How DARE I be sick?

[Indigo_X]

Hookay, this happened a couple days ago and actually was what prompted me to start posting on this site.

I have a really nasty cold, one of the kind that hit you like a hammer and just won't leave. One lovely symptom of it is that my voice dies out occasionally. (Even now I sound not unlike a pubescent boy when I try to talk. :P)

Anyway, getting the amount of customer traffic I do, I figure it'd be easier on everyone if I just write a note. Save my voice, save them from not being able to hear me. It read thusly:

'Hi! I'm sorry, but I've lost my voice. How may I help you?'

This goes over well for a while, everyone gets the message and understands I'm not giving 'em the silent treatment on purpose. And this is where we get to Ms. Self Righteous and our tale of woe begins in earnest.

SC- Sucky customer, of course.
Indy- The Amazin' Mostly Mute Cashier
M- my manager, who was on duty with me


SC: *approaches counter, sets a 12 pack of beer up*
Indy: *smiles, holds up note so she can see itU*
SC: *snottily* You've got to be kidding me. *sharp sigh* Fine, I'll also have *mumble.*
Indy: ... *leans in a bit, indicating I can't hear her, mouths 'I'm sorry?'*
SC: You know what? Every time. Every time I come in. You're supposed to give CUSTOMER SERVICE. I--
Indy: *surprised, croaks with some difficulty, hoping if she hears my horrible speech capabilities for herself she'll be appeased* I'm... sorry, but I really can't...
SC: Well, you SHOULD be sorry! You SHOULD be! I'm reporting you, I'm reporting ALL of you!
Indy: *about to cry* I'm...
SC: I'm NEVER coming back here EVER! I'm reporting all of you!
M: It's okay, ma'am. We're going to send her on home.
SC: Good. You give me my change. *SNATCHES it*
Indy: *misses her storming out as she's ducked into the back sobbing*

Now, usually I have a better time of handling customer-abusive wack jobs like this, but said illness must've taken a chunk out of my resistance level because I was really upset- not only over the incident, but that I'd be losing all-too-important hours over it.

*sigh*

[fireheart]

I had the same cold as you did, so I know how you feel.

I tended to joke about it though and just said that I was impersonating the Squeaky-Voiced Teen from The Simpsons.

[RootedPhoenix]

It's not your fault, Indigo_X. She just had a bunch of popcorn kernels up her nose.

I know I've had that cold before. It's naaasty. Sorry you had to go through that.

[rerant]

I had something similar happen to me recently.
I was sitting behind the counter at work with WRETCHED cramps. I wasn't sick, per se, just in incredible pain.
Customer enters, I go through the usual "Can I help you find anything?" bit and she says she's looking for lingerie.
I tell her it's towards the back and say, "If you need anything else I'll be up here. I'd get up but my stomach is in a lot of pain right now."

Her response? "So that gives you a free pass not to do your fucking job? No one in this place knows a damn thing about customer service, it's disgusting!"

I didn't want to but I just replied, "I have insane cramps. Sorry about my uterus!"

Probably more snippy than I needed to be but come ON I was as nice to her as I always am to every other customer and she snapped at me for it.
Gimme a fricken break.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I tended to joke about it though and just said that I was impersonating the Squeaky-Voiced Teen from The Simpsons.

I got a guy working at the swamp who looks just like the Squeaky-Voiced Teen from The Simpsons.

Even got a bit of facial acne to boot.

I haven't the heart to tell him this, though.

[xbuttonsx]

I have a genetic disease that effects mostly my lungs so I have a chronic cough. You can imagine how well that goes over with customers... Especially at this time of year.

[bainsidhe]

Way to go on manager throwing you under the bus like that. /sarcasm Did you honestly get sent home? Did you need to be sent home? Last year I had a mild cold, except it killed my voice for a week. I barely had the sniffles, yet I couldn't speak above a whisper.

I hope your workplace didn't screw you over too bad. This woman was a jerk. Can you imagine how she'd react if you were deaf or had some other disability? Abusive customers like that make me angry, but your manager's indirect acceptance of such behavior really bothers me.

[nuthing12]

Your manager is a horrible person for still being nice to a person like that. I wish the customer had yelled at the manager for being such a wimp when they had the voice to fight back.

[XCashier]

Now, usually I have a better time of handling customer-abusive wack jobs like this, but said illness must've taken a chunk out of my resistance level because I was really upset- not only over the incident, but that I'd be losing all-too-important hours over it.

Some people are total jerks. Shame on that hag for being so mean to you when it's obvious you weren't feeling quite 100%. Heaven forbid anyone treat her that way when she's in the same fix!

I've lost my voice more than a few times. I end up sounding like Marge Simpson!

[ThirdGenRetail]

I get the feeling the manager sent her(Him?) home as sick, not punishment - More of a "You need rest, go get it NOW! NO ARGUING ABOUT IT!" thing. Still, though, that lady was an absolute I've been on the "I can't talk right now" page before, only with abscessing teeth. I'd have to have Anbesol on my gums, or water, just to stave off the pain. I tacked a note to my apron in high school much like the OP's sign. "I apologize for my silence, I have a tooth ache and the Orajel makes it hard to talk well" or something.

[hinakiba777]

I have luckily never had a customer give me shit because I was sick. And that woman is such a for treating you like that.

Though I have had people tell me I shouldn't be working if I'm so tired. This is usually at the tail end of an 8 hour overnight shift. Once my relief didn't arrive and I had to wait for my supervisor to show up. Someone said that it was really irresponsible of me to be at my job when I was so obviously not fully awake. Of course at this point it was 8:45am of a shift that should have ended at 8:00am. So I couldn't be fussed to care.

[jackfaire]

So sorry about my irresponsibility ma'am next time I will close the store go wake up my replacement shower and dress him and then drive him here so I can go home.

[Indigo_X]

I think he did send me home 'cuz I was sick, mostly. My manager's not a bad dude, really. On the other hand, I could tell he was also trying to appease the customer. Soooooo yeah.

And I still can't talk right. Stupid cold that won't leave. 9_9

[Dave1982]

You know, the perfect response to that woman (aside from the obvious problem) doesn't even require the ability to speak.....

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Meanwhile...guess who's taking a sick day today?

At least I have a little bit of vacation time left so I still get paid for today. I hope to be better tomorrow.