"Get to the back of the line or LEAVE MY STORE!"

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Hey all,

This is a christmas story that I didn't post earlier.

A bit of background:

Every so often a kid and his parent/guardian will come up to the counter to buy a game and either I'll find out we don't have it or the kid suddenly changes his mind and wants something else. Occasionally the parent/guardian will STAY at the register while the kid picks out a new game. I don't typically mind these if we aren't busy and I have no line. In addition, most customers are gracious enough to let someone else go in front of them if junior is still browsing games.

However, the following incident happened during a VERY busy day just before Christmas when we had long lines and the parent in this story was less than "Gracious".


SF: Sucky father
K: kid
Me:
L: Cool manager

SF: Yeah he wants these three *drops cases on counter*
Me: Ok , then *starts to pull games*
K: I don't think I want Cars anymore. (talking about the game based on the Pixar movie)
SF: *sigh* Are you sure?
K: Yes, I want to get something else.
SF: Ok, go ahead. (K runs to game wall while SF stays right in front of my line) Sorry about this, he should only be a moment or so.
(I have a line SEVEN deep and after about 90 seconds, it was clear junior was going to take awhile longer and the customers behind SF were getting impatient)
Me: Sir, it looks like he's going to be a bit longer than a moment, if you wouldn't mind stepping out of line and waiting while he's done...
SF: I WOULD mind! I waited long enough in this line before and I'm NOT doing it again! (to K) K, let's go, come on, there's people waiting!
K: Ok, just a minute.
(another 90 seconds or so go by)
Me: Sir, look, we're really busy, could you please...
SF: NO! I am staying right here! (to K) Come on, get your butt back here, let's go!
K: Hang on!
SF: K, come on we are holding up the line.
K: I'm not done yet!
Me: At this point sir I have no choice to but to ask you to leave the line until the boy is done shopping.
SF: I will NOT wait in this line again!
Me: I didn't give you a choice sir, you are holding up the other customers.
SF: I don't care! They can wait, just like I had to. I am NOT leaving this line! (To K) Will your hurry your ass up already!
K: Just a minute!
Me: Excuse me a moment.
(at this point I went over to manager L and told him the situation)

L: Hello sir, I'm the manager here I understand you are refusing to leave the line even though you are not ready to check out.
SF: I am ready...as soon as K picks out a game. (to K) Wrap it up! please!
L: Then you are not ready sir, unless you have all the products you are going to purchase picked out you are not ready to check out. I will have to ask you to leave the line.
SF: I'm NOT going anywhere, I don't care that you're a manager, this is my spot in line and I am not giving it up!
L: Sir there are others behind you waiting to check out, you've already held up the line close to 5 minutes now. Either step aside or I will call the police and have you removed by force.
SF: You wouldn't dare...
L: (picks up phone)
SF: Ok, ok, I'm going. (to K) Come on K, we're going, you don't get any games today because that man (points to L) was rude to us. *stomps off*

Aren't lines fun?

[Imogene]

that man (points to L) was rude to us.

Me: *arms crossed, flat tone* "I give what I get, sir. You want respect, you gotta give it first."

[Shironu-Akaineko]

How about after awhile of waiting(let's say at the first warning), the kid only gets 2 games and will get to pick a third game on the next visit?

Oof, sorry, I made sense.

My bad.

[depechemodefan]

I kind of see the guys point, that he didn't want to go waiting in line again. Not that he was right at all in holding up the line. Easy thing for the moron was to let people go ahead until his son was ready.

Then again, maybe he should have told his kid "no, forget it, I'm buying these two." I think Mr. EW is growing another EW.

[lordlundar]

Me: *arms crossed, flat tone* "I give what I get, sir. You want respect, you gotta give it first."

I could completely see an old manager of mine doing that. He puts up with no bull.

[Gabrielle Proctor]

What a prick. I see the fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree...

[PepperElf]

SF: Ok, ok, I'm going. (to K) Come on K, we're going, you don't get any games today because that I was rude to them *stomps off*

Fixed for truth! I won't blame the kid cos... well kids do change their minds, but the parents should be the ones setting the example on how to behave in society.

apparently this one wants to raise his son to be a cockwallet

[Nyoibo]

What a prick. I see the fruit doesn't fall too far from the tree...

I prefer the ruder version of that for this situation.

[aurelemsrealm]

Had I changed my mind like that as a child, my parents would have made me put the unwanted game back while they paid for the two games I still wanted. That would have been the end of it. There would have been no picking a replacement for the third game. There would have been no fussing about it either because they would've have backhanded me had I started pitching a fit. If I wanted three games, my only choice by the time we got to the checkout would have been to keep my mouth shut and live with my choices. My parents didn't tolerate bratty behavior in public, period. They would have been insistent about getting in line, paying, and moving on as quickly as possible so that we don't hold everyone else up. That's just the way I was raised, and I didn't turn out so bad. So, that's how it's going to be with my kids, too. Of course, working in retail like I do, I hate shopping or just being out in public in general. I could so easily be a hermit.

[Nyoibo]

Hell, when I was a kid I didn't get 3 games, I didn't even get 1 game, I was given some money towards a game and worked my ass off for the rest of the money, and I was damn greatful for what I got.