How Rude!

I just got back from grocery shopping with Jordan and every time we go it ends poorly.  Today was no different.  Some of the people that work at the grocery store are SO RUDE.  I over use the word rude, but it is the only way to describe this experience. 

Very Stephanie Tanner of me

First of all the woman who was checking us out was ordering us to put one of those grocery sticks back in its place.  Of course she was using an unhappy tone and speaking in German so I just smiled like I knew what she was saying and put it back.   Putting the customer to work… thanks lady.  I was still in a good mood at this point.

Grocery sticks

Secondly, once it was our turn at the front of the line the woman tried to scan all items as quickly as possible and fire them off the end of the mini ledge they have at the end of the conveyer.  Is this really necessary?  There is no one behind us in line… are you trying to break a Guinness world record for fastest grocery scanning?  I had groceries all over the floor at my feet, and was starting to get a little angry… they do this EVERY time.  I have no idea why they do not have a place for the groceries to go after they scan them but I guess they expect you to throw them right back in your cart and sort them after your done paying. 

Not the best example...
There looks to be a place for groceries to go after they are scanned

Thirdly, not that this should bother me (but because I am already in a bad mood due to their extremely poor sense of customer service), the checkout ladies SIT in a comfy chair all day while they do this.  This is NOT a difficult job.  Smiles are free, they have McDonald’s here, they should know that!  Seriously though, I try to be friendly at all times and a smile never hurts anyone.

Lastly, to top off the wonderful checkout experience, they did not take credit card.  I just don’t get how everyone here carries cash (though it is probably the smartest way to handle personal finances).  They had a little machine that looked as though they accepted credit card but it must have only been for local bank cards.  Anyways, Jordan showed the lady the card, and instead of just saying no (or nicht, which we also would have understood), she decided to rant about god only knows what (probably how much she hated us).  The groceries came to €34 and we had €30.  I had to dig in my purse for a handful of change and took my sweet a** time counting every penny.  Sorry lady, we aren’t done with you yet!

Not only have we had bad service while grocery shopping but also in the mall.  The other day I got kicked out of H&M 10 minutes before close and the lady did not even want to let me go find Jordan and tell him I was leaving.  She wanted me out of there that bad!  I have worked retail, I know it’s not the greatest job, not to mention I would never stay a second past closing time (as a former employee I hate when people do this, also rude).  I just wonder how in the world a business is supposed to sell anything if the customers are angry every time they walk into a store because of a poor shopping experience they had there previously.  Very North American of me to feel this way I’m sure.  I guess people here are not concerned with shopping experience and/or I’m too high maintenance.

This looks to be a nice transaction

The lady at the grocery store around the corner from us is so sweet, she smiles and isn’t trying to break any scanning records.  We will have to shop there more often because I am getting way too worked up about shopping at these other places!  Good thing I don’t have any Christmas shopping to do this year J

I love it here and would not change this experience for anything.  It is eye opening to see the differences from back home and exciting to explore new places.  At the end of the day I will take the little bad with all good and do my best to enjoy every second I have here.

Auf Wiedersehen