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Well, after months of lurking I might as well take the leap and join! My apologies for this absolutely massive post...
The recession's hit college students pretty hard around here. Last year, after a year and a half of searching, I managed to get a part time job as a cashier at a chain convenience store/gas station. Aside from a couple of off the books jobs, this was my first real job with a payroll and everything. I have to say, most people were wonderful and on my first day training almost everyone stopped to tell me not to worry and that I was doing a great job. Surprising, as I live in a very urban area noted for its rudeness.
But, of course, there were some sucky customers.
Miss Racist, aka My Very First Customer
MR = Miss Racist
Me =
Me: Here's your change, and have a great day!
MR: *disbelieving snort* Wow, someone who speaks English.
Most of my coworkers were of Indian or Bangladeshi descent. Because they have a light accent, apparently this means that they speak no English. Excuse me, lady? My coworkers are kick ass people, and they work their asses off. One woman works seven days a week and never takes holidays off. Do you get that? She works every single day of her life! Another guy often does double shifts (that's sixteen hours!) without a single break!
But no, because I'm white and don't have an accent, that makes me 'better' than them, at least according to you. Never mind the fact that I'm only working a few hours a week to save up for when I pay off my college loans while I live at home rent free, nope, I'm better than these people who work themselves to the bone to support themselves and their families, all because English is my first language.
Customer number one, ladies and gentlemen.
This Is Why We Can't Do Nice Things
SC = You know who.
AW = Awesome Manager
(SC approaches the counter with her coffee.)
AW: Good morning, ma'am, did you know that a muffin comes free with your XYZ ounce coffee?
(SC wanders off, returns with a doughnut.)
AW: Oh, ma'am, I'm sorry, it's a muffin that comes free with your coffee.
SC: But I want a doughnut.
(Normally AW would have probably let her have the doughnut, she radiated such a sense of entitlement that he stuck to his guns. It was really refreshing after hearing of all those managers who cave instantly.)
AW: I'm sorry, ma'am. But we have many kinds of muffins I'm sure you'll enjoy.
SC: *getting annoyed* I don't want a muffin, I want a doughnut.
(And I want a million bucks, but you don't see me throwing a hissy fit.)
AW: I'm sorry, ma'am but that's the way it is.
SC: I don't like muffins! *stomps back to the doughnut case and buys her coffee*
AW: Have a nice day, ma'am!
Have I mentioned that my manager was awesome?
The Great Gas Pump/Lotto Machine Adventure
I wasn't allowed to even touch the gas register for a while. If you mess up on one of those, you're screwed. Say someone wants fifteen dollars on Pump 1. If you put in fifty dollars and you don't catch it, you're out that money if the customer pumps it in. So understandably I was incredibly cautious with that machine.
Another machine I had difficulty with was the Lotto machine. It wasn't horrifyingly complex, but it took a lot of getting used to, especially some of the more complicated features. My third day there, I still called over my coworker each time I had to use it to make sure I wasn't making a mistake, seeing as I'd messed up once already and would have been out ten dollars if a kind customer hadn't offered to buy the ticket.
I'm also ultra sensitive. I cry easily, and while this customer didn't make me get teary, I came close. He's not nearly as horrendous as some of the people I've read about on this site, but the level of condensation and nastiness stuck with me.
Keep that in mind (as well as the fact that there wasn't a manager present) as I share with you this customer...
SC: You know who.
Me:
PO1: Police Officer #1
PO2: Police Officer #2
...With a cast list like that, you know it's going to be good. (It's not as good as you're thinking.)
(SC storms in, seemingly in a foul temper.)
SC: Yeah, so the pump says 'See attendant'.
(Whenever something was wrong with the pump, it told people to come inside so they could pay there, then pump their gas. It's no more than, what, twenty, thirty feet away? Nothing wild.)
Me: Sure thing, you can pay here.
SC: Well, I want to know why it says that.
Me: Oh, it says that when there's something wrong with the pump.
SC: *rolls eyes* Oh, so it's broken.
(Because that's my fault? Guess I shouldn't have been bashing the gas pumps with a baseball bat on my non-existent breaks!)
Me: *hesitates, then smiles, still being polite and friendly* I guess it is. How much would you like, and on which pump?
SC: Give me $XX.XX on pump X.
Me: That's $XX.XX on pump X?
SC: *impatient sigh* Yes.
(Yeah, because I'm going to pay the difference out of pocket on my barely-above-minimum-wage salary. No need to talk down to me like that.)
(SC pumps his gas, returns and stares at me.)
Me: *realizes a second too late* Oh, do you want your change?
SC: *loud angry sigh and rolls his eyes* Yes, I want my change! *random eye rolling and signs of utter contempt*
Me: *trying very hard not to bolt to the back room for a cry* Here's your change, and have a great day.
SC: Oh, and I want $X.XX on Mega Millions.
Me: Sure thing, I just need to call over my coworker because--
SC: *explodes* You're running a great show here, you know that?
Me: I'm very sorry, you see, it's my third day here and I'm still learning.
(SC looks around and sees that the few customers in the store are giving him incredulous and/or nasty looks, including two cops.)
SC: Oh. Well... I'm not blaming you. But still, I could complain to management.
(Coworker helps me print up the man's tickets, and as he's leaving the first police officer speaks up very loudly.)
PO1: He wasn't blaming you? Sure sounded like that to me!
PO2: Don't let him get you down, you did a great job.
PO1: Yeah, there's a thousand people like him on the street, he's nothing special. Keep up the good work.
It completely and utterly made my day, especially when I felt ready to crawl into a dark corner and cry. And he never did complain to management. I have no idea how I would have reacted had I gotten a truly SC some of you have had. I salute you people!
I don't work there anymore, but I'm glad for the experience. It made me realize just how hard it is to work behind a counter, and just how hard many of the people with these jobs have to work. I'd never realized how lucky I am to be able to go to college and live at home.
One thing that's kind of interesting-- the most polite and kind customers were the kids and teenagers. I wonder what that says about us?
The recession's hit college students pretty hard around here. Last year, after a year and a half of searching, I managed to get a part time job as a cashier at a chain convenience store/gas station. Aside from a couple of off the books jobs, this was my first real job with a payroll and everything. I have to say, most people were wonderful and on my first day training almost everyone stopped to tell me not to worry and that I was doing a great job. Surprising, as I live in a very urban area noted for its rudeness.
But, of course, there were some sucky customers.
Miss Racist, aka My Very First Customer
MR = Miss Racist
Me =
Me: Here's your change, and have a great day!
MR: *disbelieving snort* Wow, someone who speaks English.
Most of my coworkers were of Indian or Bangladeshi descent. Because they have a light accent, apparently this means that they speak no English. Excuse me, lady? My coworkers are kick ass people, and they work their asses off. One woman works seven days a week and never takes holidays off. Do you get that? She works every single day of her life! Another guy often does double shifts (that's sixteen hours!) without a single break!
But no, because I'm white and don't have an accent, that makes me 'better' than them, at least according to you. Never mind the fact that I'm only working a few hours a week to save up for when I pay off my college loans while I live at home rent free, nope, I'm better than these people who work themselves to the bone to support themselves and their families, all because English is my first language.
Customer number one, ladies and gentlemen.
This Is Why We Can't Do Nice Things
SC = You know who.
AW = Awesome Manager
(SC approaches the counter with her coffee.)
AW: Good morning, ma'am, did you know that a muffin comes free with your XYZ ounce coffee?
(SC wanders off, returns with a doughnut.)
AW: Oh, ma'am, I'm sorry, it's a muffin that comes free with your coffee.
SC: But I want a doughnut.
(Normally AW would have probably let her have the doughnut, she radiated such a sense of entitlement that he stuck to his guns. It was really refreshing after hearing of all those managers who cave instantly.)
AW: I'm sorry, ma'am. But we have many kinds of muffins I'm sure you'll enjoy.
SC: *getting annoyed* I don't want a muffin, I want a doughnut.
(And I want a million bucks, but you don't see me throwing a hissy fit.)
AW: I'm sorry, ma'am but that's the way it is.
SC: I don't like muffins! *stomps back to the doughnut case and buys her coffee*
AW: Have a nice day, ma'am!
Have I mentioned that my manager was awesome?
The Great Gas Pump/Lotto Machine Adventure
I wasn't allowed to even touch the gas register for a while. If you mess up on one of those, you're screwed. Say someone wants fifteen dollars on Pump 1. If you put in fifty dollars and you don't catch it, you're out that money if the customer pumps it in. So understandably I was incredibly cautious with that machine.
Another machine I had difficulty with was the Lotto machine. It wasn't horrifyingly complex, but it took a lot of getting used to, especially some of the more complicated features. My third day there, I still called over my coworker each time I had to use it to make sure I wasn't making a mistake, seeing as I'd messed up once already and would have been out ten dollars if a kind customer hadn't offered to buy the ticket.
I'm also ultra sensitive. I cry easily, and while this customer didn't make me get teary, I came close. He's not nearly as horrendous as some of the people I've read about on this site, but the level of condensation and nastiness stuck with me.
Keep that in mind (as well as the fact that there wasn't a manager present) as I share with you this customer...
SC: You know who.
Me:
PO1: Police Officer #1
PO2: Police Officer #2
...With a cast list like that, you know it's going to be good. (It's not as good as you're thinking.)
(SC storms in, seemingly in a foul temper.)
SC: Yeah, so the pump says 'See attendant'.
(Whenever something was wrong with the pump, it told people to come inside so they could pay there, then pump their gas. It's no more than, what, twenty, thirty feet away? Nothing wild.)
Me: Sure thing, you can pay here.
SC: Well, I want to know why it says that.
Me: Oh, it says that when there's something wrong with the pump.
SC: *rolls eyes* Oh, so it's broken.
(Because that's my fault? Guess I shouldn't have been bashing the gas pumps with a baseball bat on my non-existent breaks!)
Me: *hesitates, then smiles, still being polite and friendly* I guess it is. How much would you like, and on which pump?
SC: Give me $XX.XX on pump X.
Me: That's $XX.XX on pump X?
SC: *impatient sigh* Yes.
(Yeah, because I'm going to pay the difference out of pocket on my barely-above-minimum-wage salary. No need to talk down to me like that.)
(SC pumps his gas, returns and stares at me.)
Me: *realizes a second too late* Oh, do you want your change?
SC: *loud angry sigh and rolls his eyes* Yes, I want my change! *random eye rolling and signs of utter contempt*
Me: *trying very hard not to bolt to the back room for a cry* Here's your change, and have a great day.
SC: Oh, and I want $X.XX on Mega Millions.
Me: Sure thing, I just need to call over my coworker because--
SC: *explodes* You're running a great show here, you know that?
Me: I'm very sorry, you see, it's my third day here and I'm still learning.
(SC looks around and sees that the few customers in the store are giving him incredulous and/or nasty looks, including two cops.)
SC: Oh. Well... I'm not blaming you. But still, I could complain to management.
(Coworker helps me print up the man's tickets, and as he's leaving the first police officer speaks up very loudly.)
PO1: He wasn't blaming you? Sure sounded like that to me!
PO2: Don't let him get you down, you did a great job.
PO1: Yeah, there's a thousand people like him on the street, he's nothing special. Keep up the good work.
It completely and utterly made my day, especially when I felt ready to crawl into a dark corner and cry. And he never did complain to management. I have no idea how I would have reacted had I gotten a truly SC some of you have had. I salute you people!
I don't work there anymore, but I'm glad for the experience. It made me realize just how hard it is to work behind a counter, and just how hard many of the people with these jobs have to work. I'd never realized how lucky I am to be able to go to college and live at home.
One thing that's kind of interesting-- the most polite and kind customers were the kids and teenagers. I wonder what that says about us?
I remember my first day on the register by myself some lady called me a "f***ing bitch" because I went to ask my boss if I was allowed to give out small cups for water. I was told to give the teeny tiny sized cups for water but she wanted small sized cups for free. It was my first day w/o my trainer so I really didn't wanna screw up. When I came back and said I was allowed to do that she dropped that little F bomb on me(x10) and said I was "starting a f***ing agrument over f***ing cups", then asked for my name and said she would make sure my boss fired me for being so "rude" to her. I went back to the office and cried to my manager 
I'm still working there btw
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