The Customer is Always Right - Why Don't You Understand This?

Oh, oh, controversy - a charming way to start a Tuesday morning, dont'cha think?

I'm turning into Dylan Moran. This disheartens me - I'd always thought of myself as a glass-half-full kinda gal - but, I argue, it is inevitable. Why, dear reader? Because I am forced, by the constraints of modernity, to shop regularly at a supermarket.

I don't know what it is about large supermarkets (which, out of the goodness of my heart, I will not name /coughs/ Coles! /coughs/ ) that brings out the blackness of my heart. Oh, hang on, yes I do - it's the dreadful lighting, the warcrime muzak, and charmingly unrelated-to-reality prices.

And the staff. Dear God, the staff.

Here's the thing - I have worked menial jobs. In fact, I still do. However, I always worked as hard as the job required. If that meant learning how to use antiquated diary software that no one had ever heard of, then so be it. An afternoon of my time off wrangling with a multi-line phone system? Had to be done. That's the deal in the real world (or the bit I inhabit of it, anyway) - you do your f*cking job. If you do not wish to do you job, then quit/call in sick/hide in the stockroom. Do not make me, as the person paying for the privilege, suffer.

That's really the thrust of my rant today, peeps - I'm sick and tired of being told that I can't behave in any way towards customer service personnel (i.e. ppl who deal with me, the customer, in a variety of roles) that doesn't involve giving them a piece of cake, a pat on the back, and medal. If you're f*cking up, and it's so obvious that I can see you f*cking up, I want to be allowed to say, 'I see you're having difficulties with that, and I really need it to be done properly, can we call your supervisor over?'

I do not in any way, shape, or form condone physical violence - let's face it, if you need to thump the checkout chick because she's done something that you perceive as a violation to your human rights, what does that really say about you, f*ckchop? - or name-calling. All I'm asking for is the right to be allowed to say, You are not doing this task in a way that satisfies me, I'd like someone else to take over, without inducing floods of tears, recriminations and bans from the tobacco counter.

Let's all work hard to do the jobs we're paid for - it's the only way we're ever gonna move on those Management positions.

p.s. I reserve the right to say to ppl, Please do the job you're being paid for.

p.p.s. Should they fail to do so after having been made aware of the above attitude on my part, I reserve the right to throw dead badgers at them till they acquiesce. Don't push me, sunshine.