sexist/racist/Homophobic customers

[chainedbarista]

heh, class of '86 for me; i also am able to name quite a few 'classic' rock bands, to the surprise of those older than me.

[Jester]

Shockingly to the YOUNGER crowd, I also know who Avril Lavigne, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, and the Carters are. I don't know ALL the current artists, but enough to keep the "kids" surprised. [My 15-year-old niece was over hear helping me with some stuff yesterday, had her laptop, with music, with her, and was surprised when I asked her to put on some Avril and Evanescense. Heheheheh...]


FOUR DAYS TILL VACATION!!!

[Ree]

We have a female salesclerk who has worked in the home improvement retail business since she was a kid in high school probably 40 years ago.
Her husband is a contractor and she handles all of the details and stuff for him.
In short, she has probably forgotten more than any of the males in the store have ever learned.

We still get people coming in who figure because she is a woman, she won't have a clue what they need.

I remember a long time ago when I worked at the grocery store, I got a call from one of our delivery companies, asking if we were open on a stat holiday. I told them we weren't, so we couldn't accept deliveries and they would have to come the next day.

They asked to speak with one of the butchers about arranging delivery.
One of the guys came out and took the phone.
I heard him talk for bit, then he turned to me and asked, "Are we open on Monday?"

I said, "No, we aren't."

He turned back to the phone and said, "We aren't open on Monday. You'll have to come Tuesday...OK... Thanks...No problem." Then he hung up.
I was speechless.
I guess it sounded more official coming from a man.

[Slave to the Phone]

not work related, but still on topic

I'm female. Back in the day, I was a hot mama. I'm still a hot mama...but nowadays, it comes in flashes. (lame menopause joke)

I'm also a motorhead.

When I was dating my husband, my car needed a battery. We went to the store, the guy behind the counter looked in his book and brought out a battery that I could tell wouldn't fit. When I told the clerk that it wouldn't fit, he insisted that it was the correct one and my SO took the clerks side. I just told SO to keep the receipt and that he would be the one returning the battery.

We got home and the battery didn't fit. Went back to the store and my SO handed the same clerk the battery and said "I guess the lady knows her car better than we do. It didn't fit."

My SO has spent the past 18 years telling parts counter people and mechanics: "You'll have to talk to her, its her car/motorcycle and she's the one doing the work. I'm just here to protect you when you start patronizing her."

The mechanic who has my scoot now (I'm not so good with electrical problems, its cheaper to pay someone else to fix them) will have my business forever. I broke down on my way to work and had to call a male friend with a truck for help. When we got to the shop, the mechanic came out to ask what happened.

Friend told the mechanic what I told friend and what we had tried before resorting to trailering the bike. (ticked me off, but I'm used to guys doing that and I still needed a ride home, so I didn't say anything)

Wonderful mechanic politely listened to friend and when friend had finished giving suggestions and advice, turned to me, looked at my face and asked "What happened?" and then listened to me describe the problem and asked ME questions about MY motorcycle and modifications that I had done.

Times are changing in a good way

[thegiraffe]

I'm freaking 5'10" and 160-165 pounds depending on how late in the day it is and how hot it was. I'm not a big guy. I can't carry a full keg of beer, it's FREAKING heavy!

Awww....he's a widdle one!

Sorry, I find it amusing. I'm 6'1 and 155 (and female). Scary, I know. I can't lift a keg either.

Hey, sparky, I graduated from high school in 1987!

Haha I'm a youngin' I guess. I was BORN in 1985. I'll have my Bachelor's in December. I'm a baby of the boards

[blas]

I find it very sad that I have to have my father make my appointments at the mechanic for me, and put them in his name, in case they try and be sexist with me. That's really sad. Although, if they are (granted, this sounds SCish, but there is no reason to overcharge or talk dumb to a woman just because she's a woman with car problems) sexist with me, I can tell my daddy and he can raise hell with them. He's a big guy, I wouldn't mess with my daddy if I were half of the 5 feet 4 inch 110 pound mechanics in town.

I also find it bad that I have to bring my father or a guy friend with me when looking at cars or even going to an auto parts store.

I went by myself once, to get spark plugs for my Tempo. The stupid little nerd behind the counter goes, "Honey, do you even know how many spark plugs you need?".........and I admit it, I was an SC, and I said "Forget it, asshole. I don't need your help." and I left. I didn't even bother complaining to his manager, who was a regular SC at the gas station (one girl who used to work at the gas station also worked at that store *she's a mechanic nowadays* and he treated her like absolute garbage) and I knew I wouldn't get anywhere with him. That's how all those stupid men treat women at that auto parts store, I should have known better.

[Slave to the Phone]

I went by myself once, to get spark plugs for my Tempo. The stupid little nerd behind the counter goes, "Honey, do you even know how many spark plugs you need?"

This is why I always buy my own parts. Its also why my husband refuses to answer questions about my vehicles.

We are doing it for you.

Back when I was young and sexy, I figured guys reacted like that because they were thinking with their other head. Now, I know that its because they aren't used to female motorheads and I'm trying to educate them that motorheads come in both sexes.

Hopefully, by the time you are my age, you won't have to deal with sexist mechanics anymore.

[Knightmare]

I'm 6'1 and 155 (and female). Scary, I know. I can't lift a keg either.

Tall women drive me absolutely crazy.... *sigh*
But I'm 6'5" and just over 200 pounds, and I don't know if I can lift a keg, because I usually just drink it.

Haha I'm a youngin' I guess. I was BORN in 1985. I'll have my Bachelor's in December. I'm a baby of the boards

In 1985, I was just entering high school. Crap, I suddenly feel old.

[chainedbarista]

In 1985, I was just entering high school. Crap, I suddenly feel old.

i was a junior in 1985; what does that make me, fossilized?

i can usually find out parts questions from my husband or look them up myself; i haven't needed to get anything truly more complex than oil filters, though.

[Slave to the Phone]

In 1985, I was just entering high school. Crap, I suddenly feel old.

I joined the Air Force straight out of highschool. In 1974. Am I the forum geezer?

[Spiffy McMoron]

I also find it bad that I have to bring my father or a guy friend with me when looking at cars or even going to an auto parts store.

When a woman (or a man, for that matter) comes into the store, I always, ALWAYS, ALWAYS assume that she knows what the hell she is talking about, unless she proves otherwise. (ie: Starts off a conversation with "This is such a stupid, woman question..." or "My husband sent me to get this. *hands me a piece of paper with information on it* Don't ask me any questions, because I don't know anything about this-I'm just a girl")

On a semi-related topic, if you say a phrase like that to me, I'll probbly get pissed off at you. Being female does not make you inferior at automotive knowledge, nor is that an acceptable excuse for anything anymore, except for not being able to pee standing up and/or needing to wear a bra.

[Ree]

...straight out of highschool. In 1974. Am I the forum geezer?

Yep...I didn't graduate high school until 1978. YAY!!! We have a member older than I am.

[blas]

Thegiraffe, I'm younger than you, I was born in 1987.

Our actual baby of this site, I believe, is Jaden, wherever he went, it seems we haven't heard from him lately

[Severen13]

In 1985, I was just entering high school. Crap, I suddenly feel old.

I was in 6th grade. Yikes!

[Sunsetsky]

Once I had another cashier approach me. She wanted me to help her with a carry out. She said she could've done it herself but the woman wanted a big strong man to help her. The SC said that no woman would be able to lift the shelves that she had in her cart. Since there was no man around to help, I went out to help the other cashier just to humor the customer.

The shelves weighed probably 10 pounds. I could've lifted all three of them by myself.