The customer is NOT always right

...and this is coming from a person who has NEVER worked a service job in any fashion. I became an EMT then paramedic out of high school. Left for military (USAF) and took a specialist job. Did my BA, then MA, and now my MBA. I became a therapist and now I am preparing for full time private practice. Even my one 'odd job' was working as an assistant Vet for Balmoral race track

Now...I don't say these things to elevate myself. My point is simple

Even though I have never worked a service job in my life, I recognize every day what service workers have to put up with. When I went to Nepal and went to a restaurant or service location, the customers were invariably respectful. When I was in Bahrain, respectful. When I went to Paris, London, Brussels....maybe some incidents...but mostly respectful

BUT...in my beloved US of A....customers are absolute A**holes....period. I cannot believe how cocky and arrogant people get. They sit on the cellphone while a McDonald's employee is trying to take an order...then have the nerve to yell at said employee. They throw around their clout (which they rarely actually have) and tell people how they are better than them. Problem is....I feel like a solid 50% of the time, it was the customer who was WAY off base and wrong....However, when the employee makes a mistake, even if they apologize, it becomes a national crisis to these arrogant bastards.

I really loathe people in this country many times. It's called the waitress test....If you are loving and nice to your friends and family, but a total a**hole to a server, then you are NOT a nice person....GET OVER YOURSELVES

And please...can we just one time not make this about minimum wage? I beg you

I was going to take the piss on you for this
After reading your comments
S&F

You really have to show each and every person, no matter their position respect
We are in this together

If I may quote Captain Barbosa on 'the customer is always right' code,

a reply to: KyoZero

Well, I have worked in plenty of customer facing jobs in the past.

And yes, I can confirm what you've said. Americans, as a whole, are jackasses in such situations.



But, simply put..... whether in sales, or a service oriented capacity..... the fact is, the customer needs to be made happy.

They're the one paying the bills, at the end of the day.

Many, many things are unfair in life. The fact is, our culture here in the States is our culture.

It's funny this came up. My husband and I were just talking about wages and such, and I was saying anyone in a service job deserves decent pay because of having to put up with the public. I worked at a fast food restaurant years ago for 4 months, and switched to factory work, because people (being served) are awful.
That was decades ago, I'm sure if I was a waitress today, I wouldn't last. Someone would be wearing their food.

a reply to: KyoZero

I agree with the other poster here. It's not about whether the customer deserves to be right or not, it's about their money. That being said, the US has become a cesspool of deranged and inept minds. Self-entitlement is running rampant.

I have to agree, people are jerks. My wife worked retail for years and now works in finance and people never take responsibility. Not my problem attitude. Maybe it's the entitlement attitude today.

One thing I have noticed through my travels around Americas hotels, monuments and other tourist destinations.
Asians and Indians "India" are always nice and respectful.
Europeans "non english main language" are very rude.
That is my personal experience. Can't say if it's true for all.
We have a euro vacation planed next year so I will have more to compare later.

a reply to: KyoZero

I am a service-to-others person. My entire profession has been about serving others. I have never served food as a job. I have served food to others voluntarily.

The customer is always right has exceptions. If customer is rude, crude, and socially challenged, as a few are born this way, they are refused service and escorted to the door. If they cause a scene or threaten any member of my staff, then law enforcement is requested to assist.

California is a service-to-self state on steroids. There are areas contrary to this, but for the most part, it's a "gimme-gimme-gimme" state. And a "you want me to do what for you" state.

Missouri, I found, is a service-to-others state. I recently had to be there for 10 days traveling the state and everyone was kind and caring. I was treated with upmost care and kindness at the Sprinfield airport TSA.

In summation, avoid Ca and embrace Missouri!

Right and wrong is only determined by who is paying and who is getting paid.

Of course, sometimes it may seem that the customer should be paying more, given his attitude.

So, just raise the price.

a reply to: KyoZero

I make it a point to be kind and polite to people no matter where they work; they deserve kindness and respect. When I go back to those places I always get good service...I love to talk to the people that wait on me and find out what their stories are etc.

I don't know why so many people are rude to the people that wait on them...the people that act like we all should bow down and worship them are delusional with their own importance; and also they are showing how truly lacking in good character qualities they really are.

a reply to: KyoZero

Isn't a therapist a service job? Expensive skilled service job?

a reply to: seasonal

ok good point :-)

However, I will say that in my position, I get people who have disorders and emotional crises so in my line of work it is quite expected

I should have said service work such as food and hospitality

still...good point

originally posted by: caladonea
a reply to: KyoZero

I make it a point to be kind and polite to people no matter where they work; they deserve kindness and respect. When I go back to those places I always get good service...I love to talk to the people that wait on me and find out what their stories are etc.

I don't know why so many people are rude to the people that wait on them...the people that act like we all should bow down and worship them are delusional with their own importance; and also they are showing how truly lacking in good character qualities they really are.

Not only that
If I am at a pub I always, always get recognized and served first, always have a chat with staff and always have a laugh
People need to feel valued both sides of the counter

I never have to ask for tobasco, it always gets delivered to my table with a smile and a comment and I usually say, I could have got up and gotten it myself or I know where it's kept

Funny thing though, I have left great comments on the feedback page, it's mutual

a reply to: KyoZero

I agree. A few years ago, when the customer in front of me in the checkout line was being abusive to the cashier (a young girl -- probably her first job!), I was about to say a few choice words to the customer, but realized that wouldn't accomplish much... so I interrupted her and spoke directly to the cashier and asked her to call the manager for me. I then proceeded to tell the cashier that she did not have to take this abuse from anyone -- especially customers -- and that in the future she should simply tell the customer she would call the manager and ask the customer to step aside until then. Of course the customer was sputtering and stammering at me the whole time, and I never even looked at her, but just kept talking to the cashier. Mostly because I knew this would piss the customer off the most. Her sense of self-importance was quite evident. This was a very well-off customer whose Beemer was blocking the entrance in a no parking zone. The customer ended up stomping out of the store as the manager walked up... and the manager thanked me, and reassured the girl that any time she had customers like that, she should call him. I wish more managers would let their employees know that they don't have to take that abuse.

I've only done it a few times, but I feel like it's more practical and proactive than fuming silently, or starting a ruckus with the customer. This way, it gives the employee better options for dealing with the abusive customers, and it totally shames the bully in the worst way -- publicly! One time I actually interrupted a manager yelling at an employee (in Spanish -- but I understood enough to know he was being a complete jerk), and told her she didn't have to take that abuse... when the manager turned on me and told me to mind my own business, I told him it was my business because I was a customer at that store, and that I was now going to call the regional manager and report him for not just abusing an employee, but for harrassing a female employee AND a customer. He was fired -- and I got coupons!

In the end, it really comes down to the manager. My son tells his employees to call him any time there's a dispute they cannot handle immediately. And he will outright tell rude and obnoxious customers that he cannot accommodate them, refund any money they paid, and tell them they should take their business elsewhere. Nor will he serve customers who are on the phone. He asks them to step aside until they are through with their phone call. He even has a sign saying such at the counter. In his opinion, it does not hurt business at all, and his other customers appreciate it as well. He feels that such customers are perpetual problems that will always find something to complain about, and he's better off without them.

a reply to: Boadicea

That is a divine way to go about things

I have confronted rude customers a few times...but I like your method better because I am always concerned that I will make the situation worse for the cashier and I would hate myself if I did that

Been a public servant all my life. I will not stand for bullies what-so-ever. I get someone else to help when they get like that.
Having worked with people for 40 years, I can honestly say they are getting worse, not better. The customer is always right is an entitlement mentality imo. It is NOT right to bully, badger, name call, or harass PERIOD.

originally posted by: Aedaeum
a reply to: KyoZero

I agree with the other poster here. It's not about whether the customer deserves to be right or not, it's about their money. That being said, the US has become a cesspool of deranged and inept minds. Self-entitlement is running rampant.

No it is not about thier money, by allowing them this self entitled idea you hand them the power and you become the beggar,
you may as well trade your cash register for a tin cup. take hospitality for example, in American and Australia all customers behave like they should be treated as kings and queens when they attend an establishment. I once joked with a colleague that hospitality should be called the sex industry as the workers continualy get screwed over and the sex industry be called the hospitality industry.
tell a person to GTFO and they look at you with a blank sheep look on their face, "but.. but i have the money..i pay your bills, i have the power", take that power away and they return back to the reality they were escaping.
in Europe, restaurants and diners are a place of mutual respect, the people that work their are there to perform a task, you are there to enjoy what they do, flexing your ego to make yourself feel good about yourself and your insecure social status does not wash in Europe on hospitality workers. and you will more than likely find yourself expunged from the establishment.

The phrase has never meant that. It has been misconstrued. "The customer is always right" MEANS "The customer knows what he wants to buy." And if you don't have it, he will go elsewhere, therefore you have to stock the products the customer desires. It has NEVER meant a prescription for employee abuse. It's just that many people have never understood it.

What I've always told my people is...

"The Customer (client, whomever) may not always be right, BUT the Customer is NEVER wrong!!!"

...and I mean it!! There's a big difference. It's about decorum.