Okay, it really irks me when you go to the “Customer Service” department in a store, and you get more aggravation than “service”.  Where do they find these people???  I’ve worked in the hotel industry for about 10 years, so I know what customer service is.  And yes, there are times you get obnoxious customers and you can’t help but lose it from time to time.  But I’m talking about those people that (a) doesn’t know how to smile, (b) speaks to you in a condescending way, and (c) is annoyed that you’re asking them to do their job. 

On my recent grocery shopping trip to Stop & Shop, I had the pleasure of interacting with one of these people.  I had to buy some sparkling water and saw that they had the Poland Spring ones on sale for $1.  Woohooo.  And on the shelf there was a sign that read, “Buy 3 Poland Spring sparkling waters 1 ltr./0.5 ltr 6-packs and get a checkout coupon for $2 good on your next visit”.  What a great deal!!!  And so I grabbed three 1 liter bottles and finished my shopping.  After paying for my groceries, I noticed that I didn’t get the $2 coupon (as mentioned).  So since I had already paid for my purchases, I was told to go to the Customer Service desk. 

So I waited on line at Customer Service.  When it was finally my turn, I explained to the lady my predicament.  She didn’t even bother to let me finish.  “No, that can’t be right”, she said.  I told her there were several signs on the shelf that stated the fact.  “Well, that wouldn’t make sense.  You only paid $1 for each bottle.  That means you’ll be getting 3 bottles for $1.  It’s wrong,”  she frustratingly said, all the while shaking her head.  So I offered to go get the sign to show her.  Mind you, I had my son with me sitting in the carriage who was getting impatient and starting to fuss.  You would think she could offer to radio someone to check.  But no.  So I went and pulled off the sign to show her.  Went back to Customer Service and again, stood on line. 

Finally, my turn.  I showed her the sign.  She looks at it and says, “You got the wrong one.  It says you need to buy 3 six packs.”  “No, it says 3 one liters or 3 half liter, six packs”, I tried to explain.  And again she argued that I would practically be getting them for free, so it was wrong. 

C’mon lady, read the damn sign!!!  I’m not the one making it up.  Is it my fault that your store chooses to practically give it away. 

I even read it to her.  “No, they come in six packs”, she argued.  So at this point, I’m steaming.  My son is whining.  The lady apparently can’t read or needs better glasses.  So again, I get off the line to pull the 6 packs (which are in 0.5 liters) to show her.  As I’m approaching the line again, I see the lady was getting ready to go on her break.  Okay, time for the NY attitude to kick in.  I stop her as she’s leaving the desk and basically yell, “Look, it only comes in half liters in a six pack.  I’m sick of this.  Let me speak to the manager.”  Another worker was nearby and came running to see what the problem was.  She was ready to get the manager.  At the mention of the manager, the lady panics.  She goes back to her station and says, “okay, fine.  I’ll give you the $2.  You sure got a great deal” 

WTF?????  You mean all I had to do was mention getting a manager and I could’ve resolved this from the beginning?  And the thing that irked me even more was the fact that she thought I was trying to pull a fast one on her because she kept mentioning that I was now getting 3 bottles for $1.  Seriously lady, if you can’t stand that I got a good deal….go get your own damn bottles too!

All this to get a $2 checkout coupon for next time.  When I told Papa in Suburbia, he couldn’t stop laughing.  He’s like why did you go through all that just for $2.  It’s not for the $2, I explained.   It’s for the principal.  Why shouldn’t I fight for something that is supposed to be mine?  Why should I let others undermine me?  Right???

And besides, she was lucky it was only for $2.  If it was for a $5 coupon, I would’ve gotten downright nasty from the get-go.