AS a sales assistant in a large retail store, I feel it is high time that someone spoke out on behalf of all shop workers regarding ill-mannered and irate customers who seemingly take their anger and frustration out on us.

It is not our fault that they are on a short-stay car park or that the dress they had tried on was too tight or that the weather was too hot or too cold. It seems this small minority of customers think it is their right to be as obnoxious as possible to shop workers and, sadly, this attitude appears to be escalating.

Last Saturday, I was subjected to what could only be described as shop-rage. Although I pride myself on being helpful and enthusiastic, I was ridiculed by a customer saying that I was useless and not doing my job properly. This was not the case and was totally down to a lack of communication on the customer's part.

This customer caused a terrible scene and her children much embarrassment, not to mention the frustration and upset it caused me. I could not retaliate as this is not shop policy. I was then asked to leave the shopfloor by a supervisor.

This customer would still not listen to reason and apparently continued to belittle me. It was evident she was in a state of rage as her choice of language indicated.

I would like to thank the customer who heard everything and who sympathised, offering her name and address in my support and also my colleagues for their support.

As the busy months to Christmas and New Year approach, I hope shoppers will remember that good manners cost nothing and that shopworkers are not paid enough to put up with hostile people.

NAME AND ADDRESS RECEIVED.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.