Just because you are standing there doesn't mean you'll get served!

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

My games store has a large L shaped counter with two registers that looks something like this:





That is to say, it's open on one end, closed on the other. The corner section contains a large open counter plus two glass display cases for gameboy advance games and various other items.

If there is no line, I have no problem with customers asking me questions while standing at the bottom of the "L" but IF I have a line, then you're going to be waiting awhile because the line comes first.

When the store is busy we have both registers open with two clearly defined lines. Or so you'd think. It seems EVERY time we are busy, several customers decide to wait by the bottom of the L as if that will magically get them served faster...or because they think they don't actually have to stand in line. Much suckiness ensues....

First story

I have a line six deep, and an SC saunters up to the bottom of the L, apparently with a return. I finish up with the customer who was at the register...

SC:Excuse me!
Me: Yes?
SC: I bought this game for my son, but my wife got him one too so I need to return this.
Me: I'll be happy to help you sir but you'll have to get in line.
SC: WHAT? But there's so many people in line, I just need a quick refund here.
Me: I apologize sir but my line comes first. If you want to do the refund you'll have to get in line.
SC: Forget it! I'll come back later! *stomps off*

Second story

I was the only one working, I have a line six deep and out of the corner my eye I notice a guy putting four HUGE bags on the end counter. This means he wants to trade in a TON of stuff. I tried ignoring him for a few minutes and continued ringing out the customers in my line, hoping the dude would get the hint that "you must be in line to get help". Sadly, in true SC fashion, he didn't budge.

SC: Yo, I want to trade this stuff in!
Me: You'll have to get in line then.
SC: But I've been here 15 minutes now! I was here before them people even got here (referring to the people currently at the register)
Me: Yes you were but you didn't get in line, they did.
SC: That's bogus man, I was here first!
Me: Sir, as you can see I've had a constant line since you came in, the place where you are standing is not a line so you should not have expected to be helped while standing there. If you want to the trade in you'll have to get in line.
SC: This is stupid...*random grumbling as he grabs his stuff*

Third Story

Similar to above, I'm the only one working with people in line. A woman and her son walk up to the end of the counter and wait there a few minutes. Just after I start processing a trade for a customer at the register (which ties up the register), I hear this...

SC: Excuse me!
Me: Yes?
SC: He wants to know if you got this thing in for the Playstation 3, it's like some cable or something...
(Oh yes, THAT thing, now I know EXACTLY what you mean)
Me: You'll have to be more specific than that for me to tell you.
SC: It's like something for a controller.
Me: A charge cable?
SC:(to son) Is it a charge cable?
Kid: I don't think so...
Me: Well then I'm not sure what it might be, all of our PS3 stuff is over there *points* , you are welcome to go look around and see if you can find what you need.
SC: we are kind of in a hurry, I was hoping you could just tell me without me having to go over there.
Me: Well I still don't really know what it is he wants, and I've got customers at the register.
SC: Well you've got customers here too!
Me: Yes but the customers at the register come first.
SC: Whatever, we're leaving. This is terrible service. (to kid) Let's go.

And these are just a few of the many times I have seen customers attempt to get service while standing at the counter when we have lines at the registers.

[hinakiba777]

SC: Well you've got customers here too!

Ah, my favorite line in the world. How lovely of all the SCs out there to point out that they are also customers. Of course in the air floats the unsaid "We are more important than your other customers". However, we can all hear it can't we?!

[NightWatch]

Most game shops have a register counter set up like this or at least pretty close. I don't see why people think the side area is another line. I never see the guys (I say guys because most of the game shop employees are males around here) do anything to indicate this third mysterious line. It looks to me like a complete SC invention.

[I_Hate_SCs]

Ugh. These stories reminded me of when I worked in the Electronics dept. at Target. The electronics counter was a rectangle with 3 sides open to the department (with glass cases on those 3 sides up to waist height that contained cameras, etc.) The back side of the counter had shelves on the other side that were about 4ft high and contained batteries and chargers for various things.

I'd have a line of people at the register that was in the center of the front of the counter, and the following things would happen without a doubt:

1. Someone comes up from the side (not in line) asking for a game from the locked cabinet, wanting it NOW! NOW! NOW!
2. Someone taps me on my back (BIG no no) from behind me at the battery display to ask me what battery their 1974 I-refuse-to-tell-you-what-it-is uses.
3. A (waiting in line) customer wants to see every single damn camera we carry in the case, which took a good 15-20 minutes because the farking display cases wouldn't open without a fight due to being so damn old and stubborn.
4. Some dolt presses the 'fast service' call button anywhere in the department and expects me to jump over the counter to help them. Bonus points if they press the button at the counter while I am a foot away helping someone else who is actually in line.
5. I hear "Have you heard of this song? It has this girl in it, and you know, she sings very pretty..." shouted from 20 ft away in the CD aisles.
6. "Do you have any in the back?" being asked from the other side of the department about a huge CRT tube TV that I know is on the top shelf in the back and the electronic lift device is broken, and the TV is on the front page of the weekly ad (this was before the store got flatscreen TVs.)
7. The SCs from #6, after I bring out the 36" tube TV, says they are driving a Mini Cooper and expect the TV to fit in it.
8. Someone comes up to the side of the counter, ignores the line of people, and dumps their full heaping cart of crap on the glass display case and expects me to a) actually serve them, and b) pull a conveyor belt out of my ass to make it possible to serve them in the first place if I was to even consider helping them (not!)
9. Some uppity snark that bypasses the line and throws a novel-long list in my face and tells me to fetch the items for her while she relaxes on the bench beside the department near the store entrance.

Me, when #1-9 ensues, usually all at the same time:

Mind you, all people above expected my full, undivided attention and immediate service regardless of the obvious line of good, waiting customers at the register as if I was their personal shopper and servant. Um, no. Wait your damn turn and then I'll help you.

I don't know whats worse, the SCs that come up to the counter like that, or the ones who actually wait in line who get pissed when you have to *gasp* leave the counter to get something out of the back for the person in front of them.

[Nyoibo]

SC: Well you've got customers here too!

"Just one minute ma'am. Excuse me ladies and gentlemen in the line as all of you are obviously less important that this lady at the end here I'm sure you all won't mind if I ignore you and wait on her hand and foot, if you're really lucky she might even glare at you in thanks."

[Apathy]

SC: WHAT? But there's so many people in line, I just need a quick refund here.

And they all just want to quickly pay for their stuff. Get in the damn line, asshole.

[Jester]

5. I hear "Have you heard of this song? It has this girl in it, and you know, she sings very pretty..."

Believe it or not, even magicians have to put up with a variation on that one!

My friend Frank and I (both magicians) have a running joke. "Hey, you know that trick with the card and the guy and the thing?"

As a joke between us, that never gets old.

When people do it for real, it's nails on chalkboard.

[Kiwi]

We had to actually set up big posters on easels at the craft store with

THIS COUNTER CLOSED
PLEASE
GO TO THE OTHER COUNTER

We had 4 registers with big cutting counters next to them in a square. Despite the fact we would have one or two people serving (and therefore logcially two registers open) people would go and stand at the empty counters and get completely bitchy about having to move.

[Imogene]

Had a customer at the craft store who got angry at me, he's standing at register 1, the 'Customer Service' register, I'm at reg 4, helping my line, and not facing that register at all. I didn't see him standing there. He suddenly yells, "Are you gonna fuckin' call the customer service person or not?"
I turn 180, stare at him, and point out "I'm customer service, join the line..."
He gets angry at the sign saying it's customer service over that register, I point out it's meant for all the registers.

[Kiwi]

"Are you gonna fuckin' call the customer service person or not?"

no sir but im going to call the police in 3 seconds if you dont get out of my store

[Geek King]

When people do it for real, it's nails on chalkboard.

For us poor slobs in IT, "I got an error when I did X, But I hit 'OK' without writting it down. What did I do?"

At least magicians are allowed to pelt these people with rabbits, or something.

[bainsidhe]

I've come so close...so close. One of these days, the brain to mouth filter will fail and I'll tell the customer that he/she has to wait in line like everyone else.

[Dips]

You have to love the SC logic shown in all three stories:

Story 1: The SC thinks that people who are buying things are less important to the business than people who are returning things.

Story 2: The SC thinks that people who are buying things are less important to the business than people who are selling things.

Story 3: The SC thinks that people who are buying things are less important to the business than people who are thinking about buying things.

Do they not know how businesses work?

[wraiths_crono]

Ah so many times I have seen this while waiting in line, however my mouth usually gets me in trouble in these situations. Since I know the sales people have to be nice, I am usually the one that refers to the SC as an idiot.

[Mnemjian]

Story 2: The SC thinks that people who are buying things are less important to the business than people who are selling things.

I was gonna say... the other two stories are really sucky but the second guy who was trying to SELL stuff? That kind of makes HIM the customer! Anyway, what does the employee care if they miss out on trading for a good game? Less work involved all around