Getting my bike licence, the post office and feminism.

That the member of staff had been trying to promote a friendly and
welcoming atmosphere with a light hearted comment. I would, however,
apologise if the customer had been offended by the comment.

I'd then reassure the member of staff that they'd done nothing wrong and
that some people have to have something to complain about.

 

Well there you go then - twist away. Difficult for anyone to tell if he was
being a patronising twat or if it was an attempt at a chat-up line without
actually seeing his face at the time. I doubt much will happen if you decide
to complain though, unfortunately.

Um...because it's as different as "**** off" is to "Get lost"? Neither of
which were directed at you, btw, I have no desire to have mine twisted too


Si

 

How would you know that was the intention of the staff member?

Surely both you and the member of staff should apologise if a customer
is offended. Isn't the customer always right?

So it's OK for staff to be rude to customers in your supermarket?
What's the address? - just in case I'm passing and I feel like buying
some frozen peas and getting a load of cheek at the checkout.

 

Hmm, having thought long and hard about this one I have to say I rather see
LN's point.

If I go into a shop/post office/brothel/whatever, the very least I expect is
respect, especially if I am expected to be parting with money.

I can see why being confronted by a patronizing, sexist old **** has pissed
her off.

It is possible to be friendly and welcoming without overstepping the mark.

I would expect to receive the old twats head on a plate, with an apple in
it's mouth as compensation.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)
My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R (Going)
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)

 

<snip>

Having read all the "Oh FFS!" type replies it does seem, sadly, that your
prediction about the types of reply were right...

IMHO, what you need to press home in the complaint is that, unlike private
businesses where such 'jocular' behaviour might be seen as not necessarily
polite, but tolerated, the Post Office is, at least for the time being, a
Public Service.

The employees of all Public Services should be expected to comply not only
with the letter of the law with regard to sexual/religious/race
discrimination, but also with the spirit of such legislation and, therefore,
treat all 'customers' in an identical way.

This would preclude the use of any language which may be prejudicial in any
way, including the use of derogatory language in a context based purely on
the sex/race/religion/etc of the customer, no matter how inoffensive the
employee may think their remark.

If someone in Dixons spoke to you like that, you'd shop elsewhere. With the
PO, you don't have a choice, so no matter how much the Daily Mail readers
may complain about it being 'PC gone mad', the employee should be, at the
very least, advised to think before trying to make himself feel superior
when dealing with customers...

Dave

 

Aren't you slightly over-reacting?

It was a light hearted joke from the bloke behind the counter - not
meant to offend in any way at all.

Some people shouldn't be out by themselves.

 

in message

The daftest thing about all this was the total inability of the twat behind
the counter to correct the situation there and then without allowing it to
escalate. I work in a pretty demanding customer service role, and I will
try to make comments/small talk etc to customers just to lighten the mood
and build rapport. However, if I say something to someone which they are
clearly offended by or they don't appreciate, it is so easy to say "I
apologise Madam/Miss, I didn't mean to cause offence. Now, what can I do
for you?" He wasn't exactly a customer service professional was he?

Also, of course, any public service business should have a clearly laid down
and well signposted complaints procedure. For my organisation, this
provides us with valuable information about where we are going wrong and how
to improve etc.

 

I think this demonstrates that your career has gone as far as it will
go.

I do, too.

 

The one about why should I tolerate him treating me with less respect
than he would a man? Or just the general respect thing?

Ah now we're back to the mugging thread...

 

I understand your point of view.

However, I have to point out that in The Grim Norf, it's all a bit
backward. Move to civilisation.

 

Bzzzt - his customers are Welsh.

 

At least some of them were funny.

Excellent, a bit of cut and pasting, lose the Daily Mail (oh if only)
and that's the conclusion of my letter sorted. Ta.

 

No I asked a couple of questions. Might be nice to get a couple of
answers back.

How do you know? You're making an assumption that only one scenario is
possible and that staff never insult customers either intentionally or
unintentionally. In my experience you would be incorrect in that
assumption because staff are sometimes insulting or rude to customers.

Surely the way someone receives a remark and reacts to it is the
important thing? If you accept that point then when a member of staff
gets something wrong there is only one answer - a polite apology is
offered and the situation should be readily defused. You will note no
apology was offered - it had to be requested and worse still LN was
asked how she felt she have been spoken to. Err surely staff should know
how to speak to customers before they are let loose?

Really? - the customer care training at Iceland really must be something
else if that's the management attitude.

 

I very nearly didn't say anthing. It was a pure double take 'did I
hear that correctly?' moment.

And I bet you smile. Just smiling works wonders.

I think I've broken my *ding* ometer.

Post office counters in a busy office surely calls for *exceptional*
customer service. I'd hate to do his job. But if I did I'd be polite,
friendly and wouldn't dream of having that lack of respect.

Exactly.

 

I'm going to be casting an eye over prices in Rome next week.

 

Lady Nina scribbled on the back of a napkin:

AONTL.

 

Lady Nina wrote:

Did the form state that you had to fill it in with a black pen?

If so, it all your own fault for provoking him.

Still, complain away. You might get a book of stamps as compensation.

 

SteveH scribbled on the back of a napkin:

So you basically don't understand why LN finds the comment upsetting,
right? And just because you don't, it's OK?

Trouble is, they have done something wrong - their "lighthearted"
comment to a complete stranger *is* offensive to said stranger and
completely inappropriate in a professional environment. It's completely
different if you make such a comment to someone you know well enough,
but it has no place in a customer interaction. *You* of all the people
should understand this.

 

WavyDavy scribbled on the back of a napkin:

You'd be surprised. In my current place comments like that would result
in you having your arse kicked into next week if you said that to a
colleague.

If you made a comment like that to a customer, you've probably just
handed yourself your P45 onna stick.

 

<snip>

What were you doing there anyway? Surely you should have been getting
Matt's dinner ready?