(I work in a game store.)

Me: “Your total is [total].”

Customer: “Can I pay you with this?”

(The man then hands me a tin of mints.)

Me: *very confused* “Sir, I really can’t take that as payment.”

Customer: “Just take it.” *shoves mints in my hand*

(I am about to retort when I realize there is something off about the pack of mints. I open it up and find a fully functional computer inside of it! The screen is very small, but it runs smoothly.)

Me: *laughing* “That is amazing! I honestly wish I could take it as payment, but we don’t sell computers here.”

Customer: “Aw, that sucks. I made it myself and I got kind of bored with it. Let me know if you find anyone who might want it!”

(He paid and left with his computer, but not before letting all the staff take pictures and get his contact info so we could spread the word for him!)

CONTENT WARNING: This story contains content of a medical nature. It is not intended as medical advice.

(I am in high school, and I come home to one of my two dogs having had a severe stroke. I hold her the entire way to the vet and stay at the office while they put her down. My remaining dog is my favorite dog of all time. One day, around five am, I go downstairs to find him having a seizure. I can’t drive, my parents are at work an hour away, and no vet offices are open around me. I am panicking so badly that I decide to call 911.)

Operator: “You have reached a 911 operator. What is your emergency?”

Me: *through panic and tears* “My dog is having a seizure and I don’t know what to do!”

Operator: “You will have to dial a vet. This is for emergencies.”

Me: “There are no vets open around me! Please tell me what I should do. Is there anywhere I can call? Anyone who can help me?”

Operator: “Look. You need to calm down and just call a vet. This is an emergency service.”

(I ended up hanging up and repeatedly calling my parents until one of them answered. Eventually, an adult arrived and comforted my dog for the three hours until a vet opened. My dog died that day. People still joke about me calling 911 over a dog having a seizure.)

My three-year-old nephew is playing with a small, stuffed cat toy. He had always had this thing, and he loves it more than anything else.

He is petting it happily, as he always does, when he suddenly gets a furious look on his face and chucks it as hard as he can against the wall. He then calmly walks over, picks the thing up, and exclaims, “Oh no! Someone hurt you! Don’t worry; I’ll protect you.”

He then continues to happily pet it as if nothing happened.

(My manager is a very no-nonsense kind of person, and always speaks her mind. She’s out with her four-year-old daughter, and there’s a young boy acting up in front of them. The mother is doing nothing about it.)

Daughter: *to boy’s mother* “You know, this wouldn’t happen if you’d beat his a**.”

Manager: “[Daughter]! You don’t say things like that!”

Daughter: “I’m sorry, Mommy!” *to boy’s mother* “This wouldn’t happen if you’d beat his butt.”

Manager: “That’s better.”

(They walked away with the mother glaring daggers at them, my manager beaming with pride the entire time.)

(As a couple is checking out I notice their interest in a certain item in our store. Up-selling is a big part of my job, so I let them know the price and bring the item down for them, which they decide to get. As I get to the register I notice that the price sticker is showing the item for half of its actual price.)

Me: “Oh, and it looks like the price sticker is actually showing a much lower price than it’s supposed to be, so I can go ahead and give you that lower price today.”

Customer: “Wait, that sticker says [lower price]; why is it ringing up for [higher price]?!”

Me: “The price you see is what the item is supposed to sell for. But since we put the wrong price on the item, I can give it to you for the lower price. I just need to key it in.”

Customer: “It’s not my fault you people mislabeled this! I demand to get the price on the sticker!”

Me: “Yes, ma’am. I’ve already adjusted the price for you, as you can see on the screen.”

Customer: “I never would have gotten this if I had known it was so expensive! You’re just trying to fool us into spending more!”

Me: “Ma’am, I informed you the item was [higher price], and I am the one who told you we could give it to you for [lower price]. I really don’t understand the confusion. But your total is now [lower price].”

Customer: “I swear, I have to fight you people every time I need something done around here. You’re all just crooks.”

Me: *giving up* “Here you are, ma’am. You have a nice day.”

Customer: “See? It says it on the tag, right here, clear as day! Honestly, some people.”

(I don’t know how I offended this woman, but my manager decided to refuse her service in the future. So, that’s nice.)