He’s Ring Out Of Luck

(I’m working the closing shift on a Sunday night. Sunday nights are usually dead since we are located out in the middle of nowhere, and all but one of the tills have been pulled at this point. My coworker is running the cash and there is a line of three people while I straighten up items in the cosmetics area. All of a sudden, a man comes up to the cosmetics counter and snaps his fingers at me as if I were a dog.)

Customer: “Hey, I need some help over here!”

(I fume silently, as I despise customers who act like this. I try to be polite, anyway, as we’ve had a change in management and frankly, the new store manager is an a** who fires people for nothing and I’m trying to stay on his good side until I find a new job.) 

Me: “Yes, sir, how can I help you?”

Customer: “I need you to ring me up; the line is too long.” *gestures to the line that has dwindled down to two people*

Me: “I’m sorry, sir, but the front register is the only one with a till in it, so you’ll have to check out over there.”

(I smile politely and turn to go back to straightening up when I hear him scoff behind me.)

Customer: *leans towards me, trying to look threatening* “You’ve got to be kidding me! I guess I’ll have to put all of this stuff back, then, and go to a twenty-four-hour store, because I’m not waiting in line.”

Me: “I’m sorry about that, sir. If you’ll leave everything on the counter, I can go put it back for you.”

Customer: “Excuse me? I don’t think you understand.” *suddenly gives me a smug look as he throws his credit card on the counter* “I’m not going to another [Store].” 

(He doesn’t say anything after this and just continues to smile at me smugly. I’m honestly baffled at this point and just want to get back to straightening the area up so I can go home.)

Me: “Um… Okay? Well, let me know if you need help with anything else, then, because like I said, the front register is the only one working right now.”

(I quickly walk to the other end of the store to find a different area to fix and forget about the guy until the store closes and everyone is getting ready to leave. He is standing outside of the locked doors with his arms crossed, just glaring at us as we are getting ready to walk outside. He weirds my manager out enough that she calls the cops on him when she asks him to leave and he won’t. His reasoning?)

Customer: *pointing at me* “That b**** refused me service and I’m not leaving without my stuff!”

(Eventually, the cops came and convinced him to get lost. I actually got written up later for “refusing” the guy service, despite my many protests, and have since found a better job.)