# To the customer i had last night.....f\*@k you... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 3, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073 "2004-04-03T17:23:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/41 "2004-04-03T22:05:27Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > That begs the point. If he’s unavailable to respond, why’d he start the thread in the first place? So, only people who are chained to their computers and can respond immediately to any and every post is allowed to start threads? Right. Just clearing that up. I’d hate to call down the wrath of **milroyj** if i ever decide to start a thread and then do something wacky like get some sleep. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/42 "2004-04-03T22:09:27Z")
> [@kung fu lola](#): > > One of those things is money, but the other thing is common human decency. Many crass people in this degenerate age think that an abundance of the former can replace the latter entirely. To the well brought up people of this world, it never has and never will. I think you are spot-on **lola**. Not only do I see it as good manners to be polite, but common sense. I think everyone deserves the right to expect good service, and I’m aware not everyone gets it. I do think the likliehood of receiving good service is improved with treating a cashier as a fellow human being. ---
**Author:** ![Last\_Will\_of\_Threon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Last\_Will\_of\_Threon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Last_Will_of_Threon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/43 "2004-04-04T04:06:07Z")
> [@milroyj](#): > > That begs the point. If he’s unavailable to respond, why’d he start the thread in the first place? Um… am I the only one who thiniks **milroyj** was joking here? Considering the subject of the OP and all. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/44 "2004-04-04T04:25:59Z")
> [@Last Will of Threon](#): > > Um… am I the only one who thiniks **milroyj** was joking here? Considering the subject of the OP and all. Well, Goddammit…tell him to get out of that bathroom and back over here! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/45 "2004-04-04T04:38:14Z")
> [@Steel Rat](#): > > Forgive me for being dense, but isn’t that when you call for someone else to cover for you for a minute? How hard is that? Sounds to me like the OP was alone in the store. My experience in convience stores is that employees are often alone on a shift. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/46 "2004-04-04T05:37:02Z")
I once had the last guy in line after I had closed my register down yell at me for daring to take my lunch break. Yeah, because how DARE I want to do something frivolous-like eat? (I’ve had to wait so long for meal breaks my stomach was literally hurting I was so hungry. Sometimes I didn’t get a break until about forty-five minutes before I was supposed to leave anyways-which technically, I believe, is against policy?) ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/47 "2004-04-04T05:59:00Z")
> [@Last Will of Threon](#): > > Um… am I the only one who thiniks **milroyj** was joking here? Considering the subject of the OP and all. I was wondering that, too. But since he hasn’t been back to clear it up I could care less. ---
**Author:** ![Br\_er\_Lapin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Br\_er\_Lapin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Br_er_Lapin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/48 "2004-04-04T06:27:11Z")
I’m waiting for more details as well… Is this something like a convenience store where all you have to do is turn around, go through a door and you’re in the bathroom, thus having the customer wait a maximum of a minute and a half? If so, you’re right, the customer is indeed an asshole. I have a similar thing going on at my place of work (which happens to be K-Mart). I work in softlines, which means I am in charge of everything clothing-related, as well as layaway, the fitting rooms, and the bathrooms (the fitting and restrooms are kept locked). This means I (often solely by myself) am in charge of layaway transactions, price checks, phone calls, opening the fitting room, opening the bathroom for customers who should have taken care of their excretions before entering the store, stocking, stickering merchandise, helping customers on the floor, taking care of the constant flow of merchandise being returned to the store or being left in the fitting rooms, and often covering the jewelry associate’s breaks, all while doing what my actual main job technically is: attempting to keep the store straightened and looking nice. It’s a lot of work for two people to do, let alone one as it often ends up being (you don’t really realize that there are announcements being made on the intercom almost constantly until you work there). Notice that “layaway transactions” was at the top of the list. Basically, the only way to get me to layaway when you need me is to wander around and look for me, or wander around the store and find someone else who can page me. Understandably, people do not like this, but as much as I’d LOVE to have nothing to do but stand in the layaway room (or in front of the bathroom, or in front of the fitting room…) all day looking pretty and helping the occaisional customer, I have approximately 8 zillion other things to be doing at any given time. Occaisionally, I’ll wander over to that area to look something up in the layaway computer or get information on a nearby item for someone on the phone or for a price check, and people get terribly irate when I rush by and tell them I will be with them in a moment instead of dropping what I am already doing for them. More often, I’ll be busy doing one of the above mentioned job tasks, when someone tracks me down and says, angrily, “could you page someone to layaway, because I’ve been waiting for (X number of exaggerated minutes) and nobody is there,” only to have me say, “yeah, that would be me in layaway.” Sometimes they are apologetic when they realize I am not busy goofing off instead of helping them, sometimes they still act like I’m the world’s biggest asshole for not just standing in layaway waiting for them to show up instead of doing my job. The people who truly piss me off, ironically, are the people who get pissed off at me when they need to use the bathroom (right next to layaway) and there is nobody standing in layaway to unlock the door for them. Because, really, unless you’re a small child, pregnant, very old or have a medical condition, you really should think about these things before you leave to go shopping. Unlike the OP’s situation, this is not an 8-hour trip. At the very least, don’t give me shit like it is MY fault you have to piss and the bathroom is locked because people steal hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise daily, and because K-Mart can’t exactly afford to hire a full-time bathroom attendant. Now that I have turned this into my own personal rant, I’ll get back to the OP. It would really help everyone out if we knew what kind of establishment this took place at. Tiny store there the customer only waited a minute to have his coffee and candy bar rung up? He is an asshole, but you probably should have waited to take a leak. Large store with a lot of customers and you being the only one on register? You are an asshole. I don’t care how bad you have to piss, you have a job to do. To be fair, I don’t know what your break situation is - if you work a long shift and don’t get a single break, your company is run by assholes and is probably breaking several laws. At my store, everyone gets a break at some point, and thus cashiers do not leave their registers – **period**. I do not go to the bathroom while I’m on the clock – **period**. In summary – where the fuck do you work? Give us details, man! Also, I am curious as to what, exactly, the point of mentioning that you are management was. [sub]I apologize for this post being long and semi-pointless and hi-jack-ing.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Teelo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Teelo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teelo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/49 "2004-04-04T10:31:08Z")
I think its pretty obvious that the customer is at fault, not the OP. ---
**Author:** ![baltotop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@baltotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/baltotop)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/50 "2004-04-04T10:34:11Z")
Hello all, Just to respond to a few comments at a time. Thank You Gingy and Dave and everyone else for standing up for me. 🙂 The store i work for is always under staffed. I was there that day for a 9 hour shift and was the second clerk for the evening. My cashier was only on the shift for 4 hours and already left for the day. There was no one to take my place and i was only gone about 2 minutes. I believe in friendly and quick customer service, but if you are rude to me or someone in my charge then you need to take it else where. No one has the right to talk to you anyway they want just because they are purchasing a product from you. We also have plenty of employees now but not enough hours in the budget to schedule them like they should be to provide better service. So, any winny people who want everything in an instant please line up so i can wack away at you one at a time. 😃 Sorry it has taken sooo long to respond but as you can tell i sleep once in a while and am not attached to my computer. Ill have to leave more comments at another time as long as it fits everyones schedule. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Steel\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/51 "2004-04-04T14:26:41Z")
> [@baltotop](#): > > Hello all, Just to respond to a few comments at a time. Thank You Gingy and Dave and everyone else for standing up for me. 🙂 > > The store i work for is always under staffed. I was there that day for a 9 hour shift and was the second clerk for the evening. My cashier was only on the shift for 4 hours and already left for the day. There was no one to take my place and i was only gone about 2 minutes. I believe in friendly and quick customer service, but if you are rude to me or someone in my charge then you need to take it else where. No one has the right to talk to you anyway they want just because they are purchasing a product from you. We also have plenty of employees now but not enough hours in the budget to schedule them like they should be to provide better service. So, any winny people who want everything in an instant please line up so i can wack away at you one at a time. 😃 > > Sorry it has taken sooo long to respond but as you can tell i sleep once in a while and am not attached to my computer. Ill have to leave more comments at another time as long as it fits everyones schedule. Thanks. I think some of those were the ones expecting you to reply right away. 🆒 There will always be asshole customers, and asshole store personnel, there’s no way around it, human nature. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/52 "2004-04-04T16:55:11Z")
Is there any chance at all that the customer was trying to be sarcastic in a funny way, and merely failed miserably, as opposed to really meaning he thought that someone should never pee while at work? I just find the idea that someone would think you should simply hold it for a 9 or 10 hour shift just amazing. How could someone think that’s even humanly possible? Sheesh, I have to go at least once every hour or two (an no, there’s no health issue, I’ve been like that since I can remember). Most girls I know have to go at least every few hours. Has this guy lived in a cave far removed from human contact for his whole life? Anyway, I agree with most of the folks here, the customer was at fault, NOT for being impatient, but for his belief that a person has no right to pee while at work. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/53 "2004-04-04T17:10:48Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > Those shareholders that you are so concerned about appear to be too cheap to adiquately staff the store( since there was no one to cover the register), yet in your mind the employee is at fault? When exactly are people supposed to piss, or is that not allowed in your world? It’s pooping that’s not allowed in Libertarian’s world, and thus he comes here to relieve himself by posting, which explains the nature of his posts, i.e., the stuff they’re so full of. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/54 "2004-04-04T17:13:46Z")
> [@Steel Rat](#): > > I agree completely. It’s a big “if” though. We can’t assume it to be totally the case. > > And the converse? How many so-called “customer service” people have you encountered that treated you like you were invading their space and wasting their time just by being there? And they make you feel that way without even saying anything?? > > I’m just saying we can’t take it at face value. If I knew the OP, then maybe I could say different. Why shouldn’t we take it at face value? You have some proof the OP is a liar you want to set forth, big boy? The rule here at the Dope is, the person making the claim has to provide the proof. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/55 "2004-04-04T17:15:47Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > Nope. I propose that he respond to the customer apologetically, thank him for his business, and be grateful that the man spent money in his store. Then, he can come here and tell us in MPSIMS about his kooky little mishap at the cash register. Just because a man has to pee doesn’t mean that he has to lose all perspective and comprehension of his trade. bootlicking optional, I take it, Lib? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/56 "2004-04-04T17:25:42Z")
I’m not advocating unctuous grovelling, Evil Captor. I’m advocating courtesy in the face of rudeness. Assume that the customer has a good reason to be in a hurry, and be sorry that you’ve inconvenienced him. I’m not saying don’t pee when you have to. I’m saying be diplomatic, and give your customer the benefit of the doubt. If he really isn’t good for business, then refuse him service and banish him from the store. Otherwise, sympathize with him and appreciate his business. In other words, act as a representative of the shareholders. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/57 "2004-04-05T00:25:20Z")
In other words, **Lib** , accept being treated like some slave on a plantation? ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/58 "2004-04-05T13:25:06Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I once had the last guy in line after I had closed my register down yell at me for daring to take my lunch break. Sorry if I’m misunderstanding, but I don’t think I blame him. How come you were allowing people in your line when you knew you were going to be closing? I have had lots of cashiers tell me to go to another line, that they’ll be closing when they finish with the people they already have in their line, and I have no problem with that at all. But I’ve also spent time waiting in line, only to have that line close before I get served, and that makes me angry - what a waste of my time! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/59 "2004-04-05T13:45:43Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I’m advocating courtesy in the face of rudeness. For everyone but yourself, I assume. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073/60 "2004-04-05T17:13:43Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > In other words, act as a representative of the shareholders. In other words, smile and gulp down the feces being flung at you. :rolleyes: You know, I’ve worked for managers with that attitude. Guess what? They ended up losing some of their best employees. I once worked in restaurant and we had an irate customer actually _spit_ at the window towards the cashier he was pissed at. Want to know what the owner did? Gave the asshole a free pizza. He lost that cashier and two managers that day. The best damn employees that place had seen in awhile, too. They were fast, courteous, and did their jobs. The one thing they refused to do though, was watch someone be awarded for abusing them. I’m all for being polite in the face of rudeness, but there comes a point where ones self-respect cannot take a back-seat to a paycheck. Anyone who would reward someone for _spitting_ at an employee does not deserve to have good employees, because he obviously doesn’t have an ounce of respect for them. Customer service people are humans, **Lib** , even though they are in a subservient position for a few hours a day. Their job is to provide you with good service, not to be your punching bag when you’re having a bad day and feel like taking someones head off. There _are_ many occasions where an employee badly in need of a pink slip cops some attitude and they get an earful. I’ve got no problem with that. What I _do_ have a problem with, is people who think that just because someone works customer service, they’ve got to check their pride and self respect at the door. _That_ line of thinking is what’s “sad on so many levels.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-customer-i-had-last-night-f-k-you/238073.md?page=4)