Sorry Seems To Be The Easiest Word

(There’s a particular brand of spicy sauce I really enjoy, but there have been a number of issues lately; one bottle was unsealed when I got it and visibly missing some, another was already expired despite being well inside the date, and the third one had the entire plastic cap shatter while opening it. Fed up, I decide to just get my money back and try another brand.)

Employee: “Oh no! I’m so sorry that all happened, sir!”

Me: “Oh, it’s not your fault; I’d just like my money back.”

Employee: “Of course, right away, and again I’m so, so sorry!”

Me: “No, it’s all right! No worries, not for you guys anyway.”

Employee: “All right, sir. Thank you, and again, I’m sorry!”

Me: “It’s fine!”

(This continues through the whole transaction, with her apologizing 2-3 times for each step. Eventually, the manager working alongside takes notice and comes up.)

Manager: “Is there a problem here?!”

Me: “No! I mean, not any more. I’ve just had to exchange something a few times, and finally I just gave up and wanted my money back. I’ve been telling the poor girl I’m not angry at anyone but she’s been apologizing constantly.”

Manager: “Oh! Well, I’m sor—”

Me: “OH, NO, not you too!”

(I throw my hands up in a fake-dramatic flare, which thankfully gets the manager laughing, and the other girl looking confused.)

Me: “I worked the register at [Department Store] for three years, and do the customer-contact end of warehouse shipping now. I know all about getting yelled at for someone else’s goofs!”

(Turns out, it was the employee’s FIRST day on the job past training, and it had been a long succession of people yelling constantly even after they got their way. She’d been almost panicked and was just waiting for me to start doing it, too!)