Warning: Gripes and Flashbacks

I had it happen for the first time today in almost seven months.

I had a flashback to my days at Wal-Mart. They weren't so long ago, and not all the memories were bad ones with a few occasional graces and perks thrown in to make it livable if not entirely bearable. But for those who do not remember, for about six months I worked WalMart customer service in northside of Jacksonville, Fl. I followed things well enough to the book to not get fired and to keep management happy with how 'efficently' I processed returns.

I'll bring up my point now before I go too far off track.

My husband was here this morning when I had a voicemail from a nearly stuttering guy who was telling me to let him know when he got a fax in. I had the fax. But I had two issues. I was being treated matter-of-factly by a guy I had never met that I was his secretary to upkeep his faxes. The operator receives faxes all hours of the day and has them delivered to rooms. The BC (Business Center) is only open 11 hours a day. We don't deliver. Second problem. He didn't leave a room number and his phone number was missing two digits. I deleted the voicemail, figuring they always call back. He did six hours later. Yes, come get your stupid fax.

In short, its accompanied shortly by an 86 page fax that needs initials on each page. I'm annoyed. Its a small fax machine. Its slow. And I'm eating lunch, it being one o'clock. We go from it will be faxed back to we're fedexing it back to we're faxing again. I'm more irritated, but still outwardly calm. Polite to the stupid rich people. He was renting out a house, not a room. A HOUSE. A room is $300 at least a night. I explain the prices. I've never been a stutterer. $5.00 for 1st page and every following is $2.00. He's faxing it all back. I'm a little stunned. I just told him how much money that would be. Who takes it like that? He must be rolling in the money.

I send the fax and draw up invoice. $200.00. He says it isn't right, that I said $.25 for additional pages. I feel the blood pressure rise, get lightheaded, and about pass out. I'm past irritated and into I-hate-you land.

I express maybe he overheard someone asking about laser prints from the printer. No no. I get the feeling. I don't do this. This is not something I would normally screw up on. I'm suspicious. and getting quite angry. Still outwardly calm, but there is a little edge on my voice when I offer to cancel the fax and do a fedex instead since that was the deciding vote. He considers and says no he's already decided and asks for a supervisor. I call the office, and they clear the $.25.

I know the logic, better a customer in the right and paying than not paying- it being all profit. Except for my salary in some ways. I correct the invoice. $21.00. He expresses how happy that I complied and bent over and blah blah.

I recognize the attitude and spiel.

From Wal-Mart when a customer makes a huge scene that comes down to he-said-she-said. The management kicks it out if its really outrageous, but if its not, approve it and get on with it. That look on the customer's face... "I pulled one over on you and got away with it and you're taking it so well with a smile on your face after you shake my hand." He had that look. Now I know how he got the money.

I'm a sore loser. This is my twenty minutes of raging spleen. Rage. Red rage.

I wish sand fleas to infest his beachside rental house tonight. Its raining, so I can hope. That makes me smile. Go back to Texas butthole.