I've been working in retail for most of my professional career. There are no shortage of stories of difficult and/or unreasonable people. I could tell endless stories of expletive-laden rants, people trying to sell porn collections. But today I recount to you the story that tops them all. The story of the most racist thing I've ever heard, and the most perfect reaction to being caught.
Continue on to hear the tale...
This is a story related to me by a coworker. We worked together over the holidays before being transferred out to different stores. She related this to me a couple days ago.
She was in her store in the morning, with a customer at the counter whom she was assisting. A pair of ladies walked in, well dressed, well-off, both white. They immediately became impatient, tapping toes, drumming fingers, huffing and puffing. Eventually the first customer offered to step aside and browse the store so the associate could help the ladies.
They approached and asked for batteries. The associate said (paraphrasing) "Yes, ma'am. We have AAAs and AAs." Now, I'll pause here for a moment to explain that this associate is of Hispanic descent, though she was born in the US and speaks PERFECT English, not even a hint of an accent. The lady became irate, simply repeating that she needs batteries.
Then, out of nowhere she says, "You see, this is why we need Trump." And went on to complain about every racist, false talking point about Hispanics you ever heard. Taking over the culture, stealing jobs, you name it.
She asked for a piece of paper so that she could write down the word Battery, and draw a picture. The associate informed her that we didn't carry that type of battery. She insisted we did, continuing her racist comments, insisting that she knows that RadioShack sells these batteries.
Oh, did I forget to mention, we don't work for RadioShack. We work for a retail chain that sells video games and other related electronics. The associate explained, "this isn't RadioShack ma'am, this is _." The woman continued to berate the associate and insult her intelligence, suggesting that she somehow did not know the name of the store she herself worked out. "I'm sorry ma'am, the RadioShack that was here closed down about six months ago."
Now it gets bizarre. The woman asked the associate to step outside the front door, at which point she pointed to the sign above the door and demanded that the associate read it, specifying that she should "sound it out." The associate read, very slowly, the name above the door, which was not RadioShack. Only then, did the woman look to the sign herself.
Her eyes went wide, and without another word walked away, got in her car and peeled away as fast as she could.
Now, it's not uncommon for people to enter our stores thinking we're someone else. I've worked in a store that sat next to a T-Mobile store and people would always walk in asking to pay bills or set up service. And when they realized they were in the wrong store they always respond with apologies and thanks.
We'lol leave aside the hilarious fact that these women drove to the store walked in a front door, above which hung a large color sign with the name of the store, past at least a dozen signs inside the store emblazoned with the name. It was the arrogance that she could be told directly, and in no uncertain terms, what store she was in and STILL believe she was right. And the racism of believing that she was despite being told because it had something to do with the heritage of the employee. That is what pus this one in the record books as a classic in the annals of retail lore.
But most priceless was her reaction to being caught. She just ran. And I don't blame her. How else do you respond to finding out you just went on a racist tirade for nothing. It's one thing for Donald trump to do it with a room full of reporters. But face to face, alone, mere inches from the person you're disparaging. There is no such thing as "sorry", there is no response.
Fri Aug 28, 2015 at 9:17 AM PT: Wow, first rec list! Thank you guys so much!