Hi fellow shoppers Do you ever experience a time when you wish you were conducting a secret shop while just out shopping? I need to vent a little here, to ppl who'll know where I'm coming from. As a shopper, and a former 23yr employee of a warehouse store, where we were taught to act appreciative towards our customers, I had a horrible experience tonight. I was at my local grocery store, a small chain mainly based in southern California, and this bagger was so unprofessional. This wasn't the first time either. So, let me start from the beginning... a couple of months ago I asked an employee who was in an aisle checking inventory, where an item was located. This young man, probably just barely 18, who's sweeping the aisle I'm on stops and joins the conversation, right? Then, he apologizes saying that he just passed gas. I ask him what he said and he repeated it. I didn't react, figuring he's a kid, I'll let it slide and just pushed my cart a few feet away, awaiting directions from the first employee. Now, tonight the same young man was bagging my groceries and acted like he'd bumped into a shelf by the bags, saying to me (& only where I could hear him), that he'd bumped himself in his privates. I ignored him the first time he said it, but he tried again a bit later. He totally ignored how I'd requested him to bag my items, while putting gallon jugs of milk into only one of the two bags that I had. When he offered to help me to my car I told him, "I got it", and he actually said, "Good". Omg, now, I was really getting angry! Then, he really got me po-ed, when he said, "I keep hitting myself", while pointing to his crotch. I couldn't believe he'd said it again! I told him, "I don't want to hear that", to which he quickly apologized, while smirking and said, "I just had to tell someone". I asked the cashier if he'd heard what the bagger had said, he didn't. He didn't ask me about it any further either. I was fuming! I kept calm though and went to another register, asking the cashier if he was a manager. He said, "I'm one of them". I was trying to do this quietly, in a professional manner, but he kept in ringing up groceries. I asked if there was another available manager that I could speak with, then he said, "How can I help you?" I tried to tell him quietly what the young bagger had said to me. He said, "I'll talk to him". I then told him that he'd been crude to me before and explained the passing gas scenario. He just said again that he'd 'talk to him'. I left the store and the kid actually came out to the parking lot, as I was getting into my car, and smiled at me. I thought... since this has happened to me twice now, how many other customers have been treated in this ridiculous manner! I may write a letter or go to their headquarters in the next town over... Fuming, here... feedback please... Ughhhhh!!! Sooooo very frustrated and oh, how I wish I was conducting a shop.

Yes, write an email to corporate. It will come down through a regional, then district manager to the store manager and it will be addressed. I have worked in executive management in the retail sector and they do NOT like to get letters like this to corporate. Another option is to call the store and request the name and number of the district or regional manager. Sometimes, stores will refuse to give you this information. I just picked up a shop to the exact department in a major retailer where I have had bad experiences. I was happy to accept a purchase/return shop for this situation! LOL

Thank you for the support and suggestions. While I was working at the warehouse, I followed the proverbial chain of command. But, given the manager's lackadaisical response to my complaint, I'll probably just skip up to corporate. I've experienced other problems there before, but overall have been satisfied. Considering I've been shopping there since before that bagger was born, I'll probably just shop at another location from now on. Or, another grocery store altogether depending on how my complaint is handled at Corporate.

aydeedont, hope that your letter of complaint will get you a gift card or similar. My older sister, who is not a shopper, would call the company's 800 number and ask to speak to someone regarding poor customer service at some store/restaurant. This is of course, after she tried to get the situation resolved but the result was not satisfactory. She would then get a gift certificate of some sort for her next visit.

Thanks catgrannyof5 I may just try and call them. Their corporate office is really not far away though. I've cooled off somewhat, after venting. I realize that email is a good format for communicating, but there's something about dropping a physical letter in the mailbox that appeals to me. I actually had that thought flash through my mind, that they might try to appease me in that way. I am not in it for that, but I wouldn't refuse it either. Funny thing, I have written comments into a restaurant's website's via the Contact Us option, to give a compliment and they sent me 3 free meal coupons. I really did not expect that! A very long time ago, I had opened a can of tuna and found a dead fly in it. So, I sent the company a letter and included the actual fly. They replied with an apology and a check for $15. I hadn't expected anything from them and was surprised. Those are the only times I've personally contacted companies and I think they truly appreciate any feedback. I believe that, no matter what happens at a local store/restaurant, the upper management values all feedback. A customer's word of mouth is very influential and, although I would never threaten to try to give them a bad name, just telling a few people about my experience (good or bad) can have an impact on sales and reputation. From what I understand about the workplace sexual harassment laws, this young man's behavior could be seen as such, if he says things like that to fellow employees. I don't know how sexual harassment works with customers, but it does not reflect well at all on their image and choice of employees. Alright, I think I'm done now. Thanks again for listening :]

The kid is awkward and it sounds like the kid may have Asperger's. I'm more concern with the managers lack of discretion and professionalism. I'd probably go back to speak with the general manager about my experience before I wrote to corporate. I'm a firm believer in contacting upper management and even corporate as necessary but I wouldn't in this particular instance. "The manager" was probably just a shift lead.

Hmmm, Aspergers. I don't know much about it, but from what I do know I.e. social awkwardness, it sounds like a possibility. Thank you for the insight, I appreciate it.

It does sound like perhaps he has Aspergers, or maybe was trying to flirt with you in some bizarre manner. I would follow up with corporate, and also let them know how the manager also dropped the ball. What a weird and uncomfortable situation.

If you were writing a report what would you have put in it.-----------> The young kids "inappropriateness" or the MOD 's inability to stop what he was doing and assist you"? or the other employee whom did not "hear" what you heard?

Have you been back to the store since ^^^^this incident? Perhaps the young adult does have a medical condition, he might need retraining about customer service.. While the MOD needs to hire more people so he does not have to run the cashier line when the store is busy. U indicate you no longer stop at this store, maybe that is better for you and the store. If you write corporate, I hope you have names to go with the faces. It may not be necessary, but it would help corporate solve a problem if need be. .

Hi soji917 I suppose, if writing a report about my experiences at this store, I would input information where it was appropriate. Some questionnaires have additional space for comments, usually at the end of the form. So, depending on what I had been able to enter throughout the questionnaire, I would add what I thought would be useful information in the space provided.
I'm not sure why you would think that it would be better for the store if I discontinued shopping there. But, although inconvenient, I think I will shop elsewhere. At least as much as possible. As a customer, or even as a fellow employee, this young man's behavior is inexcusable. If you don't think so, then I'm wondering what you would tolerate before speaking up. As a woman, it was highly uncomfortable for me, with his referring to his private parts, not once but twice. As a mother, my son would be disciplined at home after being reprimanded at work for this. As a wife, my husband would be solo, on the couch, until he sincerely apologized.
As far as writing to corporate, I already did. Enough said.

It is not against the law to hire the disabled.or mentally challenged. As a career provider in the mental health field for 25+ years, we choose to go where they are employed. Choices is a basic human right, We have adapted to move forward or stay back. That is what we choose. The choice to leave the store was not apparent. Afterall, it was not a shop. The choice to speak to the owner at another time was not apparent..

The young man's conversation was not directed at you because no one else heard it. including those in the immediate area. Placing mentally challenge people in institutions is how they use to be reprimanded and disciplined. Mainstream society is where we now all exist. Sleeping on a couch may not be a bad idea.

I not saying this person was challenged, only his doctor knows for sure.

Hmmm, well sojo917, I'm afraid that your assessment of this young man's behavior is flawed. He was indeed directing the conversation specifically towards me. After I ignored his first attempt, he made the effort to say it again, while looking at me As he leaned inn towards me, awaiting a response... twice!
I have absolutely nothing against hiring the impaired or disabled. In fact, I had a high-functioning Autistic aide for a year, when I taught preschool. She was very sweet and loved the children. However, she had challenges in dealing with the students when they were non-complaint. She would eventually get fired for being physically inappropriate with a child. I also have taken numerous ASL.classes. And, in the past, I was a part of the Deaf Ministry at my church for many years. Additionally, I currently volunteer at the local public library to tutor English language learners. So, you should not critique someone you know nothing about. This is a forum and I was venting, not looking for a lesson in disabilities and society's responsibility towards understanding and empathizing with the needs of the disabled, mentally or physically.
I view it as a positive contribution to the community when a company employs people with disabilities or impairments. However, as a former supervisor in a big box company, the employee's behavior and treatment of the customer affects the customer's perception of the company. If the company's integrity is being compromised by ANY employee, such as in this case, it would need to be addressed. In the interest of both the company and the employee, proper corrective and instruction measures would have to be maintained.
Furthermore, I'm done explaining myself.to you sojo917 Have a great Super Bowl weekend. I hope your couch is comfy

If there is a reason for the behavior, such as Asperger's, the store will know it and can deal with it appropriately. Meanwhile, I wouldn't just assume and give his grossly inappropriate behavior a pass. He could be a damn predator in the making. In answer to the question about wishing it was a shop, I actually prefer when these things happen and I am not on a shop. There is no wondering how to word a report in order to convey the seriousness of the situation while maintaining objectivity or trying to be inconspicuous. Instead I go straight to the manager.

Thanks LisaSTL I actually sent an email to their company website. The store manager called me two days after that, requesting info from my receipt, and apologizing. I mentioned Asperger's to him, but he said he would not have any way of knowing if the bagger had it, but he would take it into consideration. They do have a program in place where they hire ppl w Special Needs.
I also conveyed to the manager that the manager I'd spoken with, at the store that night and who was cashiering at the time, may have thought that since the customer he was ringing up was an employee, it was okay to talk w me there.
Nevertheless, the manager who called said that the manager on duty that night handled the situation all wrong, especially since I asked him at the time if there was another manager (who wasn't in the public's eye) that I could speak with.
Anyhow, I think it's probably resolved now. I didn't want the kid to get fired necessarily, and don't know if they did, but the store managers deserved to know.
Thanks for understanding and, you're right, I guess I did what was best anyway in contacting the company via their website on my own. It's probably better that they handle it first hand than hearing it thru a shopper.
Happy Valentine's day!