Tales from the retail world...

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
At Blockbuster:

Me: You have a balance of $4.50
Customer: What!? That's impossible! I returned it on time!
Me: The computer shows this item being returned 3 days late.
Customer: Do you know who I am!? DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!!
Me: No, who the hell are you?
Customer: I want the number for your corporate office. I am going to call your CEO and have you and all your other managers fired.
Me: Here's the number, your total is $9 even.
Customer: Forget it, I'm never coming here again.


He sends his wife in now to pick up his movies. I still don't know who the hell this guy is. Spawn of Satan perhaps?

on the flipside, i went into a BB a few months back, and i gave the girl (who also happened to be a manager) a movie to check in. There was no one else in the store, so i wanted her to scan it in to make sure the movie was returned properly, because the last time i dumped it in the slot they said it was late/lost until they discovered it sitting on their table....

Anyways, the girl refused to check it in, she was on the phone, it turned out to be the cops, but still, come on it takes two seconds to check a video in, she spent 5 minutes arguing with me about checking the movie in and what not when she could have just scanned it in...wtf. pissed me off...

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: xospec1alk
...
Anyways, the girl refused to check it in, she was on the phone, it turned out to be the cops, but still, come on it takes two seconds to check a video in, she spent 5 minutes arguing with me about checking the movie in and what not when she could have just scanned it in...wtf. pissed me off...

I do that at the library now, ever since they accused me of not bringing something back, which they later found on their shelf. At least they're a bit more understanding and polite about it.

 

[broon]

The bicycle shop I was working at was going out of business. It was the last day ever with only five minutes to go. During our going out of business sale we sold tools (mostly to the employees), work benches, bike stands, etc. Since we were about to shut down for good, most of our tools and repair supplies (tubes/tires/cables) were gone. This lady drags her bike to the shop area and says she had her tube fixed recently and it's already flat. One of us checked the computer and found that it had been over a month since she had the repair, not to mention tubes aren't guaranteed anyway.

So we're standing around with five minutes to go in our employment and she demands we replace her tube. We look around at the empty shop and at each other.
Me: "Ma'am, we're closing in five minutes...going out of business. I don't have any tools or tubes to help you with".
Her: "But it's good business."
Me: "In five minutes these doors will be shut, never to open again. I don't care because there is no business."
Her: "But it's good business."

It's all I can do not to laugh at her.
After a couple of exchanges like this, I look around and we have an old tube half inflated hanging on the peg board.

Me: "This is all I can do for you. You can have this, but you'll have to put it on your self somewhere else."

She snatched it out of my hand and stormed out. I followed behind her and locked the door for the last time.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Wow.......................

 

[Kenazo]

Back when I worked at sears I had this old guy come up to me and just start going on about nothing. Couldn't get rid of him either, but what really made me laugh was the following rant from him:

"So, I have a sister who is a nurse in Toronto, there's all sorts of gays down there. one time some came into her emergency room and they'd been sticking their fists in their asses and one was stuck, so they came into the ER with one's hand up the other guys ass..."

Now imagine an 80 year old man you don't even know telling you this and it was funny as hell.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
Back when I worked at sears I had this old guy come up to me and just start going on about nothing. Couldn't get rid of him either, but what really made me laugh was the following rant from him:

"So, I have a sister who is a nurse in Toronto, there's all sorts of gays down there. one time some came into her emergency room and they'd been sticking their fists in their asses and one was stuck, so they came into the ER with one's hand up the other guys ass..."

Now imagine an 80 year old man you don't even know telling you this and it was funny as hell.

he sounded a little too enthused about that lol

 

[irwincur]

God I miss retail. Makes me look forward many years to retirement - I may have to get a part time hob again.

 

[broon]

I agree that having worked retail I have more consideration for others now. If it's almost closing time, I'll get my stuff to the register even if I'm not finished shopping. If it's five minutes before the place opens, I'm sitting in my car waiting until it's time...not knocking on the door just because I see movement inside.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: djheater
I have a little bit of an anger problem sometimes.

OMG It's Gord!! :Q

I was thinking the same thing

Yeah pretty much. Retail hobby stores attract the most ridiculous people...

I had a guy who used to call me once a month or so with bizarre questions, but those were always pretty fun to field.
"So... who would win in a fight? Justice League or the X-men"
"So... If the Enterprise was in a fight with a Star Destroyer... who would win?"...

I always asked him particulars... like "Which X-men team"... "What class Enterprise and Star Destroyer?"

 

[broon]

Originally posted by: djheater
Yeah pretty much. Retail hobby stores attract the most ridiculous people...

I had a guy who used to call me once a month or so with bizarre questions, but those were always pretty fun to field.
"So... who would win in a fight? Justice League or the X-men"
"So... If the Enterprise was in a fight with a Star Destroyer... who would win?"...

I always asked him particulars... like "Which X-men team"... "What class Enterprise and Star Destroyer?"

We were directory assistance for one guy. "Where do I rent an trailer and what's their number?"

 

[MaverickBP]

We all have a little more understanding for retail because of our experiences..but because of them we also know what things aren't associated with retail but with person your dealing with. somethings just cannot be ignored. you know where im going with this. the popular words associated with retail kids...ignorance, lazy. spoiled, clueless, unappreciative, etc...

i hate asking for something i KNOW they sell..and be told they dont sell it. If your not sure or just lazy...just tell me
i hate asking for a location of something..and getting a finger pointing to a section that covers 25% of the store.
i hate asking for help and getting told to hold on while some girl finishes talking to her g/f's on the phone about some HOT GUY
i hate someone trying to convince me i NEED to sign up for something..take a hint when i say no thanks
i hate stores that float there workers around so much that no one has any fukin idea what an item is or where it's location is
i hate talking to someone who's lazy and makes things up on the spot rather than moving from their register to assist

i could go on and on...

 

[broon]

I bought a digital camera that had a MIR and add a free memory card reader. I ask the guy which reader and if I have to buy the reader and do a MIR for that too?

Him: "I don't know"
Me: "Can you find out?"
Him: "Usually you pay now and do the MIR"
Me: "Can you find out?"
Him: "We have to ring it up first"
Me: "If I have to buy it and do MIR I want to buy the correct one with the MIR. Would you please find out?"
Him: "Just a sec..."

5 minutes later

Him: "I'm not sure"
Me: "Can you find out"
Him: "I think we have to ring it up first"
Me: "Can you ask a manager?"
Him: <sigh>"Just a sec..."

5 minutes later and I'm about ready to walk.

Him: "I think we have to ring it up"

By this time I'm red in the face but my wife takes over
Her: "Ring it up, we'll see"

All rung up.
Him: "Still doesn't say anything about the free reader. Usually you just get a MIR"
Me: "The sign says 'Free Card Reader with Purchase of Camera'. It doesn't say *MIR. It doesn't specify which reader. How am I going to do the MIR?"
Him: "I'm not sure"

Eventually the manager got involved and just gave us the reader because they still didn't know how to do the deal.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: Kenazo
Back when I worked at sears I had this old guy come up to me and just start going on about nothing. Couldn't get rid of him either, but what really made me laugh was the following rant from him:

"So, I have a sister who is a nurse in Toronto, there's all sorts of gays down there. one time some came into her emergency room and they'd been sticking their fists in their asses and one was stuck, so they came into the ER with one's hand up the other guys ass..."

Now imagine an 80 year old man you don't even know telling you this and it was funny as hell.

Were the patients' names Sonz70 and Jefferson?

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: broon
I bought a digital camera that had a MIR and add a free memory card reader. I ask the guy which reader and if I have to buy the reader and do a MIR for that too?

Him: "I don't know"
Me: "Can you find out?"
Him: "Usually you pay now and do the MIR"
Me: "Can you find out?"
Him: "We have to ring it up first"
Me: "If I have to buy it and do MIR I want to buy the correct one with the MIR. Would you please find out?"
Him: "Just a sec..."

5 minutes later

Him: "I'm not sure"
Me: "Can you find out"
Him: "I think we have to ring it up first"
Me: "Can you ask a manager?"
Him: <sigh>"Just a sec..."

5 minutes later and I'm about ready to walk.

Him: "I think we have to ring it up"

By this time I'm red in the face but my wife takes over
Her: "Ring it up, we'll see"

All rung up.
Him: "Still doesn't say anything about the free reader. Usually you just get a MIR"
Me: "The sign says 'Free Card Reader with Purchase of Camera'. It doesn't say *MIR. It doesn't specify which reader. How am I going to do the MIR?"
Him: "I'm not sure"

Eventually the manager got involved and just gave us the reader because they still didn't know how to do the deal.

you got alot more patience than i would've lol..i can picture you putting ur arms on the table and pressing down reallll hard.. and speaking with your teeth clenched!

 

[broon]

Originally posted by: MaverickBP
you got alot more patience than i would've lol..i can picture you putting ur arms on the table and pressing down reallll hard.. and speaking with your teeth clenched!

It was my wife. That and I wanted this 5 mp camera for $100.

 

[pclstyle]

Never worked in retail, but here's a friend's story.

I guess this was when the counterstrike retail pack was hot, $40 at best buy, and there was a whole shelf of them. CD keys were all important, so people would go out of their way to get hold of CD keys for their friends to use or sell. So, one kid comes in, hangs out by the software section for a bit, and comes up to the front. Lays a copy of the retail package on the table. Note, this is when boxes were still large, not 1/3 sized as they are now.

Friend picks up the box, is about to scan it, then stops. Shakes it a little, weighs it in his palm, checks to see the seal is intact, and says "what the hell?" The kid in front of him is obviously becoming increasingly nervous by the second, and he can see him mentally debating whether to bolt for it or stick around and hope for the best. My friend, curious by nature, pops the seal, opens up the box, and discovers no less than 9 copies of counterstrike, cd keys stuck right on to the jewel cases. At this point, the kid is panicking, and my friend is still in shock. The kid recovers faster, and very unconvincingly, says "wow that's crazy". Guard comes over, they head over to the software section, and discover 8 surprisingly light counterstrike boxes, which obviously turn out to be empty. They still neatly shelved in a row, seals intact. Kid sticks by his "that's crazy" story, until camera recordings warrant a search, and they find a sheet of seals rolled up in his pocket. No idea how he got a hold of legit seals, but he obviously came prepared.

Needless to say, he was arrested, CDs were returned to their boxes, and sealed again with the culprit's own sheet of seals.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: pclstyle
Never worked in retail, but here's a friend's story.

I guess this was when the counterstrike retail pack was hot, $40 at best buy, and there was a whole shelf of them. CD keys were all important, so people would go out of their way to get hold of CD keys for their friends to use or sell. So, one kid comes in, hangs out by the software section for a bit, and comes up to the front. Lays a copy of the retail package on the table. Note, this is when boxes were still large, not 1/3 sized as they are now.

Friend picks up the box, is about to scan it, then stops. Shakes it a little, weighs it in his palm, checks to see the seal is intact, and says "what the hell?" The kid in front of him is obviously becoming increasingly nervous by the second, and he can see him mentally debating whether to bolt for it or stick around and hope for the best. My friend, curious by nature, pops the seal, opens up the box, and discovers no less than 9 copies of counterstrike, cd keys stuck right on to the jewel cases. At this point, the kid is panicking, and my friend is still in shock. The kid recovers faster, and very unconvincingly, says "wow that's crazy". Guard comes over, they head over to the software section, and discover 8 surprisingly light counterstrike boxes, which obviously turn out to be empty. They still neatly shelved in a row, seals intact. Kid sticks by his "that's crazy" story, until camera recordings warrant a search, and they find a sheet of seals rolled up in his pocket. No idea how he got a hold of legit seals, but he obviously came prepared.

Needless to say, he was arrested, CDs were returned to their boxes, and sealed again with the culprit's own sheet of seals.

Wow. Just... wow.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: pclstyle
Never worked in retail, but here's a friend's story.

I guess this was when the counterstrike retail pack was hot, $40 at best buy, and there was a whole shelf of them. CD keys were all important, so people would go out of their way to get hold of CD keys for their friends to use or sell. So, one kid comes in, hangs out by the software section for a bit, and comes up to the front. Lays a copy of the retail package on the table. Note, this is when boxes were still large, not 1/3 sized as they are now.

Friend picks up the box, is about to scan it, then stops. Shakes it a little, weighs it in his palm, checks to see the seal is intact, and says "what the hell?" The kid in front of him is obviously becoming increasingly nervous by the second, and he can see him mentally debating whether to bolt for it or stick around and hope for the best. My friend, curious by nature, pops the seal, opens up the box, and discovers no less than 9 copies of counterstrike, cd keys stuck right on to the jewel cases. At this point, the kid is panicking, and my friend is still in shock. The kid recovers faster, and very unconvincingly, says "wow that's crazy". Guard comes over, they head over to the software section, and discover 8 surprisingly light counterstrike boxes, which obviously turn out to be empty. They still neatly shelved in a row, seals intact. Kid sticks by his "that's crazy" story, until camera recordings warrant a search, and they find a sheet of seals rolled up in his pocket. No idea how he got a hold of legit seals, but he obviously came prepared.

Needless to say, he was arrested, CDs were returned to their boxes, and sealed again with the culprit's own sheet of seals.

pimpin it early...kids got skillz :thumbsup:

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: pclstyle
Never worked in retail, but here's a friend's story.

I guess this was when the counterstrike retail pack was hot, $40 at best buy, and there was a whole shelf of them. CD keys were all important, so people would go out of their way to get hold of CD keys for their friends to use or sell. So, one kid comes in, hangs out by the software section for a bit, and comes up to the front. Lays a copy of the retail package on the table. Note, this is when boxes were still large, not 1/3 sized as they are now.

Friend picks up the box, is about to scan it, then stops. Shakes it a little, weighs it in his palm, checks to see the seal is intact, and says "what the hell?" The kid in front of him is obviously becoming increasingly nervous by the second, and he can see him mentally debating whether to bolt for it or stick around and hope for the best. My friend, curious by nature, pops the seal, opens up the box, and discovers no less than 9 copies of counterstrike, cd keys stuck right on to the jewel cases. At this point, the kid is panicking, and my friend is still in shock. The kid recovers faster, and very unconvincingly, says "wow that's crazy". Guard comes over, they head over to the software section, and discover 8 surprisingly light counterstrike boxes, which obviously turn out to be empty. They still neatly shelved in a row, seals intact. Kid sticks by his "that's crazy" story, until camera recordings warrant a search, and they find a sheet of seals rolled up in his pocket. No idea how he got a hold of legit seals, but he obviously came prepared.

Needless to say, he was arrested, CDs were returned to their boxes, and sealed again with the culprit's own sheet of seals.

Lol - at least he put some forethought and effort into it. He could've probably gotten away with it if he had only put 1 or 2 and not eight extra CDs in there.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: djheater

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: djheater
I have a little bit of an anger problem sometimes.

OMG It's Gord!! :Q

I was thinking the same thing

Yeah pretty much. Retail hobby stores attract the most ridiculous people...

I had a guy who used to call me once a month or so with bizarre questions, but those were always pretty fun to field.
"So... who would win in a fight? Justice League or the X-men"
"So... If the Enterprise was in a fight with a Star Destroyer... who would win?"...

I always asked him particulars... like "Which X-men team"... "What class Enterprise and Star Destroyer?"

That would actually be kind of amusing, atleast he's not trying to shoplift or insulting you.

 

[PawNtheSandman]

Here is one from my early days at the Depot.

Well groomed white middle class business type looking man comes in the store and asks how to apply for a job. I bring him to the computer kiosk where he can fill out his application.

Him: "I want to talk to the manager before I apply."
Me: "Sure, he is the gentleman right there."

I point towards the store manager who is African-American.

Him: "Him?"
Me: "Yup"
Him: "The black guy?"
Me: "Yes"

Him: "Forget it, I don't want to work for no n**g**"

He turned around and walked out the store never to be seen again.


While I found this whole incident hilarious (because the woman at returns heard the whole thing and we had a good laugh), it is pretty discouraging when you realize there are still people out there who think it is 1940. And this is NY. If I was working in Alabama or Mississippi, I would expect it, but New York??? WTF?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: PawNtheSandman
Here is one from my early days at the Depot.

Well groomed white middle class business type looking man comes in the store and asks how to apply for a job. I bring him to the computer kiosk where he can fill out his application.
...
He turned around and walked out the store never to be seen again.


While I found this whole incident hilarious (because the woman at returns heard the whole thing and we had a good laugh), it is pretty discouraging when you realize there are still people out there who think it is 1940. And this is NY. If I was working in Alabama or Mississippi, I would expect it, but New York??? WTF?

Well, there's a guy that lost a job opportunity.

 

[MaverickBP]

Originally posted by: PawNtheSandman
Here is one from my early days at the Depot.

Well groomed white middle class business type looking man comes in the store and asks how to apply for a job. I bring him to the computer kiosk where he can fill out his application.

Him: "I want to talk to the manager before I apply."
Me: "Sure, he is the gentleman right there."

I point towards the store manager who is African-American.

Him: "Him?"
Me: "Yup"
Him: "The black guy?"
Me: "Yes"

Him: "Forget it, I don't want to work for no n**g**"

He turned around and walked out the store never to be seen again.


While I found this whole incident hilarious (because the woman at returns heard the whole thing and we had a good laugh), it is pretty discouraging when you realize there are still people out there who think it is 1940. And this is NY. If I was working in Alabama or Mississippi, I would expect it, but New York??? WTF?

stories like that sadden me...such ignorance

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: pclstyle
Never worked in retail, but here's a friend's story.

I guess this was when the counterstrike retail pack was hot, $40 at best buy, and there was a whole shelf of them. CD keys were all important, so people would go out of their way to get hold of CD keys for their friends to use or sell. So, one kid comes in, hangs out by the software section for a bit, and comes up to the front. Lays a copy of the retail package on the table. Note, this is when boxes were still large, not 1/3 sized as they are now.

Friend picks up the box, is about to scan it, then stops. Shakes it a little, weighs it in his palm, checks to see the seal is intact, and says "what the hell?" The kid in front of him is obviously becoming increasingly nervous by the second, and he can see him mentally debating whether to bolt for it or stick around and hope for the best. My friend, curious by nature, pops the seal, opens up the box, and discovers no less than 9 copies of counterstrike, cd keys stuck right on to the jewel cases. At this point, the kid is panicking, and my friend is still in shock. The kid recovers faster, and very unconvincingly, says "wow that's crazy". Guard comes over, they head over to the software section, and discover 8 surprisingly light counterstrike boxes, which obviously turn out to be empty. They still neatly shelved in a row, seals intact. Kid sticks by his "that's crazy" story, until camera recordings warrant a search, and they find a sheet of seals rolled up in his pocket. No idea how he got a hold of legit seals, but he obviously came prepared.

Needless to say, he was arrested, CDs were returned to their boxes, and sealed again with the culprit's own sheet of seals.

I hate when I got to the used game section, and they have games with just the jewel cases for sale. Nevermind that by nature the used games cd key might not work anymore, its not even covered up so its probably been copied down like 500 times already.

 

[MaverickBP]

when i use to work at a store that rhymed with target...i actually had a couple people try and get something from our store..find it was out of stock..and ask me to call walmart to check and see if they got it in stock...stupid