Who do you believe was right in this situation?

Question

Please read the whole thing before you answer, it may be a little long but bear with me, okay?

A few months ago, I was on the cash register and I had a man come in to pay for some items. I ring him up as with everyone else, and when I was finished I told him his total. After he got his money ready he extended his hand so i went to recieve his money and instead of handing it to me he just drops it next to my hand (for some reason the customers I get seem to feel they are above handing me the money and fling it at me as if I'm a dog). I do his transaction and I put his change on the counter. Instead of just taking his change and leaving, he threatens "excuse me, are you going to pick up my change and put it in my hand". I swear, by instinct, I page the manager. I told him he didn't hand the money to me and he's like "it doesn't matter". My manager goes over to him and he starts going on about how the customer is always right and if I don't like what he has to say then he can take

me outside and punch me. My manager tells him he can't threaten me either and he's like it doesn't matter and leaves. A few minutes later he comes back in and gives me a mean look then leaves like a coward. Who do you believe was right? Was I right for just getting the manager and staying out of trouble and at least standing up for myself or is the customer always right?

Answer 1

The guy was obviously rude to you. That you were rude back was what he deserved.
You could have taken the high ground placed it in his hand and told him to have a nice day and he probably would have had a problem with that too.
He had no right to threaten you and you were right to get your manager to deal with him. Your there to work, not deal with his crap.
The "customer is always right" is from the days when people treated each other with respect and return business was very important.
Customers should be treated with respect but no more so than the other people you work with.

Answer 2

I would totally believe the girl (unless there is some wierd personal reason or vendetta that she has against this other guy~which it sounds like she is a pretty honest girl so this isn't an issue). Girlfriend versus best friend is a tough call, but the guy better have the balls to stick up for his girlfriend especially since you said the guy is a womanizer and a sleeze. If he has has a history of being an *** with other women why wouldn't the boyfriend believe the girlfriend. If I was the girlfriend, and I was doubted when I told my boyfriend about the incident, I would end that relationship ASAP since without trust you have NOTHING. Good luck with the situation.

Answer 3

you should have handed the customer the change, or alt least picked it up and handed it to him when he said something. Yes the customer is always right in petty things like this, and the manager didn't need to get involved.
Working in any kind of retail setting, you are going to get rude people who seem to "take it out" on you. It's part of the job. If you feel you can't take it anymore (and you don't have to) then you might consider another line of work. There's always going to be someone you can't please, no matter how nice you are.

Answer 4

Don't sweat it. That bit about "the customer is always right" doesn't apply to anything like this. Or you might say that it doesn't trump plain old decency.
I've always had the notion that people work a cash register get a good chance to see something rotten; people have a desire to kick others. This is one of the situations where they can get away with it. And a certain number of them play it for all it's worth.
You did nothing wrong

Answer 5

I believe you were perfectly right. Yeah, supposedly, the customer is always right; however, I feel, no that does not give anyone the right to treat you like a dog.
Depending on where you live, what kind of town or area; however, I guess, every manager can get away with certain actions. Sorry, no idea, how the law stands up for you, there, but, good for you. You stood up for yourself, you got help. You did the right thing!

Answer 6

The customer is right - even when he's wrong.

It would have caused less worry and stress had you picked up the money and handed it to him. There would have been two minutes of "jeez, what a jerkoff" and nothing more. To do anything else, when there are other customers waiting to be served, when the manager has to get involved over such a petty offense - is not productive.

You have to pick your battles in life - this was not a good one!

Answer 7

The customer sounds like a complete twit. Yes, he was very rude. However, you probably should have just handed him his change. I would have said, "Sorry, I thought since you didn't hand the money to me, you would prefer picking it up as well." There are always going to be rude people. Just deal with it and don't let them bother you.

Answer 8

i work in retail so ive had several situations like this. and 9 times out of 10 the customer is not right. if somebody acts like that toward me, i dont act like the simpering idiot they want you to. i feel when people treat you like that you should do something to show them that they can't get away with acting like that. so i think you did the right thing. youre a better person than i am because i sure wouldnt have been so nice.

Answer 9

Yes, that was a good idea. Obviously the guys had a bug up his ****. Nobody gets paid enough to deal with those jerks like that. I'm glad to hear your manager backed you up, that is the best part!

Answer 10

I think you are being much too touchy about this.
Is there some reason you interpreted his action as disrespect? (Was there some racial implication?)

Never repay discourtesy with rudeness!
Say "Thank you sir! Have a nice day."
That would be the Christian response.