Don't give them the satisfaction of putting you down

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I am a short asian girl, and where I live, that means taking crap. However, I refuse to take crap from people. I don't want to ever give them the satisfication of making them feel better.</p>

<p>So here's the senario, I buy stuff from JC Penny online, and I have to return stuff through the home store. I go there, and immediately I see a sick looking lady who asks for the manager. The manager is a 30 year old white lady with too much makeup. She tells me I can't return the items since they have been worn, but I never opened them! So, I tell her what kind of custome service is this. She gives me look of contempt like you ugly minority girl who do you think you are. She didn't say it, but it was written all over her face. Instead she called me a snobby brat and told me that returnng it would mean a loss for the store's revenue! So, she only agreed to return one item, and when she left she said your welcome in a super fake voice. THIS is a store manager who's 30 years old for chrissake! as I was leaving I was thinking about a comeback but it never came to me. I should not have given her the satsfaction of it!</p>

<p>So, it turns out that the store never returned the money onto my card. I have to go there again to resolve it. I called the store and she still remembered me~!</p>

<p>I am sick of fake middle aged white ladies treating me badly What should I say to her after I go there and they finish processing my money?</p>

<p>something along the lines of "lady, you talk about losing revenue, and in case you haven't figured it out, customers sign YOUR paycheck" or "Lady, you need to get off your high horse/ fake designer heels and stop prejuding people cuz customers sign YOUR paycheck. OR Lady, I was so surprised that you still remembered me--your life must be really boring and pathetic. </p>

<p>sorry, I'm just ranting..... Which should I say? I don't want to give her the satisfaction of using me as an ego booster...</p>

<p>I knew a girl who never let people enjoythe satisfaction of putting her down...she always had the right words to say....</p>

<p>What would you have done? Which phrase should I say?</p>

<p>BTW, this is the NOrcal JC penny</p>

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<p>You could give her the bird or something. </p>

<p>And forgive my ignorance, but why does being a short asian girl get you a lot of crap? I'm not from cal.</p>

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<p>Why do you care so much? Just go get your money.</p>

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<p>How is this a racial issue? Did you wear the clothes? If not, I would have just tried another register. Not a big deal.</p>

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<p>ya i don't get how it's a racial issue, that lady's just .... and you're young.</p>

6

<p>Move up the corporate chain.</p>

<p>You're best tool against someone like that is patience and perseverance. Show that you're more mature than her by doing the smart thing rather than just exchanging meaningless remarks/comebacks. JC Penny is a HUGE company, so 1st steps first...contact the online support and tell them your situation. Present yourself in a very mature and calm way and tell them about why you feel like you were disrespected and devalued as a customer. Also ask if there is an alternative way to resolve your issue, and ask the phone rep's personal assurance that your problem will be resolved (playing the victim>trying to be rambo). If they start hassling you as well, then adjust your stance to a more aggressive one. If that doesn't work then move up the chain again and call JC Penny's corporate customer service. If that doesn't work then at least you know you did all you can, and that you probably shouldn't buy from JC Penny again lol. good luck!</p>

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<p>btw why did you post the exact same thing in 3 different places......Hmmmz</p>

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<p>What I would do is: talk to the lady nicely--have a smirk on your face and if she says no--tell her that you would like the number to her supervisor. i bet you 40 bucks she gonna return everything.</p>

<p>and about the card, sometimes it takes 2-3 business days to see credit.</p>

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<p>You should write a letter describing the incident to higher-ups. Do you know her name? Go there, ask her for it, and write it down. You should later give her a copy of the letter. Demand an apology. Just2Fitz has some good advice too.</p>

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<p>^ a letter? thats your plan of attack?? lolol </p>

<p>walk to different register, get the refund.. they probably going to need to see this lady. when this lady arrives dont even give her eye contact or talk to her just speak to the person you want to speak to. you can even describe the situation like "There is this lady who works here who gave me a hard time yadayadaya"
then i'd go up to her flip her the bird. nice to meet cha!</p>

<p>besides... YOUR RICH! </p>

<p>right?</p>

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<p>Yo, I seriously think you're a troll--but to exercise my right to search and help, I'll give you this. </p>

<p>Print this page out and bring it to the store just in case the manager tells you no again.</p>

<p><a href="http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/CustomerServiceSub.aspx?CatTyp=CSR&CatID=16108%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/CustomerServiceSub.aspx?CatTyp=CSR&CatID=16108&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Also, go a different time. If you went in the evening, go in the morning--vice versa. The last thing you want to do is come in contact with the manager because she will cause problems, again. Don't care to say one of your childish and witty phrases as it would oxymorinify <word> your post.</word></p>

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<p>If what you want is to have your money returned, then drop any idea of getting back at the woman. That's what kept you from getting the money in the first place.</p>

<p>When the woman was rude to you, instead of your replaying with a snarky comment, you should have calmly said, "I'd like to speak to your supervisor." When the supervisor came, you should have calmly --without any name calling, etc. -- told the supervisor what you wanted in terms of wanting to return items to get your money back.</p>

<p>I speak from experience. I recently was treated horribly by a customer service agent in an airport after my flight was canceled. Instead of getting into a nasty argument with him, I just calmly said, "I would like to speak to your supervisor."</p>

<p>He replied with a snarky line that I ignored, but he did get his supervisor, who addressed my problem of needing a new flight.</p>

<p>I am black, so believe you when you say that you have run into experiences in which you've been treated badly because of your race. I'm sure, too, you've been treated badly by clerks sometimes because of your age.</p>

<p>The way to address that is to assertively and calmly handle things without name calling, etc. You also can follow-up by writing a letter to the head of the company or department. Describe the actions of the person whom you are complaining about. Don't interpet their actions. Don't complain about how they look. And make sure you get the person's name. </p>

<p>For instance, your complaint could say, "When I tried to return some items that I had purchased on-line, Ms. XXX XXXX said, 'we can't take those items. You've worn them.'" When I tried to tell her that I had not worn them except to try them on for size, she interrupted me and said, 'Don't try to pull that on me. I know you're lying.'"'</p>

<p>Don't include extraneous info such as your age, race or the amount of make-up the clerk was wearing. Just stick to the facts and courteously state how you'd like the situation resolved.</p>

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<p>If you don't want to deal with this, why don't you just return them by mail? </p>

<p><a href="http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/customerservicesub.aspx?cattyp=csr&catid=16108&refpagename=CustomerService%25252Easpx&refdeptid=&refcatid=&CmCatId=CustomerService%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/customerservicesub.aspx?cattyp=csr&catid=16108&refpagename=CustomerService%25252Easpx&refdeptid=&refcatid=&CmCatId=CustomerService&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>Right, because flicking someone off is so much more mature. </p>

<p>The point is that she needs to let her know that her behavior has not gone forgiven and that she made a point to notify her bosses about it. The only way to win this sort of situation is to be more mature than someone else. It's not the actual letter but the implications of the situation. I don't see anything wrong with demanding an apology, so what's your problem? Your situation will only give you temporary satisfaction while reporting her (and letting her know about it, which is getting back at her, but in a mature and professional way) is likely to get her in trouble.</p>

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<p>You get what you give.. now if you're going to march in the store with that kind of attitude it's no surprise you're getting put down. then again I don't know what it's like to be a short asian female in a white racist environment, but i'm sure yelling at them won't accomplish anything.</p>

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<p>yelling at the woman would only fuel and reaffrim her prejudices and racist attitudes (if thats what they are; they might be due to your age).</p>

<p>if anyone calls you a snobby brat when they are there to serve and help you then you should raise your eyebrows, look them square in the eye and calmly (as northstarmom said) say "i beg your pardon?" it sounds weird the first couple times you say it as a kid, but MAN it makes you sound and look adult and customer service reps dont treat adults with the power to "talk to their supervisor" like that.</p>

<p>personally, if someone were to tell me that it would mean a 'loss of store revenue' i would say 'im sorry, what? keeping clothes that i dont like is a loss of MY revenue.'</p>

<p>if she still gives you lip, look at her name tag (if her last name isnt on it ask for it) and say "thank you very much <em>sarcastically</em> [insert name here], i'll be sure to talk to your supervisor about your attitude towards loyal customers."</p>

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<p>I don't udnerstand, how can you read "you stupid minority girl" in someone's face? </p>

<p>If you look/are young, I would guess she was being tough with you because of that. I'm white, and I've walked into stores and had employees watching me, so I don't think you can always run to racism to explain people's suspicions or contempt. Anyway, I'm sure the customer service job is a pain because there are really people who cause problems, so maybe she's always that way.</p>

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<p>huh living in california must suck... i'd cuss the lady out but thats just me</p>

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<p>Agreed. If you walk around expecting people to treat you in one way, that is the way you will be treated. If you are nice, respectful it will be returned. The best way to deal with people whom you have identified as hating you or disliking you is to use extra kindness.....compliment them....or some how diffuse it before it happens.</p>

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<p>Not everyone is against you just because you're a short Asian girl. If you are calm and act in a professional manner then you will be respected. Probably how you carried yourself is what made her act that way. I live in norCal and I know many short Asian girls that carry themselves well. If that still doesn't work for you, go get a boyfriend or guy friend and have him do it for you.</p>