(I’m doing in-store demos of an iron that comes with a calcium filter, calcium in the water being that white stuff that comes out of your iron. A woman who purchased the iron last year comes up to me with a question.)

Customer: “Hi there. Do you know why my iron is leaking brown liquid?”

Me: “Did you empty your calcium filter?”

Customer: “Oh, yes. Regularly.”

(I’m just about to tell her to return it for a replacement when she adds…)

Customer: “Do you think it has anything to do with the olive oil my husband accidentally poured into the water tank?”

Me: “…”

(I am pregnant, and I find my brain occasionally ceases functioning. I often find myself at a loss for words. One night, while picking up dinner at a popular submarine sandwich shop, I confidently asked the young man making my sandwich for ‘brown mayonnaise.’)

Employee: “Excuse me?”

Me: “Brown mayonnaise?”

Employee: “I… but… brown? Mayonnaise?”

Me: “Yes, please! Just a little bit, though.”

Employee: “I’m just so sorry, but I’ve never heard of brown mayonnaise, and we definitely don’t have any. I have regular mayonnaise, light mayonnaise, yellow mustard, brow… oh!” *grabs his bottle of brown mustard and offers it to me just as my brains clicks on*

Me: “Did I seriously just ask you for brown mayonnaise, like, three times? I’m so sorry. Mustard. I definitely meant mustard.”

Employee: “Thank goodness, because brown mayonnaise does not sound good at ALL.”

(I had to agree.)

(I am working on the phones first thing in the morning at a busy medical centre. About half of our appointments are bookable in advance and half are on the day only. I take the third call of the day.)

Me: “Hello, [Centre]. How can I help?”

Patient: “Hello, dearie, I would like to book an appointment with [Doctor] at about 10 am. Do you have anything?”

(I check the computer system.)

Me: “Yes, we have an appointment at 10, actually.”

Patient: “Oh, that’s a bit early. Have you got anything else around that time?”

Me: “Yes, we have 10:10 or 10:20.”

Patient: “Well, both of those are a bit late; do you have anything at five past?”

(All our appointments last ten minutes, so we never have appointments at five past.)

Me: “Sorry, ma’am, we don’t do appointments at five past.”

Patient: “Bloody NHS! I’ve paid taxes my whole life and you can’t even give me an appointment around 10 am!” *click*

Me: *answering the phone* “Hello, [Company]. This is [My name]. How can I help you?”

Customer: “Hello, [My Name]. Are you experienced enough to help me?”

Me: *having worked in this company for several years now* “I can certainly do my best. What can I do for you?”

(The customer proceeds to describe a sensitive issue that I immediately recognize is beyond my authority to address.)

Me: “Okay, you will need to speak with my manager. They will be able to address this issue with you and make sure that appropriate action is taken.”

Customer: “What is your manager’s name?”

Me: “Their name is [Manager].”

Customer: “And are you sure that they’ll be able to help me?”

Me: “Yes, I can assure you that they will be able to help you with this issue.”

Customer: “Well, put me through to them, then! This is why I asked if you were experienced in the first place!”

Me: “Of course. I’ll transfer you now.”

(I have to wonder how they expected me to know if I was “experienced” enough without knowing what the issue was in the first place!)

(My fiancé and I are home one afternoon when the doorbell rings. I open the door only to find a pair of Jehovah’s Witnesses there. I happen to be agnostic while my fiancé is Christian, and we try to politely decline. My fiancé happens to be terrified of zombies and vampires and the like.)

Jehovah’s Witness #1: “Have you heard of the resurrection?”

Fiancé: “Of Christ? Yeah.”

Jehovah’s Witness #2: “Oh, no, when He comes back and brings back all the loved ones that have passed.”

Fiancé: *eyes widen in terror*

Jehovah’s Witness #2: “Oh, honey, it’s nothing to be afraid of!”

Me: “Oh, no, you don’t understand. You say the loved ones coming back, and his first thought is zombies.”

(Both women look at us in shock for a moment, one turning away and the other lingering just a moment to give us a parting comment.)

Jehovah’s Witness #1: “Oh, we don’t want you.”