Went to a store yesterday, and needed to use the restroom. Given the store's circumstances, there are two ways they could have responded:

One, in a cheerful/helpful voice: "I'm sorry, but we don't have insurance that covers our customers using the restroom. However, there's a place right next door that will let you."

Two, in a gruff voice: "We don't have any."

Guess which one results in me giving that place future business? Guess which doesn't?

Maybe they were grumpy because they really didn't have one ... even for the employees

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lafinfil
Maybe they were grumpy because they really didn't have one ... even for the employees

Hadn't thought of that.

So did they have one or not? What's the straight poop? I gather you're peed off. Urine the right this time, you're a valuable customer, not some looky-loo.

I think in the future, when you think there is a chance you might need to drop the kids off at the lake, you make it a point to only stop at places you know will have proper accomodations. Maybe you should make it a point to shop at Texaco stations?

Go outside, pee in a cup, bring it back in and ask if they'd dispose of it for you. At least that's what I wish you had done.

Or you could urinate on the floor... that usually gets their attention.

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Greg the dogsitter
Went to a store yesterday, and needed to use the restroom. ...

But - what kind of store was it?

Depending on what kind of business it was, I wouldn't necessarily expect facilities to be available (e.g. I wouldn't expect a roadside baitshack to have a restroom...I would expect a grocery store or restaurant to have one).

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SDGuy

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Greg the dogsitter
Went to a store yesterday, and needed to use the restroom. ...

But - what kind of store was it?

Depending on what kind of business it was, I wouldn't necessarily expect facilities to be available (e.g. I wouldn't expect a roadside baitshack to have a restroom...I would expect a grocery store or restaurant to have one).

Doesn't matter. As a customer, I don't expect a restroom, but I do expect courtesy.

Call them tomorrow and ask if they have Prince Albert in a can .

You'll get some more courtesy for sure.

If i had asked to use a restroom in your retail store, and you had said to me, in a cheerful/helpful voice: "I'm sorry, but we don't have insurance that covers our customers using the restroom. However, there's a place right next door that will let you."

I would think that you were a condescending pr!ck.

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3d
If i had asked to use a restroom in your retail store, and you had said to me, in a cheerful/helpful voice: "I'm sorry, but we don't have insurance that covers our customers using the restroom. However, there's a place right next door that will let you."

I would think that you were a condescending pr!ck.

Boy, do we see that one differently.

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Greg the dogsitter
Went to a store yesterday, and needed to use the restroom. Given the store's circumstances, there are two ways they could have responded:

One, in a cheerful/helpful voice: "I'm sorry, but we don't have insurance that covers our customers using the restroom. However, there's a place right next door that will let you."

Two, in a gruff voice: "We don't have any."

Guess which one results in me giving that place future business? Guess which doesn't?

The problem with your 'our insurance won't let us' version is that some people will take it as an invitation to debate the issue. Somewhere between the two works best. Sounding just slightly embarrassed about the situation, "Gosh I'm sorry we don't have a restroom available, but there's one you can use right next door."

BB:

Fully agreed. Didn't mean there was a necessarily a best script.

Was there in fact a business "right next door" that had a restroom you could've used? It's not the original person's place to tell you that it's perfectly fine for you to walk right in and use it.

If I was working in a retail store and you asked me to use the restroom. I would just tell you in as few words as possible,,, "Sorry, there's no restroom here." (meaning no PUBLIC restroom for you.) If you were offended by the gruffness of the voice,, i can't help you there. LOL

Of course, if you followed it up asking about where you might be able to take a dump, i'd try and help you as best i could with suggestions. In any case, my first reply would be the same.

3d:

You're right, and it all makes a difference. "Sorry, no" might be received differently than "no."

I never understand businesses that refuae to allow restrooms to be used. It gets someone into the store, who knows what they might see and buy. Not too mention the way folks get pissed off if you say no to them.

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“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

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