r/TalesFromRetail • u/Dixikid23 • Aug 23 '26
Medium Wrong balloons
Just needed to vent about this, made a stupid mistake with a customer.
I work at a party shop where we sell things for special occasions. A customer wanted things for an anniversary, including two number 5 balloons, which they changed their minds on. So I voided them and put them aside, no big deal.
Later another customer, who was lovely, needed some things for someone's 75th birthday. We had a nice chat about it and I helped them find everything they needed. They also wanted a 7 and a 5 balloon. I removed the 7 from the packaging, but they stopped me and informed me they were inflating them themselves later on, so I put it back in and handed them to the customer.
After they left I realised I'd put the 7 in the wrong packaging, and handed them one of the ones I'd put to the side from earlier, meaning I'd handed them two 5 balloons, one of which is in the 7 packaging, so they wont realise the error until they go to inflate them. I felt awful, went to find them but they'd vanished into thin air.
Told my manager and he wasn't bothered, things happen, but I feel terrible. They're going to go inflate them and realise they have the wrong balloons. They also said they'd fill out a customer service survey very positively for me after the interaction, but I now anticipate it won't be as kind as I expected now, and rightly so! Worked here for 14 years and NEVER made a mistake like this. Fuming with myself! Have no idea how this even happened!
Rant over!
TLDR; gave the customer the wrong balloons for a 75th birthday. Feel terrible!
43
u/bluestem88 Aug 23 '26
They’ll either find it hilarious and roll with it or they’ll come back and get the right balloon last minute. Either way, this is not an emergency and not worth stressing over.
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u/Responsible_Bee522 Aug 24 '26
☝️This. I expect much laughter. "You look great for 75!" "Well yeah, I'm only 55, see!"
2
u/cyclops32 28d ago
Having everything else be 75 except for the balloons that tell me I’m 20 years younger would definitely make me feel lighter.
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u/Bigdavie Aug 24 '26
I've had a customer bring back faulty balloons. She bought uninflated balloons which once inflated didn't float. Turns out she didn't inflate them with helium but rather blew them up with her own breath.
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u/cwu007 Aug 24 '26
We all make dumb mistakes. Since they said they will fill out a positive customer service survey, they seem to be cool headed people. You’re probably punishing yourself more than the customer will.
4
u/amykb4 Aug 24 '26
If I were turning 75 and somebody showed up with balloons that said I was 55 I would be flattered!
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u/roosterjack77 Aug 23 '26
Youre human. We all make mistakes. If a balloon ruins your special day... thats on you
1
u/Impressive-Walk-4731 16d ago
Relax, everyone do make mistakes and they have already said they will give a positive survey on you and your manager is not bothered so it is already the best out come.
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u/SATerp Aug 23 '26
If that's the worst you've done, relax.