You Know What They Say About Assuming; It Gets You Kicked Out!

I am Asian. A customer comes up to the counter, sees me, and immediately starts looking around.

Me: “Can I help you, ma’am?”

Customer: *Suddenly frustrated* “Why would you ask me that? Do you think I’m stupid?”

Me: “No, ma’am. You just looked like you were looking for something.”

Customer: “Well, I was looking for…” *Mumbles*

Me: “Sorry, I didn’t catch that, ma’am.”

Customer: “I was looking for someone who could speak English!”

Me: “But… I do?”

Customer: “Well, how was I supposed to know that?! I want to make a complaint about you to your manager!”

Confused but choosing my battles, I call my manager over. She makes her complaint.

Manager: “So, I’m struggling to understand here. What is your complaint about, exactly?”

Customer: “She assumed I was stupid!”

Manager: “And you assumed that someone working the help desk at a bookstore in the middle of the United States couldn’t speak English just because she’s Asian. I’d say her assumption was closer to reality than yours was.”

The customer tried to complain further, but my manager just asked her to leave. When she refused the first few times, he asked if she understood English…

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