You say you're not, but I think you are. Very.
You know it's going to be a bad transaction when someone starts bitching the moment they walk up to the counter. This past week, at your friendly local long-distance train station, a real treasure of a man walked up to the ticket counter. On a relevant side note, we are located on the second floor of the building. The sign when you enter the building says "(RRCompany) 2nd Floor" with an arrow that points up the stairs.
ESJ = Entitled, Selfish Jerkwad
Me = Ticket clerk of Awesome :P
ESJ: You know, you guys should really have a sign that you're open.
Me: *boggles* Huhwha?
ESJ: The window downstairs is all locked up. The window that says Ticketing.
Me: Oh, you mean the bus counter?
ESJ: Bus counter?
Me: Yes. The main counter right below us is the MTD bus counter.
ESJ: *huffs* Well, it doesn't say that!
Me: Actually, there's a big illuminated sign right next to the window.
ESJ: But it says TICKETING in really big letters, and MTD in small ones.
at this point, dear readers, I feel obligated to point out that the word "Ticketing" appears nowhere around the locked city bus window. The Greyhound counter, which was at the time manned, does say Ticketing, but it is preceded by the word GREYHOUND.
Me: But it does say MTD.
ESJ: *huffs a bit more* Well, it should be MARKED that the trains are upstairs.
Me: There is a sign that says Trains, pointing up here, next to the main entrance.
ESJ: Well, it should be more CLEARLY marked that TICKETING is up here.
Me: We've never had any problems before. *thinking of all the crazies who still manage to find us daily*
ESJ: Well I couldn't find it and I'm not stupid.
Me: *trying very hard not to contradict him on that* So, do you have a reservation?
ESJ: Yes, I made it online, but I had to call in and fix it.
Me: Okay, do you have your reservation number?
ESJ: *while showing me the sheet on which it is written, reads it out VEEEEERY slowly, as if to a child*
Me: *rolls eyes* Okay, I'll need to see your photo ID, and it looks like you have the Student Club rate, so I'll need to see your membership card.
ESJ: Well, here's the thing, I lost the little black book that I had it in, but I figure you can look it up in your system, hmm? (in a patronizing tone still)
Me: Actually, that program is run by an outside company. I have no way of doing that. Do you maybe have the printout that you got before the card?
ESJ: Noooo, can't I just give you the number?
Me: No, you have to show me the card in order to get the discount. Sorry, but it's our policy,
ESJ: *very huffy* Well I don't see what the DIFFERENCE is!
Me: The number is in your reservation already. I need to check the card to make sure that the name matches the one on the ID you give me. *starting to doubt that he's the student anyway, being rather conspicuously older than the general student demographic, but perhaps he's a grad student?*
ESJ: Well how about you call them, then? I'm sure it doesn't make a difference if they can verify the number.
Me: Sir, the number is not the issue. Our policy clearly states that you need to have the card at the time of ticketing.
ESJ: Where does it SAY that, huh? I have the PRINTOUT right HERE, and it does not say that ANYWHERE on it.
Me: But this is only the first page of the printout-
ESJ: There was NOTHING IMPORTANT on the second page! I CHECKED!
Me: Actually, see here at the bottom where it says "Important policy information," and then it is cut off? There are links there with information like that.
ESJ: *swipes paper away* Well, I don't see WHY you can't just take the number, or call them.
Me: Because I am required to see the card. It is policy. It can jeapordize my job if I don't do it.
ESJ: But how is it DIFFERENT if you just CALL THEM?!
Me: I'm sorry sir, but I'd like to keep my job. I can give you the ticket at the full fare rate ($12), but not at the discounted rate ($10.80) without your card.
ESJ: FINE. I'LL JUST GO, and KEEP my RESERVATION. But I WON'T BE BACK. *storms off*
Really?? That kind of temper tantrum over less than $2? Dude, grow up. I'm pretty sure keeping my job is going to win between that and your $2 discount. Just count yourself lucky you came on a day that I was working, and not one of the grumpy old curmudgeons who would yell right back at you.
ESJ = Entitled, Selfish Jerkwad
Me = Ticket clerk of Awesome :P
ESJ: You know, you guys should really have a sign that you're open.
Me: *boggles* Huhwha?
ESJ: The window downstairs is all locked up. The window that says Ticketing.
Me: Oh, you mean the bus counter?
ESJ: Bus counter?
Me: Yes. The main counter right below us is the MTD bus counter.
ESJ: *huffs* Well, it doesn't say that!
Me: Actually, there's a big illuminated sign right next to the window.
ESJ: But it says TICKETING in really big letters, and MTD in small ones.
at this point, dear readers, I feel obligated to point out that the word "Ticketing" appears nowhere around the locked city bus window. The Greyhound counter, which was at the time manned, does say Ticketing, but it is preceded by the word GREYHOUND.
Me: But it does say MTD.
ESJ: *huffs a bit more* Well, it should be MARKED that the trains are upstairs.
Me: There is a sign that says Trains, pointing up here, next to the main entrance.
ESJ: Well, it should be more CLEARLY marked that TICKETING is up here.
Me: We've never had any problems before. *thinking of all the crazies who still manage to find us daily*
ESJ: Well I couldn't find it and I'm not stupid.
Me: *trying very hard not to contradict him on that* So, do you have a reservation?
ESJ: Yes, I made it online, but I had to call in and fix it.
Me: Okay, do you have your reservation number?
ESJ: *while showing me the sheet on which it is written, reads it out VEEEEERY slowly, as if to a child*
Me: *rolls eyes* Okay, I'll need to see your photo ID, and it looks like you have the Student Club rate, so I'll need to see your membership card.
ESJ: Well, here's the thing, I lost the little black book that I had it in, but I figure you can look it up in your system, hmm? (in a patronizing tone still)
Me: Actually, that program is run by an outside company. I have no way of doing that. Do you maybe have the printout that you got before the card?
ESJ: Noooo, can't I just give you the number?
Me: No, you have to show me the card in order to get the discount. Sorry, but it's our policy,
ESJ: *very huffy* Well I don't see what the DIFFERENCE is!
Me: The number is in your reservation already. I need to check the card to make sure that the name matches the one on the ID you give me. *starting to doubt that he's the student anyway, being rather conspicuously older than the general student demographic, but perhaps he's a grad student?*
ESJ: Well how about you call them, then? I'm sure it doesn't make a difference if they can verify the number.
Me: Sir, the number is not the issue. Our policy clearly states that you need to have the card at the time of ticketing.
ESJ: Where does it SAY that, huh? I have the PRINTOUT right HERE, and it does not say that ANYWHERE on it.
Me: But this is only the first page of the printout-
ESJ: There was NOTHING IMPORTANT on the second page! I CHECKED!
Me: Actually, see here at the bottom where it says "Important policy information," and then it is cut off? There are links there with information like that.
ESJ: *swipes paper away* Well, I don't see WHY you can't just take the number, or call them.
Me: Because I am required to see the card. It is policy. It can jeapordize my job if I don't do it.
ESJ: But how is it DIFFERENT if you just CALL THEM?!
Me: I'm sorry sir, but I'd like to keep my job. I can give you the ticket at the full fare rate ($12), but not at the discounted rate ($10.80) without your card.
ESJ: FINE. I'LL JUST GO, and KEEP my RESERVATION. But I WON'T BE BACK. *storms off*
Really?? That kind of temper tantrum over less than $2? Dude, grow up. I'm pretty sure keeping my job is going to win between that and your $2 discount. Just count yourself lucky you came on a day that I was working, and not one of the grumpy old curmudgeons who would yell right back at you.