Getting To The Root Of The Entitlement Problem
I work for a vet and pet groomers. It is near the beginning of the global health crisis and a lot of non-essential businesses are shut down, such as hair salons. However, our veterinary practice is still open, and as a result, we are able to take bookings for basic cleaning for most domestic pets.
A middle-aged woman comes in with the look that you know she’s going to be trouble. She is wearing oversized sunglasses, she’s carrying an angry-looking Pomeranian in a designer bag, and she has THAT hairstyle.
Customer: “Your grooming salon is still open?”
Me: “Yes, ma’am. We can do basic bathing and shampoo duties. For your little—”
Customer: “How much will you charge me?”
Me: “Yes, ma’am. I was about to say, for Toy Dog breeds, we charge—”
Customer: “No! Not the dog. Me. How much will you charge for me?”
Me: “I’m not sure I understand.”
She just stares at me for a moment, and even though her sunglasses are obscuring her eyes, I know she is looking me up and down. Then, she puts her bag down and bends over slightly, showing me her scalp.
Customer: “My roots are beginning to show. I need you to put my color back in.”
Me: “You want me to redo your highlights?”
Customer: “Yes! Finally, you understand. How much? Can we do it now? I’m on a schedule.”
Me: “Ma’am, I can bathe and shampoo your dog, and your dog only! I can’t do humans, and I certainly can’t do coloring! We don’t even do that to the dogs!”
Customer: “But the salons have been closed for weeks! I’m desperate! I can’t go out in public like this!”
Me: “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. You’ll just have to manage on your own for a while.”
Customer: “Not even a shampoo or conditioning?”
Me: “No, ma’am. Dogs only.”
Customer: “This is ridiculous!”
She tuts, takes the dog out of her bag, and begins to stomp off.
Me: “Ma’am! Your Pomeranian!”
Customer: “Oh, that thing isn’t mine; I just used it to get in here. I found it tied to the post outside the store across the street.”
And with that, she was gone. In a moment of shock, I locked eyes with the little fluff ball, who was just sitting there staring at me nonchalantly. Then, I realized that its leash seemed to have been cut off from the end, almost as if an entitled woman had cut it from a post with a pair of scissors…
Thankfully, I was able to make a mad dash to the convenience store across the street and inform a panicking woman who had lost her little dog that I was about to make her day.
This story is part of our Best Of December 2020 roundup!
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Question of the Week
What is the most stupid reason a customer has asked to see your manager?
