I know the owner!!

[Mnemjian]

This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves! People who know the owner (or think they do) and are just rude in general since they for some reason think they are better than you I don't understand it at all. In fact I can't recall a person who hasn't started a conversation with "I know the owner..." and NOT been a total jerkface.

ANYWAY!

MOB: Mean Old Bat

Me: Hello!
MOB: Is [owner] in?
Me: I'm sorry but he's not in today.
MOB: Oh. Well I'm an old friend of [owner]. I haven't seen him in a long time.
Me: Oh, that's cool! Well I could take a message for you and let him know you stopped by.
MOB: Does he have a home phone number?
Me: I'm sorry but I'm not allowed to give out that information.
MOB: Well I'm an old friend though.
Me: Yes I believe you but I'm just not allowed. I could definitely take a message.
MOB: Well do you know when he will be in?
Me: Sorry I don't. I think he just left town for a while. He actually lives in [other city] now.
MOB: Oh? What part of [other city]?
Me: *lies* I'm not sure actually, I'm not familiar with [city], just some part of it [I do know exactly where it is but why does she need to know?]
MOB: Oh so you're just the working girl then. You don't really know where he lives or anything.
Me: Er...I am an employee. But I don't hang out with him or anything after work...
MOB: *stares at me like I'm about to punch a kitten*

At this point she was being such a hopeless bitch and giving me such a nasty cat butt face that I turned away from her to look at the computer and pretend I was busy.

MOB: What's your name?
Me: My name is Mnemjian.
MOB: Does [owner] know his mother just died?
Me: [why is this bitch telling me personal things about someone who is not here?] I'm not sure, I didn't talk to him today. Like I said he's out of town.
MOB: So you just run the store for him when he's not here.
Me: Yeah, I do work here. You're right
MOB: *exasperated sigh* It would really be good if you could just give me his number.
Me: Ma'am like I said I can NOT. I have actually been specifically instructed by [owner] to never give his number out to any person for any reason.
MOB: *BIGGEST CATBUTTFACE EVER*

At this point I go to help a customer. MOB grabs a pencil and starts scribbling something on a card. As I'm helping the customer she finished writing and kind of tosses the card at me.

Me: Uhh.... so did you want me to throw this away for you?
MOB: Give that to [owner]!!

I don't really doubt that she knew the owner... but if she knew him that well she would also know that he is a huge privacy freak and would absolutely kill a "working girl" like me if I gave his number to anyone ever. I'm not even allowed to tell people his last name unless they're a cop or something. I may look young but I've worked here for five years and I DO know the owner and he isn't even that nice so I'm not sure why all these people are begging for his contact information. Just don't shoot the messenger please!

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

So what'd the card say?

[Betweenshades]

One of the best I know the owner experiences was at the body shop:

Owner: {repeats what I just told the customer that results in the customer not getting their way}
Customer: Whatever. I know the owner.
Owner: I don't know you.
Customer: I don't care- I know the OWN.NER.
Owner: I know you said that- I own the place and I've never seen you before in my life.

The customer left. :P

[Mnemjian]

So what'd the card say?

I thought it would say something like, "Dear [owner], Mnemjian is a mean ugly prostitute. Call me xxx-xxx" but it was just her card with her cell number on the back

[Solumina]

I have pulled the I know the owner bit before, back when Daddy and I were shopping for a nice used car for me and my brother to share. The difference is that I've been friends with the owner's daughter since we were about six (though I hadn't actually seen him in a while) so he was happy to chat for a few minutes and make sure that we actually got a pretty solid deal, plus if he wasn't in (or was in a meeting or something) we would have just left a message for him to call us back and set up a time for us to come in.

[EvilEmpryss]

I always thought that if someone was an "Old Friend", they would already have a way of getting in touch with the person. If they don't, then there's likely a reason the person is an old friend and not a current friend.

So, have you spoken to the owner since the MOB threw her card at you? I would like to know how he reacted to hearing that she said his mother had just died. Even if it's true, knowing that someone is so callous about spreading that news would have me making sure that the MOB never considered herself my friend again.

[Mnemjian]

So, have you spoken to the owner since the MOB threw her card at you?

I haven't, but I'm now assuming that he went out of town to go to her funeral That is very sad for him. I agree though that a person who goes around telling strangers your personal business is not a very good friend! Likely he's not going to be thrilled to hear from the MOB...

ETA: by the way, EE, I love your avvie

[Sapphire Silk]

I don't know I'd be happy with MOB if my mother just died, and someone rubbed salt in the wound by abusing my employee and making a scene in my place of business . . . makes me look like an asshat because now I've got to say something when I'd really just rather mourn.

[Pony_Boy]

When I was in my early 20s I owned and operated a convenience store for a couple of years. The fun thing was not many people expected a guy my age to be the owner.

SC: *makes some goofball request*
ME: I'm sorry I can't do that
SC: I'm sorry you can make an exception I'm friend's with the owner. We play hockey together every Tuesday night
ME: oh really ? Is the boss any good?
SC: Yeah he's pretty good He scored twice last week.
ME: That is good! Especially since I've never played hockey a day in my life!
SC: .....Huh?
ME: I'm the owner here! and I don't know you Now get out of my store and don't bother coming back!!!

the look of shock and confusion on their face was priceless!

[Bright_Star]

IF she really did know the owner then she'd have his number already.

[Solumina]

Not always, she could be a family friend and not be terribly close with him

[Sheldonrs]

"Me: Uhh.... so did you want me to throw this away for you?
MOB: Give that to [owner]!!"

I'd say you turned "Know the owner" into "Own the Knower". :-)

[MadMike]

"If he wanted you to have his number, you'd already have it."

Seriously, I don't give out someone else's number without checking with them first. Even if I know they're friends, they may have had some sort of falling out, and the one may not want the other to have their number.

[BlaqueKatt]

MOB: Does he have a home phone number?

My response is usually similar to this:
Me-yup
SC-well can I have it?
me-nope
SC why not?
Me-do I look like a telephone directory to you?

[MoonCat]

My guess is she was some past casual acquaintance hoping to hit him up for a loan, and she tried the "his mother died" story thinking you would be concerned enough to give her his home phone number.