Don’t Bear The Weight Of Their Expectations

Technically, we aren’t meant to help people load furniture. There are several work safety laws that cover this, but being a rural town, people tend to expect this service.

A gentleman has bought a wooden buffet off the floor. I wrapped it in bubble wrap as best I could, being as I was the only person at work with the strength to be of any help. He turns up late in the afternoon, by himself. With constant instructions, we manage to get it out to the trailer.

This is where the problem happens:

Me: “You want it on its back? Here’s the best way to do that. I’ll flip it over from my end, and you ease it onto its top, so we can roll it onto its back.”

Customer: “Okay, sounds good.”

Me: “I’m going to flip it; don’t lift your end.”

The customer, of course, lifts their end, and I am suddenly supporting 100 kgs of timber.

I try my best, but of course, it tilts and hits the metal of the trailer. I managed to slow its fall to the point where it’s only barely scratched, but that’s not good enough for this guy. 

Head Office quickly offered the customer $100 in credit, and I swore that I would never ever help a customer load anything fragile again.