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June 03, 2009

Rant on disrespect

Ok, I normally don't go off here on a rant, but today I feel like it.

What on earth is wrong with people? Why can't we respect one another? I was visiting with my mom and dad on Friday afternoon. My mom works for Wal-mart as a greeter. She is the most beautiful person on the inside AND out. She has lived a long life working hard to take care of her children and husband and when she should be retiring, like many folks out there she has to work a little longer instead. My mom wouldn't hurt a flea. But there are people out there who are so rude to her that I want to literally slap them. Seriously. You be mean to my mommy who is the sweetest lady on the face of the earth (next to my Aunt Marlene & Aunt Ann) and I'm going to get defensive.

Mom has told me that when you check out at Wal-mart that if you don't have an item bagged they are required to ask to look at your receipt. It is part of their job. So why do people get defensive when they are asked to see their recipt? If you have nothing to hide, why should it be a problem for you to show it. Why does it offend you? My mom is just doing her job. Let me tell you, the next time I was in Wal-mart and I had a big ole bag of chips that weren't bagged, I was ready with my receipt for the lady at the door. I was not going to be rude to her and just keep walking on saying "I don't have time, I paid for it and I'm leaving" and not stop. I'm going to give the lady or gentleman doing doing their job (who probably really has worked hard all their life and is working past retirement because they need to!) the respect they deserve and then tell them to have a nice day.

Are you so rushed that you think it is ok to be rude to someone? Do you think that because you are having a bad day that it is ok to be unkind to someone else? Stop and think about if the situation were reversed (and it could be one day!!!) and how you would want to be treated. What goes around comes around people. Be kind. Smile. Show others respect. You will be much more well received by others.

42 Comments:

  1. Thanks for this post....great point....
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  2. I don't think we have this system here, so i don't ge tgit when you say if it is not bagged.
    But about treating people, i think you should treat everybody with respect.
    I always think you want to have peoples respect , then you treat people with respect too.
    What ever job or postion you have.
    It is far better to be humble than be a nasty person.
    That is what I always tell my daughter be humble , polite etc. etc...
    And if anybody is disrespect to my mom i would also slap them literally.
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  3. I hear you honey... I see it all the time and it's really bothersome! I'm sure your mother is as nice as can be... hope it doesn't get her down.
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  4. You said it! And well, I might add!
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  5. SO TRUE! I cannot believe how rude some people can be. Why can't we all be curteous to each other?

    Rant away, Shelby! :)
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  6. That just makes me sad to read that about your mom and how people treat her. I always say "treat people how you want to be treated yourself". Some people are so rude. I don't think they even love themselves let alone others.
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  7. I don't get that either. It's their job, so just be nice and show them the respect they deserve. I hate when people get like that.
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  8. I have no tolerance for rudeness or for people who are just being unkind. Your mom sounds like a wonderful woman. :)
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  9. Great Job Shelby! You are right on all points! Your mom was your fierce protector and now it's your turn with her. People are idiots...I told you...THEY WALK AMONG US...
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  10. Amen! I couldn't have put it better myself!
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  11. Geeze Honey, I like your attitude. And I agree that there is no excuse for rude behavior. Nice post. (Isn't it great to have a place to rant when you need to?)
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  12. I agree completely!

    If we all lived with respect and kindness toward others AND to ourselves, think how wonderful the world could be!
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  13. The lack of respect for others really shocks me sometimes...
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  14. I agree, people are so rude these days. Everyone deserves to be respected and treated well!
    Your mom sounds like a wonderful person.
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  15. I just can't stand rude people...good for you for posting this Shelby. We don't have a Walmart but if I ever visit one, I will have my receipt ready.
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  16. I agree that there needs to be a lot more kindness in todays world Shelby.We should all walk in each others shoes for just one day when you are being rude to your waitress or the cashier, or anyone trying to make a living.
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  17. I don't understand it, either! Who could ever be rude to a sweet lady like your mom? Kudos for sticking up for her!
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  18. I'm sorry to hear about this happening to your mom. My mom work at Walgreen's as a cashier and she tells me stories of rude people there as well. I feel bad for her because she is such a pleasant and kind person.
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  19. Amen!!!! I am so tired of a world that is only about themselves and could care less about others. Have some respect. I'm sorry people are awful
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  20. People are just asses! Rude, mean asses to be exact!sorry to your mommy
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  21. I've never been able to understand why people get upset when their receipts are checked. If you think it's an affront to your freedom or your rights DON'T SHOP THERE. Go someplace else and pay more money. And if you don't like the policies of a store, don't take it out on the employees, speak to management or write the corporate offices. Ranting on a poor woman who is doing her job like your mom is cowardly.
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  22. I've also seen people totally ignore the greeters like they weren't even there. Those are probably going to be the same people who are going to have a fit when they greet you and you ignore them.

    No matter who it is, it's just disrespectful to not at least say hello back. As for what happened to your mom, I've seen that too. I've even seen someone wave off the attendant when their bags set off the alarm! As if to say, 'shoot, I paid, and I know it... I'm not stopping!'

    I'd be mad too if someone did that to my mom. Now go get you a cup cake and smile :D
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  23. That's just so wrong Shelby, I'd be fighting mad too! You go girl!
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  24. Consumer Rights GuyJun 3, 2009 05:48 PM
    You and I may not agree 100% on this issue, but I hope you will approve my comment so we can discuss it respectfully. I'd also be interested to know what your mother thinks of the following information.

    As soon as you pay for the merchandise, it becomes as much your personal property as the contents of your pocket or purse. Store employees can only inspect that property with your permission. Why not just show the receipt or let the greeter look through your bags? Because asking to verify my purchase is basically implying that I'm suspected of shoplifting. Since I don't steal and know that such inspections will be fruitless, I choose not to participate in them. However, this doesn't make me rude or uncooperative.

    State laws prevent private citizens from forcibly or coercively searching others. A receipt check is simply a consent search: You ask my permission, and I choose whether to grant or withhold it. A greeter's job, then, is not to check every receipt, but to ASK to check receipts, an important distinction that preserves the individual customer's choice in the matter.

    When a store greeter or security guard asks to see my receipt, my standard reply is "No, thank you. Have a great day!" accompanied by a smile and wave as I leave the store. Since it's my choice whether to open my property to inspection, I'm in no way interfering with anyone's job. I've only been pleasant and polite. When someone asks my permission, it is not rude or disrespectful to withhold it if I find the alternative (being searched) to be disagreeable.

    It's unfortunate that some customers reply rudely instead of politely declining the receipt checks, but greeters are placed in the unenviable position of asking if they can make sure we sneaky shoppers didn't steal. It should come as no surprise that such a cheeky inquiry puts people on the defensive. Wouldn't you agree?
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  25. Consumer rights guy: If everyone responded the way you just stated you would respond it wouldn't be considered rude. What is rude when people use swear words and treat the person asking as if they are doing something wrong when they are only doing their job. Its like someone else commented. If that is how someone feels about being asked to show the receipt, then they just shouldn't frequent the stores that do follow this practice. To me its not that they don't trust ME per se. There is a lot of theft and I am not offended in any way by being asked to show a receipt. It might be your purchase, but your still on the property of the business. Personally, I feel if your an honest person, why on earth does it bother you to show that you paid for what is in your cart?
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  27. Consumer Rights GuyJun 3, 2009 06:20 PM
    It is shameful and inexcusable when a hotheaded customer swears or shouts at a greeter simply for asking him or her a question. Greeters who are mistreated in this way certainly have my sympathy.

    There's no reason to avoid stores that ask to see receipts, because whether or not it's store policy to ask, it's still up to the individual whether or not to allow the search. There's no conflict with the two; I'm not surprised or offended when they ask, and they need not be surprised or offended when I say no.

    Yes, you're still on the business' property, and that business is free to set whatever policies it wishes as long as they do not violate state law. A store cannot require customers to submit to exit searches or prevent them from leaving until they do so; employees who try to use force could be arrested on unlawful detainment or false imprisonment charges. While stores have the right to make you leave their property, they cannot hold you inside against your will.

    If you're an honest person, why not just let them search you? Because asking every shopper to prove he or she's not a thief is poor customer service that we shouldn't reward with our voluntary participation.
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  28. Everyone feels a little violated when asked to show proof. We know we paid for it, but they don't and unfortunately there are plenty of people who don't and all of us suffer.

    Well said, HB.
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  29. I'm sorry that your mom has to deal with that. It sounds like she's earned retirement and it sucks that she has to keep working. I wish that those who have worked really hard all their lives could just relax and enjoy retirement, but then I guess it's also those people that might not want to stop! Well I hope that people will stop being such jerks and start being more considerate. What makes them so special anyway?!
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  30. Such a shame that common courtesy has practically become the exception rather than the rule.
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  31. I say this all the time...."if you did nothing wrong and have nothing to hide....why so defensive?" I mean, GAWD, the receipt is practically still warm from the printer...what's the big deal? Do these same people get 'ticked' when they leave Sam's Club, Costco or BJ's wholesale stores where you CAN'T leave/wait in a line until the person at the door checks that your purchases in your cart match your receipt?

    People are unreal Shelby...I am sure these same rude people honk behind you the second after the light turns green !
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  32. CRG - my whole point of this post was how my mom is treated. If someone actually refused politely, then that wouldn't bother me. It isn't just one incidence either - it has been several.

    I don't feel the same as you do about being asked to show my receipt but I do understand that everyone has different thoughts and feelings and we won't always agree, but like I have said many times to friends and family, we can always agree to disagree!

    Thanks to all for leaving your comments!
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  33. I couldn't agree with you more! My Mother is the kindest person and it makes me SOOO angry when people dis-respect her for NO reason but they just have something wrong with them and a stick up their a$$.

    MOM POWER!
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  34. Don't even get me started on the rudeness! What's wrong with people.
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  35. Shame on that customer for treating your mother so abominably.
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  36. Amen!!! I never understood why people go out of their way to be rude. Isn't it just as easy to give people a smile and be nice??
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  37. CRG, I can't publish your last comment. I draw the line when my readers are attacked and like I said in my last comment I left, this was all about how my mother was treated. Not the fact that Wal-mart checks your receipts for unbagged items.
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  38. Shelby, there is NO excuse for rudeness... I might be old and blond, but I didn't really buy in to the "justification" some posted here... Kathye
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  39. Great post! I love my Walmart greeters they are so kind and adorable! Your mom is probably the best greeter ever!
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  40. Ok, you've hit on a sore spot with me......I CAN NOT tolerate anyone being rude to an elderly person. If I had been there to witness that behavior I would have had to speak up. It may not be my "place" but I would not have been able to stop myself.

    I'm very sorry that anyone has been unkind to your mom!
    ~ingrid
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  41. This is a great post! Respect and common courtesy should be very important to everyone.
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  42. Ya know I read this a while ago when you first posted it. Do you know that every time I go to walmart now I say good morning to the greeter and smile and I kep my receipt out as I leave. :)
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