Sunday, March 30, 2008

not nice today

After sleeping on a pillow of tear-soaked losing lottery tickets last night, I dreadfully awoke and came to my weekend job.

I work at a service station (gas, oil changes, car inspections, tire repairs, etc.). I tend to work alone more often than not. While working here does help me continue on working towards my degree, it also makes me very anti-social. I realize that people ask questions that I can't answer to their satisfaction. In fact people do all sorts of things I can't believe. Here's a few:

1. customer "Yeah, I want _________ exactly where are you located, or tell me what you are near?"
me "Yes sir, we are located at **** South ****** St. in west Burlington. We are between ***** and ******* streets. We're across the street from ******** (a local landmark) and right beside **********, the old abandoned steak house (also a local landmark)."

customer "Yeah... I'm new to the area, I don't know where any of that is, can you be more specific?"

me "....."

That happens no fewer than 12 times a day. How can I tell you where I am if you have no idea where you are?

2. me "Sir? Yes, your inspection is done. I'm sorry but your car (a 12 year-old economy car with 295,000 miles that is literally bleeding to death in the bay, it smells of filth and is completely trashed) failed to pass due to the things listed here. This is what it will cost for me to fix them, and you'll be able to get your inspection sticker."

customer "Well, ain't never noticed this before!"

How often do grossly fat people do a "look over" inspection of their car? I can only assume he thought his $500 rolling dirty bomb was supposed to last forever.

3. Customer pulls up to "full service" gas pumps and waits.

me "Yes ma'am?"

customer "Yes, please check my fluid levels under the hood."

me (after looking it over) "Yes ma'am, you're a little low on oil, what grade do you prefer?"

customer "Oh, it's too expensive here, I'll put some it in later."

me "..."

You know, we tend to only offer service to paying customers. Sorry, but it's kind of how businesses stay open.

Moving Van rental.

Customer returns after having the van 5 hours. "This van is a piece of crap! I want a refund!"

me "..."

Customer "Well?"

me "You had it for FIVE hours and there is 100 miles on it."

Customer "So?"

me "It took 5 hours and 100 mile to realize it was junk? That's just about a full move, so no, I can't refund anything. If fact you owe me more money. If you are unhappy with the vehicle, we need to know before you leave, at the very least before 100 miles and five hours."

Customer then leaves in a huff.

And you wonder why the guy at the station is such a grump.