January 29 2007: No Condescension Please
Filed under Uni/Work
Please, do me a favour. Just because I work in retail, doesn’t mean that I don’t have a brain. Treat me like a normal human being. Better yet, treat me as a superior being because I have no doubt that I’m better than you.
Today, a woman came in that I recognised from serving…ooh, about eight months ago. She had been shopping for her daughter-in-law who was pregnant, and I’d helped her pick out a few items.
“Do you sell breastfeeding tops?” she enquires.
“Why yes we do,” I answer. “They’re just on the rack on your left. By the way, how did your daughter-in-law, M. Kelly right, like the pants and top that you bought for her last year?”
“My, aren’t you a smart cookie!” she coos. “I can’t believe you remember that far back!”
Yes. Well, it’s not exactly hard is it? It was only eight months ago and someone with your sneering condescension is quite memorable.
Well, I imagine that you serve a lot of women at maternity-wear stores — being surprised that you remembered one particular customer from so many months gone out of a sea of the same doesn’t seem particularly insulting to me, unless she was being a right bitch about it and/or your store makes it a point to connect with the customers or something.
Jordie on January 29 2007 #
First things first;
You’ve never been so wrong, because no one is as good as I am ;)
Than on a serious note (or to continue on a serious note!) it’s not so hard to remember things like that, it should be natural. One time a coworker was surprised I remembered that she had something important coming up, so after the important happening I asked her how it was and she was somewhat surprised I remembered it.
I just assume it means our memory is still working as it should and it hasn’t abandoned us yet…. what’s your name again?
Chans on January 29 2007 #
I’d guess she was just being nice. Plus, 8 months is a long time to be serving lots of customers and remember even the name of the person the clothes were bought for.
Plus, I think you made a really positive impression on her. Most shop assistants (in my experience!) rarely even speak to you, let alone want to remember things like that. Maybe she was referring more to that than your intellectual capacity.
Either way, I wouldn’t be offended.
Mazzie on January 29 2007 #
Most shoppers think nobody pays any attention to them and their shopping history. I’m sure she was just pleasantly surprised, especially since you probably get a lot of customers like Jordie said, and didn’t know what to say. Although that “smart cookie” remark was a bit much. I almost expected you to say that she pinched your cheeks and patted you on the head. LOL! Now THAT would have been way over the top!
Kat on January 29 2007 #
If a shop assistant remembered me from that far back I’d be really chuffed - it means someone took notice and didn’t just serve you on autopilot.
So she was probably just being sincere - and being a weirdo by saying “smart cookie”.
Oh, sorry, you don’t know who I am - I’m Doran, I’ve never posted here before. Hi!
Doran on January 30 2007 #
Maybe it was the tone of her voice, but that doesn’t really sound condescending to me. I’d probably be surprised that someone remembered my sales history from that long ago. I’d be impressed by that kind of memory whether you worked in retail or as a lawyer.
My grandparents say stuff like “smart cookie” all the time — older people just use weird slang.
Brittney on January 30 2007 #
I would definitely remember her had she annoyed me. However, normally I cannot remember things as far back as eight months unless it really interested me. Sometimes not even then.
Amber on January 30 2007 #
I don’t think she was trying to be mean or even condescending. I believe she was genuinely surprised you remembered. Plus I think she was also pleased that you actually ‘cared’ to ask about her daughter in law.
Vera on January 30 2007 #
I think she was just surprised that you cared enough to ask. Sure, it would annoy me but I don’t think she was coming across that way on purpose :/
Manda on January 30 2007 #
I didn’t think she was condescending… or at least it didn’t read that way. I could be missing an inflection in the voice, or hand/face gestures, so who knows.
But, really, I probably would have forgotten. I can remember that someone owes me $10 from when I was about 8 (still, I’m letting the pile up that interest), but many things, if they don’t matter, I’ll just forget about.
Corinne on January 30 2007 #
At least she called you a smart cookie! It might have been better if she’d actually given you a cookie, but you can’t have everything… :D
Kycoo on January 30 2007 #
I definitely would not have remembered all of that. Maybe that she had been to the store before, but nothing about her daughter or what she bought. You have a fabulous memory, my dear.
Hannah on January 31 2007 #