Often, when interacting with other people in a situation where you feel wronged, it is easy to get upset and start shouting or otherwise behaving rudely. Of course, it can be frustrating to have a store employee enforce a policy that was never in effect before, or maybe they usually do a specific thing for you and this time they won’t. Shouting and getting angry is absolutely not going to improve the situation. The ONLY way to possibly turn it in your favor is to be very calm and polite (and often, be willing to accept that you aren’t going to get what you want.)

For example, did you know that, according to the agreements they sign with credit card companies, stores are not allowed to require you to show your ID when using a credit card? They can ask, but you can refuse and they still have to accept it. However, many of the employees of these stores are not aware of this. They have just been told that customers have to show ID as per store policy. So if you REALLY care about not showing your ID, you need to calmly explain why you don’t have to show your ID rather than jumping right into yelling and name calling. Heck, print out something from the internet that explains it to give to the cashier and carry it in your bag to hand out. Or do better and write a letter to management asking them to educate their employees.

Have you ever yelled at a retail store employee? Do you feel bad about it? Did you witness it and still cringe? Tell me in the comments.