The company I work for has a policy of checking the IDs of all people in a group if they shop together and buy alcohol. In my experience, that’s a pretty common practice. Unfortunately, quite often, those who don’t have their ID will ask if they can just step outside. The answer is still no, because we know they’re shopping together.

Two women in their early to mid-twenties come in together. My coworker and I see them shopping together, including going to the liquor aisle together. I have a strong feeling that one of them is underage, so I make sure my coworker checks both women’s IDs when ringing them up.

Eventually, I get called to the front. One of the girls is at the register and is visibly livid. As I suspected, the other girl does not have an ID. The sale was denied, and the girl at the register is furious that we won’t sell the liquor, even with her friend outside in the car. She throws a fit, demanding corporate’s number and my name to file a complaint.

While this is going on, a woman lines up behind them. I guess here I should point out that my coworker, this woman, and I are all white; the two women purchasing the alcohol are black. Despite hearing me explain to the first girl why the sale was denied, the other woman demands to know why the sale is denied. She clearly thinks we are being racist even though she doesn’t know about the other girl.

We never hear from the first two, but this woman goes to Twitter to express her rage at this racial injustice. Luckily, the security cameras show the entire scenario, and we see [Girl #2] handing [Girl #1] money to buy said alcohol. Case closed!

There is a sign on all the credit card machines that says, “Please swipe, chip reader down.” I pull out my debit card. The cashier has a look of horror on her face. She looks at the card and back at me.

Me: “Don’t worry. I can read. And I used to work retail.”

I swipe my card.

Cashier: “Thank you!”

Meanwhile, at the next register…

Customer: “WHY WON’T IT READ MY CHIP?!”

The cashier sighs.

Me: “How many of those have you had today?”

Cashier: “So many.”

We have a rewards program to get sale prices, discounts, and coupons. To use the rewards, we can scan the card or type in the customers’ phone numbers. When asking a customer if they are part of the program, I always say:

Me: “Do you have a [card] or phone number to enter?”

I long ago lost count of the number of people who say, “No,” but after I back out of that screen, they say, “But I do have a phone number!” Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t understand why they can’t put that answer all in one sentence!

I need some batteries, which are kept behind the counter so no one steals them.

Me: “Some AA batteries, please.”

The cashier’s eyes actually water up with tears as he gets them for me.

Cashier: “Thank you for treating me like a human being.”

Poor guy. I can only imagine the day he had.

There is a store where you can rent a wet vacuum cleaner for free for like a week when purchasing a specific detergent. I use this service once or twice a year.

This year, I’ve been told that you have to provide a certain amount of money as a pledge, since there was a lot of trouble with devices which were returned damaged or even were never returned ever — despite the fact that you have to provide your ID along with the rental procedure.

As I was not sure if the amount was €400 or €200, and I don’t want to call in again and ask, I put €400 into my purse. Right as I proceed with the rental procedure and ask if it was €400 or €200, as I could provide both amounts, the employee states:

Employee: “We have so many people complaining about the €200 deposit and you’re actually bringing €400 with you; that’s something new.”

I hope I restored a little faith with how much I value their service.