I am SO SICK of Rude Box Office People...

Last week I ordered tickets over the phone for Gaslight at the Irish Repertory Theater. After putting the wrong date on my calendar for it (my fault, I know), I just called the box office to check and see what date my tickets were for, and was met with the most unnecessary and rudest response from the person who answered the phone.

When I asked him the question, he nastily told me that if I had purchased the tickets with a credit card that that should be confirmation enough, and then abruptly put me on hold for two minutes. When he came back, in the rudest and most condescending manner, he said to me, "WRITE THIS DOWN. The tickets are for...." And then he hung up the phone on me!

I fully take resonsibility for not putting the right date in my calendar, but when I'm giving my money to a theater, I expect not to be yelled at over the phone for asking a simple question. I am SO SICK of rude service people!!!!

Sorry, just had to vent.

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^ True, but there's no excuse for taking out your anger on another person.

I had a situation not too long ago that was completely my own darn fault. I mistakenly ordered a pair of tickets to attend Blackbird on two separate days. When I called the box office to ask if there was anyway I could return one pair of tickets (I know I know "all sales final") the baox office person said absolutely not. I then politely asked if I might speak to the manager. When the manager took my call I explained the situation and hoped thhat given the fact that the remaining shows were nearly sold out that there might be some chance that she would use her discretion and help me out. To my surprise she saiid that it was in her discretion and that she didn't feel like exercising it! I was stupified, speechless, dumbfounded.

Don't even get me started about the guy at the Booth Theatre box office.

As a receptionist onist, I get ALOT of idiotic calls and it's easy to get frustrated when you have people who call you asking for a number and then make you wait until they find a pen.

Or those who expect you to predict the future

Or those who lke to complain to me for things completely beyond my control

So, yeah, there's no need to be rude, but sometimes it just slips out.

And then of course, there's lots of a$$hole receptionists too!

I also answer phones for a living. Sure, I hate it when people call up asking to speak to someone, then yell at me when that person does not answer their phone, or when people are just shouting information at me faster than I can write it and then audibly sighing when I ask them to repeat it, but it all comes with the territory. I just hang up, make fun of them behind their backs, and start all over with a new caller.

If I'm rude to the wrong person, I lose my job. Simple as that. I have to be super nice to everyone. If I can do it, anyone can do it. This guy (or anyone, for that matter) had no right to be rude to you just because he was annoyed with a previous caller.

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I never worked at a box office, only at a library. But even at the friggin' LIBRARY there are your share of stupid people. I've had the urge to flip out on people so many times just because I had a bad day with patrons.

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They wouldn't dare

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Dolly - same with me - not once, ever.

I find that in situations where you are dealing with a service provider, a lot depends on how they are approached.

I worked at a Children's Theatre Box Office for 3 years. I wouldn't wish that job on anyone.

Most box office people seem to be middle-of-the-road, i.e. not exceedingly nice or mean, just doing their job.

However, I must say encountered two of the biggest assholes I've ever met while at NYCityCenter waiting in the cancellation line for "Blackbird." I understand they probably have people coming in all the time asking for tickets when they've been long sold out, which could be frustrating, so I tried to be as nice as I could, and they still barked rude orders at me, rolled their eyes when I asked where I should form a line (their answer was "just stand where I can see you"-- which I did for 2 hours). And then when I finally got a ticket, I was just curious where the seat was, so I asked if there was a seating chart anywhere, and his jaw dropped and said "You're joking, right? Your seat's fine, just go."

And also, not nearly as dramatic, but the box office gentleman at the Cort when I did rush for "Radio Golf" was quite rude as if it was a massive inconvenience that I politely asked for a rush ticket.

On the other hand, the box office worker at "Frost/Nixon" was incredibly nice and helpful.

Don't you love it when Box Office people are nice? When I recently went on my Playbill shopping spree, I didn't encounter one slightly rude worker.

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my only bad experience has been with the woman at the Belasco while trying to buy tickets for Journeys End but there have been many posts about the monstrous staff at that theater

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