Ice cream head

The ice cream freezer @ work

We have really mild weather here. During the couple of weeks per year that it hits 90+ people act like they're in the Sahara. This past Friday it was warm (for here). I believe the high was 85, which really isn't that bad. However it was insanely muggy which we also aren't used to. The two combined just made it nasty outside and in since most places here don't have A/C.

Still, this does not excuse the boy who kept opening the ice cream freezer and sticking his head inside. Yes, it was hot and nasty but not so horrible that it's ok to put your sweaty, dirty, gross head and hair close to food that other people will eventually purchase. It's also not ok to open an ice cream freezer and leave it open when it's rather hot. Ice cream melts party people.

The kid looked over at me (head in freezer) and I gave him a death stare look. He closed it up. A few moments later he went back over and again stuck his head in the freezer. His mother finally noticed what he was doing and told him to stop. That repeated about 10 times. Kid sticks head in freezer, mother finally takes notice and makes him stop. This "kid" was plenty old enough to know better, too.... had to be 12-14. Not cool folks. Keep an eye on your child and for heaven's sake don't allow them to put their sweaty, nasty head next to food. Please, if you choose to have a child, parent them.

Srsly? What the heck.

I get it. I'm guilty of this sometimes, too. The whole thinking my time is somehow more valuable than someone whose job it is to offer customer service.

We don't just wash cars, we don't just have a huge gift shop. We also offer detailing services for vehicles. This can take hours and hours. People generally drop off their vehicle for the day returning to pick it up before we close. People also generally call in the afternoon for a status report. "Is my car done? When will be ready for pick up?" Normal stuff. Expected stuff.

Today's call:
Them: "I'm calling to see if my car is finished."
Me: "Ok, hold on I'll check."
*I am totally flustered because today is crazy busy, the phone keeps ringing off the hook. Yet, I leave the register, go outside and ask if the green SUV detail (the only one out there) is done. It is. Good!*
Me: "It's the green SUV, right?"
Them: "No, it's a beige Lexus."
Me: *wanting to yell as I realize they just got a normal wash* "What kind of wash did you get?"
Them: "Oh the _____. I left and told them I'd be back to get it later. Is it ready for me to pick it up?"
Me: *wanting to yell even more* "What time were you here?"
Them: "Oh... let's see.... it was 11:30 a.m."
Me: *not amused since it's been 2 hours since they left their car and on a long day it takes only 30 minutes* "I am certain your vehicle is done and ready for pick up."

*click*

Seriously?! What the heck.

We do not have time to go outside to check if your car is done from a simple wash. That is not a service we offer. Our time is money, just like yours. If you don't have the time to wait for your car, fine. Pay, leave it and come back before 5 p.m. But please DO NOT call and expect us to be your personal assistant. Hundreds of cars come through our company on busy days. We cannot and do not have time to let everyone know when their car is finished. That is your job.

You break it you flee? Awesome.

I heard it today, that sound; something falling, crashing to the floor and shattering into tiny pieces. I was busy with a customer so looked quickly at the surveillance images, saw that no one was hurt and kept helping said customer.

As soon as I was done helping a customer a super-duper-helpful customer came up to me. "Did you hear that? He broke a wine goblet. We all saw him! He crept around and went over there and then he went out to his car like he's not even going to pay for it! He was sneaking out of here! I just don't want him to get away with it."

Niiiiiiiiiiice.

I went over to look at "him" who "they all saw" and "him" was gone. "Him" didn't bother to let the guys outside even finish properly with his car. He was long gone. There was not much left to do so I went and cleaned up the shattered red wine glass.

One day I would like to be able to believe that people don't suck in general. Clearly that day is not today. Can't help but hope that guy steps on a Lego every day for the next week.

I bought it just last month and other common lies...

Today a sweet customer came in. She had a problem with an item she had purchased. Our return policy states returns must be made within 10 days, with original receipt and the items should have the tags still attached. Pretty normal stuff, except many places give longer than 10 days... say 30? Or if you're Target you give 90 days.

 Customer insisted she made her purchase last month. She knew it was last month because she bought it for a friends Anniversary. Ok. No receipt. No tags or tickets on the item. We looked. And looked. And looked. We didn't have a duplicate item in our store. The item did look somewhat familiar to me but I had no idea what the price was so even if we were going to issue a refund - how much do we give?

 After quite some time of searching in the computer I found it. She had purchased the item in question on 3/29/11. Yeah.... not last month. Not even 90 days ago. We're talking 5.5 months she's had this item. That's like... a lot longer than our typical 10 days policy. That's.... that's a long dang time. I'm not sure who would refund you at that point except Costco and we certainly aren't Costco. We're a small independent business. We want to believe you. We don't want you to end up with a defective product. We don't want you to waste your money. However when you insist you made your purchase "just last month" and we can prove you made it 5.5 months ago... how much do you honestly expect us to believe? Really?!

Moral of the story... keep your receipts and for heaven's sake don't try to return stuff you bought 5 months ago. If it doesn't work or isn't right take it back ASAP for everyone' sake and KEEP THE TAGS/TICKETS!

Thank you.