Just asked about volunteering - rude manager?
So I'm off university for the summer and decided to go into a British Heart Foundation Shop and ask about volunteer work. I went in and a girl told me to speak to the manager. The manager heard her and said, "not now I'm going to go for lunch." She said, "it's about volunteering" and the manager replied, "oh well just take their phone number down" and then left. This was in full earshot of myself. I just found it very unprofessional and rude that the manager couldn't spare 5 minutes to talk to me.
On top of that, the girl taking down my details came across as an idiot and I had to correct her several times whilst writing my name and phone number. Now I'm not sure if I want to volunteer there at all. Am I overreacting or was it rude of the manager to behave in that way?
On top of that, the girl taking down my details came across as an idiot and I had to correct her several times whilst writing my name and phone number. Now I'm not sure if I want to volunteer there at all. Am I overreacting or was it rude of the manager to behave in that way?
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Or you could accept that she might have been in a rush and go back some other time, maybe mid-afternoon when it's not so busy, and ask then.
Try finding a place which supports a specific local issue like a hospital or hospice. These tend to have (in my experience anyway) people who are a lot more in tune with why they are volunteering. Quite simply, I wouldn't volunteer for an organisation I was uncomfortable with and I have walked away from situations like this in the past with not one bit of regret.
Good on you for making good use of your time too.
On the second point, it wasn't busy at all.
I just think it is unprofessional, I wasn't calling for her to lose her job or anything. I'd just expect better of a manager considering she is the one in charge and that type of poor customer service doesn't reflect well on the rest of the staff/volunteers.
get a grip of yourself.
jeez talk about an over-reaction.
Fair enough. Of course you might be right. I just think she could've handled it better as it came across as a bit rude. Something like, "Sorry I'm busy right now but we can take their contact details" would've been better considering I could hear her.
I said I might be overreacting. No need to be rude.
Surely this is a good thing then, that you’ll be able to speak to the manager when she’s prepared and ready to listen to what you’ve got to offer, rather than squeezing in a 5 minute chat when she’s busy and frazzled with other concerns?
If I were you OP I’d give her the benefit of the doubt. If you get called in for an interview/chat/whatever then you’ll be able to assess her attitude at that point and decide if you want to work with her or not, but frankly I think you’re overthinking what is a normal human interaction.
i can already tell you're not cut out for working in a shop.
i you think the manager and i was rude to you then you have no idea how the general public will be.
my advice, don't work in customer service.
Choose somewhere else to offer your time - good luck!
If I heard one of my staff, talk like this infront of a customer, they'd be pulled to one side and explained some facts.
You should of said "oh sorry I was looking to donate my £1000 lottery windfall" see how busy she is then.
Rubbish. Venting on an Internet forum doesn't reflect how I would behave towards customers at all. You were rude. Do you think you can go around telling people to get a grip of themselves and that not be seen as rude?
yes i do.
not everyone likes the advice they get when asked. thems the breaks.
as i said, if you thought that was rude then you haven't been out in the real world yet.
good luck with that.
Good for you. She wasn't very professional at all, but not really that rude either. I've found that when I've started a job and dealt with people in the way I'd like to be treated it's sort of rubbed off on other staff there. Depending on how the chat goes, perhaps you could see this as a chance to improve customer service in that branch - it'd look great on your CV.
Why are people reacting as if I'm sat here crying or something. I just wanted some advice. It hasn't distressed me in any way. I understand customers can be rude and I have worked in a shop before thank you.
Because most people wouldn't bother creating an entire thread based on "perceived" rudeness from one person.
That alone tells us how much it bothers you, most people would have just let it slide.
I was asking if I was overreacting in my feeling of not wanting to volunteer there? After all, I'm giving up my time and don't have to do anything. That question would've remained had I created the thread or not. The creation of the thread is not based on how much it has affected me at all. Had it really bothered me, I would've made the decision myself not to volunteer there and not created the thread. I'm not one to make threads on the daily occurrences in my life.
Sorry, but how is that relevant to the OP? It's like someone saying "Why do I get headaches everyday?" and hearing the answer "You're lucky you don't have cancer" or something.
There is no need to be off hand/rude I agree.
What I now realise about situations like this is that sometimes the person does not mean to be off hand/rude it is just that their mind is somewhere else (you never know they could have just taken a bad phone call /other half is ill / they do not feel well etc) and can not quickly switch back in to a polite mood.
I would just move along to another place and offer your services to them.
Have you thought about helping out at a dog rescue centre?
They always need help with walking the dogs and other stuff.
Enjoy your break from uni.