So the other day I went into Circuit City in Manhattan to buy a mouse. When I got home, I learned that the mouse didn’t work, so I went back into Circuit City to exchange it for another mouse that did work. I was explained this to “Robert”, a black employee. Robert asked me if I had the original packaging that the mouse came in. I said I did not. He said “We generally don’t let customers exchange products without a UPC, but we’ll go ahead and let you do it this time, go and get another mouse”. After picking another mouse, I was passed onto another black employee, “Sean”. I explained that I was exchanging the first mouse for the second mouse and Sean asked me “The first mouse don’t work?”. I told him that it didn’t and he told me that without the original box with the UPC he couldn’t exchange it for me. He told me to go home, and if I could find the box that it came in, he would exchange it. Now I could have told him that Robert already agreed to exchange it for me, but instead I asked to speak with a white member of customer service. I explained that there were obvious cultural differences and that I felt that my needs would be better served by someone of my own race. I tried to explain that “The first mouse don’t work?” wasn’t a proper sentence and if there were going to be so many problems for us to understand each other, I may not get the customer service I required. In the end, they exchanged the mouse for me. Was I being an asshole, or should Circuit City hire people who can speak proper English and know what company procedures are?
Yes, you were an asshole. Are you really expecting any support for that kind of behavior?
A raging asshole. And a racist, to boot.
Requesting a white employee after you had poor customer service from a black one? Who could object to that?
Oh, that’s right. Everyone.
Yes, you were.
Heck yes. You knew what “Sean”'s sentence meant, didn’t you? AND you had already met “Robert” who was actually willing to leave aside the normal company procedures for you and your mouse.
You actually asked to get to speak to a white assistant? Wow. I wonder if they will want you ever to go back to that shop.
An asshole beyond redemption I would suspect.
Yes.
A d-bag to boot.
Yeah, that’s the kind of story I would make up in a fit of ironic racism, to mock somebody.
No, you’re a fine upstanding gentleman.
Why, yes, you were.
OK I’ll bite, what exactly is wrong with this sentence? Should he have said “didn’t work”? But I think the present tense is OK too, with the implication that the mouse was and still is defective.
What do you mean by “company procedures”? Were the first two employees wrong in saying that the store’s policy is not to accept returns without the original packaging?
Anyway, even leaving aside that issue, it’s clear to me that you are a racist and an asshole. And if you think you may not be, you’re beyond help.
Sometimes a person that is stupid beyond repair might come across as an asshole. Sometimes someone is stupid beyond repair, and an asshole. I’m afraid it appears that you are the latter.
I don’t
You don’t
He/She/It doesn’t
Yep. In fact, if we look up “asshole” in the dictionary, your picture will be right there.
I would strongly suggest never visiting that store again. Or, in fact…any retail facility in the U.S.A. Also, I would advise against travelling to other countries outside of the United States.
Try tolerance…we all despise poor customer service, but really. You should consider yourself lucky that you exited the store without getting the crap beat out of you!
Moving asshole thread from IMHO to The BBQ Pit.
If you go into any big store you often find there’s a variance between what staff can/will allow. This is often to do with the fact that more senior staff have more autonomy. It can be confusing, annoying etc but has nothing to do with “race” per se.
FWIW If you had done the same thing in my store you’d have gained yourself some ridicule and maybe a well deserved kick in the arse.
Come on, clearly this thread is a whoosh. A stupid one, but there’s no way he can be serious… (I hope.)
I could probably have understood him if he were speaking in French, but I understand proper English a bit easier.
I have no idea what company procedure is, I don’t work for Circut City. I do feel that I received ambiguous answers from each of them. Why would one employee let me exchange the mouse while another employee wouldn’t? Where should the line be drawn to show exactly how incorrectly one can speak in a professional setting?
(I hope so too)