The Discount Hunters (With bonus irritants)

[Clover]

No Habla Espaniol

Overall, I'd have to say I like my job-the shifts are long, without a brace (since I need a very specific, very expensive kind for my hip and leg, extending down to my shin, which I cannot afford yet) I end up being in a lot of pain from standing so long, but it could be a lot worse. Every day I have a ton of customers who fall into one of a few categories:

1.) They don't speak English at all, and just say 'yes' to everything I say;

2.) They don't speak English and don't respond at all to any question, greeting or attempt at helping-they simply grunt at me, usually not even looking me in the eye, instead keeping their head tilted down or just not looking at me at all;

3.) They don't speak English and find it either incredibly offensive or funny that I don't speak Spanish, either laughing and clearly making fun of it or getting angry and yelling at me. I can say "Hello, how are you?" "Thank you!" and a few other key words and phrases in Spanish-I try, which is more than can be said about you. And yes, I do know that you're calling me a bitch right now. I do know that word, and right back at you!

4.) They clearly understand and can speak English, but choose to speak to me in Spanish, look shocked when I tell them I don't know spanish (They always seem to assume I do, probably because I look somewhat Spaniard/Hispanic in my coloration and body type), and take it upon themselves to inform me that I simply MUST learn Spanish, how can I expect to communicate in this area if I don't? Uh, hon, last time I checked, that little sign proclaiming the city's name said 'An All American City' beneath the name, not 'Hola` Amigos!' or some such.

Biting my head off because I don't speak your native tongue doesn't make you look smart, it makes you look like a prick. Just pay and get out. Comprende`?

The Discount Hunters

I always seem to get these guys.

So this large group-and by large group, I mean a whole family-grandma, grandpa, the mom and dad, and a whole passel of kids-with three gigantic carts, one holding a very large vanity cabinet which has been taken out of it's box. Naturally, the small items have been placed under/inside many of the other items, so I start taking everything out and putting them on the counter if they're small enough and getting everything organized. While the kiddies are running amok and playing with the flashlights, messing with the keypad, getting into other customers' carts and generally being a nuisance (which, of course, none of the adults in their group took notice of) I start trying to ring up the order.

Me:

SCGrP: Grandpa

SCGrM: Grandma

SCM: Mom

SCD: Dad

HC: Head Cashier


Me: Hi, how are you doing-

SCGrP: DISCOUNT. (Heavily accented)

Me: ...sorry?

SCGrP: We want discount on this. -points to the cabinet-

Me: Um, I'll have to ask the Head Cashier-

SCGrP: It's damaged. You will give us a discount.

Me: -looks at perfectly fine cabinet- ...how is it damaged, sir?

SCGrP: HERE. LOOK. -points to tiny scuff on the bottom corner, probably from when they put it on top of the cart without the box)

Me: Um, HC, can you come here for a minute?

HC: What's the problem?

SCGrP: We want a discount. This is damaged.

HC: -looks it over, has a clear 'bull' look on his face but doesn't want to argue- Okay-let me check the price for it, it doesn't have a SKU on it and we'll figure it out. -sends one of the other guys to get the SKU-

SCM: This is used. You'll give us a discount for it too. -holds up clearly brand new paint tool, it's just missing the easily torn off cardboard slip-

HC: Ma'm, this isn't used. It's brand new. It's just missing it's package.

SCM: No! It's used! Look at it! You'll give us a discount.

HC: I can't give you a discount for that. I can get you a new one with the packaging intact if you want.

SCM: Fine!


Aaaand the whole thing went like this. Every single item they had they wanted a discount on for the dumbest, slightest reason-this package was slightly scuffed, though the contents were absolutely pristine, this wasn't exactly the color they'd wanted, this had some minute flaw visible only to their eyes- also, the grandmother had to have everything translated for her, and every time I tried to explain that I couldn't give a discount on most of their items because there was nothing wrong with them, she'd just shake her head and start griping in Spanish, which would incite the others to continue badgering me. The HC ended up walking off after bringing a new paint tool up for them, and later he told me that he had to walk away or else he would have started yelling at them. The price on the cabinet ended up being 88 dollars, and they demanded fifty dollars off. When I told them we couldn't do that, the HC had only authorized me to take off thirty-five, they continued arguing with me until they finally realized they wouldn't win on that one when we offered to order a different one for them if the one they'd brought up was so bad, and they could pay full price for the new one. It took close to an hour to get rid of them while their kids were eating the store, and they pitched a fit the whole way through. I was shaking and nearly in tears by the time they left-a few coworkers asked if I was okay because I was visibly trembling. I wasn't too happy with my HC leaving me to deal with them, but at the same time I can't really blame him too much. They ended up getting thirty-five off on the cabinet, and that was IT. They tried to get a discount for everything, but in the end if they wouldn't take it as is I ended up just taking the item off their order and putting it in the go-backs-that, along with the previous offer of paying full price for a different cabinet, seemed to get it through their skulls that they weren't going to get everything for as little as they wanted.

Still, even with the reality check being delivered, they still had me shaking and almost in tears, and my Head Cashier ready to throttle them, and the area was a mess from their kids tearing up the place while they were there. That day couldn't have ended quick enough. Evidently this isn't the first time that's happened either-quite a few cashiers have ended up with these discount fishers, who purposely seek out items with teeny tiny flaws, or even damage the product minutely themselves, so they can demand to get it for less than the actual price. A lot of the time they end up giving in, just to get rid of them, because some of these people will argue for hours and our sales are timed. I hate to see dishonest, greedy, or just plain stupid people get rewarded like that.

Closed means CLOSED.

This lady was relatively nice about it, but it was still annoying.

I worked the closing shift the other night, which is the shift that the cashiers speak of in terrified whispers full of dread, mainly for one reason-there will be only ONE cashier on shift past a certain point until closing, for about two hours. One. Single. Cashier. In the whole store. In one of the biggest hardware stores in the country, and the only one in this city to the best of my knowledge. So already not a lot of fun there. Still, around nine thirty (since we close at ten) the Head Cashier starts making announcements that the store is closing soon, please make your final selections yadda yadda yadda. We had a few that lingered a few minutes past closing, but it's no big deal. So we were shutting down the registers, cleaning up and such, but I was informed that I couldn't close out mine just yet. Why? There was a lady in Millworks, evidently arguing with the manager over what she wanted. So, instead of closing up the last register and getting everything finished up, I had to wait there for her.

She took almost a full half hour to finally come up with her stuff, the manager with her, and continued arguing (albeit almost playfully) about discounts and such. She didn't shut up and leave until I spotted her military ID in her wallet, pointed it out, and told her I could give her the ten percent military discount, which made her happy enough to complete the purchase and leave so we could lock down the doors and finish up closing the registers. OY.

Then when I got out I got to sit out in the dark all alone for a while because since I don't have a car yet my boyfriend comes to pick me up, and he has me wait for him at the Wendy's, but the dining area had closed (he didn't know that they closed it at all) I couldn't go in and was left sitting on the sidewalk until he got there, shivering and nervous. It may be worth noting here that I have anxiety problems, am severely physically sensitive, and get anxious or downright panicky rather easily-something that has worsened as I've gotten older, so me+outside in the dark+alone+cold+windy=BAD. He was really apologetic when he got there though, and it wasn't his fault anyway. I just wish I could find a cheap car so we wouldn't have to worry about stuff like that anymore.

Also, I've gotten teased a lot because of a slight southern accent I have. I'm from Texas, born and raised, of course I have an accent! Most of it's pretty playful though, but I swear if one of the lot guys yells "HOOOOWWWDYY!" in a ridiculously heavy accent when he passes my register again, I'm throwing a tape measure at him!

[dakhur]

'No' needs to become your new best friend. Be kind to it - take it out for drinks - say soothing things and buy it trinkets. Whatever it takes. And then, when the special snowflakes start, just say 'no' and take the item off the counter.

Practice saying it and using the laser glare of death together. You will be stunned with how compliant a customer can become when they realise you're not to be trifled with.

[Food Lady]

Awful. I've learned how to say no, and keep repeating it, without getting complaints, because I use an apologetic voice. As for Tape Measure Boys, I think they're trying to flirt. Enjoy it.

[Anakah]

Unless the item is in the clearance section or has something on it indicating a "discount" STFU and pay the full price!! I wouldn't dream of asking for a discount on anything! Cheap asses. I'm sure they know if they badger certain places a lot that they'll eventually get what they want.

HC should not have left you especially since I assume that they're some kind of lead? They're the ones getting paid to hear that shit right?

Ugh sorry you get stuck with idiots. I do too. Why can't I run into the people who post on here instead of the morons we're all posting about?

[ravevolution]

Ahh the language barrier, one that has plagued me form time to time.

I feel ya, i really do. I too am in CA and know all to well how ride some non-english speakers can be. It doesn't matter what language they speak, your gonna get those who will just be rude. I was always bothered when after explaining something to the ones in groups who spoke english they would go mutter off in their own language to each other, like as if they were plotting against me

I actually had a customer get all uppity with me just cause there was no one available to speak their native tongue.


And ahhh the discount seekers, reason 1 why I used to loathe price matching.

[Evandril]

To the ones demanding you speak Spanish, you can remind them you can go most places in the world and find people who can speak English, ALL Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots are required to speak it for example. Spanish...Notsomuch

I know you can't, but 'twould be sooo nice if you could tell the discount hunters they'd get their discount, if they are willing to pay for the cleaning up after their kids...Which, of course, will come to at least double the discount

[Jay 2K Winger]

Re: the language barrier.

I know enough Spanish to communicate juuuust enough to say maybe a handful of short phrases, and to say, "Yo sé un poquito de español." ("I know a little bit of Spanish.")

I have no problem with people who are clearly trying to make an effort to get along, even if they don't speak English very well. I've been thankful not to run into anyone who thinks I should learn THEIR language, but they'd probably just get a roll of the eyes from me.

Sorry you have to deal with people who won't try to meet you half-way.

[manybellsdown]

1.) They don't speak English at all, and just say 'yes' to everything I say;

THIS one happened to me all the time when I was teaching. If I didn't know they didn't understand English, I'd start telling a parent something and they'd nod, smile, and agree with everything. I'd think they understood me. Then a week later when little Oscar hadn't returned his permission slip/was still missing homework/was acting out in class, I'd find out they don't speak any English.

FFF- then TELL me that, and I'll get a translator! Don't sit there saying yes to everything and making me think we've taken care of it. I don't CARE if you need translation, as long as you just let me know!

[emax4]

I have a solution to this:

SCGrP: DISCOUNT. (Heavily accented)

Me: Sorry, I don't understand Spanish. The price is eighty dollars...

[pollywog]

I hated people who were looking for a discount on the tiniest or even imaginary flaw. I would tell people the most I could take off was 10%. They would always go on and on about how no one would want to buy a damaged product and they were being generous enough to take it off of our hands. I took great glee in telling them that I could send the item back to the manufacturer for full credit, so if they really wanted it that bad they could take the offered discount, or none at all. Cue catbutt face.

[Merriweather]

Never could understand why anyone would expect to go to a foreign country and have that country's people adjust to them, rather than the other way around. We lived a decade in the UK, and made several (as many as we could stretch the budget to) trips to the continent. I'm not good at languages, so I always carried a tiny phrase book for the country I was visiting. I prefer to go places other than the "touristy" shops & restaurants, but I can read numbers in any language, so prices weren't a problem, and my phrase book helped with menus. If someone spoke English, I considered it a definite plus, and was very appreciative, but if not, I apologized for not speaking their language (via the phrasebook). The fact that I tried, and that realized it was my place, not theirs, to figure out how to communicate seemed to do wonders for how we were treated (even by the French, who by tradition hate foreigners in general, LOL).

[emax4]

Since some associates have the authority to give such a discount on an item, I believe they should be able to alter the return policy as well. They want a discount? No problem!

Instead of the normal return policy on this item, now it is sold AS IS and no returns are accepted on said item. if they DO bring it back to return it, is will be considered a donation and no money is returned to the customer. They'll have to sign a form acknowledging this, and if they refuse to do so, the item is still full price with the store's normal return policy. If the store in question is a thrift store, usually there's no return policy anyway, but there should be a measure to prevent more discounts being given to the same customer.

[IamEmancipated]

I had a Hispanic woman come into the Pennsylvania chicken store where I formerly worked, and for the life of me I could not understand her. She was speaking English---that much I was certain---but her accent was so thick I was heavily embarrassed that I couldn't even take her order. And I lived in New Mexico for a long time, so I thought I was immune to that sort of thing. Part of me wished she would start speaking Spanish because then I might be able to sort out what she was saying based on rudimentary vocabulary. She did get served, but only after a long slow conversation during which I repeatedly apologized and tried not to make her feel terrible.

ETA: When my sister went to Japan, she said the people there would single the tour group out and practice their English on them. She thought it was amusing.

[KellyHabersham]

I had customers like that at Macy's once - a middle-aged couple was helping an older woman look for a watch, the younger woman was the only one who spoke to me, so I'm guessing that she was the only one who was fluent enough in English. (meanwhile, I don't speak whatever their native language was)

Anyhow, she kept asking for a discount, and did NOT seem to understand that our "20% off signs" near the registers referred to discounts customers received after applying for the store credit card. Eventually she just purchased the watch in question, but I never figured out if she was just trying to haggle, or there really was a language barrier.

[EricKei]

It's times like these that makes me wish I spoke French (or , preferably, Cajun French) -- if someone pulled the "Why don't you speak ____" card on me, I could simply reply -- in French -- "This is southern Louisiana. Why don't YOU speak French?"