I've worked in customer service for a little over three years now. I need everyone to know how it is being behind the counter, having to have that smile on your face, and have the "customer is always right" mentality, even when that's not true 90% of the time. Here are five things everyone needs to know about customer service.
1. Small talk
Let me just say that I hate small talk. When 50 different people come in and comment about the weather, I don't say anything because I count whoever is lucky enough to be able to be outside, lucky. It's always good weather to me, because if we didn't have rain then nothing would grow. If it wasn't humid today then it would be humid tomorrow. Just be grateful for the day as it is, please.
2. Customers that complain about the prices
I can't change the price. Plain and simple. And there's a good chance that my boss can't either, so please keep your comments to yourself because there's no way any of us in the store are going to be able to lower the price for you.
3. Don't be rude
There are people that come and comment on anything and everything, and not very nicely. Please stop talking when you don't need to talk because chances are you're just making the customer service rep annoyed.
4. Respect
I have a different name and there have been people who have said, "You're not Loui. That's a boy's name." Please be respectful of the employee that's helping you in every area. Go into a store, get what you need, and then leave but do it without being rude or disrespectful.
5. The counter
Where I work, we have a long counter and to a normal person, it's common sense not to go into a business and go behind the counter. Right? You would think that's common knowledge but it seems that there are some people out there that were never taught boundaries and they just walk wherever they want. I mean would you walk behind a McDonald's counter? Probably not, so please don't come into my work space.
There are also those people that lean way over the counter so they can try to see the computer as if they don't believe anything I'm seeing, and then get into my face. Please don't.
Each and every day gets more exhausting than it needs to be. People constantly push my buttons and I know that I'm not the only person in customer service that feels this way. Yes, the majority of people are fine and they just want to get their business done but there will always be that handful that tosses common courtesy out the window. Please don't be that customer.
