Target has more than 400,000 employees and almost 2,000 stores across America. It seems there’s no shortage of buyers behaving badly at some of these outlets. From shoppers demanding doors open early, to leaving dirt in the aisles, or causing food to go off, Target employees say they are going through the most. Enter r/Target: “A Place For Team Members To Do Stuff That Kind Of Matters”. More than 197,000 members have joined this online community since it started. We’ve gathered a list of some of the worst customer crimes they’ve come across, so that you can check yourself before you commit them. Scroll on to see how you might be making someone’s life a living hell. And don’t miss the interesting chat Bored Panda had with a consumer research specialist who broke down why customers are acting cocky, and what retail staff can do about it. Customer Care Measurement & Consulting (CCMC) and Arizona State University have been conducting studies on customer rage since 2003. Their most recent survey found that “Americans are experiencing more product and service problems than ever before” and are becoming “more belligerent when they complain”. John Goodman is the vice president of CCMC and a leading expert in customer care and consumer complaint behavior. He’s written books on the topic, directed over a thousand studies, and has been called to speak in more than twenty countries. He agreed to chat to Bored Panda to unpack what makes consumers tick and how retail staff can deal with some of the craziness they face. Goodman says one way to do this is to turn it into a game. “At one leading nameless computer company, I had reps who had an informal contest with abusive customers. They would identify the abuser and then hold up their hand to count off the number of expletives they had been called,” he revealed. “The question was – ‘could you get to seven?’ Once depersonalized, they were no longer damaged by the tenor and were often ultimately able to handle the person who would apologize for their behavior.” “Even after 20 years of intensively researching customer rage, I remain astonished that — when sorting out ordinary product and service problems — acts of simple kindness and a sense of kinship are, all too often, in short supply,” he said. “The incidence and public displays of customers and companies misbehaving are commonplace, on the increase, and can be downright scary.” “I always start off any complaint with, ‘I know this is not your fault, but hopefully you can help me get this resolved.’ I also ask, ‘how can I help you get action from your manager?’ Get the person on your team.” The other half either saw nothing wrong with those behaviors or said it “depends on the circumstances.” A quarter of respondents considered threats, humiliation, foul language, and lying as “civil or circumstantially acceptable”. A more recent business crime survey noted a daily average of 1,300 incidents of violence and abuse towards shop workers in 2022/2023. These included racial abuse, sexual abuse, threats of violence and aggression. Those found guilty of assaulting retail workers could face up to six months behind bars, as well as an unlimited fine. They could also be banned from returning to certain shops. “Breaching an order is also a criminal offense and carries a 5-year maximum prison sentence. For the most serious cases of assault, such as causing grievous bodily harm with intent, offenders could face a life sentence,” warned the government. As this Japanese newspaper reported: “Responses in the freely written section included a case where a customer said, ‘You’re just a woman’, derisively to a worker and returned with a wooden sword.” In another incident, a customer allegedly threatened the life of a waiter when spoken to about their dessert. So next time you feel your blood start to boil, and start losing your cool, take two deep breaths and let the blood flow back to your brain. Then spare a thought for the thousands of retail workers facing fury on a daily basis. Have you witnessed or borne the brunt of a rude customer? Let us know in comments. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
