Never that bad
I used to work in a local shop for local people where you'd expect a bit of trouble. Most of the customers were spot on, it was about the size of a Tesco Metro I guess but on a Scottish island. The only bad thing was that, being at school at the time (through 5th and 6th year), I used to work the last shift of the day - from half 6 until closing at ten. The worst customers were the old alcoholics but that was only because of the stink of piss and rancid booze (it's a smell I recognise to this day). You'd still get the odd arsehole but never anyone consistently shitty.

Fast forward a few years I'm working in a University Library - biggest bunch of cunts you're likely to come across. Students moaning and crying about late fees, staff members, supposed "academics" failing to grasp the most basic workings of the book borrowing process and taking it out on members of staff, people employed by the same institution having no regard for their colleagues. A lot of "special" people who wanted special treatment.

The best, and by that I mean most despicable customer, was an older woman, easily late 40's. She would phone about fines or issues about bringing back books other people had requested, talk about how it played on her nerves, it was unfair, she wasn't well, it was difficult for her to get out of the house with her bad leg etc. etc. etc. but she'd always take the name of the person she dealt with and request them next time she was in. Anyway, one day she comes in towards the end of a summer term, requests me, moans and moans about how difficult her life is, I get a supervisor to dealt with her fines, she has another moan and finally leaves.

Now, as a side job I work in a bar which caters to post grad, mature and foreign students. One night I get in for a shift and she's there - pished as fuck, falling about the place, the stick she uses for her bad leg propped against the table she's sitting at while she dances with a bunch of younger students. She eventually comes to the bar and orders a big round, pays then slurs "Ah ken you frae somewhere don't I". I just said Aye, last time you were in the library I was the one who dealt with you - nice to see your leg's better. Left her change on the bar and walked away.

Never seen the colour drain from someone's face so quickly. She took a seat and left after finishing her drink. Funnily enough she didn't cause too many problems in the library after that.
(cannonfodder fodder for cannons on, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 14:25, 2 replies)

haha she got caught
I love it! :P

What was a woman of that age doing dancing with some students anyway? Was she having a midlife crisis and decided to take it out on the unsuspecting library???

.
(trippeh, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 17:16, closed)

I feel your pain...
as I worked in a university library - you've got it spot on.
I'm having a bit of an editorial crisis with this qotw though, as before I worked with jumped up academics and spoilt student brats, I was a croupier, dealing with chronic gamblers, money launderers and triads. I have a story for every day of the last ten years of my working life. I'm thinking of emigrating before i turn into one of them.
(Udidin is chuffed to have made the newsletter, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 20:46, closed)