Knowledge On Fizzy Is Fuzzy
(The store is relatively quiet and empty on this evening. A customer enters and approaches me quickly, seeming angry. She slams an open 12-pack of caffeine-free soft drinks on my counter, which I remember I had sold to her earlier.)
Customer: “False advertising!”
Me: “Excuse me?”
Customer: “You sell products that are advertised falsely!”
Me: “Um… okay. How? Did you get overcharged?”
Customer: “These are marked as ‘caffeine free’ but they AREN’T! I demand a refund!”
Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we have no control over the caffeinating. That would be something to contact the soda company about. May I ask, how do you know it has caffeine in it?”
Customer: “Watch!”
(She proceeds to open a can. I hear a ‘tsssshhhhh.’)
Customer: “THERE! See? You don’t hear that noise unless it isn’t caffeinated! There is caffeine in these!”
Me: “Oh! That isn’t because of caffeine—”
Customer: “Don’t try to protect them! I DEMAND A REFUND!”
Me: “Ma’am, that’s CARBONATION. Not CAFFEINE.”
Customer: “…”
Me: “CARBONATION is what makes the drink bubbly; CAFFEINE is a stimulant. Furthermore, like I said, that would be an issue to take up with the soda company. Not us.”
Customer: “… oh. Oh!” *gathers up her drinks and hurries out, clearly embarrassed*
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
