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Old 03-16-2002, 12:37 PM  
theWatsonian
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: PB4L HQ
Posts: 1,737
I worked in a union grocery store for a year. Basically, the only way to get fired (barring total ineptitude) is to do something really stupid like telling the customers to fuck off or steal from the company. So when a customer would berate us, for whatever reason, we would become more polite.
When you want to tell a customer to fuck off you say "have a nice day" and when you want to call them a name you use "sir" or "ma'am."
It works - your coworkers know when you mean "ma'am" and when you mean "bitch" based on your inflection and how much you flash that fake smile.

I still call some of my friends "sir" when I see them and they know what I mean. My Pop (a long time grocery man) does it, too.

Be polite. If they are assholes it may enrage them further but they can't say you did anything wrong. If they are genuine newbies you won't offend them.

Yell at your computer screen if it helps.
Don't type angry.
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