Opinions Erase Facts

(I work in a call center and our staff is mostly women. Our customers are mostly gruff men who are used to pushing them around. As such, they tend to get caught off guard when a man answers the phone, and they also have a penchant for trying to pull one over on folks, even if their tactic is completely outlandish.)

Me: “Thank you for calling [Company]. This is [My Name]; how can I help you?”

Customer: “Do you guys still have free shipping for orders over $50?”

Me: “Unfortunately not. Actually, I’ve been here for three years and we’ve never had free shipping for orders over $50. We either have just free shipping, or free shipping over $100, neither of which are currently running. We do, however, always have items which can be ordered that would qualify you for free shipping.”

Customer: “Well, I think you’re wrong, because I always get free shipping for orders over $50.”

Me: “Again, sir, I apologize for any confusion. I’m looking over your last six orders and I’m not seeing free shipping on any of them.”

Customer: “Well, I know what I’m talking about; I’ve been ordering for 80 years.”

Me: “We’ve only been open for 20, sir.”

Customer: “I know what I’m talking about.”

Me: “The founders of this company are only in their late 40s. While I’m happy to assist you, I, again, don’t have free shipping for orders over $50, and it’s quite impossible for the company to have been open longer than the founders have been alive.”

Customer: “We’re just going to have to agree to disagree, then. I know I’m right, but you’re entitled to your opinion.”

(I then took the order without a hitch, while simultaneously flabbergasted at how he A) thought a company could exist for more time than the founders had been alive, and B) thought that, “We’ll just have to agree to disagree,” erases facts.)