Customer: “I can’t remember my password. Help?”
(I verify his identity.)
Me: “Your hint is ‘wife’s name.'”
Customer: “Crap, which one?”
Me: “It… starts with an ‘m?'”
Customer: “Oh, that one. Thanks!”
(I work at a small store that sell shoes and other kinds of items such as scarves and hats. The owner occasionally gives out gift cards to customers who have paid over 150$ on a single purchase. One day, a woman comes in with her husband.)
Me: “Good evening, ma’am. How may I help you?”
Customer: “Yes, I came here a week ago and bought a bunch of stuff; the owner gave me this.” *shows it to me*
Me: *confirms it is the gift cards we have* “Do you need help choosing which items you want to buy?”
Customer: *starts getting angry* “No, thanks. You can wait in the back.”
(I leave and wait near the cash registers. When she finally comes with her desired items, it consists of seven scarves and a baseball cap.)
Me: “Very well. Could you please hand me the gift card?”
Customer: *annoyed* “Can’t I just take these items and you keep the card?”
Me: “I need to make sure this card is legitimate, ma’am. It won’t take long, no worries.”
(The expiration date is over a year ago. The woman seems ready to start the argument at this point.)
Me: “Ma’am, the gift card is way beyond it’s expiration date and you’re going to have to pay with cash, check, or your credit card in order to receive those items.”
Customer: “So? I know the owner; I’ve been friends with her for a long time. She told me that I wouldn’t have to worry about the date and could come whenever I wanted!”
Me: “Would you mind if I called her to verify? Could I have your name, ma’am?”
Customer: *anxious* “Y-yeah, go ahead. I’m [Customer].”
(I call the owner.)
Me: “Hi, [Owner], this is [My Name]. There’s this woman here that has a gift card and the expiration date is [date]. She also claims to be one of your friends and her name is [Customer], and that because of that she’s able to use the card whenever without worrying about the expiration date.”
Owner: “If she were indeed my friend, she wouldn’t have received a card at all. Refuse the card and ask her to pay for it, or tell her to leave. Drama is one thing, and I don’t want it in my store.” *clicks*
Me: “I’m afraid the card is no longer valid. You’re going to have to pay with something else.”
Woman: *turns red* “T-this is UNACCEPTABLE! I’m never coming back to this store, and you can bet your a** that I will make it my life goal to make sure that THIS PLACE CLOSES!” *leaves*
Me: *tries not to laugh* “Have a nice day, ma’am!”
(She leaves but her husband hangs back to talk to me.)
Husband: “I knew it would turn out like this. She does this all the time when she sees an opportunity of getting free stuff.”
(I never saw them again.)
(I work at a movie theater and always volunteer to work Thanksgiving so I can get Christmas off. Every year without fail:)
Customer: “Oh, I am so sorry that you have to work on Thanksgiving! I can’t believe you’re actually working!”
Me: “Because people like YOU are here to see movies. If you feel so bad, go home.”
This story is part of our Thanksgiving roundup!
Read the next Thanksgiving roundup story!
Read the Thanksgiving roundup!
(It’s winter. My dad is decorating the front of his store for Christmas. He is placing fake poinsettias into pots outside when a man walks up.)
Customer: “You know… those aren’t going to do well!”
(I work in a well-known toy store, and it is two weeks before Christmas. I am doing paperwork when I answer the phone.)
Me: “Thanks for calling [Toy Store]. How may I help you?”
Customer: “I broke my foot about a week ago, and I need some help. Can you get me somebody in the toy department?”
Me: “Ma’am, is there a specific toy you’re looking for?”
Customer: “I just need to speak to someone in the toy department.”
Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is a toy store. I just need to know what kind of toy you need so I can direct your call. ”
Customer: “I just need the toy department! I need a karaoke machine and my foot is broken, so I don’t want to walk around the whole store.”
Me: “All right ma’am, I’ll just transfer you to electronics and they can get you taken care of!”
Customer: “No! I don’t need electronics! I need the toy department!”
