From RHUer

I was working in the electronics department, ringing up various customers. A little old lady comes storming up to my register.

Wondering what kind of tantrum I'm going to have to deal with, I ask politely, “Can I Help You?”

She says, “No but I want you to know that I have stood in this department for twenty minutes and was not helped! There are employees playing with their phones instead of helping the customers!" And she points to a group of teens.

Okay two things... One, this old lady has been in the department for FIVE minutes, not twenty. I was helping another customer and acknowledged her and let her know that I'd help her asap. She had ignored me.

Two, the teens aren't employees, they're regular ordinary teens. They're fairly frequently in our store; they come in, hang out, fiddle with their phones, laugh amongst themselves and wander off again about an hour later. They're not disruptive, and they don't get in the way much; they just sort of automatically drift to a new spot whenever someone shows an interest in the stuff they may be blocking with their bodies. Loss Prevention eyed them on the security feed a couple of times, but their entire hour is always spent innocently and without trying to steal or mess up anything. As far as LP is concerned, they're harmless. As far as I'm concerned, we're all cool, because I don't have to clean up after them.

"Erm, ma'am, those aren't employees. They're customers. Now, is there anything you would like me to help you with?"

She huffs, she puffs and she scowls, "No, I don't. I am not going to waste my time here in this God forsaken store anymore. I am never walking in here again!" And she storms off.

It must suck being wrong, when you're making wild assumptions. Felicia, I say unto thee, "Goodbye."

--RHUer