IRL Reactions to your work horror stories?

[HotelMinion]

If you're like me, you tell everyone you know all of your work horror stories when they ask how's work. Their reactions are a mixed bag, but it's mostly: Sometimes they laugh. Very few feel mad on my behalf tbh.
So how do people IRL react to your horror stories? Mad, sympathetic, think it's funny? Just wondering.

[Android Kaeli]

Sometimes its a "you're making this up, aren't you?" because they can't believe how insane some of the customers I deal with are.

[Deserted]

Most of mine are answered with: "Yeah, I can believe that. You're a cab driver, after all."

[Mr Hero]

Most people I tell my stories to make fun of the SC.

[Food Lady]

I stopped telling them because they're sick of hearing it. That's what I have y'all for, and I'm very grateful.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Sometimes its a "you're making this up, aren't you?" because they can't believe how insane some of the customers I deal with are.

This, plus how stupid some of them are.

[XCashier]

Sometimes its a "you're making this up, aren't you?" because they can't believe how insane some of the customers I deal with are.

My parents used to be like this. Not because they thought I was lying, they just couldn't wrap their heads around how horribly some people behave.

Hubby OTOH has worked retail and fast food, so when I'd regale him with stories from work, he totally understood. Sometimes with a sympathy hug, sometimes insulting the SC, but he Got It.

I've been out of retail since last November (work from home now) and I truly do not miss it. I miss my coworkers, but I don't miss Corporate's insanity or the SCs. My coworkers keep asking me, "When are you coming back?" Well, is Corporate still sending you 500 box shipments every week and no hours or equipment to do them? Are customers still asking you for step-by-step instructions on how to do their projects, not-so-subtly hinting that you should do it for them? They are? Well, I guess I'll return when Hell freezes over.

[Sulhythal]

I've had a few similar reactions, but the most galling was when I told about the guy who wanted me to be his personal shopper...after I was off the clock...and complained about me to a manager because I wanted to go home instead of helping him...

And got this blank look. "Why is that a problem?"

I explained he had a habit of monopolizing people that had helped him before, for hours.

"So? It's just being nice, and he probably just wanted..." No.

No, he wanted to feel like he had a servant/slave of his own for a few hours.

"You're exaggerating"

[rose_metal_nz]

I work tech support.

I had to explain to Mum recently that the most common line I hear is
"So, do I click Next?"

...

She didn't believe me. Then she did. She doesn't ask me about work anymore

[HotelMinion]

I stopped telling them because they're sick of hearing it. .

That's sad, I would expect the people I know to at least say, "that's too bad" as I do when they're telling me of their work woes.

I've had a few similar reactions, but the most galling was when I told about the guy who wanted me to be his personal shopper...after I was off the clock...and complained about me to a manager because I wanted to go home instead of helping him...

And got this blank look. "Why is that a problem?"

I explained he had a habit of monopolizing people that had helped him before, for hours.

"So? It's just being nice, and he probably just wanted..." No.

No, he wanted to feel like he had a servant/slave of his own for a few hours.

"You're exaggerating"

I get that sometimes, "You should've done X, you should've done Y. S/he was probably just having a bad day." Comes from people who haven't worked a long time as I have with the public i.e. my brother. My sister, who has worked longer with the public is more sympathetic, though she is actually extroverted and likes talking to the public, and she has something in her brain that blocks out any bad memories of people.
Sure wish I had that!!!

[taxguykarl]

Sometimes its a "you're making this up, aren't you?" because they can't believe how insane some of the customers I deal with are.

That's not a rare reaction

[notalwaysright]

I get that sometimes, "You should've done X, you should've done Y. S/he was probably just having a bad day." Comes from people who haven't worked a long time as I have with the public

Yeah, mostly when I tell horror stories about the Fabric Store people are like "you worked there?! That place is always crazy, omg" in sympathy with me.

But every once in a while I'd get "Oh, Fabric Store? They never have enough employees, and the sales are confusing." (or "the fabric is never in the right place" etc) Heavily implying that they are siding with whatever SC is in my story. And the thing is, I agree that the chain is being run into the ground, and if people don't shop there because of bad experiences, that's fine, I totally understand. But when I'm telling a story of how someone left a dirty diaper on the floor, that's not the store's fault. If I'm telling the story of a customer who always berated the employees telling them they were stupid, that's not the store's fault. And so on.

[KuariKaydrith]

I've had everything from a sympathetic smile and hug to "You've got to be shitting me! That wouldn't ever happen...would it?"

I've had patterns whipped at my head by angry customers, gotten complaints because I 'rolled my eyes' at somebody, gotten called a 'retard' because I stutter, had more than one person try to come over the counter at me when they've disagreed with a company policy, and so much more.

The people who've worked retail and/or fast food fully understand. It's the people who've never had to do that kind of work in their lives who can't believe it. I swear everybody should have to have a retail or fast food job at least once in their lives so they can have their eyes opened to the realities of SCs. Not that it would help some of the more entitled arseholes out there :/

[Racket_Man]

fortunately for me most of the people I know are either in the biz or have worked in the biz and really understand the cra cra, insanity, the stupid, the dumb, the not understanding of how the world/reality works, how physics/chemistry works, etc.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

I actually had a guy that I was involved with at the time actually tell me I had no right to go to HR when I was having to deal with those two nightmare managers over a decade ago now.

Basically, I was just supposed to shut up and take it because I'm a woman. He really didn't like it when I reminded him that I don't tolerate disrespect from anyone, regardless of who they are.

Needless to say, he made the Wall of Ex's not long after that . . .