He doesn't want to buy the whole pack....

[erik316wttn]

Yesterday I had a customer who bought just a single pack of 4 C batteries. When he asked if we only sold them in packs of two and got "no" for an answer, this exchange occured:

Him: I only need two! I gotta buy the whole pack if I only need two batteries?

Me: Yes, I'm sorry.

Him: (scoffs) Yeah, I bet. I can't believe I gotta buy this whole thing if I only need two. It's the stupidest goddamn thing I ever heard!

Meanwhile, my previous customer was gathering her belongings and leaving when she must have made some sort of comment to him. He said "fuck you, lady" although she was far enough away by then that I don't think she heard him.

I've been getting all the loons lately. I must be a magnet.

[HawaiianShirts]

I had one of those a while back. I forget why I was near the section with the batteries, but a man whose first language was not English approached me...

SC: You sell these batteries (holding up an old and dirty D-Cell) in one?
Me: Uh... (looking at shelf) I have some of those. Looks like I've got Brand X four-pack and Brand Y four-pack.
SC: You sell in one?
Me: No, just the four-packs.
SC: I only need one.
Me: I just have the fours. If you take one of these four-packs, then you'll have extra batteries when the one wears out.
SC: But I only need one. You have more? One?
Me: No. We only have that size in a pack of four (pointing them out for the fifth time).
SC: Okay. Thank you.

I turned, about to leave, but he picked up one of the four-packs and started opening it.

Me: Excuse me. You have to pay for that before you can open it.
SC: No, I only need one. I buy one.
Me: I can't allow you to do that.
SC: Maybe you ask manager? I only buy one.

I flagged down a manager. After some arguing between them, the SC got kicked out, but not before shouting something in his native language that I guess was supposed to be offensive.

[Phone Jockey]

When will they ever learn?? Having a backup on batteries is a GOOD thing. *sigh* My work is never done.

[Becks]

When will they ever learn?? Having a backup on batteries is a GOOD thing. *sigh*

They'll never learn, because that would mean that they would have to use common sense, which they were never blessed (cursed?) with.

[air914]

Do you all remember the movie "Father of the Bride" awhile back? Where the dad goes out to buy hot dogs & hot dog buns and throws a fit in the grocery store b/c hot doges come in packages of 8 and the buns come in 10 or something like that? LOL - I wonder if that's happened to any grocery store workers in real life?? Anyway though - why DO they sell buns & dogs in different #s? Seems strange... you'll always be left w/ extra buns (or extra hot dogs - I don't really buy either so I don't know which one had more in it)

[batmoody]

why DO they sell buns & dogs in different #s? Seems strange... you'll always be left w/ extra buns (or extra hot dogs - I don't really buy either so I don't know which one had more in it)

Its becasue the manufacturers know how stupid customers are and they will end up dropping and/or somehow manage to destroy at least 2 of those buns anyways. The two extra buns are a cushion for their stupidity.

[toolbert]

I hate it when customer complain about about having more than one item in a pack. It makes no sense. Just like packs of 3 for stylus; you lost one...who knows when you'll lose one the next? people are crazy.

[Greenday]

As a professional hot dog cooker, I have the answer to the age old question, "Why the hell are there 8 hot dogs in a pack, but 10 hot dog buns in their pack?" The answer is because you can't always open a bun. Some buns, no matter what you do, be it a knife or a spatula or whatever, nothing will work on it. Plus one or two could be moldy...

Back on topic though, I hate people who think it's ok to buy one battery. We sell them in twos and fours. What's the big freaking deal? You buy one battery, you lose said battery or it dies, then what?

[Mike Taylor]

When will they ever learn?? Having a backup on batteries is a GOOD thing. *sigh* My work is never done.

I can guarantee you that there are a bunch learning the value of spare batteries right about now. I live down in Naples FL and in a few hours we're going to get the beginning drops of rain from Ernesto. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunities for customers to be extremely sucky in other ways, sadly.

[Mike Taylor]

The answer is because you can't always open a bun. Some buns, no matter what you do, be it a knife or a spatula or whatever, nothing will work on it. Plus one or two could be moldy...

Thanks. I was wondering that myself, and what you say makes a helluva lot of sense.

[dragonflygrrl]

As soon as I saw the title of this thread, I had a flashback to my brief stint as a gas station cashier. One day, this total WT, no teeth, inbred looking guy came into the store and kind of wandered around the square of counter, peering nearsightedly at all the assorted garbage we sold. That type of person wasn't too uncommon in the area where the store is located, so at first I didn't think much of him. When he made his way back around to the register, I asked him what he was looking for, and we had the following conversation:

SC: I need a Camel Filter.
Me: Box or soft?
SC: *gives me a funny look* I guess it doesn't matter. I just need one.
Me: Ok, well hardpacks are on sale for $3.25, but softpacks are regular priced.
SC: No. I just want one.
Me: Ok, that'll be $3.76 after tax.
SC: *getting agitated now* Why aren't you listening to me? I want. A. Camel. Filter. Why is that so hard to understand?
Me: You want to buy...one cigarette?
SC: Yes! Was that hard? *rolls eyes like I am the idiot*
Me: Well, you can't buy a cigarette. You can buy them by the pack or by the carton.
SC: *whining* I don't want a whole pack. I only want one...little...cigarette. Please?
Me: You can have one of mine, but they're Marlboro Lights. (I smoked then)
SC: *whining some more* Oh, I hate Marlboros. Can't I just buy one Camel Filter? You sell cigars one at a time, why won't you just sell me one Camel Filter?
Me: *fed up with this* I don't know. You can buy one Black & Mild, buy a pack of Camels, take a Marlboro Light, or leave. It's up to you.

We went back and forth in this same vein until I finally said he needed to make a purchase, leave, or I would call the cops. He continued to stand there and whine until I actually picked up the phone and started dialing. Then he said, "This is discrimination! I'm gonna call my lawyer!" and hit the door running. I still don't know what was up with that. It was pretty darned funny though. Ah, the gas station...*sigh*...good times. lol

[Gurndigarn]

I wonder if that's happened to any grocery store workers in real life?? Anyway though - why DO they sell buns & dogs in different #s? Seems strange... you'll always be left w/ extra buns (or extra hot dogs - I don't really buy either so I don't know which one had more in it)

It's tough to bake and package ten buns. Multiples of four (eight or twelve) work OK. (Some places here do sell buns by the dozen.)

FWIW, some hot dog manufacturers sell slightly larger dogs eight-to-a-pack.

[XCashier]

Then he said, "This is discrimination! I'm gonna call my lawyer!" and hit the door running.

Literally, I hope?

[Tria]

It's tough to bake and package ten buns. Multiples of four (eight or twelve) work OK. (Some places here do sell buns by the dozen.)

FWIW, some hot dog manufacturers sell slightly larger dogs eight-to-a-pack.

Old butchers thing about weight. Notice the 10 and 8 packs of hot dogs weigh about the same.... Buy bigger franks.

[wagegoth]

After some arguing between them, the SC got kicked out, but not before shouting something in his native language that I guess was supposed to be offensive.

I figure that if I can't understand the language, it doesn't count.