I am really enjoying the website Not Always Right–their name is a nice play on the saying “the customer is always right.” The site collects customer service horror stories, but more than that, it’s also well-designed and easy to navigate. It’s also nice to see how things are going for our brothers and sisters in another much-maligned industry. Here’s a recent story (via a hotel employee in Maryland) that had me cracking up:
(The night before, I called the police because of a hit and run in the parking lot of my hotel. The cops put some kid in handcuffs because of a tip I gave them. The next night the kid’s mother found me.)
Mom: “Hey! You’re the girl Alice that was working last night!”
Me: “Yes ma’am, I am.”
Mom: “You know that the cops put handcuffs on my 16 year-old son?”
Me: “Yes ma’am, I was here for that.”
Mom: “Well, the police told me a girl named Alice told them my son wrecked that car last night. I want to know why you told them that.”
Me: “Well, ma’am. Your son was down here talking about the car accident he was involved in last night.”
Mom: “But the cops put him in handcuffs!”
Me: “…”
Mom: “My son is only 16 years old, and they put him in handcuffs and didn’t even tell me!”
Me: “Well, what would you like me to do about that?”
Mom: “I want you to apologize.”
Me: “For what?”
Mom: “For calling to police and getting my son handcuffed!”
Me: “You want me to apologize for reporting a crime?”
Mom: “Yes!”
Me: “Well, I’m not sorry.”
Mom: “But the police put him in handcuffs!”
Me: “Well, sounds like you have a problem with the police.”
Mom: “Listen here, b****, I’m not leaving until you say you’re sorry!”
Me: “You might be a while ma’am, because I’m not sorry!”