Bursting into tears over customers...

[ADoyle90815]

It's too bad you didn't have one manager I did, who not only argued back with a SC, he banned that person from the store. This was at the opposite end of where I was working, so I missed the fun, but heard about it in the break room. Let's just say that it was one SC's customer whose Christmas we were glad to have ruined as this happened in December.

[Marmalady]

I wish you had my deputy manager, B, there - a customer (male) once started mouthing off at a CW of mine because he reckoned she was taking too long serving the customer in front (apparently there were a lot of groceries that had to be marked down manually)
Next thing we know, B was there and said "You DON'T talk to my staff like that! Get out!" and took the basket out of the customers hand - and as the SC stormed off B called after him "And don't come back, you're banned!"

B is the most laid back manager you could meet, he takes the p*** out of all of us and doesn't care if we do it back to him, but have a go at his staff and he goes into Grizzly mode

[Kristev]

Bitunt.

That's what she is.

I am also sorry that she went off on you like that. It sounds like my mother. It's equally offensive to me that the manager just let it happen.

[bhskittykatt]

So sorry you had to go through that. Calling that woman a b*tch would be insulting to b*tches everywhere. Even the c-word isn't strong enough. I think we need to invent a new word to describe that awfulness.

You did absolutely nothing wrong. Don't take her words personally. She's insane. Sane people don't do stuff like that, so clearly the issue lies squarely on her end.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

The milk of human kindness certainly has gone off with this one.

I know it's hurtful, I know it's painful but remember that for every miserable Charlie Uniform November Tango out there, there are dozens that are nice and hundreds that are neither nice nor nasty.

Just do what I do. Take a bowl and a taper candle. Cut it down until it's about the same height as the bowl unless it's a short taper. Place the candle into hte center of the bowl, melting a little wax to get it to stick. Fill the bowl until the water is about half-to-three quarters of an inch from the tip of the candle.

Now here's the fun part. Light the candle, stare into the candle and pour your rage into the flame. I mean really live it up. Bring up everything that has annoyed the heck out of you. Some schmuck cut you off on your way to work? Bring it up! Kids ate your last chocolate and lied their little butts off about it? Bring it up! That miserable twat-waffle tore into your manager and tried to belittle you? Bring it up and pour it into that candle! Use it to fuel Revel in your anger. Pour it into that flame. Hell, that flame BURNS because of your rage. Your rage FUELS that flame! Stop repressing it, bring it all up and let it flow through you! Don't hold back!

Then the wick will touch the water and the flame will go out. This should have been about 15 minutes worth of anger channeling. Many people as well as myself usually feel a sudden shock when the flame goes out and usually we're jolly well spent. Some even report feeling a bit silly afterward for dredging all that up and trying to nuke a candle with our minds. In any case, most of us just feel like we've managed to clear out all the anger and can go on feeling a whole lot better.

[BrenDAnn]

I am so sorry you had to go through that. I nearly cried for you reading it, mostly because I've been in that position. I had a woman call the store I used to work at one night and berate me over the phone for a good 10 minutes or more, telling me how much of a bitch I am, etc. It brought me to tears, to the point where I sank to the floor and cried behind the counter after I hung up the phone. I agree that the SC bitch should be banned for life, but it sounds as if your manager is rather spineless, unfortunately. Being in management as I am now, I'm sure as hell not going to let any of my employees go through that sort of thing. Yes, I know, corporate rides the management's asses, as our dear Irving pointed out, but still...No one, and I mean NO ONE should have to go through that sort of humiliation and degradation!

[HotelMinion]

what a dumbass that woman was. I had many like her too when I was a cashier. I swear if I ever see a woman make a cashier cry...I'd go to jail for assualt. However I didn't cry, I just stared really angrily. The only one that made me cry was that big nasty dude who stabbed my phone with his fat, nasty finger. And that was mostly tears of rage. Crying of sadness is usually for the dumbass managers I've had. :\

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I agree, the person to fire in this instance is the manager. Sure, a manager should listen to complaints - but they should never, ever, allow someone to stand there and yell insults at their staff. From what you said, she never even stated what in her tiny little mind amounted to rudeness. Even if you had been rude (which you were not), the manager should not have allowed her to scream insults at you, he should have told her she could either tell him exactly what you did that she felt was so wrong, or leave.

Because, of course, there is nobody above him like a district manager to whom a written or telephone complaint can be sent (and I kinda think somebody batshit crazy enough to go off like that in the store is also batshit crazy to complain higher up if he/she is put off or told to calm down.)

Yeah, it was absolutely terrible you had to go through that. But who knows; maybe the manager's had his spine and his balls removed by his bosses because they're big believers that the customer is king, the customer is always right, every customer is worth retaining, blah blah blah, and he knows being too confrontational will just get him in trouble.

It's a sick, sad world we live in.

[Evil Cashier 411]

I'm sorry for you being in that experience. People like that SC is the reason why I'm taking martial arts classes. That way, I can pretend my attackers are the SC's being shoulder thrown into a pit of lava. I mean the katami matts.

[Merriweather]

Ohhhhhhhhhhmygosh that is so absolutely horrible I'm so sorry you had to go thru that. And you manager has absolutely NO backbone to allow that. Yes, she sounds kinda bat-shit crazy but whattheHELL?! - hope he bans her from the store

I agree, the person to fire in this instance is the manager. Sure, a manager should listen to complaints - but they should never, ever, allow someone to stand there and yell insults at their staff. From what you said, she never even stated what in her tiny little mind amounted to rudeness. Even if you had been rude (which you were not), the manager should not have allowed her to scream insults at you, he should have told her she could either tell him exactly what you did that she felt was so wrong, or leave.

She's just a raving, insane b*tch who with any luck, you'll never see again. I'd be much more upset at the treatment you received from your manager by his allowing this.

I hope there's a way you can file something further up the line, stating what happened, and how your manager contributed to how badly you felt.

[LillFilly]

I wish I had been there so I could have punched your customers into unconsciousness for you (Disclaimer: LillFillytm and Associates do not condone violence in the real world). I'm punching them in my mind for you right now! Your manager should have stepped-in way sooner; that was terrible and abusive. Sounds like all the customers themselves just drank from the well assholery today. Hope things get better for you - you should NOT be putting up with sexual harassment; even if they claim it's all in good fun or just joking. I think you should talk to your manager about how the customers' abuse compounded the harassment you've been dealing with so that he is informed. If he's a good boss he'll do something about it, and not say something like 'you're not being a team player, suck up and take it.' Good luck.

[rose_metal_nz]

Ohhhhhhhhhhmygosh that is so absolutely horrible I'm so sorry you had to go thru that. And you manager has absolutely NO backbone to allow that. Yes, she sounds kinda bat-shit crazy but whattheHELL?! - hope he bans her from the store

[Food Lady]

What?!?!?!?!? First, you did absolutely nothing wrong and she completely flew off the handle! What is her problem????? Second, your manager should've stepped in waaaayyy sooner. I am so incensed I want to get up in that SC's face and tell her off. And I stopped doing that because I was really good at using words as weapons. My blood pressure is rising. Don't tick off Big Sister Food Lady! OK, I gotta do some deep breathing now....

[Plague*Star]

"She is absolutely pathetic"

Well, she was certainly right about one thing, she *is* absolutely pathetic. As they say, projection isn't just a river in Egypt...or something. I'm sorry you had to endure that undeserved abuse. Would it make you feel any better if I pointed out to you that you only had to live with her for a few (unpleasant) minutes? *She* has to live with herself 24/7...I don't know if anybody else bothers with her, she's so mean and nasty. I hope venting about it at CS will help you feel better. Welcome!
P*S

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I don't cry.

I slam doors. I punch boxes.

Fear me, SCs.