Customer Relationship Management System

i manage a very busy pet store, and i get very frustrated very easily with the customers. why?

i'm really good at self analyzation, but i can't figure out why i get so frustrated at work. i manage a very popular, very busy (non-chain) pet store. it's like my dream job, im happy working with the animals although it's tiring being on my feet all day. i have worked here for 2 years, and love it love love it!! but some days, like today, i get so irritated by customers' stupidity that i get pissy and short with them. then i get mad that i act that way. for example, we have a sign when you walk in that says "no photographs or camera phones" what do people do? immediately start taking photos, i exhaustedly say to them "please, no pictures." then they dont hear me so i say it again, then i say it again and point to the sign and walk away. i like kids, but i dont like them running around, screaming, making messes of the bird toys, and listening to their stupid parents (i dont have kids obviously) say "annie, what is that? is that a bird? annie is that a bird? can you say bird, annie? annie, say bird?" i'm like thinking "just shut up already!" how can i calm myself down and set a boundary so their actions don't upset me so much. even after i get home, im still feeling frustrated! help me! good advice!!!!!!!! keep it coming!

Public Comments

1. Everyone gets annoyed with the stupidity of others. I understand what you're going through, unfortunately I just stay annoyed and angry as well. If I worked in a pet store I'd be a huge b!tch because I LOVE animals and if I hear anyone talking about how to care for an animal and actually not know, I would get allll in their business. People should pass an IQ test or something before owning a pet.
2. The one thing you have to remember is, that you have been there 2 years but the people walking in are there for the first time. So what you have heard over and over, they are just experiencing it for the first time. No matter how you look at it, you will always have bad days. When things start to get to you, step back and try and see how the customers are seeing it. Good Luck!
3. Consider the context: Retail (been there) with animals (not in retail but yes again) and people (need I say more on this) and it's just not a great mix most of the time. I don't know if you consider yourself a people person, I know I'm not, but I like animals. I would not do well in that situation, not to mention retail is no picnic because of... the people! The thing you have to remember is there is a consumer mentality. It bugs me that people even think in terms of buying a pet, because the situations I've been involved in at least cats and dogs are done through adoption and not just purchased outright. It's something that's alive, but with pets a lot of people think about themselves and the satisfaction they get out of it rather than taking care of the animal. So I have to say, it's -kind- of human nature. In spite of numerous examples to the contrary I qualify the statement because I know it can be different even if it's in the minority of cases. Practical advice? I'm sorry to say it may be to not view them as human beings, but as customers. The fact is that's how a lot of people kind of approach the situation, and just because they have a few bucks they think they have all these rights. You can try to educate them by making certain comments when the opportunity arise, but since that is not your job function and not the nature of business you can only do so much. Now if it really is just stupidity and not that people don't care, try to focus on the latter and work with that. Because you probably would have a harder time getting a smart person to care if they just really don't - but a dumb person who cares would be willing to learn.