The Generation Blame, Part 2
An older customer approaches me at the customer service desk.
Customer: “I want to buy [item]! One of your managers said I could get it at a discount!”
Me: “Which manager would that be, sir?”
Customer: “I can’t remember. Weird-looking fella — curly red hair, big glasses.”
Me: “I think I know who you’re talking about, sir, but I can’t see any record of discounts being offered.”
Customer: “Well, go fetch him! He’ll put you straight.”
Me: “The manager that matches your particular description is actually on vacation today and will be away for two weeks.”
Customer: “A vacation?! That’s ridiculous! Managers shouldn’t be taking vacations, especially for two weeks!”
Me: “I’m sorry, sir, but he is entitled to his paid time off. I can call another manager for you if you like.”
Customer: “You d*** well better, sonny!”
I call a manager over, and the old man relates the same story about a discount.
Manager: “Sir, I recall that manager talking about your interaction, and he said he would be willing to price-match if you came back with evidence of the cheaper price.”
Customer: “And I said it was your job to find it, not me! I know I saw that price somewhere, but I can’t remember where, but that doesn’t matter! It should be your job to find it!”
Manager: “I’m afraid it is actually the customer’s responsibility to find the price-match, sir.”
Customer: “Call that manager! He’ll put you all straight, you’ll see.”
Manager: “That manager is on PTO, sir, and I will not be calling him.”
Customer: “You young people never want to work anymore! When I was your age, I never took my PTO! I worked unpaid overtime, and I ground hard until I was the manager of the company!”
Manager: “Sir, if you decided you wanted to become a slave to your company and waste your life away doing so, that’s on you. Please don’t expect our staff to work off the clock to cater to your — frankly impossible — demands. Oh, and if you worked so hard all your life and you still can’t afford our product at full price, I don’t think your boast is the flex that you think it is.”
The customer just stares daggers at my manager, who isn’t even blinking. Finally, the customer deflates and marches toward the exit, throwing out some choice mutterings along the way.
Customer: “F****** lazy millennials!”
Related:
The Generation Blame
