Older Rant … New to the Blog

I wrote this quite some time ago in response to the ’straw that broke the camel’s back’ in running our business.  Of course, we are still here and still putting up with a lot of crap, but most days aren’t so bad.  Must excuse angry language!!

We are human beings. Yes, we are your AGENTS, but we are still human beings. We are also business owners, sick and tired. After only 5 years of being newsagents, dealing with suppliers who think we should be machines (or should be earning enough – HA – to afford machines to do our work) I, personally, am THIS close to going POSTAL!!

This particular flip-out comes after months of begging, being nice, getting angry and ultimately being ignored. And YES you have ignored us!! The delivery driver who drops the CM Inserts off on Fridays is a fucking jerk!! Never mind that he can’t remember to put the bundles of papers up against the wall in front of our shop (since he is not willing to bring them inside). Never mind that he, nevertheless, manages to deliver the bundles to the agent across the road, not just into the same place every week, but INSIDE their wrapping area!! Never mind that he doesn’t even show us the courtesy of bringing the delivery dockets into the shop so that we might verify that we have received the correct delivery. Never fucking mind that we have asked him, begged him and told him that we would like the bundles stacked against the front wall of the shop AND would he also please let us know when the delivery has been made. NOOOOOOOOO!! This guy has got issues with us —- personal issues —– that are irrelevant to his JOB, yet they seem to affect his JOB. It would serve you well to ensure your employees and contractors – who represent YOU – behave as if we were human and as if they were representatives, not fucking GOD.

I’ve personally had enough. Actually, I’ve had enough for quite some time now, only since we foolishly borrowed to get into a business that boasted 1% failure rate, and the terms on those loans extend over the term of a quarter of my life, and we overestimated my ability to manage a store AND complete the bookwork, it would appear that we had best make do with what we have. BTW now I know why it boasts a 1% failure rate!! Without being a franchise, with franchising laws to guide and to protect, our business is ‘guided’ (read: dictated to) by our main suppliers.

And what, exactly do we have?? A big fucking debt, a little spending money, Somewhere to be every day. A roof over our heads. Some pretty good customers. Some real bastard customers. Poor, very very very poor suppliers. AND not enough fucking good drugs to deal with it all.

Of course, there’s good and bad in every business. And of course, yes, we should just suck it up and take it. But you know what?? NOPE ‘m not taking it laying down. I want you to acknowledge that we are human. I want to be treated as a human with basic respect and courtesy. And you know what, we damned well deserve more respect for what we do as your agents. And let’s not even go into the financial investment that should be expected, because none of our other major suppliers give a flying fuck either. I’m just going to start with you. Say it with me, “You are human too and deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy as any other human being does.” If you can’t bring yourself to say that (and mean it AND really believe it), then you, sir, are no human yourself. And you most certainly should not expect pleasantries from this particular human being.

 

Mind Your Manners

Wanna know why some of my customers bug me?  Well I’m going to tell you anyway.

Lack of manners.

Actually, that’s just one of my gripes, but it’s my biggest issue with dealing with the public.  (Before I go on this rant, I apologise to my customers who DO understand common courtesy and aren’t afraid to use it.)

What ever happened to responding when someone speaks to you?  If I say ‘hello’, ‘how are you’, ‘good morning’ or ‘is there something I can help you with?’, I expect a response.  Do you think I’m a crazy having a nice little convo with myself?  (Actually, you are right about the crazy part, but I DO try to behave myself as much as I can when I’m working.)

In our society, it is polite for me to acknowledge your presence in my place of business.  I understand you want to feel comfortable in your role as customer, so I greet you when you enter.  Keep in mind, this is an amazing feat for me, considering, a) I am generally unsociable, and b) I hate mornings.  Yeah, you have your issues and I have mine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t open your mouth and return my greeting.  And, just to be clear, a *grunt* is NOT an acceptable response!

If you find yourself unable to reply verbally (like, say, if you have your mouth full or something), don’t be afraid to wave or at least look at me to let me know you acknowledge my acknowledgement of you.  Grunting is for animals.  Manners are for people.  Actually, if you grunt at me or in my general direction, you can rest assured that I will consider you an animal!

Never, never, never forget that the people providing goods and/or services to you are NOT beneath you.  You may consider their role in society is lower on the ladder than yours or their perceived financial status makes them seem less of a person, but YOU would be WRONG.  Now, this sounds a little like I’m having a dig at wealthy people, but I’m actually directing this at elitists and snobs in general.  (I KNOW your mama taught you better.)  It’s the people who say (or think) “don’t you know who I am??”, expecting their dismissive attitude to get them better service.  Uh, hello!!  Niceness begets niceness.  What is that saying about attracting flies with honey?

A person is a human being is a person, and deserves no less respect for the work they do than you would expect for whatever it is you do.  Plus, that person you look down your nose at (or grunt at) could be the brainiac that cures cancer one day, or they could be the mass murderer that loses the plot on your sorry ass.

Bugger, I’m all distracted with the happy mental picture of that now.  Where was I?

Oh yeah, mind your manners! 

Should you forget yours next time you are in my place of business, I will be sure to remind you.  Most likely in some passive-agressive way that will let you know I’m bothered, without gaining your ire.  Cos I don’t like confrontation.

BUT if I do have to remind you (probably by saying please for you or greeting you with stony silence):

• Do not wait for an agreeable smile to light up my face – I am pissed and I want you to know it
• Expect my eyes to expressively convey the same contempt you have shown me
• Accept that you are no longer welcome and you SHOULD feel uncomfortable
• Consider that both our days would have been much better for a more pleasant interaction

Smile and acknowledge.