Video Meltdown

This year was the first year that I worked on Christmas Eve and Christmas. It was quite a letdown that I was not able to participate in anything with our church community, nor do anything with family. I'm really getting worn out on my job. After about 4 straight nights at the video store I have gotten completely burnt out on people. The selfishness of the individual never quite truly struck me until doing customer service. Here are a few truths about the video store:

1. No one is ever friendly.
2. No one has ever returned a movie late in their life.
3. No one will pay a late fee unless forced.
4. No one is willing to accept any mistake made by an employee.
5. If a mistake is made, all hell will break loose until they get at least 3 free movies out of it by throwing a temper tantrum.
6. If there is a line at all people will start huffing and puffing like they are a mad little three year old.
7. If there is any chance to bitch about ANYTHING, they will find it.
(examples include not having their favorite movie in stock, not getting to use a coupon that is expired, having to pay late fees, not being able to open an account without a debit or credit card, etc.)

I'm sure I could go on, but I just thought I would vent some of my frustrations. I have truly come to that point in this job where I am starting to despise people and that is not good. Every customer is a huge hassle. It's never as easy as just checking someone's video's out for them. I thought this job would be so much easier and less confrontational than it is. I think about 1 out of every 5 people leave the store angry because they cannot accept responsibility for having turned anything in late. I'm not sure what it is about working customer service where everyone feels like it is their right to treat you like crap. For some reason they believe that we are not human beings and have no worth at all. As many customer service people sheepishly accept it that customers can say or do whatever they want, I will not stand for it. If someone is treating me poorly I will call them out on it and refuse their service unless they act decently. I have said several times, "once you start treating me like a human, I will help you." Of course that breaks every rule there is in customer service but I will not be treated like a piece of dirt and if that gets me fired, so be it!

I hope that you who are reading this will treat people who serve you with some dignity and respect rather than being an A-hole when things don't go your way. The people that I ALWAYS help out (cancel late fees, give free movies, etc.) are the ones that treat me with respect and decency. The people who yell and scream can expect to never get anything.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow that after I work tomorrow night I get four or five days off! I need it. I'm about ready to lose it on someone. Just pray that someone isn't YOU!!!!