Has No Shelf Control
I work in an electronics and home appliances store. I see a customer storm in, walk right up to a display refrigerator, and start pulling out the glass shelving inside them.
Me: “Sir, please be careful with those—”
Without a word, the customer holds the piece of glass above his head and SLAMS it toward the floor. It doesn’t break, maybe thanks to a plastic and rubber border it has around its edges, but it makes one h*** of a racket.
Me: “Sir, please don’t do that!”
Anger in his eyes, he starts toward another refrigerator.
Me: “Sir, stop, or I’ll need to call security!”
As if I am not even speaking, the customer repeats the performance, this time smashing the shelf against the refrigerator door. Luckily for everyone, this one is entirely made of plastic, so it doesn’t break.
My manager and security have already run over to my section (thanks to the noise), and the two burly security guys are able to manually escort the guy outside. They stay with him until the police arrive.
Nearer the end of the day, another guy comes in and asks for the manager from the get-go.
Me: “I can get him for you, but can I ask the reason you need to speak to him?”
Customer: “I need to know why [Store] discriminates against veterans.”
Oooookay? I call my manager over, who comes by very quickly. The customer identified himself as the brother of the unruly customer we had this morning.
Customer’s Brother: “My brother is a veteran with PTSD, and you had him arrested! How could you be so callous!?”
Manager: “How were we supposed to know that? Also, even if we did, how would that have changed the outcome?”
Customer’s Brother: “You don’t just arrest a veteran who has mental health issues!”
Manager: “Sir, we had someone come into the store and cause damage, despite repeatedly being asked to stop. What should we have done?”
Customer’s Brother: “You should have shown more respect!”
Manager: “Sir, everyone here, myself included, has nothing but respect for the veterans of this country. Your brother has my utmost sympathy, but you have to understand that my workers and I are not trained therapists or medical professionals. Most of them are minimum-wage teenagers still in High School. They do not have the ability or experience to recognize or process PTSD.”
Customer’s Brother: “Then they need better training!”
Manager: “I will take that under consideration, but please note that no one here is trying to discriminate against your brother; we’re just not qualified. Please ensure you or a suitable caretaker is with him for future shopping trips.”
Customer’s Brother: “I’m gonna sue this place for discrimination against the military!”
Manager: “That’s your choice, sir. Your lawyer will be free to review all the video footage from earlier today.”
Customer’s Brother: *Storming out.* “I’m gonna tell everyone that [Store] hates veterans!”
Manager: *To me.* “If he does that, I have a feeling our lawyers will be talking to his before his lawyers are talking to ours.”
