I work at a company offering a software solution for plant and machinery manufacturing and recently had the absolute displeasure of sitting in on a sales call.

Our potential customers had received a demo version of our software to test for about a month and in this meeting management was supposed to yay or nay the full scale implementation. It started off with our CEO giving a summary of the test month and how the employees at the machines were really happy with the results (which they were, our solution was a great fit for their use case and worked well with existing infrastructure). Which is where the first interruption happened:

Potential Customer: “I have to interrupt you there. They were not just happy. They also had criticism.”

And it went from there. 30 minutes of not listening to a word our CEO said, constant interruptions and such gems as:

Potential Customer: “I don’t know why you talked to our employees, they’re not the ones making decisions. We are.”

While true, leaving aside the fact that their employees were supposed to evaluate our software, do you not want to make it easier for them to work, and thus them more efficient? Anyway, I nearly lost my patience just listening, our CEO is an angel for engaging them without hostility. Not that it did any good, after more interruptions and condescension the meeting culminated in:

Potential Customer: “Why are you looking so subdued? You’ve done well so far!”

Turns out, the decision not to go with our software had been made BEFORE the demo was even used. “Why was the meeting 30 minutes then?” you might ask. I could not tell you for the life of me. It accomplished nothing except wast our time and make our CEO feel like shit. On (what I dearly hope, but suspect is not) an unrelated note – our CEO is a woman.

(My brother is trying to get me and our parents to clean the house by suggesting things to throw away. He sets his sights on five candles we keep in the kitchen)

Brother: “How about those candles? What sentimental value could they have?”
Me: “It’s not sentimental, they’re for when the power goes out.”
Brother: (Thinks for a moment) “Then we’ll throw out the small ones, the three-wicked ones will give us a lot more heat.”

(He is 23)

A privacy and security training I have to take contained a reminder not to hold a employee door open for people who are not wearing credentials. I was reminded of an company wide email I received 30 years ago. It said just that:
“Do not under any circumstances allow anyone in who is not wearing a badge.”
The reason for this warning was also shared. An employee was entering from the outside smoking area and stood back and held the door open due to shock/fear. In doing so, they allowed entry to the building to…A LARGE SNAKE.

I used to have a credit card with the slogan, don’t leave home without it. I was finally able to make the last payment to zero out my account. After work I sit down at my computer and make that final payment and go on my merry way. Payments for this account need to be done before midnight. Back then banks didn’t specify central time. The following month I received a bill for payment due which was intrest. I call them up and explain that I submitted the payment on time so, I did not accrue an interest charge. The representative insisted that I submitted the payment late so there was interest. I finally asked the lady a question. If I submitted the payment at 11:30 pm how do you figure it was late? Crickets on the other end of the phone. She finally got the time zone difference and waved the late fee. Nowadays the banks specify the time zone for payment.

I’m on cart service, and one of our top priorities is getting electronic carts inside ASAP so they can charge. I see a woman driving an electronic cart, so I follow her.

Customer: Can I help you?
Me: I’m just here to take your cart for you.
Customer: *nastily* Oh, here’s a concept for [Store]. Try putting your handicapped carts out for disabled people so we don’t have to walk!
Me: *taken aback at her attitude* Well, this is just how my managers want me to place the carts!
Customer: Well, it’s not very smart!
Me: Well, YOU’RE not very nice! *walks away*

In hindsight, I could’ve explained that our carts need to be charged. I also could’ve suggested that she call us ahead of time to bring out a cart so she wouldn’t have to walk. But I just lost my patience at this point.

Hey, lady, here’s a concept for YOU. Try having good manners once in a while.