I’m a freelance makeup artist.

Client: “I’ve been lurking on your work for months now, and it’s beautiful. I have finally decided you are the person I’d like to do my wedding makeup. The date is [date].”

Me: “Thank you so much for the compliment, but unfortunately, I’m already booked on that date. My apologies.”

Client: “But I’ve been lurking your work for months!”

Me: “Yes, but you can’t book a date that way. I need clients to make formal bookings to secure my time.”

Client: “Can’t you just cancel the other booking?”

Me: “I’m sorry, no, I couldn’t do that to a customer who has secured my time and paid my booking fee well in advance.”

Client: “Your customer service is appalling.”

I remember years ago in the store where I worked, my coworker and I were helping the owner of a local beauty salon. She suddenly turned to my coworker and said:

Salon Owner: “You would look so much better with whiter teeth! Come to my salon and I will help you!”

She kept spouting about it.

My coworker was a stunning young woman. There was nothing wrong with her teeth, but thanks to that salon owner, [Coworker] became very self-conscious about her teeth. She asked me if they needed whitening. I told her no, but she did end up going to a dentist for a whitening treatment that she did not need.

I was given a $100 gift certificate for a massage one year for my birthday. I chose a service that was exactly $100. As I was checking out, the girl at the counter asked me:

Cashier: “Would you like to add a gratuity?”

Me: “Yes, twenty.”

Cashier: *In a snotty tone* “Dollars or percent?”

Me: “Um, either one. They’re both the same.”

Cashier: “Um, I need you to tell me which one!”

Me: “The bill is $100; 20% is the same as $20 since the total is $100.”

She looked at me like I was a total moron, sneered, and then typed on her computer.

Her face showed utter shock when her computer screen agreed with me.

Related:
Must Be Using 1% Of Her Brain

I work in a cosmetics store. A woman comes in, sits down on an empty chair, and gestures to her face.

Customer: “I want to have foundation.”

I go through the routine questions:

Me: “What is your skin type? What consistency do you prefer? How much coverage?”

She promptly cuts me off.

Customer: “Too many questions. I’ll give you five minutes to make me look good.”

I am getting slightly annoyed, but I figure she’s maybe just trying to get some makeup done before meeting someone. I go with the safe bet: a popular foundation that is highly recommended for sensitive skin. I don’t want to accidentally break her out. I start to apply, and she stops me and begins to raise her voice.

Customer: “What are you doing?! I just want to cover this one spot.”

Me: “You didn’t mention that at all. If you had, I would have applied concealer, which is what you’re looking for.”

Customer: “Take it off and do it over.”

I set down all of my brushes.

Me: “You can say that nicely.”

She stares at me in disbelief, but after about ten seconds, she begins to stammer:

Customer: “No… no… I just meant…”

My manager ran over, asked if I wanted my break, and took over. I seldom lose my temper, and I guess she knows that, so I never got “in trouble” for it. I certainly wasn’t paid enough (or will ever be paid enough) to be made to feel less of a person.

I work at a salon and beauty parlor. My coworker has a regular customer who always comes to her when she needs her makeup done professionally or if she needs to test out a new look. [Coworker] always makes time for her, not just because she tips well, but also because she seems like a lovely lady and is easy conversation.

It’s getting later in the evening when the regular shows up, looking panicked. She sees [Coworker].

Regular: “Thank God you’re here! My husband told me I need to go to his work holiday party with him, but he didn’t give me any notice! Can you work your magic on me?”

Coworker: “Sure thing! Let’s get you looking like a million dollars!”

[Coworker] starts doing her thing, but half an hour later, I am aware her shift has finished.

Me: *To [Coworker]* “Would you like me to take over? I know your bus only comes once an hour.”

Regular: *Also to [Coworker]* “You take the bus? But I’ve seen you drive here.”

Coworker: “Yeah. I drove here before, but my car got totalled last year. The bus is fine, though. It’s a convenient route as I can get here on just the one bus, but it only comes once an hour so if I miss it, I have to wait.”

Regular: “I had no idea! Do you want a car?”

Coworker: “Do I… want… a what?!“

Regular: “My son graduated, and he’s not moving back. His car is just… sitting there taking up space. It’s old, but it’s in perfect condition. I’ll bring it round tomorrow. Drive it as long as you want.”

Coworker: “I can’t accept! Thank you, but that’s too generous.”

Regular: “Until you can get a new car, this one is yours. I won’t take no for an answer! Let me drive you home tonight, too! If my husband wants to tell me about his party on the same day, he can expect me to be a little late!”

And just like that, she was back the next day with her son’s old car. “Old” to her still seemed pretty new to us!

That was two years ago. and my coworker tried to give the car back to that regular, but the regular decided she liked her driveway free of her son’s car, so she sold it to [Coworker] permanently.

For a single dollar.