Wednesday, December 19, 2007

How Mob Mentality Almost Took Me Out

There's a reason I don't shop regularly at the Dollar Tree.

Last night I was there with Mimi picking up a few things. You know - rock hard crayons, candy with no recognizable expiration date, irregular Christmas mugs, where Santa's partially painted eyes look like he's had a little too much eggnog - your basic holiday essentials. So when we got in line, there were 27 people in front of me. One cashier. Twenty-seven customers. I had enough time to count several times, so I'm fairly sure of my accuracy.

After I'd been in line a few minutes, the cashier walked out of her little cashier booth to announce to the line,
"I just want everyone to know that we are aware that there is a long line. All the employees can not help you right now because they're in a very important meeting."
I asked, " Is the meeting about customer service?"

Which I didn't intend to be really mean, but it kinda stunned her and she went back to her booth, processed one more person's order (only about 22 to go!) and then? She abandoned her post. I'm not kidding.

Holy cow, I thought the crowd was going to turn on me. The dirty looks I got...

Customers started yelling things like "hey! you need some help out here!" and "If no one's here to take the money, does that mean it's free?"

Cause people who shop at the dollar store? We're klassy like that.

She came back after a few minutes with a small army of cashiers. I can only guess that the meeting WAS about customer service. At 7pm. 5 days before Christmas.

Brilliant.

17 comments:

Heather said...

Whoa... I can't believe you said that. Well, maybe I can.

Melissa said...

HA!!! That is too funny! I know you weren't trying to be rude, but hey... it got results! Who knows? If you hadn't said anything you might still be inline at the Dollar Tree!!

Yvonne said...

LOL at Melissa's comment about you still being inline ; ) What's the saying about the squeaky wheel???? It worked!!!

goddessdivine said...

I love it. If I were in line I would have busted up laughing, because you know everyone else is thinking it, they're just not saying it.

That customer service is worse than Walmart, but I guess since their merchandise is only worth pennies, then they don't care.

Caroline C. Bingham said...

You get 12 snarky points.

And I'm glad no one killed you...

Chelsea said...

I thought I would bring some Christmas your way and YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED!!!!

Please write 12 things you love about Christmas that put you in the Christmas spirit!

All you simply do is post what you love about Christmas, then tag 6 other people!

Jennie said...

I would have laughed at your joke :). I think it's very funny. Then again I'm klassy like that.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

Oi...funny how the holidays rub people's funny bones the wrong way, eh? I would've giggled if I'd been in the line-up with you.

Tonya said...

I have a love/hate relationship with the dollar store. The stuff is junk (for the most part) but it's so fun to buy stuff for just a dollar.

I wish I had been there just to hear you say that.

Janell said...

I think I would have chimed in, "No. It's on mob management." I would the proceed to pretend it was the person next to me who said it.

Lena said...

lol, this gave me a good giggle.

Mrs Andy said...

I had to laugh really hard. My poor just out of high school, pre-mission nephew works at Dollar Tree, and I could just seem him rolling his eyes at this.

Nancy Face said...

A very important meeting? RIDICULOUS!

That was a very clever little quip you made! I just shed a tear of pride, tee hee! :D

Super Happy Girl said...

Bwahahahaha! That'll learn them. I give you +50 snarky points.

You know what I do? And this is 100% true: I just leave. Seriously. Unless I'm grocery shopping, if the linbe is too long and they don't have enough cashiers I just go.
>:)

Vern said...

LOVE that!

Anonymous said...

i said something like that, too, when we had to be at the post office for our passports and there was only one person who was allowed to do that and everybody in the LONG line was there for passports and this was the only post office in town open on saturday that could process passport requests. i voiced how stupid this was (poor staff planning, etc). my line of people were with me though. i think there ARE times when some things do need to be said so things can be fixed for future patrons. sorry for the run ons. you reminded me of that urrggg! you were still really cute about your post about this experience.

big hug,
kathleen

Help I need a user name! said...

OMG! That was SO funny! My husband would have totally said that. I would've wanted to, but would have just seethed in silence, thereby stressing myself out even more...

BTW, thanks for dropping by my blog! I like yours!! You be funny, girl!!