Every Monday I utitilse the 02
Priority app on my phone to get a cheap lunch. This isn't just any cheap lunch.
This is lunch for a quid. Yep, one solitary pound. Boots, the department store
in town, let anyone wielding the correct 15 digit code, get a nice sandwich,
nicer cake and a drink for just 100 pence. Normally the stuff would cost about
£7 individually, or £3.29 on Boots's own meal deal.
Quids in!
I've been doing this for a while now and the only arse ache is that there is poxy network coverage inside the store, so you have to step outside to get the code up. Added to that is the 5 minute countdown from you activating the offer, to it expiring. No real problem though as the doorway is 20 yards from the food, which is a further 10 yards from the tills.
Simple.
Today I was about to pay for my
stuff when the guy at the next till started moaning to the female cashier (and her
female supervisor, that he'd demanded to speak to) about not getting a phone
signal within the shop. He was lamenting that he had to wait "10 minutes
every time" just to get coverage and that their wi-fi wasn't functioning
correctly. He clearly thought it was their fault and wouldn't let either get a
word in when they tried to respond. I took my phone and went:
"Excuse me, I get the same
problem. Coverage is bad in here but it's not their fault, it's a network
issue."
He nods at what I've said and
carries on moaning at the two cashiers, misunderstanding my motivation for
speaking up and assuming I'm sympathising with him.
"You see, he has the same
problem. I have to wait 10 minutes, it's not acceptable."
I try again. "No, I mean it's
an issue with your network. I've just had to step outside to get the code.
There's no wi-fi in Boots, it's not their fault. It's a problem with your
network coverage, you need to take it up with them."
There's a momentary pause while the
two women look at him hopefully but it doesn't sink in and instead he curls his
lip at me and goes:
"What's it got to do with you.
Why don't you mind your own business?"
Typical aggressive dick. He's just
received an explanation but is determined to have a good old fashioned moan at
people who can't answer back and resents anyone tying to prevent that. I reply:
"Because I don't like the way
you're talking to them. Instead of bullying the women why don't you just piss
off?!!"
He gets immediately riled, steps
back from his till and steps into my personal space, sneering "Don't tell
me to piss off!"
I shove him in the chest as hard as
I can with both hands and he staggers back then goes "Don't you push
me!" and gets primed to throw a punch. I adopt the same stance and am
expecting this to come to blows when he changes his mind. Another guy then
stands in between us and asks us politely to calm down. The supervisor begins
ringing her "call for assistance" bell repeatedly and in a few seconds
a nervous looking security guard turns up and stands behind him.
"You told me to piss off AND
you pushed me!" he says loudly.
"Because you're being rude and
you got in my face. Why don't you take a deep breath, calm down and just knock
it off. I've explained the situation to you, stop being aggressive."
"I'm not aggressive, you're
the one who's being aggressive." He turns back to the cashier and demands
that they send a complaint on his behalf to head office about having to wait
for 10 minutes for the cheap lunch code AND that another customer told him to
"piss off".
I take my spectacles off and put
them on the counter. "Why don't you also mention that I pushed you in the
chest after you weighed up to me?"
"Nothing to do with you, mind
your own business."
"Haven't you got anything
better to do than take your moods out on innocent people?"
I look to the worried security guard
and go "Seriously?" gesturing to the irate bloke he's stood behind.
The guard shrugs and looks embarrassed,
possibly one of the breed that can't get physical unless it's self defence or
first aid.
The guy stood in between us again
mumbles for us to calm down. I look at him and ask "You with him?"
assuming he might be the guy's son or friend. He says "yes" and I
extend my hand. "No hard feelings but he's being a serious idiot." He
shakes my hands and goes "I know, but...."
I look to the supervisor and ask
her to call the police. The elderly cashier I'm facing is still holding the card
payment machine, waiting for my pin number. I enter it and go "Sorry about
that, can I have a bag?" She smiles, goes "No problem" then bags
my stuff and I leave, the bloke still chuntering at the till while the security
guards stands there saying nothing.
When I got home I analysed this and
broke it down into good and bad points. In my opinion they are as follows.
Good
1). Stood up for what I perceived
to be bullying against other people.
2). Used a clearance strike as soon
as my personal space got invaded.
3). Didn't back down and used
neutral language to try and reason with the guy.
Bad
1). Possibly shouldn't have got
involved at all.
2). Swore at him, inflaming his
anger.
3). Didn't take my glasses off as
soon as I'd pushed him away.
4). Didn't' have my hands up after
I'd pushed him away.
75% correct. Room for improvement.