By Hurtful daddy
Today is Father’s Day. After having a wonderful breakfast with my wife and kids ( 4 & 7 yrs old), we went to RCS Store, Highland & Fisberhallman, Kitchener to exchange a clothing item for my wife. When we are at the Joe Fresh cashier’s desk almost at the same time two more customers (most likely rep’s acquaintance ) came there with 20+ just grocery items. Cashier was ringing those items and was chatting like people do at home. We were three customers waiting in line with just clothing items. Since she was talking and ringing her friend’s grocery items, so I requested her if she can call for help and she called for help. The lady who came told me that she can’t ring for return/exchange as other girl was using for ringing grocery items. Before I say anything to her, she called for the next customer. I have not moved from in front of her when she called next person. Lady behind me also felt that new rep just ignored me and requested if they can switch the register. I, then aske
d the lady why is she calling other customer when I am not done. The customers who were getting their groceries (rep’s friends) started saying like…I also work in the retail and I know there are some bitchy customers like you ( pointing me). I felt more upset and humiliated in front of my family, so I just said…excuse me you are crossing your limit…besides, I am not talking to you ( customer - rep’s friend). My 7 years old son felt so bad seeing this that he hide behind clothing rack and started crying.
I thought I should report to this store manager and requested if she can call her manager/supervisor. The supervisor of Joe Fresh came to me and asked what my company is. While I was talking to her , store manager also came and I explained the whole situation. Store manager and Joe Fresh supervisor both agreed that represent should not be doing what she did with me. Store manager also told me that she will make sure Joe Fresh rep doesn’t ring grocery items while keeping their primary customers (clothing customers) waiting in the line.
I am not sure what she will do as I’ll not go back to RCS in future. I have PC’s many services (mastercard, Banking, & mortgage) for last 7/8 years; not only that, I’m their one of those valuable customers specially with their banking division according to the PC Financial.
I felt like I was treated like that because I’m an immigrant and those reps and their friend’s are not. So, I am not expecting to many changes on RCS side but I will first cancel my mastercard and the other services slowly. I just needed to express my feelings so that others don’t have to…
Sorry for writing such a long story.
Thanks,
Hurtful Daddy
Happy Father’s Day
June 17,2012
Ihiccup says...
I am sorry that you had such a bad experience.
I find that irritating also when being ignored while trying to get service.
I feel that many young workers (not sure if they were but it sounds like it) aren’t trained very well in how to provide customer service. I am in my mid thirties now but I used to work in customer service as a teenager and in my twenties. I always tried to be friendly, polite and be a good representative of the company that I worked for. I am not saying I was perfect, but I tried to do my best.
Cheers,
Joe says...
It sounds like there was a customer ahead of you in line.
Whether she was a friend of the cashier or not - she is still a customer, and was ahead of you. It is rude of you to want the cashier to stop serving a customer because you don’t feel like waiting, or because you feel your exchange is more important than the customers’ purchase.
Many stores will allow only certain employees/registers to process exchanges or refunds, which is what the second cashier tried to explain to you. There was no reason for the second cashier to make all the other customers in line wait until your exchange is processed, so she was correct in serving the other customers.
I’m not hearing any intolerance towards immigrants…though I did notice, all the people involved were female….maybe you have a problem with women who won’t do what you tell them to do when you tell them to do it?
Sue says...
@ Joe. A quick re-read and it appears the sales clerk asked the customer behind Daddy to move forward. Lots of balls dropped in this visit. Daddy has my sympathy. The London Oakridge Superstore is, super expensive, super poorly laid out (toiletries on the far side of the store, past clothing?!), hires super unhappy and unhelpful staff, and generally does nothing to live up to the positive side of the work ’super.’
Anon says...
I don’t understand what is wrong with serving the customer behind the other in line if you can’t help that one at the moment. The cashier could have helped the other customer and finished with them while waiting for the other till to help the first customer. Is the cashier just supposed to stand there and twiddle their thumbs?
Kary says...
I think what people don’t understand is that Joe is the clothing department in Superstore and they’re supposed to ring clothing items ONLY. So seeing that OP had to wait in line for the cashier to ring up a cart of groceries that they were not supposed to do was very frustrating. I would be frustrated too!