The Vent and Rant Thread

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Back to the topic of unscented products - I found a drugstore fragrance free body wash:
https://www.dialsoap.com/products/bo...ragrance-free/

You had me at "free", though "drugstore fragrance" might not be my top choice...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

You had me at "free", though "drugstore fragrance" might not be my top choice...

See kids, this is why punctuation is important.

[4691mls]

I figured it would be obvious to anyone who read the earlier discussion about searching for drugstore products that were fragrance free.

Actually I've never noticed any particular scent in my local drugstore :

[Rumpelteazer]

The last two weeks before Christmas and I'm not looking forward to working. Ever since the Corona rules have been tightened again it's become a lot more stressful in the store. Especially on Saturdays, when we're constantly having to tell people not to park their bikes in front of the store (to keep space for waiting lines), ask people to wait outside since the maximum number of customers is reached, have discussions about people keeping their distance from each other and asking people to wear their face mask (properly).

Customers get angry a lot easier. Last Saturday I was shouted at four times; for not selling toilet seats, for asking a customer to move their bike across the street, for not doing repairs on Saturday afternoon (whilst there is a line of people waiting outside) and for not speaking Russian (her English was perfect, but after telling me we should speak Russian she refused to speak English). At the end of the day I feel drained and empty and the biggest nag ever.

Tonight is the next press conference and it's expected the government will announce the current rules will stay in place until at least into January. It's also expected schools will close a week earlier for the Christmas holidays (so this Friday).

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

The last two weeks before Christmas and I'm not looking forward to working. Ever since the Corona rules have been tightened again it's become a lot more stressful in the store. Especially on Saturdays, when we're constantly having to tell people not to park their bikes in front of the store (to keep space for waiting lines), ask people to wait outside since the maximum number of customers is reached, have discussions about people keeping their distance from each other and asking people to wear their face mask (properly).

Customers get angry a lot easier. Last Saturday I was shouted at four times; for not selling toilet seats, for asking a customer to move their bike across the street, for not doing repairs on Saturday afternoon (whilst there is a line of people waiting outside) and for not speaking Russian (her English was perfect, but after telling me we should speak Russian she refused to speak English). At the end of the day I feel drained and empty and the biggest nag ever.

Tonight is the next press conference and it's expected the government will announce the current rules will stay in place until at least into January. It's also expected schools will close a week earlier for the Christmas holidays (so this Friday).

Maybe it's time to enhance your "no service" signs, as in "no shoes, no shirt, no service," to add something along the lines of "no courtesy, no service," and telling people that if they yell or scream, they'll be ejected from the store forcibly if needed. Now, I realize that you guys don't have a bouncer and that apparently, none of you are able to eject someone physically, but do you have anyone that can? If perhaps 2-3 of you worked together to do it?

I don't have a good suggestion for you, other than that. AT least at my shop, I can hang up the phone if necessary or ban an email. I don't have to deal with lunacy in the flesh, although fortunately for me, if we had to, we could.

But no matter the reason (Covid or an Alien Invasion from the Planet Venetia), you shouldn't be expected to put up with that sort of out-of-control rudeness from someone. Everybody is tired and stressed and all that. No excuse to act like Azz-holes.

Hitch

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Maybe it's time to enhance your "no service" signs, as in "no shoes, no shirt, no service," to add something along the lines of "no courtesy, no service," and telling people that if they yell or scream, they'll be ejected from the store forcibly if needed.

Every time I see a sign with "no shoes, no shirt, no service" it always crosses my mine that pants are never specified.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Every time I see a sign with "no shoes, no shirt, no service" it always crosses my mine that pants are never specified.

I have myself thought that. I guess they figure it's implicit, but really, if you have to say "no shirt..." I mean, come on...

For that matter--not that I'd wear them now, but back in the day, I had some Roberto Cavalli shirts that were more indecent than going naked, by a long ways. You could meet someone's signage and still stop traffic.

I think a bit of common sense is implied in the signage.

Hitch

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hitch

For that matter--not that I'd wear them now, but back in the day, I had some Roberto Cavalli shirts that were more indecent than going naked, by a long ways. You could meet someone's signage and still stop traffic.
Hitch

The visual, Hitch! Really, you've made my day!

[4691mls]

Why would a customer expect you to speak Russian?!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

The visual, Hitch! Really, you've made my day!

Well, that was a lot of water under the bridge and miles ago from here. :-)

H

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Maybe it's time to enhance your "no service" signs, as in "no shoes, no shirt, no service," to add something along the lines of "no courtesy, no service," and telling people that if they yell or scream, they'll be ejected from the store forcibly if needed. Now, I realize that you guys don't have a bouncer and that apparently, none of you are able to eject someone physically, but do you have anyone that can? If perhaps 2-3 of you worked together to do it?

I don't have a good suggestion for you, other than that. AT least at my shop, I can hang up the phone if necessary or ban an email. I don't have to deal with lunacy in the flesh, although fortunately for me, if we had to, we could.

But no matter the reason (Covid or an Alien Invasion from the Planet Venetia), you shouldn't be expected to put up with that sort of out-of-control rudeness from someone. Everybody is tired and stressed and all that. No excuse to act like Azz-holes.

Hitch

"No shoes, no shirt, no service" signs, luckily, isn't a thing in the Netherlands. But we have posted five Corona rules signs within the space of 3,5 meters: outside next to the doorway, hanging inside the entryway, on the shop door, on a stand just inside and on the hand sanitizer. And you still have people complaining that we haven't got any clear signs.

Most of the time it's my father and me in the store, but there are times it's just one of us. Luckily we haven't had any customers refuse to leave, they usually shout at us and then stomp off.

I recently told one customer to leave and never return; he had a temper tantrum about half a year ago (can't remember about what) and got personal in his insults. He walked in as if nothing happened, when I told him to leave he was shocked and upset because we were the only ones selling what he needed and he didn't know how to search for it on the internet. I told him that wasn't my problem.

I've decided not to get into any discussions anymore. Follow the rules or leave. My father agrees with me, but he has a harder time, the mentality of "customer is king" is deeply ingrained in him.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Why would a customer expect you to speak Russian?!

Not sure why. It amazes me that those people (and also the Karens) don't see how they themselves make their life more difficult and that when they behave like that they won't get the service (or any service in this case) than when they behave in a normal, respectful manner.

We do have it with German customers regularly (mostly the older generations) who refuse to speak English, whilst they can clearly understand what I'm saying.

I've had one German customer repeat to me in German what I just said in English.

Sure, every Dutch child get two years of German in secondary school, but I think very few keep up with it. Plus you're in the Netherlands, be glad we don't just keep talking in Dutch to you and we generally speak okay to good English.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

(and also the Karens)

My wife, Karen, requests that you spell that "Caren" or some other non-standard way. :-)

Sure, every Dutch child get two years of German in secondary school, but I think very few keep up with it. Plus you're in the Netherlands, be glad we don't just keep talking in Dutch to you and we generally speak okay to good English.

Do those German and Russian speakers not speak Dutch? Or better yet, do you know any completely foreign language...Esperanto or Klingon would be ideal? Next time someone tries to get you to speak German or Russian that way, only speak to them in a language you're sure they don't understand!



ApK

[issybird]

Originally Posted by ApK

My wife, Karen, requests that you spell that "Caren" or some other non-standard way. :-)

The Alexas are not happy these days, either.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by ApK

Back in my day, if the electronic systems went down, we'd write things on paper, then process them when the systems were up.

This reminds me, a food delivery guy showed up at my door last week with a mechanical credit card imprinter and carbon slip. I had a flash back. My kids had no idea what it was.

ApK

Many of my latest cards don't have raised digits anymore -- those are quickly becoming even more obsolete.

(...and to this day I still habitually hand my card to the cashier without first looking for a customer facing card terminal....)