Comments on: Do Age and Gender Matter in Personal Finance?

By: Karl

Karl — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:34:14 +0000

While his actions were out of line, he still is a customer. I have been in similar situations with race, age, and sex before. Some people, for whatever reason, just are not comfortable with others. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong (yet the way he went about it was), it’s just a comfort level.
Possibly a better solution would have been to tell him how he offended you, explain your qualifications, then set him up with a male banker. This would have possibly opened his eyes, yet kept him as a client.
Just food for thought after 12 years as a retail professional. Day in and day out, it happens to the best of us.

By: eemusings

eemusings — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:09:08 +0000

Sheesh. I probably wouldn’t have acted as professionally as you, that’s for sure!

By: BM

BM — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:16:13 +0000

I can understand people being prejudiced, we all have some kind of prejudice, some more than others, but whatever happened to being POLITE and keeping your prejudice’s to yourself. Why did this idiot customer felt the need to blurt out his prejudice in front of a woman. I guess he just does not realize that he is a jerk.

By: Fabulously Broke

Fabulously Broke — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:02:22 +0000

OH THAT WOULD HAVE MADE ME LOSE MY COOL! You are such a saint. I cannot believe he said that. He must have been much older to have that kind of mindset. *Grr* *steaming* Fabulously Broke in the City "Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver."

By: Lorena

Lorena — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:59:33 +0000

I agree – no overreaction there. Many many moons ago as I started making my personal career makeover transition from “coffee girl” to “professional equal” I started the job by refusing to “fetch coffee” within the work environment for client meetings and presentation – unless I was equally helped by our male colleagues in this set up and presentation.

“Coffee girls”, myass.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:32:37 +0000

Sounds like a high maintenance client you wouldn’t have wanted anyway. It’s nice both you and your manager stood your ground; maybe it’ll sink in with him later and you will have taught him something.

On that note, when I answer the phone in our department, people think I’m the secretary but when my male coworker answers the phone, they launch right into their problem. :^) Ah, sexism. Thank goodness we know how good we are!

By: Slinky

Slinky — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:52:27 +0000

As a woman in a male-centric field, I totally understand. People have their little views of the world, and they’re not about to change for you or me. It’s rude and very annoying, but something I’ve learned to live with.

By: Fit Wallet

Fit Wallet — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:27:45 +0000

I would be upset too, but obviously the guy is missing out on getting good financial advice. His loss.

I’m in my late 20s and have a master’s degree and plenty of experience under my belt, but most people guess I’m 22 and straight out of college. I’ve had several clients act as though I can’t possibly help them because I must be young and inexperienced. It’s insulting, but I provide free services, so it’s not like they have a choice as to whom they speak with!

By: Mr. GoTo

Mr. GoTo — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:22:42 +0000

When you are in a services business, you will have these experiences. You will learn to sense these people early. We call it the “flake meter” going off. You handled it well. Don’t let it throw you off.

By: 444

444 — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:07:15 +0000

You didn’t overreact. In fact, you were perfectly polite and composed. I understand that people of any age, possibly particularly older ones, may have preconceptions and prejudices (I admit to having some of my own but I think them through rationally before acting on them), and maybe when people get older they lose their ability to censor what comes out of their mouths. I’m not making excuses as much as trying to understand why this man spouted off exactly what he was thinking.

Obviously, he wasn’t guaranteed to get better service at another bank with a male behind the desk, but I guess in his mind he might have thought that. His loss. Myself – I’ll take whoever gives me the best deal! :oD