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Oops! Did I say that???
What's the worst thing you've ever said to an SC? I've worked retail for a long time so I've said a mouthful over the years. If I remember correctly, the following was my first offense.
Location: Floral Dept
Scenario: On the phone with an SC. Phones are really bad, hard to hear people when they're calling from outside the store. Plus, my hearing isn't what it used to be.
SC: "ustn jth elxo peejo evop lditykl?" (That's what I heard...I swear!)
Me:
"Pardon me?"
SC: "ustn jth elxo peejo evop lditykl"
Me: "I'm sorry ma'am. I'm afraid I still didn't catch that. These phones aren't the best and it's quite noisy in here. Could you please repeat your question."
SC: "I said," (her volume increases ever so slightly) "Do ___ still ___ the _____ on sale?"
Me: (Still not able to understand everything but getting the gist of her question.) "Do we still have the (name of plant) on sale?"
SC: (quite angry at this point...somewhat understandable I'll admit..but now she's screaming at me) "What is your problem? Why won't you answer my question? Every time I call this store I always get the run around from you people. Answer my f*****g question."
Me: (I once again apologize and say) "I'm very sorry. My intent is not to give you the runaround. I simply have not been able to understand which plant you are asking about."
SC: "Well, maybe you would understand if you paid attention. Every time I call this store it's the same thing. No one there knows what they are doing."
(She continued on her little rant for several minutes and I don't recall what she said because I was getting angrier by the second. Finally she says...)"What is your name? I want your name. If you don't give me your name I am going to write a complaint to your store director."
Me: ...silence... (By this time I'm seathing with anger and no longer willing to be polite and refuse to apologize again.)
SC: "I demand to KNOW who this is....."
Me: "Your worst nightmare, lady." and with that, I hung up the phone.
She did, of course, call the store director. He had a little chat with me in his office. (He knew it was me because I was the only one working the area that day)
What's your story(ies)?
Location: Floral Dept
Scenario: On the phone with an SC. Phones are really bad, hard to hear people when they're calling from outside the store. Plus, my hearing isn't what it used to be.
SC: "ustn jth elxo peejo evop lditykl?" (That's what I heard...I swear!)
Me:
"Pardon me?"SC: "ustn jth elxo peejo evop lditykl"
Me: "I'm sorry ma'am. I'm afraid I still didn't catch that. These phones aren't the best and it's quite noisy in here. Could you please repeat your question."
SC: "I said," (her volume increases ever so slightly) "Do ___ still ___ the _____ on sale?"
Me: (Still not able to understand everything but getting the gist of her question.) "Do we still have the (name of plant) on sale?"
SC: (quite angry at this point...somewhat understandable I'll admit..but now she's screaming at me) "What is your problem? Why won't you answer my question? Every time I call this store I always get the run around from you people. Answer my f*****g question."
Me: (I once again apologize and say) "I'm very sorry. My intent is not to give you the runaround. I simply have not been able to understand which plant you are asking about."
SC: "Well, maybe you would understand if you paid attention. Every time I call this store it's the same thing. No one there knows what they are doing."
(She continued on her little rant for several minutes and I don't recall what she said because I was getting angrier by the second. Finally she says...)"What is your name? I want your name. If you don't give me your name I am going to write a complaint to your store director."
Me: ...silence... (By this time I'm seathing with anger and no longer willing to be polite and refuse to apologize again.)
SC: "I demand to KNOW who this is....."
Me: "Your worst nightmare, lady." and with that, I hung up the phone.
She did, of course, call the store director. He had a little chat with me in his office. (He knew it was me because I was the only one working the area that day)
What's your story(ies)?
look mixed with an amused "you're funny" look as if to say, "you're such a stupid moron that it's funny!"*
Quite a fabulous response! Too bad you got in trouble for it...
When I read this, my first reaction was to ask where you work so I could come there and break that manager's jaw. As a Jew myself, I react very badly to that specific stereotype! Especially as the "tightwad Jew" is even less accurate of a stereotype than any other -- some of the most generous of philanthropists are Jewish! And if it isn't money, we give of ourselves! (I myself have been known to give up at least a quarter of my weekends to working for charity!)
He wasn't upset or anything but he asked how I could tell and the first thing I thought of was "You're a theatre major." Bad stereotyping! The fact that I was right had nothing to do with how bad I felt afterwards...he was very nice about it though.
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