In the year I turned 15, I was offered a job at a local ice cream stand. Being bored and stuck at home,ambitious to earn some extra cash (I already had a job as a busser at an American Legion, but that was once or twice a month), I take the job.
Now, I must give you a visual of the ice cream stand for some of this to make sense. The customers stand outside when ordering and right next to the place, we have a small eating area with picnic tables and umbrellas. We have two windows from which we serve the people.
So, it is just the manager and myself working. It wasn't really busy, so I stayed on window, while she kept me stocked and cleaned. So, I get rid of my customers and go clean. That is when I hear the doorbell. Yes...the doorbell. We had installed a doorbell for each window, just in case we are in the back and a customer needs assistance. So, I open my window.
A black lady (yes, this actually important to the story) is standing there, holding a cardboard bowl of a half eaten sundae.
Me: Obvious
SC: Again...obvious
V: The awesome manager
Me: "Hello. How may I help you?"
SC: "I just got this." *shows the sundae*
Me: "Was there something wrong with it?"
SC: "I didn't like it. I want my money back."
Ok. You know that this isn't going to be good. Being young and kinda new to customer service, I decide to get the manager.
Me: "I don't know if we can give you your money back, but let me get my manager so you can talk to her." *to my manager* "V! Can you come to the window please?"
V: "Is something wrong?"
SC: "Yes. I just got this sundae and I didn't like it. I want my money back."
V: "I'm sorry. I can't give you your money back."
At this time, along line is starting to form. V was trying with all her power to get this woman out since we had the other window closed.
SC: "Why not?"
V: "You ate half of it. We can't give a refund just because you didn't like it. If you found something in it or we made it wrong, then we could give you back your money."
SC:"I want my money!"
V: "We can't give you the refund."
SC: "It's because I'm black, isn't it?"
Oooo. Not good. V happens to have a black boyfriend and is very much into rap.
V: "No. It's not. It's because you ate half of it and you didn't like it. That is not our problem."
SC: "I WANT MY MONEY!"
V:"Ma'am. I can't give you a refund. Could you please move along? We have other customers who need to be waited on."
SC:"Well, they aren't getting served until I get my money back!"
Now, I'm pissed. How V was keeping her cool was beyond me. I still had anger problems at that point and it was taking so much not to go over there and punch her. So I did the only thing I could do.
I went over to the other window,took down the "Please use other window" sign, unlcoked the window, leaned out onto the short counter.
Me: "I can help you over here!"
V: *Looking at me and smiling she says to the customers behind this lady* "If you didn't hear her, she can help you over there."
They already heard me and were laughing as they walked over.
V: "Ma'am. I will not give you a refund." *closes and locks the window*
The customers in my line clapped for the both of us.
Now, I must give you a visual of the ice cream stand for some of this to make sense. The customers stand outside when ordering and right next to the place, we have a small eating area with picnic tables and umbrellas. We have two windows from which we serve the people.
So, it is just the manager and myself working. It wasn't really busy, so I stayed on window, while she kept me stocked and cleaned. So, I get rid of my customers and go clean. That is when I hear the doorbell. Yes...the doorbell. We had installed a doorbell for each window, just in case we are in the back and a customer needs assistance. So, I open my window.
A black lady (yes, this actually important to the story) is standing there, holding a cardboard bowl of a half eaten sundae.
Me: Obvious
SC: Again...obvious
V: The awesome manager
Me: "Hello. How may I help you?"
SC: "I just got this." *shows the sundae*
Me: "Was there something wrong with it?"
SC: "I didn't like it. I want my money back."
Ok. You know that this isn't going to be good. Being young and kinda new to customer service, I decide to get the manager.
Me: "I don't know if we can give you your money back, but let me get my manager so you can talk to her." *to my manager* "V! Can you come to the window please?"
V: "Is something wrong?"
SC: "Yes. I just got this sundae and I didn't like it. I want my money back."
V: "I'm sorry. I can't give you your money back."
At this time, along line is starting to form. V was trying with all her power to get this woman out since we had the other window closed.
SC: "Why not?"
V: "You ate half of it. We can't give a refund just because you didn't like it. If you found something in it or we made it wrong, then we could give you back your money."
SC:"I want my money!"
V: "We can't give you the refund."
SC: "It's because I'm black, isn't it?"
Oooo. Not good. V happens to have a black boyfriend and is very much into rap.
V: "No. It's not. It's because you ate half of it and you didn't like it. That is not our problem."
SC: "I WANT MY MONEY!"
V:"Ma'am. I can't give you a refund. Could you please move along? We have other customers who need to be waited on."
SC:"Well, they aren't getting served until I get my money back!"
Now, I'm pissed. How V was keeping her cool was beyond me. I still had anger problems at that point and it was taking so much not to go over there and punch her. So I did the only thing I could do.
I went over to the other window,took down the "Please use other window" sign, unlcoked the window, leaned out onto the short counter.
Me: "I can help you over here!"
V: *Looking at me and smiling she says to the customers behind this lady* "If you didn't hear her, she can help you over there."
They already heard me and were laughing as they walked over.
V: "Ma'am. I will not give you a refund." *closes and locks the window*
The customers in my line clapped for the both of us.
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