I think the problem here is that people expectations are wrong, how much do you actually expect to get paid for working in a shop, if you don't get paid very much is that an excuse for doing a shoddy job and considering customers scum.
100% the right attitude, if this job is a bit carp then throw yourself at it, make it a laugh! I used to work in a Green Grocers when I left school and it was an absolute blast!
No, but the people in these jobs with fall into one of three broad categories:
1. Part-time workers and students. This is a mixed bag and how the treat you will depend on their character. As they work at the place less they may be more willing to help, or likewise may resent it in equal measure as they find you a nuisence to their time killing.
2. Full-time workers. These people
usually have little prospects and are stuck doing the same mind-numbing, soul destroying job day in and day out. It doesn't take a genius to realise the inevitable conclusion that this will create high apathy unless there is a genuine love for the work. When you have more than a minority of customers being **** and demanding to be waited on like an impetulent child, it's hard to enjoy what you do. Instead many will turn to their co-workers for support and thus creating a sense of 'other'. It's 'them' and the 'customer'.
3. Middle management. These tend to be one of two types of people: one is someone who worked their way up from being a full-time worker based on merit and know how to do their job. They treat the staff well and get the work done. Secondly, you have the incompetant egotistical muppets who couldn't land any other job and instead spend their time trying to crawl the ladder within retail, etc. These people make everyone's life hell.
When staff get **** on from customers and poor management left, right and centre, it's only a matter of time before they stop caring altogether.
I worked in a large Tesco for three years before university and I've seen it all. At least 30% of customers were arrogant, swarmy, nasty people who'd look down at their nose at you for sitting behind a till. I took it for about a year to begin with and I was miserable. Trollies being smacked into me, followed by dirty looks and people trying to get me to fetch them something when I've quite clearly told them I've clocked out! After that I just stopped caring and remembered that I wasn't there for the job, I was there to get where I needed to go. I've shouted at customers before and the shock is something that I still remember with glee. There are some people in this world that just act like ***** and bully staff as they think they can get away with it. It's all they have left in their sad pathetic little lives. It's only right that you put them in their place. Even when you do help them, you rarely ever get a 'thank you' -- what's the point?
Of course you get some people who just don't get it, and will contiune to cause temper tantrums over anything. One such customer I recall started being incredibly rude towards me over a kettle being mislabled. Now, this wasn't my fault, nor did I have any idea why the hell she was taking it as a personal afront, but it immediately put my back up and therefore I didn't help her at all, instead taking pleasure out of making her life more difficult. What did she honestly expect? "Oi you, **** on my shoe. Fetch."
Likewise, I remember some real horrible woman kicking up a stink over something so trivial and taking out all her aggression on myself and a friend. I said we'd go look out in the stock room for her, and instead went on my 20 minute break. I came back out the double-doors at the other end of the store to see her pacing around and peering through the ones I went through 20 minutes prior. Oh, how I chuckled. She saw me back on tills about 30 minutes later and her reaction was priceless; head down and head straight for the door.
You know, working in a bar is just as bad as not only do you get the right horrible dredges of society, but they're also drunk. I actually think national service should be brought back, but instead having people made to work in these secondary jobs so that they can learn some respect.
