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Hey all, this is my first SC post, so please be gentle. 
I used to work at a chemist (a drugstore) on weekends. For reasons that were usually very little to do with the customers themselves, I hated every moment, but that's a "Morons in Management" post
Anyway, this is a story about the single customer that annoyed me more than any of them. This happened about a year ago, and I still remember it verbatim, so it must have annoyed me more than I thought.
SW - Sucky Old Woman
Me - Yours Truly
SW1: Excuse me, are these on special offer?
She holds out a two tea tree oil bottles that are stuck together.
Me: Erm, I don't think so, no.
SW1: Only they've been stuck together, you see.
Me: *takes a look* Hm, I don't think -
SW1: See, that looks like somebody's done it on purpose. So they must be buy one get one free.
Me: *Alarm bells ringing* Can I look at it?
I took a look, and sure enough, a wadge of packing gum is stuck between the bottles. You know, that stuff that sticks free CDs to the front of magazines. However, it's off-center, and barely clinging on. It looks like someone's glue-gun leaked and they just missed it. But here's the problem - there are two barcodes. If two things are meant to be sold as one unit, they have cellophane or something on them, with one barcode on them, so as not to confuse merchants. This is as opposed to a store promotion, in which both units have to be put through the till.
Me: I don't think there's an offer. It looks a bit accidental-
SW1: Well would you just go and check, girl! *glare*
Me: All right, (keep your pants on...)
I then wandered off to the Pharmacy and healthcare section, where I talked to J, the guru of all things health related and head pharmacist. I trusted her implictly, as she had saved my arse multiple times when I was a n00b. J hadn't heard anything involving an offer on this brand of tea tree oil. Nevertheless, I also went to check with E, the girl who works the healthcare, and can also be generally counted on. She knew nothing either. I checked the shelf, and the stockroom. Nada. Safe to say there was no offer. I return to the customer.
Me: I've asked around, and it doesn't look like there's an offer.
SW1: But they're stuck together, it MUST be.
Me: I think it's just a mistake, and there are no store offers, so -
SW1: But they're stuck together!
*Wash, rinse, repeat, for what felt like an entire morning*
Me: *Losing patience* Look, if you look at the join, you'll see that it looks completely accidental -
With the intention of showing her the join, I pull the bottles apart a bit. The packing goo gives up the ghost and the bottles spring apart. Oops.
SW1: WELL. You've got what YOU wanted now.
WTF? What I wanted? Why am I supposed to give a flying ferret?
Me: I'm sorry, Madam, but I didn't intend that. Besides which, there. Was. No. Offer.
SW1: How can you say that! You just decided there wasn't without consulting anyone!
What? So J and E aren't people now? And besides which, I ran over half the bloody store for you, and found no evidence of the offer. I have been able to put two and two together since I was five, and guess what? I can still do it!
SW1: You've lost my business. I'm going to spend my money elsewhere.
Me: *Snap!* Fine! There's a (rival store) at the other end of the centre, I'm sure they'll be perfectly happy to take your money. Have a nice day, now!
I probably shouldn't have said the last bit, but it was that or beat her to death with a bottle of vitamin-c supplements...
I used to work at a chemist (a drugstore) on weekends. For reasons that were usually very little to do with the customers themselves, I hated every moment, but that's a "Morons in Management" post
Anyway, this is a story about the single customer that annoyed me more than any of them. This happened about a year ago, and I still remember it verbatim, so it must have annoyed me more than I thought.
SW - Sucky Old Woman
Me - Yours Truly
SW1: Excuse me, are these on special offer?
She holds out a two tea tree oil bottles that are stuck together.
Me: Erm, I don't think so, no.
SW1: Only they've been stuck together, you see.
Me: *takes a look* Hm, I don't think -
SW1: See, that looks like somebody's done it on purpose. So they must be buy one get one free.
Me: *Alarm bells ringing* Can I look at it?
I took a look, and sure enough, a wadge of packing gum is stuck between the bottles. You know, that stuff that sticks free CDs to the front of magazines. However, it's off-center, and barely clinging on. It looks like someone's glue-gun leaked and they just missed it. But here's the problem - there are two barcodes. If two things are meant to be sold as one unit, they have cellophane or something on them, with one barcode on them, so as not to confuse merchants. This is as opposed to a store promotion, in which both units have to be put through the till.
Me: I don't think there's an offer. It looks a bit accidental-
SW1: Well would you just go and check, girl! *glare*
Me: All right, (keep your pants on...)
I then wandered off to the Pharmacy and healthcare section, where I talked to J, the guru of all things health related and head pharmacist. I trusted her implictly, as she had saved my arse multiple times when I was a n00b. J hadn't heard anything involving an offer on this brand of tea tree oil. Nevertheless, I also went to check with E, the girl who works the healthcare, and can also be generally counted on. She knew nothing either. I checked the shelf, and the stockroom. Nada. Safe to say there was no offer. I return to the customer.
Me: I've asked around, and it doesn't look like there's an offer.
SW1: But they're stuck together, it MUST be.
Me: I think it's just a mistake, and there are no store offers, so -
SW1: But they're stuck together!
*Wash, rinse, repeat, for what felt like an entire morning*
Me: *Losing patience* Look, if you look at the join, you'll see that it looks completely accidental -
With the intention of showing her the join, I pull the bottles apart a bit. The packing goo gives up the ghost and the bottles spring apart. Oops.
SW1: WELL. You've got what YOU wanted now.
WTF? What I wanted? Why am I supposed to give a flying ferret?
Me: I'm sorry, Madam, but I didn't intend that. Besides which, there. Was. No. Offer.
SW1: How can you say that! You just decided there wasn't without consulting anyone!
What? So J and E aren't people now? And besides which, I ran over half the bloody store for you, and found no evidence of the offer. I have been able to put two and two together since I was five, and guess what? I can still do it!
SW1: You've lost my business. I'm going to spend my money elsewhere.
Me: *Snap!* Fine! There's a (rival store) at the other end of the centre, I'm sure they'll be perfectly happy to take your money. Have a nice day, now!
I probably shouldn't have said the last bit, but it was that or beat her to death with a bottle of vitamin-c supplements...
Be my guest. But be advised, if you do it to me, I may have to hurt you!
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