Dear customers, wait your turn.
@polaroidsredwine (509)
United States
January 17, 2013 11:05pm CST
A few days ago at work I was rather busy assisting one customer, trying to answer all her questions. I glanced away for a brief second and it must've been a cue to another customer that I was free or something, despite the fact that the first customer was still clearly asking questions. Anyway, I quickly helped the second customer out, pointed them where they needed to go, which ended up seeming to signal two other people that I was very much available at the moment, and I ended up having to answer a slew of questions from them!
By the time I had addressed all the other customers I turned back to the first one a little flustered and she thankfully just waved it off. It's not like I could've refused to help the other people who came up to me, and we were severely lacking associates on the floor (I'm pretty certain I was one of two people who were constantly available walking around).
Point is, wait a bit, I'll be there in a second folks. Don't you just adore it when people can't be a little patient?
11 responses
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
18 Jan 13
I know. I haven't been in a very situation like that, but I know how annoying it could be when people have no manners and butt in to get their stuff done and questions answered when there is still someone at the counter.
But, on the other hand, I had a situation once, when I was at the butcher section at a supermarket, and there was a middle-aged woman before me, who was legit examining the meat behind the glass for 5!!!! minutes (yes, 5 minutes, I was looking at my watch) without saying a thing... then the butcher asked me, I said what I wanted, and while the butcher was preparing it, the woman flipped out at me and called me an impolite little brat for not waiting for her turn... but if you just stand there looking at the meat for forever without saying a word... that's another thing :). And the butcher did ask ME :).
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
18 Jan 13
I understand you, people just hate to wait in lines. But its part of everyday life. I have a gal here.. she come sin for coffee in my cafe. She doesnt care if Im talking or helping someone here. She speaks out and asks for what coffee she wants. She wont wait her turn.
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Jan 13
I manage our own business and normally we are dealing customers everyday with different moods. I can relate your situation. Sometimes, I am too busy and the other costumers constantly asking questions and sometimes you will felt tired to answer their questions but because it's you task to answer so you don't have any choice except extend your patience and keep smiling even you are your temper already there.
And sometimes these costumers would still think they've not been served well despite your effort to help them. Well good for you that your able hold on to your temper, sometimes the service staff became rude due to this situation.
@ccmacarayan (188)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
May I ask in what kind of business are you working in? I have worked in a service oriented establishment but we do have a queue that customers follow. In your case, there seem to be no line whatsoever so naturally, customers would try to sneak in their business every chance they get.
@Sarahliuliwen (300)
• China
18 Jan 13
I understand why you are mad at that, and I've been in similar situations too.
Sometimes when you're too busy, with so many customers waiting, there will be problems like that.
I suggest that no matter how quick you could be, in helping another customer, you should tell the one you are assisting in words or bodylanguage, so as to let him wait a mimute, and there will not be misunderstandings anymore!
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
good day polaroidsredwine,
after reading your post, i can therefore conclude that you have the best customer service quality. since you can able to assist everyone in the cue. and perhaps, you have all the right to say to your customers to kindly wait for their turn, hence, it is not really easy to assist one despite of his/her simple question. anyway, i think, being patient is really lacking to almost every individual as most of the time, everybody wants to be treated first and this is quite annoying.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
18 Jan 13
I can relate to that. I have worked in my brother in law's pharmacy and there were times that we do not have sales clerk to help me. So I would be bombarded with lots of customers during certain hours. And of course, your hands are full and then suddenly, medical representatives arrive one by one to let you sign on their sort of attendance sheets so that their office would know that they made their rounds on the different pharmacies assigned in their areas. And to make it a lot more exciting, add the delivery of all new stocks! Fun, right?
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Jan 13
Some people definitely lack patience. They want to be helped right then no matter who is waiting already. It is really annoying. When I worked in retail and as a waitress this would happen all the time, like they were the only person in the room waiting to be helped!
@antverdovsky (138)
• United States
18 Jan 13
Yes I know, some people are just always in a hurry, but have no place to really go. They cannot wait and it's very annoying when they cut into a conversation. Like if you're helping someone and they just come up and start asking questions. I agree how you said that gives other a "signal" that you're available when you really aren't.
@MaylaJay (349)
•
18 Jan 13
I've been in situations like this before, so I always try to show courtesy to those people who are spending their time helping me. I know how frustrated I used to get when I was working as a crew member on plays. Actors were always telling you to do this, asking you to do that, run and grab this, go do this. Very annoying. As if I didn't have enough to do in my actual job!
