Customer Suck and sweeeeet revenge

[Damien]

I am not sur eif this goes here or Sightings, so feel free to move it...

Many moons ago, I used to be a regular customer at a second hand/reconditioned electronics store.

This store was not part of a chain and was run by a bored rich dude as a hobby, he was a qualified electrician and was a stickler for quality.

Now, as I was that much of a regular customer, I got an employee shirt and a sign in the corner saying "Damo's corner, careful what you sit in" - did I also mention he was a smart ass...

Anyways, one Saturday, I was doing my homework in my corner, wearing the store clothing and doing my advanced physics. (I swear sometimes it was like nerd central).

Even though I was not employed, I helped out with the customers while I was there (and got some cool electronics for free as a bonus!).

Anyways, in walks in rich-cheap-ass-snooty-bitch-from-below-hell - we'll call her SC.... wanting a repair I think... or to buy something... anyways:

Now, the owner had no pretense of being nice to SC's....

Me: GDAY!
B: Legend bored rich guy
SC: as above

SC (to me) Hey you, you gonna serve me or what? <"Hey you" - mistake no. 1>
Me: don't work here m'am, but maybe I can help?
SC (to me) Hmph, you're wearing the uniform....
Me: true, and very well spotted m'am, but I do not work here, what do you need?
SC (to me) hmmph, well don't let me take you away from your basic math... having trouble with adding are we? <mistake no. 2>

Meanwhile I saw B behind a curtain out of site from SC trying not to laugh...did I mention he was a smart ass

Me: no, not at all - though the Foiurier transforms are giving me a bit of grief (showing the title of the book - Physics for Scientists and Engineers), but I don't mind helping you out, what is it you need?

B is still silently laughing out back

SC (to me) hmph I see you have a word speller - can't spell can we? <mistake no. 3 as I have dyslexia>

B stops laughing and looks at me with a "oh crap he is going to explode" look on his face

Me: M'am! you are aware what dyslexia is don't you??

SC (to me) yes, I do, why do....<it then dawns on her> ...um, but you are not being helpful!

Me: i HAVE ASKED YOU 3 TIMES WHAT DO YOU NEED!

B walks in

SC (to B) are you the mananger here, if so, you should get better workers than stupid over there! <<<< REAL BIG WHOPPER MISTAKE>>>>

It was my turn to have that oh-my-god-he-is-going-to-explode look on my face

B: Look, lady - if you can do Fourier transforms or the advanced what ever the hell it is stuff he is doing then you will have the right to call him stupid, until then shut the hell up!

SC: fien you lost a customer

B: yes, a customer I am happy to have lost!

SC: I will never come back here and I will report you to the media and you will lose everything!

B: Lady, how can I lose a zero profit margin?? and by the way, no one asked you to come in!

SC storms off leaving B and me pissing ourselves laughing....

by the way, I got 90% on that Fourier Transforms project - very happy with that result!

[crazylegs]

The way customer service should be run.

Although I may be classed as eccentric in my views

If all major corporations and companies didn't treat rudeness and incivility in such a way as to have a rear view of the idiots tonsils, ie they were refused service, then people would be a lot more polite and agreable in how they shopped and went about their day to day business.

All that is happening is positive reinforcement, Idiot behaves in appalling manner, something pleasant occurs because of it, therefore Idiot will do it again, it doesn't benefit anyone.

[matty]

Now, it was surely fair enough for someone to mistake a person wearing the employee uniform for an employee.

But, it all went downhill as soon as she opened her mouth.

Actually, I'm guessing the employees had a lot of fun working there. When the store owner has the shop "as a hobby", well, you don't need to worry too much about making SCs happy, do you?

[Damien]

exactly true

This guy (and me for that matter) will go out of our way if the person is polite and civil. An example, this dear elderly lady (and quite seriously a lovely lady) walks in and I am doing my nerdy stuff as always sitting in my corner:

Me: GDAY again
B: that awesom dude
NC: sweet angel of a lady

NC: (to me, chuckling) I love that sign, may I call you 'Damo'?
Me: of course, m'am, how can I help you?
NC: I am after an amplifier for my grandson's birthday, and gives me the specifics <she was pretty tech savvy>
Me: I will check for you, m'am, please take a seat <nodding to my corner>
NC: <chuckling> it's safe is it?
Me: <chuckling and winking> for now, yes
NC: <still chuckling> oh, you!

I go to B and say a sweet lady is after XYZ Amplifier, do we have one, and he said yes we do! WOOT!

Me: Yes, m'am, the store owner, B, is getting it for you!
NC: <looking concerned looking at my study books> Oh dear, did I interrupt your study?
Me: not at all, m'am, happy to help you

B comes out with the amplifier and then this lady says the sweetest thing about me!

NC: This young man has been very helpful to me, I am very greatful!
B: well he does not even work for me, he just helps out and eats my food! <he IS a smart ass>
NC: oh my! that is wonderful <patting me on the hand> How much do I owe you for the amplifier?
B: $120
NC: oh dear I can not afford that, could I pay in installments?
B has that look in his eye again, a generous streak runs through this guy...

B: I tell you what m'am, I am going to let you have this for free and with our best wishes.
NC: oh my! <she was shell shocked> Thank you so much, bless you, both!
B: Have a great day m'am
Me: Take care, m'am

It should be noted that the little old lady came back that afternoon with a cake and card.... in the card was $120...

I will never forget her

[Damien]

Now, it was surely fair enough for someone to mistake a person wearing the employee uniform for an employee.

But, it all went downhill as soon as she opened her mouth.

Actually, I'm guessing the employees had a lot of fun working there. When the store owner has the shop "as a hobby", well, you don't need to worry too much about making SCs happy, do you?

Oh yes, that is quite true, and I was always happy to help...

Every day was some whacky adventure....

and that back room... the "inventiveness" happening back there... everything from automatic bottle openers to seismographs were getting done there....

[Reyneth]

This guy (and me for that matter) will go out of our way if the person is polite and civil.
...
NC: oh my! that is wonderful <patting me on the hand> How much do I owe you for the amplifier?
B: $120
NC: oh dear I can not afford that, could I pay in installments?
B has that look in his eye again, a generous streak runs through this guy...

B: I tell you what m'am, I am going to let you have this for free and with our best wishes.

O.M.G.
There should be more people like your "boss" in the world - it would be such a nicer place. I this guy from those two stories already.

[crazylegs]

It should be noted that the little old lady came back that afternoon with a cake and card.... in the card was $120...

So not only did the manager get stonking good customer relations he also got his money, and most importantly, a free cake!

[Crazeyal]

Wow...

It's sad to think what the SC's will do to this generous helpful man.

[Knightmare]

I don't think we have to worry too much about the owner. We should be worried about what HE will do to the SCs!

[myswtghst]

SC (to me) yes, I do, why do....<it then dawns on her> ...um, but you are not being helpful!

Me: i HAVE ASKED YOU 3 TIMES WHAT DO YOU NEED!

This part was my favorite. You did a fantastic job dealing with her nonsense, and I wish I'd had a "boss" as awesome as him. Oh, and the little old lady story nearly had me in tears. What a kickass guy, and how lucky he was to have your help, as well.

[qaxons]

Damien, you're welcome to come hang out in my store whenever I get it open... This is kind of in the vein of this one thing I read about a guy who worked in a video game store who didn't give an inch to SCs... kinda vague, but does anyone know where I can find that?

Store policy for my store is going to be "Don't suck, and we won't kick you to the curb."

It was "Acts of Gord" I found it another thread XD

[Amethyst Hunter]

Your boss is so full of WIN!