Checkout Confrontation

“You’re sure this is the dress?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“I just want you to be sure.  You hated it when I showed it to you the first time.”

“Yeah…it was on the hanger then.  Uh…look at me?  I’m not exactly shaped like a hanger so it looks different, duh.”

“Hmmm…where have I heard that before?”

“Whatever.  Where do we pay?”

“Are you ready to check out?  I can take you right over here.”

“Oh, good.”

“Is this all for you ladies today?  No slips or hosiery?”

“No, just the dress today, thanks.”

“It’s lovely.  This green will look so nice with your blond hair.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“That’s all of the sensors, now where’d that tag get to?”

“Excuse me, salesperson?”

“I’ll be with you in a moment.”

“Salesperson!”

“Yes, just a moment.  I…”

“I was here twenty minutes ago and purchased a leather jacket?  I thought over the leather treatment you showed me.”

“Yes.  I remember you.  I’ll help you as soon as…”

“This is the stuff here?”

“Yes.  If you will wait a…”

“I’ll take it.  Ring me up so I can go.”

“Just as soon as I’ve finished with…”

“What?  Too busy now?  You weren’t too busy to talk me into a $300.00 leather coat half an hour ago!”

“Ma’am, there’s a customer ahead of you.”

“Well, I was here first!  You were helping me and I’ve already started my purchase.  Taking the coat to my car didn’t complete my purchase.  Are you going to help me or not?”

“Ma’am, this lady…”

“Go ahead and help her.”

“MOM!”

“It’ll be faster to just let her go and get her out of here.”

“Thank you.”  “OK, ma’am.  The leather treatment?  Will that complete your purchase today?”

“Why yes, I believe it will.”

“Slide your card, please, sign the screen, and touch ‘OK’ when you’re finished.”

“What’s this?  The screen shows a different price!  How dare you try to overcharge me?”

“Ma’am, that’s the sales tax.”

“Harumph…I’ve never had such service… ‘lack of service’ I should say!”

“Your receipt, ma’am.  Have a nice day.”

“Indeed!  I’ve a good mind to report your lack of professionalism!”

“That’s my manager there; in the black sweater?  Have a word with her if you like.”

“Oh!”

“Whew!  She was a bit of something else, wasn’t she?”

“Thank you for being patient.”

“Sometimes you have to let people like that go ahead.  Their actions demonstrate they only care about themselves, and you can’t reason with someone unreasonable.”

“You’re so right.  I’m ready for you to sign now.”

“Marissa, when you’ve finished with this customer please come see me in my office.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Don’t worry.  We’ll go with you and explain the whole situation.  You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Certainly you have more to do than tag along as I get bawled out by my manager.”

“Yes, but what is more important than taking time to do the right thing?”

“Thank you so much.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”

498 words