Arguments with customer service

Long story short, I got harassed recently by a 'door monitor' to show my receipt. I didn't have a receipt because I chose to have it e-mailed to me at the register. I can't stand people at the door rudely checking receipts, who act like cops. Why do stores treat their customers like criminals??

I really don't understand door monitors. Either they are so elderly and look like they're about to drop dead any minute and can't even see your receipt to check it or if they're agile enough, they harass you and don't even thoroughly check the receipt, they just draw a check mark on it.

I really have issues with people that are in customer service that are rude/treat customers like crap and I will speak up to them. I usually send a complaint about them if it's really that bad. I believe in being passive but I also don't like being pushed around or being talked down to.. Treat me kind though and I will be the sweetest person and easy to deal with.

 

And while I just walk right through many of the door checkers at other stores and they don't bother to chase me down, some will. I have read before that they have no legal right to harass and stop you. Just came across some articles on this...

http://hallert.net/misc/checkingreceipts.html

http://consumerist.com/2011/03/07/calm-man-successfully-buys-tv-and-denies-walmart-receipt-checkers/

 

i hate it when they do that

 

this only happens in the music store here.. they check your serial#and receipt . no other store has it.

 

Curses!

Yeah, I don't like customer service too much either. I do all I can to avoid them, for the most part. I used to work for a Community Action program (energy assistance), had to put up with a LOT of shit from people. That whole, "I pay your paycheck!" barking and screaming at me on the phone because they weren't going to get the money they were looking for. After a while, the frustration started seeping from me to some of the callers. I've hung up on people. Some people get nasty and it's always hard to deal with.

When I worked as a teller at a bank, there was this one guy who would come in drunk and he hated to show ID. That man actually slapped my hand as I passed his money to him. Told the supervisor I'd never take him at my window again.

I once threatened a customer service rep over the phone. Told her she was lucky I wasn't there in her office, in person. I meant it. I yelled so bad that I lost my voice for two weeks. Problem got fixed though, because of that call.

 

walmart has had lots of door greeters taking their jobs waaay too seriously.
this guy got tackled and assaulted.
http://consumerist.com/2009/11/16/reader-says-he-was-tackled-at-walmart-for-not-showing-receipt/

print this out and give it to the receipt checkers instead.

 

Nice little old lady was checking my receipt one day and had to ask me which item it was in the big box... She had no idea what a chainsaw was.

 

Psh, I dread consumer service of any kind. I feel so bad when I'm talked down to. Not like angry or whatever, but more like I think I did something wrong and for days I go through my head what I could have done to have a better outcome.

 

I try and do all my shopping online.

 

From memory in my security course, they can't do anything to you. (In Australia) if you don't want to show a receipt they can't make you, they can't make you open your bag. What they will do if that's the case is they'll escort you to the security room if you decline or if they have information that you've stolen something. Problem is more often than not, an "escort" is also a sign of harassment by a security guard and if you know what you're doing and saying, you can get them into a lot of trouble if they try.

Basically from memory, the guard would have to be the closest member to the wall or else the suspect can argue that the wall acted as a barrier and caused the suspect to remain in between a security guard and the wall which would mean it's some sort of "arrest". Same as having a suspect in between two security guards or even side by side a guard and one following.

But that's in Australia, in America they'd probably just shoot you.

 

Walmart here checks your receipt if you are walking to the door with something not in a bag (except a pop). As if going through walmart wasn't the slowest, most frustrating experience in the first place. I do not go there any more.

 

Only if you try to run...most security guards here can't run.

 

Haha. Yeah I was the heaviest I'd been doing security. When I first started I didn't understand how you could become fat because you kinda have to be on your feet and moving but then you learn to be lazy and no one monitors if you actually patrol your stations properly so you end up sitting down and watching DVDs.

My first security post was a construction site for a week and it was fucking awesome. Huge piece of land and half built towers, kinda reminded me of a war zone. 6pm-6am no one else around I had a small cap gun and was just being a fucking dickhead really 21 years old acting like I was 6 or something haha.

 

What else is funny and lame about the practice is, I can load my pockets with shit, go stand by the door inside the store and as long as I don't leave the store, I haven't technically stolen anything.
Detaining someone in the store for shoplifting is a good way to lose any case against the shoplifter, so these checks are even more asinine.

I have watched a guy who knew he was caught just casually take the vodka bottle out of his pants, set it on the counter and told me (manager) and the undercover security to have a nice evening and he walked out, nothing we could do because he didn't steal anything.

I also knew a security guy when working for Sav-On who got fired, charged with assault and battery and had to pay some medical bills because he tackled a shoplifter in the parking lot and the guy got hurt (stitches) and pressed charges.


But I also worked at another Sav-On with an old cantankerous manager who didn't take shit from anybody and would accost suspects at the door with a length of steel pipe or a baseball bat. LOL

he only hit someone one time.

 

After receiving terrible customer service by numerous people at Verizon I finally told the last person I spoke to that I felt like he was bending me over and raping me up the ass. I try to be nice to customer service people but at some point it gets ridiculous.

 

We have been having an issue with Target. Orders 4 items, received one and need them by Sat.

Called to see what was up. The girl I spoke with was very nice and helpful, but every time I asked about having the remaining order expedited she said she can't do that because it not the way the system works.
After going back and forth I finally said
"I don't care if there isn't an icon to click on your screen, a human being can circumvent that I would hope." Ended up having to call back the next morning to speak with someone supposedly with some clout.
Same bullshit, so I am hoping our stuff gets here in the next few days or I'm kinda fucked.

One thing I mentioned to the supervisor or whomever was that the first thing out of the girls mouth was "Do you want me to issue you a refund?"
My options were;
1) get refund
2) reorder the items and they would expedite shipping and I would get them in 3-4 days.
3) Have them ship the items that were left out and it would only take 7 TO 10 BUSINESS DAYS!!!!!!

wtf!!!!
I can get a new order in 3 days but to correct their fuck-up will take almost two weeks??
I questioned why on earth the first option to resolve an issue would be to offer a refund? I pointed out that from a customer service standpoint and from a business standpoint it was poor practice.
I pointed out that it would be far better for all concerned if they had it in the system to expedite and resolve such errors quickly. That way they retain the sale and the customer.
I told her that most likely the customers who opt for the refund will then purchase the items from another vendor.
When I put it that way she paused, and then said that was a good point and she was making a note of it and was going to forward our entire conversation to the higher ups.


Rule #1 when trying to resolve bullshit with any retailer, figure out a way to illustrate how they are potentially losing money and you often get better results.

Remember, it's all about the bottom line.

Oh, and got an e-mail today saying my stuff has been shipped, now to see if it gets here in 3 days....

 

in my experience in customer service, you offer a refund when you can't please the person/or don't want to deal with them. if i can't make someone happy easily, like they're bitching about their coffee, i'd just give them a refund and get them out of my hair than deal with it. just giving a perspective.

 

Yes, but a refund should be the final option, not the default first thing out of the their mouths. That is just stupid business practice.

If I sell you something, I'm going to do all I can to keep your $$$$, make you happy and retain you as a customer, that is just smart business.

Plus I've got over 20 years retail management experience, have all the perspective I could need concerning customer service.

 

This ^.

The business world/retail establishments are literally surreal in their practices sometimes...the heirarchy and what whomever can do and not do.

Even at Mc'D's we try to fix your food or give you more before being offered a refund. According to the manager, you may never be offered a refund. lol

 

true true, but the employees aren't always as motivated....