I work in a pet store, and I’m answering a customer’s questions about betta fish.
Me: “…and they absolutely cannot go together because they’ll kill each other.”
Customer: “Could they get along if I asked them nicely?”
I am an early morning stocking associate at a pet store with a grooming salon. Though the retail part of the store doesn’t open until 9:00 am, grooming appointments can be made as early as 7:00 am. Before 9:00 am, the automatic sensor on the door is turned off. People are supposed to use the buzzer to tell us they are here, but because we are in the store, it’s actually unlocked.
I was unloading a truck when I heard the buzzer go off. I expected it to stop after a second or two, but it didn’t; it kept going. As I got closer, I heard someone kicking the door, as well. Thinking it was an emergency outside, I ran to the front of the store. A woman was standing there with her dog under her arm.
Customer: “It’s about time! Now I’m late!“
Me: “I didn’t hear the buzzer before this.“
That buzzer is so loud you can hear it anywhere in the store, so I know she didn’t hit it before the long buzz. I looked at my watch and saw that it was 7:41. Our groomers schedule every fifteen minutes, so she was either eleven minutes late or four minutes early.
Customer: “When did you start locking the doors?”
Me: “It was unlocked, ma’am.”
Customer: “No, it wasn’t. It didn’t open when I walked up.”
Me: “The motion sensor was off, but it was unlocked.”
Customer: “Don’t argue with me!”
She pushed past me, and though I was irritated, I didn’t say anything. At the back of the store, the grooming is to the right and the back room where I was unloading the truck is to the left. I turned left, and the woman turned around at the grooming entrance and followed me.
Customer: “I want your name.”
Me: “It’s [My First Name].”
Customer: “Your full name.”
Me: “That is my name, ma’am. Have a nice day.”
I started to walk away again.
Customer: “I’m not done with you!”
Me: *Over my shoulder* “I thought you were late?”
She turned and marched into the grooming salon. I heard later that she tried to tell grooming that I had laughed at her from inside the front door and given her the finger before unlocking it. The manager of the salon told her she would watch the camera footage and deal with me appropriately. I asked the manager if she really was late. She was; her appointment was at 7:15 and she was forced to reschedule.
I am unloading a truck at [Pet Store] when a woman hits the buzzer at the front door. I walk up to the front to open the door — a two-minute trek — and she keeps hitting the buzzer while making eye contact.
Me: “Hi there. Here for grooming?”
Customer: “Obviously.” *Gestures to her dog* “You know, these doors are supposed to be unlocked after 7:00 am. I’m now late because of you.”
I did unlock the door at 7:00 am, but I can only guess someone else locked it again since we don’t open for anything but grooming until the store opens for other sales at 9:00 am.
Me: “I apologize for the confusion. I will find out who locked it and—”
Customer: “Who even are you? I know the store manager, and I will have you fired.”
She mentions the old manager by name.
Me: “I’m the new store manager, ma’am. [Old Manager] has moved to a new store.”
Customer: “Why are you still talking?”
I silently gesture toward grooming and smile. The customer stalks off, and I go back to the stock room to continue. A moment later, the door bangs open and the customer is walking toward me, her phone pointed at me.
Customer: “I will be sending this to corporate. I want them to know why you thought it was appropriate to have the door locked.”
I put on my best customer service smile and voice.
Me: “Hello, ma’am. This area is employee-only, so I’m going to have to ask you to head back out those doors and we can speak out there.”
Customer: “No, you can answer me right here and right now. Why were the doors locked?”
Me: “This area is employee-only, so I’m going to have to ask you to head back out those doors and we can speak out there.”
Customer: “I am not leaving until—”
I repeat myself with a fixed smile and a happy customer service tone.
Customer: “What are you doing? I—”
I repeat myself with a fixed smile and a happy customer service tone.
Customer: “You’re f****** r*****ed. You know that? I have half a mind to pull my dog from grooming and never return.”
She left and I returned to my stocking duties once again. I never heard from corporate.
My very first job was at a pet store, part of a regional chain. It was the summer after my freshman year of college, and I had never worked retail before. Thankfully, I had a good manager and some decent coworkers, and it was fun and interesting to learn how to take care of various animals and to advise customers on the same. We had some unpleasant customer experiences but nothing too bad.
One day, an older gentleman came into the store. He bought a few small items, and as I was checking him out, we had the following exchange.
Customer: “Have I given you a special person card before?”
I figure he means a senior discount card or something.
Me: “Oh, no, sir, I don’t think so.”
Customer: “Here you go.”
He handed me a card that had an affirmation on it, something to the effect of, “You are a special person, and you should never forget it.” I was so touched; it was genuinely the nicest customer interaction I had while working there. I kept that card in my wallet for over a decade.
Do you ever feel like you’ve lost all hope for humanity? Check out other awesome customers like this one in our roundup: 14 Times Awesome Customers Proved That They Do Exist!
I am twenty and working at a pet store. We have a sale on bird cages. This weird-looking guy in his forties comes up to my counter with a cage.
Customer: “I’m buying this for my cockatiel.”
I try to make polite conversation.
Me: “Aw, cockatiels are so cute!”
I ring up all the guy’s purchases, and the receipt prints. He takes it and inspects it, but then he looks confused.
Me: “Is there something missing from the receipt?”
Customer: “Yeah. Your phone number.”
