Racial Under(Ring)Tones
The phone rings at the customer service desk.
Me: “Good afternoon, [Store Name], how can I help?”
Customer #1: “Yeah mate, I’m after [specific item]. Do you have it in stock?”
Me: *Checks system.* “No, sorry, we don’t have that one at the moment. The system’s accurate, so if it’s not showing here, it’s out. But you can order it online if you’d like.”
Customer #1: *Irritated sigh.* “Are you sure?”
Me: “Yeah, I’m sure, fam.”
Click. They hang up.
Ten minutes later, the phone rings again. I pick up.
Me: “Good afternoon, [Store], how can I help?”
Customer #2: *Speaking in an exaggerated, cartoonish, over-the-top posh accent.* “Yes, hello, I was wondering if you might have [exact same item] in stock?”
It’s odd to get a very specific item being requested twice in ten minutes, but I do my due diligence and check the system again just in case.
Me: “No, I’m afraid not. It’s not in stock here.”
There’s muffled talking in the background, but loud enough to make out.
Customer #2: *To someone else in the room.* “I don’t think the guy is racist, mate. He’s still telling me it’s out of stock.”
Customer #1: *Whose voice is very clearly the same person from before.* “Nah, mate, you just don’t sound white enough—” *Click.*
