Some customers can be pretty unreasonable. If you’ve ever worked in retail, you probably already know that.

What would you do if a customer called your store asking a question about another store that is nowhere near where your store is located?

That’s the situation the employee in this story was in, and the customer really doesn’t seem to understand what the employee had to say.

Let’s read the whole story.

Why isn’t a store you don’t work at not answering the phone?

I worked as a manager for a popular chain cafe for many years. This is by far one of the most bizarre calls I’ve ever had (and as others in food service management can attest, we get a LOT of crazy calls…).

CC: Crazy Customer. Me: Me

CC: Hi, I’ve been trying to call [store in a completely different city] and no one is answering. What’s going on? Are they open?

Me: I’m sorry, I’m not sure why they aren’t answering. As far as I know, they should be open.

The customer asks the same question again.

CC: Well why aren’t they answering the phone??

Me: I’m not sure.. as I’m not there… it’s possible they are quite busy since it is dinner rush right now?

CC: Well can you call them and find out what’s going on?

Me: I can, but I’ve got the same number as you do for them.

The customer clearly doesn’t understand why OP can’t help.

CC: UGH, who’s your boss? I’m going to make a complaint!

Me: …You’re going to complain to *my* boss because another store isn’t answering the phone?

CC: YES, you obviously aren’t interested in helping me.

Me: I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m just not sure what you want me to do? I’m not at that store. I have no idea why they aren’t answering the phone.

OP finally gave the customer the manager’s number.

This went on for a few minutes.

I ended up giving her my district manager’s name at her insistence. But… he’s not even the district manager for that store..

Karen’s are so weird.

I still have no idea what she wanted me to do? Teleport there and find out what was going on? Or did she think all stores with the same name had a central hive mind and we were in constant telepathic communication?

That customer was being pretty unreasonable.

Let’s see how Reddit reacted to this story.

This person can relate to having customers call with stupid questions.

Oh the sarcasm!

Here’s a good idea about how to handle calls like this.

Apparently, a lot of customers have the same misconception.

This would be an even more annoying phone call.

We may have been taught that there’s no such thing as a stupid question, but that’s not true.

If you liked that story, check out this post about a group of employees who got together and why working from home was a good financial decision.