I look like who?!!

[Andara Bledin]

HE SAID I LOOKED LIKE KARLOFF!!!

"Johnny, you gotta relax."

^-.-^

[Jester]

Making a statement that someone commenting on your weight wasn't polite?

Unless I missed something, the guy never commented on her weight. He said she looked like Santa. That could have been for a number of reasons, but the two most obvious ones are her weight and the sack over her shoulder. Since he never specified what he meant, there is no way to know what his intent was.

Personally, I think the OP overreacted.

Was the customer a grade A douchebag? Absolutely. But the OP reacted to what she THOUGHT his intent was, and took offense to an insult that may not have been there at all. She was rude to a customer, douchebag or not, and nothing he said could be construed as insulting or deserving of that response....not by an independent third party, such as a lawyer or HR personnel.

I personally think the OP should apologize. Not because it is right or wrong, but because to lose your job over a douchebag asshole like this is simply not worth it, unless you have something else lined up already. Swallow your pride, make the apology, and move on.

And advice for the future: never assume what someone means if they don't say it specifically. That is a great recipe for disaster due to simple misunderstanding.

Apologize and keep your job. Right now, in this economy, a stable source of income is far more important than pride, especially when it is all over what may or may not have been an insult.

[ShootMePlease]

Unless I missed something, the guy never commented on her weight. He said she looked like Santa. That could have been for a number of reasons, but the two most obvious ones are her weight and the sack over her shoulder. Since he never specified what he meant, there is no way to know what his intent was.

Personally, I think the OP overreacted.

Was the customer a grade A douchebag? Absolutely. But the OP reacted to what she THOUGHT his intent was, and took offense to an insult that may not have been there at all. She was rude to a customer, douchebag or not, and nothing he said could be construed as insulting or deserving of that response....not by an independent third party, such as a lawyer or HR personnel.

I personally think the OP should apologize. Not because it is right or wrong, but because to lose your job over a douchebag asshole like this is simply not worth it, unless you have something else lined up already. Swallow your pride, make the apology, and move on.

And advice for the future: never assume what someone means if they don't say it specifically. That is a great recipe for disaster due to simple misunderstanding.

Apologize and keep your job. Right now, in this economy, a stable source of income is far more important than pride, especially when it is all over what may or may not have been an insult.

Bravo, Jester. This is exactly what I mean. Although some here seem to think I'm advocating employee abuse by customers, which is certainly not the case.

[AtDIelement]

I'm on the fence personally...

I'd say apologize just for the sheer fact of keeping your job, but I've been on the other end too and can understand. (I used to be heavily overweight... now I'm just overweight.)

But unless you have a definite answer from your union rep on if the situation can be handled by them, I would just swallow your pride and apologize.

[blas]

Never apologize for something you feel strongly about.

[RavenStarr]

IMO the OP should have just kept on walking. The asshole was obviously looking for a reaction. By reacting to him she only lowered herself to his level. People like this asshole are not worth losing a job over.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I've actually had the same thing happen to me. And I do have a little bit of a ...ahem...fuel tank for a sex machine.

Did I get offended and mouth off at the person? No. I figured it was the big black garbage bag I was carrying to the backroom. Plus my real name is a, well, commonly-used Christmas name.

You're going to have to decide what's more important: your job or your pride. Just keep in mind that pride doesn't put food on your table or keep a roof over your head.

[PepperElf]

of course the evil side of me says to write "I am sorry for suggesting that your comments on my weight were impolite"

but that may also get you in trouble.

so i opt to say... do what you feel is right.

[XCashier]

"Dear Mr. Douchwaffle,

When you said I looked like Santa, naturally, I, a young woman, was offended at being compared to an overweight elderly man. If you did not mean that by your statement, then I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Sincerely,
KITB"

[Shironu-Akaineko]

Wow. dude can dish it but he sure can't take it, huh?