Thread: I wasn't "One of the boys"

Originally Posted by peter_sm

I
I honestly wonder what I did wrong, or is it that I am just not "one of the boys"

Got it in one. Happens all the time. When going to places that deal mostly with tradies, you will often get frozen out if you can't speak the lingo. DAMHIKT. Three choices, really:

Avoid going there
Learn the lingo
Put up with it

Being a female woodworker I am sometimes treated in a similar manner to how you were treated when I go into hardware stores or timber yards. I always try to know the name of what I am after and find taking a deep breath before I go in to the store helps! If the people are a bit rude or unpleasant I usually dont bother going back unless I have no choice.

Go buy a handyman book so you can familiarise yourself with all these terms,there are plenty around.

I'm 6'2', very blokey and wear the right coloured overalls and still I get the sniffy response from 9 out of10 timber/hardware/plumbing/electrical supply store employees.
In my mind they are just "shop assistants" until they decide to mature, learn to do their job properly and loose the attitude. Those that do get my business, those that don't, will continue to get their time wasted by me as I ask them endless and pointless bloody questions out of malicious spite.
I'm a bad man... \

you need to understand

that in doing their job ,

selling you timber, tools,and hardware, etc

as they watch you load all the goodies into your car

and enthusiastically drive off to your next project,

they are constantly reminded

that they are selling,

and not making

I think it is more an attitude change over the years. It used to be that as a customer I have the money and I was doing them a favour by purchasing their product. Now it seems to be they think they are doing me the favour by having the product that I want. I will support businesses which support their product and provide assistance when required.

Corbs

What they do not realise that if customers do not come in, the business fails, they have no job. Retailing is that simple.

I certainly wouldn't be going back to that supplier again, there is no need for that kind of an attitude and if you can't handle customers in a polite and respectful way, then maybe a guy like that should not be in a job where he has to deal with the public. There are lots of suppliers out there who do show appreciation for your custom and make you feel welcome. I know it must be frustrating sometimes for these guys when someone like myself goes into their store and don't know the correct terminology to use but most salespeople I have come across, tolerate this from their customers and help and advise to the best of their ability. It should not be necessary to buy a book and learn the jargon or technical terms of every little item you may need to purchase. You may never need to use those same items again. The salesperson is suppose to be there to help you and in all fairness, I must say, that most of them do just that.
If suppliers have no tolerance toward the general public then they should restrict sales to trade only.

Originally Posted by underfoot

you need to understand

that in doing their job ,

selling you timber, tools,and hardware, etc

as they watch you load all the goodies into your car

and enthusiastically drive off to your next project,

they are constantly reminded

that they are selling,

and not making

You hit that nail squarely on the head

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

Three choices, really:

Avoid going there
Learn the lingo
Put up with it

There's a fourth choice: go in with a sidekick (in full work clobber - you need to look the part) and invent your own lingo. Have a quiet mutter & snigger with your sidekick when the bloke at the desk looks baffled. They'll generally fall over 'emselves to work out what the hell you're on about.

My ex-boss (who was a Tradie BTW) used to do this all the time just to wind up the "desk jockeys."

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

....My ex-boss (who was a Tradie BTW) used to do this all the time just to wind up the "desk jockeys."

Good one.

Did you go to the Reece trade desk .....

I'm a qualified tradie and i got treated badly with one of the guys from bunnings. I still shop there, but what i do now is, 2 items in pocket, 1 item on the counter (2 for me, 1 for them). Walk out the door - "thanks for the freebies Bunnings!"

The clowns behind the counter are morons and the ones who employ them are bigger morons. Most of their tradie mates are also moronic.

Be very glad that you are not part of their very sus tight little circle.