• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Video: Gamestop manager threatens to release angry customer's details over GTA V spat

tehbible

Member
I just get this feeling that if the Gamestop manager was an obese black woman (think Precious) who spoke in African American Vernacular English (ebonics), and said the same exact stuff as what the manager said verbatim, there would be a lot less people in here 'defending' her actions.

Instead, there are a bunch of white knights defending her actions because the the customer was a 'dweeb.'
 

Kusagari

Member
Have some self respect. Being in customer service doesn't mean people can be uncivil to you. You are a human being.

Jesus people.

If he was being that uncivil she could have told him to leave the store. She would have been well within her rights to do that.

Once she decided to needlessly antagonize him for no reason, considering the dude was leaving the damn store, she showed a complete lack of professionalism that you cannot have in customer service.
 
Have some self respect. Being in customer service doesn't mean people can be uncivil to you. You are a human being.

Jesus people.

Agreed. My wife is a manager in customer service and I can't believe the shit she has to deal with. People calling her a bitch or a cunt because the store no longer stocks a product. Being threatened with violence because she won't discount a product. Being publicly berated because she can't take back a product someone bought over a year ago is trying to return without a receipt. I have personally witnessed all of these things happen to her. Yes the manager was out of line when she threatened to give out his personal information, and if she was fired, I highly doubt this is the first time something like this has happened. This does not give a customer carte Blanche to act like an asshole.

Note: I don't think this guy was an asshole at all. He didn't raise his voice, he didn't insult her, and he remained fairly calm.
 

BBOY267

Neo Member
I just get this feeling that if the Gamestop manager was an obese black woman (think Precious) who spoke in African American Vernacular English (ebonics), and said the same exact stuff as what the manager said verbatim, there would be a lot less people in here 'defending' her actions.

Instead, there are a bunch of white knights defending her actions because the the customer was a 'dweeb.'


Nah, Im black. But also Ive worked in customer service so I know the feeling. She didnt handle herself great, but dude was asking for it. I may not like gamestop employees, but I understand how annoying their customers can be
 
Pretty much!

I once worked with a guy named Ruzic, who was from Bosnia--nicest guy in the world. Saw him literally give a homeless man the coat off of his back one evening.

He was once helping someone return something, when the customer decides to go on a tirade about foreigners takin jerbz and needing to speak proper murcan. I stepped in and said Ruzic's english was infinitely more understandable than the appalchian drivel he was spewing and that he should probably leave.

The one thing I learned from retail is don't let people walk all over you and protect your buddies. This mindset has helped alot in my corporate career.

You are right to stand up for your employees if they are getting abused. Telling such a customer to leave your store is well within your right. Throwing insults back isn't professional. Just because you've gotten away with it doesn't make it right or the proper way to run a business.
 
I just get this feeling that if the Gamestop manager was an obese black woman (think Precious) who spoke in African American Vernacular English (ebonics), and said the same exact stuff as what the manager said verbatim, there would be a lot less people in here 'defending' her actions.

Instead, there are a bunch of white knights defending her actions because the the customer was a 'dweeb.'
Just what are you trying to get at here?
 

RagnarokX

Member
For what? He goes there to pay the store $60 only to get some bitchy attitude in return. Then he asks for her name so he can file a complaint.

It's not the customer's job to be professional. They don't work there.

The store already had the $60. The store wanted proof that he wasn't taking a game that someone else paid for/reserved.

The video has been edited so we don't know why the woman relented. Maybe he had his ID on him and was just refusing to show it for some reason. He should have left if he didn't have his ID on him but he refused to, made a scene, and held up the line for who knows how long. It was unprofessional for the woman to do what she did, but let's not pretend the customer was some saint and that the customer is always right.
 
If he was being that uncivil she could have told him to leave the store. She would have been well within her rights to do that.

Once she decided to needlessly antagonize him for no reason, considering the dude was leaving the damn store, she showed a complete lack of professionalism that you cannot have in customer service.

I don't think anyone disagrees that she handled this situation poorly. Hes responding to the posts that say "tough, you get paid to take the customers shit no matter what". That's crap. You have to be professional, but you do not have to take abuse.
 

paolo11

Member
Agreed. My wife is a manager in customer service and I can't believe the shit she has to deal with. People calling her a bitch or a cunt because the store no longer stocks a product. Being threatened with violence because she won't discount a product. Being publicly berated because she can't take back a product someone bought over a year ago is trying to return without a receipt. I have personally witnessed all of these things happen to her. Yes the manager was out of line when she threatened to give out his personal information, and if she was fired, I highly doubt this is the first time something like this has happened. This does not give a customer carte Blanche to act like an asshole.

Note: I don't think this guy was an asshole at all. He didn't raise his voice, he didn't insult her, and he remained fairly calm.

Dang, what did you do when you saw your wife being threatened like that?

Kudos to her for being strong.
 

R0ckman

Member
I just get this feeling that if the Gamestop manager was an obese black woman (think Precious) who spoke in African American Vernacular English (ebonics), and said the same exact stuff as what the manager said verbatim, there would be a lot less people in here 'defending' her actions.

Instead, there are a bunch of white knights defending her actions because the the customer was a 'dweeb.'

If this was scenario she would have jumped over the counter and beat the fuck out him all the way out of the store and turned into a meme.
 

Petrae

Member
I'm not going to say I think she should be fired. It's hard out here and people have bad days. Have some compassion.

I understand that people have bad days, but in this time of social media and viral videos... if you're caught having one of those bad days, you're ultimately going to have to pay the price. Had she not allowed video to be shot in her store-- which is technically not allowed without corporate approval anyway-- this issue would be a "he said, she said" argument and likely not the controversy it's become.

Even if the customer service issue was merely reprimanded because of a "bad day", how does she explain open access to her stockroom with customers inside of the store? When Loss Prevention staff sees that, it's all over. Even if the customer service situation hasn't occurred, the manager jeopardized thousands of dollars in merchandise and perhaps the safety of her staff and customers in the store had an opportunistic criminal decided to hit her store. Leaving your stockroom door unlocked and open is a serious infraction, and the evidence is on the web.
 
The store already had the $60. The store wanted proof that he wasn't taking a game that someone else paid for/reserved.

The video has been edited so we don't know why the woman relented. Maybe he had his ID on him and was just refusing to show it for some reason. He should have left if he didn't have his ID on him but he refused to, made a scene, and held up the line for who knows how long. It was unprofessional for the woman to do what she did, but let's not pretend the customer was some saint and that the customer is always right.

I didn't say he was a saint. It doesn't matter if he's the most insufferable person in the world. But he's not the one at fault here.

His "transgression" consisted of demanding something the store couldn't provide. How much of a scene he made is irrelevant. There are ways to deal with people like that. This isn't one of them.
 
Dang, what did you do when you saw your wife being threatened like that?

Kudos to her for being strong.

I get pissed, but I don't want to endanger her job by stepping in. My wife is very no nonsense at work. She tells them to either be respectful or leave the store. She's actually had to call the police once on a guy who wouldn't leave and kept screaming at an associate. It's really changed how I look at people who work in customer service, and as such I try to be as calm and respectful as possible. Your more likely to solve an issue that way anyways.
 

tehbible

Member
Nah, Im black. But also Ive worked in customer service so I know the feeling. She didnt handle herself great, but dude was asking for it. I may not like gamestop employees, but I understand how annoying their customers can be

The way you said you're black in such a cavalier way just demonstrates you're clearly not black. Most black people would agree that had a black person done the same actions that person did, the response could be completely different.
 

Mesoian

Member
I just get this feeling that if the Gamestop manager was an obese black woman (think Precious) who spoke in African American Vernacular English (ebonics), and said the same exact stuff as what the manager said verbatim, there would be a lot less people in here 'defending' her actions.

Instead, there are a bunch of white knights defending her actions because the the customer was a 'dweeb.'

I bet if it were a sassy black lady that had 50 pounds on the guy, he wouldn't have stepped up.
 
In LA huh? Be honest. Did you have a terrible experience on that store?

Had a pleasant experience over all. The lad behind the counter was courteous and on the ball. It was a bit busier than I'd have expected (about 4 people ahead of me), but it makes sense everybody buying GTA on their lunch break. He asked for ID from everyone.



Is it the one in Burbank next to Target?
Yup! I recognized the b ball thing under the TV screen on the shelf. It's currently deflated :(
 
If you got a business card then you should have an ID. No reason to not and you're told constantly to make sure you have it when picking the game up.

What a maroon. What he did has scam written all over it.

But what she did would also be a fire-able offense in most places.
 
2 assholes hash it out on video and people feel the need to take sides?

Horrible customer and horrible customer service as far as I'm concerned
 

TriniTrin

war of titties grampa
Kinda Crazy but I did NOT get asked for my ID at best buy when I got my GTA. Dude shoulda preordered there. lol
 
for the folks blaming the customer and not the manager, you're wrong.

It doesn't matter what this guy did. He could have refused to show her ID, used a business card as ID, used a signed receipt as ID etc... it doesnt matter. No matter how idiotic it may seem on why the guy is doing what he is doing, these employees are all about 'customer service'.

As a manager, you have to treat every situation with care. She almost nailed it, but when he started to walk away and she threw out the wise crack (again, no matter how wrong he may be), she was wrong.

It's that simple.
 

geebee

Banned
Awkward customer vs employee with an attitude? This is why I don't go to Gamestop. The people inside them are embarrassing.
 

Petrae

Member
The fact that there are people in here defending her is dreadful.

I can see why there's a instinct to cheer her on, especially for those who work in customer service and have been treated poorly. Sometimes you root for that comeuppance, you cheer for the person who stands up for herself.

I personally think there are better potential outcomes in this scenario, had she not started talking as he left. Customers were already picking on him. Let them take your battle and preserve your job. Vent after work to your staff.

Unfortunately, she picked the nuclear option.
 
You are right to stand up for your employees if they are getting abused. Telling such a customer to leave your store is well within your right. Throwing insults back isn't professional. Just because you've gotten away with it doesn't make it right or the proper way to run a business.
Act like a child, get treated like one.

Respect is earned, not given.
 

paolo11

Member
Had a pleasant experience over all. The lad behind the counter was courteous and on the ball. It was a bit busier than I'd have expected (about 4 people ahead of me), but it makes sense everybody buying GTA on their lunch break. He asked for ID from everyone.




Yup! I recognized the b ball thing under the TV screen on the shelf. It's currently deflated :(


Glad my GS experience hasn't been sour yet.
 

BBOY267

Neo Member
The way you said you're black in such a cavalier way just demonstrates you're clearly not black. Most black people would agree that had a black person done the same actions that person did, the response could be completely different.
Lol I'm talking about from my point of view. I can show you my birth certificate and ssn if I need to verify.
 

gohepcat

Banned
for the folks blaming the customer and not the manager, you're wrong.

It doesn't matter what this guy did. ...

It's that simple.

This is the wrong attitude to take. You don't have free rein as a customer. I've stepped in when a customer was berating an employee. You don't treat people like shit....ever.

Obviously she handled it poorly (although I can't believe people here actually think the email line was serious), but this didn't just happen out of nowhere.

This isn't black and white. It's not "simple"
 
The way you said you're black in such a cavalier way just demonstrates you're clearly not black. Most black people would agree that had a black person done the same actions that person did, the response could be completely different.

Tell me more about how most Black people would act and what they would agree with.

You know, since you seem to be an expert on all things related to Black reactions and generalizations.
 
This is the wrong attitude to take. You don't have free rein as a customer. I've stepped in when a customer was berating an employee. You don't treat people like shit....ever.

Obviously she handled it poorly (although I can't believe people here actually think the email line was serious), but this didn't just happen out of nowhere.

This isn't black and white. It's not "simple"
it actually IS that simple. you obviously are not in management or you'd understand this. All she needed to state was "you may contact our customer service, if you're not satisfied with your experience" or "I'm sorry sir, I don't have to be treated this way and I'm sorry you had a bad experience. My name is "x" and you can speak with my manager if you'd like"

it IS that simple.
 

ZealousD

Makes world leading predictions like "The sun will rise tomorrow"
The way you said you're black in such a cavalier way just demonstrates you're clearly not black. Most black people would agree that had a black person done the same actions that person did, the response could be completely different.

Joke poster?
 

R0ckman

Member
The fact that others are sticking up for the man-child that doesn't know what a proper ID is tells me most of you have never worked in a customer service position.

I have, for 3 years while in college. I gave them a bit of an attitude and just laughed when they say they would not shop there again. I didnt act like a dumbass.
 

Rafterman

Banned
I just get this feeling that if the Gamestop manager was an obese black woman (think Precious) who spoke in African American Vernacular English (ebonics), and said the same exact stuff as what the manager said verbatim, there would be a lot less people in here 'defending' her actions.

Instead, there are a bunch of white knights defending her actions because the the customer was a 'dweeb.'

I get the feeling your the kind of guy who reads race into everything.

She was a tool, but he was a bigger tool. White, black, purple, it doesn't matter.

The way you said you're black in such a cavalier way just demonstrates you're clearly not black. Most black people would agree that had a black person done the same actions that person did, the response could be completely different.

Seriously? Now people are lying about being black in your mind. What is wrong with you?
 
Act like a child, get treated like one.

Respect is earned, not given.

So is money.

If I was in your store when you mouthed off on a customer like that you can bet I wouldn't come back. And no, it's not because I'm an abusive customer.

Unfortunately your business style does exist. I've seen it. Always in some small mom and pop electronics store. Salesmen with their holier than thou schtick treating customers like idiots, giving snide answers to simple questions. But I expect professionalism if I'm shopping in a large, nationwide chain. I expect some kind of standard, which is why these GS stories always make me shake my head. There's something seriously wrong with the people higher up because I don't here this kind of crap coming from best buy or walmart or amazon. Is something wrong with Gamestop's hiring process? Do they literally just pick up anyone?
 

gohepcat

Banned
it actually IS that simple. you obviously are not in management or you'd understand this. All she needed to state was "you may contact our customer service, if you're not satisfied with your experience" or "I'm sorry sir, I don't have to be treated this way and I'm sorry you had a bad experience. My name is "x" and you can speak with my manager if you'd like"

it IS that simple.

I am in management. I protect my employees and go to bat for them. I don't let people abuse them, and I don't hire people who are doormats. In return I get loyal, intelligent, and confident people.

She handled this poorly. I don't manage people who work in retail, I might not have hired her in the first place, but I would at least listen to her story, and believe her before I believe some jackass.
 

Coconut

Banned
I have, for 3 years while in college. I give them a bit of an attitude and just laugh when they say they will not shop here again. I didnt act like a dumbass.

She did the same thing a laugh and attitude. Do you think she was really going dispense his email and stuff? If you do believe that I got a bridge in San Francisco to sell you.
 

R0ckman

Member
She did the same thing a laugh and attitude. Do you think she was really going dispense his email and stuff? If you do believe that I got a bridge in San Francisco to sell you.

Doesn't matter, shouldn't have taken it there even in mockery. Sometimes you can win through silence and a head shake. She turned it into a production. She was a dumbass.
 
She looks miserable. Like the job has given her so many ulcers.

I have no fucking clue why people keep going to Gamestop.

Just got back from living overseas for 4 years (military) and yeah, was reminded of this when I started going to them agian. Once I pick up my Wind Waker bundle, I'll never set foot in one again.
Place is gross.
 
Top Bottom