Two different stories from two stages in my career. Both caused by American citizens who moved into England.
I'm standing at gate, a small podium where tickets are ripped. It's quiet apart from three customers. A mother (GC), son and the SC.
GC: I thought I should tell you, the man there was on the phone saying 'I've got loads of sweets and I'm on my way out now.'
Me: Thank you.
(I approach the man, who is heading towards the stairs with two tubs crammed full of Pick and Mix, easily worth a good £14 at the time)
Me: Excuse me, do you have a receipt for those?
SC: I'm going to go to the toilet first.
Me: In that case sir, let me take them to the refreshments counter and you can pay for them afterwards.
SC: Are you accusing me of trying to steal them?
Me: Of course not, but you are telling me you're going to somewhere without surveillance with company property, not to mention it's unhygienic.
SC: I'm a citizen of the United States of America! I can do whatever I like!
Me: Sir, I am not encroaching on your rights, however, until you pay for those sweets they are company property.
(He hands them over, goes to the toilet, only to find I have put them on the back counter, he tells me and a colleague that he is going to have a cigarette, and doesn't come back, since he was seen using his hands, the sweets were damaged off)
The other one was at the end of last year, it involved a grandmother and two children, although only one spoke. At this chain, there is a teen ticket from 13, and a child is 12. So if someone going by themselves asks for a child ticket to a 12A, I ask for their date of birth.
G: Two child tickets for Fred please.
Me: Could I ask your dates of birth girls?
Ch: 1999!
Me: I'm sorry, but these children cannot go by themselves to see this film. It's against the law.
G: What are you talking about? They're both 12!
Me: This girl has just said she was born in 1999, it's 2010, so she is 11 this year.
G: They started high school this year, so they must be 12!
Me: With all due respect ma'am, I started secondary school at 11 and didn't turn 12 until just short of the summer holidays that school year.
G: I'm a teacher! How dare you claim that I don't know the school system!
Me: Well, I still cannot let them in because this girl has said she's 11 this year and the film is certified as 12A.
She complained to the manager about a lack of professionalism and how the customer is always right. The manager said that's not always true, which annoyed her.
I'm standing at gate, a small podium where tickets are ripped. It's quiet apart from three customers. A mother (GC), son and the SC.
GC: I thought I should tell you, the man there was on the phone saying 'I've got loads of sweets and I'm on my way out now.'
Me: Thank you.
(I approach the man, who is heading towards the stairs with two tubs crammed full of Pick and Mix, easily worth a good £14 at the time)
Me: Excuse me, do you have a receipt for those?
SC: I'm going to go to the toilet first.
Me: In that case sir, let me take them to the refreshments counter and you can pay for them afterwards.
SC: Are you accusing me of trying to steal them?
Me: Of course not, but you are telling me you're going to somewhere without surveillance with company property, not to mention it's unhygienic.
SC: I'm a citizen of the United States of America! I can do whatever I like!
Me: Sir, I am not encroaching on your rights, however, until you pay for those sweets they are company property.
(He hands them over, goes to the toilet, only to find I have put them on the back counter, he tells me and a colleague that he is going to have a cigarette, and doesn't come back, since he was seen using his hands, the sweets were damaged off)
The other one was at the end of last year, it involved a grandmother and two children, although only one spoke. At this chain, there is a teen ticket from 13, and a child is 12. So if someone going by themselves asks for a child ticket to a 12A, I ask for their date of birth.
G: Two child tickets for Fred please.
Me: Could I ask your dates of birth girls?
Ch: 1999!
Me: I'm sorry, but these children cannot go by themselves to see this film. It's against the law.
G: What are you talking about? They're both 12!
Me: This girl has just said she was born in 1999, it's 2010, so she is 11 this year.
G: They started high school this year, so they must be 12!
Me: With all due respect ma'am, I started secondary school at 11 and didn't turn 12 until just short of the summer holidays that school year.
G: I'm a teacher! How dare you claim that I don't know the school system!
Me: Well, I still cannot let them in because this girl has said she's 11 this year and the film is certified as 12A.
She complained to the manager about a lack of professionalism and how the customer is always right. The manager said that's not always true, which annoyed her.
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