The Generation Blame: XL Edition
I’ve worked a lot of retail jobs and therefore have had a lot of last days where I could have potentially gotten away with saying something to a deserving customer that I normally would have held back because ‘customer service.’ Sadly, every last day I have had hasn’t presented that opportunity to me… until now.
I’m folding shirts near the fitting rooms on my last day at the clothing shop when a man comes out wearing a dress shirt from our rack, clearly annoyed.
Customer: “This says ‘slim fit,’ but it’s tight through the chest.”
Me: “Slim fit tends to taper more through the torso. We’ve got a regular fit version of that same style if you’d like to compare.”
Customer: “No, the label’s wrong. This is mislabelled. I’ve worn a large for twenty years.”
Me: “Yes, sir, but sizing can vary a bit depending on brand and cut.”
Customer: “No, I know my size. Shirts don’t just stop fitting.”
Me: “Actually, they can, especially if the brand updated their sizing chart.”
Customer: “Or maybe your company just doesn’t know how to make clothes properly! Then again, I don’t know what else to expect from your brain-rot generation these days… you’re running once-proud companies into the ground!”
He says this while clearly straining the buttons on the shirt.
Me: “Sir, I can assure you the label’s accurate; the question is whether it still applies.”
Customer: “Are you calling me fat?!”
Me: “No, sir, but maybe you’ve moved up a generation?”
Manager was called, an XL was suggested (fit him just fine), and I got a slap on the wrist before we all drank at my leaving party that night.