Annoying customers

[Scorchedrose]

I'm sure we've all witnessed customers in a store that are just completely stupid. Whether you've dealt with them as a sales person, or as another customer. So I figure, why not get a good laugh at each other's stories.

 

 

 

Oh, and I'm sure we've all experienced stupid workers as well, so might as well share those stories as well. =D

 

 

 

NOTE: Please don't mention the names of the places where you either work or the names of the places in which you encountered said stupid people.

 

 

 

Customers:

 

~Once I had a customer ask me where our fitting rooms were, which isn't an odd question really, but when she asked me we were standing directly in front of them. >.<

 

 

 

~One time we had a customer come in to return a watch she had purchased only two weeks ago and said it just stopped working. So I asked her if she had already tried changing the battery? To which she replied, "I didn't know watches had batteries." #-o

 

 

 

~Then there's one thing that happens all too often. Customers arguing with us about what merchandise our store has carried. For instance, a woman came in and asked me where our shoes were. So, I replied, "I'm sorry, but we don't carry shoes at this location." Then she proceeded to argue with me that we had shoes the last time she was at our store. I've been working at my store for 3 & 1/2 years and it has only been open for 4 years. I think I know what our store has and hasn't carried, but I spent about 5 minutes with this person trying to explain to them that we never had shoes. =/

 

 

 

I have many more customer stories, but I'll save them for later to see if this topic actually gets going or not.

 

 

 

Workers:

 

~This happened to me once when I was at a fast food burger place. I was placing my order and said I wanted a blank burger with cheese, but then the register person then asks me if I want cheese with that. No... I just said with cheese because I really didn't want cheese with it.

 

 

 

~Once I was at a store and I was purchasing an arm full of stuff. So after they rang me up and I paid they asked me if I wanted the items in a bag (note: this wasn't a store where you could just do it yourself). Did they really need to ask that question? Plus, I'm sure if they didn't bag the stuff security would have stopped me and had their time wasted just because some cashier person didn't want to bag stuff.

[BlueLancer]

I'm standing in a long line, and some middle aged woman suddenly jumps out of the que and comes back a few minutes later with 3 baskets full of stuff... Then she starts throwing a tantrum about how her 'spot in the line' should've been saved for her and how she has access to lawyers and she'd sue... Fortunately they called security soon thereafter. That's just one of the countlessly dumb things I encounter in shops.

 

 

 

Or the people who stand in line for 20 minutes to return an item, when it clearly says over the counter in huge letters: NO REFUNDS, then start complaining about lost money while everyone else is forced to stand there and wait for nothing.

 

 

 

Let's just say.. I could never work in a customer service job. :lol: Getting a heart attack from an overload of stupidity just isn't my thing. No offense to those who like heart attacks.

[IGoddessI]

Going back to when I was 14 and a check out chick... Some drunk guy came in on new years eve and tried to get my phone number then got the [cabbage]s because I said no and opened a box of washing powder and tipped it all over my register...... :shock:

[Scorchedrose]

Or the people who stand in line for 20 minutes to return an item, when it clearly says over the counter in huge letters: NO REFUNDS, then start complaining about lost money while everyone else is forced to stand there and wait for nothing.

 

 

 

Let's just say.. I could never work in a customer service job. :lol: Getting a heart attack from an overload of stupidity just isn't my thing. No offense to those who like heart attacks.

 

 

 

Ah yes, the age old "people can't read signs" problem. Or it's close relative, "Just because one rack has a sale sign on it, then the whole store is on sale then!". I've had many people grab something from a rack that isn't marked with any sale sign, and then ask if it's on sale, but when I say no they then point to the one rack in the store that says 60% off and say that that sign says 60% off so why isn't everything 60% off. >.< No... just the items on that rack.

 

 

 

Customer service jobs do stink, and I'm so happy that I've just about have my degree and will never have to do this kind of work again, but in the mean time I enjoy the laughs.

[Azvareth]

I worked at a supermarket a while back, and since I was mainly out in the store putting up wares on shelves and help customers all day, I had to deal with a fair amount of strange and annoying people. Kids who'd try to steal things, and not small things like candy or similar, but rather large and awkward things like bottles of soda or, and get this, crispbread, and I'd also get people who didn't know a word of either swedish or english come up to me and try to explain what the hell they wanted... I think those two examples were the most annoying ones, but luckily I didn't get them very often.

 

 

 

I'm standing in a long line, and some middle aged woman suddenly jumps out of the que and comes back a few minutes later with 3 baskets full of stuff... Then she starts throwing a tantrum about how her 'spot in the line' should've been saved for her

 

 

 

Hah, the same thing happened to my mom once, this woman in her 60s basically just walked away from her shopping cart, only to arrive several minutes later and throw a fit because people would walk past her cart - until some guy in his 40s basically told her to shut the [bleep] up and use some common sense... which she did - she became quiet after that.

[arizark]

well when i worked at a internet cafe i got a stupid customer everyday, every few days i would get someone come in and ask if we had the internet.....nah we are a internet cafe without internet access....

 

another time i have some guy throw a tantrum because his time on the computer ran out and he got logged off halfway through something he screamed at me for half an hour demanding a free hour before security escorted him out hahaha

[justin_m23]

Once the store I work in had a Black out. Every light was off, as well as the computers. Still, the customers that were present when the black out actually occurred tried to use their credit cards to purchase their goods.

 

 

 

Once a guy cursed and yelled at me for 20 minutes because we had sold a certain pair of shorts that were there 5 days ago when he was looking.

 

 

 

Once a customer lost her kids and blamed me because our computers were processing slow.

 

 

 

I'll think of more later :XD:

[Craiglowery]

I was in line and this redneck guy in front of me complained about how long the person at the register was taking and then out of nowhere he said "look at all these women looking at me like im not a man, like I dont watch football."

[Scorchedrose]

OMG people with kids are the worst. I mean they let their kids run around like they're at a playground, and then when the kid knocks something over or runs into something and bumps their head and starts crying it's some how our fault. If they'd stop being bad parents there'd be no problem. When I was a kid if I even just thought of goofing off in a store I'd get a swift knuckle to the head. Just an utter lack of discipline any more, it's disgusting.

 

 

 

Oh yeah, I just remembered this one woman. She was trying to return a pair of pants that she claimed she never wore. Yet the bottom of the pants were a bit worn out and you could see it was about ready to tear, so obviously they were worn quite a few times. But she then claimed that all the pants she buys from our store look like that. That's when I grabbed a hand full of of pants from the clearance rack that was right next to the register and said "These pants have been in this store longer than any other pant. Do they look like your pants to you?". They weren't, there wasn't any signs of wear and tear on these pants. So she just shut up and left the store. =P

 

 

 

I kind of miss being management, because I would get to tell off these kinds of people. Just being a regular sales person I don't handle returns and get to have fun with the idiots anymore.

[egg_luvuh]

Going back to when I was 14 and a check out chick... Some drunk guy came in on new years eve and tried to get my phone number then got the [cabbage] because I said no and opened a box of washing powder and tipped it all over my register...... :shock:

 

I WILL KICK YOU IN THE NUTS!

 

perhaps we should all take a page from cartman. thats what you should've done

[Militaris]

Once the store I work in had a Black out. Every light was off, as well as the computers. Still, the customers that were present when the black out actually occurred tried to use their credit cards to purchase their goods.

 

 

 

 

Same stores still carry the Carbon-copy credit card devices. So not a completely stupid idea.

[Lime_Mercury]

Actually just the day before yesterday, we were having a big sale, and a pushy customer tried to insert herself between myself and the customer I was helping, trying to find an boxed item behind other things, which actually requires a bit of concentration.

 

 

 

With 25 lb box in arms, tilted back towards me, searching for the writing on another box (trying to find the color of the item inside) she comes up...

 

 

 

Exchange:

 

 

 

Lady: "I have a question is there anybody that works here that can help me?"

 

Me: (box in arms, head under table) "Not quite yet just be patient"

 

Lady: "Well you don't have to be so rude my question would have only taken a second to answer"

 

Me: "And it will continue to take just a second to answer regardless of your attitude."

 

 

 

Lady storms off.

[Sunli]

This happened to me this friday. I was walking from shop to shop with my arms full of grocerys when I stopped outside a florist looking in the windows wondering if I should buy some flowers, when a woman asked; "Hi, do you work here? Can you help me?" :o

 

 

 

I raised my arms with the handbags full of grocerys and looked down at my winter jacket and then back at her with raised eyebrows. Still she looked at me and repeated her question! #-o :lol:

[____]

I've had many annoying customers... the worst was some lady who called up at like 8:15 in the morning as we were trying to count the float for the tills, and she's all...

 

 

 

Lady: My brother-in-law just got a new caravan and i want to get him something for it, for his birthday.

 

Me: Alright, do you know what model.. or even how much it cost? (me trying to scope what features it most likely had already)

 

Lady: No idea

 

Me: Well, have you seen it?

 

Lady: No.

 

Me: Okay.. how much were you thinking of spending?

 

Lady: Around $20

 

Me: (with an :uhh: look to manager) We've got a lot of things for $20 that go well with Caravans.

 

Lady: What do you reccomend?

 

Me: Well, given that you have provided no model, no cost for the caravan, and don't know what features it has... i can't make a suggestion on an item short of a gift card without the high risk of doubling up on something they already have for it.

 

Lady: We don't do gift cards either

 

Me: Then I suggest you come into your closest store after you have seen his caravan and make a choice then.

 

Lady: You obviously seem unwilling to help me - goodbye (hangs up)

 

Me: :uhh:

[syal_antilli]

ive got a few.

 

 

 

i used to be be kitchen night shift supervisor at a large grocery store chain in town, and the day after thanksgiving i answer a phone call. blah blah blah, what can i do for you and such. Well the man on the other end had apperntly been catered the night before and said he loved our dressing(or stuffing same difference). However, he and his wife were having a debate if it was still good to eat. I said it should be why do you ask? His answer, well i left it in the oven overnight, and it won't come out of the pan. my answer was dont eat it.

 

 

 

Working the plainclothes security detail at a large retail chain i was approached by an individual whom i had been monitering for suspected shoplifting. he asked me if i could distract the casheir so he could walk out the door without anyone seeing him leave. so i said yes, and as soon as he turned around i slapped the cuffs on him. easiest arrest ever there.

[Zonorhc]

I work in a call centre. Every shift is a target-rich environment of stupid people.

[Mercifull]

I work in a call centre. Every shift is a target-rich environment of stupid people.

lol yeah. When I was at Virgin Mobile there was at least one person every day that bought a non virgin top up card because they "thought it would still work". Imbeciles lol

[Giant_Torti]

Oooh so many moments to recall (years in insurance/customer service).

 

 

 

Top one would have to be getting the point across that insurance companies don't cover acts of blatant stupidity;

 

 

 

a) Guy leaves keys in ignition, engine running, away from vehicle in excess of 10 minutes and not in sight of vehicle.

 

 

 

B) Two quad bikes that got stolen from a secure garage, the trouble is the garage only existed on paper and the customer assumed that we're not going to send a investigator, just to see if the policyholder is like, telling the truth.

 

 

 

Innumerate attempts at inflating losses after a claim has been indemnified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(stolen and burnt out vehicle case)

 

Customer: "My vehicle was worth at least another five grand, it had its engine replaced just before it was stolen"

 

Me : "Ok, do you have documentary evidence to support this?"

 

Customer : "Well I did, but it was in the vehicle so its been burnt"

 

Me : "Thats a shame, tell me the name of the garage or engineer that did this work on your vehicle, I'll phone them up for duplicate documents and I'll get our own engineers to revalue your vehicle, hows that sound?"

 

Customer : "Ermmmmm, tell you what, just forget it, eh?"

 

 

 

Angry customers that fail to direct there anger at the person in the wrong.

 

 

 

Customer has a high value, custom made vehicle, lets his son drive it, with inevitable result of the car being trashed. Because of the amount of damage to the vehicle, the repairs cant go ahead, due to the fact that a lot of the parts are custom build, its not a 'off-the-shelf' job.

 

This guy spent the best part of 2 months screaming at me, the garage, the engineer that was authorising the repairs, but did he ever phone up the manufacturer and scream at there two month backlog? No.

 

 

 

Angry customer that 'refuses' to pay excess because of the old chestnut that the "claim isn't her fault". Despite the fact that she's signed a agreement with the garage that she will, she decides the best path of action is to lock the repairing garages courtesy car in her own garage and "its not going back until I get my excess waived!". Oh really.

 

So I get a angry call from the manager of the garage, they can't do work on other peoples vehicles, because there obliged by contract to provide a courtesy car and this woman is messing with the schedule.

 

One phone call to angry lady pointing out that what she is actually doing is a form of theft and also she can be taken to court by the garage for loss of earnings, if they wanted to. 15 minutes later call from rather surprised body shop manager asking how I managed the feat of getting this mad woman to return the vehicle.

 

 

 

EDIT

 

This may give the view I dislike insurance/customer service, but to be honest, I used to thrive on the challenge and also enjoyed going the extra mile for people that really needed the help.

[syal_antilli]

torti's so cute

[NorthernHero]

I worked in a fast food place once. And let me tell you.. Never again.

 

The stupid question customers are not the worse but the rude and arrogant ones.

 

Example:

 

Me: Hi, how can I help you?

 

Customer: Double meal.

 

Me: What would you like to drink with that?

 

Customer: Coke.

 

Me: (goes to get the meal as fast as possible)

 

Customer: Hurry up!

 

Me: (thinking I will punch his face in) 'Smile'

 

Me: It'll be 6ÃÆââââ¬Ã¡Ãâì thank you.

 

Customer: (gives the money) Try to be more faster next time.

 

Me: Have a nice meal.

 

Customer: (no thanks, whatsoever, leaves.)

 

 

 

And the worst thing is "customer is always right". The moment you say something back to those rude btards, you find your boss next morning yelling at you about customer complaing via email.

 

 

 

Never again :pray:

[dsavi]

Great thread. Almost all of the answers are intelligent.

 

Security people have always gotten under my skin, for the simple reason that they want to keep the price of insureance down, by arresting everyone that even reminds them of stealing, I.E. Everyone but shoplifters. I got thrown out thrice, once for a week. Here, this will explain:

 

 

 

One day I had some time before the bus cams, so I decided to go see which of my friends were in the shop. I saw someone I knew who lived near me that took the same bus, so I went over to him. He was going to buy candy, but shoplift at the same time by putting the sticker with the barcode on the package of candy, and then putting some more candy in so he got more for his money. He did this with his hands. I told him no, don't steal and at least don't take it with your hands. He went to the checkout, bag of candy in hand, when security showed up.

 

 

 

'Come with me', said the security guy, not in english of course, and led him away as I went the other direction. He started yelling at him- about taking candy with his hands. He got away with it. While the security guard was on his way after seeing him take the candy with his hands on the CCTV, he had put more in, and he never saw. I wouldn't tell on him, but I definitely told him I was very embarrased. So ends my story, maybe I'll add more later.

 

 

 

Northernhero, you must live in Finland.

[Barihawk]

I've worked as a bagger, cashier, Sales Rep (with no commission :(), Deli Slicer and a Gourmet Chef in the Service Industry.

 

 

 

In the latter two jobs I had been in college for a few years and had my attitude set. If someone was rude to me, I'd just say "NEXT!"

 

 

 

The problem with my hometown is that it's one of the three major cities in the fastest growing and most wealthy county in the entire United States, and happens to lie in Texas. As a result, many people from up North come down, and expect every Texan to be a hick. Therefore, many of them treat Texans with disregard and act arrogant. So, I just deny them service. It's my right.

[NorthernHero]

 

Northernhero, you must live in Finland.

 

Yeah, thats right. But what on my post made you quess that?

[dsavi]

/\

 

1. You said the price in Euros, Finland is the only in the Nordic to use it

 

2. Your name is NorthernHero, and Finland is quite northern

 

3. Your English is European-English, different from British or American English. (Don't ask me how I knew that)

 

4. I live in Finland, and I just had this suspicion that you did too. Also, you're posting in the evening in Finland, a few hours after school/work ends.

 

 

 

[/reasons]

[fgfuyfyuiuy0]

Well... I have a bunch of stories :)

 

 

 

I've been a checker at a local grocery store for a little over a year. Ok, so I was checking one day and I happened to have 4-5 separate customers behind me. Well, this lady comes up and asks "Can I only buy 4 brown eggs?"

 

 

 

I couldn't think of anything to say, lol. So, I said "We can't do that, ma'am. We have to sell eggs in the designed package we get them in. If we did that, we wouldn't be able to sell the 8 eggs to someone else." Well, her face turned red. She began telling me how Albertson's and WalMart would sell her eggs separately. Well, I responded "Ma'am, we'd be loosing money if we did that. You could buy a pack of 6 white eggs?"

 

 

 

Lady: "No! My recipe calls for 4 brown eggs!"

 

 

 

This is about when I call the dairy guy. He comes up and the lady tells him "I want four brown eggs and this kid won't sell me any." Well our dairy guy was speechless like I was. Who would ask to buy only four brown eggs? He replies "Ma'am we can't sell you 4 brown eggs. We couldn't sell the other 8." She began to tell us how someone at our store sold her 4 brown eggs. So, suddenly it changed from Albertson's and WalMart to us. Well, the dairy guy replied "Well, tell me the name of the person because they are causing our department to lose money."

 

 

 

She turned red and began calling all of us the "B" word. She began to throw eggs everywhere. My Manager ran out and pulled her to the door. She threw and egg at him and shouted to all the customers to never come back and that we are all a bunch of "D"heads.

 

 

 

 

 

Now, time for the stupid questions get stupid answers portion:

 

 

 

Guy: "Do you guys sell bread here?"

 

Me: "No, we stopped selling bread at this Grocery Store."

 

 

 

Lady: "Do you guys make keys here?"

 

Me: "Of course. That's what the constant grinding sound is. We are exactly like Home Depot."

 

 

 

Guy: "Where is the whip cream?"

 

Me: "You're staring at it."

 

 

 

Bagger: "What kind of bag would you like?"

 

Guy: "Oh, I just want a bag."

 

Me: "-----, just give him a "bag"."

 

 

 

Guy: "How much is a thing of Kraft -something- cheese?"

 

Me: "It's $7.99 because you know me. Trying to remember the price of everything in this store."

 

 

 

Many, many people: "Where is the bathroom?"

 

Me: "There's a sign every 10 ft. telling you where the bathroom is."

 

 

 

People: "Which aisle is the bread on?"

 

Me: "It's on the aisle with the big sign above it saying 'bread'."

 

 

 

Also, another lil story for you. I once had a guy walk in and one of my baggers asked "Is plastic alright?" Well, that is what they have to say because plastic bags are obviously cheaper than paper. The guy begins to rant and call everyone who likes plastic "Un-American". I simply say "I like plastic." He says "Well that means you're Un-American." I simply cancel his order, turn off my light, and walked away. Every time he comes in he walks away from my check stand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the way, here is a little tid bit for you paper bag lovers out there. This is a warning. Every grocery store I have ever worked at, we all do the same thing. If we ask "What kind of bag would you like?" or "Is plastic alright?" treat us like humans and say "Actually, if you don't mind, could I get paper, please?". Do NOT say "Paper." or "No.". No matter if you are in the worst mood possible.

 

 

 

The thing is that all the baggers will do something to your groceries/paper bag. It's common that it is that we rip about 3/4ths of each handle off, so when you are out in the parking lot, it breaks. Other times, we smash your food or something else. We don't like putting up with rude people.

 

 

 

Also, don't tell us why you need a paper bag. We don't care, even if we pretend to care.

 

 

 

Just some warnings. I've seen many mean people have their cakes splatter all over the ground. It's funny.