The Customer is Always Right*
You'll be astounded to know that is wasn't even me who broke it, but my boss. That's right- one of the Lifers- who's only job is to make customers happy and employees miserable and who- through an overabundance of unnecessary training workshops- have been conditioned to never, EVER, say no.
But today they did say no, and for that I will always have at least a tiny bit of respect for them.
Manager: Mam I can ring you up over here if you're all set.
Customer: Oh thank you! This trash-can you have, I found it for forty dollars cheaper at another store- can you price match?
Manager: Of course! Let me just verify the price at the store you found it and we can do that for you!
Customer: Fantastic. Also I would like to use my coupon on that as well.
Manager: Unfortunately I can't do a price match and the coupon, but don't worry you're still saving way more by just doing the price match than if you had used your coupon!
Customer: I was told I could use both, and if I can't I'm going to leave!
Manager: I'm sorry it's company policy, so if a friend told you that they misunderstood...
Customer: It wasn't a friend, it was one of your employees!It was that colored lady over there! (points to an employee)
Manager: ........ Excuse me? Mam I am definitely NOT going to take your coupon. Have a good day.
So from now on the Golden Rule of retail gets an asterisk-
*unless you're a dumb racist
I had a similar experience, and I was in the managerial position to banish a racist customer.I witnessed this situation from the office through our DVR system. This dude came in after one of my employees, who happened to be hispanic(related to the story, I promise), explained very pleasantly over the intercom that we required all cash customers to prepay for gas. There's a full line of people and this dude just walks up to the counter and says "Turn the pump on."
ReplyDeleteThen she told him again that we needed cash customers to prepay.
Then he dropped this little nugget:
"I'm a white man and I shouldn't have to pay YOU(I see him throw his finger in her face) before I get my gas!" But he paid her anyway and left to go pump his gas.
I was like 'oh hell no'
I put down my paperwork, walked out to the front and and canceled the authorization, then took his money out to him and said he could fuel up somewhere else. When I came back in, the other customers in line actually gave me a short clap. SUCCESS.
If I had an award to give you I would because what you did was perfectly awesome! I would have clapped too.. and then bought you a candybar.
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