(This takes place at a 24-hour drugstore on Thanksgiving. We’re having a big toy sale and are very busy. I’m on the top rung of a ladder pulling items for customers below me when this takes place.)
Me: “I’m so sorry for your wait, you guys. If you give me just one more moment, I’ll get everything you’ve asked for!”
Customer #1: “Oh, honey, it’s okay. You guys are so busy!”
Me: “Thank you, ma’am. I don’t think we truly anticipated how busy we’d be. You wanted one ‘Cars’ fishing game and a Tinkerbell flowers fishing game, correct?”
Customer #1: “That’s right.”
Customer #2: “Well, with a sale like this!”
Me: “Can’t argue with that, sir! You wanted the flying fairy princess doll, is that right?”
Customer #2: *laughing* “Well, I don’t, but my niece will love it.”
Me: *to Customer #3* “…and ma’am, you wanted the Disney Princess tea set. Is that right?”
Customer #3: “That’s right! Wow, you’ve got a good memory!”
Me: “Thank you! ”
(At this point, my boss, who has barely exited his office all day, walks up.)
Boss: *to me* “Hey, someone is waiting to use the bathroom. Go let them in.”
Me: “Okay, it’ll be just a moment. Where’s [Coworker]?”
Boss: “On break.”
Me: “But they’ve only been here 45 minutes.”
Boss: “So?”
Me: “I’ve been here six hours, and you haven’t let me take a break yet. Also, more importantly, I’m busy right now.”
Boss: “Well, that person needs to use the restroom. Go do your job.”
Customer #3: “Sir, I mean no disrespect, but clearly she’s doing her job. Do you not see her on top of the ladder? Why don’t you just let them in yourself?”
Boss: “That’s not my job. It’s my employees’ jobs…” *snidely to me* “…even if they’re trying to be lazy.”
Customer #2: *to my boss* “What is your job?”
Boss: “To make sure the store runs smoothly.”
Customer #1: “You’re doing a poor job of it.”
Boss: *turns bright red and grits his teeth* “…and just who are you to judge?”
Customer #1: “A customer.”
Boss: *waves her off*
Customer #2: *very serious* “You are NOT too good to help your employees. Just because you are in a management position does not exempt you from helping. You should go let that customer into the restroom. And after this young lady is done helping us, you should make sure she takes her lunch.”
Boss: “I make the store run! You can’t tell me how to run my store!”
Customer #2: “No, you don’t ‘make the store run.’ Your employees do. And this young lady has been running her tail off since I’ve been here. You have no idea who I am, do you?”
Boss: “Someone who has no idea how the store works?”
Customer #2: *laughs* “No, I’m [Customer #2].”
Me: *startled* “From district?!”
Customer #2: “That’s right, and I think…” *to my boss* “…you and I need to have a LONG talk.”
(At this point, I finally get to the bottom of the ladder and start handing out the items.)
Me: “Here you go everyone. Thank you so much for your patience and have a Happy Thanksgiving!”
Boss: *to me* “Just go get coworker and take your lunch!”
([Customer #1] and [Customer #3] wished me the same, while [Customer #2] — who was in fact from corporate — dragged my boss into the office for that “talk.”)
