Cider Press Hill

Tantrums

The lad came home from work, on Sunday evening, and threw himself on the sofa. “I’m beginning to hate people,” he said.

“Bad day?” I asked.

“Oh, not really. But it only takes a couple of people throwing a tantrum in the check out line to make me think they just don’t pay me enough to smile and pretend that the customer is always right.”

I can sympathize. I’ve seen some people do and say some really nasty things at the grocery store that they wouldn’t dream of doing at home or at work. At least, I don’t suppose so.

But when a customer starts throwing apples at you because you’re charging them for what they bought instead of what they thought they bought, well, it makes you wonder about people.

The strange thing is that I never hear stories about men pitching fits in the checkout line. “Don’t you ever get unpleasant male customers?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “I don’t. They might look through me like I’m not there, but not even that very often. They just don’t get all huffy and snarky like the women do.”

Now why is that? That would have been my observation, too, after having stood in line behind countless women who, being irritated about one thing or other, took it out on the cashier with varying degrees of nastiness. Over the years, that is. I find that really quite unfortunate and I don’t have any good answer for why this is the way things are.

Posted on 12/07/04 at 01:25 PM
 




Chloe

If it’s a grocery store, it could be because, still, to this day, more women do the grocery shopping in their household.  The odds favour…
Also, I think it might have to do with the fact that it’s more “socially acceptable” for women to show emotion in public than men.  Men might be more interested in being stoic, or just plain keeping their mouth shut, even if they’re riled up about something.  Particularly with a young person on the other side of the counter.
Also, (and I realize you’re not talking about legitimately irate customers)...  But I have a few friends who have told me that they have to take the reigns when it comes to disputing stuff, because their husbands will just sit back and get ripped off if they don’t do something about it.  So that’s telling too…

United States   Posted by Chloe on 12/07/04  at  03:23 PM





Kate

I’m all in favor of being assertive when disputing something with the cashier, but it’s not necessary to be ugly about it. Or throw things. Or swear at ‘em. Or just take frustrations out on the closest person who can’t do anything other than take it with a smile. That’s what gets me. That’s more than showing emotion. That’s just bad manners and a lack of self-control.

Granted, once in a while you’ll run into an employee who pushes all your buttons and gives you the run around which certainly lights my fuse. But that’s pretty rare. Mostly what I’ve observed is just bad behavior.

United States   Posted by Kate on 12/07/04  at  06:07 PM





Jennifer AKA Me

ODG, Ed broke the mold then. I hate going into store with him sometimes. He always voices his opinion!

United States   Posted by Jennifer AKA Me on 12/08/04  at  02:18 AM





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