Discussion The Karen Thread

[Passenger4224]

Anyone here have any stories dealing with someone who was acting very entitled?

 

[ConfusedClouds]

Sadly I have to admit to doing so far too much (acting privileged/entitled). Hence having to keep myself away from society.

 

[limenlux]

Having worked primarily in a profession where my core customer base was middle-aged "wine aunts", I have experienced biblical levels of solipsistic, rage-infused entitlement, most often revolving around attempts at "negotiating" the price of alcohol (illegal), or trivial service-related errors during group gatherings.

Alternatively, many of these same women, once sufficiently humored and inebriated, were some of the most generous and amusing people I have ever met, though this was generally offset by the inevitability of being at least mildly sexually harrassed by most of them.

 

[trying ungracefully]

I was on the bus and it was packed to the front. I was waiting with my boyfriend and two seats opened up right near us. I sat in one and a woman sat in the other. The WHOLE TIME we were on the bus these 40-50 year old adults were complaining that I took the seat, indirectly. They said it "reminded them of the bronx" lmao. We were in one of the nicest parts of the city and I SAT IN A BUS SEAT.

The woman was scooting near me the whole time too to make me uncomfortable. Like ok, welcome to the city, thighs end up touching on the bus. I once was backed into the window seat by a 400 lb guy, I can deal with a little thigh touching from a weird woman.

I should have said something but I have too much social anxiety. My boyfriend also got touched on the bus, a man as mad that he was in the way and poked his sides like a pervert.

 

[Pluto]

 

[Insufficent]

Yeah we have one at work. Acts like she owns the fuking place. Everything is always someone fault because things just don't happen, if something breaks, there needs to be a person to blame. Had my share of that when my height controlled table broke and came down crashing. Walked to the happening and first thing she says "how can someone work in such filth?"
Demands impossible thing from the IT guy.
All she dose is manage the office supplies and post mundane shit on the company's intranet.
She's the type of an asshole that needs a good bunch of pimp slaps across her snout. And one with an axe.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I worked in retail for ten years so- I came across a few. One woman came up to the tills to complain she couldn't believe there wasn't any knitwear in the maternity department. A fair complaint I assured her I would pass on to my manager. It was her attitude though. She leant up against the counter and lingered there, staring angrily at me. I wondered if I should ask her whether she cared to wait while I knitted her something.

But, customers would complain about all sorts of things. They didn't like the design on the new carrier bag. They were annoyed they'd have to take another esculator up to find the department they needed.

One customer claimed she was a shareholder and, friends with the CEO and, she'd mention her complaint in her Christmas card to him. That was the favourite really: 'I'm a shareholder'. It was an old chain store. I imagine most people in the country had shares in it!

One particular woman- everyone knew by name! She was so notorious for complaining. Even my most patient collleagues began getting frustrated with her. She'd always try to play one store off against another. It got to the point, even at the start of the conversation, colleagues were recommending other stores. Not the attitude really.

Funnily enough, when I left that store, I did some temporary Christmas work at a more high end store. She came in there, didn't recognise me and, was as nice as pie. Funny how a smarter uniform changes how people treat you.

 

[ConfusedClouds]

Funny how a smarter uniform changes how people treat you.

Working at a supermarket customer service desk one evening just before closing as a 17yo and someone was complaining that the reductions were wrong for the 'buy x bottles of wine, get [sliding scale] discount off' kinda deals. Tbf the receipt had done it in a weird way, but it was all there and i calculated and explained this all to her. But no. Not enough. Call the manager. But because it was late, the duty manager happened to the bakery manager who was clueless about it/the tills. So in front of this customer I was explaining all the same and the calculations to the manager. Thankfully she looked a bit sheepish and left without forcing the manager to repeat it again.

It would also be common for people to complain about things they bought (fresh foods) not having long enough shelf life. 'I bought this yesterday for a party in 3 days and I was in a rush and didn't check'. Even after explaining about stock rotation (take from the back) and to check if its needed by a certain date, nope, manager please. And annoyingly for stuff like this, the manager would just give them their money back without question. But as you say, its the over defensive attitude and approach, especially to a 'lowly' shop worker.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Working at a supermarket customer service desk one evening just before closing as a 17yo and someone was complaining that the reductions were wrong for the 'buy x bottles of wine, get [sliding scale] discount off' kinda deals. Tbf the receipt had done it in a weird way, but it was all there and i calculated and explained this all to her. But no. Not enough. Call the manager. But because it was late, the duty manager happened to the bakery manager who was clueless about it/the tills. So in front of this customer I was explaining all the same and the calculations to the manager. Thankfully she looked a bit sheepish and left without forcing the manager to repeat it again.

It would also be common for people to complain about things they bought (fresh foods) not having long enough shelf life. 'I bought this yesterday for a party in 3 days and I was in a rush and didn't check'. Even after explaining about stock rotation (take from the back) and to check if its needed by a certain date, nope, manager please. And annoyingly for stuff like this, the manager would just give them their money back without question. But as you say, its the over defensive attitude and approach, especially to a 'lowly' shop worker.

That was the most frustrating part for me. The shop I worked in used to have an overly lenient policy for taking back returns. People would literally buy clothes for an event and then, return them for a refund or voucher!

Finally, they began to tighten up the rules. We were told to (obviously) check that the goods being returned were in a resellable condition. Yet- when you actually did this- 'Sorry sir/ madam- these goods aren't in a resellable condition'- the same thing would happen- 'let me speak to your manager' and then- the manager would back down!

It was like- I'm doing this for you- I'm following your guidelines. Trying to defend your profits- do you think I want to challenge customers about returning damaged goods? It was crazy really. Like- why should I care about your company when those being paid more than me don't? But then- I start to sound like a Karen too.

That said- it can work in reverse too. Some customer assistants would be deliberately unhelpful or obstructive.

 

[Forveleth]

That was the favourite really: 'I'm a shareholder'.

This makes me want to buy one stock in Apple or Samsung and then demand their most expensive product at a discount because "I'm a shareholder."