"Can I help you" is about as open-ended as it gets. And the coworker tried to help the crusty narrow down what she's looking for, just to get another spout of verbal abuse.

Well this may not be the popular opinion but why wouldn't they expect their money back? I know it's a pain but those are clearly a deffective product. Seriously I've paid less for umbrellas and had them last for at least one rainy season. I could also understand if it was something the customer could inspect the quality of but you can't look over an umbrellas metal bars and hinges inside of a sealed package.

@Katia whoa there why all the hate? I may not agree with the diatribe on umbrellas but the other lady was just a whack job.

I bought a $1 umbrella at the Dollar Tree that lasted for several months. I have a $4 umbrella that I bought at Ikea that I have had for 2 years now. And I live in an area that is prone to daily rain storms in the summer. So I can understand people being upset at spending $9 for an umbrella and it breaking and the first time out. If I worked there I would probably warm people that other customers have had problems with that brand, and that the store does not offer a money back for broken products so buyer beware. Though if it had happen to me, I would be ok with an exchange or store credit.

As for the other lady--I HATE those types. I don't know what I want, but I expect you to find it for me.

I really wish people would figure out how being psychic actually works before they go shitting all over it. Just because you're psychic doesn't mean you're a damn weather forecaster.

While $9 isn't exactly "cheap," I don't trust those small flimsy umbrellas at all.

Over the last summer, I was carrying a rather large golf umbrella with me at all times if there was even so much as a cloudy sky.

It's good that you're warning people about them and even exchanging them even with your store's "All Sales Final" policy.

@cashykat

I wish I lived in New York City. Sadly, I'm Cali boy and yes tourist hotspots gouge the prices.

@ Herdis, true, that is an open-ended question. I don't agree with her crazyness, but I will admit that I've been that vague about something before as a custy. There are just some people you shop for that you know want something different. I've gone up to a male associate at a store(when I was in my late teens) and pretty much asked "what does a teenage guy likely to buy here and like it?". I just have no idea how to shop for men, to this day.

@Skittles: It's not really hate. I read it as a total disdain for to anyone that's ever needed an umbrella in a pinch. It just bothers me. I'm in a city that gets lots of rain in winter. I've been w/o an umbrella and it starts to rain. You check the news in the morning and they tell you it won't rain today because the rain will start the next day, but no, it rains today. Also, if he works in a gift shop, then there's a chance that people are tourists. It makes sense that they won't know about local climates as much as a local would.

Believe me RHU! I hate these umbrellas with a passion! However, I don't make the rules or choose the products and I don't convince custys to buy them. That's their decision but if they ask me if the umbrellas are good, I'll be honest and tell them that no they're not and suggest to try another shop to see if there's anything sturdier. However, if they are in a rush and buy the gosh darn things I can't stop them! And again ALL SALES FINAL is the company's policy and I get in trouble if I break it so it's no win situation for everybody.

@ Nomnom

I'm not knocking psychics in general. I do believe people do have the "gift". I do however take issue with so called psychics who abuse their talents by cashing on them instead of helping others. Sylvia Browne is one especially when she flat out told the parents of Elizabeth Smart that their daughter was no longer alive when in fact she had been held captive by some psycho.

Though some mediums do aid in police work with criminal investigations, I resent the ones who make a fast buck (both fake and real) on guillible people. I knew someone who had the sixth sense but refused to talk about it due to the images they saw were frightening so obviously they wanted to keep it hush hush. I even met a woman in college who also had the same gift and was desperate for money so she got hired at one of those psychic hotlines. She quit after a couple days because she kept getting scary, evil vibes so yeah I would hate to be in their shoes and have demonic entitites haunting me.

Ugh. We sell these super-cheap pan sets at my store that are AWFUL, and for around the same price as that crappy umbrella. On Black Friday, those are our doorbuster special for about half off. People come in looking to buy pans, see the fantastic top of the line sets with lifetime warranty for $500 (it has like 12 pieces), and cringe. Then they go for the shitty set with 2 pieces because it's uber-cheap and they can use a stupid coupon. I'd sell them, but if people asked me if they were any good, I'd reply, "I'd buy this set if I wanted a pan to brain somebody." That's about all they were good for.
I read this story like that: QG has to stock and sell shitty merch. He wishes he had better merch to offer, but people keep going for the crap provided, and then he has to deal with the aftermath of it.

I like NC Tony's suggestion about the crazy lady and the psychic shopping together! Some people it seems need a psychic to help them shop.

Queer Geek, I don't know if I can keep up my internet crush on you. How dare you sully the name of a great 80's hit with Custys! Now whenever I hear the song I'll see old women in brown and orange paisley jackets instead of mostly naked hot men.

@Bitchy Barista

Though I like moron, I prefer morose as in I'm a morose retail slave who is whipped by the slave owners (the retail industry) like a 50 Shades of Grey submissive! *HARDER! FASTER! WOOHOO!* Ahem where was I, Oh and if the custy wants to take it further, that is what a manager is for.

The manager tells the custy the same thing and they can take it up with corporate if they so choose to. I don't make the rules. I simply follow them. Again businesses in the U.S. always find loopholes in the law and do they make exceptions and give the custys their money back? Absolutely. Do they also exploit their workers for profit? You betcha!

What do you think there's so many disgruntled American slaves that protest Walmart policies or slaves who petitioning against having their benefits cut due to the upcoming health care plan. Basically U.S. companies will find a way to make more profit at the expense of their workers and work around what ever consumer and labor laws that are out there.

Unfortunately, Bitchy Barista, the U.S. is facing one hell of an economic downturn and truthfully we are no longer the big financial power that we've been hyping over the decades. As more us of are lining up on the unemployment line, expect a trickling effect with our foreign allies being affected as well.

Be scared. Be very scared.

@Chicajojobe

Nicely put. I'm planning to post a more serious topic about competitive wages and health care so we can open up a discussion about the matter.

Wow!! People need to lighten the fuck up. Last time I checked, this was a site for workers to vent about their crappy customers, not be berated by uptight assholes.