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Hey, I'm new, but thought after reading all these great stories, I might share a couple of my own, I've worked a few places where I've had to deal with really sucky customers, and usually I handle it without any retaliation, other times, I guess I'm not so lucky.
First story comes from when I worked at Electronics Boutique (in the UK, you guys in the US might recognise it as EB Games) I had this guy approach the counter, with a friend/carer/whatever And ask me why some crappy game wasn't out yet (it was so bad I don't even remember the title). So I checked the release schedule for him, and , it wasn't due out for about a month. I informed him of this, and then it got fun, his face starts turning purple, veins throbing.
"I read in (magazine) two months ago that it is out today!"
"Well sir, if that magazine was printed two months ago release dates can be subject to change."
"It was in the magazine!"
"I understand that sir, but that was an old magazine, I'm sure if you check the new issue they'll have changed that date."
probably not the best choice of words right, but what the hell.
At this point, I notice something weird, this guy has two tubes attached to the side of his neck, both ends sticking under the skin, and as the guy screams at me, I'm sinking more and more into the "ignore the customer mode" and contemplating what would happen if I tore out these tubes, anyone have any idea what those tubes might have been?
Another job, another story, and probably the main source of any stories I tell in future. I used to work in a Cinema (Movie theater), it was the only one around for about 50 miles (and the only "big name" cinema (probably about the fourth rated cinema chain in the UK)). And I've had some crazy things happen (I can tell a million stories, from throwing people out of movies, to being told a customer didn't order what I'd just got for them, to the old standby "the customer is always (an A**hole) right" This story relates to throwing a group of people out.
I'm walking out the door of one of the screens, having just been in to check it, having had complaints. Suddenly, I spot this guy Andy (a nice guy, but tended to fly off the handle a little too easily) Charging out of one of the screens, clearly not happy.
Me: Hey man, what's up.
Andy: A group of idiots in there won't shut up.
So here's me, interested to see what minor annoyance got to him this time, well, this time I'm happy to say, he was justified.
As I come in I see a group of four chinese people sitting in like, the third row, shouting a conversation at each other over the movie. I can see at least four customers who look about ready to hand out their own brand of punishment (which unfortunately would have meant them being removed, as much as i didn't like that)
Anyway, I come in, and stand at the side, while Andy goes to deal with this issue, so he speaks to the guy for a moment, and all seems well, for about five seconds, andy walks over to where I am, and as he does, this guy stands up.
"What the hell did you say?"
Andy by now is furious, ready to go back and grab the guy, I tell him to go and get the manager while I try and deal with this, when it comes to customers taking the p**s I don't tend to react nicely.
Me: Stand up and get out of here.
Guy: No I paid for my movie I'm going to watch.
Me: If you want to see this movie you have to be quiet, as there are other people in here who want to hear what is being said on the movie, not where you're going for lunch later.
Guy: Where does it say I'm not allowed to talk.
Me: I would imagine sir that most people have the common sense to realise that you shouldn't be talking loudly in a small room where people are trying to watch a movie.
Guy: I'm not going.
Me: Well, the manager will be down in a few minutes, If you're not going now, you will be in about five minutes.
Guy: I payed, I'm staying.
So anyway, the manager finally turns up (I was dreading who he would get, knowing that aside from the General manager, and his deputy, the rest of them were more than happy to take the side of any customer over the staff) luckily the deputy came down, a woman who I wouldn't really want to mess with, especially after this.
She came in, and asked the man to come outside the door with her so she could speak to him without bothering the customers. He grudgingly got up, followed by one of his friends. Outside the door, Andy and I stood behind them, blocking the door so they can't disrupt the movie further, and she unloaded on them.
She said basically what I said, and then some. And at the point where they asked for refunds, literally laughed at them, and walked off, they tried to get back in, now I'm not a big guy, but I am not one to back down from anyone through fear. The guy tries to make out he's going to shove me, but, realising i'm not going to move, stops, and tells me he wants to get his bag. Andy goes in, and I stand in front of the door, ignoring them, Andy brings out the bag, and they leave, problem solved, we never saw them again.
If you liked those I've got a lot more to tell, some much worse than that.
First story comes from when I worked at Electronics Boutique (in the UK, you guys in the US might recognise it as EB Games) I had this guy approach the counter, with a friend/carer/whatever And ask me why some crappy game wasn't out yet (it was so bad I don't even remember the title). So I checked the release schedule for him, and , it wasn't due out for about a month. I informed him of this, and then it got fun, his face starts turning purple, veins throbing.
"I read in (magazine) two months ago that it is out today!"
"Well sir, if that magazine was printed two months ago release dates can be subject to change."
"It was in the magazine!"
"I understand that sir, but that was an old magazine, I'm sure if you check the new issue they'll have changed that date."
probably not the best choice of words right, but what the hell.
At this point, I notice something weird, this guy has two tubes attached to the side of his neck, both ends sticking under the skin, and as the guy screams at me, I'm sinking more and more into the "ignore the customer mode" and contemplating what would happen if I tore out these tubes, anyone have any idea what those tubes might have been?
Another job, another story, and probably the main source of any stories I tell in future. I used to work in a Cinema (Movie theater), it was the only one around for about 50 miles (and the only "big name" cinema (probably about the fourth rated cinema chain in the UK)). And I've had some crazy things happen (I can tell a million stories, from throwing people out of movies, to being told a customer didn't order what I'd just got for them, to the old standby "the customer is always (an A**hole) right" This story relates to throwing a group of people out.
I'm walking out the door of one of the screens, having just been in to check it, having had complaints. Suddenly, I spot this guy Andy (a nice guy, but tended to fly off the handle a little too easily) Charging out of one of the screens, clearly not happy.
Me: Hey man, what's up.
Andy: A group of idiots in there won't shut up.
So here's me, interested to see what minor annoyance got to him this time, well, this time I'm happy to say, he was justified.
As I come in I see a group of four chinese people sitting in like, the third row, shouting a conversation at each other over the movie. I can see at least four customers who look about ready to hand out their own brand of punishment (which unfortunately would have meant them being removed, as much as i didn't like that)
Anyway, I come in, and stand at the side, while Andy goes to deal with this issue, so he speaks to the guy for a moment, and all seems well, for about five seconds, andy walks over to where I am, and as he does, this guy stands up.
"What the hell did you say?"
Andy by now is furious, ready to go back and grab the guy, I tell him to go and get the manager while I try and deal with this, when it comes to customers taking the p**s I don't tend to react nicely.
Me: Stand up and get out of here.
Guy: No I paid for my movie I'm going to watch.
Me: If you want to see this movie you have to be quiet, as there are other people in here who want to hear what is being said on the movie, not where you're going for lunch later.
Guy: Where does it say I'm not allowed to talk.
Me: I would imagine sir that most people have the common sense to realise that you shouldn't be talking loudly in a small room where people are trying to watch a movie.
Guy: I'm not going.
Me: Well, the manager will be down in a few minutes, If you're not going now, you will be in about five minutes.
Guy: I payed, I'm staying.
So anyway, the manager finally turns up (I was dreading who he would get, knowing that aside from the General manager, and his deputy, the rest of them were more than happy to take the side of any customer over the staff) luckily the deputy came down, a woman who I wouldn't really want to mess with, especially after this.
She came in, and asked the man to come outside the door with her so she could speak to him without bothering the customers. He grudgingly got up, followed by one of his friends. Outside the door, Andy and I stood behind them, blocking the door so they can't disrupt the movie further, and she unloaded on them.
She said basically what I said, and then some. And at the point where they asked for refunds, literally laughed at them, and walked off, they tried to get back in, now I'm not a big guy, but I am not one to back down from anyone through fear. The guy tries to make out he's going to shove me, but, realising i'm not going to move, stops, and tells me he wants to get his bag. Andy goes in, and I stand in front of the door, ignoring them, Andy brings out the bag, and they leave, problem solved, we never saw them again.
If you liked those I've got a lot more to tell, some much worse than that.
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