Some people just need to keep quiet

Chris:

 

A very generous gesture on your part! 

 

Rossi should enjoy her new Thomas set! 

Karma for you Chris!!!!

 

sadly, common sense,manners, and decency seem to be a dying thing in todays world, but there are exceptions , very thoughtful of you!

Chris,

My wife was shamed by her office friend for wearing a hat that said, 'Big Boy'  Guess you'll send her a new VL Big Boy...  I'd appreciate it!

 

Great thought on your part, you may have just created the next generation of hobbyist!

I'm a big believer in paying it forward. Nice job!

 

I also believe in making phone calls to various miscreants I've encountered over the years, both in person and through business.  You know the type...the low-lifes, bullies and other human detritus who mock a 4-year old's fashion choices, for instance.

 

Please let us know the city where this Verizon store is located. I have unlimited long-distance on my office phone line, and I tend to block my caller ID occasionally, for just these types of sub-humans.

 

Just for disclosure, I am a retired Verizon employee, and had I ever even *thought* of saying something like that back when VZ was a real telephone company, I would have been reprimanded and possibly suspended. 

 

 

I had someone ask me that when I walked into a drug store looking for a specific type of battery for a garage door remote. I was wearing one of my (many) Space Camp shirts as I've been there three times for the adult program (which is an incredible experience if you like the space program) and do public outreach for them.

The woman took a look at my shirt and sneered and said, "Why are you wearing a shirt for a kid's thing?"

I'm reasonably quick witted most of the time, I think. Without missing much of a beat, I said, "Why are you asking a rude question about something you don't know anything about to a potential customer?"

She really sneered and was taking a breath to say something that would have probably been really rude, when her manager popped up between shelves. He stopped her, apologized, and asked if he could help. I said, "I appreciate your concern, but I won't be buying anything here today... or ever again. Because of her. Good bye."

And I walked out.

Never been back.

And I think it's a safe assumption something must have happened after I left.

Chris,

 

 

You are an to that kid.

 

Well done!

 

George

Its great to always praise and elevate the spirits of young children. Their favorable response brings happiness that spreads.

It is often not what we say but how we say it that counts, but anyone making a disparaging remark about a little child that did nothing wrong, deserves to be punched in the face. 

 

Do some of these replies seem a little extreme?

Now you are going to have to build an Island of Sodor train track layout for the Thomas the Tank Engine set to have an appropriate setting for it.

 

Get a turntable and a roundhouse.

 

 

Andrew

I have a low level of tolerance for the cretins that seem to inhabit the service and retail industries.  I can buy my widget anywhere and if me or my kids get dissed in your store we won't be back.  And you will know why.

Instead of being snotty yourself, why didn't you take a little of the time that you spent going to another store and instead try to educate the woman about all of the wonderful things that Space Camp is all about?

Easy to say, you didn't see the look on her face. It was obvious to me that it would have been wasted effort on my part. Besides, I was in a big hurry and knew the place next door would have what I needed, which they did.

Chris :: Good job !  If you're in the TCA, sign her up for the "TCA Kid's Club" as well - the hobby always needs that next generation.

I sell automobiles for a living. I can't tell you how many times a woman has come in to buy a car, and after we signed all the paperwork and I handed her the keys, told me she had gone shopping somewhere else first, and the salesman said to her "come back with your husband and we'll talk."

 

 

Instead of being snotty yourself, why didn't you take a little of the time that you spent going to another store and instead try to educate the woman about all of the wonderful things that Space Camp is all about?

Snotty? Try to educate someone with an attitude? We'll leave this sort of thing up to you. I'm on P-51's side here.

It's the same people who even today, insist on buying everything pink for girls and everything blue for boys.  Princess everything for girls and cars for boys.  Let kids be kids without pushing any kind of gender stereotypes on them.

How many adults here knew that they hold space camps for adults?

 

I think Lee should have taken the high road, accepted the manager's apology, and explained that they have space camp for adults. 

Well.........I've seen adults wearing tees with Batman or the Simpsons and plenty of other designs.  But I wouldn't think of deriding them.  (Nowadays they might pull out a rod and cap me anyway).

Frankly, I get yelled at and treated very rudely while investigating liability issues with accidents at my day job because nobody ever thinks they're at fault for anything (try explaining to someone they're at fault for hitting a mailbox and they tell you that you have no idea what you're talking about. A mailbox! It's not like it jumped out into their path, now is it?). I get paid for that, but I really don't have the patience to tolerate that the other way around. I go into a store to buy something and the people who work there talk down to me? AndI'm the one who's supposed to suck it up, 100% of the time, no matter where I am or who's doing it? Are you freaking kidding me?

High road? Yeah, it's a good idea in theory but there comes a time when you've stacked up so much nonsense from people where you have to suck it up and drive on, that you say to yourself, "Hey, I don't have to let people treat me like this every single day of my life."

If I had that experience again tomorrow, I'd say the same thing.

And as Forrest Gump said, "That's all I have to say about that."

Well the character was created for a boy....just sayin'

-Greg

Do some of these replies seem a little extreme?

 

Yes, but only in the sense that the writers seem to have demonstrated an almost saintly restraint.

 

When a boss, who was a very religious type, admonished me for wanting to haul off and clock some SOB, and used the "turn the other cheek" lecture, I told him that I have only four cheeks, and I had turned all four of them, to no avail.

Chris way to go man!!Can,t belive some people would do that to a 4 year old.They are tommarows train collectors or layout builders.The thing is there was a time in this country.He would have fired for something like that real quick!!I see people wearing train stuff at train meets.From someone in their 70s to someone only a few month old.Me I have hats such as scl csx.I gonna add a few more hats.Chris don,t worry about people like that because.That turkey is gonna talk himself into a lot of trouble one day.

Agreed.

 

Gilly

 

Allow me to be 100% clear about this. Before someone opens their fat mouth to criticize a Tee shirt on a CHILD, they should reconsider and just keep it shut.

Arthur,

I'll just say "I disagree"

you can add my name to the list I am with you and p-51 side to.She no call to talk that way to a customer or any body that comes into the store like that!!

I would of walked out and contact the manager via my cell phone out side and reported what just happened and when you got a hold of him/her ask them to step outside as you have a complaint about one of your rude employee's

 

Normally that will get some real attention. Have done that more than once and sometimes you get lucky and the manager either try to buy your business with some great discount you would be surprised verizon because now the manager will and see how many customers where in the store at the time and how 1 act of rude with witnesses the problem now becomes more a problem. 

Prob'ly the same kind of idiot who sits at the table next to you and your dinner companion at a restaurant and pays more attention to what you are eating and

talking about than their own table, turning to face you every time you open your

mouth to talk with your companion.  I love what you're doing for that little gal.

 

By the way, I think I get just as much fun out of watching 'Thomas' as my grandkids.

 

I also know most of the characters on 'Spongebob Squarepants' by heart.  Maybe that dude never had the opportunity to enjoy little kids. 

 

     Hoppy

I vote with P=51 and towdog.  Rosie the Riveter didn't help win WWII by conforming

to chauvinism and stereotypes.

 

I'm in the P51/Towdog camp. If you suck it up long enough eventually some poor slob simply by accident says or does something to you and he winds up getting the full brunt of the bottled up emotional response and then you look like the jerk.  Better to let the idiots out there know just what you think of them right out the gate.

 

Jerry

Maybe it is the natural teacher in me, but when someone asks me about my wearable train gear, whether cap, jacket or t-shirt, real trains or model, I usually invite them to our local railroad museum, or our big annual Christmas show to understand what our hobby is all about. 

Been there, heard that many times. I've been the one with the boy's toys, the one who walked out of car dealerships because they were busy trying to impress Tom with the stereo system and me with the makeup mirror (on a piece of junk car, at that), the one who got an utter load of garbage at a hardware store for asking for an item the clerk didn't know existed...and you know what I'd say to that little girl?

Wear your Thomas shirt, Rossi. People who act nasty about it are not worth your time and don't get your business. They're usually not very good at their jobs anyway.

"Why didn't your mother teach you manners?" -I heard my Grandmother ask rude folk that a lot, as calm, curious, and dead-pan as can be. From there you leave in silence, or listening to them lose their minds the rest of the way as the door shuts

 

 I think the jab was at Mom, but did the young girl seem aware? Offended, or shamed is the real issue. At that age maturity varies. It has little to do with trains, but I think some real world support should be shown, even if its a convenient picture of a girl with an engineers hat a train show. If she actually had feelings about it, your efforts may augmented by telling her of the number of those supporting her here!

And we like her, and her shirt, just because she likes a train

 

 If Mom is "new age" and kiddo is already online for games, and reading practice. Maybe someone pointing out most sites do have girl members too?

 Bachmann had a Thomas section on their site that was mostly kids & I think a few girls.

 

 Unfortunately, I think our culture had turned to one of constant belittling of others, and reveling in others mistakes. Often to compensate for our own individual shortcomings.

 "You looking bad makes me look better" and the ability to crush someone emotionally, are qualities to be envied among many youth.  Team spirit still "out", individual winners, and losers "in". .. I blame it all on not enough trains! 

 

  Sometimes its a "normal" person on a bad day too. I'm guilty of accidentally "putting foot in mouth" on occasion. My mistaking one George for another here, with a response I would never address directly to that person, is one instance. No conjecture in that Oh no! I just took my beating.

 

  A good manger will ultimately decide whats best, and who they believe, but they need to hear it. In "service" management, I can only think of a few long term employees in hundreds, that didn't get some kind of complaint. Most rudeness actually comes from the public first.

(Not aimed at anyone here!)

Complaints are a part of public contact, and there is a certain "filtering" of complaints needed, as BS complaining in search of deals, or just trouble making isn't unheard of. Be patient as the complaint receiver tries to grasp at your story

(the more obvious "yellers" are the best complainer-tainment..hams! )

  Use cation too. You will be messing with someones bread and butter. Disgruntled employee syndrome seems to run high among the true "idiots"         

 

  Calling a district, or regional manager as well as a store manager, will make heads spin. Nothing like a visit from corporate to shake things up.

 Especially in a small store, where people "get tight", expecting immediate action isn't always realistic. Or sometimes even legal, without review. It can put managers in a bad spot. With calls, the end of that day, is often the beginning of the end. District bosses wont care about loyalties. "Fire the idiot, and deal with it" will be the answer 80%% of the time (if you are calm, and pursue it professionally). A certain percentage will be "punished", by time off, or demotion.

  In the long run, good management should try to "buy" you back somehow. Don't spite yourself out of these deals, competition, and conveniences. It just may become a favorite store one day.  

 

  Just walking, never returning, without giving the business "due process" isn't really the best answer either. Unless the problem isn't addressed.(like rude owners)

 Then protest with your dollar, and voice, in public/private circles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The old adage that the customer is always right is not correct. I was in retail for 48 years and I met some great customers who became friends but there is a small group out there that will cause more trouble then it is worth. 

 

As a manager and district mgr. I investigated many instances of rude behavior and you would not believe the things customers would say or do. I banned many many customers from ever shopping in our stores again. 

 

So you see it is not always the employee, yes sometimes it is but I would say it is a 80/20 chance it is the customer causing the trouble.

Chris and Lee, well played sirs.  

Ignorance is common.

Respect and good manners, not so.

Yep! Some folks do tend to worry way too much about what other people think, do, and say. Just be true to yourself and confident of your own values and sense of decency, and don't worry so much about the actions of others.

Sometime revenge is sweet,  I had a former manager laughing & harassing me in front of other employees for wearing a train hat into work while I was putting my hat & jacket in my locker. "Oh here comes Mr Choo Choo to work,  did you ride your train to work today? Ha ha!" I just replied " Trains are my hobby & I enjoy them, it relaxes me". He said "Be a man for once and meet me at the bar after work,  I'll make a man out of you". I said" Sorry but I decline the invitation,  I choose not to drink & drive, I don't need a DWI". He said " You wimp, if you know how to drink you won't get a DWI", 2 months later he got busted for DWI & Endangering the welfare of 2 children,  the jerk got caught with his 2 kids in the car. Glad he's not with us anymore.  Tried to handle it nicely but he was too much of a jerk to listen, hope he enjoyed having to ride a bicycle to work at his new job after the DWI. Just glad the children were okay in spite of the actions of their father. Mr Macho. Revenge can be sweet sometimes!

Schadenfreude is die schoeneste Freude!