Noisy Complaints Are All-Enveloping
(I am in a rather lengthy line at the post office to buy a bunch of stamps for work; it is early afternoon. An elderly customer behind me is complaining loudly to no one in particular about the wait.)
Customer: “I can’t believe they’re making us wait like this. It’s the middle of the day; the line shouldn’t be like this! I have places to be!”
(I glance back at her, but don’t really pay much attention.)
Customer: “This is ridiculous! They could just open up more lines and get us all through here quickly, but they just make us all wait in line.”
(When I get to the front of the line, the customer makes a big show of loudly counting all of the closed cashier stands and complaining. I ask the clerk for my stamps, and he goes to the back to get them, as I need more than he has at his station.)
Customer: “Oh, now one of them is leaving? I can’t believe this!”
(The customer suddenly walks up to the counter to stand next to me. When the clerk comes back, she speaks up.)
Customer: “I need to buy these things, now.”
Me: “Excuse me? He’s still helping me.”
Customer: “Well, I just need to buy a few things.”
Me: “So do I. It’ll just be a moment.”
Customer: “You’re buying a ton of stamps! I just need these envelopes.”
(I finally pay enough attention to realize what she’s holding: several flat rate envelopes.)
Me: “Ma’am, those are free.”
Customer: “What?”
Me: “You can take those for free. You just have to pay the postage when you bring them back in.”
(The customer looks at the clerk, who nods.)
Customer: “Well, how was I supposed to know that?! Someone should have told me sooner!”
Me: “It’s written all over the stand you grabbed them from.”
(The customer looks back at the stand, and sees that I’m right. She then leaves in a huff, complaining about the post office wasting her time.)
Did you find this story using our Postal Workers Workers roundup?
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
