Some Customers Can Be Very Trying
Customer: “Venti pike for me…”
Me: “Certainly! And anything else?”
Customer: “I want to try one of those caramel apple spices for my child.”
Me: “That’ll be [total].”
Customer: “Umm… did you charge me for a caramel apple spice?”
Me: “Yes…?”
Customer: “But I said I only wanted to try a caramel apple spice for my child.”
Me: “And that’s why I charged you for it?”
Customer: “But I said I only wanted to try it.”
Me: “And that’s why I charged you.”
I pause, take a deep breath, and try to speak in my least condescending tone:
Me: “Because you told me you wanted to try it so I rang you up for it. I can cancel the caramel apple spice if you like.”
Customer: “Are you stupid or something? Do you not know what ‘try’ means? It means you let me taste it before I buy it, you idiot. Where’s your manager?”
My manager isn’t here at the moment, and I have been working too long to give a crap right now. I’ve learned when and when not to argue with crazy.
Me: “I’m deeply sorry, sir. [Revised total].”
I pour his pike, make the short caramel apple spice that he wants to “try” and hand it off without him causing a scene.
Customer: “Mmm, that’s good. I think I’ll order that for my child next time.”
