by Monika Johnson

Created on: January 23, 2010   Last Updated: January 24, 2010

As a checker for a no frills grocery store, I deal with upwards of two hundred people every workday. I am very fortunate in that the vast majority of my customers is friendly and polite. Every now and then I do get a rude one though. When that happens, all I can do is to keep my cool and to remind myself that this person is most likely mad at the world in general and is just taking his or her frustrations out on the nearest available victim. Below I have listed ten actual cases of rude behavior I have experienced. I will list for each one what I said, what I wish I could have said, and what I really wanted to say.

1. A man had picked up a packet of ice cream and then proceeded to shop for other groceries for about an hour and a half. When he came through my line he yelled at me at the top of his lungs because I had made his ice cream melt. The tirade culminated with him throwing the ice cream at me and stating that he would never return to shop at our store.

What I said: I am sorry to hear that, sir.

What I would have liked to say: Sir, do you really think that it would hurt our business if you didn’t come back? We have thousands and thousands of satisfied customers who will be back again and again. After the way you behaved I wouldn’t want you to come back. And by the way, you are hurting yourself, not us, because we are the cheapest store in town (according to our local news).

What I really wanted to say: Don’t let the door hit you in the butt.

2. I checked a cartful of groceries for a man who then attempted to pay with a credit card. When I informed him that we do not take credit cards he became verbally abusive.

What I said: I’d be happy to take a check, or hold your groceries for you if you would like to go to the bank to withdraw money from your credit card.

What I would have liked to say: We have a big sign at the entrance that clearly states that we don’t take credit cards. There are signs at each check stand that list what kinds of payment we take. If you had bothered to read these signs you wouldn’t be in this situation.

What I really wanted to say: How about enrolling in an adult education class so you can learn how to read?

3. A customer was taking a long time to pay. The woman behind her started to complain loudly, calling me the slowest checker she had ever dealt with.

What I said: I’m sorry you had to wait, ma’am. I’ll get you out of here as fast as I can

What I would have liked to say:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>