'[She] barred the customer then and there': 15 Workers who were glad to let customers speak to their managers

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jan 7, 2024 5:00 PM EST

When a customer gets too excitable, retail workers know the drill: call their manager over to handle it. 

Each customer is different, and they each have their own intentions when they enter a store. Of course, most shoppers arrive at a store with a list and just go around and gather all the items they need. But others require more assistance than that. Maybe they have a return that they waited too long to bring back, or perhaps they're looking for a really specific thing and can't find it. You can try your best to help them out as a worker, but only managers can handle the biggest problem customers. 

It seems like a lot of customers aren't even interested in resolving their conflicts. A lot of them just want to vent for a while. A good supervisor can tell the difference between a person who just needs to let it out, and a person who's being a menace. Managers also have the power to boot people from stores for life, which is an excellent option for a lot of these cranky consumers. 

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  • These retail workers weighed in with their own  “favorite ‘let me speak to your manager’ moment[s].” You can check out these satisfying stories below. Then, check out the way that one small business decided to deal with a super demanding customer. 

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 9861591296
    via The Nix Company on Unsplash
  • 02
    Retail workers of reddit,what was your favorite "let me speak to your manager" moment?
    via u/mrquin89
  • 03
    Silthas_Darkfire I worked at the big box store with the yellow tag. I had been there for 18 months as a cashier. We recently got a new Ops manager who came from computer sales and didn't really know the registers that well. This happened during his first week as manager. Me: ok sir, that will be $amount. Customer: Fine, here tosses card onto the counter card declined
    via u/Silthas_Darkfire
  • 04
    Me: sorry sir, your card declined. I can run it again or we can try another card if you'd like? Customer: Run it again, I know there's over $1000 on that card and it should work. Declined again Me: Sorry sir, it has declined again. Customer: It must work, is there anything else you can do to approve the sale?
    via u/Silthas_Darkfire
  • 05
    Me: I can try to run it manually, but that will only help if your magnet strip is damaged Customer: Try that then Declined again Customer: There must be some way to force or bypass that, I know there is money on the card. Me: I'm sorry sir. If it's declined by the card company, there is nothing I can do. Customer: THIS IS ; I KNOW THERE IS MONEY ON THAT CARD. GET YOUR
    via u/Silthas_Darkfire
  • 06
    MANAGER NOW! Me: Ok sir, just a moment Manager Approaches and stands behind the counter next to me Manager: Hello sir, how can I help you? Customer: YOUR EMPLOYEE KEEPS DECLINING MY CARD AND I KNOW THERE IS PLENTY OF MONEY ON THE CARD. YOU NEED TO OVERRIDE IT. Manager attempts to run the card Declined again
    via u/Silthas_Darkfire
  • 07
    Manager: Sorry sir, it was declined. Customer: I KNOW THAT, YOU NEED TO OVERRIDE IT SO I CAN TAKE MY STUFF AND GO HOME Manager turns 90 degrees to face me Manager: It declined, is there anything we can do to override it? Me: No sir, that decline is from the card company. There is nothing else we can do. Manager turns 90 degrees back to angry customer
    via u/Silthas_Darkfire
  • 08
    Manager: I'm sorry sir, I spoken with one of our experts and he informs me there is nothing else we can do with this card. Would you like to sign up for our card and save 10% on your purchase today? Customer angrily stomps out of the store
    via u/Silthas_Darkfire
  • 09
    bolivar-shagnasty Back when Lowe's used to have dedicated in-store installation sales teams, I worked as a contract coordinator. This lady called us about her carpet coming apart only a week or so after it was installed. She was rightfully upset, and I wanted to fix her problem for her. But I couldn't find any record of her in our system. Her address wasn't in any of our records. Her name wasn't
    via u/bolivar-shagnasty
  • 10
    in any of our installations over the past few years. I tried everything I could think of to find out more about her install. I called our flooring specialist. I called our independent contractors. Still, nothing. She got I. Like, livid. She thought I was trying to shirk responsibility so she asked to talk to a manager. I felt defeated, but in this case I felt her request for escalation was justified. I transferred her to the acting store manager and he came back to our office to help me
    via u/bolivar-shagnasty
  • 11
    research. He asked her to look for her installation folder at her house and she went digging for it and found it. Finally! We could get her some help. I could hear her on the handset my manager was using. "Oh. Wait a minute. This is a Home Depot folder. I think I up and called you by mistake. Bye."
    via u/bolivar-shagnasty
  • 12
    VicSwagger Restautants/bars are borderline retail but it's important, as a manager, that your staff knows there is a line that can be crossed - where the customer is not always right. It's been satisfying to see managers inform the patron that they're in the wrong & convey that the establishment is willing to take the loss of your check, in order for you to leave - as they will not put up with that behavior. Once, a patron was
    via u/VicSwagger
  • 13
    very insulting to a waitress (lunch, no drinking involved; just a mean/angry diner). The manager-on-duty actually told the patron he should apologize to the waitress - the patron did apologize.
    via u/VicSwagger
  • 14
    I work in a major supermarket chain in the UK. Once I had a customer who couldn't speak any English and I couldn't speak their language either so she got out her phone and proceeded to make me talk into it so it could get translated into her language and vice versa. I didn't really mind this if it was only to located a product or select something etc but she was claiming the food she bought the other day was out of date. Turns out she actually bought it in the "reduced" section
    via r/AskReddit
  • 15
    where we put the food thats going out of date on that day for a discounted price and tried to return it the next day for full price. It got to the point where she demanded I got a manager simply because I refused to return this item as her receipt clearly stated it was a "reduced" food product and with the date on the bottom of the recipet I knew she was trying to scam us. This managed is an older woman in her 60s, doesn't know anything about technology but she had to try and do this
    via r/AskReddit
  • 16
    Google translate into this woman's phone. After around 5 mins of going back and forth my manager just threw her hands up and said this, I don't know whats even going on, I'm not entertaining this and barred the customer there and then. That was the day she became my favorite manager, lol.
    via r/AskReddit
  • 17
    [deleted] The customer didn't ask for the manager, but it's a good story nonetheless. I sold a woman a flashlight. 2 hrs later I get called to customer service because there is a hysterical woman trying to return a flashlight. I go to see what's up, and she is on the verge of tears because the flashlight wont turn on.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 18
    I opened up the battery compartment and flipped the batteries around for her, and lo and behold, it works! I go to pack it back up for her, and now instead of sadness there is anger, and she no longer wants the flashlight because she "doesn't trust it."
    via u/[deleted]
  • 19
    [deleted] I don't know about "favorite" but it did make me SMH. I worked in a department store with three floors and I worked nights. Most department managers worked days, so at night, there was usually one manager on duty for each floor. I was working one night, around Christmastime, so the story was busy. A woman came up to my register in tears and said she had purchased about $200 in wedding gifts (this was in the late 80's so it was a
    via u/[deleted]
  • 20
    good amount of money), but had left the bag in the fitting room and it was gone by the time she realized she'd left it behind. She first wondered if anyone had turned it in (ha ha, no, but a reasonable question) and the decided that the store should be on the hook for replacing the items. She literally wanted me to gather the items for her, check them out and charge her $0 for them because, in her words, they were "stolen inside the store." She was really, really insistent despite me telling her
    via u/[deleted]
  • 21
    was sorry her items were stolen, but her only recourse was to file a police report. At that point she gave the famed response, "I want to speak to your manager!" I had no idea who was on that night, but I hoped it wasn't any of the managers that took from customers. I paged for a manager and I was thrilled to see "Heidi" come and answer my call. Heidi was one of our night managers. She was German, about 6' tall and probably 180# - she was an imposing presence for sure and she did NOT take from c
    via u/[deleted]
  • 22
    So, this lady explains the situation to Heidi, and Heidi looks her dead in the eye and says complete with German accent and no expression on her face, "Well, we can't just give you product for free. You left the product in the fitting room and it was stolen. It has nothing to do with us. I cannot help you" and just walked away before the customer could even respond. It was great. The woman just looked kind of dumbfounded and muttered "I'm coming back tomorrow to speak to the general manager.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 23
    I can't believe this. What am I going to do..." as she walked off. I don't know if she ever did come back, but I'm sure "Jane," the store manager, would have told her exactly the same thing, but probably in a more gentle way. All these years later, I just remember how insistent this woman was and how she honestly thought we'd just give her free product off our shelves because her stuff was stolen due to her own carelessness.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 24
    Captain Cletus11 I work at Home Depot, I had someone a few months ago want to rent a truck. Me: Ok, I need to see your drivers license and proof of insurance. Customer: I don't have a drivers license. Me: Unfortunately sir we can't rent a truck to you if you don't have a drivers license. Cust: DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY I SPEND HERE EVERY YEAR?
    via u/Captain Cletus11
  • 25
    Me: Sir, you spending millions of dollars here doesn't automatically give you a license to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Oregon. Cust: I don't spend millions of dollars here every year. Me: So you get my point even more so then. Cust: THIS IS BULL WANT TO TALK TO THE MANAGER. ; I I laugh and call the manager in our store and ask him to come up because I got a good one for him. Manager comes up, listens to the guy whine.
    via u/Captain Cletus11
  • 26
    Manager: Looks at me and says "Your with me right? This is some kind of joke?" Me: Nope :) Manager looks at customer and says, "we won't rent you a truck with out a drivers license, its illegal." Customer: I'LL JUST GO TO THE LOWES DOWN THE STREET, I KNOW THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE MY MONEY!
    via u/Captain Cletus11
  • 27
    Manager: Good luck with that. Manager looks at me and smiles, the Lowes down the street from us doesn't do any rentals.
    via u/Captain Cletus11
  • 28
    0444440 Odd Man_Rush Was in a Burger King ordering my meal when an odd, disheveled looking man came in carrying a bag. He was attempting to get a refund on a half-eaten Whopper that he had purchased THE DAY BEFORE! The manager stated at him and the whopper for what seemed like forever just contemplating the situation. I can only imagine the thought going through her head. She refused the refund, but gave him a new sandwich.
    via u/Odd_Man_Rush
  • 29
    madcats323 I was working several years ago during a Teamsters strike. Because we were also union, we supported the Teamsters and our deliveries suffered as a result. We were having a hard time keeping things on the shelves. We had notices up informing our customers and apologizing for the inconvenience. But one day, an elderly woman came up to me at the front of the store, absolutely livid.
    via u/madcats323
  • 30
    Customer: You don't have anything that I need in stock! Me: I'm so sorry, ma'am. You see, there is a Teamsters strike currently... Customer: I know about the strike! But I'm the customer and you (firm poke of her finger in my chest) need to do something about it! Me: (patting woman condescendingly on the shoulder) Well, I'm sure if you'd like a job driving truck, our delivery team would be happy to hire you.
    via u/madcats323
  • 31
    Customer: (utterly flabbergasted expression as jaw drops) Me: My manager's name is [Manager's Name]. She's just over there (points). My name is madcats323. Have a lovely day. (my manager was awesome and totally had my back. still one of my favorite retail moments)
    via u/madcats323
  • 32
    Courtney505 A guy was arguing with me over the phone about a Uber delivery, after many minutes of explaining that Uber is an external company and we have no control over what has happened (after offering everything I physically could) he proceeded to shout, call me a liar and names down the phone, he went on and then said I want to speak to you
    via u/Courtney505
  • 33
    manager what's your name, so I told him my name and told him to give a second, put the phone down for a second and answered with 'Courtney speaking, I'm a manager how can I help'
    via u/Courtney505
  • 34
    christygl7 Not even one specific moment but I worked at Walmart for a little over 2 years and maybe half that time I was the manager. At a certain point at night I'd only have one cashier so I'd have them start cleaning up doing bathrooms, getting carts ect. while I rang everyone else up until they came back. Well, once Walmart started doing the "we'll match your price, bring in the ad" thing people jumped on it. Every night, at least one person,
    via u/christygl7
  • 35
    Customer: "this as says it's 4 for $10" Me: "that's next weeks ad." Customer: "no it's not. I just got it in the mail." Me: "it says the date on the bottom. It has to be this weeks ad." Customer: "but it's the price in the ad. You have to honor it! Let me speak to your manager!" Me: "I am the manager." Now this is where it can go 3 ways. 1st way Customer: "ok
    via u/christygl7
  • 36
    fine then I don't want them!" 2nd way Customer: "then who is above you!? Who is your boss!?" Me: gets either assistant manager or support manager. "Ya she's right. This isn't the current ad." Customer: either buys them or doesn't. 3rd way Customer: "THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! I WANT YOUR BOSS AND THE NUMBER TO CORPORATE!!!! YOU GUYS AREN'T FOLLOWING YOUR OWN ADVERTISING!!!"
    via u/christygl7
  • 37
    my boss: "sir/ma'am, we can't help you. Please leave the store. Here's our phone number. You can talk to (store managers name) tomorrow when they're here." Tomorrow Store manager: "hey Christy, don't worry about that customer. They're not welcome back in the store. Let me know if you have any more problems with them." Me: Thanks!!! Very much considering never going back to retail. Some people can be real jerks.
    via u/christygl7
  • 38
    zerbey I work in technical support and at the end of a call my customer said I need to talk to your manager. , what did I do wrong? She was talking to my manager a really long time as well. My manager popped out of the office and said "Hey great job, she wouldn't shut up about how helpful you were".
    via u/zerbey
  • 39
    cramduck I worked in phone tech support for several years, as part of a pretty small, tight team. The "manager" was in a different part of the building and wouldn't take phone calls ever, so we would trade off being managers for each other. I think I was probably the best manager on our team. One time a lady sent me a box of chocolates.
    via u/cramduck
  • 40
    fourtaco "I deserve a discount for waiting so long!" (Doesn't realize there was a sale anyway) "Well, let me just see what I can do?" (Walk away for a second and come back) "Normally I wouldn't but today I'll give you that discount." (I smile as if the world is in total peace and she becomes totally declawed) "Oh...I...um..." "Have a GREAT DAY! Be sure to ask for me the next time you come in. Byeeeeee" She came in after that and was docile as
    via u/fourtaco
  • 41
    jtrdrew My favourite customer experience I've ever had: Her: So what can't this security camera do? Me: sorry, what can't it do? What do you mean? Her: you heard me what can't this thing do!? Me: well the list of things it can't do is far greater than the things it can do
    via u/jtrdrew
  • 42
    Her: well if the list is so long then tell me a few! Me: *thinking to myself "ok you're asking for it" WellIIIII it's not gonna make your bed. It's not gonna toast your bread. It's not gonna scratch your head and it's definitely not gonna sharpen your pencil lead. Her: ok smart , I wanna speak to your manager
    via u/jtrdrew
  • 43
    This obese woman who was always an issue was demanding I "get it from the back". After explaining, slowly, that the item most Def was not back there she gave me the request The owner was a personal friend who actually asked me to work there. No nonsense kinda guy. He came out and he's like "you're not even supposed to be here. You write us bad checks and you're not allowed in this store anymore"
    via r/AskReddit
  • 44
    Got to be part of the team walking her out Nothing like a little public humiliation to take the edge off
    via r/AskReddit

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