# Customer Service Horror Stories? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 20, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671 "2002-11-20T02:03:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/21 "2002-11-21T04:13:58Z")
“The stupid-ass lumber yard shut down due to poor sales.” Gee…I wonder why… Heheh ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/22 "2002-11-21T08:42:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rostfrei \* > **I had just come back from two weeks in Germany and took my 20 rolls of film to the local Wal-mart to be developed. A few days later, I went to the photo desk at the store to pick up my photos. > What happened then horrified and disgusted me.** You had 20 rolls of film, from a trip to Germany, and you took them to Walmart? I’m already horrified and disgusted. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/23 "2002-11-21T13:04:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SisterCoyote \* > \*\*See, I’d think Ashleigh Brilliant. But that’s just me. > > You want to urinate on their manager? :eek: > > [sub](I have my own problems from Kmart, based on my experience working for their suppliers rather than as a customer. Still, though, peeing on the guy seems a little extreme…)[/sub] \*\* Don’t try to stop me. I have a full bladder and I’m not afraid to use it! ---
**Author:** ![Khan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3ab097/32.png) [@Khan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/24 "2002-11-21T14:16:19Z")
During my first attempt to quit smoking about a year and a half ago, I went to the grocery store to get some more nicorette. They keep the packages in a locked display case, so one has to go up to the customer service counter and ask for a manager to come open it. The supermarket in question seems to employ students for about 90% of their cashiers. At the counter that shift were two girls, one of whom was most likely about 16 and was the type who apparently go to great lengths to make themselves look cute in the infantile sense–much like Baby Spice from the days of yore. The other I knew to be a friend of a friend of my younger sister. I asked my sister’s friend of a friend if she could get the manager to come with the keys so I could get at the case. Call me paranoid, but the other girl, to my amusement and contempt, gives me this unmistakable look of revulsion and almost FEAR at the mention of nicorette, as if to say, “Ewww, you actually SMOKE?” And called for the manager over the PA. After I’d picked up my quarry and the other girl was ringing it up, “sweetie-pie” gave me that look again. Yeah, babe, I used to SMOKE. Oh yeah. You’d think she wouldn’t be so repulsed considering that I was trying to quit. I can only imagine the expression on her face if she had seen me light up after I’d relapsed. ---
**Author:** ![80sHairMetalMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ed655f/32.png) [@80sHairMetalMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/80sHairMetalMaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/25 "2002-11-21T16:16:23Z")
You wouldn’t believe the number of wierd looks I get when I go into a bookstore and buy manga. Usually it’s this: Cashier:You actually read these? Me: Um…yeah. C: Like,um,why? Me:Because I enjoy them.Don’t you enjoy reading? C:Um…like yeah sometimes.But these are COMIC BOOKS!Comic books are like for little kids and stuff. M:Um…no.These are MANGA which are different from comic books. C:Oh…so you still want them? M:Well yes. Why is it so hard to comprehend that an adult would like to read a manga? I mean really? Ugh!:smack: IDBB ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/26 "2002-11-21T16:23:51Z")
Important question: Which manga are you reading? You’ll get no beef from me on most of them, but DBZ on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/27 "2002-11-21T17:14:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dippin dots \* > \*\*Once, I was picking up pictures at WalMart, and the woman working there asked me if my parents were on drugs when they named me. \*\* Holy crap, I can’t imagine saying that to someone I didn’t know (and then only jokingly). I run across a lot of unusual names from various countries at my job, and the most I’ll say is “Wow, that’s a cool name” or a sympathetic “You must have to spell that out for people a lot.” I haven’t received too much horrible customer service that I can remember, but I have heard of some being dealt out at the Starbucks store my ex-coworker transferred to. Things like two employees arguing _in front of the customer_ who had to ring him up. “I don’t want to. You do it.” “No, you ring him up. I’m tired.” My shocked friend immediately took over and helped the gentleman herself. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/28 "2002-11-21T17:56:11Z")
There was an incident in the Barnes & Nobel on 17th Street in New York City where a homeless person left their cart in the vestible. I was in the store at the time, dressed in my usually NYC funky clothes. The salesperson came up to me and said “You cannot leave your cart in the vestible.” I informed him it was not my cart. Five minutes later, the manager comes up to me and says “You cannot leave your cart in the vestible.” I said very loudly “I already went over this with your salesman. That is NOT MY CART. Why would you even think that?” Security came over and asked what is the problem. I spit out “Two of your people have told me to move that cart and it is not even mine. I’m leaving now, I am not taking the cart, and I’m never coming into your store again.” And I did. This is a bookstore located five blocks from the Strand. You think they would be trying to get customers. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/29 "2002-11-21T18:12:21Z")
I was picking up a prescription for Ivylad for his back at Eckerd’s. It was early in the morning, and there was no one else there. There were three pharmacy technicians. I had been waiting about twenty minutes when one of them decided to purchase some gum so he could take money out of his account at the ATM at the register. Apparently, this stumped him, so the other two went over to help him. Meanwhile, I’m standing there in an empty story, while they joke with him about how dumb he is. I finally snap. “My husband has been in pain all night. I have been waiting for twenty minutes. Would one of you please go fill the God damned prescription!” Silence. One of them slunk off, filled the prescription, and I paid and left. Jesus, people. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/30 "2002-11-21T23:45:48Z")
Just yesterday, bye golly. In fact, I was thinking of starting a Pit thread about it. I went to a game resale shop that sells second-hand PS2, N64, and so on, titles. I had my notepad and pen with me, making a list of games I want so Mrs. Rastahomie will know what to get me for Christmas. The guy behind the counter rushes out and says, “Hey what are you doing! You can’t just write down our prices!” Like hell I can’t. You’d think that any retailer in this city would be glad to see a customer making a list, especially with Christmas around the corner and whatnot. And besides, if there’s something about their prices that’s **really** secret, then maybe there’s something about their business that’s not on the level. Hmmmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/31 "2002-11-22T00:05:09Z")
**rastahomie** , the store might have had a problem with competitors who are comparison shopping so that their prices stay lower than the store you were in. Not saying that excuses his presumptive and rude behavior, but that would be my guess. I think I heard (pure rumor here) that Wal-Mart will have security escort out any competitor shoppers they catch writing down prices. What’d he say after you said you were making a Christmas list? ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/32 "2002-11-22T01:17:11Z")
The process to get your drivers’ license here (I’d just moved from another state) means that you have to go thorugh at least 6 lines: 1. The hand in your form line. 1’. The same line again when you get sent back to the end 'cause you haven’t filed in the form completely/correctly (there’s a back side that needs filing out). 2. The wait until your name is called then pay (cash or check only!) line. 3. The take the eye test line. 4. The wait until your name is called and then pick up your assigned computer # to take your “written” test line. 5. The get your photo taken line. 6. The wait until your name is called (again!) and then pick up your license line. And this is since they “privatized” it. All these lines are along one large counter with a large open space behind it the employee’s work/office areas - and a common waiting area in front. Anyway, on the day I was there, sometime between Line 3 and Line 4, one of the employees who must have been out on maternity leave comes in to the “behind the counter” area with her new baby - obviously for the first time. And what happens? Work stops, everything stops, all lines are halted, and all the emplyeess proceed to stand around one desk in the open area and HAVE A LITTLE PARTY. Every single employee in the place just stops what they’re doing, they have juice and cake for 15-20 minutes while all us “customers” are just standing there incredulously, waiting, waiting, waiting… No explaination, no discussion of how long they were going to have their little get-together, no trading off - having a couple people at a time keep working while the others take turns oooh-ing and aaah-ing. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the get-together itself I found shocking. (I run a very family-friendly employer, and just this week one of my employees has returned to work (part time) after having a baby (her timeframe, not mine) and brings her infant with her each day. I encourage this, JUST NOT IN FRONT OF CUSTOMERS.) It was the audacity of doing it in full view and with no regard to the _dozens_ of people waiting. At least they could have- -had it in one of the offices out of site, -taken turns, as mentioned above, -done it before/after work or during lunch, or -at a minimum, explained to people how long they were going to be taking off. But it was the DMV, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Not all these organizations deserve their reputation, I’m sure, but this one does. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/33 "2002-11-22T01:40:37Z")
> [@](#): > > And this is since they “privatized” it. Ah, **private** -ized. Why is anybody surprised when **private** -ization turns out to result in bad service? I mean, they tell you right up front that they’re going to **dick** you over, right? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/34 "2002-11-22T22:09:30Z")
I’m guessing that **wireless** is in NJ- NJ was even worse before privatization. Echh! DMV… ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/35 "2002-11-22T22:23:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wonko The Sane \* > \*\*I’m guessing that **wireless** is in NJ- NJ was even worse before privatization. > > Echh! DMV… \*\* Yup, you got it in one! But _worse_? What did they do _before_ privatization, have 10 different lines and just sit behind the counter, drink beer and point and laugh at you? ---
**Author:** ![CthulhuSpawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@CthulhuSpawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CthulhuSpawn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/36 "2002-11-22T23:25:34Z")
> [@](#): > > You wouldn’t believe the number of wierd looks I get when I go into a bookstore and buy manga. I believe it. I like horror movies. I’m also female and a bit older (_cough\*\*cough_) than the stereotypical audience. I’m also quite ‘normal’ in appearance (I keep the tentacles well hidden when out in public…) I picked up the DVD of Fulci’s _Zombie_ in Best Buy one day. For those who don’t know, this DVD features a lovely rotting corpse on the cover. The cashier was an elderly man who obviously had trouble reconciling the image of the maggoty zombie with who he thought I should be. “Oh come on now lady!” he exclaimed to the store and loudly pondered why I’d want to watch such stuff. I just glared and left. I wish now I’d gone the manager. The idjit is still there, so perhaps I’ll get the opportunity in the future. But then, Best Buy could be a topic for a rant thread all on itself. Damn them and their cheap DVDs… ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/37 "2002-11-22T23:27:10Z")
Ah yes, the DMV. I remember long ago when I went with a friend of mine to get her license. We were waiting in a line, which thank god, was moving, and moving and moving. So I think to my inexperienced naiive teenaged self “Wow! This is great! The DMV isn’t as bad as everyone says!” I said it to myself as to not tempt fate. Unfortuantly, the DMV gods happen to be mind-readers as well. We get to the front of the line. The woman manning our line got up and walked out of sight. I figure she’s going to ask a supervisor something, perhaps use the restroom (although telling us what she was doing or how long she would be gone would have been nice…) so we wait. And wait. And wait. 20 minutes pass, then 30… The people in line with us start talking to eachother, loudly wondering where the lady went. So I ask the lady manning the line next to ours “excuse me, but is she coming back?” She glares at me. “Yeah?” in an you-stupid-little-bitch-how-dare-you-even-dare-to-speak-to-my-DMV-working-I-own-your-ass-self voice. Then proceeds to ignore me. Alrighty then. Perhaps a little prying is in order. “Do you know when?” I ask. “In about 20 more minutes!” she huffs. Ooookay. 20 more minutes at that point would be an hour. Now I’m pissed. “What’s she doing?” I ask. “Eating her lunch” she spits. “So…she can just leave, not tell anyone where she’s going and let us stand here and wait for her for an hour?” I ask. “Well, she told US.” she smirks. “She doesn’t have a replacement that can cover her for an hour?” I ask. She then walks over and glares down at me. (She was a rather large woman). “She’s entitled by LAW to take a lunch, do YOU have a job?” she asks. “Why yes I do! Which I’m taking time off of to be with my friend here, while she takes her test because no one else could drive her. Of course, I may be fired now because I’ll probably be extremely late to work today because I spent an extra hour standing here while your coworker takes a nice long lunch and abandons her station without getting a replacement!” To this, she responds “that’s too bad” and turns away from me to continue with her customer. Un-fucking-believable. At that point I had to leave my friend and wait outside before I jumped over the counter and beat the living shit out of that woman. Almost 10 years later and I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Now I have to go somewhere and take some deep breaths… ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/38 "2002-11-22T23:54:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by I\_Dig\_Bad\_Boys \* > \*\* > > Why is it so hard to comprehend that an adult would like to read a manga? I mean really? > > IDBB \*\* Because they’re comic books? ::D&R:: I hate stores that don’t honor their rebates or don’t have the right price in the register. However, sometimes if you just look through a stack of CDs at places like Best Buy, there are the same CDs in the back of the stack, with about three or four bucks knocked off of 'em. They don’t catch those things when they jack up the prices on new inventory. It always rings up wrong on the register, but as the price is on the CD, they just write a hand receipt. Sometimes incompetence on the part of a business pays off. ---
**Author:** ![Quonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ed655f/32.png) [@Quonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quonk)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/39 "2002-11-23T01:14:02Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Max Harvey_ > **My pet peeve is when I get this: > Me: Could you check to see if my order is ready, please? Here’s my invoice. > Clerk: (rudely) We don’t have anything for you. > Me: \ > Clerk: Just kidding! I’ll go check. > They don’t actually think that’s amusing, do they?** Yeah. I was buying a drink and placed my order, to which the employee responded, “No, sorry, we’re all out.” Me: “Okay, then could I have…” Employee: “DUDE, I was just kidding, chill out! [exchanges high five with other employee] SOMEBODY needs a sense of humor.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671/40 "2002-11-23T02:58:28Z")
A couple of years ago, right before Christmas, I was finishing my shopping and was in a store, let’s call it Natural \*onders. So, because it was right before Christmas, there was a line and I had to wait and the mall was packed, etc., etc., etc. I pay for everything and the cashier puts everything into a paper bag, no handles. So I ask for a bag with handles, she looks under the counter and tells me they’re out. As she says this, the cashier next to her reaches under the counter and pulls out a bag with handles for the customer she rang up. So I give the girl a look and say (snottily, I admit), “Can I have one of those?” “Well, we’re saving them.” What the fuck for, douchebag? The customers? Oh, that’s right, I’M a customer. Stupid twat. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/customer-service-horror-stories/137671.md?page=3)