I thought I left all of that in The City.

[KiaKat]

As some of you know, I used to live in NYC, and managed a wine store in a marginal area of town. The sexual harassment was rampant. When I moved upstate, I was reminded that most of the world isn't like that, and slowly started to get over the feeling that I was about to be grabbed at any time.

Welp, that feeling has returned, big time.

We have this one customer. He only buys a single brand of flavoured vodka (endorsed by a celebrity), and does so on a regular basis. He also frequently shows up with shady characters, whom he attempts to impress.

Last week, he popped up for a special order of his Special Vodka. With an entourage. Including (apparently) at least one person he was determined to impress with his mad skillz wif da ladeez. His method of doing so was to first, lean over the counter, second, mention that I looked upset (not upset, just really hungry, very busy, and trapped by him and his friends while I waited for the register to free up), and when I brushed it off as just needing some lunch, OFFERING HIS HAND FOR ME TO BITE.

Then his cheek. While stating that it was tasty.

At which point I said I was vegetarian, and luckily the register freed up at that point. His friends ragged on him, I handed him off to my coworker, and high-tailed it out of there.

Boss was nearby, but apparently didn't pick up on my discomfort. He referenced the whole thing later, at which point I said I wasn't comfortable, Boss cracked a joke, and I glared. Boss apologized, said he understood, and that if I didn't want to serve that particular customer, I didn't have to. He or one of the other guys could take care of it.

I've bitched about Boss in the past, but he is fairly good with making sure we don't have to handle customers we don't like.

[Pixilated]

Alas, these creeps are everywhere, like mold. The only place I've ever been really harassed was in a small town.

At least it sounds like, when push comes to shove, your Boss will do the right thing. Good for him, although the joke wasn't necessary. At least next time Mr. Studly comes in, he can impress his entourage with his skillz wif da guys, and see how much street cred THAT gets him.

[KiaKat]

Yeah, I think he realized, when I glared, that I wasn't joking about being creeped out. It happens so rarely that it caught him by surprise.

[thatcrazyredhead]

OFFERING HIS HAND FOR ME TO BITE.

Then his cheek. While stating that it was tasty.

How does that go, exactly?

"Wanna bite my hand?"

"I'd like to see some teethmarks in the only relationship I've ever had. Could you oblige?"

"Can I get a love bite?"

I am at a loss here. Poor KiaKat!

[KiaKat]

"hey, gorgeous, why so down?"

"not upset, just busy, and maybe a little hungry - lunch is waiting for me."

*holds out hand* "go ahead and chew on that. Better yet..." *presents cheek* "how about that? I'm tasty!"

"no thanks, I'm vegetarian"

*crowd erupts*

[thatcrazyredhead]

Eeeewwwww. *cookies and booze for KiaKat*

[ADeMartino]

[QUOTE=KiaKat;1172652]"hey, gorgeous, why so down?"

"not upset, just busy, and maybe a little hungry - lunch is waiting for me."

*holds out hand* "go ahead and chew on that. Better yet..." *presents cheek* "how about that? I'm tasty!"

"no thanks, I'm vegetarian I can't stand grease"

Fixed that for ya.

[Seshat]

Yeah, I think he realized, when I glared, that I wasn't joking about being creeped out. It happens so rarely that it caught him by surprise.

I suspect you're right. I've had that happen - I seem so tough and capable that most of my male friends are surprised when something really skeeves me.

Fortunately, they're pretty good about handling it when they finally realise I genuinely am beyond coping.

[Crossbow]

[QUOTE=ADeMartino;1172677]

"hey, gorgeous, why so down?"

"not upset, just busy, and maybe a little hungry - lunch is waiting for me."

*holds out hand* "go ahead and chew on that. Better yet..." *presents cheek* "how about that? I'm tasty!"

"no thanks, I'm vegetarian I can't stand grease slimy leftovers."

Fixed that for ya.

So did I.

Wish I could say that people like this could be restricted to a known locale, but they're everywhere...

[KiaKat]

Yeah, the rough element here isn't as bad as it used to be, but there's still a degree of shady goings-on. I'm mostly just annoyed that none of the other staff members picked up on my discomfort - it would have been easy to swap out, but I wasn't going to interrupt any of their conversations.

*shrugs*

We had another incident today, but this was less lascivious and more weird. Guy comes in, buys our cheapest (plastic bottle) pint of vodka. An hour later, he comes back, says "the person isn't coming over, can I return this?" Boss inspected the bottle, didn't see any signs of tampering, and returns it. He later tells me that the person is known to be disturbed - lives in his car, doesn't really own a ton of clothes, etc. So the tampering is a legit concern, but neither of us sees any sign of actual tampering, so we're assuming it's ok. Now I'm on strict orders to not let the guy in if I'm here alone.

I do admit, this place is good about protecting us from real danger or skeeviness. it's one thing I've always appreciated.