Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

A line at a register in a grocery store? Unacceptable!

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • A line at a register in a grocery store? Unacceptable!

    We have a "lady" who comes in semi regularly. We recognize her due to her constant complaining about how she shouldn't have to wait in line because she's handicapped. I'm not clear what the handicap is, as it's not an obvious one i.e. no wheelchair, crutches, broken limbs, limp, hunchback, etc. Hey, there are handicaps that can't be seen, so who am I to judge?

    She will raise all kinds of hell until someone gets tired of it and takes her to an unopened register to get her out of the store. Of course, during all that time, she could have stood in the line and left but I guess that makes too much sense. Anyhoo, the other night I was working with a CSM who tends to think like me. No special treatment unless extreme circumstances.

    The self checks had been closed and changed out for the night. The reports for them done which means they cannot be used until at least 12:01 a.m. and that's that. Cue complaining woman who is in much later than normal.

    SC: (comes charging up to myself and CSM) You are required to have a handicapped register open at all times!!

    CSM and I look at each other. I decide to go first.

    Me: All our registers are equipped with fold out handicapped tables and customer service has a very low counter for wheelchair customers. As a matter of fact, there's only one customer at customer service right now. If you go over there, I'm sure she will take you next. You can make your purchases right there.

    SC: THE SELF CHECK REGISTERS ARE HANDICAPPED REGISTERS! THEY SHOULD BE OPEN 24 HOURS! IT'S A LAW! (this was news to us)

    CSM:They're not handicapped registers and there isn't a law stating they have to be open 24 hours a day.

    SC: YES THERE IS! YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW! I NEED TO CHECK OUT! OPEN THEM UP NOW!

    CSM: Nope, sorry. No laws being broken here.

    SC babbles/talks loudly about this alleged law.

    CSM: Do you want to call the police?

    SC: (sputtering) I WANT YOU TO OPEN A SELF CHECK! I NEED TO GO HOME! ONE OF YOU OPEN THEM UP OR OPEN UP A REGISTER AND CHECK ME OUT!

    Granted, at this point, CSM and I are both amused. She needs to go home, but she's taken all this time to make up laws and holler at us. She could have been on her way out this point. Also, it's not like we were standing around. CSM and I still had to count the safe, get a change order from overnight manager and put away 2 carts of go backs.

    Me: I'm sorry ma'am, we have other responsibilities at the moment and the number of customers does not constitute us opening another register. If you would like to get in line at this moment, you'll be done and out of here within 5 minutes.

    SC complains, hollers, yells, threatens we are breaking the law.

    CSM: Are you handicapped? (I actually don't agree with CSM asking as I think it's personal, but I admit I was curious)

    SC: Where's your manager!?

    Okay, the manager on duty has no patience and will be happy to throw her out instead of deal with her. I lunge for the phone to page him, eager for the show that will surely ensue. Alas, CSM ruins my fun.

    CSM: I'm the customer service manager of the front end. There's no one in line anymore. The self checks aren't being opened. You can check out or leave the store. If you don't want to do either one, I'm going to be the one calling the cops.

    SC: (yes, another jawdrop) You can keep this stuff! (pushes cart at us) I won't be shopping here again! You're rude and I will be reporting you to the corporate office!

    Me and CSM:
    "Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did."
    George Carlin

  • #2
    See you next week!!!
    I don't go in for ancient wisdom
    I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
    It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

    Comment


    • #3
      What a JERK! Glad you all stuck to your guns! I just really want to know why she wanted the self check out so bad? Maybe she was buying something she didnt want you all to see.

      Comment


      • #4
        Quoth iviles View Post
        What a JERK! Glad you all stuck to your guns! I just really want to know why she wanted the self check out so bad? Maybe she was buying something she didnt want you all to see.
        I saw nothing unusual in her cart, unless she wanted the fact she buys skim milk a secret. My impression has always been she just likes things "her way". The store is her to serve her and dammit we will serve only her one way or another!

        We always have a few customers who complain about lines. Sometimes they're justified in complaining, other times they just don't feel they should have to wait in line. I think if you're going to go to a grocery store, then they're going to be times there's a line. What "line-free" countries these customers come from, I just don't know.
        Last edited by Whyme; 03-31-2008, 01:10 AM.
        "Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did."
        George Carlin

        Comment


        • #5
          Her handicap is that she's an impatient asshat. What a jerk, i hope corp. doesn't cave to her.

          Comment


          • #6
            I also hope that corporate won't cave to her, but given how, erm, "bold" the CSM was, what do we think the outcome will be?

            Comment


            • #7
              Quoth Whyme View Post
              CSM: The self checks aren't being opened. You can check out or leave the store. If you don't want to do either one, I'm going to be the one calling the cops.

              Absolutely awesome. Use the police to your advantage, that's what they're there for anyways.
              Broadcasting to you live from the nerve center of my brain..... szzzt *we are currently experiencing technical difficulties, please stand by*

              Comment


              • #8
                Quoth theredbaron47 View Post
                I also hope that corporate won't cave to her, but given how, erm, "bold" the CSM was, what do we think the outcome will be?
                She's very blunt and won't tolerate BS. That's one of the reasons I like this particular CSM. She could definitely learn some tact, I will say that. Between her and the particular manager that was on duty (who is even less tactful), this lady picked the wrong night to try and use the "Almighty Customer" ticket.

                I'm not too worried about corporate doing anything. They seem to like to pretend our store doesn't exist. Which can be good and bad.
                "Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did."
                George Carlin

                Comment


                • #9
                  Whyme:

                  Well, that's certainly good to hear.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I, too, am inclined to think her only handicap was being an SC. And maybe whatever handicap she takes for golf.
                    "Enough expository banter. It's time we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men. For Gilgamesh...IT'S MORPHING TIME!"
                    - Gilgamesh, Final Fantasy V

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      They get it rather well over there.
                      No Supermarkets here have self-checkout, and generally only one or two registers for disabled persons in wheelchairs. This is more probably because a majority of the supermarkets in my area were built in the 1970s and 1980s, so they cant accommodate as well without removing heaps of registers.

                      Anyways, ridiculous. Just taking advantage of whatever problem she had to make you suffer more. Kudos for doing things the way you did.
                      We recently made our store friendly to people in wheelchairs, etc (Beforehand due to its design most parts of the store were unable to be navigated by those in a wheelchair due to having a very narrow aisles (in management speak, "Gondola) setup which was also not friendly to shopping carts. We fixed that, and from before when their was no complaints to how it was we get plenty of praise, so thats made us happy at least.
                      - Boochan

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        We have a few like this at my store. Usually management dosen't cave but a few will.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          It's an idea, but here people with mental illnesses can apply for aid, even get handicap stickers (Montana). It's a long process, but it does happen. Perhaps she has a mental illness...or 8 and it causes her to react like that. :shurg: it's an idea
                          When it comes to getting things done, we need fewer architects and more bricklayers. ---Colleen C. Barrett---

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Not only mental illness but she could have had a whole plethora of things not visible to the naked eye and been officially handicapped. Could be she can't stand for long or has lung problems, whatever. And she's right about the laws for the handicapped, if an establishment is open to the general public then there has to be a special accommodation for the handicapped to use it. The US Justice Dept will sue the business on the behalf of the handicapped to ensure the law is upheld (currently suing my former employer for violating the ADA laws, at least the crap call center gives me ADA accommodations, heee!)

                            However no one in line and her with no visible defect kinda means she didn't have a valid complaint.

                            I don't know why anyone bitches about standing in line at the grocery store in the first place because how are you going to know whats happening in the world of celeb gossip or who the aliens are endorsing for the presidential elections if you're not stuck in a grocery store line perusing the tabloids to pass the time?
                            "No, I will not poop a shopping cart out for you." - Irving Patrick Freleigh

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              IF she was so bloody handicapped ... then the offer to get checked out immediately where there was no line should've been enough. If she can stand around yelling about this law and that for longer than it takes to go through a normal line ... she gets NO sympathy from me. None.

                              Just another EW who managed to con the government into classifying some hangnail as a "handicap" ... which is a great tragedy since there are a lot of people who are truly handicapped who suffer embarrassment due to jerks like her.
                              "Always stand near the door." -- Doctor Who

                              Kuya's Kitchen -- Cooking, Cooking Gadgets, and Food Related Blather from a Transplanted Foodie

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X