Dumbass Customer Encounter at Office Supply Store

Dear RHU,

 

I work for a major office supply store. You'd think that the type of people who voluntarily shop for paper, ink, and toner are mild-mannered by association. This, however, is not the case. My first of many horrible customer experiences comes from a woman who was about 40 who wanted to return her item. I could tell by the caked on blue eyeshadow, fluffy pink sweater, perm, and mom jeans that there was going to be trouble. I was right. 

 

At our store, if you don't have a receipt for your return, you must give a drivers license to us so we can check your ID in a database of fraud ID's. Normally, this almost never poses an issue, but there's always a first time for everything.

 

After some fumbling around, she managed to find her ID, flashed it at me, and then stuffed it back into her purse.

 

Me: Ma'am, I need to see your ID...

 

40 year old woman: you just did.

 

Me: Ma'am I need to type in your drivers license number

 

40 YOW: Why?! Why do you need to do that?!

 

Me: Because it's just a quick check to see that your ID isn't fraudulent

 

40 YOW: IT ISN'T FRAUDULENT!!!!! Why would you need to type in the number!?

 

Me: As I stated, it's just a check to see that your ID isn't fraudulent...

 

40 YOW: IT ISN'T!!! You! Why???? Why do you need it!?!?

 

Me: I can't let you return this without typing in your ID number

 

40 YOW: YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO STEAL MY IDENTITY!!!! IDENTITY THEFT!!!!! IDENTITY THEFT!!!!!!

 

Me: Let me get a manager...

 

::Manager comes over::

 

40 YOW: SHE!!! She says you need to type in my drivers lisence number for a return!!!

 

Manager: ...yes?

 

40 YOW: Why do you need it!!?!

 

Manager: it's a check in our database of fraudulent ID's. Your ID is most likely not fraudulent, however we must type in the number -

 

40 YOW: THAT IS AN INVASION OF PRIVACY!!!

 

Manager: If you want to return this item, then I have to type in your ID number. If not, then I can't do the return

 

40 YOW: Why?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

Manager: Because we need an ID to do the return

 

40 YOW: BUT MY ID ISN'T FRAUDULENT!! I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN!!

 

Manager: I know. It probably isn't, but we still need the ID for the return

 

40 YOW: THIS IS IDENTITY THEFT!!!

 

This exchange goes on for another 15 minutes before she finally agrees to give the manager her ID and type in the number and finish the return. I half expected there to be some sort problem, with the way she was over-reacting. But there wasn't. She was just a dumb fucking bitch.

 

Manager: Thank you, is there anything else I can help you with today?

 

40 YOW: I don't know WHY you needed my ID!

 

More stories to come!

 

Love,  

Office Supply Whore

Comments

[Megan]

Of course! I'm going to steal your identity, buy a bunch of random shit somehow, and then keep coming back to work so as to be easily caught!

[Pharmacy_psycho]

Actually, I keep hoping someone will steal my identity. They probably will have a better credit rating than I do. LOL! But seriously, when you get people like that, you did the right thing. Call a manager and let him/her explain. They always have the option of not returning something, or going to another location and finding out that they will have the same policy. Mantra: Logic doesn't work with the illogical. I'm learning that!

[Twink]

Dontcha love that? You ask for their ID, they bitch...you don't ask, they still bitch.

I had a customer come through my line not long ago, and pay for a 50 cent candy bar with her Debit Card.

Once the transaction had gone through, she immediately looked down her nose at me and said the following.

"Now I know why its so easy for people to steal other people's check cards. You didn't ask to see my ID".

I very politely explained that the only time we ask to see ID is if the register prompts for it, or if it's a significant purchase. She harumphed at me, and went on her way.

The entire time I'm thinking to myself If someone stole my card, and all they bought was a candy bar, I'd be pissed at their stupidity. If you're going to steal the card, I assume you're smart enough to know what to do with it.

[N/A]

Gotta say, I'm not a big fan of this whole thing where some stores don't require a pin for purchases under $25. It might take hours to notice a missing card if you're done shopping when you lose it.

She reminds me of a regular customer I used to deal with every couple of weeks. She'd pay by check but flatly refuse to put her phone number on as required by store policy; the manager let her get away with it because she was in all the time. No issue with her name, address, license number, and bank account number but god forbid we know her phone number. One day I looked it up online, gave me a sad little thrill knowing I knew her phone number every time she refused to write it on the check.

[Michael]

I'd have started writing the phone number on it for her, right in front of her.

But then again, I get spiteful with those who think they're an exception to the rules.

[Jit]

"Hello! My name is Dumbass. Please prepare to suffer."

[atombomb1945]

Retail Confucius say; "The louder a customer yell, the more a customer hides."

[Retail Drone #37]

Pharmacy_psycho: Believe me, you don't want your identity stolen. It happened to a friend of mine. Just because they steal your credit cards doesn't mean they're going to pay the bills. I know it's something to joke about, but I hope to God it doesn't happen to me.

The previous store I worked at had us check for I.D. every time, for debit, credit and check. I actually liked the policy. How am I suppose to know if this lady didn't steal her husbands credit card to cheat him out of his money? That's why we have to check even if the cardholder is related to the person using it.

I'm not sure why so many people get upset about it. It's a policy. It doesn't inconvenience anyone. Why would you leave I.D. in your car or at home. Wouldn't you want it on your person all the time? I can't go anywhere without my I.D.

[Logan]

I am always happy when they ask for my i.d. or other verification information. Makes me feel like they are protecting me and themselves.
I had someone (my roommates friend) steal a bunch of my checks. They took them from the bottom of the stack in my desk so I wouldn't notice the missing numbers.
Fortunately it was right after I had paid all the monthly bills so there wasn't very much money in there so he was bouncing checks right away and so I was notified the next day. With the police report, all checks were cancelled and the money was returned to my account.

Unfortunately the stores probably didn't get their stuff (food) back or any money, so it makes sense for them to protect themselves.

[Pharmacy_psycho]

Actually, Retail Drone #37, someone did try and steal our identity once. They somehow got our SSN's and opened credit accounts in retail stores using our names. Only thing is, because I have an unusual name, they couldn't spell my name right, and because we had such a good history of paying our credit bills, they became suspicious when the bills weren't being paid and contacted whoever it was who handled this type of stuff, and they in turn, contacted us. We had to send copies of our signatures, driver's license, and certified letters stating that we hadn't opened accounts in the stores. We also notified the three credit reporting companies. The stores ended up being out about $400+/-, but I figure that if they opened up an account without checking for photo ID, they are partly to blame.

[Lepchin]

I can't even count the number of times this has happened. >.<

And lol at Megan's comment.

[t. money]

i feel fortunate to work a job that allows me my owm schedule. that way i can take a couple days off after bieng [ dumbassed out] . people think tattooing is all glorified and shit. you wouldnt believe the fucking idiots i deal with every day.