Proper Store Etiquette During the Pandemic

When you walk into a store these days it will probably be very different than it was a year ago. With the onset of the Covid 19 they made all these rules like wearing masks and standing 6 feet apart in lines to not being able to enjoy a nice dinner inside a restaurant because of the fear of spreading the virus. The current rules and regulations for being inside a store has really changed since the 80’s when I remember going into stores and restaurants and watching people smoking inside them. That was a very serious health hazard which contributed to many second hand smoke and cancer cases.

When you are an employee like me who works in the Customer Service field you expect everyone to be as courteous as you when dealing with human to human interaction. That does not always happen and I have to bite my tongue and not say anything. There are so many times that I wish I could have called the customer out for being an “asshole” and send them out via a stiff kick in the ass. That would not have been good for my employment and for the store image. The following paragraphs are a quick outline of how you as a consumer should act when you are in stores or interacting with employees of the store.

I see many people in a day and the majority of them are wearing the mask properly. There are a few that do wear the mask the wrong way. They wear it below there nose and sometimes off of their face altogether. We as service employees do not want to get the virus because of the customers stupidity. Sure it may be hard to breath in, but you as the customer needs to think of other people too. By wearing the mask properly, you are not just helping yourself from contracting the virus but if you have it and your asymptomatic you are helping people that are around you not contract it. It all comes down to the customer being selfish and thinking that they are immune to the virus.

Another behavior that is risky during the pandemic is standing too close to an essential worker while asking a question. What I really hate is while I’m working in the department and a customer will come up to me and be literally a foot away and start asking me about a certain item. I try not to be rude but usually I will take a few steps back and then answer the shoppers question. The rule of thumb these days is to be 6 feet apart while conversing or if you are waiting in line to pay. Like I mentioned above asymptomatic is carrying the virus but not having any symptoms. That distance of 6 feet gives everyone a little safe zone in case you do have the virus and don’t know it. It’s also common courtesy not to be up in someone’s face while asking a question. I also may add if you do need to interrupt a worker while doing there job please say, “Excuse me Sir/Mam”.

While shopping in a store you may accidentally run into an item on the shelf and knock it off. Sometimes this item may shatter into a tons of pieces(glass). If that happens we ask you to go find an employee in the store and tell them you had an accident. We will gladly come over and clean it up so no one will get hurt by slipping or getting cut on the glass. That also is the same if you knock something off the shelf in the produce department. What I hate most is when I see a customer knock something like a head of Romaine lettuce onto the ground and just walk off. In that case please pick it up and give it to an employee so they can rinse it off or cull it if it is damaged.

One of the more important things for good etiquette is being polite and saying excuse me if they need to get an item were I’m working at. I really hate the people who are all up in your business and reach around you to grab the item. Is it that hard to say excuse me or wait till the worker is done to grab the item you need? I don’ think so!! I do it all the time while I’m out shopping for my groceries and it works well. Remember if you need to ask a question and the employee is busy…do not butt in to the conversation and interrupt. What we like is for you to wait your turn. Remember the nicer you are the better service you will get.

Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. This is a very important concept in life, especially when it is busy either it be on the freeway or in a store line. These days all of us is dealing with the change and some people are having it more difficult than others. We don’t like hearing customers yell “hurry up” or give us attitude when it’s busy. We all are trying our best. Today for example I saw an older man throw up his arms and say, “Can you move it” That for example is what we don’t want to see. It’s not cool and we remember it for the future. Plus it rubs off on other people. If you the customer is feeling that way try taking a deep breath while closing your eyes for a second. That technique was taught to me by a therapist and I rely on it to this day.

There are many other small things that we recommend doing to get better service. Those I mentioned above are the major ones that come up daily with the essential worker that works in a market/grocery store. If someone is being rude or not polite don’t lower yourself to their standards. Be the better person and take the road that brings happiness

Till later

Joe