This Is What Happens When Calcified Entitlement Is Finally Shattered

I have handed in my notice and it’s my last two weeks of work at the grocery store I have been at for five years. There have been some emotional farewells here and there, but I am mostly happy to be leaving.

We have one notorious customer who is hated by pretty much everyone. Their behavior really should have got them banned but corporate have no backbones so they always get a free pass.

I am working as checkout manager and I am called over to a coworker who is having issues with said customer.

Customer: “You! Train this idiot better! She’s not accepting my coupon!”

Coworker: “Ma’am, like I said I can accept the coupon but for the correct product. This coupon is only for [Store Brand] products and you’ve selected [Premium Brand].”

I take a quick look at the coupon for show, but I already know what it says.

Me: “My checkout clerk is correct, ma’am. This coupon can’t be used with this product.”

Customer: “Are we really going to do this song and dance… again? We both know you have the override code you can just type into your little machine so why don’t you save us all some time and just type it in so I can get on with my day?”

Me: “No, ma’am, I won’t be doing that.”

Customer: “Fine, then I guess we will be calling your manager, who will call corporate, who will tell you to do as I say. And for the inconvenience of wasting my time I will be demanding a discount too.”

Me: “You won’t be doing any of those things, ma’am. In fact, I will be refusing you service today.”

Customer: “Feeling brazen today, are we?” *In a sing-sing voice.* “Someone is about to get fiiiiired!”

Me: *In the same sing-song voice.* “Somebody has already quiiiiit!”

The customer is shocked into silence for a moment, and I feel a sudden wave of courage.

Me: “Get the f*** out of this store and don’t come back. We all loathe you. We’ve never encountered a human being so miserable and hateful as you and the mental anguish you’ve caused us means I am officially banning you as my last act as manager here.”

Customer: “I’m going to call corporate right now!”

Me: “My name is [My Name]. Tell them it was me. They’ll call me and I will say you’re a liability to our store and the mental health of all our staff. I will tell them that you’re the reason I am quitting and more will likely follow me if they let your spiteful soul back in. They won’t risk losing multiple staff to appease one customer who has claimed an uncountable number of unfair discounts over the years.”

The customer is still standing there, not sure what to do now that all their usual threats have failed.

Me: “Well then… off you f***.”

She stood just outside the door and angrily called corporate. As predicted corporate called my manager, who called me in. I told him that if her ban was lifted I am walking out right now and I can think of at least four more checkout clerks on their last mental thread because of that one woman and they were just dying to take a long mental health leave of absence on full pay. 

The ban was upheld.