Chronic Complainers

Complaint. Where are the apples in this pineapple? Photo credit, online pic.

What’s holding up the grocery store line? Someone is complaining. I stopped complaining about change many moons ago because of embarrassing moments, where cashiers had given me the correct change. I’m bad at math. I can’t count, period.

Some people love complaining. They’ll complain that oranges they bought are not sweet; the pineapple has no ‘apples’; there’s no chicken in the chicken risotto; there’s no 20% off the detergent as advertised (customer picked up wrong brand); you name it.

Department stores seem to understand the need to complain. That is why they have set up cashiers that deal mainly with online returns or exchanges. Ironic isn’t it? You bought them online to avoid driving to the store. Here you are, at the store.

I suppose customers will complain about things like colours. Maybe it’s not the orange they saw online. How about: I don’t like it anymore. Stores hear that regularly.

What is funny is that complainers can feel negative vibes. They know when customers behind them become agitated. They shuffle, cough a bit and crane necks trying to identify the perpetrator.

Some complainers turn around and make faces at the line, that imply the store clerk behind the desk is the problem. Trying to pacify frustrated complainers-in-waiting, are we?

There are things worth complaining about and others we can let slide.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.