[CopperStar]

So having now worked weeks in customer service at a gas station/food/lottery/etc store, and having seen tons of customers every shift from all ages, races, backgrounds, etc, I have concluded that most people suck. The environment is such that customers know they can get away with treating employees like garbage, stealing and scams, and other bad behaviors. So it's like everyone's "true colors" come out in that store, where there are basically zero consequences for bad behavior due to corporate attitude and policies. More and more it really seems to be the case that the friendly, responsible and pro-social customer is a somewhat uncommon and special person. They're not friendly, responsible and pro-social because they have to be, either, because they don't have to be. It's just the way they naturally are.

I have encountered so much stealing, nasty/entitled attitudes, deceitful/anti-social behavior, extreme carelessness / slobby-ness since they don't have to clean it up, harassment, power-tripping and control-freaking and just general awful behaviors, like throwing a receipt in my face or smearing feces around in the bathroom.

I know a lot of people with mental illness tend to get down on ourselves, but seriously, if you are generally a decent, civilized person, you are actually quite special and valuable to your society, please believe me. Goodness gracious.

[Nammu]

No wonder people in those places look shocked when I say thank you!

Copper star you deserve a big hug g and thank you for doing that job, especially since you had been expecting to stay behind the scenes. I've always thought CEOs should spend at least two weeks a year doing the most basic jobs before getting to set policy.

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by sidestepper

No wonder people in those places look shocked when I say thank you!

Copper star you deserve a big hug g and thank you for doing that job, especially since you had been expecting to stay behind the scenes. I've always thought CEOs should spend at least two weeks a year doing the most basic jobs before getting to set policy.

Thanks.

On the plus-side, it is helping me develop a much stronger appreciation for genuinely good and kind people. I honestly would have never guessed they are somewhat rare, guess I was a bit naive prior to trying customer service work.

I just think people should know that if they are generally kind and decent (we all have the occasional bad day, but generally), that they are actually quite special and valuable and have probably helped numerous strangers get through a day over the years.

I had to deal with so many awful, ridiculous people all shift long today, and then in the last half-hour I was so exhausted that I accidentally short-changed a woman buying gas. I had the worst startle response when she brought it up because I thought for sure I was about to get ripped a new one and reported. Instead she was very polite and understanding about it, and said it was alright & that she could tell I was very tired. She accepted my apology gracefully and left without making a scene. Probably had nooo idea how much that meant to me.

[Keegan2015]

Yikes! Working in customer service can definitely make you see the worst in people. Congratulations on your job though!

[raspberrytorte]

I never understood the whole customer is always right thing. I just think that gives everyone the excuse to be an asshole!

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I never understood the whole customer is always right thing. I just think that gives everyone the excuse to be an asshole!

Must admit sometimes I find it ironic that I'm the mentally ill person in the store lol.

At one point had two long lines of customers and one after another was just being ridiculous. In my head I was just like YOU'RE ALL CRAZY.

[gina_re]

I've worked retail for many years. Eventually I came to be believe this...the customer is NOT always right, but they are the customers. Meaning they are keeping you employer in business so don't piss them off. That being said, they really can be idiots that can use a good smack in the face sometimes.

[raspberrytorte]

I work in customer service too. In my experience most customers are nice. But when I encounter one that is mean, they're REALLY nasty. I don't have to deal with customers a lot though. I work in this tiny little room in the back of the store and don't emerge enough to have to deal with them. Lol!

[CopperStar]

Originally Posted by gina_re

I've worked retail for many years. Eventually I came to be believe this...the customer is NOT always right, but they are the customers. Meaning they are keeping you employer in business so don't piss them off. That being said, they really can be idiots that can use a good smack in the face sometimes.

I have a hard time understanding their mentality most of the time, though.

Like a common issue is customers trying to intimidate or pressure me into violating company policy (or on some cases into doing outright impossible things). When I politely explain that I can't, and why, it's not unusual for them to get nasty and try to turn it into a fight (as though that could even affect the outcome at all, I still can't violate policies or do impossible things).

I would just feel so ashamed and embarrassed to act that way, even in cases where I am the customer.

Same thing with stealing. Like for example the customer who helped himself to eating doughnuts right in front of me, shot me a 'warning' look and then left without paying. The average attitude of people stealing is that it is their right to do so and you had better not say anything or else. One woman told me she was going to report me to corporate and tell them I was unprofessional towards her, because I asked her to pay for her energy drinks before leaving (I even tried to play it off like she had 'forgotten' to pay and not like she was trying to walk out with them on purpose).

I can't even fathom acting that way, it would be so messed up. But apparently it's common.

Honestly reminds me of conversations I've had with AsPD people on other forum communities, where they basically insisted that most people live opportunistically and that people like me just disadvantage ourselves for no reason, and most people think we are a joke.

I still don't think it's a joke to be a decent person, but I'm starting to believe their claims that such mentalities are the norm. Whack as hell lol.

[raspberrytorte]

I'm nice to everyone. Never want to hurt anyones feelings, so I don't understand mean people, or stealing people. I would feel so bad.

[scatterbrained04]

We get a lot of people that rip our heads off at my office over how much new patient paperwork there is. It is a lot. I can't help the we're required to have so much now! Insurances reimburse the doctors less if we don't have all the stupid information. Blame Obamacare.

[GoldenSnitch]

It's so true! I've worked a lot in retail and customer service, and even now I work in a bank so it's similar and people just suck. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with people's crap in your new job

[Standup2me]

Whatever happened to manners? When did manners die, I missed the funeral.
I've seen people walk right past older people struggling with their shopping cart. I rarely hear please & thanks anymore, and holding the door open for the person behind you died with T.Rex.
It's sad that we've become this

I agree with everything said. I don't work customer service, but even just being a consumer or customer. People are horrible to sales people, cashiers etc. People are not polite a lot of the time.

Maybe I notice because I get irritable with dysphoric mania. So, I am frequently trying to control my temper and be considerate when I go out.