'Haven't you boys heard that the customer is always right?': Alpha male customer thinks he can lift a sofa bed singlehandedly, then damages his own furniture and truck

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 16, 2023 3:00 PM EST

No matter how clear the rules of your business are, some customers just won't abide by them. Even when these rules are utterly crucial, some folks either won't understand, or they'll forget. Or, they might just choose to ignore them, like the guy in this malicious compliance story. 

It doesn't necessarily matter how strong you are when it comes to moving giant bulky items like couches or refrigerators. You certainly need to have some big muscles to move those things, but it's easier if you can use a tool, and also when you have another person or two to help you. You can't just go around lifting a couch on your own---they're massive. I bet you already knew that, too, because you're a smart cookie. 

This furniture warehouse knew this simple concept too. So when their customers purchased heavy things like new couches or tables from them, the store told them that they must bring another person when they pick it up. 

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  • Lots of warehouses and stores aren't allowed to help customers out. It's not because they want to be unkind, but it's a liability. So all the customers have to do is bring any other able-bodied adult who will agree to help them lug home a new sofa bed. This really offended one alpha male, which you can read all about in the story below. 

    Next up, read about these family traditions that people didn't realize were weird. 

  • 01
    "Load this sofa bed MY WAY!!!!" Whatever you say'
    via Beazy on Unsplash
  • 02
    Load this sofa bed MY WAY!!!! Whatever you say L Hello All, apologies for the absence, on the mobile between scenes so apologies once again for any formatting issues :)
    via u/[deleted]
  • 03
    Back in the warehouse days, when it came to customers picking up their orders it was a show.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 04
    It took a lot of damages, issues and complaints, until I put it to the higher ups to actually outline on their sales dockets terms and conditions that would protect the company and also protects us warehouse workers.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 05
    When customers came to pick furniture up, whatever it was ( sofa, coffee table, rug), usually the warehouse staff had handled that product over a hundred times, and had figured out the safest way to go about loading / unloading / stocking said product.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 06
    This particular Thursday afternoon we had a sofa bed come in, that was scheduled for a customer pickup.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 07
    I grabbed the transfer sheet, called up the customer and explained that we had their sofabed, and that as per the terms and conditions of the sales docket could the customer please bring a 2nd able bodied person to help load up the goods.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 08
    I also mentioned that unfortunately the warehouse workers weren't covered to load up customers orders into a customers personal vehicle.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 09
    Lo and behold, come 3.30pm the customer shows up in a fancy black truck, with a small flat bed area, and no one to help him.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 10
    Immediately this guy strikes us as an "alpha male" type. He's going through all these theatrics of measuring his flat bed and exclaiming loudly to everyone in ear shot.... "yeah this brand new, super expensive truck is going to be able to handle this sofa bed no problem!!"
    via u/[deleted]
  • 11
    I sigh and ask the customer where his 2nd person is. Alpha male - No need, one of you boys can help me lift...
    via u/[deleted]
  • 12
    Me - (almost second nature now) sir, as per the sales agreement you signed off on: any and all customer pickups must be done by the customer as no warehouse staff are able to help- Alpha - what are you a ?
    via u/[deleted]
  • 13
    I just shake my head, this guy is going to make our lives miserable. So I talk to my team, tell them to keep working through the transfer stock, and tell the Alpha that I'll help him load up quickly.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 14
    His shoots me a victorious self satisfied smirk, and begins to jump up into his truck, just to make sure we all know "he's got this under control" I use a flat trolley to wheel the sofa bed over and he grabs the flimsy plastic covering the sofa.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 15
    He starts giving me directions, in a loud and authoritative voice, that he wants me to kind of balance the sofa against the side of his car and then lift it up to him.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 16
    I point out that it's actually easier if we both lift from ground level, into the back of his truck, and then use the rope he's brought along to secure the sofa bed.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 17
    , I'll grab this plastic, you Alpha - lift and we'll lean it against the roof. I point out the sofa bed has metallic feet, and that despite that packaging, there's a possibility it could damage his NEW vehicle.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 18
    Alpha - (with a you boys heard that the customer is always right? Just do it MY way!! Me - you got it I get the customer to sign off on the paperwork that he's is taking his sofa, that it's in good condition and that by picking up the sofa instead of getting it delivered he takes on all responsibility. eating grin) haven't
    via u/[deleted]
  • 19
    He jumps back up onto the flat bed of his truck, and kind of braces one leg against the roof of his truck. I start to lift slowly, but Alpha overcompensates. He yanks at the plastic, which causes the sofa to lurch up out of my hands. The plastic splits, the guy realises he now has to control this behemoth of a lounge suite.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 20
    Gravity takes over, as the guy tries to control the sofa which is beginning to roll out of his truck. I try and grab at it, but there's no way to salvage this, the customer holds on as best as he can, but let's put a yelp as his wrist turns at a strange angle.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 21
    The sofa bed rolls out of the truck, and the metal feet scrape the paint work on the side of his truck, leaving these horrendous deep scratches. Everyone is silent. The look of shock on the customers face turns to volition rage as he begins berating the out of myself and the warehouse guys.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 22
    He storms into the sales area and grabs the Manager. I helpfully point out the customer signed off on the delivery slip, refused to bring a helper, and when I tried to talk him out of it, demanded we do it HIS way.
    via u/[deleted]

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workplace-stories jobs job malicious compliance work customers malicious-compliance-reddit karen-customers workplace truck Alphas warehouse sofa malicious compliance reddit karen
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