Hitting You Over And Over With The Same Request Is Battery

I’m on my last few days in the store where I work — a very popular store that sells a lot of electronics. In walks a customer with a battery he bought yesterday and a receipt.

Customer: “I want to trade this battery for a new one; it’s 12v and 5ma, looks like these, and it’s hanging over there.”

The customer points to a wall directly behind him.

Customer: “Is that okay?”

Me: “Yes, of course. Since you know exactly which one you want, you can just find it and I can do the return.”

Customer: “It’s right there.”

He points behind himself again without even turning around.

The register is pretty long, like it’s a little walk for me to go around, and then I’d have to go to the wall behind the customer and find a battery that I’m not sure is right. The customer has every opportunity to just turn around and find the one he wants. I can usually follow the customer around and help them find what they want if they’re unsure, but if they know what they’re after, it’s a lot easier for them to just grab it themselves.

I look at him for a second.

Me: “Okay, you wanted ones that were almost identical to these?”

Customer: “That’s what I just said! And they have to be 12v and 5ma! They’re right there!” *Gestures*

I walk around the register and look at the wall to try and find identical ones that are 12v.

Me: “Okay, I can see at least one pair here.”

Customer: *Talking loudly from the register* “They’re there! They need to be 12v and 5ma! You should be able to see them!”

I walk back and put the ones I found on the desk in front of him.

Me: “These are the ones I found that matched your description, but unfortunately, they don’t say how much ma they have.”

Customer: “That’s stupid. They should say; it always says on the batteries in the other stores!”

I think, “Why are you not at the other stores, then?”

Me: “I’m sorry, but that’s all we have at the moment.”

Customer: *After complaining for a while* “Fine, I’ll take the risk.”

Me: “Great, and because it’s a return and a new buy, the system would like your name and number, please?”

Customer: “What? Oh, you need my info? You need my social security, as well? My fingerprint?”

The rest of the transaction went fine, though the customer was still being rude and sarcastic. I am still happy, knowing I’ve only got two more days in this place.