Retail's Secret Weapon

[HawaiianShirts]

We have some "universal" power adapters that fit many laptops. The packaging has a list of models that the adapter will work with.

Guy came in looking for a power adapter for his laptop. He didn't see his model on the package list. So I asked if I could help him.

SC: Sure! Let me open this to test it.

And he ripped open the package.

Me: Uh, sir, I can't let you do that. You have to pay for it first.
SC: Nah. It's no big deal. It's not like I'm going to steal it.

As he said that, he was pulling his laptop out of a bag he'd brought in with him and started to test some of the power tips to see if one of them fit.

Me: But some people might steal it, or part of it. We have to have you to pay for the item before you open it. You can return it if it doesn't work, but so we can be sure everything we sell is complete, we can't let customers open products they haven't purchased.
SC: It's not that big a deal, bud. You can just put it back together with your shrink-wrap gun. HA! It fits. You can relax now. I'm buying it.

He got up, picked up all the parts of the power adapter, it's package, and his laptop and bag, patted me on the head, and walked off whistling.

That was an annoying exchange, especially the head-pat, but "shrink-wrap gun"?

[Lyger]

He... patted you on the head?

What the hell did that guy think you were, a dog or something? Seriously, how totally condescending was that?

[powerboy]

If he had done that to me, I would have knocked his out. Done it before to a guy that came up, and touched my stomach, when I was working at Walmart. He said it was his job to do that. So I knocked his out cold.

[The Distorted Kwi]

Is it "Get-Felt-Up-By-Morons" week, or something? One of our guests felt the need to poke me in the belly on his way out of a lift the other day. I'm not even fat, so i wasn't able to giglle and roll around like the Pilsbury doughboy.

Maybe he mistook me for a Punch-You-In-the-Face Elmo?

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've had a manager poke me in the stomach and that was bad enough. A customer?! Forget that!

[JustaCashier]

A light, casual touch from the customer, on the arm or shoulder generally doesn't bother me, but an agressive, or condescending one does.

I recently had an old fart grab my arm at the register, and I felt it to be more than a tad annoying.

HS's SC was a total condescening jerkwad from the start, what with the attitude that it was just okay to rip open any package he wanted, despite HS trying to explain store policy to him.

Mike

[Hempress]

Maybe he mistook me for a Punch-You-In-the-Face Elmo?

I want one of those!

[Imogene]

Um... okay... he said he was going to buy the adapter, but he never did?

Also, why, sure, I'll lean into the petting, but only momentarily. Shortly after, I bite.

Treat me like a dog, I'll act like one. And, who knows? I might have rabies.

Usually, I see myself as fluffier than a dog. Perhaps a bunny, or a skunk.

By the by, Happy Easter.

[HowMayIHelpMe?]

He got up, picked up all the parts of the power adapter, it's package, and his laptop and bag, patted me on the head, and walked off whistling.

This is disgusting. He patted you on the head? See, this is why I always stand a good few feet away from any customers I deal with, whenever possible. I don't want to give them even the chance to pull shit like that. If a customer patted me on the head, they would be extremely lucky not to be pulling back a stump. To me, this just goes to show you how far away from civility and the old days we've all come, when some loser can just waltz into a business and think that he has any right at all to do that. Your post leaves me with a couple of questions for you, though:

1. Did anyone witness this?

2. Was this guy really tall or something?

3. Was he in your personal space the whole time you were dealing with him?

You really do have my sympathies.

[InsanityInc]

Due to a nasty experience, I react really badly to being touched by anyone I don't know and trust. There's about 10 people on the list. Anyone else gets laid out.

[HawaiianShirts]

1. Did anyone witness this?

2. Was this guy really tall or something?

3. Was he in your personal space the whole time you were dealing with him?

It wasn't so much a violation of personal space as it apparently seemed from my description in the OP. He was kneeling on the floor for most of the exchange. The pat on the head was a very casual double-tap as he walked past me. It was almost like the pat on the back one might give a friend with a "See you later." It was insulting, but nothing more than that.

Yes, he was rather tall, compared to me. I'm about 5'7" and one of the shorter guys in the department.

Yes, the guy in the car audio section nearby saw it. He followed the guy up just to make sure he actually purchased the adapter, which he did.

[Mr. Rager!]

I've had customers pat me on the head before... I just kind of give them a look and let them go about their day. I have yet to get overly offended about it. It's just weird.

[digilight]

hmmm A pat on the head. I would think that is not appropriate for the following reason. It would strike me to be both patrinizing (yeah I can't spell my way out of a paper sack) and dominering (yup sp again) behaviour.

I would second the vote for a swift jab to the kidneys (but since we can't advocate violence) I would say to just let out a taco bell fart when they do that, it should make them think twice before they ever do it again to anyone.

[ShortTemperHatesStupidity]

Ermmm.. wow. What's the deal with the "good-boy" pat on the head? How rude is that...

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I've had customers pat me on the head before... I just kind of give them a look and let them go about their day. I have yet to get overly offended about it. It's just weird.

I recommend barking at them.

"Woof"

See what kind of reaction that gets.