Being the "annoying customer"

[redking]

Does anyone really love or really hate being the "annoying customer"?
Having worked in the golf pro shop business in the past, I have been on the other side of the annoying customer experience (the guy who is very particular or quirky and wants things a certain way). Of course you cringe when you see that person coming into your shop because you know what kind of conversation you are about to have with them. As a result of being on the service side of the annoying customer, I really hate being that guy myself, but sometimes you have to be him to get what you want. My wife, fortunately has no problem being the annoying customer, so I have used that to my advantage - but I can't use her as I'm trying to buy a new Les Paul, for example.

 

[fry]

I don’t like that guy, and I don’t like being that guy. I spent a lot of time in restaurant and retail when I was younger, and there are some real assholes out there. My wife worked with a guy whose girlfriend was that person, she was Karen before it was a thing. Everything was a problem, everywhere, every time.

 

[DotStudio]

If you're respectful, asking legitimate questions, and are serious about a purchase, you're not really being "that guy." If you're rapid-firing inane questions like a toddler and being confrontational, that's a different story.

 

[PeteK]

I go way out of my way to not be that guy. Probably to my own detriment. Like I've purchased things that weren't right, or broken or had some issue and I just think "Well, I guess I'll just have to live with it". I don't think I've ever returned anything in my life. My wife will buy things she knows she doesn't like just to see if they "grow" on her, then when they don't and it's too late to return it, she just goes into Karen mode with some poor store clerk until they cave and make an exception and accept her return. I can't even fathom doing that.

 

[scrumm21]

after decades dealing with car owners in Collision repair biz.. ( Retired Recently) ..... I try to be the exact opposite whenever possible...

my approach was - be reasonable with me I will go out of my way to help you
Unreasonable types - I would just priced myself out of the job - plenty more to take their place - lotta bad drivers out there

Politeness and patience go a long way

There ARE exceptions....just can't think of any at the moment...

 

[PeteK]

after decades dealing with car owners in Collision repair biz.. ( Retired Recently) ..... I try to be the exact opposite whenever possible...

my approach was - be reasonable with me I will go out of my way to help you
Unreasonable types - I would just priced myself out of the job - plenty more to take their place - lotta bad drivers out there

Politeness and patience go a long way

There ARE exceptions....just can't think of any at the moment...

The only time I got super unreasonable was with a car dealer who was flat out lying to me about the repair they were supposed to have done on my truck. It took about 9 phone calls from them to me to confirm what I wanted them to fix, and then they didn't even do it, and lied about it. I turned into a male Karen. Demanded to speak to the manager, and then when I discovered he was as much a fucking idiot as the rest of them, I demanded to speak to his manager. I might have demanded to speak to the descendent of Henry Ford himself in the midst of my tirade! It was such a ridiculous debacle I still make it my life's mission to tell everyone in town to never do business with those fucking idiots.

 

[Crotch]

I've spent the last 16 years in insurance. 90% of the people I talk to are that guy. Lawyers, Insurance salesman, and car salesman are the most hated, least respected professions their are. I'm used to it. But at he same time I never think I need to pay that back. I'm usually overly nice, so much so, as PeteK said, to my own detriment I'm sure. The people who get my ultimate respect are food service workers.

 

[redking]

I go way out of my way to not be that guy. Probably to my own detriment. Like I've purchased things that weren't right, or broken or had some issue and I just think "Well, I guess I'll just have to live with it". I don't think I've ever returned anything in my life. My wife will buy things she knows she doesn't like just to see if they "grow" on her, then when they don't and it's too late to return it, she just goes into Karen mode with some poor store clerk until they cave and make an exception and accept her return. I can't even fathom doing that.

I'm similar to you - although my one strategy through the years is to seek out places where you can serve yourself and pick out exactly what you want without having to deal with the store clerk or whatever.

 

[Ed B]

I'm pretty reasonable. If I became that guy. Something unreasonable happened on the other end.

 

[Pop1655]

If you're respectful, asking legitimate questions, and are serious about a purchase, you're not really being "that guy." If you're rapid-firing inane questions like a toddler and being confrontational, that's a different story.

Agree. I’d rather think of myself as particular. Being that way also makes me extremely loyal and hopefully appreciative. Goes both ways. I struggle with annoying customers. I appreciate my particular, but loyal customers who appreciate what we do for them.

 

[mdubya]

If I am unhappy with service, I try to be as polite and matter of fact about letting them know as I can be.

I have been the sales guy who tried to patiently and rationally let the customer know I would do everything within reason to help or accommodate them. That also helped me let them know when what they wanted was more than I could deliver.

I have an ex who used to get furious at being ignored or feeling she wasn't being considered to be a serious customer.

One of her favorite lines: "Who's dick do I have to suck to get some help around here?"

At least if that didn't work, we got a huge laugh out of it.

Yeah, she was a real treasure.

 

[scrumm21]

The only time I got super unreasonable was with a car dealer .......

........Enuf' said.........



( i gathered this was a dealership service dept )

 

[SteveC]

You may find this hard to believe, but I am a lot like Pete.... to a point. I really hate to be "that guy" but, I will not hesitate, if the other party is being "that guy". I generally give folks the benefit of the doubt: customer service, restaurant, contractors, grocery workers... everyone. I walked in many of their shoes, and I get it.

Although (you knew it was coming, right), I refuse to get fucked over. And, if I feel like I am getting fucked over, I will speak up. And, if that doesn't help, well then I will become a full-blown asshole dick! Right up to going all-Karen on them.

But, in 100% of the cases, I begin by being as nice as possible. Momma taught me that you catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar.

 

[sonar1]

In High School work/study I was “the help” at a hotel, and later at a market. Pumped my share of gas as an attendant, washed cars, etc. Dealt with The Public.

I never treat the help shitty, therefore.
“Do unto others...” and all that.
I also usually “tip” large, unless someone needs a Capitalism lesson...(takes it for granted, or shows entitlement tendencies).

 

[Sct13]

No Tomato please....

Means no fking Tomato !!

I don't "like being that guy" but I hate tomatoes....for the sake of being polite ....I need to give up having a meal the way I want it? ..

What about people that don't want pickles? Or Onions? Or Mayo even....

Jeeeze I said LIGHT ice .....don't fill my LARGE SUPER- Oversized Diet Coke FULL of ice... you dim wit ...

I ordered EXTRA Large so I could get MORE to wash down my fat burger with......

NOT a Half of a large cup because YOU filled it to the top with ICE!!! Yep I'm stupid for LETTING you pull that shit.....

I know you were trained that way ....but I'm being THAT guy who doesn't want Tomato and demands Light ice....

how about going EASY on that salt .....my ankles will swell up again....

Can you actually DRAIN the fries this time too....Last time I thought I had a side of Chapstick on those fries.....

...........................................................................................................................................

As my mom aged all of her filters just dropped off and taking her to restaurants became a real problem .....

She would get her plate and look over at yours and say stuff like.....HE got more than I did. Glaring at the waitress ...you bitch.....give me extra ......or I'll slap the crap out of you if you don't hurry up with my dinner ....I'm a Diabetic!

It was interesting ....usually the waitress could see what we were dealing with and obliged ....we would tip her extra.

But mom was a good lesson on what NOT to say.....hilarious sometimes.... and some of these wait staff were angles.....

One dick tried to throw us out....

 

[sonar1]

...As my mom aged all of her filters just dropped off and taking her to restaurants became a real problem .....

She would get her plate and look over at yours and say stuff like.....HE got more than I did. Glaring at the waitress ...you bitch.....give me extra ......or I'll slap the crap out of you if you don't hurry up with my dinner ....I'm a Diabetic!

It was interesting ....usually the waitress could see what we were dealing with and obliged ....we would tip her extra.

But mom was a good lesson on what NOT to say.....hilarious sometimes.... and some of these wait staff were angles.....

One dick tried to throw us out....

Oh yeah, our mom was a ball-cutter to the help.

 

[rcole_sooner]

When I was younger I could at times be that person. Ya know ... right has to be right.

But now days ... I let the others pass. It ain't worth my time to try and enlighten them.

 

[mdubya]

...and some of these wait staff were angles...

Acute, obtuse, and right. To varying degrees. Sorry to go off on a tangent.

Sorry to be THAT guy.

 

[PeteK]

In high school, I worked at Taco Bell. I learned quickly to NEVER under any circumstances complain about your food in a place where the food is made by teenagers. It doesn't matter if you ordered no onions and they put onions in it. They give zero fucks and will gladly spit in your burrito. Hell, they may have spit in it randomly anyway. Don't tempt them to do worse. And I witnessed worse.

 

[fry]

One thing is for sure, never be that guy when it comes to people who are handling your food.