My new job is never dull. Most of the time the customers are lovely people but about once a week there's an interesting character who surprises me. You just cant tell from looking at a person how they are going to act. This past week was very busy in the deli. We had a special on baked, glazed and fried chicken. Do you have any idea how much chicken people eat? I didn't have a clue until I got this job. I think Ive purchased chicken from the deli once in three years.
I have people who are in every other day to pick up chicken and that's when its not on sale.
So this week you could buy an 8 piece chicken for $4.99 any style you liked or mix them up. This was a savings of $2.50 off the regular price. Fresh chicken would arrive in the hot case and sell out in 20 minutes or less and I'm talking piles of chicken here. The poor cook just couldn't fry or bake it fast enough. Customers would swamp the hot case to buy the chicken and if we sold out they would stop back after they finished grocery shopping to see if more was ready. I had folks standing for ten minutes waiting so they would be first in line for the next batch. Which brings me to my story. A very well dressed attractive petite woman in her 60s was standing behind a gentleman who I sold the last 8 pieces of chicken to. When he moved away from the case with his purchase she yelled at him....YOU TOOK THE LAST OF THE CHICKEN! DO YOU KNOW THE KIND OF DAY IVE HAD? I CANT BELIEVE YOU TOOK THE LAST OF THAT CHICKEN WHEN I WANTED SOME. The gentleman was already walking away as she started her tirade and did not turn around. So she turned to me and said...I'm so tired and I just wanted some chicken. I cant believe you don't have anymore chicken. I also cant believe that man took the last of it. I apologized for her bad day and explained that more chicken was frying and would be ready in about 15 minutes. This did not improve the woman's disposition at all! She heaved a heavy sigh and closed her eyes and leaned against the hot case like she was about to faint. She says she just needs to get home shes is hungry and tired. She just wants her husband! There was one breast left and she decided to buy that and off she went. About twenty minutes later I look up and shes back! Someone else is waiting on her and she is buying 8 pieces of chicken that she didn't want to wait for. She seems fine now. I guess she vented and felt better. Personally I would have been to embarrassed to come back after that tantrum. LOL!
6 comments:
Great story Kat! I would have been so embarassed I wouldn't have gone back to the store, but then I wouldn't have pitched a fit either!
Ah- and the world of customer service greets you with open arms!
I've had everything from working at Fred Meyer and getting bitched out for Coca Cola not carrying cherry coke in glass bottles, to a Dillanos customer involving me in WAY too many details of their sex life.
I love you Momma! And you're the person for them to snap at, after dealing with my tantrums for so many years!
I can almost see the expression on your face as you listened to her...
I'm with Diane on this one, I would have never shown my face at the store again! (not that I pitch fits in public...or anywhere else for that matter)
Too bad that don't offer hazard pay for those incidents!
It amazes me how patient you are with those less than patient customers.
I would have been too mortified to return also!
Hi Kat...Isn't it amazing? I bet we have some stories we could share. I have even had a customer tell me she was going to put a hex on me because her pot melted in the oven :0(
I worked retail for 10 years and found that most of the time, people just want someone to LISTEN. That's all. And you, Miss Kind Heart, are a great listener, attentive and caring. How nice for the woman that she got you after her hard day and not someone awful. Your kindness will return to you tenfold.
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