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That was a dirty look?
This will probably be a bit long...
About a year ago, I used to work in a jewelry store. It was a kiosk in the mall. Part of a chain, you may have seen one before. We did sell real jewelry (real gold, sterling silver, etc.), but because we were a kiosk, we got a lot of the types of customers that other kiosks get (those who like to carry large amounts of cash in their bras, those who like to haggle, etc.).
So, I was working. And 2 ladies walk up. One looks decently dressed (jeans, t-shirt). The other looked...sloppy. She looked to be about 300 lbs., was wearing a HUGE t-shirt with stains all over it, her hair was a mess...you get the picture. I am not being judgmental about this, but it is pertinent to the story.
So both ladies browse around and start picking out items. Expensive items. This always set off red flags for me (most often, they try to pay with a check, and it gets declined). They aren't giving the items much thought, just randomly picking stuff out. When all is said and done, they have about $500 worth of merchandise between them. I give them the total.
Lo and behold, the larger woman pulls out her checkbook and starts writing. I knew it, but I do not jump to conclusions. If the check goes through, yay for me. If it doesn't, well, then oh well. While the customer is writing the check, I really don't have anything to do. So I stand there and wait. To my knowledge, I don't consciously look at anyone or anything in particular. A lot of times I look at the customer, but that is because they are the customer...why shouldn't I look at them? But apparently there was something in my gaze that the "skinnier" girl did not like.
Her: "Nu-uh, you shouldn't be looking at her like that."
Me: "Excuse me?"
Her: "The way you're looking at her, just 'cause she's bigger. Nu-uh, that is not right."
Me: "Ma'am, I do apologize if you think I was looking at her a certain 'way', but let me assure you that if I did, it was purely unintentional." Why would I give dirty looks to a customer who is potentially spending $500 at my store??
Her: [Continues making little "Nu-uh" and "tsk-tsk" noises, muttering, "No, that is not right at all..."]
Me: [Getting a little irritated] "Ma'am. I APOLOGIZED. I don't know what you think I did, but all I can do is apologize. Alright?"
Her: [making little "Whoa-Whoa" gestures] "It's okay, it's cool. I was just playing." What? Playing? She sounded genuinely offended to me. Meanwhile her friend hadn't said anything.
In the meantime, the check has been written. So, I take the check, and I ask for a Drivers License. Keep in mind the sloppy looking girl (SG) wrote the check, NOT her defensive friend (HDF).
Me: "I just need to see your ID."
SG: "Oh, I don't..."
HDF: "Her whole purse got stolen, she doesn't have anything."
Me: "Well, without a valid state-issued ID, unfortunately I can't accept this check. Especially for such a large amount."
HDF: "I just told you, it was stolen."
SG: "I've got a Social Security card?"
HDF: "I'm sorry, that's our policy, I can't make any exceptions."
HDF: "Fine, we need to go get cash. We'll be back."
At that point they take off, and I put all the merchandise back. Of course they never come back. The whole situation was so bizarre. Not so much the bad check thing, but the fact that I got accused of giving a dirty look to a customer. That was definitely a first for me. First rule is, smile and be nice no matter what kind of person is on the other side of the counter, and no matter how much they freak you out.
About a year ago, I used to work in a jewelry store. It was a kiosk in the mall. Part of a chain, you may have seen one before. We did sell real jewelry (real gold, sterling silver, etc.), but because we were a kiosk, we got a lot of the types of customers that other kiosks get (those who like to carry large amounts of cash in their bras, those who like to haggle, etc.).
So, I was working. And 2 ladies walk up. One looks decently dressed (jeans, t-shirt). The other looked...sloppy. She looked to be about 300 lbs., was wearing a HUGE t-shirt with stains all over it, her hair was a mess...you get the picture. I am not being judgmental about this, but it is pertinent to the story.
So both ladies browse around and start picking out items. Expensive items. This always set off red flags for me (most often, they try to pay with a check, and it gets declined). They aren't giving the items much thought, just randomly picking stuff out. When all is said and done, they have about $500 worth of merchandise between them. I give them the total.
Lo and behold, the larger woman pulls out her checkbook and starts writing. I knew it, but I do not jump to conclusions. If the check goes through, yay for me. If it doesn't, well, then oh well. While the customer is writing the check, I really don't have anything to do. So I stand there and wait. To my knowledge, I don't consciously look at anyone or anything in particular. A lot of times I look at the customer, but that is because they are the customer...why shouldn't I look at them? But apparently there was something in my gaze that the "skinnier" girl did not like.
Her: "Nu-uh, you shouldn't be looking at her like that."
Me: "Excuse me?"
Her: "The way you're looking at her, just 'cause she's bigger. Nu-uh, that is not right."
Me: "Ma'am, I do apologize if you think I was looking at her a certain 'way', but let me assure you that if I did, it was purely unintentional." Why would I give dirty looks to a customer who is potentially spending $500 at my store??
Her: [Continues making little "Nu-uh" and "tsk-tsk" noises, muttering, "No, that is not right at all..."]
Me: [Getting a little irritated] "Ma'am. I APOLOGIZED. I don't know what you think I did, but all I can do is apologize. Alright?"
Her: [making little "Whoa-Whoa" gestures] "It's okay, it's cool. I was just playing." What? Playing? She sounded genuinely offended to me. Meanwhile her friend hadn't said anything.
In the meantime, the check has been written. So, I take the check, and I ask for a Drivers License. Keep in mind the sloppy looking girl (SG) wrote the check, NOT her defensive friend (HDF).
Me: "I just need to see your ID."
SG: "Oh, I don't..."
HDF: "Her whole purse got stolen, she doesn't have anything."
Me: "Well, without a valid state-issued ID, unfortunately I can't accept this check. Especially for such a large amount."
HDF: "I just told you, it was stolen."
SG: "I've got a Social Security card?"
HDF: "I'm sorry, that's our policy, I can't make any exceptions."
HDF: "Fine, we need to go get cash. We'll be back."
At that point they take off, and I put all the merchandise back. Of course they never come back. The whole situation was so bizarre. Not so much the bad check thing, but the fact that I got accused of giving a dirty look to a customer. That was definitely a first for me. First rule is, smile and be nice no matter what kind of person is on the other side of the counter, and no matter how much they freak you out.
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