(My daughter’s first job is at a nearby department store. Many of the locations have been closing around the country. But one would think someone applying for a job would have more sense than this.)

Daughter: *working at the front counter* “Hello, can I help you find something today?”

Man: *who has just come in* “Nah, I have an interview.”

Daughter: “Is it with [Manager]? I’ll call her up.”

Man: “I don’t know. I got an email saying I had an interview. Frankly, I was surprised. I didn’t know any of these stores were still open. I hear they’re closing all over. I’m really surprised this one hasn’t. Does anyone even shop here anymore?”

Manager: *having heard most of what the man said* “Hello, would you like to step back here for the interview?”

Man: “Sure, but is it even worth it? Is this store going to close soon? Does anyone ever shop here?”

(Daughter tells me she never saw the guy again. He must not have gotten the job.)

(I’m the customer in this story. I had purchased a treadmill on sale about a year ago. The original price of the treadmill was $1200.00, and I paid $600.00. Alas, it never works properly. I have one repairman after another visit the house, but even after 5 visits, it still doesn’t work. I finally get fed up and call the company to ask for a refund. After a lot of frustrating back-and-forth with various store employees, I finally ask to speak to a manager.)

Manager: “We can’t offer a refund, but we can give you a store credit.”

Me: “That would be fine.”

Manager: *surprised* “Really? Most people get upset and demand a cash refund.

Me: “Well, actually, I was hoping that I could apply the store credit to a different department. There’s a really nice dishwasher that I have my eye on.”

Manager: “We can do that, certainly. But I’m afraid we can only offer store credit on the sale price you paid: $600.00.”

Me: “Um, that’s what I was expecting, actually.”

Manager: “Really? Most people think we should refund the original price of the item, not the sale price.”

Me: “But… that would mean that I made money off the deal, instead of getting a refund for what I paid. How does that make sense?”

Manager: *sighing* “I was hoping you could tell ME. I’ve had that argument many, many times.”

(I got my store credit, and I duly bought the dishwasher. It’s easily the best dishwasher I’ve ever owned, so thanks, Manager!)

(I start ringing up my items at the self-serve checkout when I notice that the first couple of items aren’t showing a discount. I press the attendant’s button.)

Me: “Hi, could you take these items off please? I need to double check the price; I thought they were 2 for $10.”

Attendant: “Sure, just leave them up on top and ring up the rest of your items.”

Me: “Oh… okay” *I head back into the store*

(After checking the price and seeing I had the right brand I went back to the checkouts. I scan the items and press the attendant’s button.)

Me: “Sorry, but these are supposed to be 2 for $10.”

Attendant: “I’ll fix that for you.” *starts adjusting price*

Me: “Oh, you are actually taking my word for it and not checking. Thank you.”

Attendant: “Yeah, seeing that you went and checked for yourself instead of making me do it. It’s only $4; this multi-million dollar company isn’t going to miss it. Anyway, they’ve probably not discounted one flavour. It’s the not the first time.”

Me: “Yeah. One time I was buying a pair of discounted shoes and was told that the size I wanted wasn’t on sale.”

Attendant: “Yep, figures. They do it all the time.”

(I am at the register for my morning shift when a woman walks up with a dress, holding it up.)

Customer: “Should I purchase this?”

Me: “Ma’am, you can purchase anything you desire under limitations to our policy.”

Customer: “Oh, all right, then.”

(The customer stands there, thinking. Finally, she walks off. A few minutes later, the alarm goes off by the door for items that haven’t been purchased.)

Customer #2: “Did that woman decide to not purchase the item?”

Me: “I think so.”

(I am heading into a department store when I notice my shoelaces are untied, and bend down just before the entrance to redo them. When I stand up there is a baby stroller next to me with what looks to be a two- to three-month-old sleeping inside. I look around and ask a couple of people going by if they know anything. None do, but a couple offer to pop inside and get help. The manager and a couple of workers come and take the child inside and make announcements over half an hour for anyone to claim him. After I have finished my shopping I go back and ask about him, and am told that the police have been informed. Cue a woman frantically running up to the counter.)

Woman: “Excuse me, I need to report a missing child. I left my son with your daycare and he’s disappeared!”

Worker: “But madam, we don’t have a daycare. We do have a—”

Woman: “But, then where is he!” *turning and somehow recognising me* “YOU! YOU KIDNAPPED MY SON!”

Me: “What are you— Oh, wait. Are you talking about the kid that was left at the entrance?”

Woman: “YES! YOU KIDNAPPED HIM! I’M PHONING THE POLICE!”

(The police are already in the building responding to the call made by the store. The woman is reunited with her son, but she demands I be arrested for attempted kidnapping. We try to explain the situation, but the woman is in complete hysterics. The manager offers to show the police the footage of the entrance to try and clear the things up. After viewing it, they come out to us.)

Officer: “You are free to go, sir. It appears that this lady walked up to you with her stroller and simply left it next to you before walking into the store. We can’t even see her say anything.”

(I turn to see her blushing and staring at the ground.)

Me: *bewildered* “So, she just left her child with a complete stranger, hoping they would take care of him?”

Woman: *snapping her head up and glaring at me* “I WAS BUSY!”

(The woman fell into hysterics again and was being escorted to an ambulance as I left the store.)