This week has been a little hectic. Closed Monday for Labor day. On Tuesday, my Lead Worker (floor supervisor) is not feeling well, and on Wednesday, two hours into her shift, she is so sick, she went to the ER, where she was admitted overnight.
So on Wednesday, I am not in a particularly perky mood. Ditsy Clerk comes to ask me what she should do about her customer. He is representing a company, and he has 10 out of state titles for vehicles that he wants to title and register here. Out of state titles are complex. There are extra steps and a title search that has to be initiated on each. One transaction like this can be anywhere from 5 - 10 minutes each, which would mean that he is tying up one clerk for an hour and a half when I am already short staffed.
No. You can drop off the work. We will get it back to you in 48 hours. Or you can pick 3 to do now, and drop off the rest (and the rest will be done in 48 hours).
Mr. Demander: You show me in writing where it says that!
Me: No. That is standard procedure for dealer work.
MD (triumphantly): I am not a car dealer!
Me: You're right. You get ONE done today, and leave the rest.
MD: You show me in writing where it says that!
Me: No. (Note: There are times when the whole stereotypical callous, rude civil servant bitch thing comes in so handy).
MD (Throws all the titles across the counter at us): I am not leaving here unless you do all of them!
Me: You have a choice: we will do three, or you will leave right now.
MD: Is it my fault all of you are lazy and you just don't want to do your job?
Me (Pointing to the lobby): Look around. We are all working, and no matter your decision, we will continue to work. It is all the other customers that you are trying to inconvenience.
MD: Can I pick which three?
(Ha! He blinked first.)
Me: Certainly. And if you wish to leave the rest, the clerk will explain the procedure to you. You won't have to wait when you come back to pick them up.
I can afford to be gracious at this point. He conceded the main point which was: don't shut down the office due to your lack of planning.
The clerk later told me that he ended up apologizing to her for his tantrum.
So on Wednesday, I am not in a particularly perky mood. Ditsy Clerk comes to ask me what she should do about her customer. He is representing a company, and he has 10 out of state titles for vehicles that he wants to title and register here. Out of state titles are complex. There are extra steps and a title search that has to be initiated on each. One transaction like this can be anywhere from 5 - 10 minutes each, which would mean that he is tying up one clerk for an hour and a half when I am already short staffed.
No. You can drop off the work. We will get it back to you in 48 hours. Or you can pick 3 to do now, and drop off the rest (and the rest will be done in 48 hours).
Mr. Demander: You show me in writing where it says that!
Me: No. That is standard procedure for dealer work.
MD (triumphantly): I am not a car dealer!
Me: You're right. You get ONE done today, and leave the rest.
MD: You show me in writing where it says that!
Me: No. (Note: There are times when the whole stereotypical callous, rude civil servant bitch thing comes in so handy).
MD (Throws all the titles across the counter at us): I am not leaving here unless you do all of them!
Me: You have a choice: we will do three, or you will leave right now.
MD: Is it my fault all of you are lazy and you just don't want to do your job?
Me (Pointing to the lobby): Look around. We are all working, and no matter your decision, we will continue to work. It is all the other customers that you are trying to inconvenience.
MD: Can I pick which three?
(Ha! He blinked first.)
Me: Certainly. And if you wish to leave the rest, the clerk will explain the procedure to you. You won't have to wait when you come back to pick them up.
I can afford to be gracious at this point. He conceded the main point which was: don't shut down the office due to your lack of planning.
The clerk later told me that he ended up apologizing to her for his tantrum.
Comment