The Next Smartphone Generation
This story reminded me of something similar. A customer is at my checkout. She looks to be about fifty-ish years old.
Customer: “I want the 10% discount.” *Points to a banner.*
Me: “Those are for signing up to the store app. I can help you do that now if you like. Then all I have to do is scan a QR code, and—”
Customer: “—I will not be doing any of that. Instead, you will be giving me 10% off right now, or I shall be reporting [Store] for discriminating against those who do not have cellphones.”
Me: “We’re not, ma’am. It’s just a promotion to—”
Customer: “—can I get the discount listed on the banner if I don’t have a cellphone? Yes or no?”
Me: “I don’t think—”
Customer: “—I’m not asking you to think, girl! I’m asking you to answer!”
Me: “I’m going to call my manager.”
I call over my manager, and the customer voices her complaint.
Manager: “First of all, ma’am, [Store] is well within its rights to offer any promotion it wishes and set the rules of that promotion. You can, by all means, send in a complaint about this current promotion, but your consumer rights aren’t being violated by its existence. Secondly…”
The manager turns to me:
Manager: “[My Name], only if you’re comfortable doing so, do you mind telling us your age?”
Me: “Seventeen.”
Manager: *To the customer.* “Smartphones have been around longer than your cashier has been alive. I don’t think it’s outrageous for [Store] to assume most of its customers will have one. Now, is there anything else?”
Customer: “I’ll be reporting you all for discrimination! What if I were blind! What if I couldn’t read!”
Manager: “You read the ad banner, but good point! The promotion is also advertised through the store’s speakers. Feel free to report us to… well… whoever. Now, please pay for your items.”
The customer actually pays but keeps telling us she’s reporting us as she leaves. I don’t know who she’s reporting us to, but we’ve yet to hear from them.
Side note: My dad still has his original generation one iPhone. He got it the day before he found out his wife was pregnant… with me!
