Are customers always right?

Customers are always right. Wrong!

I am working part time for a chain of beauty supply store here in Jupiter. I've enjoyed working for the Company not just for the perks but also fo the lessons I learned from the people I meet everyday, and my workmates are exceptional. Thinking of my impending move to Arcadia means that I will be leaving the company is torture to me, unless I decide to join the nearest branch in our new place but working with different people. I don't want to leave but life has to go on.

Work had been very smooth and pleasurable and rewarding. Although new in the group, I struggled to learn with the groups' help, which I am very grateful. I was not certainly the most congenial of all but I am certain that I treat customers with respect and give the services they deserve. If at times I can't be of any help to them, I call the person who can help best with a customers query.

Last Monday I worked from 9 to 2. I always come to work early to do other stuff. I heard a loud knock on the door and looked at the watch, it says 8:45. I could sense the urgency of the woman outside the door, so even if it wasn't time yet, I opened the door for her. "Good Morning Ma'am, how are you today?" I said. No response as if I was invisible, ok, maybe because of my size, she thought I was just a ghost. She went straight to the haircolor section and linger a while. When I saw her move towards the register, I asked if she's all set I was ready to ring her out. She said, " YES!", in a tone that will rock the whole Jupiter Square complex. "Do you have a Sally card?", I asked, she said "YES!". Uh-uh, maybe she ends her sentences in exclamation point!!! Then she instructed me to divide her purchases in 2 bags to which I repeated to make sure I got her right. At this point, I could almost see her raging eyes, her eyeballs are trying to get out of its sockets and screamingly said "YES"!. Uh-uh, what's wrong with you Ma'am, just asking myself. Then she paid me in cash…ok, coins. I am not from this country so I am still confused with the coins that seem look similar to me so I took time to count the coins. Then at a snap she shouted at me, "COME ON, DONT YOU KNOW HOW TO COUNT!!!!?", her eyes are all fiery like she's going to devour me. That was certainly what I was doing, counting her coins, but she already started to ruin my day. I wanted to throw the coins at her face, but I remember to exercise good manners and self control.

Customers are always right? Not when they are rude, ill mannered, sarcastic and disrespectful. And I am talking about an old woman in mid fifties or perhaps in her sixties with no manners. Perhaps she woke up at the wrong side of the bed, or maybe beauce of the fact that I belong to the minority group and minorities are invading their turf is making her mad, just a thought, but it does not give her the right to insult me. I cant recall anything that may arouse such behaviour.

If her mission was to ruin my day, she succeeded with flying colors.

That was my first encounter on inexcusable rudeness and it certainly put my patience and self control to the test on an early Monday morning. Just my luck.