A Cleveland retailer recently faced what had to be one of the year’s most unreasonable customers, when an agitated woman demanded that he repair a watch that he hadn’t sold her … at no charge.
Al Soloymosi of Young’s Jewelry shared the story in the Jewelers Helping Jewelers group on Facebook. He gave INSTORE permission to publish it.
Here’s what happened:
Angry lady comes to the door and begins banging. The store opens at 10 a.m. It’s currently 9:05.
Soloymosi: Hi, um, we open at 10.
Woman: Well, you’re here now so you’re going to help me NOW!
Soloymosi: I have to open up the store and can’t work with you almost breaking my door. What can I do for you?
Woman: This! (Shoves an old watch in Soloymosi’s face).
Soloymosi: What’s wrong with the watch?
Woman: I don’t know, you’re supposed to be the experts!
Soloymosi: OK. (Resolves himself to the fact that she won’t disappear until he’s heard her out.) Let me have a look.
Woman: (Follows Soloymosi inside.) It was supposed to give me “a lifetime of trouble-free service.” Now it’s dead and I’m not at all satisfied!
Soloymosi: But it’s not my watch. We never sold these. I can check the battery for you, but I’m not responsible for the watch in any way.
Woman: It’s part of jewelry. You’re a jeweler, it IS your responsibility!
Soloymosi: Sorry? How do you figure?
Woman: When I bought the watch, I was told it would give me a lifetime of service! Well, my lifetime isn’t over yet, and it’s not giving me the service I paid for!
Soloymosi: Who sold you the watch and when?
Woman: Kmart! In 1993, the box had papers that said it will give you a lifetime of service! Now, you’re part of jewelry, and you’re going to make sure I get the lifetime of service I was guaranteed when I bought the watch!
Soloymosi: No ma’am. It’s not my product …
Woman: Doesn’t matter.
Soloymosi: We never carried their line …
Woman: Doesn’t matter.
Soloymosi: … I’ve never seen or serviced the watch before …
Woman: Doesn’t matter.
Soloymosi: What do you mean? It ALL matters gravely. I’m sorry. I won’t touch this watch. It’s not my product, not my responsibility, and definitely not the potential problem I’d like to deal with going forward from here. Please take your watch elsewhere.
Woman: You assh@[=!!! Fu@# you!! You’re gonna take care of this NOW! You’re in jewelry and you have to take care of your product!
Soloymosi: Please leave now.
Woman: I’m not going anywhere! You assh@[=!!!, fix the FUC#ING watch!!!
Soloymosi: Cleveland police are being called in 3 … 2 … 1 …
Woman: CALL ‘EM!!!
Soloymosi: (Has 1st District on speed dial). Hi, this is Al Jr. from Young’s. We have a very angry lady being very loud and disruptive, who won’t leave the shop …
Woman: YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I WON’T LEAVE!!!
Soloymosi: Thanks, bye. OK, they’re coming to remove you by force. Last chance. Just go away please.
Woman: AAARRHHGGHHGRNNNVVLLFFFNGGN!!!!!! (Walks to the door and continues half mumbling, half cursing out loud.)
Soloymosi: (To no one in particular.) Welcome to Thursday …