Tweet
I should know better than to volunteer to work on Sunday. All the weirdos come out on Sunday.
The Skeeze
Right before we officially closed tonight, suddenly a guy's face pops up in the window right next to the computer/register. I'm finalizing a bunch of paperwork, and therefore am staring intently at said computer. When he knocks on the glass it startles me, and he starts pointing at his watch.
At this point I look at him carefully. He's swaying, looks a bit cracked out, and generally skeezy. So I shake my head and mouth "closed." He bangs on the window and points at his wrist again, saying something about it not being closing time yet. I just repeat my gestures and tell him no.
All well and good, right?
Then comes...
The Threats
Hey, let's have a game. Count how many mistakes I made with this one.
So it's now closing time. I'm dealing with closing the till, and a guy is standing outside looking through the window at the flyers we have sitting on our windowsill (picture windows, large sill, you get the idea). He looks relatively normal, and when Coworker asks if we're closed, I say it's up to him. I hadn't started counting the money yet, so technically we're supposed to take him if he wants, but sometimes if we're tired we won't. Coworker is sick, so I figure he'll tell the guy we're closed, and I'll be free to count the cash.
No luck. Guy wants to come in, Coworker lets him in. Immediately the alarm bells go off in my head, and I resolve to try to move him along. Guy has one question. Can he put down flyers for <random Political Event>. Coworker is about to tell him that we'll take them, but will have to check with the Boss, when I butt in and tell the guy that our flyer policy, due to lack of space, is no politics, no events. Local businesses only.
Crap.
He immediately starts off on how it's a Community Event, and don't we support the community? How dare we have a business here and not support the Community! We come into HIS Community, and don't support it?!
I explain that it has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the community, that we participate in a number of events every year, we're very community focused, and I'm sorry, but we do have a policy, due to the lack of space, and we just cannot allow flyers for events. He immediately grabs a couple of the flyers we have out, pointing them out as events. I point out that they're both local businesses, and these are essentially flyers for the business. We only allow local businesses to put down their flyers.
He then steps back, holds up his flyers, and says:
Him: I'm not gonna leave these here NOW, but I WILL be back, and know that I am a Black Panther. I am VERY MUCH a Black Panther.
Me: Sir, is that a threat?
Him: It's a PROMISE.
Me: Well then I shall be reporting that to the police. Have a good night.
He left. Almost immediately after, a semi-regular customer comes to the door. We tell him we're closed, because neither Coworker nor I want to deal with anyone else tonight. Mr. Black Panther starts ranting to the customer about how we don't support The Community, and that the Black Panthers don't want anyone patronizing us. The customer looks at him, says "yeah whatever" and walks off.
We close up, I'm shaking so badly I can barely count money, and go home. Yes, we checked to make sure he was gone before leaving. Yes, the cops are being called (I have to get the tape queued up on the security camera), and yes, the Bosses are being told.
I really hope I get this new job. I want out of this place. It's giving me PTSD.
The Skeeze
Right before we officially closed tonight, suddenly a guy's face pops up in the window right next to the computer/register. I'm finalizing a bunch of paperwork, and therefore am staring intently at said computer. When he knocks on the glass it startles me, and he starts pointing at his watch.
At this point I look at him carefully. He's swaying, looks a bit cracked out, and generally skeezy. So I shake my head and mouth "closed." He bangs on the window and points at his wrist again, saying something about it not being closing time yet. I just repeat my gestures and tell him no.
All well and good, right?
Then comes...
The Threats
Hey, let's have a game. Count how many mistakes I made with this one.
So it's now closing time. I'm dealing with closing the till, and a guy is standing outside looking through the window at the flyers we have sitting on our windowsill (picture windows, large sill, you get the idea). He looks relatively normal, and when Coworker asks if we're closed, I say it's up to him. I hadn't started counting the money yet, so technically we're supposed to take him if he wants, but sometimes if we're tired we won't. Coworker is sick, so I figure he'll tell the guy we're closed, and I'll be free to count the cash.
No luck. Guy wants to come in, Coworker lets him in. Immediately the alarm bells go off in my head, and I resolve to try to move him along. Guy has one question. Can he put down flyers for <random Political Event>. Coworker is about to tell him that we'll take them, but will have to check with the Boss, when I butt in and tell the guy that our flyer policy, due to lack of space, is no politics, no events. Local businesses only.
Crap.
He immediately starts off on how it's a Community Event, and don't we support the community? How dare we have a business here and not support the Community! We come into HIS Community, and don't support it?!
I explain that it has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting the community, that we participate in a number of events every year, we're very community focused, and I'm sorry, but we do have a policy, due to the lack of space, and we just cannot allow flyers for events. He immediately grabs a couple of the flyers we have out, pointing them out as events. I point out that they're both local businesses, and these are essentially flyers for the business. We only allow local businesses to put down their flyers.
He then steps back, holds up his flyers, and says:
Him: I'm not gonna leave these here NOW, but I WILL be back, and know that I am a Black Panther. I am VERY MUCH a Black Panther.
Me: Sir, is that a threat?
Him: It's a PROMISE.
Me: Well then I shall be reporting that to the police. Have a good night.
He left. Almost immediately after, a semi-regular customer comes to the door. We tell him we're closed, because neither Coworker nor I want to deal with anyone else tonight. Mr. Black Panther starts ranting to the customer about how we don't support The Community, and that the Black Panthers don't want anyone patronizing us. The customer looks at him, says "yeah whatever" and walks off.
We close up, I'm shaking so badly I can barely count money, and go home. Yes, we checked to make sure he was gone before leaving. Yes, the cops are being called (I have to get the tape queued up on the security camera), and yes, the Bosses are being told.
I really hope I get this new job. I want out of this place. It's giving me PTSD.
, you said No. SC's don't like the word NO. That is when they play every card they can. Race, lawyer, law, customer service. So he was a jerk regardless of which he chose. Sorry you had to go through that. Just remember, I may not be your official Minion, but you need more muscle..I'd find a way to come visit 
Comment