Can I help you?
Having recently done some work in what could be loosely termed a ‘customer service environment’, I now have a lot more sympathy and empathy for anyone who works in such a job sector.
With my new found sympathy in mind, I’ve devised what I like to call:
The Golden Rules of Dealing with Those Unfortunates Who Work in Customer Service.
Snappy title, eh?
All those reading this who don’t work in customer service should take time to mark, learn, and digest said rules and remember them. They will serve you well in any future transactions & interactions you may make.
1. Don’t swear at the staff.
Swearing is all well and good in an appropriate situation (down the pub, in the corner, with yer mates) but in a customer service situation, it comes across as aggressive and rather coarse. So please don’t, unless you have really had a bum deal and feel truly and utterly justified on unleashing a stream of expletives on the person on the other side of the counter.
2. Don’t blame me for your stupidity/moronic tendencies
‘Cause it simply ain’t my fault.
3. Don’t try and be witty
There isn’t time, I have thousands of other faceless strangers to serve. Unless you can throw me a one-liner that knocks me dead, keep your mouth shut.
4. Don’t try and tell me how you think I may be feeling by way of conversation/humour.
This refers to a customer surveying your situation/environment and then serving up a pointless remark by way of conversation. In my case I was working outdoors, so I would often hear, “I bet you’re really cold standing there.” HOW am I supposed to answer that without being deeply sarcastic and nasty? The boring, and truthful alternative was to say, “Yes, I am / No, I’m not.” Which is what I tended to do, while thinking, “My, my, you must make for scintillating conversation at YOUR kitchen table at home. Time must absolutely fly by. Now leave me. Alone.”
5. Don’t flirt with me
While flirting can brighten up the working day, I also found it rather lecherous when men tried to make comments. Just think about it from my point of view, boys.
One last rule, so many don’t’s in there, I thought I had better put in a ‘do’.
6. Do be polite, patient and nice to staff.
A ‘hello’, ‘thank you very much’ and ‘goodbye’ takes 2 seconds to utter. Makes them feel less like a serving robot, and more like a sentient, living, feeling being.