Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Zion
Posts: 4450

From here.

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HOUSTON (AP) - Road rage? Try restaurant rage. A 34-year-old man apparently angry that his $6 steak and cheese sandwich was too cold was arrested on a charge of threatening to kill the restaurant manager Wednesday.

Police said the manager offered to reheat Devlin B. Nelson's sandwich or make him a new one when he complained. Authorities allege he instead demanded a refund, threw the sandwich at the manager, then threatened to kill her and blow up the restaurant.

Nelson, a Houston public works employee, has been relieved of his duties pending the outcome of the investigation. He remained in custody Thursday.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35572

There is a coffee shop at Milton Keynes Station that has a sign outside that says 'Warning: server's smile may be fake'.

Which is good.

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Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 5074

I agree that some folks need to learn some restraint. The fact that someone else has made a mistake is no excuse for atrocious behavior of the sort described in that quote.
It feels to me as though we're seeing more and more of that sort of behavior--folks unable to refrain from expressions of rage in response to minor incidents. Why is that? Is it an increase in the number of daily frustrations, so that we're all closer to the edge, or a decrease in our level of maturity and awareness of appropriate behavior?
Or is it not actually more prevalent than before?

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 24374

quote:

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Originally posted by Cruise Director
I truly believe that everyone should have to work retail or in a service industry for at least one year of their lives. It makes them better consumers.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Zion
Posts: 4450

Observations from my current position:

1) Telling me how much money you spend doesn't impress me. Even if you only spend ten bucks I will try and fix your problem.

2.) I am not going to tell you how I am going to discipline the employee that ruined your day. Frankly, it's none of your business.

3.) Twenty 2 x 4's does not constitute a "large volume" discount.

4.) Yanking every cabinet out of your kitchen because the "estimated time of arrival" on your order was today is not really my problem. Let me define the word "estimated" for you.

5.) Calling me names and yelling doesn't really scare me. Nor does it make me want to help you.

6.) Calling me at home to solve your problem is not the way to go about it. (Remind me to kill the employee that gave out my home number.)

7.)Let's talk about the problem you are having NOW. Telling me about shit that happened to you two years ago isn't allowed. Only my girlfriend is allowed to do that.

8.) I have 10,000 other people to help this week. You are not a unique butterfly.

9.) Asking for the employee discount is the best way to not receive one.

10.) Remember that when you are cursing, screaming and being vile to me about your order that is late, I am looking at your personal information. I KNOW where you live, you bastard.

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Registered: Mar 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 24374

quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
There is a coffee shop at Milton Keynes Station that has a sign outside that says 'Warning: server's smile may be fake'.

Which is good.

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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 0.50
Posts: 9355

i think the problem lies with the oft-repeated and ridiculous saying "the customer is always right". while it may be a cute little allusion to a customer service philosophy, it is not true.

slightly off-topic, the "always treat a gun as if it was loaded" thing bothers me also. because a gun is not always loaded. people forget the spirit of things and follow the letter. it is one of my bigger complaints about people as a whole, i think.

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19581

quote:

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Originally posted by Talarohk
I agree that some folks need to learn some restraint. The fact that someone else has made a mistake is no excuse for atrocious behavior of the sort described in that quote.
It feels to me as though we're seeing more and more of that sort of behavior--folks unable to refrain from expressions of rage in response to minor incidents. Why is that? Is it an increase in the number of daily frustrations, so that we're all closer to the edge, or a decrease in our level of maturity and awareness of appropriate behavior?
Or is it not actually more prevalent than before?

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1749

I'm excited to no longer be a part of the "service" industry, is it were. I grew tired of the demands and expectations of people.

It baffles me to no end the way customers can treat service workers. How is becoming irate going to change anything? I seem to be telling an aweful large number of people to simply "relax and move on." Anger does nothing but breed more anger. Sure, being nice doesn't always get things done, but it feels better on the inside.

I don't really have much else to say of great importance. Many people suck, and that's about the only conclusion I can reach.

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Registered: May 2002
Location:
Posts: 8663

where'd the cheese go?

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: ........
Posts: 14960

blame ignatz

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26385

I was at Blockbuster the other night, and one of my neighbors was stalking around the other side of the counter having an argument with the high school chick who was the manager on duty. I see this lady in there all the time; her and I have to be up there as the most frequent customers. Only difference is I just go in an get my movie, and am mostly quiet and polite, and this lady is one of those "use the store as my home away from home" sort of customers, so whever she's there she acts like it's her personal kingdom. It's weird. Like because she rents movies five nights a week she is somewhere higher than your average customer in the heirarchy, like the store is part hers now because she got the thirty bucks a month unlimited rental deal she now owns controlling stock in the company.

Anyway, I guess she had called in before leaving her real house asking if they had a particular movie there, and if so could they hold it for her. I was a manager at a blockbuster for a couple years, so I know it's technically against policy to do that (we used to be able to, but the corporation decided it wasn't worth it to take rentable stock off the shelves and stick it behind the counter because some guy on the phone said he'll come in and rent it in a few hours, which is understandable). But, it's one of those rules that, for just a shift manager, if a good customer calls and asks we'd usually do it if we could. So I guess two hours ago this high school chick took the movie off the shelf and stuck it behind the counter and said "sure, we'll hold it for you."

But, somewhere between the phone call and the lady coming in, the movie got rented out. Maybe it was all off the shelves and another customer asked if they had one hanging around elsewhere, or maybe it just got shelved with the other returned movies and rented out again, who knows. It happens. But this lady comes in, picks out a couple other movies, and then when she goes up to the counter to ask for "her" movie and the high school chick finds it's gone, the customer just starts huffing and puffing and going nuts.

So I'm waiting at the proper counter with my movies listening to this play out (as the high school chick is otherwise occupied). There's nothing really the high school chick can do but apologize; the movie simply isn't there so it's not like she can go track it down at whatever person's house rented it. She apologizes as much as she can, offers to credit her account (which won't really matter as this customer has the "free movies for a monthly fee" deal), and is as apologetic as can be. But this lady is just not accepting it. She ASKED for them to hold her movie TWO HOURS AGO and it's NOT THERE! The basic situation is that the clerk offered to do her a solid against company policy but it didn't work out, but the customer can't get past "Me Want Movie X, Movie X Not Here" and anything beyond that just isn't getting through.

So this goes on for five minutes, basically with the customer finding new ways to insult this poor girl, and the poor girl trying to find new ways to say she's sorry. Eventually though, the clerk realizes she has more customers, and that this isn't going anywhere, so she basically says "look, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. If it comes back in, I'll give you a call, but I've got to deal with the other customers now. Again, I'm sorry" and goes to the register (where I'm waiting).

And this customer is just absolutely taken aback that the clerk DARED finally cut off the (completely unproductive) harangue she was getting. She stands there for a minute or two as I'm getting checked out, just looking dumbfounded.

So, as I'm paying, she finally just gets beat red and starts ranting as she walks around the counter (towards me) with her other movies in her hand. She comes up behind me and says something like "FINE then!" and she literally THROWS the movies she has at the high school chick, from over my shoulder. I'm standing there paying, and all of a sudden this crazy lady behind me throws a couple of rental tapes at the clerk from over my shoulder. The clerk is sitting there ringing me up and all of a sudden a couple of rental tapes come flying at her. I jump (because all of a sudden things are flying over me) and the clerk dodges the tapes (which nearly hit her square in the face), and I wheel around and shout "What the FUCK, lady?!!" and barely restrain myself from just punching her in the face on reflex. The clerk is, I think, starting to cry, and this lady just stands there, red as a beet, and continues to loudly harangue her, oblivious to the fact that she just legally attempted to assault somebody.

So I tell the clerk that she should call the cops and tell the lady that she should get the fuck out of there right now before somebody has to restrain her. The lady gets this look on her face like "Who are YOU to get up in MY business!" but by then a couple other customers and employees are coming over looking pretty pissed off so she decides to start storming out the door. And as she does, she's ranting about how "I'M the CUSTOMER!"

I fucking couldn't believe it.

Anyway, I haven't seen that lady back yet (and I'm there about every other day and used to see her all the time) though I see her in the neighborhood from time to time. The high school school chick manager is now wicked nice to me (she's hot, too). And I remember my thought as I left the store last night all pissed off was mostly about how sad and frustrating that lady's life must be that she can wind herself that tightly over a goddamn rental tape.

Anyway, pointless anecdote over. People can be cunts, thank you drive through.

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Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 2573

I worked at blockies for a while.

The crazy lady should know that her address (should the police require it) is just the tap of a key away.

Im always polite to clerks, especially if food is involved.

I can't help being insulted when I encounter forced over politeness on their part. It just grates me horribly.

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Registered: May 2002
Location:
Posts: 8663

working at blockbuster was cool cause we gots the free rentals, not so cool cause we had to watch the gay promo tapes.

anyway, don't be a pussy paint, fuck the high school chick. you practically saved her life, she owes you that much.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26385

She's Polynesian, and has a great ass.

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Registered: May 2002
Location:
Posts: 8663

(cue gfy! with the getting lei-d joke...)

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: in colorado somewhere!
Posts: 25665

I love going to blockbuster. When they don't have the movie,I just wait for it and come the next day. I love joking to the tellers about how well their taking care of my store. They know me by name and say Hi when I walk in.
I think customers that complain are assholes. They act like their fucking movie stars or some shit. It's weird but I even tell the cleaning lady when I'm on vacation that she really dosen't have to clean my bathtub every day. And I don't leave any messes for them. In restaurants,If I get bad service,it shows in my tip. That's it,problem solved,we don't come back. But I've seen idiots getting really great service and not recieving a tip.
I don't think I could ever work with customers. I wouldn't last.

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EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Zion
Posts: 4450

There are times when I tell customers "look, it's apparent we are not able to satisfy your needs. Perhaps you should consider shopping elsewhere." Their tone usually changes as they realize I have just invited them to kindly go fuck themselves and make somebody else's life miserable. When they say they'd rather shop here I let them know it really wasn't an option.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 1749

Hey, Cruise, I'ma come into your store sometime and harass someone. I'd like to see what whitty phrases you could counter my actions with.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Dumbfucksville!
Posts: 12164

quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
There is a coffee shop at Milton Keynes Station that has a sign outside that says 'Warning: server's smile may be fake'.

Which is good.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35572

I didn't even go inside. Buying anything in a train station is financial rape.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Dumbfucksville!
Posts: 12164

quote:

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Originally posted by Smug Git
I didn't even go inside. Buying anything in a train station is financial rape.

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