I’m an electrician, mainly for commercial and industrial jobs. I also frequently shop at a major home improvement and construction chain for tools, supplies for jobs, and miscellaneous things for home — the usual suspects. I’ve been asked for advice more times than I can count over the years about at-home installations while trying to shop, but this was a first.
I was running errands and stopped at a [Chain] I wasn’t very familiar with (while wearing my hi-vis work shirt). I was shopping in the electrical aisle, and I heard from behind me…
Woman: *Ahem* “Um, excuse me.”
Me: “Oh, I’m sorry. Am I in your way?”
Woman: “Finally. I’ve been waiting here for five minutes. Show me where I can find the hand tools.”
Me: “Oh, I don’t work here.”
Woman: “Just show me where the tools are.”
Me: “If you look at the signs, you should see where the tool aisles are.”
Woman: “I’m not wandering around this store. Get moving; I’m in a rush.”
Me: “Ma’am, I’m just trying to finish my sho—”
Woman: “You can finish whatever you’re doing after you help me. The customer comes first.”
Me: “I’m sorry, I don’t wo—”
Woman: “I don’t care if you’re new; just do your job.”
Me: “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”
Woman: “Just show me where the tools are!”
Me: “No.”
Woman: “WHAT?!”
Me: “Go find someone who works here, or go ask at the service desk.”
I started to walk away, figuring I’d come back and finish in the aisle after she left.
Woman: “DON’T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME! I’M A CUSTOMER; YOU HAVE TO HELP ME!”
I kept walking.
Woman: “GET BACK HERE!”
I turned the corner and start walking down the other side, and I heard her footsteps. She went in the opposite direction and came around the end to catch up to me.
Woman: “I’M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU! I WANT YOUR MANAGER! I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE OFF THE CLOCK; YOU’RE STILL AT WORK! NOW DO YOUR JOB! GO AND GET ME YOUR MANAGER AND MY TOOL!”
Me: “Lady, back off. I don’t work for [Chain].”
Woman:: “YOU PEOPLE ARE HORRIBLE! I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU CAN’T GET GOOD HELP! WHY AREN’T YOU TRAINED?! NOW GO GET ME YOUR MANAGER!”
I turned around and walked away again, and she didn’t follow me. I wandered for a few minutes and then went back to electrical and finished grabbing what I needed.
As I walked up toward the registers, I saw the woman at the service desk, very animated and starting to get loud. She spotted me.
Woman: “THERE HE IS! HE WAS SWEARING AT ME, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WOMEN CAN’T FIX THINGS! YOU! OVER HERE, NOW!”
I walked to the service desk.
Woman: “SO, YOU CAN FOLLOW DIRECTIONS! I EXPECT A DISCOUNT FOR HIS ATTITUDE AND HIS INSULTS!”
I made eye contact with the person behind the desk and rolled my eyes.
Me: “Can you explain to this psycho that I don’t work here?”
Woman: “WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?! SEE, HE HAS BEEN INSULTING ME! I WANT HIM FIRED RIGHT NOW!”
Me: *To the desk employees* “Sorry, guys, but I’m gonna go check out. Good luck.”
Woman: “WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING!?! I WANT YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW!”
Employee: “Ma’am, he doesn’t work here.”
Woman: “YES, HE DOES! LOOK AT HIM! HE’S WEARING A UNIFORM!”
I walked away, checked out, and left through the lumber entrance/exit. I never did find out what tool she needed.