Is it normal customers acting weird at work

28% Normal

I'm like one of the few dudes there that actually smiles and it's made customers try to friend me on Facebook, flirt with me, ask me out, or just follow me around. My coworkers are jealous and I should probably like the customers attention, but I don't. It's gotten annoying. If I could I wouldn't smile there, but it's supposed to be part of the job. I actually don't like being giggly and talking to people. Is the customers behavior normal?

Voting Results

28% Normal

Based on 18 votes (5 yes)

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Comments ( 33 )

SmokeEverything

6 years ago

Most people nowadays have no idea how to communicate with others in real world situations. I know the problem you're talking about, I have a lot of disabled people that come in to my job and so I try to be friendly and a lot of them get the wrong idea and start stalking me

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- _Mehhhh_
  
  6 years ago
  
  I agree
  
  I think it's also because it's so rare these days to see people who can just naturally start a friendly conversation with someone they've just met (unless it's about "ooh the weather..." *yawn*). When you see someone actually smiling and speaking eloquently (gasp) a lot of people just don't know how to react.
  
  I'm more used to seeing people working in shops who are smacking their jaws up and down on some gum, grunting at the customers and with a facial expression like they just got told they're being evicted from their flat. We don't have any standards.
  
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  - SmokeEverything
    
    6 years ago
    
    Even just waiting in a train station people react weird if you try to talk to them and be friendly. I talk to every stranger I meet and sometimes theyre cool people, sometimes they get defensive cause you must want to bang them if you're saying hi. Having conversations in real life and being friendly in person is a dying art.
    
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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  Thank you. So that's the reason a few of my stalkers have tried to use weapons on me and threaten to kill me, themselves, or my loved ones? Now I really need to go work someplace else.
  
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  - SmokeEverything
    
    6 years ago
    
    That sounds like a fucked place to work. Jobs are really for people with nothing better to do, you should aspire to more than that in life anyway.
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      6 years ago
      
      More than a job? I kind of need a job to pay for my house, clothes, and food. The only people I know that arent working are living off of government assistance. Nothing wrong with that, but it's just not for me.
      
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      - SmokeEverything
        
        6 years ago
        
        There are many skills and living situations you can adapt to to be able to buck the system and not live off the government. Just takes creativity, unless you just like being told what to do.
        
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RoseIsabella

6 years ago

Maybe they think think you're attractive?

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  They do and it's annoying. They also seem to get the wrong idea about me. I treat everyone there exactly the same but they think me talking to them is special attention or that I like them. I've been stalked before by women who have threatened to kill me, themselves, or the people I love when I told them to stop. I'm starting to think that people are nuts. Even though I like being a reliable employee to the company and the pay is almost good, I want to find a new job. I feel like I'm done with people.
  
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  - nikkiclaire
    
    6 years ago
    
    I completely understand where u are coming from. My second job is a waistress and everyone, everyone thinks you being nice to them is extra special attention. They think you are friends with them all of a sudden, or think that you like them and will hit on you openly.
    
    I feel ya. Every customer service job is like this. I used to be a barista, that was the worst. Almost every guy who frequented thought i was into them.
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      6 years ago
      
      Their openly flirty behavior actually creeps out my other customers. They tell me something along the lines of "wow theyre awkward".
      
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      - nikkiclaire
        
        6 years ago
        
        I made the mistake of going out one time omg it was a disaster.
        
        You sound really cool. I hope you find something to do that fulfills you. What do you like?
        
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afroschlan

6 years ago

That sucks. Be careful about this escalating. You don't want this to turn into something cynical. Can you file a complaint?

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  Thank you. I usually don't because I don't want to get fired. My manager told me she's going to schedule me the most hours because people ask for me, plus I actually show up to work. Everyone else hates it there and they only show up for a week or a few months and then leave without a trace. Money is money and I kind like being reliable though I'm probably going to go work something else(hopefully somewhere secluded). I've had more than one socially awkward woman stalking me, and threatening to kill me or my family. I treat everyone the same, but everyone gets the wrong idea and I'm tired of it.
  
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Holzman_67

6 years ago

We used to call them "pets" people that take the politeness of someone doing customer service as friendship; and start frequenting the business for company instead of trade.
When i worked at a video store this was chronic. Lonely people just hanging out in the store. It's a sad indictment of the general public that they do not have closeness in their lives.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  Whats stopping them from having that closeness? I kind of feel bad for these people now.
  
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  - Holzman_67
    
    6 years ago
    
    who knows mate. but tends to be synonymous with mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, borderline personality disorder, co-dependency, the breakdown of the family or marriage and anger management issues.
    
    This is an interesting video on the subject of loneliness
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTHrBVBSb9o
    
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fylfotfire

6 years ago

People, including adults of all ages, can be very immature and stupid. I never interpret professional courtesy or social courtesy from women as anything other than what it actually is. People are very stupid to mistake anything that isn't outright ignoring or open hostility as flirtatious attention.

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Justmehere

6 years ago

You don't need to be smiley happy all the time, but, don't be a cranky asshole, either. One bartender at the sports bar I go to is so crabby-ass that guys count how many words she'll say to them and always say..If we could get rid of one bartender, it's her. She's the only one that regular customers don't like, at all. The others are happy, hot, and talkative. Not her. Even I've had occasions where I'll walk in, see her, then consider going somewhere else.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  Thank you. Also, Why are they keeping someone around if they know nothing about customer service? Someone like that would be fired at my job.
  
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  - Justmehere
    
    6 years ago
    
    Most regulars think the same way. Other employees, too. They've lost some good people b/c of keeping her. I've heard she does things for and sucks up to the owner, and they'll never get rid of her. Last month, a very cute, great-smiled woman, who'd worked there before, left, and bartended somewhere else for 2 years, then came back, left again. People, including myself, told the owner (who likes me, so I can give input to her) hey, when is "Danielle" going to bartend.
    
    Owner kept saying "She doesn't smile enough", prompting regulars to say..But what about HER? She never smiles! Yet, they keep the crabby one on, while other, more deserving employees who do know customer service, walk away.
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      6 years ago
      
      That's not a very good for business. I'm sorry you're stuck with her.
      
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      - Justmehere
        
        6 years ago
        
        She's there every Friday night, so we're stuck at least that night. I usually don't go in on weekends, but if I do, she's there. Now that the patio is open, and one of their smoking hot, former bartenders is back, we can go out there instead and avoid crabby-ass.
        
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  - nikkiclaire
    
    6 years ago
    
    She has probably been there since dirt was invented. My guess is she was once young and pretended to be bubbly and smile like u. Then she realized everyone is insane and got pissed and started to hate people. Like you are starting to. She's probably now and old crow or something and they keep her because she has always been there.
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      6 years ago
      
      I really don't want to be like her.
      
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  - nikkiclaire
    
    6 years ago
    
    One customer I had threatened my boyfriend at the time. He told him we are a couple and to stay away or he would stab him to death. Then showed him the knife. My boyfriend, who had been approached in his truck, reminded that guy what was in the window rack behind him. The guy must have gotten the message cause neithor of us ever saw him again.
    
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    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      6 years ago
      
      Shit. I know how that feels.
      
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New-Zealand-Guy

6 years ago

The thing is customers that try to friend you on Facebook, flirt and ask out service people put service people in an awkward situation. The service person does not want to come across as rude but they also can't accept any of this or they get into trouble with their boss. It is considered unacceptable and not professional.

There is of course the other people that simply mistake a smile for flirting. I am guessing you work in a shop where you are meant to have a smile on your face when greeting customers. Some people are not good at telling the difference between a friendly person giving a smile and flirting.

Then there is the women that are flirting and asking you out probably because they find you attractive. Some people say women never do this kind of thing but I have found if you are a guy that gets it right with women a lot of women can be very forward. I have had women behave this way to me as well.

I don't think you should loose your smile. Just carry on with your work and try not to worry about those people. The thing is this seems to be part of the job when you work in retial.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  Yeah that's true. I don't want to come off as unprofessional. And yeah I work at that type of store. My issue is that I get a lot of crazies. Some have followed me around, found out my address, and went as far as threatening to kill me, themselves, or my loved ones. I can;t afford to not worry about them.
  
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TheMightyOz

6 years ago

Wow man, just WOW. It sounds like a high quality problem, but maybe not. I tell women that I have a rubber tube up my cock (actually it's a catheter), and I never see them again.

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- Anonymous Post Author
  
  6 years ago
  
  Dude! Can you like stop with the same postings? We all get it, you think you're awful. Lighten up and live a little!
  
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  - Bipolarjetlag
    
    6 years ago
    
    Why so harsh,Be fair the poor fellow is intitled to his opion.
    
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  - TheMightyOz
    
    6 years ago
    
    Just putting problems in context. Yours is high quality, mine is low quality.
    
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Is it normal customers acting weird at work