It Would Be Cooler If You’d Chill

I work for one of the many, many, many convenience stores located across the USA. This girl who’s probably about twenty-five to thirty years old comes in.

Customer: “Can you go in the cooler and see if you have any more [Beer] in the tall boy cans?”

Me: “Since it’s after sundown and I’m working by myself, I can’t check right now. Those are the company’s safety rules. Sorry about that.”

Customer: “I work in retail, too. You have to go look!”

Me: “I will not be going into the cooler and leaving you in my store by yourself unsupervised.”

That’s a big no-no.

Customer: “I’ll follow you in!”

Me: “That’s not going to happen, either.”

Customer: “Fine! Call your supervisor, then!”

Me: “Not happening. I’m not going to wake them up for this.”

Once this girl figured out that I wasn’t some rube who was just going to listen to her without thinking, she got mad and shoved a hot sandwich warmer to the floor, causing damage to the equipment, before storming out.

I just don’t understand some people.

For those not familiar with convenience store policies and rules here a some general guidelines:

• Never go outside after dark. If you must go outside, make sure you stay on camera at all times.

• Never come out from behind the counter at night if you are working alone. That counter is a barricade and form of protection for you.

• Never let a “customer” follow you into an area that is off-camera. Walk-in coolers are a common one. This is a good way to get shot in the head or the back.

At the end of the day, those of us behind the counter are responsible for our own safety, and we need to take the steps to ensure it. My life is not worth making a $3 sale, and the cost of replacing a piece of equipment is a price worth paying if it means I get to go home to the wife and child I have waiting on me.