"How Rude!"
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
September 16, 2012 11:33am CST
When Mum was on her recent shoe shopping expedition the other day one of the shops she went in was Primark.
Now, she's always overwhelmed when she goes into big stores like this one so help from a member of staff was invaluable, even though he wasn't too sure what she wanted, with the store specialising in cheap shoes for "bombing about in" rather than sturdy workshoes.
Undaunted though, she had what looked like a guy "quite high up" helping her out, looking at various shoes. Whilst they were deep in conversation a woman came out of nowhere and thrust a pair of shoes into the guy's face and said, "Do you have these in a size 4 or what?" totally ignoring the fact he was seeing to Mum. There was no "please" either.
Calmly, the staff member said, "One moment please Madam, I will be with you in a moment. I am helping this lady first, thank you."
What did the woman do? Storm off in a huff!!
I asked Mum how old she thought the woman was and she said, "About 50."
Mmm, I shall be 50 in 4 years time. I hope I don't behave like that.
How rude!
As for the staff who have to keep their emotions in check on a daily basis..well, I couldn't do it so I am full of admiration for those who have to work under stressful conditions.
How about you?
As for the staff who have to keep their emotions in check on a daily basis..well, I couldn't do it so I am full of admiration for those who have to work under stressful conditions.
How about you?3 people like this
14 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Sep 12
hi janey.I know I co ld never do it as I would be sure to snap the rude lady and say something like "can 't you see I am helping another customer? wait your turn' and then she would have gone off really mad at me.Fifty is no excuse to be rude in a store like that.I was never rude when I shopped or worked in the public
eye.,Its bad when a page in a library snaps at a patron cause it can put that person off using that library at all.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
Hi Hatley! You're so right..and manners don't cost anything do they? This is what astounds me when people of all ages are so rude to each other oh..and the machines they're all on aren't helping either..as in laptops and phones 24/7.
@soraya452 (127)
•
16 Sep 12
Its unbelievable sometimes how adults can be so rude, surely they are old enough to know better? Well apprently not in this lady's case.
@nidakhan001 (305)
•
16 Sep 12
hi janey,
oh my god, the out there really showed the patience if I would be working at his place I would thrust a pair of shoes back and would said sorry we don't have a pair, How rude was that woman, anyways I can workout in stressfull condition untill an unless no one else is hurting my ego:D , or else that would be my last time working at such place if it wasn't my mistake and other person not stop yelling at me:D
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I'm guessing that staff must be trained up in the art of dealing with 'difficult' customers, but even so..it must annoy them if it happens a lot.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
21 Sep 12
chances are that woman was rude even when younger.some people are never taught manners it seems.
one BIG reason i don't do service industry work anymore.i have no patience with self-entitled people.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Sep 12
I couldn't do that job either because shop assistant's aren't allowed to lose their temper. My head would explode if I couldn't let off steam to at least ONE of the annoying twonks (as Ricky Gervais would say) lol.
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
17 Sep 12
I see that kind of behavior all the time in the stores around here. It seems like no one has any manners anymore. I used to think it was just the young people who hadn't been taught how to behave properly but, like you, I am seeing it more and more from older ones as well. I guess they think that since they are old they should have the right to act any way they want. I certainly didn't raise my children to be like that and I am gratified every time I see them acting politely.
@savak03 (6684)
• United States
17 Sep 12
Children do tend to copy the influence of the adults in their lives. One good way to teach children manners is to be mannerly with them. I always make it a point to say thank you and please to my children and grand children. If we treat our kids with respect they will treat others with respect as well.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Good for you! 
I would be the same with my kids if I'd ever had them.
I've always said, "Excuse me" "please" and "thank you" for as long as I can remember and I've noticed my nephew, Thomas is the same, as he's heavily influenced by my Mum (his Nan) so I'm pleased this family tradition is carrying on.
As for the ones who can't be bothered (and the older ones as well), I really cannot understand why they behave that way. It doesn't achieve anything; it doesn't make staff members more motivated to serve them and it certainly doesn't earn any respect from other people witnessing the behaviour.
I would be the same with my kids if I'd ever had them.
I've always said, "Excuse me" "please" and "thank you" for as long as I can remember and I've noticed my nephew, Thomas is the same, as he's heavily influenced by my Mum (his Nan) so I'm pleased this family tradition is carrying on.
As for the ones who can't be bothered (and the older ones as well), I really cannot understand why they behave that way. It doesn't achieve anything; it doesn't make staff members more motivated to serve them and it certainly doesn't earn any respect from other people witnessing the behaviour.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
21 Sep 12
I worked in retail once. And it was not my cup 'o tea!
Although I didn't experience anything like the rude lady in your example, I did see some customers waiting on every word on a conversation that I was having with another customer. They would wait for a little lapse in the conversation so they could butt in with their own questions. They wouldn't wait until I've fully helped one before they jump in.
@melissa14344 (211)
• Philippines
18 Sep 12
The attitude of the Staff towards that rude customer is outstanding! It must be imitated! Well, I face such situations too. Being in a clinic with only myself stationed there for 8 hours in a day. Employees come in asking for medicines, health advice, Vital signs checking and stuffs... Some employees are rude and I have to keep my voice neutral no matter how pissed off I am just to hide it. It is difficult, most of the time I take that irritation at home since I am not feeling good If I keep my disappointments to myself and I need to speak it out to someone. :D
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
18 Sep 12
Have you got one of those stress balls? If someone is rude to you just give it a really hard squeeze and pretend it's their head or something.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Sometimes staff are just about saints, and they have to be as we seem to get more rude and spoiled all the time. It was really rude of the other woman, but I hear stuff like that all the time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I do too. In fact, I would say women have far worse manners than men from what I've witnessed.
@derek_a (10874)
•
17 Sep 12
Hi Jane, I can fully commiserate with the staff in that store. Many many moons ago I worked in the retail sector and whilst most customers were great, there was the odd one who thought that because you were "just the assistant", they owned your 100% attention even if they could see you were busy. The usual was "Let me speak to the manager!" The manager in one particular (men outfitting) store was a musician friend of mine that I did gigs with. He was always as nice as pie to the complainers and agreed with them, but actually, they would not be having the same level of service as the agreeable customers would - maybe a delay to two[ 
_Derek
_Derek@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Haha! Excellent way of dealing with them. Let them think they're complaint is being dealt with immediately when in fact, they're not lol.
Very good.
@shaggin (72021)
• United States
16 Sep 12
People are so rude sometimes it makes you wonder where they learned to act that way and why in the world they think its ok. I am always glad when the employee makes them wait their turn since they seem to think they are the only one who need assistance.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I've seen it happen loads of times myself, unfortunately. I've had doors practically slam into my face because the person in front of me hasn't bothered to see if anyone (me) is behind them!
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
16 Sep 12
Quite rude. Many of these stores are a bit understaffed, but that is still no excuse for such rude behavior-especially from one clearly old enough to better than to behave in such a fashion.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
I agree. I've noticed myself that many people are behaving this way - both old and young. Increasingly though, I've found women in particular are becoming more tetchy for no reason whatsoever. I mean, why did the woman walk away in a huff like that?
@changjiangzhibin89 (16749)
• China
17 Sep 12
Your Mum has seen so many things on her shoe shopping expedition.Among them,There were such type of Mum who was fascinated with her game on bus ignoring her child and naughty boy who waggled his bottom at the traffic to defy the drivers and the woman in question who was utterly unreasonable.Was she Queen? What reason did she have to break the rule in which first come , first served.I have the same feeling ,the staff has to deal with people and people every day and he must treat everyone complaisantly.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
"Was she Queen?" Very good, I love your sense of humour. To be honest, I think the Queen WOULD wait her turn if she ever went in Primark..which she wouldn't..but you know what I mean.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
16 Sep 12
That's really rude and totally inappropriate for an adult to act like that. I'm 62 and I've never behaved like that.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Sep 12
My Mum is 66 and I'm 46 and we've never behaved like that either. I really can't understand why people have to be so rude. The staff member deserves a medal for not losing his temper - I would!
@deazil (4730)
• United States
17 Sep 12
Hi Janey, that clerk was REALLY outstanding. He handled that a lot better than I ever could/would have. And that's why I don't work with the public. When it comes to patience....I haven't got any. What was with that woman???? I'm 64 but age is no excuse to be rude, especially when there are so many other times/places where you can be justifiably rude!
Your Mum has a lot of adventures, doesn't she? keeps life exciting.
Your Mum has a lot of adventures, doesn't she? keeps life exciting.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
Oh yes, especially when she ventures out to the shops!
I've no patience either!
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
17 Sep 12
Hi friend, sad to hear about this incident, surely the ladies behavior is not a good one. She must express her problem in a casual way to get reply from the sales person, as well as it is not the time to tell about her problems, while the sales person is dealing with other client. Surely we must avoid this kind of rude activities in our life
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Sep 12
I couldn't agree more. It costs nothing to be nice and courteous to one another.
