Bad Customers Are An Itch You Can’t Scratch

It’s the beginning of the Christmas season. There is a lot of Christmas product to put out as well as the regular items going faster due to the increase in foot traffic. As I’m shelving, I get a slight tickle between my shoulder blades, so I reach back and give it one good, satisfying scratch before getting right back to stocking. A second or so later, I feel another hard scratch, which is startling as my hands are accounted for, and as far as I know, I’m alone up front.

Startled, I jump and cry out. My foot gets caught under the flatbed cart I’ve got the boxes on so I fall over, into the wall next to me, where I take down every single hook within my silhouette. I finally end up on the ground, surrounded by socks and some of the small boxes I was stocking.

I look up to see who did that and see a middle-aged woman looking down at me. Amazingly, she looks surprised, as well.

Customer: “Sorry. I thought you might not be able to reach.”

Me: “Please don’t do that.”

Customer: “I was just trying to help.”

My brain is still trying to catch up to the situation.

Me: “Okay, but… please don’t do that.”

Customer: *Shrugs* “Sorry.”

She left shortly after that. I don’t think she bought anything. I considered making a “Please do not touch the employees” sign, but fortunately, it was never necessary again.