I have often thought about sharing all of the stories I have had working in customer service for the last 10 years... However, since that would probably most likely get me fired somehow I've chosen to not go down that road! For every horrible thing someone has said to me, for watching grown adults cry because we were sold out of something the day before Christmas and for all the puke, poop, and pee and I have cleaned up over the years (gross I know) there are a few people that have made working with others fantastic!
Some customers become friends, they give hugs, bring you coffee or just stop in to say hello. You learn about their families, what they do for work, and obviously what kind of things they like to shop for :) Others you may only meet once but you will always remember helping them. That is the couple I helped last week....
I was ringing up an elderly couple and the husband said he forgot his coupons at home. I explained our coupon policy and told him if he brought them back in we can adjust things for him. He got very grumpy and short with me after that and in my head I was thinking....great, another unfriendly person I get to deal with today. He then told me that he was told he was allowed 20% off when he shopped at our store since his home and recently burned down.
They had lived in that house for over 50 years and had less than 2 minutes to get whatever they could and get out. The house was a total loss. Both he and his wife were watery-eyed. I told him I was sorry for their loss. His wife (who hadn't spoken a word the entire conversation) looked at me and said.."You have no idea how hard it is to see over 50 years of memories being shoveled into a dumpster just like its garbage, that garbage was my life." They chose not to rebuild the home because it was too emotional. They now are starting over and living in an apartment. At the end of the conversation I told them I was glad they made it out safe. She replied "I wish we could have just gone with our home and memories."
I understand that stuff is just "stuff" but I couldn't imagine having to start over in my mid 80's. It's really made think about what things I do have that are important to me and what would I do if that were me... What would you take if you only had a few minutes?
Aside from my family and pets.... There are few things I own that are very important to me... My baby book...my mom wrote to me when I was a baby and I have all the letters in there. I have yet to read all of them. The opal ring my grandfather gave to my mom when she was 10 after he got home from a tour (Vietnam I believe.) All the old family pictures I have from both sides of the family. Aaron's and mine. I know there are many more..I am so thankful to still have all of them. Memories or actual mementos..they all hold a special place in my heart.
5 minutes with a customer...sometimes it can make me annoyed or angry other times it can make me laugh, and in this case it made me cry.
Some customers become friends, they give hugs, bring you coffee or just stop in to say hello. You learn about their families, what they do for work, and obviously what kind of things they like to shop for :) Others you may only meet once but you will always remember helping them. That is the couple I helped last week....
I was ringing up an elderly couple and the husband said he forgot his coupons at home. I explained our coupon policy and told him if he brought them back in we can adjust things for him. He got very grumpy and short with me after that and in my head I was thinking....great, another unfriendly person I get to deal with today. He then told me that he was told he was allowed 20% off when he shopped at our store since his home and recently burned down.
They had lived in that house for over 50 years and had less than 2 minutes to get whatever they could and get out. The house was a total loss. Both he and his wife were watery-eyed. I told him I was sorry for their loss. His wife (who hadn't spoken a word the entire conversation) looked at me and said.."You have no idea how hard it is to see over 50 years of memories being shoveled into a dumpster just like its garbage, that garbage was my life." They chose not to rebuild the home because it was too emotional. They now are starting over and living in an apartment. At the end of the conversation I told them I was glad they made it out safe. She replied "I wish we could have just gone with our home and memories."
I understand that stuff is just "stuff" but I couldn't imagine having to start over in my mid 80's. It's really made think about what things I do have that are important to me and what would I do if that were me... What would you take if you only had a few minutes?
Aside from my family and pets.... There are few things I own that are very important to me... My baby book...my mom wrote to me when I was a baby and I have all the letters in there. I have yet to read all of them. The opal ring my grandfather gave to my mom when she was 10 after he got home from a tour (Vietnam I believe.) All the old family pictures I have from both sides of the family. Aaron's and mine. I know there are many more..I am so thankful to still have all of them. Memories or actual mementos..they all hold a special place in my heart.
5 minutes with a customer...sometimes it can make me annoyed or angry other times it can make me laugh, and in this case it made me cry.
