Boomer customer with a 'landscaping emergency' barges into a shop before they're open and refuses to leave before speaking with a specialist who's not there yet: 'No! I can't wait'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Aug 10, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

What is it with the Boomer generation and a firm handshake? As if it's some magical gesture, getting you a job for which you're unqualified and 80% off at your local small business, Boomers cling to in-person visits and surprise encounters with companies that function by appointment only to tackle employees head-on with their handshake. And these days, it's strange to simply walk into a shop and demand immediate service from every employee on staff–that is if they're even actually open yet. 

The male Karen in this next story seemed to think that not only could his impromptu visit to the local pool and landscaping company prove to be fruitful, but if he showed up before business hours, he'd get special treatment. Well, as we all expect, even though this business had its 'Closed' sign firmly posted on the front door, that wasn't going to be enough to stop this guy from barging in. 

But this cringy Boomer encounter doesn't stop there! 

A normal person would heed the regular business hours of a company from which they're seeking services, but this Boomer not only burst through the locked front door, demanded immediate attention from a contractor who was not even in the office yet, and berated every receptionist in sight. All the while, tirading in front of the entire staff, still groggy from their morning coffee, this Boomer failed to realize that nobody could help him at this establishment simply because of his own failure to plan ahead.

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  • 01
    CLOSED
    via canva
  • 02
    Boomer comes to my work before we open. Refuses to leave even though no one is available to help him.
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 03
    I work for a landscaping company. We also do pools. When I was relatively new there, I pull in to the parking lot. And enter through the side door like I always do. Before that I notice a pickup truck in the parking lot. Didn't think
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 04
    anything of it. I start doing my morning routine where I set up for the day. I wait until the very last second before we open to turn on the open sign and unlock the door. While I was doing my other tasks I hear the door rattle. I look
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 05
    over and a boomer is standing at the door, trying to get in. I go up and I tell him through the glass we are not open yet. He tells me it's important. Again I'm pretty new so I let him in. He said he needs to talk to someone about his pool and landscaping. I go to
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 06
    the back and contractor is not there. But one of the other workers was kind enough to help me. Again I was new. He walks out with me and proceeds to talk to the boomer. I continue with my work, when all of a sudden this happens:
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 07
    Coworker: 'sir the contractor doesn't come in for another few hours. Please come back in a few hours.' Boomer: 'But I'm here now!'
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 08
    Coworker: 'okay but the contractor isn't here and there no one that can help you' Boomer: 'Can't you help me, or can't the young lady that let me in help?'
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 09
    Coworker: 'She is the receptionist, and I'm in another department you need to speak with the contractor about your landscaping. Boomer: 'But I want to talk to someone right now, I can't wait.'
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 10
    Coworker: 'Sir, there is no one here that can help you with this problem. I can give you the contractors number if it's urgent. Boomer: 'No! I need to see the contractor now!'
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 11
    Coworker: 'Sir the contractor is not in and doesn't come in for a few more hours, there is no one here that can help you. I can give you his number if you need to talk to him.'
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 12
    Boomer: 'You know what this is ridiculous, I'm a paying customer, and no one is helping me. I don't have time to wait!'
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 13
    The boomer storms out, and I look at my coworker. Who just rolls his eyes, and tells me this happens a lot. Never saw the boomer again.
    via anonymous_girl1227
  • 14
    sunnyspiders 1 day ago "It's important." My favourite reply is "oh my god are you hurt do you need me to call 911?"
    via sunnyspiders
  • 15
    Imaginary_Toe_1703 1 day ago I'm so curious as to what would constitute a "landscaping emergency" lol I've never heard the phrase "It's an emergency, is anyone here a LANDSCAPER!?!!!!"
    via Imaginary_Toe_1703
  • 16
    XR171 1 day ago Simple, neighbor Dan was mowing his lawn and it looked slightly better than dear Boomer's. Gotta keep and exceed the Jones
    via XR171
  • 17
    Trauma Hawks 1 day ago There was none. I guarantee he was insisting so he could look the contractor in the eye, and with a firm handshake, knock 80% off the quoted price.
    via Trauma_Hawks
  • 18
    ChiWhiteSox24 · 1 day ago Yeah see after the second time it would be "sir do I need to call the police or are you going to leave on your own?"
    via ChiWhiteSox24
  • 19
    OdinsDrengr 1 day ago You're not a paying customer if you haven't paid for anything.
    via OdinsDrengr
  • 20
    HippieGrandma1962 1 day ago I would have asked him what exactly constitutes a landscaping emergency.
    via HippieGrandma1962
  • 21
    CliftonForce 23 hr. ago To give a benefit of the doubt.. it could have been that he has other activities planned for that afternoon and the rest of the week. So his only avaliable time to talk to a landscaper was that morning. Which is why he should have called ahead to set an appointment.
    via CliftonForce
  • 22
    phunkjnky 1 day ago Gen X Sir, I have tried being polite, so now I will be direct. What part, exactly, of the contractor is not in was not understood? Do I need to call you a translator? Maybe I should speak Spanish?
    via phunkjnky
  • 23
    mjm666.21 hr. ago This. Denying reality a couple of times in a row isn't going to cause it to change. You might get the employee to bend to your will, but the rest of the facts of the situation won't change.
    via mjm666.21

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