I recently had a few items that I needed to pick up at a globablly well known retail store. I'd waited to purchase those few items in particular at this store because their selection had always been so wonderful.
The first couple of items on the list were easily found and then we began in earnest to search for photo albums. This store had always had a good selection of not only photo albums, but also scrapbooking supplies. We couldn't find either section.
We then began looking for the photo section where I'd gotten pictures made many many times. But we couldn't find that section any longer either.
When I saw an employee, I asked about the photo albums. His reply was, "I have no idea. Probably you should check around the electronics section. They will probably know."
At that time, we were very close to the electronics section, so I walked over to the counter and asked the person who wasn't doing anything about the photo albums and he said, "We no longer carry photo albums." I was stunned! Before I could say anything, another employee in the electronics section who was waiting on someone else said in a rather gruff voice, "Not in this store! If you want photo albums, Lady, then you need to go to either Michaels or Hobby Lobby."
I was a bit taken aback by the tone of the second electronics guy's tone and both of their attitudes.
Our thermometer's battery recently died and after realizing that the photo section had been removed from the store completely, we began our search for the batteries. We were closer to the area where the jewelry department was located than we were at the front of the store where the regular display of batteries were, so we decided to just check out the jewelry department first. Only problem was, we couldn't find the jewelry department either...not the jewelry counter with actual people behind it. Now in it's place was a few displays of cheaper quality necklaces, earrings and watches.
About that time, a middle-aged lady employee came walking by and I asked her about the jewelry department and she told me that it had been removed from the store because it wasn't making them enough money, and it was the same reason that the photo section with the cameras, etc. no longer exists in that store.
She asked if there was something we were needing and I told her we were just looking for batteries for our thermometer and had been able to find them in the jewelry section before but we would just wait until we got to the front of the store and see if they had them there.
In her kindness she said, "Well, let's look over here, because they did have some of those types of batteries here on this one end display." She walked over with us and looked for them to no avail. She said, "Well, I guess they have moved them again. That happens everytime they reset the store." She also told us that they were preparing to "reset" that particular store again shortly.
I realize that people are in business to make money, but I also realize that this particular company is not hurting for money. What this experience has done for me is that it will cause me to now shop at a smaller store that really cares that the people in their area have the items they need.
The lesson in kindness? Our attitudes come through in our words...and in the tone of voice we use those words in. The first three employees, although they gave me correct information...the store no longer carried the item I was looking for...it came across as my being a bother to their day. The fourth employee, in her kind and gentle way in how she handled my questions, made me feel as though that just maybe the customer did have some worth.
May it be a lesson that I keep close to my heart so that I come across as caring and kind when someone needs help with something.
This is such a good reminder. Our attitudes really come through. When I'm helping someone on the phone at work, I remind myself that I don't know what's been going on in their life. I should also remind myself of that when an employee doesn't treat me kindly, as you experienced. As your meme says, maybe they need it most.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, my friend. We just never know what someone else is going through. I think for me, another thing this incident showed me was my self righteousness in the way I expected to be treated and never giving regard to what those employees circumstances were.
DeleteI think I know what store you are talking about and I regularly come across that attitude from their employees. How they make me feel is not how I want to make other people feel. Thank you for sharing your experience.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Monica. There are lessons to be learned everywhere we go.
DeleteIt's sad that the first kinds of reactions are far too frequent in retail sales and business today. My husband has had numerous customer service calls for issues where different people told us different things, but none resolved our issues. Finally finding the one customer service person who was knowledgeable but also who cared about the customer rather than just finishing this call was a major blessing.
ReplyDeleteBut I am also rebuked because too often I handle interruptions with an attitude of handling it efficiently not so I can bless another, but so I can get back to what I was doing. Someone, C. S. Lewis, I think, said interruptions *are* the ministry, not a hindrance to ministry. I have to remind myself of that frequently.
My dear friend, I TOTALLY get where you are coming from when it comes to being interrupted from what I am doing in order to help someone else. Thank you for that reminder of the quote by C.S. Lewis...Elisabeth Elliot had the same idea going as well. The interruptions *are* the ministry!
DeleteI know that I can too quick to speak. I do work on it. Not just what I say (or don't say) but how I say. This is a great reminder. Sorry you had a bad experience but thanks for sharing a lesson learned from it. Hope you have a wonderful first week of April!
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying, dear Jennifer. It's not always what we say, but it's how we say it that comes across as being harsh...even when we didn't mean to be harsh.
DeleteThat would be a good lesson of kindness learned. It is interesting to note things that are so hard to find anymore. Happy April to you. I'm finally getting a chance to catch up on blogs. What a all consuming week we've had!
ReplyDeleteI didn't actually expect to see you around so soon after the wonderful Easter week of activities you had going on last week, dear One. I totally relate to the need to rest after such a full week! I trust you will have a wonderful April!
DeleteMany times it is not what you say but HOW you say it.
ReplyDeleteA lot of store employees now just don't care about the customers.
We have noticed that it is hard to find things you want in stores now a days. We usually look, can't find it, and then order on line when we get home.
Oh Karen, I hear what you are saying about not being able to find things in the stores and then going home and ordering it online. That's happened to us a lot as well. It can be frustrating...especially when the employees in the stores don't have any idea what you are asking for. I have to question just how much training they are given these days.
Deletethe nastier someone gets the nicer I become even though it drives me nuts. I like to spread happiness wherever I can!!
ReplyDeleteI can easily see you doing that, dear Karen. You are such a good example before me in so many ways. xx
DeleteA few weeks ago I encountered a rude employee in the store I think you're referencing. It does take you aback a bit. I sometimes wonder what kind of a day they are having to make them that gruff. It's frustrating to not find things that used to always be there and now they're not. Someone also being rude isn't very pleasant either.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does take you aback a bit when you encounter someone who is rude. It was definitely a learning experience for me.
DeleteAlong with many other commodities, it seems that kindness is also a lost commodity (if not a lost art). I always say that you can find nice people wherever you go, and that is true, but then, I am nice to everyone and I am disappointed when I get curtness and discourtesy in return. I'm thankful that it doesn't happen all that often. But I searched that same store some years ago for photo albums (I needed a number of smaller ones) and ended up buying them online because it was just not worth it to search endlessly in brick and mortar stores. As for batteries, I go mainly to Dollar Tree now but their supply seems to be dwindling too. I didn't even register until you said it, that the jewelry counter has been removed from that store. But it has! It's gone the way of all fun shopping experiences that we will never have again, thanks in large part to the internet and in part also to lasting effects of the plandemic. xoxo
ReplyDeleteJenny, I totally relate to what you are saying about all of the fun shopping experiences being gone. All of the major nicer department stores are now gone in our area and it's frustrating because, while ordering online is convenient, it isn't the same. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI have had to order photo albums online the last time I wanted some because I couldn't find them at the store. I guess people just don't print photos like they used to. I am grateful when I find a worker who genuinely wants to help. They are valuable!
ReplyDeleteYes they are, Lisa. Unfortunately, they seem to be few and far between anymore. It definitely impresses on me to be genuine in my desire to help others when I can.
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