I know this is ancient history now, but I saw something that applies here today.

Always treat customer service people with respect. Working in outside sales always treated grocery clerks, grocery managers and all managers with respect. No one should face customer's abuse.

I worked for Sainsbury's in the UK, one of our largest supermarket chains, for 8 years and hear you loud and clear. All employees started on minimum wage, and might get a pay increment each year, depending on a yearly performance review.

I never got to work on the Customer Service Desk itself, and wouldn't have wanted to. But as a shelf-stacker and till operator, I got my (un)fair share of abuse from customers who were pissed off because we'd sold out of an item that was on sale - probably the biggest gripe that I faced. Sainsbury's were very good in their employee training and we would often be able to turn a disgruntled customer into one of our greatest fans by offering to save the item for the customer when it was next in stock

At the time I was just starting to get into Buddhism, which helped me a lot. A smile can go a long way, and patiently and honestly explaining a situation kept me in good stead.

But then there were total assholes who just weren't interested in engaging at all.

Used to do industrial sales and when dealing with a person on the other end and you need their help yelling never works nor abuse. Treat them and make them fell like only they can fix this problem even if it is their fault

I think most people build up a lot of frustration and hostility each day - work, family, existential angst, etc - then pick the easiest target to vent on.
Who better than someone paid to be pleasant like service personnel.
It's a dick move on their part, but then they feel justified because "I'm paying for this".
Now that it's nearly official government policy ( in the US ) it's only getting worse.
Seems many people like being assholes.

Very true - same culture in the UK and people in low paid customer service roles often have to use leave / holiday time as sick also if sick "too much" to be covered in work schemes /contracts.

Well stated. I judge people by how they treat customer service and food service people. If tey are rude to them, or treat them as if they are less-than, I wash my hands of them. Of course, I tell them why and suggest to them they it is, in fact, they who are beneath the lowly customer service person.

People really do shoot the postman for the letter.

The only time the customer is always right is when they treat you right. Or if the commision on the sale makes it worthwhile for you to put up with thier crap !

I quit a job at an insurance call center last year because I absolutely positively could not take it anymore. My job was arguing with stupid people all day who thought they knew my job better than I did. And like you said, people could stand to learn that the person helping you when you call someplace are NOT the people who make the policies, set the prices, etc.

My favorite was people who would immediately start bitching about the hold times. I always wanted to say, "What makes you think I have any control over that?" Or the idiots that would call for a quote, and then complain about the quote. "I'm not going to pay that. Why should I pay that much for this policy?!" What good does it do to bitch at me because you don't like the price? I always wanted to say, "Look, a$$hole, if you don't want it, DON'T BUY IT. Problem solved!"

Let me give y'all a piece of advice while we're at it: always, ALWAYS ask questions about something BEFORE you buy it. I can't tell you how many times I had to listen to people bitch and moan and threaten to file lawsuits because they bought insurance ASSUMING it would cover something it didn't. (And what happens when we ASSUME, boys and girls?) There's a big difference between being a victim of fraud and being someone who couldn't be bothered to read the contract.

God damn. Why can’t people just be nice to one another and show respect. It’s such a simple thing.

The concept that "the customer is always right" was a lie from the beginning, a lie that sold.

Though only addressing a part of this it means a lot to me. I & most of my family has worked in sales or customer service often over the years, including retail & food service. One of the biggest indicators for me, when on a date, is how my date responds to & treats the wait staff or the clerks in a store. If she flings attitude & rudeness instead of empathy, that will be a final date.

I used to work for a municipal government. There were some good things about it, for sure. But, it was also like wearing a target on your back! I left. Now I'm a teacher. Hmm, something strangely familiar.......

As young people my older siblings all worked in restaurants.
I have never forgotten their experiences. I also never did that because I knew with my temper I'd knock someone's block off if they pinched me.
I worked in the cafeteria in college - but was behind a counter! lol

Even working reception this kind of crap happens. People don't get it?
That person is just representing a company - it's way higher up then them.

That could be YOU standing there taking the abuse.

I actually got a cashier recently who had just been the brunt of someone's displeasure - and I just listened to her and acknowledged she wasn't crazy and the person had been rude.

It's not that hard to be nice. People need to figure this out?

I spent most of my working life in customer service. Your post is spot on.

That is really sad. I always try to be respectful of service workers. My ex-wife was a waitress and a store clerk for a while, and she helped to see what they go through.