Customer or Consumer - a rant

comfortablynumb · #21 12/12/06, 11:16 PM

good price and good food... i dont care what they call me or if they have a bathroom.

seedspreader · #22 12/12/06, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MawKettle

Well....another opinion on the public restroom thing.................

I own a small sign making company - we have location in an industrial strip center.

I do mostly wholesale business - but we are open to the general public as well.

I have one restroom in the facility. Its located in my manufacturing area - which would mean that anyone using it would have to stroll across the machine room floor - past several work areas - which, while my insurance covers injury to my employees in this area...it would NOT cover injury to customers (because according to the terms of my policy - the public is not to be admitted to this area).........

So my policy, is for the most part, "I'm sorry, we do not have a public restroom"......

Have I been known to violate that for someone in dire need? Yes, but only if you are customer that's known to me (you've made a number of purchases here, and I know your face and name)....someone just walking in off the street - I can't take that chance that someone might trip, touch something they're not supposed to, get hit by flying metal in the shop area, etc.......

Besides the fact that there is a gas station right across the street that DOES have a public restroom............

Your situation is understandable.

I see a big difference between food service and other businesses.

chamoisee · #23 12/12/06, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logbuilder

Oh really?? Employees deserve restrooms but shoppers don't?? I better shut up on this subject now. Some businesses (and maybe their employees) just don't get it. You are competing on the whole shopping experience. Does it take a rocket scientist to figure this out???

Did we deserve to have to attempt choking down our lunches while that lady changed her brat's diaper on the same table we were eating off of?!

I don't think it's a matter of what's deserved, because IMHO, a lot of those folks didn't deserve squat, and they got it anyhow. Heck, they even nibbled *our* food while they were standing there waiting to use the john.

There is something called common courtesy. I do think that bathrooms ought to be available, but with theft concerns and whatnot, I can see why some businesses might not want to routinely let any and all customers into the back room to use the toilet.

logbuilder · #24 12/13/06, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chamoisee

Did we deserve to have to attempt choking down our lunches while that lady changed her brat's diaper on the same table we were eating off of?!

I don't think it's a matter of what's deserved, because IMHO, a lot of those folks didn't deserve squat, and they got it anyhow. Heck, they even nibbled *our* food while they were standing there waiting to use the john.

There is something called common courtesy. I do think that bathrooms ought to be available, but with theft concerns and whatnot, I can see why some businesses might not want to routinely let any and all customers into the back room to use the toilet.

Your beef should not be with the shoppers that needed a restroom, it should have been with the business that didn't provide adequate facilities for customers as well as employees. I agree that employees need facilities for their sole use. But in that absense, that should not exclude shoppers.

Just my 2 cents. Probably worth nothing more to anyone but me. But for what its worth, I have been in retail for 30 years and have opinions formed thru experience.

Disagree?? Open a store without adequate facilities and listen to your shoppers. Could change your mind. Or maybe not. The answer could have some bearing on your longetivity.

Robert

suitcase_sally · #25 12/13/06, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donsgal

Whenever I get gas I always make sure there is a restroom first because I get sick to my stomach to smell gas on my hands and I have to wash them after filling up. donsgal

I keep a box of cheap throw-away gloves in the car. ($1.99 for 100). Slip them on, throw them away. I get them in the paint dept. at my store.

edcopp · #26 12/13/06, 08:30 AM

No Public restrooms, that concept is courtesy of the state legislature in my state OHIO. I would bet that the politicians are just as smart in other states too. There is a law behind the signs. The law was made by people who had nothing better to do that month. The law comes complete with a fine structure (a way to collect additional revenue). Look up your state's law on the subject for some interesting reading.

This has nothing to do with the merchant, it is the law. Laws in general are made by folks who are smarter than real people.

donsgal · #27 12/13/06, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mawalla

When I was 7 long months pregnant with my eldest daughter I was at a flea market in Branson with several of my friends. We had all wandered up and down the isles and we all of had several items that we were going to purchase. Nature was screaming at me as only one who has been pregnant can understand. When I asked the clerk where their restroom was, she told me that I couldn't use it because it wasn't for public use and she pointed at a sign at the front door. All four of us just looked at her with astonishment, then laid our various potential purchases in front of her and I said something to the tune of, "Well, that just cost you some money," and we walked out. There was several hundred dollars worth of items that we were going to buy, too. That clerk displayed one of the best examples of bad customer service that I've ever experienced.

We went elsewhere to spend our money. It was another flea market where the clerk knew when to bend a rule for a needy customer.

I can relate. I was at Dicks 5 & 10 in Branson when nature hit HARD and the clerk informed me that the public restroom was about two blocks away. I barely made it.

People sometimes have to go to the bathroom while shopping - it shouldn't be a big deal to let them use yours. I'll bet that one or two out of 500 shoppers ask. It's rude to expect people to hold it or go elsewhere and I'm sure a lot of sales are lost at places that don't let you use theirs.

donsgal

Boleyz · #28 12/13/06, 08:40 AM

True Story...

I was out with a friend one time and this was his method of tipping waitresses:

As soon as we were seated, he laid out 5 - 1 dollar bills on the table. When the waitress came to take the order, he told her that the $5.00 was her tip if she did a good job.

If the service was bad, when the waitress walked by, or ignored us, he would very visibly pick up a dollar and put it in his shirt pocket.

Every time the waitress walked by our table or brought our food or drinks, she could see her tip. It was either remaining at $5.00 or it was disappearing $1.00 at a time.

That put the ball in her court. He figured If she wanted a $5.00 tip, she could get one, depending on her service. If she didn't care about the tip enough to render good service, why should he be bothered about leaving a big tip?

chamoisee · #29 12/13/06, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by logbuilder

Your beef should not be with the shoppers that needed a restroom, it should have been with the business that didn't provide adequate facilities for customers as well as employees. I agree that employees need facilities for their sole use. But in that absense, that should not exclude shoppers.

Just my 2 cents. Probably worth nothing more to anyone but me. But for what its worth, I have been in retail for 30 years and have opinions formed thru experience.

Actually, my beef is with customers who steal, crap all over the seat and floor, and display other outrageous behavior more suited to animals. Those folks probably have a bearing on why some businesses decline to offer their bathroom. Would you let countless would-be-thieves stroll unsupervised through your stock room to get to the bathroom?

I agree, there should be two bathrooms...but I can also see how some small businesses might not be able to afford that.

texican · #30 12/13/06, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E. I. School

A year or so ago, I started what my kids call "Mom's system" and when I go into a big store (like Lowe's or Home Depot or Walmart or Barns/Noble, etc.) (not in a small one where I can find things quickly) I just go straight up to the Customer Service Desk, tell them that I want some help since I do not have the time nor inclination to wander around their store and find things that they have moved since the last time I was there....and that since my eye-sight is very bad then I need some help. I am polite but firm and so far it has worked every time.

Once when they sent a surly 20-something guy to help me (and he was not polite nor finding things and made it clear he did not want to help)...I just left him standing there and went back to the counter and told them the guy was surly, rude and did not want to help and to get someone else.

People look shocked some of the time but I am polite and simply tell the truth and they get me some help. I do not ask for help if I know where the item I need is and I do not ask for help if my older boys are with me and they can help - but for those times when I need it - the the truth has worked.

Of course, you realize, you're just wanting to be special, right? If everyone did exactly the same thing you're doing, prices on everything would double very quickly... Stores would have to hire scores of 'guides' to escort guests through their stores directly to the items they need.

Sure they looked schocked, because what you're asking is something alien to them... they're Big Box stores, not small stores that specialize in service... If I want service I go to my Ace store, if I want anonymity, I go to the Depot....

Don't want to sound rude, but know it's hard not to, but please, what are you telling your children? That they shouldn't have to wait or look around, but simply demand that someone give them what they want, without having to wait...

I ask only as a last resort, and that's after searching diligently... it's a point of honor, especially in my local Ace store...
If you don't have time to shop, why shop at all, get what you need out of a catalog and have fedex/ups deliver it to your door?

On the restroom thingie... I only use public facilities in dire emergencies... I've seen too many of them pole vaulting cooties in public restrooms... I NEVER go into mom and pop gas stations... it's always going to be a large convenience type station, preferably (a national chain or large truck stop) with a fast food chain inside, they ALWAYS have clean restrooms... or look like they've been cleaned a couple times that day... compared to some small stations that might get 'touched up' once a week...

If I go up to a hot dog vender, I don't expect restroom facilities...

Side Note::: where do people in metropolitan areas go, when they have to? Do they not eat? or drink? or do they hold it till they get home? Depends? I really wonder about this....

suitcase_sally · #31 12/14/06, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E. I. School

I am as "special" as the next person who cannot find what they need to buy. If I am in the Ace type stores, as I said, I look and find things my own self.

It is only in the big box stores that I ask for help forth-with. They have employees just a'standing around, making personal calls on company phones, or blocking the lanes while engaged (3 to 4 in a bunch) in personal conversations of no import, or whining while not doing the job they are paid to do. So -- I do not feel guilty at all to ask them to do a bit of work for 6 minutes.

What do I tell my children? I tell them that if they are being paid to do a job then by cracky they sure better to that job and do it better than well and with a smile on their face. Further, that not only do they show up "on time" but they best show up 10 mins early and leave 10 mins later than expected. I tell them that they do not stand around whining while doing personal tasts on someone else's nickel. I tell them if they see a woman or an elderly person then they better get their tales in gear and MOVE IT to go help whether or not they are on some payroll.

People look shocked since they are not used to being asked to do what they should be doing in the first place.

No one is going to pay more for "guides" to "escort" anyone around anywhere since, IF a pile of folks show up at the customer service counter and point out that no one can find a flying thing on the shelves and no employee on the floor will take the time to find it.....and that forces the sorry folks over in management to get their tales off the computer (where they are probably doing some personal photo shop or checking their emails)...and they get out there and actually manage...then things would get back to working the way they should work.

No, I don't feel guilty at all!

And by the way -- "waiting" is not the issue. I am happy to "wait" my turn and "wait" and look around to try and find what I need. But I am totally not going to "wait" while someone who is being paid to do a job, is not doing it and then whining at me about what I have and they don't have.

I WORK and I work hard and so do my kids. I don't have the time to "wait" while some of those folks drag their sorry hides around doing next to nothing.

Not sure where the "rest room" came into play here but if you want a CLEAN restroom -- go find out where some Retired Senior Citizen is doing some volunteer work and you will find a CLEAN restroom. Around here it is over at Carl Sandberg's Federal Park where the wonderful elderly folks volunteer and clean up. It is also over at the Tourist Information Center where, again, Senior Citizen's WORK and they are not even being paid to do it.

Now those folks could teach the employee's over at the big box stores a thing or two about work.

And, by the way, I did not think you were being "rude" and I don't mean to be rude either but I get tired of hearing about all those poor ole hard working folks in some store who this and that and then I go in a store and I am half blind and cannot find something and there they stand with their hands in their pants doing nothing but collecting a pay check.

Prices going up? Take a look - they already have and it ain't because I was asking someone for some help.

It's "tails", dear.

Wayne02 · #32 12/14/06, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

I've seen too many of them pole vaulting cooties in public restrooms...

Rofl, great visual!

DrippingSprings · #33 12/14/06, 11:07 AM

I suggest a excellent book title WAYMISH or why are you making it so hard for me to give you my money.

talks of stuff like this that costs companies billions etc

My boy is a juvenile diabetic and has been for 12 years now. So when he needs to go he really needs to go.

I had started stopping at a local smaller mom and pop service station/grocery store. It was probably three months into me spending about 100 bucks a week there when we stopped for gas and my son needed to use the restroom really bad. I was at the fifty dollar mark on the diesel fuel when he came out and told me they wouldnt let him use the restroom.

There was a restroom right next to the drink machine with a sign on it "no public restroom"

I went in and paid for my fuel and asked the lady and she said no they didnt have one. I called my son over and explained his situation and even showed her the insulin pump so shed know i was sincere.

Still no. So i walked over to the desk where the owner sat and explained how I spent a bare min of 100 dollars a week there. How I had really grown to like his store and had planned to continue to use his store until he just refused us a very accessible empty restroom for my young son with a incurable disease.

He didnt seem to concerned til I ran down the numbers for him.
"Lets see" I told him

"three minutes in a restroom"

ok 100 dollars a week for one year comes to 5200 dollars"
5200 dollars divided by three minutes comes to 1734 dollars a minute"

So I thanked him and hoped hed understand if I spent my 5000 dollars somewhere else

they now have a very accessible public restroom but I wouldnt stop there if it was the only place for miles.

Trixie · #34 12/14/06, 01:02 PM

<<<<<<Laws in general are made by folks who are smarter than real people.>>>>>

That was a joke, right????

As for public restrooms, I would not do business where I could not use the restroom and I certainly would not eat where I could not wash my hands.

As for big convenience stores having clean restrooms, that is seldom my experience in Texas and I have been to many parts of this state. The place I can usually depend on a clean restroom is a big truck stop.

I hate public restrooms. When we are traveling with the travel trailer and stop for gas, my husband will use the public restroom. He is amused that I unlock the trailer, and climb over things to use my own bathroom.

There is, however, a time to make a few allowances and I do understand that some laws have cost small businesses a lot of money. If I had a small buisness, I would do my best to make the restroom handicapped friendly, but sometimes it just isn't in the budget. I wouldn't want to have to deny everyone the use of the bathroom because I couldn't afford to modify for the disabled.