Can’t Put Her Finger On The Problem
(I work at the touch tank at a local aquarium. We invite guests to dip their fingers in and stroke the aquatic life as they swim past, provided they don’t put in more than two fingers at a time so as not to overwhelm the animals.)
Me: “And over here we have lake sturgeon and blue gill, both native to our own Lake Michigan!”
Guest: “What are these?” *points to starfish tank*
Me: “Those are red knobbed starfish, ma’am. They’re native to the Indian Ocean.”
Guest: “And I can touch them?”
Me: “Absolutely! We only ask that you use two fingers at a time.”
(The guest nods and proceeds to stick her thumb and forefinger into the tank, pull the starfish out, shake the water off it, and place it in her purse.)
Me: “Ma’am! Taking the marine life out of the tank is very dangerous! Please! I’m going to have to ask that you put it back!”
Guest: “But I wanted to take it home.”
Me: “I’m sorry, but that’s a living creature you have there. We can’t just let people reach in and take out our animals!”
Guest: “I only used two fingers!”
This story is included in our Aquarium roundup!
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
