About 95% of our business is done online, and our products are shipped to the customers. As part of the process, the warehouse team will pick and pack the box and then process the shipping label. Our team then processes the invoice to make sure all the money’s good and something didn’t slip through. Then, it goes back to the warehouse to be finalized. It’s not the most efficient system, but it definitely cuts down on mistakes… usually.

As of late, though, the warehouse has been “getting in gear” later and later in the day. True, they still get everything processed, but now it puts a time crunch on us, since our team is also in charge of entering the orders, so we end up not getting that done because we’re too busy invoicing. The shipping manager insists that we’re exaggerating and it’s not so bad, so I get permission to run a few reports, which my boss takes into the next meeting.

This isn’t counting high-priority or special request orders, of which there are only a couple per day at most.

Monday: 10 orders picked at 12:00 pm, 21 orders picked at 1:00 pm, 29 orders picked at 2:00 pm, 42 orders picked at 3:00 pm. The first label was generated at 3:30 pm.

Tuesday: 8 orders picked at 12:00 pm, 16 orders picked at 1:00 pm, 35 orders picked at 2:00 pm, 47 orders picked at 3:00 pm. The first label was generated at 3:47 pm.

Wednesday: 15 orders picked at 12:00 pm, 31 orders picked at 2:00 pm, 45 orders picked at 3:00 pm, 57 orders picked at 4:00 pm. The first label was generated at 4:07 pm.

Thursday “didn’t count” because we were having system problems in the morning that affected the whole company.

By the time they had the meeting on Friday at 3:00 pm, there were “only” 32 orders picked, and we hadn’t gotten any orders back to invoice.

I wasn’t privy to the conversation, but the muffled shouting of the confrontation between the office manager, the warehouse manager, and the shipping team made its way from the office in the warehouse into the main office for a good fifteen minutes afterward.

Weirdly, the next week, we started getting labels earlier in the day.

I’m trying to book a ticket to fly out to my brother’s for Christmas. It’s a pretty expensive flight for me, and I’ve done a couple of things, including applying and getting approved for an [Airline] credit card to help with things. The card also gives some decent benefits, including early boarding, a free checked bag, etc.

When the card shows up, the limit is a lot lower than I was expecting and lower than the cost of the ticket. I call the credit card number first because I am confused about the limit.

Representative #1: “I see that you have a personal card. I just want to let you know that you’re working with a representative for the business card.”

Me: “Um, okay… Well, I was wondering about my limit. Based on what I saw when I was approved, it looked like there was a temporary limit of [limit] for if you needed to use the card before you physically had it, but then once the physical card was activated, the limit would go up. Was I mistaken in my interpretation of things?”

Representative #1: “Let me transfer you to a representative for the personal cards. Bear with me for a moment, please.”

He puts me on hold and transfers me to another representative.

Representative #2: “Hello, Miss [My Name]. I hear you have some questions about your limit?”

Me: “Yes. Currently, it’s showing that my limit is [limit], and I was under the impression that that was like an automatic temporary approval limit when you apply or get approved, and then once the physical card got activated, it would go up. I just activated my card the other day, and it’s still sitting at this limit.”

Representative #2: “I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Most of the time, this card is automatically approved for [limit] initially. You can request an increase in three to six months, but because this is a new card, you can’t increase right now.”

Me: “I was hoping to use this to pay for tickets, and the tickets that I’m looking at are [price less than $100 over the limit]. When I used the option on my account to see if I’d be approved, it said it was partially approved, and I could possibly get it approved by making a payment, but I have no payments to make since I just got the card.”

Representative #2: “Okay, well, have you tried to purchase the tickets to see if it will go through?”

Me: “Um, no. But give me a second and I can.”

I go through the process of choosing seats and adding my card information.

Me: “It was declined.”

Representative #2: “Yes, I see the authorization attempt and that it was declined because it was over the limit. Well, have you done a wire transfer? You could just transfer the extra from your account to put your card over the limit, and that would be approved.”

Me: “Um, are you sure?”

Representative #2: “Yes. One moment while I get you the information.”

She gets me the information and we end the call.

I decide that rather than doing a wire transfer — because I’m just not sure that’s actually a valid option — I’ll just use two cards. I didn’t want to do this, but I figure I’ll just put the majority on the airline card and use the balance on my other card. Unfortunately, when I try to purchase online, it only allows multiple cards if one is a gift card. I call the airline customer service line.

Representative #3: “How can I assist you today?”

Me: “Hi. I’m trying to book a flight, and I need to use two cards to do that.”

Representative #3: “We can’t do that.”

Me: “I’m sorry?”

Representative #3: “Yeah, we can’t do that. You’ll need to go to the airport and buy at the counter where you physically have the card.”

Me: “Wait, really?”

Representative #3: “We can’t do that.”

I’m ready to cry and feeling slightly sarcastic.

Me: “Well, that’s great, thanks!”

Representative #3: “Yep.” *Click*

The call dropped into a survey before I could fully process what had just happened. I ended up posting on social media calling out the airline, and when I got the email survey, I was not nice about it. I acknowledge that the sarcasm may not have been warranted, but I was frustrated, upset, stressed about everything, and tired of everything that was going on with this. I was also worried about the prices going up again as they’d jumped almost $200 in the time between being approved for the card and physically getting it.

I ended up buying an e-gift card for what I was going to put on the other credit card because the ticket counters at the airport close before I get off work, and I didn’t have the option to go during lunch this time. I did finally get tickets for Christmas, so I hope the rest of the trip planning and the trip itself go better.

I have a very large chest. This happened a few years ago after my chest went through its last growth spurt. I went into the only lingerie store in my small town to get resized. I explained up front that I knew they didn’t carry my size but would like to be fitted so I had a better idea of what to order. The girl took me into the fitting room to get a few measurements.

Clerk: “Good news! We actually do carry your size on our website, but not in-store. Although, we do have a few fitting bras for you to try on so you know what to order. We can even place the order for you in the store so you’ll get free shipping.”

Me: “Oh, cool. The last time I was here, you didn’t carry a large enough size.”

Clerk: “Yeah, we just expanded our size range. You’re a 38DDD.”

Me: “Are you sure? Usually, the band size I wear is a 34. My best guess is that I should be around a 34G.”

Clerk: “Yes, you probably just wore the old ones and they stretched out with you so they seem to fit.”

I found this statement to be incredibly rude, but she seemed utterly clueless, so I just let it go, mostly because I wanted to see where this was going.

Me: “Okay, that doesn’t seem right to me, but I would be happy to try them on.”

She came back and handed me two bras. I tried them on and they were awful; they were both too small and too big at the same time. I considered just leaving, but I wanted to see if I could get her to fit me correctly after she saw how bad they were. Just to note, I did have the loose bra-fitting T-shirt on.

Clerk: “Is it okay if I come in and check the fit?”

Me: “Yes, but I was right; these do not fit at all.”

Clerk: “Oh, no, those fit you perfectly.”

Me: “No, they don’t. They are so tight on my chest that my boobs are mushrooming out the top, and the band is so loose that if I raise my arms I’ll fall out of it. I can even fit my entire fist in the band.”

I lifted the shirt slightly and showed her that my fist did in fact fit in the band with extra wiggle room.

Clerk: “No, it’s supposed to fit like that. You have just been in the wrong size for so long you’re just used to a tight band. Having a band too tight is what causes back pain.”

Me: “I don’t have back pain. And what about the fact that I have mushroom boobs?”

Clerk: “You just need to push them down farther, or try on the full-coverage option if you don’t like having cleavage. It fits you fine.”

Me: “This is the full-coverage bra. There’s a difference between cleavage and spilling out, and no, it doesn’t. Could you please remeasure?”

She gave an annoyed sigh but did remeasure me.

Clerk: “I’m getting the same numbers. That is the correct size. Would you like me to place an order for you?”

I didn’t say anything. I just lifted my arms and shrugged my shoulders and, as I predicted, the band slid up over my chest and stayed there even after I dropped my arms down.

Me: “Is this supposed to happen? I really don’t think this is the correct size.”

The clerk stared at my chest for a second with the band now across the top of my boobs, not under them, and without saying a word, she turned and walked out of the dressing room. I got dressed, left the store, and never went back.

I go with my parents to a restaurant. It’s not super busy, and the food is delicious, so we enjoy our meal.

Server #1: “Is everything in order?”

All Three Of Us: “Yes, it’s delicious, thank you.”

About seven minutes later:

Server #2: “Good evening. Is everything in order?”

All Three Of Us: “Sure, it’s great.”

In the Netherlands, servers don’t usually get a certain section and just go where they are needed. And about ten minutes later:

Server #3: “Hello. Is everything to your liking?”

We look at each other but answer:

All Three Of Us: “Yes, thank you.”

When the server has left, we start grinning.

Mom: “How many more times will they ask?”

Me: “Did we already have all the servers ask us?”

Dad: “No, that man over there and that girl over there haven’t stopped by yet.”

Mom: “Will they? Surely they saw the others; it’s not that busy.”

Me: “Maybe that’s the reason. But my guess is that girl is next and we’ll finish off with that man.”

Dad: “Deal!”

And yes, not much later:

Female Server: “How are you doing tonight? Is all well?”

All Three Of Us: “Yes, thank you!”

And, after only five more minutes:

Male Server: “And how are we doing tonight? Is all to your liking?”

Me: “Called it!”

My parents started laughing, and I explained to the confused server. I also emphasized that we didn’t mind and thought it was funny. The servers did leave us alone after that… or so we thought.

When we got the tab, they neatly lined up and said, united:

Servers: “We hope it was to your liking!”

Tipping is not common in the Netherlands, and we didn’t have much change on us, but we made sure each and every server got a little extra.

Dinner and a show — what a lovely surprise!

This is my father’s story. He’s the kind of man who always checks his receipts after a purchase before leaving the store. If he finds an error, he tells the cashier. He does this even when it means he is supposed to pay more than he did. This causes the employees who have been around for a while at our local grocery store to be very trusting of him.

He takes some studies later in life. He studies on the subway on his way home, and then he stops by the grocery store to shop. While he is there, he notices one of the newer employees keeping an eye on him, but he doesn’t give it much thought. As he goes to pay, however, the new employee comes up.

New Employee: “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

Dad: “I am? Did I drop something?”

New Employee: “No! I mean, aren’t you going to pay for what you have in your backpack?”

Dad: *Confused* “My backpack? I don’t have any groceries in my backpack.”

Cashier: “[New Employee], it’s fine.”

New Employee: “No, I saw you put something in your backpack! You need to pay for it.”

Dad: “I didn’t put anything in my backpack.”

New Employee: “Yes, you did! I saw it!”

Cashier: “[New Employee], it is fine. He didn’t put anything in his backpack; he said so. That will be [total].”

New Employee: “No, he did! I didn’t see what it was, but it was about this big.” *Shows with her hands* “Open up your backpack so I can take it out.”

Dad: “No. I am not letting you mess around in my bag. I keep my expensive college books in there! Some of them have very fragile pages.”

Then, it dawns on him: the book he read on the subway. He had forgotten to get it back into the backpack, so he did it while he was in the store.

Dad: “Oh! Do you mean this?”

He opens the backpack and shows her the book. It’s the correct size.

New Employee: “Yes! Oh…”

The cashier repeats the total and he pays. As he goes to pack, he also checks the receipt.

While he does so, he overhears the cashier and the new employee talking. The new employee says the cashier should trust her, and the cashier then explains exactly what he is doing right now with the receipt and how he has come back to pay more when they’ve made errors. 

My dad confirms there are no errors today.

Dad: “Thank you, and I’m sorry for confusing you. It is a good thing to prevent theft. Have a nice evening!”