RHU POLL: How Do You Thank Custys Who Are Mean and Rude?

Hey everyone, trekkiebabe here!  

I have been compiling a list of questions about why custys behave the way they do and one of the questions has to do with two little words: thank you.  

Let me explain:  I've worked at my current bookstore job for almost a year and I usually end each customer transaction with thanking them after they thank me.  Now this used to fill my heart with joy as I thought they were honestly thanking me for helping them, but lately it seems like the only reason why they say thank you is so I will repeat it back.

For example, about a week ago I was ringing up people, doing my usual thing, when a woman comes through my line and is completely rude throughout my ringing her up, asking her the usual questions, and in general just acting like she didn't want to be there.  

I handed her the receipt and her bags, and she thanked me, but I didn't thank her back, because no, I'm not going to thank you for acting rude.  

She walked off and I thought that was the end of it, until later that night when the store manager comes up and asks me about it, saying the woman had called in, all upset because I didn't thank her.  

Thankfully I didn't get into trouble but I don't get it, this woman was horrid, ignored me, snapped at me when I asked her if she had a members card, swiped her credit card while I was in the middle of talking, and actually flounced off when I gave her bag to her!  Yet she thinks that just because she says thank you, that will automatically make her behavior okay?  

Since then I've pretty much "thanked" people but if they're rude then I don't mean it, which in my mind defeats the whole purpose.

What I would like to know is, what do you guys usually do or say at the end of a transaction when you've helped a custy, is there anything I can say differently, especially to those who are rude?

--Trekkiebabe

 

Comments

[Skittles]

I'm not sure if there is anything you can do. I remember vaguely my days bagging groceries for Safeway, where we were required to smile at each crusty we interacted with. No joke we got points or some such nonsense for it. I just figure if retail workers aren't running around mushroom slapping the customers then everything is just fine.

[bitterbookaddickt]

I thank the rude customers even more profusely and with more warmth just to give them a guilt trip for being assholes to someone who did nothing to them.

If foreigners are rude to me I refuse to interact with them in their language or in English. I just speak my language and pretend I don't understand anything. If the person you are trying to belittle doesn't understand you then it doesn't work.

[CNC_wench]

Working retail for years (both books and retail banking), I was often in your shoes.

It was easy at the green & gold bookstore, since we were not "required" to end the transaction with anything more than 'would you like your receipt in your hand or bag?' or some variant thereof.

At the gold and red HELL of Hells Embargo, however, we were expected to thank the crusty for banking @ said bank - all a part of branding. The rude customers got a variant along the lines of "Hells thanks you for banking", because I sure as hell didn't want them back.

My advice...instead of gratitude for the crusties, try "enjoy your day", or "good day"...not rude per se, but then you don't have to feel as if you're lieing to them, either.

[Bored at the Bookstore]

I often hand the customer their receipt, purchase, etc. and say, "I hope you enjoy your reading," with the unspoken followup, "because then you won't be here, bugging me, for a while."

The "rest of the story", unspoken, is a great tension reliever As Long As It Remains In Your Head and not on your lips.

I hate the proliferation of "thank yous" - you say "thank you", they say "thank you", you say "no, thank YOU" - it's like Alphonse and Gaston, ferpetesake. If they thank me, I generally reply with, "You're welcome" or "You're more than welcome," depending upon the circumstances. Just as good as a thank-you, serves the polite-response requirement, and move them on and out. And I'm far more likely to say, "Enjoy your book(s)," or "I hope you enjoy your reading," than thank them for thanking me....

And remember, the silent "Jerk!" relieves a lot of the sting of having to thank someone who's been rude and overbearing. Just remember, the "jerk" is silent!!!

[melmcl]

Sometimes there is someone who is so rude that there isn't enough in your reserve to thank them anymore. It's hard enough to say thank you, let alone stop from screaming out "You're a Jerk!" So I do the uh-huh - close enough to the thank you in my own mind and I did reply something out loud.
But normally, I go for the over-the-top "You are so very welcome!" After all, they are saying thank you and it's the proper reply. And like the bookaddickt said, they (hopefully) will feel guilty for being a douche.

[AmigaTech]

Politely.

That's how you answer them.

You are better than they are. Stick with it.

--AT

[BookAce]

In the cases of rude people, I usually go with a polite "have a nice day." to end the transaction. I also can't bring myself to thank customers for being dicks, so this is a less painful way to reply.

Admittedly sometimes it's a very flat and sardonic "have a nice day" because in my mind I'm actually saying "go die in a car fire," but at least it was said. xD Luckily in those cases the jerk has usually already stomped away before I can even say the words.

[Lamer]

Unless it's company policy, you're welcome is appropriate.

I'm trying to make my hubby a better customer by being polite, he's a stone face. I'm a smiler, and all my regular haunts love me.

[NC Tony]

My old go-to phrase to rude custys was "Have a good one" with a fake smile that never extended past my mouth. Meaning I would turn up the corners of my mouth, but the smile would end there, the nice customers would get a "Thank you for shopping with [store]" or "Have a nice day" and a genuine smile.

[Kay]

Yup. I agree with those who say "you're welcome. Have a nice day" is a good response to "thank you" with rude customers. That's what I always used since you are being technically polite and friendly but it's relatively neutral as opposed to "thank you" which is more like you actually appreciated the experience.

[WMDKitty]

To rude person: "Have a nice day!"

In head: "SOMEWHERE ELSE!"

[Spritzy]

I concur with the options of "you're welcome" or "Have a nice day" unless there's a store policy of saying "thank you for shopping at *Store*" My prior workplace had that policy...I still just said "Have a nice day" because by the time I'd spoken half of the required phrase, the custy was already out the door.

[cashier slave]

At my store, while I am supposed to say thank you to all customers, it just feels weird. Especially when they say "thank you" whether they were rude or not it feels weird to say "thank you" back.
Instead I just say "you're welcome. Have a nice day". Then if they say "you too" or something similar I toss in a "thank you" but otherwise it just feels weird to me.

So in short, "have a nice day" and as others have said, internally wish that they go out to the parkinglot to find they'd been towed or something.

[Ambassador Sparkle]

You know, it startles me that companies put High School students as cashiers. It's a tough job, because you're essentially a gate to these people. You're the last thing that stands between them and getting what they want, and often, you're the only contact they have with the company.

What this boils down to is we don't get to be petty, and we don't get to hold grudges, because at the end of the day, one thing we say or don't say can have far reaching consequences. Yeah, it sucks to be a cashier, because we're an acceptable target. You don't get in trouble for bitching at store worker, so if you have a shitty day, instant outlet. You're not there to make their day better, but it's generally accepted you shouldn't stoop to their level

[maskedmustelid]

Repeating a thank you back would just sound odd as though I'm parroting them or something, at least to me.

I used to say 'Have a nice day', but the occasional customer would get snarky at me as though I was telling them what to do, so ended up changing to 'I hope you have a nice day' as the well-wishing sounds and feels more sincere than an obligatory closing comment.

[Murbles]

One thing I learned back in the stone age when I was riding icecream bikes (there's some stories I could tell), was to say "Q" to rude custys. Since it's the last syllable of thank you, that's what they hear, however, what I mean is f*** you. Say it to yourself, it sounds exactly the same either way, and you get the small pleasure of telling crustys off.

Yes, I can be petty, but it keeps me sane ;)

[trekkiebabe31]

Thanks guys, for some reason I just got used to saying thank you back, but I think I'll try "have a nice day" or "you're welcome". :)

[Ted the 'flayer]

I say it like this:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/total-bastard-airlines/1354752/

[Mollywobbles]

I'll end the transaction with "And you have a good day" so it fools their ear into hearing "Thank you, have a good day". ;)

[Bagel Bat]

My default is pretty much what Tony does. At first I was super polite, very cheerful..the whole "have a nice day!" *big shiny smile* "and thank you!" thing but after being insulted one too many times, it got to be too much and I stopped giving a rats ass.

[LadyBelle]

The thank you is supposed to be for spending money at your store, not the behavior in the store.

I go with the method someone else mentioned above, the more gruff the customer is, the more sickeningly sweet I become. The equivalent of a good old "well bless your heart" I rarely use thank you though, typically I tell the customer to have a nice day, or weekend, what ever the case may be.

[RoXas]

I usually say, "Have a nice day!" in a sickly sweet voice. Boy, does that ever ruffle their feathers, especially since it's obvious that their rage is entertaining to me.

[exMaternityExpert]

I always say thank you, even to rude customers, but my ~BIG REVENGE~ is that I DON'T tell them to have a nice day, and just end it with an awkward "thanks bye!" and quickly move on to the next customer/thing to do. I know, its weaksauce, but it makes me feel better because HA I DIDN'T TELL THEM TO HAVE A NICE DAY.

[TechTiger]

One of the guys here will say "Have a day". It tends to confuse people because it's ALMOST what they're expecting to hear...

[NC Tony]

You could take a clue from the late, great George Carlin. "Have a not unwell day", or "Have a moderately neato day".

[Toni]

As a customer spending money in your store that helps keep you getting pay checks I expect to be thanked for my purchase. And you could say just that, thank you for your purchase. However, I understand that not all customers are nice, and I love the have a moderately neato day. hahaha.

[Skittles]

@Toni
I'm not sure why but your comment comes off as arrogant and unintelligent so take your money that magicaly pays all the employees checks with one fell purchase and shove it up your ass.

[Manager]

@Toni
Customers don't pay me, my boss does. I have plenty of more pleasant customers who are more than happy with the service I provide. I could care less if the rude and impossible-to-please custys don't think I'm doing a good enough job to satisfy their insatiable needs, and I would rather that they go somewhere else than keep coming back and harassing me and my employees.

[DisgruntledD]

A smug smile and an obviously sarcastic "Have a good day," are what keeps me from getting in trouble with rude customers. It may not be as satisfying as telling them what's really on my mind, but I can't afford to get fired from this very depressing gas station.