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Today was just an awful day. Horrible. I can't put my finger on it specifically, but trust me, it was just one of those days. And, of course, I wind up counting out my till late because my replacement was covering a lunch...it was just that kind of day. So, while I was counting out, I got to witness one last crowning moment of suck for the day...
The shopping center our Orange Apron is in also has a pet store in it--one that has a grooming parlor and loves owners bringing in pets. Our store is 'pet neutral'. Technically we are supposed to be no-pet, but if your pet is leashed (be it dog, cat, parrot, or bunny, to name ones I've seen) and well-behaved, and if you don't bother other customers, we won't say anything. We don't sell food, so it's not a big deal, and our managers don't want us to do anything to drive away customers. We DO have a cashier that's afraid of dogs, but the rest of us do our best to make sure she doesn't have to ring those customers up.
But today...
My replacement's first customer was a man with a little girl in a cart, returning something or other. Nothing weird, until two women walk up behind him with a tiny fluffy toy breed during his transaction. The guy manages not to freak, but moves to the other side of the cart so it's between himself and the dog REALLY fast.
The SC with the dog walks right past his cart, up to the counter, drops her bag on top of the guy's receipt and bag, and starts telling R why she's returning her item. R's having none of it and tells her it's still the previous customer's transaction. SC counters that he left. R tells her he did not, he is standing RIGHT THERE. And that dogs are technically not allowed in the store, so she needs to either remove it or move across the aisle from the desk until it's her turn because she's bothering another customer.
The SC grudgingly moves about two paces back, bitching the whole time about R to her friend, who picks up the dog. The poor guy trying to do the first return has just enough room to squeeze between the cart and the counter and is visibly uncomfortable having to turn his back on the dog.
At that point, I sent the SC to the service register to do her return. (We have a dedicated return register.) I wanted her away from the poor customer doing an admirable job controlling his phobia, as well as from R because I could sense letting her and the SC interact more wouldn't be pretty. The SC was happy enough to go, because there wasn't a line at the service desk.
Just a SC end to a really crappy day. I bought myself ice cream on the way home. I needed it.
The shopping center our Orange Apron is in also has a pet store in it--one that has a grooming parlor and loves owners bringing in pets. Our store is 'pet neutral'. Technically we are supposed to be no-pet, but if your pet is leashed (be it dog, cat, parrot, or bunny, to name ones I've seen) and well-behaved, and if you don't bother other customers, we won't say anything. We don't sell food, so it's not a big deal, and our managers don't want us to do anything to drive away customers. We DO have a cashier that's afraid of dogs, but the rest of us do our best to make sure she doesn't have to ring those customers up.
But today...
My replacement's first customer was a man with a little girl in a cart, returning something or other. Nothing weird, until two women walk up behind him with a tiny fluffy toy breed during his transaction. The guy manages not to freak, but moves to the other side of the cart so it's between himself and the dog REALLY fast.
The SC with the dog walks right past his cart, up to the counter, drops her bag on top of the guy's receipt and bag, and starts telling R why she's returning her item. R's having none of it and tells her it's still the previous customer's transaction. SC counters that he left. R tells her he did not, he is standing RIGHT THERE. And that dogs are technically not allowed in the store, so she needs to either remove it or move across the aisle from the desk until it's her turn because she's bothering another customer.
The SC grudgingly moves about two paces back, bitching the whole time about R to her friend, who picks up the dog. The poor guy trying to do the first return has just enough room to squeeze between the cart and the counter and is visibly uncomfortable having to turn his back on the dog.
At that point, I sent the SC to the service register to do her return. (We have a dedicated return register.) I wanted her away from the poor customer doing an admirable job controlling his phobia, as well as from R because I could sense letting her and the SC interact more wouldn't be pretty. The SC was happy enough to go, because there wasn't a line at the service desk.
Just a SC end to a really crappy day. I bought myself ice cream on the way home. I needed it.
I have something for her...
!
*offers chocolate*
: A business has the right to ask if the animal is a service animal and if the handler requires the service animal for their own disabilities. The business may not inquire into the nature of the disabilities the animal is compensating for. So, if Panacea were to take Goldie to the store without me, she could honestly answer that Goldie is a service dog, but she's not *Panacea's* service dog, so it's still illegal for her to take her in certain places. If I take Goldie in, they can ask me if I'm disabled and if Goldie is my service dog, but as soon as I answer yes to both questions they are supposed to back off and let me go about my business. There is no national, state, or local registration required for service dogs, though many people voluntarily register with national service dog organizations just so they have something to show people who insist that registration is needed. I have Goldie registered with one because I don't want to have to fight with someone about her status if I ever need to use a hurricane shelter where pets aren't allowed. Just because I don't always walk with a cane or a walker doesn't mean they can deny Goldie entry. So don't be afraid to challenge the presence of an animal where it shouldn't be, just be respectful and stick to the approved questions and neither your business nor your customer should need to get the ADA involved.
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