# Dear Customer, You're no longer welcome in our stores. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694 "2003-07-15T16:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/21 "2003-07-16T02:38:27Z")
I deliver pizza. I can’t tell you how many times I have delivered a freebie that was to replace a “wrong pizza” and the person opening the door is munching on the pizza they complained was wrong.( So wrong they required the RIGHT pizza RIGHT now!) Usually there are a dozen people in the house… all waiting for more pizza. I had a manager once tell a person that is was" not statistically possible for us to mess up your order EVERY time. Yes, we do make mistakes but not every time. So no I wont refund your order." ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/22 "2003-07-16T03:00:30Z")
At a medical clinic I worked in long ago, not only did we tell some people to leave and not come back, but we called the police regularly on some of them. Our clinic was not a drunk tank, thank you very much. Passing out in the waiting room was not welcome at all. Although, come to think of it, the passed out ones were less trouble than the ones still (barely) standing and bothering the staff. As for the OP, you must really be a huge pain in the ass to get yourself banned from a chain of department stores. They don’t think they deserved banning? Colour me surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/23 "2003-07-16T03:53:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*The problem with the people who say, “I’m never coming back!” is that they usually don’t follow through. > > One of our managers once had someone say that to her and replied, “Good!” \*\* Nope! We threw a guy out of the store where I used to work once and he threw a big tantrum, he was never coming back, we’d be sorry. Three weeks later, he was back. And there are chronic returners everywhere. At the bookstore I worked at, it was computer books. People would buy and return $70-80 computer books all the time cause they “Uh, got the wrong one.” But that’s what Loss Prevention is for. And some of them did get letters. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/24 "2003-07-16T04:20:32Z")
When I worked for my father as an inside sales rep, this woman came in and was ripping me another asshole because “we suck.” Luckily I kept my cool (most Dopers know I can fly off the handle pretty quickly and can be a most unreasonable sort) and my father’s office was right next to my desk. It was all I could do to NOT jump across my desk and strangle the living shit out of the woman, literally, I was so close. My dad comes out after about 2 minutes of this woman reaming me a nice round and new asshole that my father came out, calmly asked the woman to leave and never return. The office erupted in cheers because there is no reasoning with people like her (and sometimes me.) We all have bad days but this woman just unleashed on me. I had nothing to do with her problems and she choose the wrong person to mess with. That’s the nice thing about working for a private corporation rather than government, the management can tell the customer to leave and never come back, suckahs. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/25 "2003-07-16T04:43:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Please keep your racial slurs to yourself. They are most unwelcome here. I realize you only do this out of ignorance, but . . . stop it. I’m serious when I say, “What slur”? Is the word “gypsy” now a slur in and of itself? Do we know that these people were in fact NOT gypsies? Are all gypsies just wonderful people who would never do such a thing, making this slander? Do I misunderstand entirely? ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/26 "2003-07-16T04:49:21Z")
A guy came into the pizza place I worked at in college, and said we’d messed up his order. We scrambled all over and couldn’t find the ticket, so he got one free. The next time he did this, the 17-year old asst. manager told him to leave and threatened to call the cops. Some real guts he had. It solved the problem, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/27 "2003-07-16T04:58:08Z")
There are various branches of the Irish Traveler gypsies around the US, and one clan is located in the Dallas area. Another is located in South Carolina; I used to live just across the river from them. They’re a very insular group, and would be the first to call themselves gypsies. They are descendants of gypsy clans that came to the US from Ireland, that had gotten to Ireland originally from eastern Europe. I think **MDSL** was simply referring to members of a gypsy clan. That is not a racial slur. It’s just a simple description. And they do stand out – they usually have their own unique clothing styles and their own unique dialects of Romany that they speak among themselves. **Uncle Beer** , I think you jumped to a conclusion here. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/28 "2003-07-16T05:12:11Z")
Stephanie Brush, a newspaper columnist who worked in a bookstore, was once writing about an impossible customer who was making ridiculous demands and when he was told no, threatened “I’ll never shop in this store again.” Another customer then said “Make him put it in writing.” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/29 "2003-07-16T07:01:23Z")
Customer to sales associate: “You’re not helping. I would like to talk to a smarter clerk!” Sales associate: “Sorry. The smarter clerk saw you coming and took her lunch break.” ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/30 "2003-07-16T07:06:33Z")
[hijack] Sales associate to customer, December 23: “I’m sorry, Sir, if you wanted the Christmas spirit you should have come shopping in July.” No joke, I really heard it! [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/31 "2003-07-16T09:41:05Z")
**Regarding the offensiveness of the word “Gypsy”.** From [here:](http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/myths.htm) > [@](#): > > The term “Gypsy” as used in scholarly writings supports misconceptions that all Roma are migratory, roam the countryside, and are engaged in questionable or illegal activities, as exemplified by slang terms like “to gyp,” meaning to swindle. For many people, just the word “Gypsy” conjures up the picture of dirty women in long skirts, apparently sickly babies in their arms, begging for money or asking to read palms. For others, they are petty swindlers who rent storefronts and deceive a gullible public. It is only natural that many Roma, therefore, view the word “Gypsy” as offensive. From [here:](http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/history.htm) > [@](#): > > The trend is to eliminate the use of derogatory, pejorative and offensive names, such as Gypsies, and to be given proper respect by the use of the self-appelation of Roma, or Rroma. From [here:](http://www.religioustolerance.org/roma.htm) > [@](#): > > Because of centuries of hatred, the name “Gypsy” has become a “derogatory, pejorative and offensive” name. It was invented by Europeans, who incorrectly believed that the Roma had their origin in Egypt. From [here:](http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/98-2/issue6/feature.html) > [@](#): > > My family and I came to Canada as Czech citizens seeking political asylum, as did thousands of others who had also feared the worst, and have now been a citizen of this country for over 24 years. Not once, however, had I been given the opportunity to embrace my ethnic background- the result of the continuing stream of hideous lies and myths that have followed the Roma since at least the eleventh century when we were labeled “Gypsies”. A label that connotes stereotypical images and behaviors, the “Gypsy” is embedded in worldwide mass culture and has kept the true identity of the Roma people hidden, like some dark and evil secret, from the Gadje (non-Roma people) for the fear of racism and persecution. > > Not only is the word “Gypsy” a derogatory term to the Roma, but it is also an emblem of sorts, similar to the yellow star of Israel that was placed upon the Jews by the fascist in an attempt to shame the wearers. The term “Gypsy” not only serves to stigmatize the Roma, but also perpetuates their marginalization on a grand scale. However, it fails to denote the fact that the Roma have also contributed to the societies in which they have resided, despite the fact they have been forced to deny their own identity. My uncle for example, teaches at Charles University in Prague, as opposed to breeding horses or stealing chickens, and I have been employed as a department store private investigator, as opposed to shoplifting my wardrobe. **Regarding common usage of the word “Gypsy”.** From [here:](http://www.americangypsy.com/the_film/full_description.html) > [@](#): > > Gypsies worldwide, more properly known as “Rom,” are part of an ethnic group whose ancestors left India a thousand years ago. Today, many American Rom combine the extremes of what is very foreign and very American: they pray to ghosts in a foreign language, and wear Stetsons while driving Cadillacs to the local shopping mall for MacDonalds hamburgers. They also maintain ancient traditions and a societal structure revolving entirely around the family. By contrast, fairy tales and Hollywood churn out images of Gypsies as romantic nomads and cunning thieves: aimless wanderers with not a care for the past and no plans for the future; just read a fortune, steal a chicken and move on to the next town. Newspaper headlines talk of being “gypped” and police officers declare themselves experts on “Gypsy Crime” (just imagine a “Jewish Crime” specialist!). They get away with it because most people think that “Gypsy” describes anyone who fits the popular traveler fantasy. So, while the real Rom are strangers, their stigma is very familiar. A New York Times poll in 1992 reported the social standing of 58 ethnic groups: Gypsies were at the very bottom. From [here:](http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/mistaken_identity.htm) > [@](#): > > When we pick up an article on a crime believed to be a crime committed by a Gypsy, based on misguided information about Gypsies, we find words like Gypsy crime and Gypsy scams. How unfortunate it is for Gypsies to be the only race to be identified by a particular crime based on someone’s negative experience of someone they presumed to be a Gypsy. In all my experiences I have not come across many Gypsies who were happy to reveal they are Gypsy. I cannot possibly see how a Gypsy involved in a criminal act would identify themself as Gypsy. > > So, by what method are these people identified as Gypsies? Simple, the answer is misguided generalizations and sterotypes of what Gypsies are. There are many Gypsies who have given much and are continuing to add much to this world. There are Gypsies who are actors, factory owners, lawyers, teachers, and so forth. Yet, because of the many negative generalizations against Gypsies, these successful people fear losing their place in society once they have exposed themselves as Gypsies. However, the media chooses to avoid those Gypsies who are brave enough to be noticed. A Gypsy scam makes much better headlines in the media than a Gypsy teacher taking an active role on behalf of his people, for instance. From [here:](http://www.travellersrest.org/Travellers.htm) > [@](#): > > Still and all, police all over the nation have the habit of blaming every small time scam or extortion that’s reported to them on one or another of the Traveller clans, if they meet three criteria: > > ``` > the "perp" drives a pick-up truck; > he does not use overt violence; > and he gets away clean. > > ``` From [here:](http://www.northbridgepolice.com/crimetips.htm) > [@](#): > > A few years ago Northbridge was visited by transient burglars, commonly referred to as “gypsy burglars” and Northbridge was no exception. The term gypsy is defined as: “to live or roam like a Gypsy.” From [here:](http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=7112183&BRD=2256&PAG=461&dept_id=455823&rfi=6) > [@](#): > > The Marco Police Department recently issued a crime alert advising all Marco Island residents that a gypsy burglary team is striking the area. > > … > > Gypsy burglars is a loose term, explained Reinke, and is used to describe transient burglars who target upscale areas. In these incidences, the criminals blend into the surrounding and could be white or hispanic, but traditionally gypsies are of Eastern European decent. From [here:](http://www.palmbeachcivic.org/news/town/public_safety/030226_gypsy-burglar_pbpolice.html) > [@](#): > > Palm Beach Police are investigating a residential burglary that occurred on Tuesday, February 25, 2003, at a house on Island Drive in Palm Beach. The description of this burglary matches that of other crimes committed by “gypsy” burglars. The term “gypsy burglars” refers to criminals who travel from place to place often showing up in South Florida during the winter season. ---
**Author:** ![chewbasta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@chewbasta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chewbasta)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/32 "2003-07-16T09:51:53Z")
Good for the store, nothing is worse than when ya want to check out and some ass is harrassing the cashier, like they are the center of the world. (this is turning into flame… better stop.) ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/33 "2003-07-16T09:59:37Z")
My wife’s cousin and her boyfriend always complain about meals and about the conditions in movie theaters. They don’t like to pay for anything. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/34 "2003-07-16T10:06:42Z")
I once worked in the kitchen of a restaurant in Oxfordshire. A couple of London types came in one evening, very respectable-looking and posh as you like. They sent every single dish back. Now, the food in this place wasn’t _great_, but for a little country kitchen it wasn’t that bad. We started to get really suspicious when we noticed that each dish was about 3/4 eaten. They even sent a bottle wine back 3/4 drunk. When the desert came back, one of the blokes barged his way into the kitchen after the waitress and shouted “this place is filthy! I’ve a mind to get Health and Safety onto you!” Needless to say, they refused to pay for the meal. We later found out that they’d been doing this at a different restaurant each night in the area for a week. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/35 "2003-07-16T10:08:46Z")
I meant “dessert” (this is to pre-empt any “Aloo Gobi” jokes). ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/36 "2003-07-16T11:45:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mama Tiger \* > \*\*There are various branches of the Irish Traveler gypsies around the US, and one clan is located in the Dallas area. Another is located in South Carolina; I used to live just across the river from them. They’re a very insular group, and would be the first to call themselves gypsies. They are descendants of gypsy clans that came to the US from Ireland, that had gotten to Ireland originally from eastern Europe. > > I think **MDSL** was simply referring to members of a gypsy clan. That is not a racial slur. It’s just a simple description. And they do stand out – they usually have their own unique clothing styles and their own unique dialects of Romany that they speak among themselves. > > **Uncle Beer** , I think you jumped to a conclusion here. \*\* What was the point in mentioning they were gypsies? could he not have just said "We have some jerks that come into our restaraunt "? would you be having the same arguement if the wording was “We have some blacks/jews that come into our restaraunt and always find a way to complain about the service or the food or the atmosphere or something. Then their meals are comped in the name of customer service.” ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/37 "2003-07-16T12:27:40Z")
> [@](#): > > What was the point in mentioning they were gypsies? Exactly. And as you see from Kal’s voluminous cites (for which I thank him greatly) the term Gypsy is indeed considered offensive by the Roma. And now you’re all less ignorant on that point. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/38 "2003-07-16T12:34:04Z")
**Moderator’s Notes:** **chewbasta** , you are one insult away from being banned. Deliberately flaunting the moderator’s demands is not productive. ---
**Author:** ![Mayfield\_St.Cloud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@Mayfield\_St.Cloud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayfield_St.Cloud)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/39 "2003-07-16T13:22:04Z")
Thank you, **Kal** , for that excellent research. I honestly had no idea that the Roma considered **Gypsy** to be a derogatory term. Now, I do. Good job fighting ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694/40 "2003-07-16T13:29:38Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s the nice thing about working for a private corporation rather than government, the management can tell the customer to leave and never come back, suckahs Actually, I can tell clients not to call, only contact will be in writing, do not bother coming down, we will not see you (or only the division manager will, with additional security). In my caseload of 400, I have 6 that we will NOT see, 13 who we will only see if the appointment room has additional deputies, and 22 who can only contact us via writing, NO telephonic contact whatsoever. The primary reasons for this are excessive calls (Ma’am, how can I do what I need to on your case when you have called 50 times in the past hour?), threats made by clients (Had one of those two weeks ago, this particular client had spent considerable time in prison for terroristic threats and assaults), and harrassment (I’ve received calls at home from clients. NOT aceptable). And yes, we can close their cases if they don’t grasp the concept of cooperation. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-youre-no-longer-welcome-in-our-stores/188694.md?page=3)