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.