Inconveniently Indiscriminate

(I’m ushering one busy day. A woman storms up to me, fuming, practically dragging her son behind her. She shoves her tickets into my face.)

Customer: “This is ridiculous.”

Me: “I’m sorry, what seems to be the matter.”

Customer: “There’s no seat here! I ordered these seats and there’s nothing there!”

(I check her ticket… It’s a print-out from an online purchase. She’s booked the wheelchair accessibility spaces that we have reserved for individuals in wheelchairs. They are essentially extra empty spaces that are kept in the theater for people who cannot transfer comfortably into our normal seats from their wheelchairs. They’re popular because they save a lot of people with varying disabilities a lot of discomfort.)

Me: “Oh, jeez. When you reserved these, you must have picked the wheelchair accessibility spaces. Hmm. If you go to the box office or the manager’s desk, they should be able to change those out for you or get you a refund at the very least.”

Customer: “It didn’t say it was like this online!”

(This is a blatant lie. Every major online ticket retailer, including our own website and Fandango, has our wheelchair accessibility spaces clearly marked and include pop-ups that tell potential guests there is no seat there, and only to click “Ok” if they are using them for their intended purpose.)

Me: “I’m really sorry, ma’am. If you’ll just go to the box office or a manager’s desk, they should be able to help you out.”

Customer: “I just don’t understand it.”

Me: “Well, we offer wheelchair accessibility spaces for any handicapped guests we have. It’s easier for some people that way.”

Customer: “Well, it’s not right, you know!”

Me: *taken aback* “I’m sorry?”

Customer: “It’s not right! Why would you offer these seats online?”

Me: *completely confused and sort-of angry* “So people who need the spaces can buy them?”

Customer: “Well, it’s not right! You shouldn’t offer handicapped seats!”

Me: “Well, ma’am… we’re not going to discriminate against handicapped individuals.”

Customer: “It’s not right that you offer those! You shouldn’t have seats for handicapped people! It’s an inconvenience to ME!”

(She stormed off and I heard her reaming out our managers at the manager’s desk. She evidently continued her tirade about how we shouldn’t offer wheelchair accessibility and tried to demand we take away the option for individuals in wheelchairs to order tickets online. Don’tcha just love people?)