One thing that drives me crazy is getting asked about the merchandise. For some of the items, I know quite a bit about them. And it is fine if I get asked questions. When the questions keep coming after I have declared that I do not know the first answer...I probably don't know the next ones. "No, I do not know what it is made of." "Probably made in China." "Nope, haven't tried it."
I do not have access to taste testing each food product we sell. I have to purchase those, and I am on a limited income. I am not the manufacturer, and do not know any more than you do what is put into those ingredients. Nor do I know what something is made of.
The running joke a few years back was that workers made all the merchandise in the back of the building. We were getting asked often if we had made the items for sale.
Customers also do not seem to understand that a made in Alaska item is expensive. You don't work for pennies, do you? Neither do Alaskans. Most of the items you will find in tourist traps come from China. It's just a fact. Very few people are really willing to may $200 for a piece of ivory. That's how it is.
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Friday, April 24, 2009
Is it Good?
When in a candy store, or a bakery, or even a restaurant, there is a certain way of asking questions that gets better results than others. All the time, I get asked, "Is such and such good?"
Now, that is not an intelligent question to ask. Any clerk will say, "Why yes, it's great!" Even if they honestly think it tastes awful. A clerk will want to promote the product at first talk. A much better question is, "What do you like?" or "What is it like?" This requires the clerk to talk about the product and describe it. In asking in that way, it is much easier to get a feel for how the clerk does feel about the product. It also opens up more dialogue in general. If I get asked what I like in the candy case, I can tell you right away. If I sense you are open to more discussion, I will expand on my first words. But if you ask me if a candy is good, it may not be one of my favorites, and I will still say, "yes."
Now, that is not an intelligent question to ask. Any clerk will say, "Why yes, it's great!" Even if they honestly think it tastes awful. A clerk will want to promote the product at first talk. A much better question is, "What do you like?" or "What is it like?" This requires the clerk to talk about the product and describe it. In asking in that way, it is much easier to get a feel for how the clerk does feel about the product. It also opens up more dialogue in general. If I get asked what I like in the candy case, I can tell you right away. If I sense you are open to more discussion, I will expand on my first words. But if you ask me if a candy is good, it may not be one of my favorites, and I will still say, "yes."
No Empty Tills!
When a customer needs to get checked out, they often go to the register. Most of the time, I have no problem with this. Customers usually find where they need to go, and we send them out the door. I get a little peeved when I wait and wait at the till for several minutes, as some customers look ready to go. As soon as I walk away from the till....they are ready to get rung up.
A worse peeve I have, is when we have two tills. When Summertime hits, we get two. Without fail, as soon as we pull out the second register, and stand behind it, all customers go to the first one. And if we are camped out at #1, they go to #2. Do you normally go to the empty register at the grocery store? No! So why do it at my place?
I once got asked, "Can I pay anywhere?" Mmm, no, I don't have 100s of dollars in my pocket for change. Sorry. Once I told the customer that I had a till in said place, I got a "Oh really?"
As a customer, look around for a register near the clerks. If you are confused, ask a clerk. We are very happy to ring you up. Don't walk over to an unattended register and stand there. Sometimes it can be effective, but a lot of the time, it's just aggravating, and oftentimes, we can't help you there anyway.
A worse peeve I have, is when we have two tills. When Summertime hits, we get two. Without fail, as soon as we pull out the second register, and stand behind it, all customers go to the first one. And if we are camped out at #1, they go to #2. Do you normally go to the empty register at the grocery store? No! So why do it at my place?
I once got asked, "Can I pay anywhere?" Mmm, no, I don't have 100s of dollars in my pocket for change. Sorry. Once I told the customer that I had a till in said place, I got a "Oh really?"
As a customer, look around for a register near the clerks. If you are confused, ask a clerk. We are very happy to ring you up. Don't walk over to an unattended register and stand there. Sometimes it can be effective, but a lot of the time, it's just aggravating, and oftentimes, we can't help you there anyway.
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