Inappropriate behavior by a salesperson (Bushite)?

[qanda]

Yesterday was my birthday and my hubby took me to a jewelry store to show me some of the stuff he would buy me if we could afford it (don't laugh-- it's actually quite sweet). Anyway, I had stepped away for a minute, and apparently the guy behind the counter saw the ABB button my husband was wearing and told him that he couldn't wait on him if he planned to vote for Kerry. Well, when I returned to the conversation my husband was reading him the riot act about Bush/Cheney, PNAC, Halliburton, Iraq, Health Care and anything else he could think of.

This man was so typical in his rightwingishness-- he had all the FOX talking points down and was not prepared to debate anyone who actually.... reads or thinks!!!!! Anyway, long story short, after my husband and I ganged up on him, bruised him and left him for pick up on ailse six-- he told my husband that if he wanted to buy anything the price just went up 15%. Although, I could almost see someone joking like this, this man looked completely serious and did not crack a giggle.

Question: Should I report him to the manager of his store for unprofessional conduct? I thought it was out of line for him to make politcal comments in the first place, but to continue on and on and even threathen to charge a higher price, just seems a bit over the top to me. What say you?

[Maccagirl]

1. To answer your question...

Yes.

[Chomskyite]

2. Nope

I think the problem in this country is that people DON'T talk about politics enough. By reporting this fellow for speaking his mind, however ill-mannered he was, you're perpetuating the kind of fearful atmosphere about talking politics that leads to more Bushes being elected.

[progressivebydesign]

7. I'm afraid I disagree with you on that.

He was not "talking about politics", he was being uncooperative toward a customer. He was in the wrong. He was at work, not a cocktail party. If the customer began talking about politics to the guy, then he could have politely said a bit.. but in the REAL world, you NEVER initiate a political conversation with a customer. Never.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. I disagree.

The clerk can do it on his break. Doing it on the shop's dime to a customer is not good business practice.

[ibegurpard]

9. You don't harrass your customers

It's very bad for business. If someone tried to talk about politics to me in my position and I knew that their views were the opposite of mine, I would be politely non-commital.

[qanda]

14. I'd say...

My husband said when we can afford something, that's the last place he'll go.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

19. That person is employed to provide good friendly service to the...

...customers that enter that store. He was rude and failed to perform even the most basic customer service.

Report his ass.

[progressivebydesign]

3. ABSOLUTELY report him.

Everyone has a right to have a political opinion. BUT their FIRST AND ONLY responsibility at work is to help the customers, be nice, and do their job. He absolutely needs to be called on the carpet for that. It was terribly wrong. I know that there have been clerks that have seen my WOMEN FOR KERRY dogtag, and they glance at it.. not in a nice way.. but they don't say a word, and continue to be friendly. I would immediately talk to a manager or owner.. no way you should let that stand.

I'm sorry that the jerk turned your birthday into something less than pleasant. BTW.. happy belated birthday!! :party:

[qanda]

10. Thanks for the wish...

I don't want to overreact, but when we left the store I really had a strange feeling that what had taken place was uncalled for. I've never had anything like that happen before.

[cynatnite]

4. Absolutely!

His first priority is to take care of the customer. Political commentary isn't in his job description. Plus he should be fired for threatening to charge 15% over the price of the items whether you intended to buy anything or not.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. I'd report him.

The salesman might try a defense of his right to express himself, and he did. Denying service based on political affiliation or how someone is voting isn't covered in the Constitution.

If I were the store owner/manager, I'd fire him.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Absolutely. Ask the guy if he really thinks 50% of his customers

shouldn't feel welcome in the store.

[2Design]

11. yes

[Safi]

12. Not only contact the manager...

But contact the manager's manager. The Higher-Up, The Corporate Management. This shit doesn't fly in retail. Write a letter to the manager and CC it to his higher up.

Be obstinate. This prick will hear about it bigtime. Its the first rule of retail -- "DONT FUCK WITH HALF OF YOUR POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS".

If you are really eloquently obstinate, you could conceivably land him a job pissing in the pickle jar at Burger King.

-Safi

[NAO]

13. I would report him IN WRITING to people in management

Yes, I would definitely report this man to management. I would do it IN WRITING, and would (politely) try to deliver the (politely written) letter to the highest person in the food chain you could find.

There is no need to be bitter or to spew bile, just relate the events as they happened, and relate that you felt offended and that his display was unprofessional, and that it reflected badly on the store. Also reiterate that you did intended to buy something, and this guy drove you away.

This type of behavior is not professional and should not be tolerated.

[bobthedrummer]

15. Maybe he is the manager/owner

but he was a total asshole.
I worked in retail sales/management (big ticket items)for many years-he's an unprofessional asshole imo and experience.
Put the word out on the store:dem:

[RevCheesehead]

16. ask your husband if he felt attacked.

If it was an innocent discussion that got heated, or if they were just playfully going at each other, then ignore it. But if the guy was serious and confrontational, REPORT IT!

While chatting with the teller at my bank, I told her I was going to see F-9/11 on opening day (I was pretty pumped up). All she said was, "oh, dear, then I guess you'll probably not be voting for my man Bush?" I just smiled and said "Sorry."

The lesson? We exchanged views, it remained polite, and she and I are still on good terms.

[ibegurpard]

17. And THAT is how you handle a customer

who you can tell doesn't agree with you.

[qanda]

20. My husband is not very easily intimidated by anyone

He played nice (while he destroyed his arguments) but when we left the store he told me he wouldn't ever buy anything there again. I mean the guy went on and on about Kerry being guilty of sedition and how the Heinz Corporation outsources so many jobs. It was pitiful.

[Journeyman]

18. Go to a jewelry store which permits return of purchases. . .

and buy the most expensive diamond bracelet they offer. Then wear the bracelet in to the first store and ask to see the manager. Show him the bracelet, wave the other store's receipt in his face (make certain he sees the bottom line), and laugh and laugh and laugh that you gave your business to the other place instead of a store that employs a loser like the numbnuts who treated you so shabbily. Be certain to tell the manager the reason why you didn't want to buy from his employee, then, with a cheery wave at everyone and the promise you will not return in the future, beat a hasty retreat to return the bracelet to the other store before they close.

[qanda]

21. Thanks for the idea...

And the laugh!

[Safi]

23. Seriously...

I work in retail. That guy just violated every rule of retail sales. Be strong. Find out who is in charge, get a phone number to his higher-ups, write a letter, make a phone call or two.

These fucks cannot be allowed to intimidate us. Period. If they can, the result is Fascism.

I am also serious that if you are eloquently obstinate enough, if you hit all the right people with phone calls and letters, this prick will no longer be working on commission (you don't make commission bagging burgers and fries).

Not only do you owe it to yourself, you owe it the Democracy. Think for a minute what that prick was doing. Imagine if WalMart (arguable that they do so under the radar), basically told you to fuck off because you are a Democrat.

What you are up against is Fascism. And by making a phone call, writing a letter, and standing up for yourself, you very well can make a difference.

I wish you good luck :)

-Safi

[Media_Lies_Daily]

24. As a matter of fact, I did that exact same thing one Christmas...

...when I was shopping in a mall.

The salespeople in the first jewelry store I visited were rude and obnoxious, and incorrectly ran my credit card through the reader SEVEN different times triggering the anti-fraud unit of my credit card.

Instead of telling me that they had made an error with my credit card, they told me instead, rather loudly in front of dozens of other customers, that my card was "on hold" and could not be used.

Well, that made me a little angry.

I promptly went to the next jewelry store, bought one of their best diamond bicycle bracelets with absolutely NO difficulties using another credit card.

I then returned to the original store, and asked if they remembered me, and of course they did. I showed them what I had bought for my wife, and in a rather loud voice, I told that they had missed out on a substantial sale because of their rudeness. I also told them that I would never attempt to shop there again.

I had the satisfaction of seeing several people leave the store right behind me.

After I got home and cleared up the problem with the card that I had originally tried to use, I wrote a letter to the headquarters of the jewelry chain describing my experience in no uncertain terms and named names.

[mark11727]

26. Great line from "Pretty Woman"...

..."you get paid on commission, right? Well, you were very rude to me yesterday... big mistake, huge."

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

22. Absolutely. His behavior would be wrong even if circumstances reversed

And you wore a B/C button, and he was a Kerry supporter.

Can you imagine the flap if he had been a Kerry supporter and had done this to a Bushite? It'd be in the papers!

His attitude wasn't just a bit over the top. It was WAY over the top.

[jayctravis]

25. They usually work on commision.

Send a couple of waves of your friends in there to act really interested, possibly get to the register and then change their minds saying..."This money would much better serve the democratic campaign!"

[Crunchy Frog]

27. Yes, report his ass!

That type of behavior is unbelievably inappropriate. He's driving off customers from his employer who is probably struggling as it is in this economic climate. The manager certainly has the right to know about that sort of behavior in his employees.

There is no excuse, the guy should be fired for that kind of thing.

[DeadHead67]

28. What kind of idiot has a shit job selling jewelry on commision . . . .

. . .in a freakin' mall, and supports B/C, and derives his political philosophy from Faux News?!!! GOOD GRIEF!!! And YES, you should report him, he needs a jolt of reality, joining the ranks of those unemployed by the Bush economy.

[Cassandra]

29. During the Clinton/Dole race...

National Jeweler (trade mag) conducted a poll that showed that a considerable majority of jewelry store owners thought Dole would be better for the economy. :eyes: Ignorance will kill us all! I see nothing has changed.

[Killarney]

30. Report him, write a LTTE about him, write an email about him

and email it out to everyone you know.

[seabeyond]

31. hell yes. firstly this is a mere employee

hired to sell product. he did the opposite. that alone gives you the obligation to say somethign to manager or owner. if he is supported by manager or owner your dollar cannot go to providing for bush campaign.

i dont know many owners that would allow a loss of customer nor the blatant discrimination. not only that, further., there are laws they cannot profile and charge more to another

i would have demanded to see owner the first moment he spoke up about bush