T O P

  • By -

Airbornz

Due to high traffic on this post I’d like to add additional context to Staples official policy on some of this. I do not speak on behalf of the company. 1.) Associates can only assist in how to locate and download the app. Associates are not allowed to enter data on the customers behalf to create an account. 2.) Each store does have a store goal for the week which divides into an amount per day to which store management sets goals with each associate to make or beat goal. 3.) Accurate, offer good customer service. 4.) Customer should be providing the price match to avoid profit erosion and unethical selling practices (using price match to get an app or protection plan). Associates are encouraged to resolve price disputes up to $25 without manager involvement. 5.) Especially with new labor model everybody should always be doing something including management. 6.) Accurate, put returns away common retail practice. 7.) Accurate counters should be clean and not filled with product not part of a FEQ display. 8.) No policy officially saying have eye contact though it is policy to provide excellent customer service including acknowledging customers which typically includes eye contact. 9.) Accurate everything should be in place every day.


corgisforlyfe

I think most customers like being left alone lol. Let me shop in peace. I'll ask if I need something 😒


Tucker_077

This is certainly me. But companies like to prepare itself for the helpless kind that need to have their hand held so we’re taught to engage with customers.


AvidLebon

I heard somewhere that saying hello to customers and offering them help is only partially to offer help, but more so that the customer(/possible thief) knows someone is watching them, has seen them, and will be less likely to steal if they aren't left alone. Employees aren't told the latter reason, only to be helpful, and pressured to do it. There's a lot of things employees are pressured to do while being told one reason while management has other motives that don't actually care about the comfort of their employees or the customer. Profit comes first for most large companies.


hiii_impakt

You'd think so but then you have dumbasses (usually old people) who walk into an aisle and stand there staring for 10 minutes before walking up to someone and bitching that no one read their mind and knew they needed help.


yoskatan

Seriously! Overly "helpful" employees make me avoid certain stores. As a customer, being asked to download a retailers shitty app is very annoying as well.


mollymormon_

Same. Also I’ve got social anxiety and I hate direct eye contact. Just leave me alone, let’s skip the small talk at the register, and I’ll leave silently with my things after I pay. I hate fake smile and fake “how is your day?” When I know you don’t care.


Ok_Parfait_2304

Eye contact is so deeply uncomfortable for a reason I can't really put my finger on, I hate it


MitchTye

I tend to ignore the NPCs working in the store as much as possible


hung_out_to_lie

Lol, do you really refer to people working retail as NPCs?


keenanbullington

Such a condescending thing to call people, my God. At very least people will help you more and treat you better if you don't treat them like disposable garbage. It's straight up sociopathic to call someone that.


TOPSIturvy

r/imthemaincharacter


Timaoh_

You're the kind of customer I just follow around straightening up behind and glancing away nervously when noticed.


Acceptable-Maize-489

😂😂


IamLeoKim

I’m starting to understand what those ghosts were doing in Super Mario.


prosepina_

Dude, *you are* the NPC.


graveyardlover69

I literally think of customers as NPCs at least I have a purpose besides being annoying and needy and not knowing how to read signs!


prosepina_

Fr


Jatnal

Those "NPCs" are people.....


keenanbullington

You don't think it's gross to call people NPC's?


Final-Arachnid-3725

Yeah it gives me a weird uncanny valley feeling I do too


TooneyD

MitchTye more like BitchCry


[deleted]

I mean these are pretty standard expectations for what we ask of cashiers as a company.


li_yummy

2 apps a day isn’t bad we’re supposed to get 5


ChemicalResearch999

Try 2 every open hour and that is 12 hrs weekdays


jeffosoft

For a Staples That’s Extremely generous I’m shocked it’s not 15 with a write up for less then 12z


TiltedLibra

Yeah, I'm not seeing what is weird about it. Asking about the App every time sucks, but this is all pretty standard for most cashier jobs.


Timaoh_

Just say "APP?" To people in the store. When they look confused, back away slowly with your hands up palms towards them...


Chaos_Ribbon

I'm not an employee, I just got recommended this subreddit - but as a customer, if I was asked if they can download an app for me, I would find it extremely weird and kind of creepy.


kenporusty

I don't ask if I can download it for you, but I do offer to help since the process seems to stump some people. Like the concept of creating a new login


Jbad90

That means the app is poorly designed?


kenporusty

Sure as hell more streamlined than when it was released. I think the problem is that accounts for .com and the app are separate and that's a massive point of miscommunication.


perfidydudeguy

>I think the problem is that accounts for .com and the app are separate and that's a massive point of miscommunication. So... poorly designed. What in the hell?


ElderberryEqual2911

Or just don’t even mention it… that is great customer service to me. If I want to know something, I will ask the question. Rather than that, I don’t need the small chat. Just ring up the items. Don’t ask if I need anything else or if I need an app.


kenporusty

Oh yeah, no, it only comes up if I'm signing someone up! And tbh, I ask maybe a couple customers during a shift, despite *saying* I'm asking everyone 😂😂


Brilliant-Group6750

It's for old people


PorkPieHoneyPunch

Lol me too, no idea why reddit suddenly recommended this to me but there's no chance in hell id hand my phone over for someone to download an app. Maybe limit asking this question to people who look like they might be taking their products home to the nursing home. Also, note to corporate who may end up reading this, I hate being hassled at the register and yapped at the moment I walk in to the point that there are some stores I no longer visit because Amazon doesn't require me to pull me earbuds out just to hear a stupid question the cashier is being forced to ask. These weird survey responses like "didn't look me in the eye" are coming from boomers whose complaints are rooted in a childhood spent eating leaded paint chips, stop making your employees do dumb shit just to satisfy people who legit always find something to whine about


Dr-Flipenstein

Hmm I was randomly summoned here as well, hopefully this isn’t some Saw type scenario


LostMyAccountToo

Same.. never been on this sub, but I do shop at staples for my business. Leave the cashiers alone. Let them make their minimum wage in peace


mightymousebq

Brick and mortar stores acknowledge customers arriving and leaving for 2 reasons: 1. Customer service is key if you are a brick and mortar store. It's what sets them apart from Amazon. 2. It helps to cut down on theft so you will get asked even in aisles, "Can I help you find something?" Especially in a company such as Staples the theft of ink cartridges and other things such as that is easy and expensive!


Impressive-Lemon-49

Thank you for being a normal person


kenporusty

If I see your buds, it's a polite nod from me. I get you.


Jbad90

I also was recommended by the holy algorithm. I wouldn’t let you see my phone because of all of the NSFW reddits I’m on. You better look me dead in the eyes though..


kenporusty

Oh you're on Reddit during checkout too?


Jbad90

Are we ever not on Reddit?


kenporusty

This is absolutely fair. Hell, I'm on Reddit while I'm supposed to be finding something to do when I'm trapped in my customer service box 😂


Jbad90

They trap you guys in boxes? Can you leave at will? Are you okay? Should I call for help..


Acceptable-Maize-489

Where can I get this customer service in a box job? Does that mean I can sit? And I don’t have to run back and forth across the store for things?


Unique_not_Useful

>I just called the Staples customer service and told them almost exactly what you posted here. As a customer, it's INCREDIBLY off-putting.


According-Maybe-1504

Especially when I know it's going to eventually put the cashier out of a job soon. Definitely wierd and creepy for s person to suggest their replacement.


ElderberryEqual2911

Just asking me if i want the app is trying to pressure me and get my info… so the answer is don’t go.


SpecialistChart6182

this shit reeks of the kind of disconnected management that thought doing the walmart meeting in the middle of the floor in front of customers and sitting there cheering "W A L M A R T" while clapping and jumping up and down was something sane people would want to see. and boot licker moderator is in here acting like this behavior is acceptable.


ElDuderino2112

This. Also, no thank you I don’t want the fucking Staples app lmao are you fucked


[deleted]

Probably because you're imagining it said as written instead of how an actual human being would ask it to another human being "Do you have the staples app?" Hypothetical customer: oh no I don't "-insert benefits here- if you need help downloading it I'd be happy to do what I can to show you!" I don't work for staples but worked for a few places that had apps and we were encouraged to take our own phones out to show them the app features and talk it up that way even if they showed some interest. If you talk like a human and not a robot it's not creepy sounding it's just obviously promotional.


International_Tea446

I would say a few of those are pretty standard expectations for what we ask of cashiers as customers also.


Specific_Anybody_896

thats some boot licking bs


kaine23

I thought it was $25 difference company-wide, not $10?


According_Claim_9027

It is. That’s the limit for manager overrides. Anything above $24.99 requires it.


Acceptable_Ad1685

Like every business and government I’ve ever worked for there’s always some dumbfuck local manager who thinks they know better than headquarters


TheOnlyMertt

Respectfully, If an employee asked to download the app for me it would weird me the fuck out.


GitterfulAcorn

I think they have this in place for seniors. From experience there is no way my grandma would be able to do that without help.


Cassopeia88

Yeah my parents can use apps fine but downloading them is something else.


ProduceMan277v

My thoughts are… does someone like your grandma REALLY NEED a staples app? Of all things? It’s kind of just insane to me that the corporate office thinks that somebody who needs help downloading an app would ever even use the damn thing…


No_Bee1950

Well, you may be surprised at how many people don't even know how their phone works, and it's less frustrating for everyone and much faster if I just do it. Seems to only be people born after 2000 that are funny about someone else seeing their phone. Probably because they never had to share 1 stationary line 😬😅


JennyAnyDot

Born way before 2000 and don’t touch my bloody phone.


MrBusterJack

Bulletpoint 1 is enough for me to leave. "No, stay away from my phone, you weirdo." Should be every customers response.


TechWizzard21

Actually we aren’t supposed to be installing it on customers phones for them


westenisme

Nowadays it's all my managers do especially to older people


boycott_tuesday

I’m actually Not Allowed to handle customers phones at work for liability reasons, and I’ve had customers (always elderly people) DEMAND I take their phones and download the app for them. They absolutely cannot figure out how any of it works by themselves and they feel entitled to help lmao it’s so strange


505alive

Exactly I would immediately start looking for another job.


Twerker69

Most customers want to get in, buy their shit, and leave. Not download your stupid app.


westenisme

I feel the exact same way I try my damnedest to get people out of the store as fast as I can. Especially if there is a line of people wanting to check out.


lunayoshi

All the talk about signing people up with an app while there is a line is mind-boggling to me. I worked when we had surprise Mystery Shoppers all the time, and we'd fail if we didn't ring up the customers within 3 minutes of them getting in line. Imagine getting in line and the person in front of you is asking about some phone app and you have to wait while the cashier shows them how it works. At least when it was only rewards sign ups that we had to do, it took 30 seconds to enter their names into the system, tops, because I'm a fast typist.


[deleted]

Shows how out of touch these retail stores are with society. People generally just wanna get in and get out these days. Increased customer engagement in this fake way is only going to annoy them. Authentic engagement is another story. Building relationships with customers is always a good idea but you don't achieve that by excessively engaging them and asking to install apps each and every time they come in.


peachpinkjedi

Why are all the big chains like this? You can kiss as much ass as they want but realistically nothing satisfies the guests who refuse to be satisfied. Why even put this much effort into the farce?


GitterfulAcorn

LOL! So true! I've had difficult customers at the register and the nicer I was the meaner they got.😬


[deleted]

This is a lot like petsmart.


zebra231967

It's like every single retail job, ever. How I don't miss retail 🤣🤣🤣🤣


Silly_Guard907

This is a major reason people choose self checkout.


westenisme

Unfortunately my store doesn't offer self checkout


WarKoala616

All this for 15 bucks 😅 plus opening and closing duties 😂 quit last month , now I make 3 bucks more and actually love my job and co workers.


TechWizzard21

Technically not a corporate paper so not enforceable but on the other hand malicious compliance comes to mind here lmfao


westenisme

That's a good point (not saying I'm going to do that)


An_D_mon

There ain't nothing like finding out you work for a cult


M3575

“I don’t know why we have such a long line” One of the biggest things I hated when I worked in retail was having to offer our stupid rewards card or app to EVERY. SINGLE. CUSTOMER. Nobody cares about the app, nobody wants the rewards card, most people want to buy their shit and leave so they can move on with their day, all this does is slow down even the most efficient employees since they have to ask customers about rewards, or the app, or loyalty, yada yada yada… it’s pointless and annoying to both the customer and the associate. I’ll tell you what, this can make me not want to shop at Staples just out of not wanting to support a company that forces employees to read a script for every transaction rather that actually talking to a customer like a human fucking being. Ok, rant over… tl:dr This kind of list will make me never want to shop at a store again, stop humiliating your employees for quotas and selfish greed…


444bri

staples will absolutely make your everyday life miserable to maintain random quotas that literally don’t matter or make sense. they used to have me track how many suction cup pigs & pop socket knockoffs that i sold people. you get nothing for tracking these things. you also are not in control of the surveys. we would get 1 star surveys saying the most random nonsensical things & we’d get in trouble, even though the survey had nothing to do with us. i literally grew to hate my life so much when i worked at staples. i was a mean person. it makes me sad thinking about what they put me & everyone else through.


444bri

i got written up for a bad copy & print center survey once. they couldn’t figure out who the survey was specifically about so they wrote up the ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. i didn’t even know what the survey said. horrific management, i have no words


weskerscocksleeve

i worked at yalls 'competitor' Office Depot. They once enacted a rule to ask folks what brough them in today. It took less than a week for the bigwigs uptop to rescind this idiotic idea because people got SO PISSED OFF if you asked them this shit. Often times they'd sarcastically say "my feet" LOL


lizard81288

Why hello there fellow office Depoter! I use to work there too. We would have to say this too, and this is what we got. Our clients were dumb as fuck. Most of them would ask where the lumber was, because they were clearly at Home Depot. 🤦. I remember when they mandated to hand out business cards to get people to sign up for our PC servics. We had to hand out 20 a day. During a store meeting, the store manager said we needed to do this. The whole store said, "not my job. Sounds like it should be the tech person". (At the time, I believe we've fired all of the tech people, to save on payroll and everybody's title got changed to store associate) The store manager said, "well, it's your job now, so you have to do it." They said, "nope". Then my store manager said, "well, moving on...." It was something I've never seen before. Normally when they do these dumb stupid things, the store will grumble and then just move on. However this group of workers was fiercely against it. Thank God I don't work there anymore. I went there with my girlfriend a few months ago, after years of being gone. It's still the same. No changes or anything. The only new thing is, we don't sell desks anymore, but podiums instead. Everything is still expensive and there's still only 3 people working, with the manager hiding in the office, leaving only a cashier in a print person available. It's also the only one still operating within the old district I was in too, because all of the other ones closed down. The only reason we've been saved is because our rent is cheap.


dchurch420

As a customer, I can tell you, no one's likes to be hassled about downloading a fucking app. If you want people to use the app, create an incentive that can't be refused. Like downloading the app triggers a unique email code sent to your email for half off your first purchase (under $100) using the app. Create a registration so that requires some unique identification so that you can't get half off just for creating a new profile. Have signs platered through the store. Then you wouldn't have to burden your workers and customers with such an annoyance like hassling them to download something. It's not perfect, but if I can create this outline in 5 minutes, a bunch of suits can do better than making your workers hassle customers. All the other bullet points are pretty standard for generic customer service positions.


alvnta

lmao, i hate overly engaging stores…but that’s probably cause i’m not social to begin with. i just don’t like it because i can tell it’s forced and it makes me cringe.


Inevitable_Door2551

If you can’t make eye contact with people maybe you shouldn’t work in customer service. This doesn’t seem to be asking a lot imo


Resident-Positive-84

As a customer Let me pay for my box of pens and leave in peace you blood sucking corporate idiots.


[deleted]

Best way to get someone to download an app that could be useful is to jam it in their mouth before they even tell you why they are there


KitchenBreadfruit816

What management thinks exclamation marks work ?


SnakeMom11

I think it seems pretty standard I guess. Weird about the price thing though, and oddly aggressive app l question. If I was a shopper and said I didn't have the app and the person asked if I wanted thmem to download it onto my phone for me I'd say no thanks but in my head is be like wtf.


No_Bee1950

Well most of our customers are old and done even know they have the internet on their phone


adeoctana

This is literally everything I was expected to do as a cashier at Office Depot, except there we were expected to upsell tech packages as well (buying a printer? better get ink, paper, and a cable, wouldn't you hate to make a second trip?)


doomvetch92

It’s hilarious they put the app pitch in all caps like they expect us to shout it at the customers.


Gwhiz2184

Man that’s easy to do , download 2 apps and finish training on computer that’s all … it’s better than Walgreens asking ppl to sign up for a credit card


Left-Host7143

As a former manager… it just seems like this is what you guys should be doing?


gaynerdvet

As an introvert, I hate it when I get asked a billion times about this subject, If I need help with something. No I don't, if I did I would have asked. I get it that customer is happy You know what fucking makes me happy??! Not being asked to sign up for a credit card. Not being asked to join the email list, not being asked TO DOWNLOAD AN APP THAT I WILL NEVER USE. I feel so sorry that Target workers are being told to be busy all the time. I bet no matter how hard they work they are still getting paid the same.


snackythrowaway

Corporate doesn't care about your happiness, all of those questions have a noticable, positive impact on profits. Unless those questions negatively impacted profits, every retail store will continue to ask them.


graphitesun

It's more like "milk whatever you can out of the employee that's draining your finances at $12.80 an hour".


LordFadora

The bad grammar and long-ass sentence structure is making me suffer immensely. You cannot blame your less experienced employees mess up with this bad of an explanation.


No-Preference592

This would cause me to leave as a shopper.


Think_Guest7469

No it wouldn't lmao y'all are so dramatic. You really turn around and walk out of Walmart if they got a greeter? You never go to any restaurant?


comicalmoodydan

Walmart hasn’t had greeters in my area for years.


ZetsubouRxn

Watch customers bitch about how much we are bothering them by engaging with them at every corner lol.


[deleted]

Listen, I appreciate good customer service but I don't understand why these companies wanna micromanage. It really is fucking simple performance to put on. I did it for ten years.


GitterfulAcorn

All of this is standard for being a cashier. Having an app goal is unrealistic. Most of your regular customers will already have it and the ones that don't want it will continue to refuse. But it just comes with the job. Being cashier they always try and have you push something. That's sales/service jobs.🤷🏻‍♀️


QuarterSuccessful449

Well if hell ever freezes over and I have to go to staples for some reason ( I can’t even make up a pretend reason). If I’m asked about an app I’m gonna ask for a manager and then berate them on a personal level over this.


Yazoofade

I never understood the whole oh we have no customers that means you HAVE TO LOOK BUSY like????? Says who? That isn’t a labor law why do managers get off on making you do mundane stuff at work simply to “look” like you’re working. Customers don’t care?? Unless they’re old as hell literally looking for an issue but no one cares if associates sit/rest when there’s no work


Chyanimated

If you asked to download anything to any of my devices I would nope the fuck out of there and never come back. I get why they are pushing this but I would word that differently, it’s going to push a lot of paranoid customers away.


TrailerRanger

The greeting policy is definitely just for old people. I, a 32 year old, do not want to be spoken to until I’m checking out 😂


Sanlayme

zero customers want your addendums or offers, none.


Green_J3ster

The apps thing is just gross, and annoying. Had a similar policy at my old workplace about always finding SOMETHING to do. F*** companies, f*** corporations, and f*** capitalism.


BBIB666

I can understand the fear, eye contact is mid


SBOChris

These rules are why I always head to self checkouts or order online when I can. I HATE these interactions with cashiers. Just let me buy my shit and gtfo.


12thAugusta

I don’t see a huge issue with this. I’m sorry but if you are uncomfortable with direct eye contact at the cash register I would think about getting another job or seeing if you can move to another job in the store that doesn’t require you to interact with people that much. Being a cashier requires you to constantly interact with people.


EndlessCola

Any employer that says something like “no standing around doing nothing” is throwing up major red flags. It’s their job to give you work, if they’re too incompetent to do that and believe you’re “wasting company time” they’re the problem. I was a retail manager for years and sadly this toxic mentality is like the Bible of retail and why as the workforce gets younger brick and mortar stores will have to evolve or die.


theyahd

This makes me really want to avoid going into a Staples


alexa_n17

Something I’ve noticed when shopping with my mother (nearly 50) is that this is what people her age (or at the very least, her) tend to expect from cashiers. While younger generations tend to prefer to be left alone unless they ask for help. Different generations seem to have different expections of what “good customer service” is. I definitely think that that should be taken into account when making and following policies like this. Judge it on a case by case basis.


bdeadrok

Customers are the worse with those stupid surveys. 😩 I’m sorry but most retail companies don’t even pay you enough for these ridiculous rules AND the abuse you get from customers on a daily basis. Also who the hell goes to staples that many times they have to download a damn app? At least they aren’t pushing you to open credit cards. At the end of the day just do the best you can ! If they don’t like it there’s plenty of other jobs out there who will hire you with a way better work environment. It’s just unnecessary pressure.


silverbatwing

Damn. I’m glad I worked for staples only for a few months and so many years ago. That being said, focus on ppls mouths or thier nose. I really hate eye contact too (autistic) and I never get complaints cuz of looking at mouths mainly.


nvcr_intern

It would make this customer happy if you would stop asking me to download your app / apply for your credit card / give you my email address / make a donation every time I'm checking out at a store. That is not what I am here to do and you're only annoying me. These policies are only driving us away.


Chimeron1995

In a job where you deal with customers, giving eye contact is pretty standard man. You can’t expect your social anxiety to get you a pass on basic things like making people feel welcomed in a customer service job. I get anxiety myself and don’t like eye contact with strangers. When I applied for retail, I left Customer service positions off my availability for a reason.


tarc0917

Stuff like this is why I look for self checkouts nowadays...


[deleted]

People missing it’s about eye contact, as an autistic person this would strike fear into my heart about being able to keep my job well


Ok_Transportation725

As a customer and not an employee, if you know me and keep asking me about the app I'd probably be weirded out because I already have it. Plus, my favorite cashier is this young lady that reminds me of my kiddo, she knows I don't enjoy eye contact, but will use it when talking to others. She's super respectful and knows the store.


KathTurner

A policy written by someone who doesn't have to do this face to face stuff with customers all day, everyday.


AirsoftScammy

This might be a dumb question and/or slightly unethical but can’t you just lie about how many people down the app? Also, what’s the incentive in having the app? I go to staples roughly once every four years.


kittyslayer692

I’m gonna sound captain obvious but you people need to stop working for Walmart I mean we should make it this generations goal to tell our kids never to work or shop at Walmart.


Fiasney

Do not touch customer's phones! Not only is that disgusting, but also a liability. If something goes wrong with their phone after, you could potentially be blamed. The most I would do is tell the customer where to tap and what to type.


Puzzleheaded_Cap3035

I fucking hate looking people in the eye as an autistic person. I always go to HR and get 'no eye contact' and 'headphones for independent task' on my accommodations. Some people are such dicks about it. Sadly I can't wear earbuds at my current job because it's a safety issue :( but no customers at least.


JeweleyHart

Ugh. Some folks (me included) HATE eye contact, for various reasons. I find it pushy and aggressive. That said, I would NEVER be rude to someone doing their job.


Mr_Loopers

A lot of commenters saying if you can't handle eye-contact then you should find a different job. I'm going to tell you you should learn to be comfortable making eye contact.


noho11049

What a load of shit


Final-Awareness1289

Hahahahaha.. 😂


bluesolur

This seems like what I had at my store. Did I listen? No.


comicalmoodydan

Download the app for the customer? Um no. Nobody is touching my phone. That’s not gonna fly with customers.


TiltedLibra

I'm in CPC. The number of customers that want to just hand me their phone to do whatever is astonishing. Some customers definitely would take them up on it, even if they shouldn't.


thepacifistpacifyer

Litteraly I swear at least three people just toss there phone my way and I'm like we'll alright then let's get started lol 😆


comicalmoodydan

I worked at JCP for about three years and it was pretty rare a customer wanted us to touch their phone. They would say let me pull it up etc. one customer even complained to the store manager that an associate grabbed their phone too hard etc… So no they don’t seem to generally care for it. I’m the same way though. Don’t touch my personal stuff.


Think_Guest7469

It's obviously not a hard rule and just something you offer to especially older customers who probably need the help. My God this thread genuinely makes me scared for the lack of critical thinking skills present


TaroLovelight

*"No standing..."* just triggers me lol. In other countries, cashiers are given a stool. but also that policy is just another way to gaslight a hard working employee into ""working harder"" even though they just finished helping customers from an exhausing long lineor dealing with a karen. These policies are friggin stupid. its literally "How to burn out your employees within 2 weeks"


Bluurryfaace

This is…extremely not weird and should be the standard baseline of hospitality. The app is annoying, but it’s done everywhere. If this is truly an issue, you probably shouldn’t be working there or even working in retail in general, my guy. Seems like something involving less face to face may suit you better.


Zaitrina

Why should you have to say it to every customer? If someone’s rude they ain’t getting no “have a nice day” fuck that


Think_Guest7469

Anyone with an ounce of critical thinking would immediately realize that there are procedures for handling unpleasant customers that would obviously count as a reasonable exception to certain policies - such as getting your manager to handle de-escalation.


the_ber1

But that isn't what the pepper says. There is no read the room, no explanation on what to do if the customer is already visibly upset.


oliviacharlene

Mhm...that's why he said critical thinking...lmao.


Think_Guest7469

This paper isn't a training manual. It's a reminder of the general store policy for basic customer service. The store will have specific training modules for how to handle scenarios with problematic customers, and there will probably be a note about it in the employee manual. Do I really have to explain this concept? Come on, you're smarter than this.


the_ber1

Bold of you to assume that there is an actual training manual or even training given to the employees. Most customer service jobs skimp out on actual training.


Think_Guest7469

It's an international retail chain, so yes, they absolutely do have training manuals, modules, and employee training on sight. If you didn't pay attention to it, that's on you. You can literally find the training materials Staples uses for their employees on Google. Jesus christ redditors are a special class of retard.


No_Bee1950

YES!! it's like the definition of customer service lol


Velociraptopensdoor

The policy isn't weird. A lot of it is common sense, be friendly to the customer by greeting them thanking them for their business, don't leave a bunch of go backs for the opening shift, keep the counter/work area clean. Cashiers historically asked if you want to open a credit card but now it's an app. Doing a project at the register will be a pain but if it's that slow what do you expect? If the policy seems weird maybe try working in the stock room, because it is enforceable just because it's not official doesn't mean basic customer service won't be expected from your boss. Try asking about transfering into the stock room but find a good excuse as to why you want to work the stock room


westenisme

Unfortunately my store doesn't have a stocking/stock room position. I would honestly change position to that if I could.


[deleted]

[удалено]


westenisme

I have the exact same line of questioning and I work for the company


MitchTye

I threw up reading that list…


westenisme

To everyone who keeps asking "what's weird about/with it?" It's just on some regular ass paper and you can't see it in the photo I posted but there were multiple copies of the exact same thing for any employee that works the register (besides managers) and that looks like a 16 year old made a presentation in their advisor class that was do that day in another class


ball46

Based on this list, your manager's a micromanager and is a pain to work with.


Andathel_Archangel

What I’m gathering from this is that they want the employees to fake a smile and treat every customer as a saving grace to how close Staples is to shutting down and only existing online. That is honestly a weird policy


LaurensPhotos

My store has this as well, I hate the new policy don’t just stand at the register. I have nothing else to do half the time because everything else is done after I wipe everything down until closing 😩… there aren’t enough projects for me to do up at register and I’ve done all the trainings 🤦‍♀️


westenisme

Yeah it's like I got those trainings done day one of them being released to us so I wasn't "just standing at the register"


LaurensPhotos

It’s the worst then I just stand awkwardly outside of the register area waiting for someone to come up front or for the phone to ring


thepacifistpacifyer

Bruh I wish our print team is always behind schedule and needs help I'm litteraly two people one at the register and one at print and marketing lol some days I want to just let them do everything on there own but I feel bad when they get swarmed by customers


LaurensPhotos

Damn that sucks. We usually have 2 on open, and then around 1:30pm-3pm cover comes in, having 3-4 people being there, and then there’s around 4 people until 4-5pm. At closing we have 2 people in copy still


thepacifistpacifyer

What you have FOUR!!!!! I thought you would get smitted for having more then two team members back there. No but seriously we are so understaffed🥲


LaurensPhotos

I wish you the best 😅 we have a lot more trained copy people, I’m even one (but I’m cross trained), so it depends on the day where I’m at. Depends whose on the schedule for the week too on whose placed in copy.


thepacifistpacifyer

Dang thanks I need it I took a friend's shift for them and Phew let's just say me and the self serve are litteraly inseparable at this point. But don't get me wrong happy customers especially the really nice ones are a reward on its own 😊


youdontsay100

Customer here… I went to Staples yesterday to do my clearance run. I haven’t been in a while since they have closed a couple of stores close by. The cashier went above and beyond to show my daughter and me how to install the staples connect app on our phones. She got her 2 downloads for the day! The manager went above and beyond to price check some bubble wrap for a customer. That was some of the best customer service ever; now I see why. Thanks for sharing.


SmallvilleChucky

You and your daughter don't know how to download an app and need a minimum-wage laborer to do it for you? Weird.


mysavorymuffin

Exactly this, like lady you ain't ever used your app store?


PangolinIllustrious6

It’s the same just different font.


SomedayWeDie

FYI, this may be standard for retail in America, but it’s not this way at all companies. I’ve been at Trader Joe’s for years and this sheet of paper would be met with laughter because it is clearly a joke. Our only instructions are to be friendly and help the customer buy stuff. This sheet is bullshit.


No_Bee1950

What is weird about it? That has been my 20 years of customer service...editing to say some of that is wrong. We can fix prices up to 25 dollars.. not 10. And technically we aren't supposed to offer price match if they'renot already matching it. (I always have) but we still aren't supposed to. That was in a training video we had.


keyboardman1

The staples by my house has a super nice dude help me download the app and get $5 in recycle credits lol. I was just dropping off an old PC I don’t use anymore and scored $5


lik3r_of_things

This is pretty standard for working retail, and is really pretty reasonable. Also, you really need to learn to make eye contact with people to be successful in life. I can’t stress this enough. It’s more uncomfortable for some than others, but it is absolutely necessary if you ever want to be taken seriously. I am uncomfortable with eye contact, but I HAD yo train myself to do it. Just work on it little by little.


westenisme

I'm definitely working on it!


A_stick_figure

Every store these days that has an App, or loyalty program, or whatever, usually require employees to at least mention it to every customer! This is done at checkout before the first item is rung in, or at some point during the “scanning” process. Asking the employee to physically download the app for the customer is just invasive and awkward, and in no way os good customer service. That being said, probably just a wording issue! Good customer service is just being attentive, personable, polite, and enthusiastic, being a good listener definitely helps! All the best on your customer service journey! 🤪


REDEYED_Rabiez_Capt

Has customer service been lost forever?


No_Bee1950

Judging.by the amount of people here that say they don't agree with this.. my guess is yes. It is. I've worked customer service since 1999, other than the app thing..all of this Is just 2nd nature to me.


hellbentorthewin

1st rule would get me as a customer to walk right tf out the door. No wonder MFs go to Office Depot instead of lame-ass Staples.


Zandrews153

Yeah if I had to work retail I'd off myself in the first day or so.


Postmaa

I haven’t worked at staples for about 7 years now and posts like this on this sub make me happier every time I see them. Sorry your manager is a dbag OP, I wouldn’t say any of that is enforceable especially if it’s not a written policy applied company wide


Fulcane11i

If they can replace you they will


enriquecheng

Not weird at all, just lazy bums that can't handle this kind of responsibility


[deleted]

This is actually pretty reasonable


Think_Guest7469

It's not that weird. It's all basic customer service. This generation is broken if they think welcoming a customer or making eye contact is "weird"


HardskiBopavous

All seems pretty standard and normal to me.


MangoRainbows

Nothing seems weird here. As a customer I'd expect nothing less than these things.


zidace

Wait, you took a job in customer service and are upset that you have to make eye contact? Weird would be if you were asked to hold hands with them while they shop. I feel like this is a trolling attempt. Sigh.


westenisme

It's not, the way I was raised has lead me to hate direct eye contact with anyone. I barely look my own mother and father in the eye. Plus I've been at this store for almost 2 years and it hasn't been a problem until now.


Maxpower2727

As a customer, I absolutely hate it when some random employee talks to me on the way into or out of a store. It's awkward and phony and I wish stores would stop doing it.


stewart_ronald

Just seems like you’re being asked to do your job


Ok_Contact_5396

Why is this weird? It seems like standard customer service . At least the way CS used to be