Earlier this week, my wife and I went to do some shopping at the local department store. I was headed for an experience that would teach me about attitude.
I had bought some some large plastic flower pots earlier in the week. When I got home with them, I discovered that although the drain tray was there on the pot I could see, the other two drain trays were absent. I was there in the garden department of the store and saw a clerk at the end of one of the rows. I asked here what I needed to do to get the trays that should have been there. The lady was rude and let me know in an unkind voice and curt answer that I would have to talk to someone in Gardening. I was already there. I tried to shrug off her bad attitude. I continued shopping.
I paid for five bags of mushroom compost. I was sent out into the the rain to get my merchandise only to find that there was only one bag of compost when I had paid for five. I returned to the cashier to resolve the situation. The cashier was abrupt and sent me to the customer service department to get my money back.
The conversation with the customer service representative started on a friendlier note. She expressed concern and asked to see my receipt. I had paid with a credit card. She told me that they would issue a credit to my card. I asked her how long it would take to process. Her answer was, "I don't use credit and I don't know how long it will take". I wasn't in the mood to receive that response. I considered it a slap in the face.
By the time I walked back out to my car in the rain, I was furious. I said to my wife, "I should talk to a manager." to which she responded, "Why don't you?"
I stomped back into the store and asked to speak with a store manager. He listened to my concern and assured me that it would be dealt with.
I thought that talking to the manager would make me feel better. It didn't. I felt that there were four people at fault. The first was the rude clerk. A courteous answer would not have been any more difficult than her rude response. The second person at fault was the curt cashier. A little kindness would have gone a long way. The third person at fault was the customer service representative with her impertinent answer. A simple, "I don't know" would have answered my question. The fourth person at fault was the demanding customer. I should not have reacted the way I did.
I have run through this situation in my mind a hundred times since it happened. How would you suggest that I should have handled this situation?
I had bought some some large plastic flower pots earlier in the week. When I got home with them, I discovered that although the drain tray was there on the pot I could see, the other two drain trays were absent. I was there in the garden department of the store and saw a clerk at the end of one of the rows. I asked here what I needed to do to get the trays that should have been there. The lady was rude and let me know in an unkind voice and curt answer that I would have to talk to someone in Gardening. I was already there. I tried to shrug off her bad attitude. I continued shopping.
I paid for five bags of mushroom compost. I was sent out into the the rain to get my merchandise only to find that there was only one bag of compost when I had paid for five. I returned to the cashier to resolve the situation. The cashier was abrupt and sent me to the customer service department to get my money back.
The conversation with the customer service representative started on a friendlier note. She expressed concern and asked to see my receipt. I had paid with a credit card. She told me that they would issue a credit to my card. I asked her how long it would take to process. Her answer was, "I don't use credit and I don't know how long it will take". I wasn't in the mood to receive that response. I considered it a slap in the face.
By the time I walked back out to my car in the rain, I was furious. I said to my wife, "I should talk to a manager." to which she responded, "Why don't you?"
I stomped back into the store and asked to speak with a store manager. He listened to my concern and assured me that it would be dealt with.
I thought that talking to the manager would make me feel better. It didn't. I felt that there were four people at fault. The first was the rude clerk. A courteous answer would not have been any more difficult than her rude response. The second person at fault was the curt cashier. A little kindness would have gone a long way. The third person at fault was the customer service representative with her impertinent answer. A simple, "I don't know" would have answered my question. The fourth person at fault was the demanding customer. I should not have reacted the way I did.
I have run through this situation in my mind a hundred times since it happened. How would you suggest that I should have handled this situation?
2 comments:
A soft answer turns away wrath.
Let it go.
I agree with Uncle Larry! You just have to let it go!
I know often times that I let my attitude be altered by those around me, it only makes me uglier than their actions!
I have to learn to put a smile on my face and accept that maybe they've had a bad day and I could be the light to brighten it!
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