[getbent]

So, I guess it could be said that when T_red is talking about benderfreak's experience he is using his perception as a counter clerk and assuming that since he currently rings a register he has knowledge of benderfreak's experience that none of us would have.

That would be HIS perception. He is a successful counter guy in a business that has been around for 40 years and they tell people to shove off all the time.

I'm not one to yell at clerks or be upset when things go awry.... I tend to remember my days of working the counter and what a thankless crap job that was and that usually the people ringing it are kinda doomed and, if anything, I should pity them their lot. When one of them is rude to me I usually continue the transaction or I just walk away without a word. When I was at the World Market and the counter person was rude to a clearly nice little old lady (trust me this was Beaver Cleaver's mom at 75) my inner protective gene kicked in and this probably overworked and underpaid clerk was not being respectful... I acted.

I've known benderfreak around here for several years. He is a good guy and kind and I kinda doubt he was doing anything other than just working through his day... so, to assume anything different is just poor perception if you ask me.

The soup **** was successful on the seinfeld show, and I've seen some stores that are quirky in how they meet the public. The assumption that 'the customer is always right' would imply that it meant that the customer could be rude is just poor thinking. All parties should be respectful and if a customer is clearly out of control then, sure, they should be asked to leave. I have escorted people out of a place of business in my life.

I can imagine having a good experience in your bosses store t-red, because I'm a good customer, usually don't have problems with my debit card etc and if there were a problem, I'm sure we'd work it out provided both sides were respectful. Failing that, I would simply walk away not to return and making sure to tell anyone who asked... all about my experience.

I have seen local businesses closing here by the score. They had previously been very successful, but when folks had a choice and when it came down to where they really wanted to spend their money.... they'll pick the place that they feel the best about from their perception.

One last thought: having a card come up with a problem or a check or whatever does not make a customer a 'jerk' customer. A jerk customer is someone who is disrespectful and maybe who assumes too much.

t-red, you've obviously had some problems with customers...which resulted in your kinda tough perceptions of an incident you did not witness... it would be my thought that while you may be in the trenches every day ringing folks up and slugging it out at the counter... that may not be what happened to benderfreak at all.