(I am training a new 17-year-old. I am going slow and steady trying to teach her the right way to do everything. Two female customers come in. One orders a drink made with caffeine-free citrus soda and sherbet. I start explaining and showing the trainee what to do.)
Me: *quietly to the trainee* “Okay, use two scoops for a small and three for a large, then fill it to here with soda. I personally think these are gross, but they’re really popular, especially with kids.”
Customer: “It’s not gross! If you ever tried it, you’d know it wasn’t gross!”
Me: “I’m sorry; I didn’t even realize you could hear me. I just don’t personally like them, but I know plenty of people who do.”
Customer: “You have to take that back! I’m the customer, so I’m right! You’re are the rudest person I’ve ever seen!”
Me: “Okay. I’m sorry that I don’t personally like the same drink that you do.”
Customer: “I need to talk to your manager right now!”
Me: “Ma’am. I’m the senior employee working right now. My manager is at home with her daughter. I can take down your information and have her call you wh–”
Customer: “No! Call her right now! I need to talk to her and tell her how rude you’ve been! ”
Me: *while dialing the phone* “just to clarify: you want me to interrupt my manager’s family dinner, so you can inform her that I don’t like soda and sherbet mixed together, yes?”
Customer: “Yes! Call her right now! I’ll get you fired!” (I explain the situation on the phone to my manager.)
Manager: “So, what exactly does she want me to do?”
Me: “I think she wants you to fire me . . . for not liking sherbet.”
Manager: “Oh, lord. Just give her the phone.”
(The trainee and I stand there while the customer yells on the phone at my manager. My poor trainee is just dumbfounded. Eventually, my manager convinces the woman t leave and asks her to not come back, as insulting her employees is not acceptable. The woman and her friend leave, and my new co-worker and I breathe a sigh of relief. The customer storms back into the shop.)
Customer: “Oh! And you know what’s gross? Your face!”
(She leaves, and I start laughing uncontrollably.)
Trainee: “Did that just happen?”
Me: “Welcome to life in customer service!”
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