Crikey The General Public Are Idiots

[Barmaid]

I just had to nip up to a local shop (which has a post office bit), to post a recorded delivery letter. The woman in front of me in the queue was obnoxious and completely out of order. I do wonder why some people are like this. Scenario follows:-

Customer asks for a form and is given it. Then asks for a pen. She is also given it but told "That's my only pen, I can't let you take it away because I might need it for the next customer".
"Why can't I take it away"
"well its my only pen
And I may need it for the next customer”
“HOW DARE YOU I AM A CUSTOMER”
“You might be a customer, but you should have brought your own pen” (I was inwardly laughing at this point).
“YOU JUST CHUCKED THE Fluffing PEN AT ME”
“no I didn’t I passed it to you and told you it was my only pen and I may need it for my next customer. Please do not use that language with me”.
I AM A CUSTOMER I NEED A PEN, HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT – THIS LADY MIGHT NOT NEED A PEN (looks at me at which point I say “Don’t bring me into this love, I don’t need a pen, but there’s no need to be rude”)
The post office lady is by this point looking a little flustered.
The “customer” then continues with her rant and states “Right I want to see your manager NOW, you have discriminated against me and you have been rude blah blah blah blah”.

I was VERY embarrassed. I felt so sorry for the lady behind the counter and have subsequently phoned the shop and spoken to the manager and told her that her staff member was acting in a professional manner under extenuating circumstances.

Jeez, how can people get so bloody stroppy over a pen For Funks Sake.

You've got to have some sympathy for people who serve the public when the public are rude stupid oiks. Since when was it the local shop's duty to provide pens? Had I actually had my handbag with me, I'd have given her a soddin pen.

[Barmaid]

She wasn't the least bit condescending 237 - had she been I'd had stood in the customer's defence. This customer was nasty and unpleasant. I have since spoken at length to the Manager of the store who (by her questions and nothing else) indicates to me that the Customer has made some unfounded and serious allegations.

So that lady's job is potentially at risk due to one customer kicking off and not getting precisely what she wanted.

It's a bit sad really.

[237SJ]

I had a businessman at work who asked to borrow a pen. He was a big roughty, toughty guy from New Jersey. I know they`ve got pens but they can`t be bothered to get them out of their bag. My colleague had a pen which he had bought for just such a purpose. It was called "Princess Pen". It was in the form of a ballerina. The pointed toes were the ball point part and at the top there were pink fluffly feathers. I handed it to the guy with a flourish and said "Your pen, Sir". His face was a picture. He won`t do that again, that`s for sure.

[anneasquith]

obviously a very rude customer, but I would think pens for customer use in a post office would be expected.

[Maydup]

I agree with you Anne, i wouldn't be rude, but I would expect the Post Office to be able to lend me a pen. no need to tell me its their only one, just quietly nip to the shop section while I'm completing the form and collect another couple of their cheapest pens.

[boxtops]

We don't have pens laid out for customers in our post office, if they did people would nick 'em - in the bank, they are chained to the counter. What an obnoxious customer. Almost as if she was making a fuss for the benefit of the rest of the queue. A few Boos would have been in order, BM.

[237SJ]

I still think that the server was gunning for an arguement by saying "That`s my only pen ...and you should have brought your own pen". If someone said that to me, I would be quite offended. Maybe she should redirect her energies towards getting pens provided for customers and then she wouldn`t get into any arguements which would make her and her customers' lives a little bit easier.