And so I venture into the world of sexual supportives. Orgasmic stimulants, Viagra, and seriously strange items required for male erections. Not for myself, but on behalf of clients.
What an eye opener. Not in a nice way, though.
Now I have to step back a little and color the picture a bit or a lot more. Plus some more examples, because this blogging is not only about sexual items or such. It goes a bit further.
In the TV-series ‘The Nanny’, at some stage Fran ordered shampoo for hair lice. The considerate pharmaceutical assistant made use of a speaker/microphone to announce her order/request to whomever was working in the background. Fran was obviously, totally embarrassed as the pharmacy was filled with neighbours and people she always wanted to impress (and sorry, no, I can’t remember the episode number).
In ‘The Exes’, Nr 29 (3.7) Stuart silently sneaks into his favourite bar for a take-away as he was warned by a bully never to return. Well, the waiter also calls out his order and name at the top of his lungs. And Stuart got bullied again.
I always thought such shows to be simply funny, can sales assistants really be that inconsiderate or that stupid?
That type of behavior does not really happen or does it … Ah yes, I forgot a bit, mostly TV and movies are actually, reflections of real life. So apparently, yes, they can be that stupid!
Now my experience was not hair lice or a take-away. Neither was I bullied.
Or, was I? Is n’t this type of ‘assistance’ a form of bullying of clients, too? And should n’t it be rectified?
I was trained that the medical professions in particular, are supposed to follow ethical codes – in particular, confidentiality. So, when the girls in a Pharmacy start shouting to each other left right and center with regard to the products I am enquiring about, it might leave a very sour taste in the mouth.
(No damn wonder so many patients or clients themselves, don’t want to purchase suggested items themselves. Or, simply don’t.)
First of all, I don’t want my neighbor or Oom Koos or Klaas or the Pick n Pay Manager or MTN or whatever staff somewhere in the vicinity [random selection of names] to also know what I am trying to purchase. Whether it’s for myself or someone else. And whether it is anti-depressants, hair color, pantie liners, and vitamins for menopausal women, or Viagra.
And if you don’t know the product – also keep your voice down! (I always thought that if you sell any product, you are supposed to know at least what it is and what it is used for. Increasingly I am proven to be mistaken. People sell stuff without knowing what the heck they are selling. That, is dangerous especially. Don’t sales staff get training anymore?).
The item/s requested just might be something your client don’t want to be broadcasted, with or without prescription: Such as nappies for the elderly incontinent. Don’t you think they are feeling shitty enough for having to use this, without you having to shout it out loud for everyone to hear?
I cringe every time I see an elderly gentleman in the Pharmacy ordering his nappies. I watch their faces when they receive the order, and when they walk out…. Do you really have to put them through such embarrassment as well?
(Sometimes, what scares me even more is, the sales assistants really seem to have NO IDEA that they are hurting their clients).
…..
Even before this un-orgasmic experience, purchasing over the counter vitamins for menopausal women also gave me a fright. Some months before, already.
Do you have any idea, how long it took me, myself; to gain the courage to eventually venture into the Pharmacy to try and buy this stuff? Or, to convince myself I really should go and get the stuff? We are, all, always, scared of being embarrassed in societal eye….
And then, when I finally manage to do so - standing next to a particular sexy guy in the waiting line I might add - LoL - there really is no reason to broadcast ‘Tannie se menopause pilletjies’ (Auntie’s menopause vitamins).
Thanks a lot! Why don’t you also tell the rest of the clientele what type of Tampax/Lillets I use? If I do?
And now….. You are also shouting across to Marie or Joyce, to ask if they know ‘what is Durex O?!’ ‘Do we have it? What is it used for?!’ 'Kry mens Viagra vir vrouens?!' (Do you get Viagra for women?')
That’s total crap, totally unacceptable, and you are considered unprofessional. And I am NOT the only person entertaining these complaints.
We all want to feel helped and empowered when we walk out of there. Not older or outdated or worthless or pruned and expired 'things' that needs to very quickly, update our funeral policies.
In particular, we don't want to feel embarrassed. Please. Show us some human dignity at least.
And then: Do you really think, we will frequent your pharmacy often again...?
So keep your voice down, and keep purchases confidential.
STOP BULLYING your clients.
And, if you are the Main Pharmacist/owner of the Pharmacy, either train your assistants correctly or get new assistants, please.
What an eye opener. Not in a nice way, though.
Now I have to step back a little and color the picture a bit or a lot more. Plus some more examples, because this blogging is not only about sexual items or such. It goes a bit further.
In the TV-series ‘The Nanny’, at some stage Fran ordered shampoo for hair lice. The considerate pharmaceutical assistant made use of a speaker/microphone to announce her order/request to whomever was working in the background. Fran was obviously, totally embarrassed as the pharmacy was filled with neighbours and people she always wanted to impress (and sorry, no, I can’t remember the episode number).
In ‘The Exes’, Nr 29 (3.7) Stuart silently sneaks into his favourite bar for a take-away as he was warned by a bully never to return. Well, the waiter also calls out his order and name at the top of his lungs. And Stuart got bullied again.
I always thought such shows to be simply funny, can sales assistants really be that inconsiderate or that stupid?
That type of behavior does not really happen or does it … Ah yes, I forgot a bit, mostly TV and movies are actually, reflections of real life. So apparently, yes, they can be that stupid!
Now my experience was not hair lice or a take-away. Neither was I bullied.
Or, was I? Is n’t this type of ‘assistance’ a form of bullying of clients, too? And should n’t it be rectified?
I was trained that the medical professions in particular, are supposed to follow ethical codes – in particular, confidentiality. So, when the girls in a Pharmacy start shouting to each other left right and center with regard to the products I am enquiring about, it might leave a very sour taste in the mouth.
(No damn wonder so many patients or clients themselves, don’t want to purchase suggested items themselves. Or, simply don’t.)
First of all, I don’t want my neighbor or Oom Koos or Klaas or the Pick n Pay Manager or MTN or whatever staff somewhere in the vicinity [random selection of names] to also know what I am trying to purchase. Whether it’s for myself or someone else. And whether it is anti-depressants, hair color, pantie liners, and vitamins for menopausal women, or Viagra.
And if you don’t know the product – also keep your voice down! (I always thought that if you sell any product, you are supposed to know at least what it is and what it is used for. Increasingly I am proven to be mistaken. People sell stuff without knowing what the heck they are selling. That, is dangerous especially. Don’t sales staff get training anymore?).
The item/s requested just might be something your client don’t want to be broadcasted, with or without prescription: Such as nappies for the elderly incontinent. Don’t you think they are feeling shitty enough for having to use this, without you having to shout it out loud for everyone to hear?
I cringe every time I see an elderly gentleman in the Pharmacy ordering his nappies. I watch their faces when they receive the order, and when they walk out…. Do you really have to put them through such embarrassment as well?
(Sometimes, what scares me even more is, the sales assistants really seem to have NO IDEA that they are hurting their clients).
…..
Even before this un-orgasmic experience, purchasing over the counter vitamins for menopausal women also gave me a fright. Some months before, already.
Do you have any idea, how long it took me, myself; to gain the courage to eventually venture into the Pharmacy to try and buy this stuff? Or, to convince myself I really should go and get the stuff? We are, all, always, scared of being embarrassed in societal eye….
And then, when I finally manage to do so - standing next to a particular sexy guy in the waiting line I might add - LoL - there really is no reason to broadcast ‘Tannie se menopause pilletjies’ (Auntie’s menopause vitamins).
Thanks a lot! Why don’t you also tell the rest of the clientele what type of Tampax/Lillets I use? If I do?
And now….. You are also shouting across to Marie or Joyce, to ask if they know ‘what is Durex O?!’ ‘Do we have it? What is it used for?!’ 'Kry mens Viagra vir vrouens?!' (Do you get Viagra for women?')
That’s total crap, totally unacceptable, and you are considered unprofessional. And I am NOT the only person entertaining these complaints.
We all want to feel helped and empowered when we walk out of there. Not older or outdated or worthless or pruned and expired 'things' that needs to very quickly, update our funeral policies.
In particular, we don't want to feel embarrassed. Please. Show us some human dignity at least.
And then: Do you really think, we will frequent your pharmacy often again...?
So keep your voice down, and keep purchases confidential.
STOP BULLYING your clients.
And, if you are the Main Pharmacist/owner of the Pharmacy, either train your assistants correctly or get new assistants, please.
RSS Feed
