Tweet
Well I just added a new notch to my belt. I've ruined Christmases and I've ruined anniversaries, now I've officially "ruined" a birthday.
Our little saga begins at 5:51 PM on a Sunday. We close at 6 PM on a Sunday. You can probably guess where this may be headed...
Our phone rings, on the other end is a woman who sounds a little frantic...
Me: Thank you calling <games store>, this is Crazedclerk.
SC: Yeah I have a problem here. My husband was in there earlier today buying a couple of games for my daughter and one of them was the wrong one, my daughter already has it. I need to exchange it for something else. What time do you close?
Me: We close at 6 ma'am.
SC: Aw crap...any way you can stay open like 10 minutes later for me? I REALLY need to get this game today.
Me: I'm sorry ma'am, the time we close is the time we close.
SC: Well that's not very convenient. *sigh* You close at 6?
Me: Yes, 6 PM, but it's 5:54 now, you probably won't be able to make it in time unless you are very close by.
SC: Well I'm gonna try! *click*
Oh boy....
So as you might guess, 6 PM comes and no sign of Wondermom. So I close up the store and start counting down the registers.
6:08 PM
I see a vehicle come roaring into the parking lot and a woman racing up to the door and yank on the handles with all her might. I point to our "hours of operation" sign on the door and yell "Closed!" and go back to counting...
BANG BANG BANG!!
Ok, now she's rapping her fist on the glass windows.
I ignore her again but she keeps at it. Grrrrr.....I pause in my counting and begrudgingly go to the door.
Me: May I help you?
SC: Yes I called a few minutes ago about a game I needed for my daughter.
Me: I remember, I said you probably wouldn't be able to make it here by 6 and as you can see we are now closed.
SC: Well yes I understand that but this will really only take a moment, I just need to exchange this.
Me: Unfortunately ma'am, the registers are shut down now, we can't process any more transactions today.
SC: What are you saying?
Me: I'm saying you'll have to wait until tomorrow to exchange that game.
SC: Look, I've got 11 kids at my house right for this birthday party and they are really looking forward to this game. There's no way you can make this happen for me? I do spend a lot of money with you people.
(Note: The time is now almost 6:20 PM. Every minute I stay at the door dealing with this SC is time I am not using to count and do other closing duties, therefore the longer this drags on, the later I get out of the store. A late close does NOT make crazedclerk a happy camper!)
Me: We are thankful for your business ma'am and I do sympathize with you about the party but really, it's just a video game, surely one day will not make a huge difference.
SC: It will to my darling daughter. It's her birthday, look I promise you this won't take long.
(At this point she tries to push past me
[I had my arm extended against the door frame to block her from entering] but I hold my ground and she gives me this look...)
SC: I am a customer! You cannot deny me entry to this store!
Me: The store is CLOSED ma'am, I can deny ANY customer entry.
SC: I cannot believe you are giving me so much trouble over one game! Really, this will only take a moment, I really need this for my party!!
Me: I've been over this with you several times ma'am but we'll do it once more. The store is closed. Our registers are shut down for the day. There is NO WAY I can sell you that game tonight, end of story. If you do not leave now I will call the police.
SC: Fine, I'm going, but I'm never shopping here again and I hope you feel pretty damned bad about yourself because now I have to explain to my daughter why she can't get her game, you ruined her party you BASTARD! *storms off*
I relock the door.
CW: (who had been watching the whole thing) Aww, you're so mean!
Me: Yeah, I'm badass.
By the time this whole incident is over it's now past 6:30, I didn't get out of the store until a bit after 7, usually I'm out by 6:45.
As a not so shocking epilogue to the story, the SC called up the store the next day and filed a formal complaint against me, alleging I was rude, incompetent and unhelpful (you know, all the usual stuff
). Manager asked me for my side of the story, I told him everything the complaint ended up being dropped basically because everything happened after closing time and I was within policy to deny that sale. I was telling the truth when I said the registers were shut down.
Don't you just love parents who don't plan ahead?
Our little saga begins at 5:51 PM on a Sunday. We close at 6 PM on a Sunday. You can probably guess where this may be headed...
Our phone rings, on the other end is a woman who sounds a little frantic...
Me: Thank you calling <games store>, this is Crazedclerk.
SC: Yeah I have a problem here. My husband was in there earlier today buying a couple of games for my daughter and one of them was the wrong one, my daughter already has it. I need to exchange it for something else. What time do you close?
Me: We close at 6 ma'am.
SC: Aw crap...any way you can stay open like 10 minutes later for me? I REALLY need to get this game today.
Me: I'm sorry ma'am, the time we close is the time we close.
SC: Well that's not very convenient. *sigh* You close at 6?
Me: Yes, 6 PM, but it's 5:54 now, you probably won't be able to make it in time unless you are very close by.
SC: Well I'm gonna try! *click*
Oh boy....
So as you might guess, 6 PM comes and no sign of Wondermom. So I close up the store and start counting down the registers.
6:08 PM
I see a vehicle come roaring into the parking lot and a woman racing up to the door and yank on the handles with all her might. I point to our "hours of operation" sign on the door and yell "Closed!" and go back to counting...
BANG BANG BANG!!
Ok, now she's rapping her fist on the glass windows.
I ignore her again but she keeps at it. Grrrrr.....I pause in my counting and begrudgingly go to the door.
Me: May I help you?
SC: Yes I called a few minutes ago about a game I needed for my daughter.
Me: I remember, I said you probably wouldn't be able to make it here by 6 and as you can see we are now closed.
SC: Well yes I understand that but this will really only take a moment, I just need to exchange this.
Me: Unfortunately ma'am, the registers are shut down now, we can't process any more transactions today.
SC: What are you saying?
Me: I'm saying you'll have to wait until tomorrow to exchange that game.
SC: Look, I've got 11 kids at my house right for this birthday party and they are really looking forward to this game. There's no way you can make this happen for me? I do spend a lot of money with you people.
(Note: The time is now almost 6:20 PM. Every minute I stay at the door dealing with this SC is time I am not using to count and do other closing duties, therefore the longer this drags on, the later I get out of the store. A late close does NOT make crazedclerk a happy camper!)
Me: We are thankful for your business ma'am and I do sympathize with you about the party but really, it's just a video game, surely one day will not make a huge difference.
SC: It will to my darling daughter. It's her birthday, look I promise you this won't take long.
(At this point she tries to push past me
[I had my arm extended against the door frame to block her from entering] but I hold my ground and she gives me this look...)SC: I am a customer! You cannot deny me entry to this store!
Me: The store is CLOSED ma'am, I can deny ANY customer entry.
SC: I cannot believe you are giving me so much trouble over one game! Really, this will only take a moment, I really need this for my party!!
Me: I've been over this with you several times ma'am but we'll do it once more. The store is closed. Our registers are shut down for the day. There is NO WAY I can sell you that game tonight, end of story. If you do not leave now I will call the police.
SC: Fine, I'm going, but I'm never shopping here again and I hope you feel pretty damned bad about yourself because now I have to explain to my daughter why she can't get her game, you ruined her party you BASTARD! *storms off*
I relock the door.
CW: (who had been watching the whole thing) Aww, you're so mean!
Me: Yeah, I'm badass.
By the time this whole incident is over it's now past 6:30, I didn't get out of the store until a bit after 7, usually I'm out by 6:45.
As a not so shocking epilogue to the story, the SC called up the store the next day and filed a formal complaint against me, alleging I was rude, incompetent and unhelpful (you know, all the usual stuff
). Manager asked me for my side of the story, I told him everything the complaint ended up being dropped basically because everything happened after closing time and I was within policy to deny that sale. I was telling the truth when I said the registers were shut down.Don't you just love parents who don't plan ahead?
Comment