The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-04
Clerks and Customers.

An association has been formed in New
York the purpose of which is to bring about
a better understanding between shoppers
and shop-keepers; TO secure to shoppers
respectful treatment in stores, and to make
shopping less a burden and annoyance than
it frequently is. The association keeps
a white list" upon which is entered the
names of the stores in which customers
are treated well, and are made to feel
that their patronage is appreciated, rather
than they have been greatly. but ungra-
ciously, accommodated in being permitted
to purchase goods.
1t occurs that there are many men and
women behind the counters in stores who
are sadly lacking in good manners. They
are Indifferent to the desires of would-be
purchasers, and take no pains in assisting
in selections when the customers mind is
not quite clear as to the article wanted.
Goods are shown with bad grace, pack
ages are flung on the counter with spite
full resentment because of the interrupt
ton of a conversation with another clerk,
and often pert remarks are made as to the
impossibility of reading a shoppers mind
even If the head of the house expected
such service. 1t seems to run in the mind
of some salespeople that it is absolutely
necessary for them to Impress upon every
person who comes into the shop to buy the
idea, Il am as good as you are, even if
have to sell goods for a living" When
the prospective purchaser has had one ex-
perience with salesman or saleswoman
of the kind, the effect is usually a mental
vow never to visit that store again.
Good manners. therefore, on the part Of
employees in stores are equivalent to cap
ital in the business. Good manners make
regular customers of chance purchasers.
The employment of good manners opens
the way to preferment and higher pay to
the person employing them. 1t is very
seldom that a churl works up to the top
The majority of shoppers are poor people
They have to work for
living, as the salespeopie do.
They do not go shopping for pleasure, or
recreation. but for the reason that pur-
chases are necessary and it is also neces-
sary to make a dollar go as far as possible.
Shoppers are not obliged to make their pur-
ohases in one particular store If they do
not like the treatment they receive in one
place. they can go to another; which they
do
There is, of course, another side to the
matter. The people in the stores have
thousand and one annoyances to put up
with. They have long hours, tedious work
and small pay. in the great majority of in
stances. They necessarily come into con-
tact with numbers of the most querulous
and cranky customers that could be i'm
aglned. They are sometimes brow beaten,
and at other time victimized by unscrupu-
lous visitors They must keep an eye on
the stock, while their heads are crammed
with figures. and addresses. and COM
plants on the part of purchasers and
grumblings on the part Of the proprietor.
The vexatous Incidents in clerks life
are innumerable. stin there is no excuse
for surliness or bad manners on the part
of the clerk towards customers If one
cannot control his or her temper. he or she
ought to be engaged in some other occu-
patton than that Of selling goods. There are
merchants who regard good manners as
more to be desired in their clerks than OK
haustive knowledge of wares or expertness
at mathematics. And such merchants al
ways do good business"