We are running a buy-one-get-one-at-50%-off sale. Having worked in many stores with similar promos, this is the only time I’ve encountered this argument.

Customer: “Why can’t I just have one at 50% off?”

Me: “Because our promotion is to buy one at the regular price and get the other at 50%.”

Customer: “But that is just a way of tricking the customers into thinking they got a deal.”

Me: “What?”

Customer: “Your deal isn’t to get one at 50%; it is to get two for 25% off. If I have to buy one at full price, I’m not really saving 50% on the other.”

Me: “Well, I don’t set it, and that is the company’s terms for the promo.”

Customer: “So, I can’t just get one for 50%, then?”

Mathematically speaking, he isn’t wrong. However, no, he did not get just one at 50%, or even two for 25%, or even buy-one-get-one-half-off.

On Friday mornings, I work alone at a takeout counter. My usual routine is: I take the order, they pull out their credit/debit card, and as they’re paying, I place their order, pack their order, and give them their order and receipt. I’m fast, and the kitchen is fast, so this whole process after they order takes less than two minutes.

A lady comes in and places her order. I let her pay and walk away. Two minutes later, I get back to the counter and she’s yelling at me.

Customer: “Where were you? It won’t accept my card!”

Me: “Do you have a chip on your card?”

Customer: “Yes, but it won’t accept it! I’m not stupid, you know!”

Me: “Ma’am, may I see your card, please?”

I check the front and back, and I hand it back, looking her dead in the face with a very neutral expression, and kindly inform her:

Me: “Ma’am, this is your metro pass.”

By this time, there was a line behind her, and she knew how stupid she looked after yelling at me, so she kept asking if I was “suuuure” she couldn’t pay with her metro pass, but this time in a jokey way to try to save face. She could’ve apologized for yelling at me, but no, she just continued to waste my time.

I ring up a customer and tell him his total.

Customer: “Okay.”

And he just stands there… expecting me to do something else. I wait a few seconds more.

Me: “Again, that is [total]. Is that going to be cash or credit?”

He looks at me like I have two heads. I wait again.

Me: “Uh, are you going to pay for all of this, or were you just wondering how much it costs?”

The man gets all huffed up and says in a loud voice:

Customer: “I WAS WAITING FOR YOU TO TELL ME THE TOTAL!”

I am stunned and really at a loss for words. Another customer behind him is fed up.

Next Customer: “She told you three d*** times!”

He scowled at us both but silently paid and stormed out.

I work in a pet store. Due to various events going on in the world, there are a lot of problems getting our merchandise. Also, this brand is produced in England, and since Brexit, there have been a lot of problems receiving it; we are in Sweden.

We sell dog food in different sizes: 2 kg and 12 kg. For this brand, the 12 kg is sold out. This older couple approaches the till with a 2 kg in hand.

Couple: *In a very rude tone* “You’re out of the 12 kg bags. You should sell us this bag at the same price per kilogram!”

Me: “I’ve already talked with my boss about this issue, and unfortunately, I am not able to sell you the 2kg bag at a reduced price, since we still buy them at a higher price than the 12 kg.”

They become even ruder.

Couple: “They were able to do it at [Store ten minutes away]!”

Me: “In that case, you are more than welcome to go back to that store and make the purchase there. I could also check online and see if they have the 12 kg bags in stock.”

I check, and they do have it in stock. This answer makes the couple more upset.

Me: “I understand that you are upset; however, this is not my fault. Please stop being rude.” 

They did not stop being rude, but they eventually bought the 2 kg bag and muttered under their breath about how horrible it was. I told them that I would not risk my job for them.

It is Black Friday, and it’s my last one before I leave retail to go to college. I was hoping to avoid this holiday but it looks like I have to endure one more.

One thing that always gets me about Black Friday is that many customers are shocked that there are lines on the busiest shopping day of the year. This year, however, is my last year, and my patience is running out.

I am checking out my line as fast as I can. Our store opened at midnight, and it is now almost three in the morning. The woman behind my current customer is trying to cause a scene. She has two young children who are arguing and grouchy (and who likely should be asleep). The children also keep kicking the customer I am currently serving, who has told them to stop, but their mother has done nothing.

Next Customer: “Why don’t you open more registers?!”

Me: “We currently have twenty-four registers, ma’am, and all are open.”

Next Customer: “Then you should build more!”

Me: “Build more? For one shopping day of the year?”

Next Customer: “Well, yeah! You need to build more and hurry up! I have kids!”

Current Customer: “Well, ma’am, we all make mistakes, don’t we?”

This story is part of our Black Friday 2023 roundup!

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Read the Black Friday 2023 roundup!