If you want to be completely tactless, the best way to approach it is to just say any old thing that pops in your head (without thinking about it first of course). Make sure that you say it in a tone of voice (intentionally or not) that exudes a “mocking” feeling and that it’s directed towards someone from whom you want money.
Personal experience. We have a problem at the place where I work. We have disappearing pen syndrome. Historically, I would have to refill the pen jar only once a day, but more recently, a black hole has developed in the bottom of the jar. Either that or we have pen stealing elves. Seriously, I put 3 or 4 new pens in, and 10 minutes later, they’re gone! I now know the reason people tape flowers or forks or bar codes on their pens so they don’t disappear so readily. We don’t have any bar codes, but I’ve been thinking about taping a chair to the pen. Maybe then, we could catch the elves before they escape in victory.
Anyway, so yesterday, a customer came in, ordered some things, borrowed a pen to sign a receipt, and started walking out the door. She stopped, and turned around to return the pen. As she did, I said, “Thanks for not stealing our pen!” I didn’t think it was that bad, but all my coworkers were turning red from holding in the laughter, and she looked at me as if I had said, “your wig is falling off and I hate your mother.” That's the way it goes I guess. Just another day in the life of almost Marylund.
4 comments:
"Your wig is falling off and I hate your mother." That stings. I really hate it when you say something sincere and somebody takes it wrong. You just want to curl up in a ball and say "That's not what I meant" and have your mother, your now hated mother, rock you in the rocking chair and tell you everything is going to be all right. I guess it softens the pain a little if you have friends with you to laugh about the awkward experience when the misunderstander is gone.
I guess some people just don't want to know what others are thinking. Funny stuff. Sounds so much like my life.
In my opinion being tackful is not alway necessary. Sometimes tacklessness is required to get through to people. Although this particular person may not have been the one to steal your pens in the past you had every right to protect the property that is yours (your company's). And furthermore, I don't think that thanking someone for not stealing a pen is as bad as calling someone a cleptomaniac and demanding they return the pen.
Could be worse - at first hint of pen theft you could have tackled the lady, knocked her wig off and toppled her mother. Really, I think she got off easy.
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