Please, Ma’am, Carry On

We’re understaffed at our superstore, which means that it falls on us to put back returns for departments that don’t have anyone working them. I am putting up returns for Pets, Paper, and Chemicals when a lady walks over to me holding a large container of bleach.

Customer: “Can you help me carry this?”

Me: “Oh, sure. Are you just heading to the checkout?”

I set down my handful of stuff I’d needed to put back on the shelf.

Customer: “Oh, no. I still have some shopping to do.”

Me: “Er… ma’am, I can grab you a grocery cart if you’d like.”

Customer: “Why can’t you just carry it for me?”

Me: “I still have quite a lot of work to get done.”

Also, I’m not your pack mule!

Customer: “Oh, forget it. What’s your name?” *Looks at my name tag.* “Ah, yes. Well, if I end up spilling this big thing of bleach, I’ll be sure to tell management whose fault that was.”

And with that, she tottered off with a threatening aura.