Hold Your Tongue Or It’s Curtains For You!

(A couple of men have come into our store. I get called by a staff member to deal with them as she is feeling a bit intimidated. One of the men is rude and swearing.)

Me: “Hi, can I help you with anything today?”

Customer: “We are after curtain rods and curtains.”

(He has one of the heaviest curtains we have and one of the cheapest, lightweight rod sets.)

Me: “That rod set is more suited to a lightweight lace curtain. You will need to add extra supports but I can’t guarantee that the rod won’t bend from the weight of that curtain. I can show you something more suited.”

Customer: *walking off* “F****** h***!” *keeps on swearing for a while and then comes back* “I’m an engineer and I know what you are telling me is wrong. I don’t need any of that extra stuff. I’ve got a degree and you don’t. I know what I’m talking about; you are just trying to make me spend more money.”

(I am inwardly debating whether to tell him where he can shove his degree and stopping myself telling that he could just f*** off. I bite my tongue and say nothing while he continues on with his rant.)

Customer: “I’m right!  I know I just need… Wait a minute… S***! You’re right, aren’t you?”

(He ends up buying $700 on curtains and rods, as well as ordering another $700 worth of items. Before he leaves:)

Customer: “I need to apologise for how I’ve been acting and what I’ve been saying. You really showed tolerance and handled yourself really well when I was being abusive. I know good customer relations because I work in customer relations. You are good. Thank you.” *he leaves smiling*

Coworker: “I’m sorry I stuck you with him; I couldn’t handle him. I don’t know how you did. How did you do it?”

Me: “With a sore tongue.”

Coworker: “Huh?”

Me: “It was either bite my tongue or bite his head off. I figured my tongue was the less messy one.”