It's three days left full-time at the shop, and as I wind down I'm confident that this is exactly the right time to end my tenure here.

Right now I'm doing eBay listings, as I'll continue to do one day a week; and I'm insulated from the insanity, as I'm tucked away around the corner of it. As it was at the top of this thread, I can hear half of what's going on.

A guy comes in who's been here four times in the last four weeks. We forgot to give him back his ID, and since then he's been on a permanent mission to yell at us about it.

We actually kept it in our shop for the first week, in case he returned for it. After that, we put it in the mailbox; and how that works is, the post office sends it along to the nearest delivery office, and they send it to the person, postage due.

But he wanted to find reasons to yell. The last time he came in, I was his target, and that wasn't a satisfying effort for him because I hit him with something he didn't expect: a sincere, heartfelt apology.

"Sir, I'm sorry that this has been inconvenient. We tried to do right by you, and by circumstance we have accidentally done you a little wrong. I'm really sorry about that. I'm sorry it's come to this, you must understand that wasn't our intent. I feel terrible that it's worked out this way."

That day he walked out as angry as he was when he waled in, but disarmed. I'd hoped that would send him away with a lesson, but no, today, a week later, asshole is back to yell at Ron, who wasn't aware of what ever happened and has nothing but shrugs for him.

As he walks out the door he threatens "I'm never coming back this fucking place again!" and of course we all gather to compare notes on his ignorance and hope he makes good on this.

The unexpectedly nice person technique ... mental judo at its finest.

FIFY

Next time, give him the Spanish Inquisition.

Today is the best day of your new life... :thumb:

Yes. He won't expect it.

So what notes will they exchange when you walk out the door?

Now that he said, "I'm never coming back this fucking place again!", well, what will (did) you say to top that?

To the jerk who says he's never coming back again, you say, "thank you!".

All the best in the next phase, UT.

Got a text this morning from Alan. "We're opening late today my car is stuck in the garage!"

Sent back: "I thought Saturday was my last day?"

Yes, somehow he had assumed I was staying on for a while. But No. His brother had asked me to, and I said I would think about it, but I only said I'd be willing to work shifts here and there if they were desperate, and then the once-a-week eBay listings.

It feels good to be wanted. But it feels way better to not start the morning by driving to North Philly.

woot!

You're in control.

Lucky. Here be envy.

But dude...you were getting street cred yo!

As this thread slowly comes to a close, I just realized that the thread title should be sung to the tune of Down in the Boondocks.

Mr. Oblivious

Close but no cigarette! You may skip the sexy intro and forward to 1:14 to hear the lyric as done by Sublime:

Every time you think you're out, they pull you back in...