# No, dumb bitch, we don't take anyone's American Express card
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [November 16, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697 "2015-11-16T15:09:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 8
### Author:  [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/141 "2015-11-18T02:17:35Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#):
>
> If you say so.
I don’t know why this is such a hard concept for you to grasp. if you work retail/food service, you’re encountering dozens, possibly hundreds of people every day. simple numbers says you’re more likely to run into teh crazy than someone in a white-collar job who has to interact with maybe a handful of people on any given day. in my high school/early college days, I first worked food service and later at a garage w/ attached gas station. there were all sorts of asshole customers I had to put up with; from the princes/princesses who believed since I was there to “serve” them that meant I was required to kiss every part of their asses, to the wannabe puppet masters with extremely specific instructions on how they wanted their Coney dog made and if one molecule was out of place they wanted another one. Or the guy who rolled his ratty-ass old Lincoln into the shop for maintenance, and when told that no, customers can’t roam around on the shop floor he told me to go fuck myself. Or the guy who wanted a pack of cigarettes but expected me to walk out and tell him every single one we carried while he sat his fat ass in his truck.
working retail has done two things:
1. ensured that I will _never_ shit on anyone working those jobs. Doubly so if they’re “tipped” employees making a $2.13/hr base wage
2. made me despise people in general. all a bunch of self-absorbed, clueless pieces of shit who don’t know or care how badly they treat others.
---
### Author:  [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/142 "2015-11-18T03:28:10Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> Uh huh. So when was it necessary to drop the “big beautiful black woman” turd in the pool, even though you could have told the story without it, we get:
> K, 'cause we wouldn’t have been able to guess she was black by the retelling of what she allegedly said. But enough about that - she was indeed big because she weighed 50 lbs more than you!
>
> And then:
> LOL, then why’d you bring up weight? Why didn’t you say earlier, “Well she was big. She was about 5’10”!" Because that’s not how you meant it. There is just so much bullshit in your story all around, so congrats on that.
>
> And I just remembered you’re the same person who accused some young black girl of being racist toward you when you demanded she give up her bus seat for you, but she refused, failing to notice you were in wrist pain or whatever.
You the fat police?
---
### Author:  [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/143 "2015-11-18T03:32:27Z")
> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> If you work retail you run into such over-the-top asshats on at least a weekly basis. It’s not you running into them, it’s them coming to your place of business.
20+ year retail career vet here: can absolutely confirm. The asshole customer is a daily phenomenon; the pissed-off-enough-to-call-you-a-motherfucker a monthly one; the pissed-off-enough-to-raise-his-voice-and-scream comes along every couple of months or so. **Annie-Xmas** ’s story sounds completely plausible to me.
As does “big beautiful black woman”, because that’s an identifiable type; a woman who wears bright red lipstick and skintight dresses because she doesn’t give a damn that she’s a size 20; she _knows_ she is a beautiful, sexy goddess, and anyone who can’t see that is a blind fool. (And she’s usually right). Such women can be a hoot to know - I’ve worked with many - but they can also be histrionically obnoxious.
As can we all.
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### Author:  [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/144 "2015-11-18T12:57:16Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> Uh huh. So when was it necessary to drop the “big beautiful black woman” turd in the pool, even though you could have told the story without it, we get:
> K, 'cause we wouldn’t have been able to guess she was black by the retelling of what she allegedly said. But enough about that - she was indeed big because she weighed 50 lbs more than you!
>
> And then:
> LOL, then why’d you bring up weight? Why didn’t you say earlier, “Well she was big. She was about 5’10”!" Because that’s not how you meant it. There is just so much bullshit in your story all around, so congrats on that.
So when telling a story, we must include only the essential details which are absolutely necessary to understand the point? No background, no scene setting, nothing?
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/145 "2015-11-18T15:44:04Z")
: raises hand : Was a cashier for a few years back in the day and then I did telephone customer service for a few years too. I have no problem believing the stories. You people (that’s right, I went there) would not _believe_ the amount of crazies that came out on a daily basis. I could tell you stories! But the ones that stick in your head are the really crazy ones, like the one who tore me a new one because I didn’t know he needed a cart. Stupid dumb fuck, taking it out on the cashier who is barely making minimum wage.
I am of the opinion that every single person should be forced at gunpoint to work a year in retail so they can see what it’s like to deal with people. The richer you are, the more important this is.
---
### Author:  [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/146 "2015-11-18T15:51:47Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> Uh huh. So when was it necessary to drop the “big beautiful black woman” turd in the pool, even though you could have told the story without it, we get:r.
It was horrible. The politically correct and faint of heart had dashed towards the edge of the thread in terror.
There was much screaming and yelling and knashing of teefs.
Then one brave poster creeped closer…then looked at it with a critical eye…then finally bravely took a bite.
It was just a Baby Ruth all along.
---
### Author:  [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/147 "2015-11-18T15:56:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> : raises hand : Was a cashier for a few years back in the day and then I did telephone customer service for a few years too. I have no problem believing the stories. You people (that’s right, I went there) would not _believe_ the amount of crazies that came out on a daily basis. I could tell you stories! But the ones that stick in your head are the really crazy ones, like the one who tore me a new one because I didn’t know he needed a cart. Stupid dumb fuck, taking it out on the cashier who is barely making minimum wage.
>
> I am of the opinion that every single person should be forced at gunpoint to work a year in retail so they can see what it’s like to deal with people. The richer you are, the more important this is.
Seriously, the crazies are [among](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=724980) us. These threads where people who were fortunate enough to never have had to work in retail claiming “well, gosh golly gee surely these things can’t happen” are starting to get old.
And then there was **[Senegoid](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17466037&postcount=22)** in this KFC thread.
But of course, if anyone complains about being treated this way it turns to some nonsense like “you’re racist” etc.
_End rant_.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/148 "2015-11-18T15:59:02Z")
I worked part-time in a grocery store: helping customers with groceries, collecting carts from the lot & handbaskets from the registers, cleaning windows, clearing ice & snow off the sidewalk, etc.
Even I encountered a few nuts during the six months I was there. One guy tried to pick a fight with me because I accidentally elbowed him while pulling a customer’s bags out of a cart. I had no clue anyone was behind me, let alone Apollo Creed!
---
### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/149 "2015-11-18T16:05:04Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> I see that nobody has pointed out the “Jew” comment the BBB woman made was a obvious anti-Semitic slur.
Ahem.
> [@Kimstu in post #22](#):
>
> The subject of the OP offers plenty of target just for being an entitled, ignorant, paranoid, antisemitic bitch who assumes that her personal convenience should automatically override store policy and if it doesn’t, the only possible explanation must be racism and the appropriate response is being loudly obscene.
>
> References to her weight and slurs about black people being criminals accomplish nothing except to inspire a bit of grudging sympathy for her.
Emphasis added.
---
### Author:  [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/150 "2015-11-18T16:07:48Z")
Anyone who doesn’t believe that stores get totally whacky customers should know most are hiring now for the holiday season. It’s a real eye opener.
The absolute corker in my experience was the woman who was on her cell phone the whole time, and then found out she didn’t have her credit card. The person behind her made some nasty comment about checking for her credit card instead of gabbing on the phone. Customer stomps out and tells her boyfriend that “The cashier yelled and swore at me cause I didn’t have my credit card.”
He comes in with her trailing and begging “Just let it go.” He comes up to me and screams “HOW DARE YOU FUCKING YELL AT AND SWEAR AT MY GIRLFRIEND?”
The head cashier was at another register. There were two other cashiers working. The manager and one of the store’s owners were standing by the machines and talking. And all the aisle workers were working. And yet no one heard anyone, and certainly not me, yelling and swearing.
I looked at him and said “I did not yell and swear at the customer. And even if I did, which I did not do, you have no right to come in here and yell and swear at me.”
The left, with him muttering something about “The customer is always right.”
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### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/151 "2015-11-18T16:17:19Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> The left, with him muttering something about “The customer is always right.”
I don’t know who started that idiotic notion but it needs to be quashed. The customer is often very, very wrong.
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/152 "2015-11-18T16:17:55Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#):
>
> And I just remembered you’re the same person who accused some young black girl of being racist toward you when you demanded she give up her bus seat for you, but she refused
Dang, so that was Annie Xmas? Everyone remembers the black girl’s name, but history seems to have forgotten who the white passenger was. Now we know.
---
### Author:  [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/153 "2015-11-18T16:22:05Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#):
>
> I don’t know who started that idiotic notion but it needs to be quashed. The customer is often very, very wrong.
Ain’t that the truth.
I often dream of winning the lottery…and starting a business…probably a resteraunt…and my hobby would be kicking assholes out…making them pay for everything that had been delivered to the table…and calling the cops on their ass if they try to leave without paying.
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### Author:  [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/154 "2015-11-18T16:56:20Z")
The instant I read the BBB part in the OP I knew where this was going to go. Not that _I_ have a particular problem with it, I just know how it is around here. I also figured (or hoped, anyway) that the descriptor would end up somehow being germane to the story, and IMO it is. Is it the most important part? Not at all, but it illustrates the hypocrisy on the part of Crazy Entitled Customer. Did you get a mental picture of the scene? I did. I saw exactly what Annie was trying to convey, and I did not walk away thinking “stupid black bitches are always acting that way”. It simply served as an illustration of sorts for this particular story. If that makes me racist _in your eyes_, I really could not physically care less. I don’t even consider (erroneously) being called a bigot the biggest shame there is.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/155 "2015-11-18T17:14:39Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#):
>
> Seriously, the crazies are [among](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=724980) us. These threads where people who were fortunate enough to never have had to work in retail claiming “well, gosh golly gee surely these things can’t happen” are starting to get old.
>
> And then there was **[Senegoid](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17466037&postcount=22)** in this KFC thread.
>
> _End rant_.
Jeez. From your first link:
> [@Robert\_columbia](#):
>
> I have, at times, been known to treat retail and customer service employees of scummy “Corporate America” type companies rather rudely, treating the person as the physical embodiment of the company’s attitude toward the public.
>
> We are talking about speaking rudely, perhaps crudely, not about threatening acts of violence or actually committing them.
>
> I talked with the pastor of my church about this, and he actually said that he approved of what I was doing, because if more people do this (treat customer service like dirt), then the companies will come to terms with their antisocial tendencies and change. One person telling off a CSR isn’t likely to do anything, but if we get a movement started, eventually it will get to the point where CSR’s are telling their managers that, “What did I accomplish last week? I got yelled at by a lot of people and didn’t sell anything”. At that point, the company has to change if it wants to survive.
From the second:
> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> There’s a reason that some people work at fast-food joints instead of being rocket scientists or brain surgeons.
In my case it was because I was kicked out of my house and I had to eat, asshole.
People have no humanity.
---
### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/156 "2015-11-18T17:58:30Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#):
>
> I don’t know who started that idiotic notion but it needs to be quashed. The customer is often very, very wrong.
Any individual consumer is often wrong. The consumers in general, however, are exactly right for as long as you want to stay in business, because once you deem them to be wrong, you go out of business.
---
### Author:  [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/157 "2015-11-18T18:29:00Z")
> [@Derleth](#):
>
> Any individual consumer is often wrong. The consumers in general, however, are exactly right for as long as you want to stay in business, because once you deem them to be wrong, you go out of business.
Way to derp things up buddy.
---
### Author:  [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/158 "2015-11-18T19:34:39Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> In my case it was because I was kicked out of my house and I had to eat, asshole.
>
> People have no humanity.
Huh? I think this quote of Senegoid’s is being unfairly denigrated. Just as we can acknowledge that all customers are not always right, why is it so shocking to point out that not all service givers are sainthood candidates either? He’s right – it’s an unskilled job often held by uneducated people who are doing it purely because they have no other options, and that’s not exactly a recipe for dedication and excellence.
I am in no way saying this is all of them (I did it for years too, and I was damn nice), nor is he. I am just pointing out that fair is fair – if we can allow that customers can often be ignorant, entitled assholes, we ought to be also able to admit that there are a lot of workers out there who, by virtue of being young/stupid/unmotivated/uneducated/unsupported/what have you, make shitty decisions in carrying out their duties.
Do you legitimately expect the same level of quality, attention to detail, judgement, and accuracy from a fast food worker as you do from a brain surgeon?
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/159 "2015-11-18T19:45:01Z")
> [@Elret](#):
>
> Do you legitimately expect the same level of quality, attention to detail, judgement, and accuracy from a fast food worker as you do from a brain surgeon?
No…but there is a vast difference between saying:
“Fast food workers are fast food workers because they are too dumb to handle anything else.”
and
“Sometimes fast food workers can be assholes, too.”
And just because fast food workers might be working there because they are dumb still doesn’t give Joe Customer an excuse to be an asshole. Or do you think it does?
---
### Author:  [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)
#### Post date: [November 18, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-dumb-bitch-we-dont-take-anyones-american-express-card/737697/160 "2015-11-18T20:03:36Z")
> [@Elret](#):
>
> Do you legitimately expect the same level of quality, attention to detail, judgement, and accuracy from a fast food worker as you do from a brain surgeon?
Depends. Is the brain surgeon also running for president?
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