A Very Retail Christmas

It's that time of year, everybody! I'm working long hours in the retail business, and even though it's supposed to be a time of rejoicing and happiness, customers are at their most evil, it seems. I was reading my friend Ashley's blog, which reminded me that I have had some cranky customers as of late, and since I haven't written much of anything lately because I've been so busy, I thought I would write about them. And the puppy is sleeping, so it's perfect timing.

Customer Numero Uno.

I was not working on the first day she came in, but a customer, who claims to know everything about everything (don't you just LOVE those people?), bought some Chinese algae eaters and some guppies, I believe. Well, apparently, the algae eaters she bought (and she bought 2, nobody needs 2 algae eaters, they don't even do anything) had a "sickness" and they died, then killed everything in her tank. I'm willing to bet it was the water quality or the fact that she over populated her tank, people have a tendency to exaggerate the size of their tank. Anyways. Together, these 2 fish cost $4. Just $4. We were happy to reimburse her (we do have a 14 DAy guarantee), but apparently that wasn't enough. She was "distraught." So "distraught" that $4 wasn't going to cut it. So instead of calling us, she directly calls our corporate office to complain. About the death of 2 algae eaters and the effect it had on her fish. And for the record, the fish did not have "a sickness." We haven't had any algae eaters in that tank die in the last few weeks. So it's definitely not that.

So what does she get? A $50 gift card. Yep, because completely reimbursing her wasn't enough. And every time she calls our store, she hangs up on my PetCare manager. I think she should have to pay us to deal with her. She came in the other day, and my manager made me work with her because she knew I would be nice and doesn't have a grudge against me- yet, anyway. She wanted guppies, but the whole time she kept complaining that we didn't carry the beautiful guppies she had before and she didn't want to get a guppy from "that tank" because "that tank" had a dead fish in it. (Who wants to be the one to inform her that our tanks are all on the same system??? Haha not me.) Well, she ended up getting 18 fish. I can guarantee you a lot of them are going to die because you should never add that many fish at once to a brand new tank- even an established tank. I am allowed to refuse a sale like that, but I had a feeling no matter what I did, she would eventually get angry, so I just gave her what she wanted and tried to talk to her a little as possible. If you think you know everything, lady, you should know that adding 118 fish will overwhelm your tank with ammonia. Not my problem anymore. And fyi, my manager did back my decision to just give her what she wanted, even though it will probably result in more dead fish. We didn't want her calling corporate to complain about the associates this time. Fish, fine, but we didn't want to give her a reason to complain about me.

Customer Numero Dos

This older lady (apparently all angry customers are ladies, who knew?) came in looking for a filter for her tank. Her problem? Her tank is only one gallon, one of the little betta starter kits we sell, and it comes with a filter. Why, I have no idea, one gallon aquariums (if you can call it that), don't need a filter, especially one with a betta in it. They don't like any turbulence. Well, we don't sell one gallon filters. I am not sure the reasoning behind it (probably because they're not necessary), but it is not MY DECISION what we do and do not sell in the store. She was getting very irate with us, telling me, another associate, and a manager that we need to talk to whoever decides what we carry and tell them we need to carry it. We told her she could just buy a new set up, which is only $10, but then she went off about how she shouldn't have to do that with the economy going down the toilet and it's not good for the environment and such nonsense like that. Well, lady, if you're looking for a new filter, you're probably going to spend that much on it anyway. Then she mentioned how she should just shop at WalMart since she can get the same tank for about $3 less. And then she said "I have seen nothing here that will bring me back" and she walked out of the store. Ok, whatever. Go shop at WalMart, where the employees know nothing about fish care and the aquarium you buy with a filter will probably break in a weak or so. Good luck with that.

I don't understand why everyone has to be so cranky. Remember, as a retail associate, I have the power to lie to you so you never come back. Or I can hide so you can't find me. If you're nice, I'm nice. I will be sympathetic with you and help you in anyway I can, but if you're mean to me, I'm not going to want to be nice to you. And contrary to belief, the customer is not always right. I do not have to put up with abuse from you.