its best to be polite/friendly and just limit the interactions. Just like your ACSM said to the customer, they have the option to checkout at other lanes, just like they have the options to not shop at the store. I have told a few customers that complain about everything and never seem to be happy, they do have other options (they can take the meaning at whatever they want to interpret it as).
