Not sure if this has been mentioned.
Judging from the seven pages of rants within the last 24 hours, it's safe to say that quite a few people have experienced arsehole customers.

It doesn't matter what occupation you're in, there's only one thing worse than an irritating customer who's trying to get you to do something you're refusing to do (throw in free stuff, refund an item etc). Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you the one type of person guaranteed to send me into fits of apoplectic rage more than the arsehole customer:

The Undermining Manager.

Picture the scene, some self-obsessed tosser with an inflated sense of entitlement is demanding that you refund him the original cost of a TV he bought 6 years ago. The TV which 'stopped working' after he chucked a can of wife beater at it when his niece gets thrown out the qualifiers of the latest Britain's Got Talent because that nasty judge says she's got a voice like the Feline Armageddon. You stick to your guns of politely explaining that it's against company policy, and he utters the dreaded line "I demand to see your Manager!".

So, now you have to stroll into the staff room to interrupt the Manager's three hour lunch break. No doubt he'll sigh, as he has to heave his cheap-suited arse out of his nest in order to deal with this matter in his typical, training-course supplied, Managerial style.

You take him down to the customer, who's fit to burst with barely contained self-righteous fury. You explain to the boss (in front of the customer) the situation, and how you've stated the company policy, manufacturer's warranty, and been a good little shop monkey.

The boss then turns to you and says "Stop being so obtuse and just refund the customer.", then smiles warmly to the customer before returning to 'finish his lunch'.

Immediately you're made to feel an inch tall, all credibility (what little you had) has been cruelly felched from you, and the whole shop saw this. The cunt in front of you is practically orgasming, Grade A smarm seeping out from every pore, that "I always get what I want" grin plastered on the face that every fibre in your being wants to set on fire and put out with a pickaxe.

Your pride, indeed your soul, is crushed and raped as you have to process the refund. Finally the gloating, gaping cunt leaves, but your anger doesn't subside. No, because in that one instance where your Manager totally undermined you, your hatred for the customer spawned a malicious, seething child of pure fury with one purpose in life: I must exact vengeance on the Manager.

Unfortunately, my constant acts of revenge against said Manager did little to quell my anger. Eight years later, whenever I see my old boss, I'm instantly transported to that moment, and the homicidal rage flares up again.

I don't think I hate anyone more than I hate him.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Fri 5 Sep 2008, 13:06, 5 replies)

Yes Yes Yes
I hate it when they do that. You stand up yourself and what is right and you get the rug pulled out from under you. Click.
(Waspard has your wank bank account details, Fri 5 Sep 2008, 13:17, closed)

Yes!

I started out on the shop floor of a electrical retailer... had exactly the same manager... funny thing is 13 years on, he is still there in probably the same suit, and I work for a great global company for a nice boss...
(morse, Fri 5 Sep 2008, 15:48, closed)

I had a boss like that
who only stopped when we refused to do the work associated with his lack of spine. Because he couldn't do the work himself, he had to start backing us up.
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Fri 5 Sep 2008, 15:56, closed)

God that's so true
You have just reawakened the hatred that I'd buried for 16 years...

Back to therapy it is then.
(rockdoctor, Fri 5 Sep 2008, 17:17, closed)

Fortunately I've always had very supportive managers
But a click for "Feline Armageddon!"
(Raelene, Sat 6 Sep 2008, 15:16, closed)