One day at work in our small office, the intercom beeped, as it usually does before our receptionist announces who a call is for and what line. However, this time, I didn’t hear our receptionist. Instead, my phone started squealing and beeping!

I started to giggle at the technological difficulties, and then one of my coworkers said something funny from his office, and I burst out laughing. All of a sudden, my boss appeared in my office, and simply pointed at my phone. Somehow, I had accidentally bumped a button and paged the entire office, so everyone heard me giggling and laughing over the intercom!

(I’m the customer in this one. This site has made me paranoid. I’m at a donut shop, getting a coffee and a donut. The clerk goes to the display and grabs a donut that’s very similar to the one I ordered.)

Clerk: “Is this one you ordered?”

(It’s close enough, and I don’t want to raise a fuss.)

Me: “Yeah, fine. Whatever.”

(The manager decides to step in.)

Manager: “Hold on a minute, [Clerk]. We’ve been getting a lot of complaints lately because you keep getting [donut I ordered] confused with [donut she grabbed]. Are you sure that’s what he ordered?”

Clerk: “Yes, I am. I even checked with him.” *turns to me* “You ordered [donut she grabbed], right?”

Me: “Umm… actually, I ordered [donut I ordered].”

Clerk: “What? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Me: “I didn’t want to look like one of those idiot customers you read about on the Internet.”

(In my day job, I’m a radio personality. Sadly, sitting on my butt talking doesn’t pay a lot, so in my night job, I work at the local grocery store. I’m stocking shelves one night when a customer comes up to me.)

Customer: “So, when are you coming over to my place?”

Me: “Excuse me, sir?”

Customer: “Well, I know you’re the guy from the radio. You’re doing like those TV shows, right? You’re going undercover at a dirty job so you can talk about it on the radio? Well, I want in on this. I want you to come work a few shifts at my business for this bit.”

Me: “Um… No. I actually do work here, sir.”

Customer: “Wait, what? But why?”

Me: “Because money’s tight and I’ve got bills to pay.”

Customer: “No. NO! This will not do. You’re, like, the best guy on the radio. Tomorrow, I’m going to call the station, talk to your boss, and get you a raise so you don’t have to do this anymore!”

(I don’t think he ever talked to my boss, because I never did get that raise. However, the new contract I recently signed does ban me from getting a second job.)

(I am in a liquor store purchasing some items for me and my fiancée. We have been on a hard iced tea kick lately, and the store has a “make your own six pack” special going. I build a six pack and also grab two boxes of packaged drinks. The cashier looks to be a man in his late forties or early fifties. The economy has been terrible in my province lately, and I speculate to myself that he’s been laid off from a previous job and has taken this to make ends meet.)

Cashier: “Hi there. How are you today?”

Me: “Fine, thanks. How are you?”

Cashier: “Oh, not too bad. This is everything for you?”

Me: “Yes, thanks.”

(He picks up one of the sealed packaged boxes, scans it, sets it to the side, and then notices my pick-your-own set. He immediately looks nervous.)

Cashier: “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m not totally sure why, but we’re supposed to scan those ones first; I think it’s so you get the discount. I’ll need a supervisor to start the transaction again.”

Me: “No problem.”

(The cashier tries to flag down the supervisor on duty, who is chatting with other customers, assumedly family or friends as she is holding their baby and they are all laughing. She is totally oblivious that the cashier needs her.)

Cashier: “I’m so sorry. I’m new and I don’t have the authority to override.”

Me: “It’s no problem, really.”

(He keeps waving and calling her. Still no response. He turns to me looking nervous.)

Me: “I have nowhere else to be. Honestly, it’s okay.”

(Finally, the supervisor notices the line not moving. She comes over and voids the transaction so he can start again.)

Cashier: “Thanks for your patience. Some of these systems just… They’re a bit difficult.”

Me: “New jobs are always tough. You’re doing great. Thank you for making sure I got my discount. I hope to see you again!”

Cashier: “Thank you so much. Have a great day.”

(The poor guy. I wonder if other customers had been hard on him or if he was just nervous that he would do a poor job. A job is a job these days; I commend anyone who has to take a less paying job to make ends meet after being laid off. I hope he’s had a better experience since that day!)

Me: “Can I help you with anything tonight?”

Customer: “Yeah, are your prices here in dollars or Canadian dollars?”

(Cue several seconds of stunned silence as I try to contemplate what could lead someone to ask this question when the closest border crossing is a three-and-a-half-hour drive away.)

Me: “Well, we are in Canada, so…”

Customer: “Well, I don’t know! I’m passing through from the States!”