Please guys.. I don't make the prices!
By maezee
@maezee (41997)
United States
December 22, 2009 9:18pm CST
I never have an answer for anyone when they complain about prices at the dry cleaners that I work at. Honestly, I'm not too sympathetic, because they could easily go somewhere else or.. do their own ironing! The majority of the stuff we take in are mens (and some womens) dress shirts - which easily can be done at home without payout $3.09 plus tax per shirt. Here's what I think: if you don't like it, go somewhere else or do it yourself! I get frustrated with people who seem to think that I make the prices. I work for a company that isn't known or operating outside of Minnesota, but has over 20 (yes - TWENTY!) chain dry cleaner stores in the metro area around Minneapolis. It's owned by this fat cat named Bonnie, who obviously controls things like prices MUCH more than a 19 year old cashier does. It's like, really, people? I usually tell them that I don't make the prices (obviously), and that they can bring coupons in that we have out in the newspaper (so nice of me), and that if they really want to know why the prices are so high, i can give them the Corporate Office's phone number..And they can talk to one of the general managers. *rolls eyes*. People sometimes!
Where you worked (or WORK) - do people ever complain to you about something that's 100% out of your control? What do you do about it, and how do you respond?
And how would you respond if you were in my shoes? What are some good things to say to get the point across?
1 person likes this
1 response
@LovingLife139 (1504)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Hi maezee. 
I've always had the utmost respect for customer service reps because they can deal with this crap on a daily basis. I've worked in a hospital and I currently own a real estate business...but I have never encountered a job more trying or irritating than customer service.
Back when I would cashier for a number of places (a dry cleaner was actually my first job at fourteen!), I would get many complaints about prices, or I'd get yelled at by customers if the register acted up, etc. I finally realized that most of the people who were overly rude were middle-aged and up, and told myself that if they had ever worked in customer service, they must have forgotten what it was like--because I know they would have to hate being treated the way they were treating me over things that were not my fault.
I once worked as a cashier for a department store and a man came up with a shoe box and an expired coupon. I told him it was expired and that he couldn't use it. He said that "that's a load of crap" and told me to let him use it anyway. I told him if he'd ever been to a place that allowed expired coupons, this wasn't one of them, and that for the final time, no, he couldn't use it. He threw the coupon at me and stormed out as I called, "Enjoy this beautiful day, sir!" after him.
Always be nice. Positive. Optimistic. Friendly. Even when other people, regardless of who they are, are rude and thoughtless to you, be the better one. Don't stoop to their level. Most people get more than irritated at over-friendliness, but then it gives them no room to talk. And if someone insults you, don't take it personally. They won't listen if you explain to them that you are simply doing your job and some things are out of your control. Many customers can be decent people, but when I also worked at a dry cleaner when I was 14, I realized that if you want to see the complete downside of humanity, work in customer service. Nothing can depress you more when you see the immaturity within the human race from behind a cash register. 
I've always had the utmost respect for customer service reps because they can deal with this crap on a daily basis. I've worked in a hospital and I currently own a real estate business...but I have never encountered a job more trying or irritating than customer service.
Back when I would cashier for a number of places (a dry cleaner was actually my first job at fourteen!), I would get many complaints about prices, or I'd get yelled at by customers if the register acted up, etc. I finally realized that most of the people who were overly rude were middle-aged and up, and told myself that if they had ever worked in customer service, they must have forgotten what it was like--because I know they would have to hate being treated the way they were treating me over things that were not my fault.
I once worked as a cashier for a department store and a man came up with a shoe box and an expired coupon. I told him it was expired and that he couldn't use it. He said that "that's a load of crap" and told me to let him use it anyway. I told him if he'd ever been to a place that allowed expired coupons, this wasn't one of them, and that for the final time, no, he couldn't use it. He threw the coupon at me and stormed out as I called, "Enjoy this beautiful day, sir!" after him.
Always be nice. Positive. Optimistic. Friendly. Even when other people, regardless of who they are, are rude and thoughtless to you, be the better one. Don't stoop to their level. Most people get more than irritated at over-friendliness, but then it gives them no room to talk. And if someone insults you, don't take it personally. They won't listen if you explain to them that you are simply doing your job and some things are out of your control. Many customers can be decent people, but when I also worked at a dry cleaner when I was 14, I realized that if you want to see the complete downside of humanity, work in customer service. Nothing can depress you more when you see the immaturity within the human race from behind a cash register. 