Today was a fun day. I went in for my shift at ten am, and everything went normal for about the first half of it. It was the usual, kids knocking things off shelves and screaming at the top of their lungs, stupid college kids staying on the arcades for as long as they can before one of us gets tired of hearing it and flips the power off. Parents without their kids coming in and asking things such as, "Do you guys have that Mario game?" and not being specific on which one, considering there's about a friggin' thousand of them, then arguing on the phone with their kid about it for half an hour as loud as they can (of course). Everyone within a fifty mile radius comes to our store before we're the only one around. It was normal. Until one fine gentleman decided that he would do us a favor and scare the piss out of both of us working.
To start this off, we buy game consoles, but only if they're in working condition and aren't completely filthy (one kid once brought in one that had a mysterious jelly nestled deep within the disc tray). So this guy brings in his, says he wants cash for it.
SC: crazy suspected heroin addict who might kill your children in their sleep because jesus christ is he ANGRY.
Me: terrified.
SC: I want cash for this.
Me: Okay -takes the consoles- Just have to make sure it works first, since we can't take it if it doesn't work. -tries a few discs, the thing's obviously busted- Sorry man, we can't take it. It's not loading any of the discs I put in it.
SC: -trembling, sweating a little, shifty eyes- But I need the money!
Me: -nervous, this guy is obviously nuts, his pupils are dilated and his body language is screaming, "I NEED REHAB!"- I'm sorry, we can't take it, it's our policy. We sell these things back out to other customers after we buy them, we can't sell someone a broken system.
SC: DAMNIT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! I need that money!
Me: I'm sorry, I can't do it.
SC: Fine.
I relaxed a little because he seemed to have calmed down. I handed the console back to him and he took it and began walking towards the door. The two other customers in there, kind of huddled in the back corner pretending not to notice but obviously as scared as I was, seemed to sigh and went back to shopping. We relaxed much too soon. As he reached the door, the crazy druggie my god someone sedate him turned and heaved the console shot put style into a gondola, which exploded with the cases hanging on it, and through the crash of the gondola I heard the console hit the side of the counter and crumble into pieces. I realized I was huddling under the counter by the time the noise settled, and I peeked over to find that the guy was gone. The other two people were crouched down, eyes wide, and one of them muttered, "Oh my god." Manager came from the back, asked what the noise was and I told him. We called the cops, but the guy was long gone by the time they got there.
But hey, well, at least we have a funny video on the security tapes now.
To start this off, we buy game consoles, but only if they're in working condition and aren't completely filthy (one kid once brought in one that had a mysterious jelly nestled deep within the disc tray). So this guy brings in his, says he wants cash for it.
SC: crazy suspected heroin addict who might kill your children in their sleep because jesus christ is he ANGRY.
Me: terrified.
SC: I want cash for this.
Me: Okay -takes the consoles- Just have to make sure it works first, since we can't take it if it doesn't work. -tries a few discs, the thing's obviously busted- Sorry man, we can't take it. It's not loading any of the discs I put in it.
SC: -trembling, sweating a little, shifty eyes- But I need the money!
Me: -nervous, this guy is obviously nuts, his pupils are dilated and his body language is screaming, "I NEED REHAB!"- I'm sorry, we can't take it, it's our policy. We sell these things back out to other customers after we buy them, we can't sell someone a broken system.
SC: DAMNIT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! I need that money!
Me: I'm sorry, I can't do it.
SC: Fine.
I relaxed a little because he seemed to have calmed down. I handed the console back to him and he took it and began walking towards the door. The two other customers in there, kind of huddled in the back corner pretending not to notice but obviously as scared as I was, seemed to sigh and went back to shopping. We relaxed much too soon. As he reached the door, the crazy druggie my god someone sedate him turned and heaved the console shot put style into a gondola, which exploded with the cases hanging on it, and through the crash of the gondola I heard the console hit the side of the counter and crumble into pieces. I realized I was huddling under the counter by the time the noise settled, and I peeked over to find that the guy was gone. The other two people were crouched down, eyes wide, and one of them muttered, "Oh my god." Manager came from the back, asked what the noise was and I told him. We called the cops, but the guy was long gone by the time they got there.
But hey, well, at least we have a funny video on the security tapes now.
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