Since my home washing machine stopped working I have been using South Market Laundry. Usually Ryan is on shift when I arrive, but not always, and I always have a great experience. It is clean and staff is helpful as well as attentive.
Today, however I felt horrible and my blood was curdling over a conversation that I had with Ryan's daughter. Upon stepping to the counter to get change, she called me hun, which I feel is disrespectful and condescending since I am decades older than she, so I politely asked her not to call me hun again.
Later, I asked if there was a cost for spray and wash. I felt she had heard me (as we were approximately 3 feet apart and it was relatively quiet), yet I was asked to repeat myself several times. I even pantomimed spraying my shirt stain as I was answering her a third time. I believe she was giving me a hard time because I had asked not to be called hun.
She then asked me, "What is that?" I explained I needed to treat a stain that I forgot to treat at home." She then replied, "Oh, we use Awesome for that and there is no charge." I said, "Okay, thank you." After grabbing the Awesome I laughed and jokingly said, "Working in a laundromat you think you would know what spray and wash is."
She got angry and told me I was being rude. I said, "No more rude than you calling me hun or pretending not to hear me. And I call things like I see them. You should know what 'spray and wash' is if you work in a laundromat."
She became argumentative and said, "WHAT? You're a CNA and YOU don't call people hun?" As I was putting the first capful of soap in the machine, I said, "No I do not as it is not a dignified way to address someone, especially if they are older than you."
Before I could finish making this statement she accused me of being rude again. Then she said, "If you are going to speak to me this way you can go elsewhere." I replied as I started the machine, "I am a regular, this is the closest place to my house, my money and soap are in the machine. I am not going elsewhere." Again before I could finish speaking she said, "No, you can go elsewhere. I will reimburse you and you can go elsewhere."
I asked her several times to call Ryan. After all this was a communication issue and not an issue of rudeness on my part. After she walked behind the counter I left.
Though, at this point my blood was curdling. I have never been treated so badly here or anywhere else!!! And for what?! Stating my preference in a polite way and for speaking the truth about a laundry term!!!
Being called rude by someone who was rude to me is ironic and comical. But to be asked to leave for stating a personal preference and a fact, trying to make light of a situation where I felt I was being heard but made to repeat myself, is frustrating, especially when I had already paid and added my soap to the machine.
I hope this comment of mine is used as a teaching moment in the art of customer service.
1. All people should be treated with respect. "Hun" is not respectful when talking with anyone.
2. Know your tools / terms for the job you are preforming.
3. Do not take your anger and / or frustration out on the customer or your co-workers.
4. Learn to accept help / criticism constructively by leaving your personal feelings out of it. read more