Working with the Public

[Jodie Takira]

Because I felt this thread was necessary for my health as well as others that work as part time in retail, in the rec center, babysitting. Whatever you get paid to do to work with people. What have been the dumbest and/or most infuriating things you've dealt with.

To name a few of my own, I've been called a jinx by this one lady in my past job 'cause the register wouldn't work right whenever she got into my line. Truthfully, I think she was the only one that paid a certain way that I encountered and that was that. In short, I forgot how to do it 'cause I went through so many customers anyway.

And then there's these stingy jerks at the Movie Theater. Now, given, the theater is expensive in the first place. But we've been collecting money for the Children's Miracle Network (basically, it grants wishes for children with terminal illnesses in the states). Would you believe some people wouldn't even donate a nickel to it? Pfft. Especially those women with big rocks on their fingers (jewelry). Not even a quarter. Jesus.

So, what kind of crap have you guys dealt with?

[Shard-Spider]

well I used to work in a cinema... and one of things that bothered me most is people trying to convince you of something you definitely did not say...

For instance there is premier seating in the cinema screens which costs an extra €1.50 ok fair enough not an awful lot more but these seats are designated and when you have to seat the patrons in their assigned seat there is someone already sitting there...

But that's not the worst part, you then have to ask the owners of the seat to "Excuse me, if you would just wait one second I will straighten out this mess in no time" usually people are courteous enough to know that this situation is not my bloody fault, so they go "no problem" I turn to the culprits and say "Sorry, excuse me may I see your tickets please" when I really wanna say "Oi! I know these aren't your fucking seats you little chancers, move to fuck out of them or I will have your asses kicked out."

But anyway yeah they there are the people who try to make it seem like they're a victim when you tell them that these are not their seats, they say "well the person said out the front that these tickets were for premier seating." and then I say "well the ticket here says GAGA meaning that you definitely did not pay for the premier seats" and then they realise they've been caught out and move... situation solved. Go me!

But then... there are those times where I wanna start kicking ass and taking names because these are the cheeky ones that try and insult your intelligence, the kind of people that know that you have to be nice to them no matter what, the kind that say to themselves "who is this guy to be talking to me... I mean, he works in a cinema" as if they're better than me. Same situation I ask to see their tickets and tell them that these are not their seats they turn around to say, almost like they are offended by this and say "But YOU told me, that I could sit anywhere except the back two rows!" now the policy is that it is infact the back 3 rows, so first of all they insult you in the sense that you don't know the difference between the number 2 and 3 but also that you don't know how to do your job, the fact that they have this story rehearsed is pretty insulting to your intelligence too. It's at this point where I begin to get annoyed because whilst still being nice I have to reply "I'm sorry, but I most certainly did not say that, and I would like to respectfully request that you move" and then some move whilst mumbling "fuck sake! this is a disgrace" still trying to act the victim, newsflash fuckface! I'm an actor, I know when someone is acting! But then there is the people who point blank refuse to move...

this is when it gets fun because I can be a bit forceful now... they might say something like "this is disgraceful that now that I'm sitting here, you're going to ask me to move?!" and basically say "yeah, coz you can either continue to sit there and I'll get a manager to move you, or I can get security to sort you out... or, you can move." notice how the tone of voice changed, less formal it's at this point that they always back down and move...

With training like that I should be a hostage situation negotiator... that's one of many things that bugged the shit out of me working at that damn cinema... as you can guess no I do not work there anymore... being falsely nice ain't my style... If I'm nice I'm nice, but get on my bad side and you will know all about it...

And to be honest the people who mainly gave me trouble were women, sorry ladies if I sound sexist but it's true!
The guys just kinda laughed as if to say "ah well I tried" and then moved