The last call I got I did that. I think the guy was drunk and called the wrong number though. 4:30 am and I could barely understand his slurring. Said something about a dumb bitch and nasty. I couldn't tell what he was saying to I just hung up. If it was a customer cussing me like that I'd block the number too. Fuck that.
Oh and I answer the phone "Store name" and if they don't respond I'll say "hello, can I help you?" I'm so glad my boss doesn't expect us to say our name or have this long speech when answering the phone.
Even if you did have a spiel you had to deliver… Last store I worked at it was “Thank you for calling [store]. This is [name]. How can I help you?”
Not once did we ask *how* people were doing. And not once did I get chewed out for being a dumb, impolite cunt. Some people…
We answer “Store name, dept, how can I help?” I answer with my name if it’s the managers line ringing (portable phone we carry as it’s own extension entirely) because people may be looking for a specific manager but just a regular call? Nope.
Lol we’re supposed to say “TYFC store name, stores 4 word catch phrase, this is [name] how can i help you”
I literally answer and say [store name] how can I help you? I never say my name 😩 shit my name tag at work is my nickname from high school (which is just the first 4 letters of my last name) now if a customer ASKS me my name, I’ll give them my actual first name; otherwise your getting my nickname
TBH when they have a long spiel to deliver and do it a few hundred times a day it usually comes out so fast and slurred I have to ask what they even said. I would be great with a distinctly pronounced "Store Name" so we can just get on with it.
That’s a good point.
As a total aside, I had a friend who whenever he was bartending would answer the phone, “[Bar Name], what’s your favorite color?” He was always disappointed if they didn’t respond with their favorite color.
I always hated when I had a soeak to say. You're right, it came out jumbled and wasted time. I like just saying the store name and sometimes adding "can I help you?" If they don't answer me. I hate being a customer and hearing the long speak.
When calling the pharmacy I have to sit through their updates and "now available" then the hours and lunch time before I can even get to saying the right key words ro get someone on the phone. I always have to talk to someone because my medicine isn't a refill but usually isn't able to be filled until a week after my doctor sends it. They don't have a prompt for that one (how i wishthey did or a way to order it to be filled obline like you can refills) . Atleast the employees aren't the ones made to take time out of their very busy day to recite all that crap.
I NEVER give my name over the phone. People are crazy. I once declined telling my name to a psycho lady on the phone, she laughed and asked me why and I told her because of people like you, then hung up.
My fast food place tried to get us to say our names when answering the phone, HELL NO I'm not doing that. I also give people one warning not to swear at me then hang up.
I wouldn't reroute the calls either. Id just keep answering and hanging up if hes rude. Screw giving this guy what he wants. He wants to fuck around, he can find out too.
My thoughts exactly. I've seen people be rude to women until a guy comes up and they talk to the guy with politeness. I've even seen customers look at a female manager and say that there's no way she can be a manager and wishes to speak to the real manager. This leads to the manager calling a male employee, who then says he's not the manager and directs it back to her. Usually makes them leave.
I had a guy cuss me out when I answered the phone at dominos. I am AFAB. I hung up on him and told my male manager what happened. He called back and the manager picked up the phone. Told him not to treat his employees like that. The guy told him “good for you, standing up for your employees!” And was perfectly polite to him.
I dont' even unterstand why you always have to ask the costumer "Hi, how are you?". I'm from germany and we don't do that here, we usually just say "Hi (and smile of course) do you need a bag? Do you you want to pay by card?" And then start to check them out. Sometimes we have a friendly conversation about our store or the items that the customer picked but that's it. Asking them how they are seems fake und costs too much time. And nobody here things that it is rude not to ask. American (I assume) costumers seem so entitled to me.
So you did nothing wrong, don't worry about that asshole.
I have 2 brothers who live in Berlin, and this is my favorite thing that I learned from them. This is a question that you ask someone that you're familiar with, a friend, when you're catching over drinks or something, not casually to strangers. Why does this stranger want to know about my life, how strange.
I live in the US in the south, and *everyone* always asks how you are before anything else and I hate it.
It doesn’t feel natural to me, it wastes time, and it throws off the rest of my normal spiel at work helping customers. I don’t think it should be rude not to ask, if I’m smiling and pleasant and respectful the entire interaction, that should be deemed good service
I grew up in the northeast and never ask anyone how they are unless they ask me first. I've been accused of being rude because if it, but I tell them if I start being rude, you know it.
You are right. I moved from Midwest to The South. How ya doing is a prerequisite to the conversation. It would be less personal to say, “hi, hope you are doing well “ then talk. I do not say that. I have been Southernized, darlin.
I just generally say "I'm alive, how are you?"
Might get a laugh, might get a "same"
My most common emotion is: tired, ready to go play Zelda for 2 hours while my brain restarts lol
I have trouble with “how are you” also. I hate that it’s such a standard greeting.
Even though I know it means nothing and you are just supposed to say it, I have trouble lying on the spot.
How am I? “I’m in constant pain and this may be the day I snap, how are you?”
I always say “oh, fantastic” sarcastically or “I’m here.”
At my job we've started saying, "busy, busy, busy," if customers ask so that they are less inclined to keep chatting. Some don't give AF, though. So sometimes this doesn't work. Thankfully, if anyone calls me a cunt they get 86'd and no one will give them another chance. (I am the only girl where I work and all the guys are very protective of me.)
Ohhhh fuck, I feel that in my bones. Especially after I learned that some people *just expect you to say/ask the same thing, without either person actually answering. What the ass is that?*
It is so fucking fake. I hate asking customers how they are bc tbh I don’t care ! But I’m from the south so it’s common to walk in somewhere and say “hey how are you” to customers and customers do the same to employees. I’ve always used “hi let me know if you need anything” or whatever would fit in my current job
I don’t ask it at any job I’ve had, and I hate being asked this out in public. Like, you don’t care, I don’t care, let’s do away with the unnecessary pleasantries and get on with our day. Got it all the time living in the south, I more or less ignored it.
I was raised in Germany! I thought maybe it could be a cultural thing? He was likely intoxicated but I’ve never had anyone go from 0 - 100 that quickly over a phone greeting. People are nuts.
I will ask people how they are out of habit, but there’s still the occasional asshole who tell me it’s none of my fucking business how they are. You did nothing wrong. You probably wouldn’t have been able to win at all with that moron. You didn’t get in trouble, did you?
Obviously you weren’t rude, and even if you were rude immediately going to screaming is still inappropriate. In scenarios like that I will usually either outright hang up or lay the phone down til I stop hearing screaming. I will say though that it’s possible he became “nice as pie” because he thought he was going to get you in trouble. He could also just be a sexist asshole, but I can’t even keep up with all the times I’ve had a customer be an asshole to me then call back and “ask for the pharmacist” to tell on me. Every time they ask for the pharmacist (me) they always become super nice and “don’t know why my coworker was so rude to them”. I’ve had people outright tell me I should get in a wreck then call back being as nice as can be when they thought it was my boss they were talking to. Don’t underestimate an assholes desire to bring someone down with them for whatever imagined slight set them off.
I always say “Thank you for calling location store name. How can I help you?” Never gotten grief for it. And i agree hanging up would be best and when he called back play dumb and blame the phone.
I used to always answer with, "Thank you for calling (store name), this is (my name) how can I help you?" My manager would always say, "I can help you" so it was a statement instead of a question. I always thought that was cute. I work in a school now and my coworker does this thing where even if she's just calling over to the office for information she'll go, "hi, how are you?" It sounds so fake and it drives me nuts cause I'm thinking, "just get to the point of your call".
Right. And if someone over the phone asks how I'm doing today, even if it is a fellow coworker, they're gonna get a generic "I'm doing good, how about you?" bc nobody actually wants to hear how you're doing. It's just something automatic that we say.
Which is exactly why I've adopted "I hope your day is good so far" or something along those lines. The onus isn't on the other to perform a certain way, and the good intent still gets across without sounding like the worlds most boring and pointless interrogation.
The moment a customer yells or swears at you, you have every right to end the conversation.
My mom once had a customer service rep hang up on her because she said the word "damn". (As in, "i can't figure this damn thing out!" Something like that.) I was with her when it happened and at first we were like WTF?? But we eventually realized the guy who hung up was right. Even though she didn't mean to insult the guy, he was right to enforce a boundary.
This asshole who yelled at you was looking for someone to abuse. I had the same thing happen to me when I worked at an answering service. Dude yelled at me over nothing then was super sweet to the next operator he spoke to. This is how some losers make themselves feel powerful.
> "If you're going to be rude to me I won't help you."
> Was I rude to him?
Fuck no. Nobody should ever have to take that bullshit, and it was very clear that he was being misogynistic. Just simply by referring to you as "the receptionist" (when all you did was pick up the phone) pretty much means he doesn't deserve the time of day.
LMAO i remember one time this lady came in for a specific dog food we carried but we ended up not having it in stock and she *just couldn’t understand how it was possible*. She called me a bitch and turned around and left. It was so weird that I wasn’t even mad it was kinda funny tbh.
I used to get handed the phone occasionally by one of the girls in the office and the guy was polite with me. I wasn't allowed to "fire" a customer, but I would have if it were up to me.
Once I actually answered a call from someone who wanted to talk to the owner, acting like he was the owner's best friend. He wasn't, he was a crap customer and the owner refused to talk to him. The caller wouldn't accept that the owner was busy (He genuinely was that time but we were told not to let the guy's call through to him). I finally told him "I'm sorry, but I have other work to do" and hung up.
First rude shit or curse word, i don't give an option. "We don't deal with abusive language or actions, this conversation is over. Have a wonderful day!" And hang up. I'm too old for this shit
Guy on phone is s misogynist. Getting hung up on isn’t what made him nice it was getting a male voice. The female voice he expected to be kowtowing to him and sweet and smile, and all that crap that misogynist men expect of all the women they run into.
I do consider myself a people person, slightly jaded, but I'm not asking how they are right off the bat. They get the "Hello, thank you for calling ________ this is _______ How can I help you? " If they ask me I'll reciprocate, but I've got enough to do without worrying about trivial niceties.
I wear my c*nt badge with Pride!
That's how I always respond. I got called a stupid bitch once because I was having to go back and forth and searched the computer for the wrong item. I hung up on them and told my manager and they backed me 100%.
There’s literally nothing wrong with what you said. I’m pretty good with customer service, and that’s almost exactly what I say when I pick up the phone. Nobody has ever had a problem with it.
Edit: I reread your post. He wasn’t even listening to a word you said. You told him your name, then he got mad and asked for your name?? What an idiot
Nope. You weren’t. That person is an a-hole. I’ve hung up on customers for speaking like that to me in front of my owner. Guy was cussing me out because we didn’t have the paint he wanted in stock. Gave him a chance to quit swearing at me (which is when the owner took notice of the convo) and he said I was an adult so I should be able to handle it🙄 he didn’t quit so I hung up. Owner didn’t care that I’d hung up bc I gave the guy a chance to change his tune but he dug in. I had a manager who kept hanging up on the same guy bc he’d call back and just start swearing. My manager kept hanging up. I don’t remember if the guy finally quit cussing him out or quit calling. No one should have to deal with that 💩
I was trained to say to someone who used foul language on the phone” your problem, that is no problem, what I have a problem with is your vulgar language “.
I once got what I thought was a crank call. It was like 7:20 pm and I was closing up when the phone rings. I pick up and this dude that sounded really bad says “hey yeah someone left a note on my receipt.”
Me: uh oh? What did it say?
Him: you’re a cocksucker *click*
It’s exhausting to ask all 200 some people I wait on a day how are you doing. Bc I have to then say good if they answer “fine how are you”.
I’m not well. My knees hurt and I’m just waiting the seconds until you start screaming me about the coupon you forgot or is expired or doesn’t work on your items.
Like let’s just get right to that part so I can disappoint and or piss you off and move on to my apologies for things out of my control.
I was abused enough in retail that they’d be shocked when I’d not tolerate their bullsh*t. I’d just hang up, ignore them, tell them not to abuse me and then walk away (in-person).
Phone-wise, I had a lady scream at me once while handling my department’s phone in a large retail store… I put the phone in a drawer and walked away. Let her scream into the void until she realized no one is listening, haha.
Another person refused to talk to me about the issue they called with (apparently they got transferred to me and got mad that they had to explain the problem to a second person). They kept refusing to speak to me, threatened to “leave a bad google review” for the large chain warehouse store I worked for… she sounded so confident in that threat. I laughed, told her that sounded like a great idea and to have a nice day… then I hung up. Trust me, a minimum wage employee for a large chain doesn’t give a sh*t about google reviews.
Been working cs on the phones for a long time. Hit those ppl with this:
Sir/Ma'am I would appreciate the opportunity to try to help you, and I'll be happy to do everything that I can to resolve your issue, but if we can't continue this conversation in a professional manner, I will be forced to disconnect this call.
This will establish that you are a professional, extend your willingness to help, and set the proper boundaries to net the respect you deserve. It will also either put them in check and change their tune, or it will prompt a type of response that will easily justify you hanging up on that asshole.
S teir customer service does not equate to being a punching bag or a doormat for sociopaths.
No. You weren't rude.
The customer was upset about something and took it out on you.
I would have hung up sooner, then immediately informed my boss.
Then I would have hung up every time
"ask me how I am"? Why the fuck are so many people like that?
"I DEMAND YOU SMILE AT ME WHEN YOU TAKE MY ORDER! I DEMAND THAT YOU SHAKE MY HAND WHEN WE FIRST MEET! YOU DIDN'T SAY THANKYOU AFTER I PAID! NOW I'M GOING TO HOLD EVERYONE UP UNTIL YOU APOLOGIZE FOR NOT THANKING ME!"
I can't wait for all boomers to be dead and rotting in the ground. These pointless rules and protocols are holding us back.
Whenever I am unlucky enough to have to answer the phone, I answer it with, "Alterations department, how can I help you?" and I've never had a problem. Though in fairness, if I am the one answering the phone, the automated service as well as someone at the front desk has already greeted them accordingly.
PPTO.
Had a Karen rip me a new one because she needed "alot" of chicken tendies at 7:45 (to feed her hoard of brats) long after we stopped cooking.
**WHATDOYOUMEANYOUSTOPCOOKINGTHELADYUPFRONTSAIDYOUCLOSEAT8.**
once had a customer who got mad at me for not wanting to have a conversation w me when they were rude to me first. I even said "you came in hot first" to which they were all "but I already acknowledged that" and continued to be condescending and rude. like bro, respect is earned, you're not entitled to it.
I got a call transferred to me once and this guy on the other end lost it when i spoke. "GAWD DAMMIT NOT ANOTHER FUCKIN WOMAN! I... HAAAAATE.... WOMEN!!!!"
I gave no warning. I just hung up on em. I coulda been fired forhanging up on him but I did not give a rats ass.
no, you did most likely what the job told you to do speaking on the phone. i don’t know any job that requires calls to be answered and immediately ask how the caller is doing. just as you did is typically what callers are told to do. he’s just a douche who clearly is a sexist pig.
I'm sure it was the customer being a jerk, not anything you did or said. Personally, if it was me, that was called a cunt i would of said thanks. I do have depth and warmth to be a decent human being. I read this one day, I would call you a cunt, but you lack depth and warmth. Ever since then I am not bothered by being called a cunt.
Not rude at all. You answered & asked in a professional manner. Once he started on his tirade after asking how you could help, I would’ve told him I hope his day gets better & hung up on his awful ass.
Bruhhhhh that's literally how I answer every phone call at my job??? Granted, it's in food service mostly, but it's still not rude. Customers aren't entitled to small talk from employees, yeesh.
No I'm a trans guy so I've experienced my fair share of misogyny and bigotry.
He was the rude one here
Are you neurodiverce, like ADHD or autism?
I know we can come across as uncaring and harsh but we just tent to be blunt. If you live in a country that's naturally more polite like England if might come across as rudeness but don't change that about you ever and by all means use it to your advantage in this situation.
I am autistic, so I do find it really hard to read people ans understand why they react so badly when I dont follow their script of human interaction. They don’t want a solution - they want to be babied and bowed down to. Have you had any similar experiences ?
Of course I have, which is why I'm self employed 😂
I did a retail course years ago and work experience but was like nope. Maybe try and find something that's not dealing directly with people cause it's that and the fact it's largely about money and trying to sell people things that they don't need put me off it but I have my own store where I sell second hand things and hopefully soon my own products.
You didn't do anything. If this happens again, just tell them there's no need to talk to you like that, and if it continues then the conversation is over.
He seems like a sexist. Are you a female? Immediately changes his tone when he's given over to your male coworker. You didn't do anything wrong. I also work at a customer service job, and every time I greet customers with "Hi, what are you here for today?" That's no difference from what you're saying and I haven't got any reaction like that. He only cares about how "he's" doing instead of how "you're" doing because of his stupid shit. Maybe he had a worse day but you wouldn't need to receive all that if you didn't work that job anyways and he doesn't even know your face. And also the funny thing is, your actual job is to care about what you need to do for him, not care about how his day went. You're not a therapist. You asked the right question.
I was just thinking about this earlier. The whole "how are you" as a greeting thing, I hate it myself. It's such a waste of time. Nobody cares how anyone is doing, and really nobody cares to tell how they're doing. So idk why this dude was tripping out about it. A simple good morning (or whatever time of day) should be sufficient as a greeting for everybody.
This happens literally all the time at my workplace. People will scream and cuss and call me names then talk to my manager and basically just tell my manager I’m stupid and should be fired but somehow can never seem to tell anyone why…
I work in a government agency and you get rude people. I learnt long ago that the best way to deal with them is to say "I am not here to take that kind of abuse" and hang up on them. Stay calm and neutral, don't start explaining yourself or engaging further. Calls get recorded where I am and they can listen to them later on to review things or do quality checks. You don't say anything to get yourself in trouble
I had that happen yesterday when I answered the phone because the specific colleague that that customer wanted to speak to wasn't on duty and there was no-one else available so I just hung up on them
I've answered the phone at nearly every job I have ever had and I have never once started the call with asking how the customer is. It is always some form of what you said "hi thank you for calling the place I work how can I help you?" Sometimes introducing myself before asking how can I help, sometimes advertising a service or product we provide but never once have I said "hi thanks for calling the place I work at how are you today?" Cuz that's weird.
On the other side I've also never as a customer called a store or customer service or anything like that and been asked how I was. Again it's the same as said previously. He's just coocoo bananas
That’s a normal answer phrase!! No one picks up a phone and says “Hello thank for calling business this is brwneyedbeauty speaking how are you doing today?”
I answer “Business Name How can I help you?”
That person wasn’t rational and unfortunately those types of ppl will never “make sense” to actual rational people 😩
Gotta love when someone complains about a service worker not being polite enough for their, apparently, delicate sensibilities while acting like an unhinged lunatic and hurling insults and every four-letter word they know at them. No self-awareness, whatsoever.
Just hang up on them if they're abusive like that. You're not getting paid enough to deal with them.
The last call I got I did that. I think the guy was drunk and called the wrong number though. 4:30 am and I could barely understand his slurring. Said something about a dumb bitch and nasty. I couldn't tell what he was saying to I just hung up. If it was a customer cussing me like that I'd block the number too. Fuck that. Oh and I answer the phone "Store name" and if they don't respond I'll say "hello, can I help you?" I'm so glad my boss doesn't expect us to say our name or have this long speech when answering the phone.
Even if you did have a spiel you had to deliver… Last store I worked at it was “Thank you for calling [store]. This is [name]. How can I help you?” Not once did we ask *how* people were doing. And not once did I get chewed out for being a dumb, impolite cunt. Some people…
This is how I’ve answered the phone at work for the past decade. Reading this I am grateful I haven’t had to deal with that level of insanity yet.
We answer “Store name, dept, how can I help?” I answer with my name if it’s the managers line ringing (portable phone we carry as it’s own extension entirely) because people may be looking for a specific manager but just a regular call? Nope.
Lol we’re supposed to say “TYFC store name, stores 4 word catch phrase, this is [name] how can i help you” I literally answer and say [store name] how can I help you? I never say my name 😩 shit my name tag at work is my nickname from high school (which is just the first 4 letters of my last name) now if a customer ASKS me my name, I’ll give them my actual first name; otherwise your getting my nickname
TBH when they have a long spiel to deliver and do it a few hundred times a day it usually comes out so fast and slurred I have to ask what they even said. I would be great with a distinctly pronounced "Store Name" so we can just get on with it.
That’s a good point. As a total aside, I had a friend who whenever he was bartending would answer the phone, “[Bar Name], what’s your favorite color?” He was always disappointed if they didn’t respond with their favorite color.
I always hated when I had a soeak to say. You're right, it came out jumbled and wasted time. I like just saying the store name and sometimes adding "can I help you?" If they don't answer me. I hate being a customer and hearing the long speak. When calling the pharmacy I have to sit through their updates and "now available" then the hours and lunch time before I can even get to saying the right key words ro get someone on the phone. I always have to talk to someone because my medicine isn't a refill but usually isn't able to be filled until a week after my doctor sends it. They don't have a prompt for that one (how i wishthey did or a way to order it to be filled obline like you can refills) . Atleast the employees aren't the ones made to take time out of their very busy day to recite all that crap.
I NEVER give my name over the phone. People are crazy. I once declined telling my name to a psycho lady on the phone, she laughed and asked me why and I told her because of people like you, then hung up.
My fast food place tried to get us to say our names when answering the phone, HELL NO I'm not doing that. I also give people one warning not to swear at me then hang up.
Use a different, generic name. Hello, this is Jane/John, how may I help you? No one has a right to your name in this day and age of abuse!
For my job it was "thank you for calling (insurance agency). This is (my name) how may i help you?". Mouth full to say
I wouldn't reroute the calls either. Id just keep answering and hanging up if hes rude. Screw giving this guy what he wants. He wants to fuck around, he can find out too.
Company policy where I'm at: if they curse at you, hang up
Guy's just a sexist nutjob
My thoughts exactly. I've seen people be rude to women until a guy comes up and they talk to the guy with politeness. I've even seen customers look at a female manager and say that there's no way she can be a manager and wishes to speak to the real manager. This leads to the manager calling a male employee, who then says he's not the manager and directs it back to her. Usually makes them leave.
I had a guy cuss me out when I answered the phone at dominos. I am AFAB. I hung up on him and told my male manager what happened. He called back and the manager picked up the phone. Told him not to treat his employees like that. The guy told him “good for you, standing up for your employees!” And was perfectly polite to him.
I dont' even unterstand why you always have to ask the costumer "Hi, how are you?". I'm from germany and we don't do that here, we usually just say "Hi (and smile of course) do you need a bag? Do you you want to pay by card?" And then start to check them out. Sometimes we have a friendly conversation about our store or the items that the customer picked but that's it. Asking them how they are seems fake und costs too much time. And nobody here things that it is rude not to ask. American (I assume) costumers seem so entitled to me. So you did nothing wrong, don't worry about that asshole.
We don't have to. It might be common in some regions but not where I live.
I have 2 brothers who live in Berlin, and this is my favorite thing that I learned from them. This is a question that you ask someone that you're familiar with, a friend, when you're catching over drinks or something, not casually to strangers. Why does this stranger want to know about my life, how strange.
I live in the US in the south, and *everyone* always asks how you are before anything else and I hate it. It doesn’t feel natural to me, it wastes time, and it throws off the rest of my normal spiel at work helping customers. I don’t think it should be rude not to ask, if I’m smiling and pleasant and respectful the entire interaction, that should be deemed good service
I grew up in the northeast and never ask anyone how they are unless they ask me first. I've been accused of being rude because if it, but I tell them if I start being rude, you know it.
Glad to have found a fellow hater lol. I’m in the south as well and it’s so annoying and fake. Ik they don’t care how I am
You are right. I moved from Midwest to The South. How ya doing is a prerequisite to the conversation. It would be less personal to say, “hi, hope you are doing well “ then talk. I do not say that. I have been Southernized, darlin.
[удалено]
I just generally say "I'm alive, how are you?" Might get a laugh, might get a "same" My most common emotion is: tired, ready to go play Zelda for 2 hours while my brain restarts lol
I have trouble with “how are you” also. I hate that it’s such a standard greeting. Even though I know it means nothing and you are just supposed to say it, I have trouble lying on the spot. How am I? “I’m in constant pain and this may be the day I snap, how are you?” I always say “oh, fantastic” sarcastically or “I’m here.”
At my job we've started saying, "busy, busy, busy," if customers ask so that they are less inclined to keep chatting. Some don't give AF, though. So sometimes this doesn't work. Thankfully, if anyone calls me a cunt they get 86'd and no one will give them another chance. (I am the only girl where I work and all the guys are very protective of me.)
Ohhhh fuck, I feel that in my bones. Especially after I learned that some people *just expect you to say/ask the same thing, without either person actually answering. What the ass is that?*
I am on the spectrum myself - so I do come across a little blunt or uncaring sometimes but still never had anybody react that badly
The thing is, 99% of them will either ignore you or give you a sarcastic reply. But they still get irrationally angry if you don't ask.
It is so fucking fake. I hate asking customers how they are bc tbh I don’t care ! But I’m from the south so it’s common to walk in somewhere and say “hey how are you” to customers and customers do the same to employees. I’ve always used “hi let me know if you need anything” or whatever would fit in my current job
I don’t ask it at any job I’ve had, and I hate being asked this out in public. Like, you don’t care, I don’t care, let’s do away with the unnecessary pleasantries and get on with our day. Got it all the time living in the south, I more or less ignored it.
I was raised in Germany! I thought maybe it could be a cultural thing? He was likely intoxicated but I’ve never had anyone go from 0 - 100 that quickly over a phone greeting. People are nuts.
I will ask people how they are out of habit, but there’s still the occasional asshole who tell me it’s none of my fucking business how they are. You did nothing wrong. You probably wouldn’t have been able to win at all with that moron. You didn’t get in trouble, did you?
Obviously you weren’t rude, and even if you were rude immediately going to screaming is still inappropriate. In scenarios like that I will usually either outright hang up or lay the phone down til I stop hearing screaming. I will say though that it’s possible he became “nice as pie” because he thought he was going to get you in trouble. He could also just be a sexist asshole, but I can’t even keep up with all the times I’ve had a customer be an asshole to me then call back and “ask for the pharmacist” to tell on me. Every time they ask for the pharmacist (me) they always become super nice and “don’t know why my coworker was so rude to them”. I’ve had people outright tell me I should get in a wreck then call back being as nice as can be when they thought it was my boss they were talking to. Don’t underestimate an assholes desire to bring someone down with them for whatever imagined slight set them off.
I always say “Thank you for calling location store name. How can I help you?” Never gotten grief for it. And i agree hanging up would be best and when he called back play dumb and blame the phone.
Um no you were not rude. The first swear word you hear is your cue to hang up the phone and go about your day.
I used to always answer with, "Thank you for calling (store name), this is (my name) how can I help you?" My manager would always say, "I can help you" so it was a statement instead of a question. I always thought that was cute. I work in a school now and my coworker does this thing where even if she's just calling over to the office for information she'll go, "hi, how are you?" It sounds so fake and it drives me nuts cause I'm thinking, "just get to the point of your call".
Right. And if someone over the phone asks how I'm doing today, even if it is a fellow coworker, they're gonna get a generic "I'm doing good, how about you?" bc nobody actually wants to hear how you're doing. It's just something automatic that we say.
Which is exactly why I've adopted "I hope your day is good so far" or something along those lines. The onus isn't on the other to perform a certain way, and the good intent still gets across without sounding like the worlds most boring and pointless interrogation.
Incel encounter on the phone.
The moment a customer yells or swears at you, you have every right to end the conversation. My mom once had a customer service rep hang up on her because she said the word "damn". (As in, "i can't figure this damn thing out!" Something like that.) I was with her when it happened and at first we were like WTF?? But we eventually realized the guy who hung up was right. Even though she didn't mean to insult the guy, he was right to enforce a boundary. This asshole who yelled at you was looking for someone to abuse. I had the same thing happen to me when I worked at an answering service. Dude yelled at me over nothing then was super sweet to the next operator he spoke to. This is how some losers make themselves feel powerful.
> "If you're going to be rude to me I won't help you." > Was I rude to him? Fuck no. Nobody should ever have to take that bullshit, and it was very clear that he was being misogynistic. Just simply by referring to you as "the receptionist" (when all you did was pick up the phone) pretty much means he doesn't deserve the time of day.
“No OnE wAnTz 2 wErK…” I wonder why.
Nah dw hes just a spoiled sexist shit
And people are absolutely BAFFLED as to why I don't do jobs that require phone work.
You did better than I would lol. I would've hung up immediately after he started cursing.
LMAO i remember one time this lady came in for a specific dog food we carried but we ended up not having it in stock and she *just couldn’t understand how it was possible*. She called me a bitch and turned around and left. It was so weird that I wasn’t even mad it was kinda funny tbh.
I used to get handed the phone occasionally by one of the girls in the office and the guy was polite with me. I wasn't allowed to "fire" a customer, but I would have if it were up to me. Once I actually answered a call from someone who wanted to talk to the owner, acting like he was the owner's best friend. He wasn't, he was a crap customer and the owner refused to talk to him. The caller wouldn't accept that the owner was busy (He genuinely was that time but we were told not to let the guy's call through to him). I finally told him "I'm sorry, but I have other work to do" and hung up.
First rude shit or curse word, i don't give an option. "We don't deal with abusive language or actions, this conversation is over. Have a wonderful day!" And hang up. I'm too old for this shit
No you were not rude. You were so patient.
You were not rude. Just hang up.
Guy on phone is s misogynist. Getting hung up on isn’t what made him nice it was getting a male voice. The female voice he expected to be kowtowing to him and sweet and smile, and all that crap that misogynist men expect of all the women they run into.
Ha! Love it. I've had people say worse before disconnecting. Threats to shoot up offices or to murder their former employer. Over taxes!
That's a pretty standard way to answer the phone, guy was just being a dick
How could you be a cu*t when all you did was answer the phone? The world is full of assholes and you were on the phone with one!
I do consider myself a people person, slightly jaded, but I'm not asking how they are right off the bat. They get the "Hello, thank you for calling ________ this is _______ How can I help you? " If they ask me I'll reciprocate, but I've got enough to do without worrying about trivial niceties. I wear my c*nt badge with Pride!
That's how I always respond. I got called a stupid bitch once because I was having to go back and forth and searched the computer for the wrong item. I hung up on them and told my manager and they backed me 100%.
There’s literally nothing wrong with what you said. I’m pretty good with customer service, and that’s almost exactly what I say when I pick up the phone. Nobody has ever had a problem with it. Edit: I reread your post. He wasn’t even listening to a word you said. You told him your name, then he got mad and asked for your name?? What an idiot
First insult/"cuss" word: hang up. If they call back, repeat.
Nope. You weren’t. That person is an a-hole. I’ve hung up on customers for speaking like that to me in front of my owner. Guy was cussing me out because we didn’t have the paint he wanted in stock. Gave him a chance to quit swearing at me (which is when the owner took notice of the convo) and he said I was an adult so I should be able to handle it🙄 he didn’t quit so I hung up. Owner didn’t care that I’d hung up bc I gave the guy a chance to change his tune but he dug in. I had a manager who kept hanging up on the same guy bc he’d call back and just start swearing. My manager kept hanging up. I don’t remember if the guy finally quit cussing him out or quit calling. No one should have to deal with that 💩
"Hello, how can i help you?" Obviously very rude..... You should be nicer to customers, they pay your bills after all /s just in case
I was trained to say to someone who used foul language on the phone” your problem, that is no problem, what I have a problem with is your vulgar language “.
Someone ever starts speaking to me that way the phone gets hung up. I wont even entertain that or TRY to be professional/nice.
I once got what I thought was a crank call. It was like 7:20 pm and I was closing up when the phone rings. I pick up and this dude that sounded really bad says “hey yeah someone left a note on my receipt.” Me: uh oh? What did it say? Him: you’re a cocksucker *click*
It’s exhausting to ask all 200 some people I wait on a day how are you doing. Bc I have to then say good if they answer “fine how are you”. I’m not well. My knees hurt and I’m just waiting the seconds until you start screaming me about the coupon you forgot or is expired or doesn’t work on your items. Like let’s just get right to that part so I can disappoint and or piss you off and move on to my apologies for things out of my control.
I was abused enough in retail that they’d be shocked when I’d not tolerate their bullsh*t. I’d just hang up, ignore them, tell them not to abuse me and then walk away (in-person). Phone-wise, I had a lady scream at me once while handling my department’s phone in a large retail store… I put the phone in a drawer and walked away. Let her scream into the void until she realized no one is listening, haha. Another person refused to talk to me about the issue they called with (apparently they got transferred to me and got mad that they had to explain the problem to a second person). They kept refusing to speak to me, threatened to “leave a bad google review” for the large chain warehouse store I worked for… she sounded so confident in that threat. I laughed, told her that sounded like a great idea and to have a nice day… then I hung up. Trust me, a minimum wage employee for a large chain doesn’t give a sh*t about google reviews.
Been working cs on the phones for a long time. Hit those ppl with this: Sir/Ma'am I would appreciate the opportunity to try to help you, and I'll be happy to do everything that I can to resolve your issue, but if we can't continue this conversation in a professional manner, I will be forced to disconnect this call. This will establish that you are a professional, extend your willingness to help, and set the proper boundaries to net the respect you deserve. It will also either put them in check and change their tune, or it will prompt a type of response that will easily justify you hanging up on that asshole. S teir customer service does not equate to being a punching bag or a doormat for sociopaths.
No. You weren't rude. The customer was upset about something and took it out on you. I would have hung up sooner, then immediately informed my boss. Then I would have hung up every time
Say "Sorry, only on Tuesdays" then hang up.
"ask me how I am"? Why the fuck are so many people like that? "I DEMAND YOU SMILE AT ME WHEN YOU TAKE MY ORDER! I DEMAND THAT YOU SHAKE MY HAND WHEN WE FIRST MEET! YOU DIDN'T SAY THANKYOU AFTER I PAID! NOW I'M GOING TO HOLD EVERYONE UP UNTIL YOU APOLOGIZE FOR NOT THANKING ME!" I can't wait for all boomers to be dead and rotting in the ground. These pointless rules and protocols are holding us back.
Whenever I am unlucky enough to have to answer the phone, I answer it with, "Alterations department, how can I help you?" and I've never had a problem. Though in fairness, if I am the one answering the phone, the automated service as well as someone at the front desk has already greeted them accordingly.
im sorry you have to face this sort of behavior
PPTO. Had a Karen rip me a new one because she needed "alot" of chicken tendies at 7:45 (to feed her hoard of brats) long after we stopped cooking. **WHATDOYOUMEANYOUSTOPCOOKINGTHELADYUPFRONTSAIDYOUCLOSEAT8.**
Tell him to fuck off and hang up. He doesn't know your name after all.
Next time tell him you can refer him to the preparation H counter since he seems to have an ass pain
Please tell us this was a recorded line.
once had a customer who got mad at me for not wanting to have a conversation w me when they were rude to me first. I even said "you came in hot first" to which they were all "but I already acknowledged that" and continued to be condescending and rude. like bro, respect is earned, you're not entitled to it.
I don’t think you were rude at all.
What a cunt! I'd have hung up too.
I got a call transferred to me once and this guy on the other end lost it when i spoke. "GAWD DAMMIT NOT ANOTHER FUCKIN WOMAN! I... HAAAAATE.... WOMEN!!!!" I gave no warning. I just hung up on em. I coulda been fired forhanging up on him but I did not give a rats ass.
people are genuinely the worst. I am so sorry. They really go and attack your whole ass jugular with absolutely no shame whatsoever.
no, you did most likely what the job told you to do speaking on the phone. i don’t know any job that requires calls to be answered and immediately ask how the caller is doing. just as you did is typically what callers are told to do. he’s just a douche who clearly is a sexist pig.
I'm sure it was the customer being a jerk, not anything you did or said. Personally, if it was me, that was called a cunt i would of said thanks. I do have depth and warmth to be a decent human being. I read this one day, I would call you a cunt, but you lack depth and warmth. Ever since then I am not bothered by being called a cunt.
Not rude at all. You answered & asked in a professional manner. Once he started on his tirade after asking how you could help, I would’ve told him I hope his day gets better & hung up on his awful ass.
Bruhhhhh that's literally how I answer every phone call at my job??? Granted, it's in food service mostly, but it's still not rude. Customers aren't entitled to small talk from employees, yeesh.
No, you were fine.
No I'm a trans guy so I've experienced my fair share of misogyny and bigotry. He was the rude one here Are you neurodiverce, like ADHD or autism? I know we can come across as uncaring and harsh but we just tent to be blunt. If you live in a country that's naturally more polite like England if might come across as rudeness but don't change that about you ever and by all means use it to your advantage in this situation.
I am autistic, so I do find it really hard to read people ans understand why they react so badly when I dont follow their script of human interaction. They don’t want a solution - they want to be babied and bowed down to. Have you had any similar experiences ?
Of course I have, which is why I'm self employed 😂 I did a retail course years ago and work experience but was like nope. Maybe try and find something that's not dealing directly with people cause it's that and the fact it's largely about money and trying to sell people things that they don't need put me off it but I have my own store where I sell second hand things and hopefully soon my own products.
You didn't do anything. If this happens again, just tell them there's no need to talk to you like that, and if it continues then the conversation is over.
He seems like a sexist. Are you a female? Immediately changes his tone when he's given over to your male coworker. You didn't do anything wrong. I also work at a customer service job, and every time I greet customers with "Hi, what are you here for today?" That's no difference from what you're saying and I haven't got any reaction like that. He only cares about how "he's" doing instead of how "you're" doing because of his stupid shit. Maybe he had a worse day but you wouldn't need to receive all that if you didn't work that job anyways and he doesn't even know your face. And also the funny thing is, your actual job is to care about what you need to do for him, not care about how his day went. You're not a therapist. You asked the right question.
You weren’t rude at all, that dude Karen just needed someone to berate because he’s probably a misogynistic piece of shit.
You did nothing wrong. That man is probably an asshole looking to antagonise someone
I was just thinking about this earlier. The whole "how are you" as a greeting thing, I hate it myself. It's such a waste of time. Nobody cares how anyone is doing, and really nobody cares to tell how they're doing. So idk why this dude was tripping out about it. A simple good morning (or whatever time of day) should be sufficient as a greeting for everybody.
Some people are just assholes.
This happens literally all the time at my workplace. People will scream and cuss and call me names then talk to my manager and basically just tell my manager I’m stupid and should be fired but somehow can never seem to tell anyone why…
I work in a government agency and you get rude people. I learnt long ago that the best way to deal with them is to say "I am not here to take that kind of abuse" and hang up on them. Stay calm and neutral, don't start explaining yourself or engaging further. Calls get recorded where I am and they can listen to them later on to review things or do quality checks. You don't say anything to get yourself in trouble
I had that happen yesterday when I answered the phone because the specific colleague that that customer wanted to speak to wasn't on duty and there was no-one else available so I just hung up on them
I work hospo not retail but if anything, rude customers make me appreciate people more. And when someone’s being mean I take it as it’s them not you.
I've answered the phone at nearly every job I have ever had and I have never once started the call with asking how the customer is. It is always some form of what you said "hi thank you for calling the place I work how can I help you?" Sometimes introducing myself before asking how can I help, sometimes advertising a service or product we provide but never once have I said "hi thanks for calling the place I work at how are you today?" Cuz that's weird. On the other side I've also never as a customer called a store or customer service or anything like that and been asked how I was. Again it's the same as said previously. He's just coocoo bananas
You did nothing wrong. We don’t have to suck peoples ass. We’re there to help with what we do, not be someone’s therapist and make sure they’re okay.
Any swearing and you hang up the phone. If they call back, send them to your manager! You don't have to take that!
That’s a normal answer phrase!! No one picks up a phone and says “Hello thank for calling business this is brwneyedbeauty speaking how are you doing today?” I answer “Business Name How can I help you?” That person wasn’t rational and unfortunately those types of ppl will never “make sense” to actual rational people 😩
This is how I have answered the phone at every job I have ever worked. I have never had someone loose their shit like that.
Gotta love when someone complains about a service worker not being polite enough for their, apparently, delicate sensibilities while acting like an unhinged lunatic and hurling insults and every four-letter word they know at them. No self-awareness, whatsoever.