I work as a boot tech for ski and snowboard rental. I get people their boots and help them with them and such. I have sized a customer up, and they are trying on some boots.

Customer: “These boots don’t fit!”

Me: “We can measure again. May I ask, have you skied before?”

Customer: “That doesn’t matter. I know my feet and these don’t fit!”

Me: “It’s understandable that a first-time skier would think that, but these boots don’t fit the same way as regular boots.”

Customer: “That’s not it! These are the wrong size!”

When this happens, I always just go in the back and wait a few seconds. I come back with the same boots and they always say they’re much better. Every single time.

About twenty years ago, I was moving out of the rented room I lived in after starting my first job into a condo of my own. I was renting from a friend, so all I had to do after moving out was rent a carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpet in the room.

I went to the service desk at the local supermarket and rented a popular carpet cleaning machine. Time-check: 11:55 am.

I loaded the machine into the trunk of the car and drove it over to my old place. The room was about ten feet by ten feet, so the entire setup, cleaning, and packing back up took less than an hour. I grabbed a quick lunch, said goodbye to my friend, and drove the machine back to the store.

Time-check: about 2:00 pm.

I went over to the service desk to return the carpet cleaner.

Employee: “I’m going to have to charge you for an extra day, since it was due back by noon.”

Me: “But I rented it at 11:55 am.”

Employee:  “But it’s still due back by noon.”

Me: “So, I was expected to take it home, set it up, use it, clean it up, and return it in five minutes?”

Employee: “Uh-huh.”

Me: “I’m sorry, that doesn’t make any sense. I’m going to need to see a manager.”

She looked at the paperwork again.

Employee: “Oh! You rented this today! You can keep it longer. Do you want to just hang onto it?”

Me: “What am I going to do with a carpet cleaning machine? Clean random carpets? The job is done, and I’d like to get this returned.”

Now I have another story where it’s easier to say, “Uh-huh…” to me than it is to pay attention to the words coming out of my mouth.

I am waiting in line to hire a four-seater bike to use while we are in the holiday park. I wait for some time before the person in front of me gives up, and I can move ahead and inside and see what the wait is.

I can see a middle-aged woman arguing with the holiday rep. I catch this much:

Customer: “I don’t understand. I’m not going to steal it, am I?”

Holiday Rep: “I am sorry, but it’s a standard fee.”

Customer: “But why?”

Holiday Rep: “It’s a standard charge if the bike is damaged or late; you get the money refunded if not.”

Customer: “But I can’t afford it.”

Holiday Rep: “I’m sorry, but the system will not let me process the hire without it.”

She huffs and stomps off, only to linger around the tills.

Me: “I’d like to hire a four-seater, please.”

Holiday Rep: “That will be a £10 deposit and [some small amount] for the day.”

Me: “No problem.”

Customer: “They are ripping you off; you won’t get your money back!”

Me: “I hire one every year and I’ve never had an issue before. In fact, you are the only person I have ever heard having an issue.”

Customer: “Well, it’s just… I’m not… It’s not fair.”

I hired the bike and they brought it round. We left before the woman moved from her spot. Not sure why people want to spend their holiday arguing about something that can’t be changed, with people that cannot affect it even if it could.

I am a field service mechanic for an equipment rental company. Yesterday, I blocked a machine from going on rent due to a broken windshield. I am out on a service call when I get the following call from my boss.

Boss: “Why did you say not to send the machine with the broken windshield?”

Me: *Pauses* “Because it has a broken windshield.”

Boss: “But are you concerned about the broken glass?”

Me: “Yes, that’s why when I saw the machine with broken glass, I said, ‘Don’t send it; it has broken glass.’”

Boss: “But is it dangerous?”

Me: “Broken glass? Yes!”

Boss: “Oh, well, I just wanted to know if I could send it out.”

Me: “Has someone else replaced the glass since yesterday?”

Boss: “No, but—”

Me: *Interrupting* “Then no. We can’t send a machine with broken glass out on rent.”

Boss: “Are you sure?”

Me: “Yes. I’m sure. If it breaks further, it could cut someone.”

Boss: “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”

He’s a nice guy and means well but is kind of clueless sometimes.

Customer: “Why am I being charged for two days? I only had it for forty-eight hours!”