Receiving gifts from customers
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
June 30, 2010 6:07pm CST
So I work pt retail, otherwise I"m a SAHM. So I had a customer that found alot of really cute kids stuff down to 90% off. I commented about this lighting item this man had. I guess I was talking too much as I was thinking/talking that would be nice for $2 to get for my DS as he sleeps w/ his lights on and that would of been a nice substitute. Because it was the last one the man felt compelled to give it to me. I told him I could not accept it, he kept insisting no matter what I said. So I put it behind the counter, I called my supervisor and she said I couldn't keep it so it had to go back on the shelf. Another clerk said I was talking too much and made him feel guilty about buying the last one. 
I was just commenting how it would be nice as a substitute for a night light for a lil boy. I never said buy it and give it to me!
I think I just talk too much, I don't have a life outside of the household really other than going to work a couple hours a week... so I do chit chat w/ customers and I think that's only natural and human.
Eitherway this $2 light wasn't worth my job or anything so as they say Que Sera, Sera Whatever Will Be, Will Be...
I was just commenting how it would be nice as a substitute for a night light for a lil boy. I never said buy it and give it to me! I think I just talk too much, I don't have a life outside of the household really other than going to work a couple hours a week... so I do chit chat w/ customers and I think that's only natural and human.
Eitherway this $2 light wasn't worth my job or anything so as they say Que Sera, Sera Whatever Will Be, Will Be...3 people like this
12 responses
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
1 Jul 10
i also work in retail and we are also not allowed to receive any gifts from the customer... the company has a very strict policy on that... if we receive something from a customer, we also have to put it back on the shelf... it happens to me as well in the past... i also don't want to lose my job just because of a few bucks gift... it is just not worth it... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
So they made you put it back on the shelf as well. But again, I need to keep working and the item is nothing worth arguing over. I think most places work that way as well.
@froggieslover (3069)
• United States
1 Jul 10
Well I don't know I guess it depends on the person and if it makes sense their self esteem because it sounds to me like maybe this guy is easily intimidated and must of some how felt that you were pressuring him into giving you the light bulb. I think if he wasn't man enought to say heck no I want it then he deserved for you to have it and why is it so wrong for you to keep it?
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
I often compliment people on their nice finds and make small talk about it. I know most people love to brag up their clearance finds. I know I don't have the time to always look myself so I often ask if there was a lot of selection left or whatever... if not that's ok cause I need to pay off card bill anyway.
But I kept giving it back to him and he was smiling and smirking so I don't think I offended him or anything by talking to him. I think I was just talking too much, with being home for so long I have a tendancy to talk more than I should.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
1 Jul 10
Hi Snugglebunnies, It is great that you do chitchat with the customers, sometimes itmakes their day and also like you say gives you converstaion away from the home too, one of the reaons I come here as in the evenings once my son is asleep I am alone so it is an extension to my social life. Personally I think that if the guy gave it to you you should be able to keep, no way should it go back on the shelf as paid for just your collegues having sour grapes as you seem personable enough for him to want to giveso maybe a bit jealous, however a $2 light not worth your job. Huggles. Ellie :D
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
I know exactly what you are saying. When I was home for several years as a full time SAHM I started finding forums to chit chat in & that was my social life as well.. unless you count the incessant calls from MIL & my Aunt. Wich one day I about cried a lil tear as I realized my MIL & Aunt were really all I had anymore for IRL friends. I guess that's where they say you can choose your friends but not your family, but your family will also still be your family no matter what life brings.
Yep not worth my job. After all jobs now days are hard to come by & a job that will work around my hubby's hours is even harder to find.
Take care my friend ;0)
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
1 Jul 10
It's always best to be friendly but not too friendly, I learned that when I worked in a grocery store. People wanted to do things for me, too, and I had to refuse and that hurt their feelings. So I was careful not to talk too much from then on. Your boss knows that clerks can wheedle stuff out of customers and if she allows you to keep that light, others will feel free to scam folks. At least that's how it was explained to me.
Don't feel bad. I know how it is to not have a social life but it's just something that IS and you can't change it right now. So adjust.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
5 Jul 10
I suppose that makes good sense. I could see it becoming a problem potentially of customers getting scammed out of items by a clerk. I'm trying my best to not chat too much about things with customers but I so don't want to be one of those cold clerks either.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Jul 10
hi 3SnuggleBunnies that clerk was in the wrong and should have
kept his or her mouth shut.Its really very normal to chit chat
with customers, you are a human and so are they, and a lot of customers
appreciate a clerk who is friendly and outgoing as opposed to a scowling'clerk who could care less about the customer. But as you
said a two dollar light was not worth your job.Maybe the other clerk
is just a tad jealous of your rapport with customeers?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
Your too sweet Hatley!
I dunno she's something at times. I've heard other clerks having to put her in her place because of her opinions. She was also giving me parenting advice that day too... Cause you know kids of today act like her kids did back then right? And she was Mrs Cleaver cause you know more people are more like Rosanne
@amrddy (215)
• Philippines
1 Jul 10
I don't think it's bad to receive gifts from your clients, especially if you did a very personalized service to him or her. I normally give my banker small things that she will appreciate and use. My daughter keeps hounding me about my giving things to others. I told her this is just small thing compared to what she can do for me. I text her that Ineed to withdraw and do all the bank transactions. When I arrive at the bank everything is ready for me I will just sign then get my money and leave. I didn't spend so much time standing on line--with just a little courtesy gift.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
If it's within company policy then no biggie to offer a gift. If it's not then you have do decline to keep your job, especially with the way the economy is one can't risk any slip ups. But it's great if you can reward someone who does their job well.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
When I worked as a teller people would bring in cookies or something to the alike once in a while. And once I got a 4pc set of glasses because I was getting married and a customer wanted to get me something, I had to get managements blessing to accept the gift. You know you don't want to tick off your customer or hurt their feelings KWIM? Especially if you knew them like most customers pretty well almost like a friend or family.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
1 Jul 10
You certainly didn't hold the man's arm behind his back and force him to give you the light. He insisted and you gave him more than one opportunity to take it. Doesn't sound to me like you were talking too much. I'd rather have that, than nothing at all...
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jul 10
I told him to take it & kept handing it back to him as we are not allowed to accept things several times and he kept smiling and said take it and when I handed it back to him the last time he just grabbed his bag took off w/o it w/ a smile on his face & a puzzled "What do I do with this?" look on my face.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
1 Jul 10
My mother is the type who purposely guilts people into doing things for her. She never comes right out and asks, no matter how well she knows you.. she just goes on complaining about a situation until you offer some sort of help or whatever.
Because of this quality in her I'm very careful about it. Everyone likes to complain about their situation, but I try to make it known I'm not soliciting help, just complaining. It happens often though that a good friend will still offer some sort of help when I complain to them. I always refuse. If I want help I'll come out and ask, I won't just complain until you offer it. I just like complaining and venting..
@savypat (20216)
• United States
1 Jul 10
When one is communicating with customers one must keep it non personal as much as possible, it's great to be friendly but talk to them about them not about you. Best advise in this situation.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
2 Jul 10
I've never had the opportunity to work in retail, but I do know what you mean about not really having a life outside of the house because I am a stay-at-home mother. I don't think that you talk too much at all, I think it is the fact that you don't have a lot of interaction with other adults that you crave the discussion from them that you are able to have when you are working. In the jobs that I've worked, there has never been a problem with accepting a gift from a patron, but then again, I've always worked in different fields.
