I have been a working girl since I was 16, the second I was legally able. Since then I have made my way through a few different jobs in the retail and restaurant business and my experience level is pretty high. Because of all my days behind counters, taking orders or processing purchases, I am a better person. I am someone that everyone else should be.
Think about the last time you went into a store or got waited on at a restaurant. Were you nice to whoever was helping you? Maybe you were, but there’s more to it than just being nice. I firmly believe that you don’t understand anything about something until you try it for yourself. Your opinion is not valid until you have personal experience, end of story. So, in case some of you are the blessed ones who don’t have to work like I do, I’ll help you out. Here are six things every person should be as a customer:
- Patient.
- Easy to please.
- Compassionate.
- I always understand when someone can’t find my size or can’t put extra lettuce on my burger because usually it's literally not their fault. There is probably some guy in the back screaming at them for every slight mistake and you being nice to them is probably the best they get all day.
- Always say, "Good, how are you?"
- There is literally nothing ruder than not responding when someone asks you how you are. It may seem like something that is simply said naturally but if you let it, the gesture can be genuine. Engage with the person for a second then get what you need. Again, they will be more eager to help someone who is nice.
- Also say thank you (a lot).
- Even if someone helps me in no way whatsoever, I say thank you. I say it because I know that I get to leave that store or restaurant whenever I want whereas they probably have to stand there for the rest of the day in uncomfortable shoes.
- Listen to their little spiels.
- “Hi! Welcome to Victoria’s Secret! Have you heard about your new app?” “Uhh, I’m looking for leggings." Wrong. Let the poor sales girls say her speech to you about whatever promotion or sale the store has going on. You might not care at all, but that poor person probably has to tell at least 10 people that day or she gets reprimanded. Trust me, it's brutal.
