- Prepare yourself mentally. This is especially important during busy holiday seasons. You need to be able to do your job quickly and efficiently. Before you punch in, remind yourself that you are in for a busy day.
- Be patient with customers. Those who have to wait in line are notoriously impatient and some take it out on you when they finally do reach the register. Be patient and listen to their complaints while smiling and getting them checked out as soon as possible.
- Know your limits. If you have more customers than you know you can handle, ask for help as soon as possible. It is always better to ask for help than to give poor customer service.
- Keep your cool. There are always going to be customers who are rude, impatient and downright mean. Don't engage them. Listening quietly and respond with "I'm sorry to hear that" to their complaints. If they are just being mean, don't respond with words. Keep your cool by simply smiling and telling yourself that they will be gone in a minute.
- Stay focused. Getting flustered because you are busy is not going to help you get through the day. Stay focused by reminding yourself that you can only help one customer at a time and you can do only so much.
- Take your time. When you are dealing with complicated or difficult transactions, it is better to take your time and do it right the first time than to go back and fix your mistakes.
- Never raise your voice. Even if you are dealing with the meanest, most rude customer ever, do not raise your voice under any circumstances. It is very unprofessional and reflects poorly on you and the store.
By: Bambi Blue
Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and codemonkey living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She moonlights as a jazz musician, a social butterfly, and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter.
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