When The Type Of Help The Customer Needs Is Professional

I work in a shoe store. My first customer today, an older lady with her husband, greeted me by yelling across the store:

Customer: “Can I get some help here?”

I smile.

Me: “Of course! How can I help you?”

After a lot of mumbling under her breath, she tells me she wants to try a size in a shoe. I get the size, give them to her, and go back to the front desk, which is about six feet away.

For the next few minutes, she grumbles to her husband about something being “part of my job” before bringing the shoes up to the front desk.

I ask as politely as I can.

Me: “What are we thinking?”

Customer: “You don’t offer customer service here?”

Me: “…You’re more than welcome to ask for help at any time.”

Customer: “But you don’t leave the desk? You just stand there?”

Me: “That’s where we’re supposed to stand, yes.”

It’s a central location where everyone can see us, and we can see them. You don’t even have to raise your voice to be heard, or you can raise a hand, and I’ll be right there. But I don’t read minds, and I don’t hover nearby because one, more people than not would give me s*** for doing that, and two, I’m alone on the sales floor and have to help other people too.

Customer: “I don’t want the box.”

Me: “It’ll be final sale.”

Customer: “That’s fine because I’ll never come back.”

I barely suppress the urge to tell her that’s wonderful. 

I’m still not sure exactly what I did wrong. I assume it’s that I didn’t unbox her shoes and put them on her feet for her? But I absolutely do not get paid enough to cater to your every whim, especially when you can’t even be bothered to say “hello” or “please and thank you.”