Customer service? What's that?

[Incog Neato]

This isn't a rage infested anecdote but rather something I experienced today that I don't really agree with. Some of you might find there's nothing wrong though~

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I was at EB Games today to buy a gift card. At one of the cash registers was some lady that was trying to buy some used 360 game for someone. (I'm not sure they had a new copy since the cashier couldn't find the case on the wall.)

So the cashier was searching and searching and searching for the game's case and insert and crap and at one point, she told the customer that she wasn't having any luck finding it and asked if she wanted her to look harder. The cashier noted, however, that the longer she was going to look for the thing, the longer the checkout line was going to get.

(I think there were at least 5 people behind me. I was third in line. Well, I suppose the 2 giggly girls in front of me could be considered as one since they were together but they paid for stuff separately.)

The looking continued and then, she came back with the box (which was just a green DVD case) and said that she really couldn't find it. The cashier suggested that she could call some other EB locations to see if they had the game and the customer agreed.

In the meantime, while on the phone waiting, the cashier says to her colleague that this was the longest transaction she ever had. And the co-worker "corrects" her and says that it was the longest single game transaction she ever had.

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Now, I just don't think the comments the cashier made were necessary. The first point I didn't like was how she told the customer that if she kept on looking, the line of customers would only get longer. This sounded like the customer was being an inconvenience and she should just take the game and leave.

I understand the cashier had a point but, to me, to make such a remark isn't very professional.

Secondly, what occurred in the last paragraph seemed rather rude. I mean, the lady was still there, standing in front of her, and she had the nerve to mention that it was a taking so long to do the transaction.

I know she probably meant no ill-will or for it to come across like she's blaming the customer. I mean, it was a fact that it was taking a long time but just don't say things like that when the person you're helping is still there and when there are other customers in the store.

Things like this are better off talked about when on break or just away from shoppers. :|

[Ascended Mermaid]

No, you're right on, that IS rude! Some people are ignorant, some are stressed out and need to either have a serious BM or get laid, and some are just plain there for the paycheck! Service with a smile? My ass!

I can admit though, I have been rude before. I have mentioned this in an ancient topic once already, so it doesn't bear repeating. That was when Wyrdwad introduced me to Gaijin Smash... wait, no, that wasn't it... no, it was this other thing, this blog written by a game store cashier/worker/owner, about the ineffable stupidity of his customers. I forget his name...

[Justin]

I knew this story was going to be bad when you said the magical words:

EB Games

EB is the asshole of gaming, and I prefer not to poke my nose in there. I took my money to Amazon, Ebay, and the local Mom'n'Pop shop.

[Incog Neato]

Dec 15, 2009 17:34:15 GMT -5 Wyrdwad said:

Anyway, I do think that that's a bit rude, but IMHO, it's also rude of the customer to keep so many people waiting. Did she apologize to the people behind her in line, at least? If not, then I think the customer was ruder than the cashier. If that were me, I would've AT LEAST apologized to the people behind me, or more likely, I would've stepped out of line and offered to come back later when the line had thinned a bit.

No, the lady focused her attention on the cashier ... or the wall. I think everyone in line was invisible to her. And I dunno if the line would really reduce much since it was getting toward the time when all the high school kids were getting out of class and crap (re: near 3 PM). I could only imagine that the store would get flooded soon. ^^;

And then, after 5 PM or so, all the parents would come flooding into the store to buy games and gift cards for their children and stuff!

But I suppose I should have noted that the colleague of the cashier was another cashier so it's not like she was completely clogging up everything. ^^~

Hirm~ I don't think I've EVER encountered any customer apologize for holding up a line before. Similarly, cashiers have never apologized for that sort of thing either while doing price check ups and crap.

Well, I suppose it's because with the modern cash registers, cashiers can save a transaction and continue with it at a later time so they can usually help the next person in line. :B

[AllenSmithee]

I often say sorry for waiting people up in line, so it isn't a problem.