I work for a well-known supermarket delivering groceries to customers at home. I should note that it is company policy that delivery drivers do not accept tips, but often customers more or less force it into your hand. In this instance, I have been given a re-drop — essentially a delivery that was unsuccessful the previous day usually because the driver couldn’t be bothered. I have been warned that the customer is very rude.

It has been scheduled for three pm this day and, after noting the address, which is one I am familiar with, I decide to call the customer to confirm which floor of the building he is on.

Me: “Hi, is that [Customer].”

Customer: “Yes, it certainly is.”

Me: “Hi, it’s [My Name] calling from [Supermarket] Home Delivery. I’ve got your delivery here and I’m just about to leave…”

Customer: “Ah, yes, are you aiming to deliver for about three pm?”

Me: “Yes, I am. Is that okay?”

Customer: “I’m sorry to ask this, but is there any chance I could get it a little later? I’m trying to get home but I’m stuck in traffic at the minute.”

Me: “No problem at all. I’m working until six today so I can get it out to you anytime really up until five pm; just let me know what works for you.”

Customer: “If you could do it at around 4:30, that would be great.”

Me: “No problem, mate. Now, while I have you, you live at [Address]; is that correct?”

Customer: “It is.”

Me: “If I remember correctly, that’s the one where I need to enter via the underground car park. I just wanted to confirm which floor your flat is on.”

Customer: “That’s exactly right. I’m on the sixth floor. Just give me a ring before you leave and I’ll let you know if I’m in or not.”

I’m a little surprised that this customer is apparently “so rude” when he seemed very friendly on the phone. I get his delivery to his building almost dead on at 4:30 pm and buzz his flat. He comes down and leads me up in the lift. We confirm that all the shopping was delivered. He is even very understanding about substitutes and items unavailable. He is incredibly friendly. I get his signature for delivery and he hands me £5.

Customer: “Thank you so much for getting this to me. Please have a nice day. Could you let me know how I can avoid problems like this next time?”

So, we talked for a few minutes about what went wrong with his last delivery, and it appears the original driver ignored his directions on how to reach the underground car park, got angry, and drove off, even though the customer was outside waving at him and trying to direct him. I apologized for this. He asked that no one lose their job, just that he could get a different driver next time.

I would later speak to the original driver, who insisted the customer was “very rude.” Well, his loss and my gain of £5!

I am working on the checkout and a customer approaches with a pre-packed bag of apples.

Customer: “Do you operate a try-before-you-buy policy in this store?”

Me: *Thinking he’s joking* “Sorry, sir, we don’t.”

Customer: “I don’t want them, then.”

He leaves the apples on the conveyor belt and walks out.

Me: “…”

Related:
Doesn’t End Up Liking Them Apples

A popular supermarket chain is opening a new store only a few minutes from my house, and I decide to take the opportunity to apply for my first job. I am in my final year of school at the time and, with a couple of friends, am planning a trip to Japan at the end of the year to celebrate. As it turns out, I am due to leave only a few weeks after the new store is due to open, and therefore, a few weeks after I would begin work, should I get the job. During my interview, I mention this to the two interviewers, one of whom is my would-be manager and therefore in charge of making the rosters. She says it’ll be no problem and makes a note of it.

A few weeks later, I find out I’ve got the job and am told I need to come in for some training. At the end of the training, we’re given a form to fill out about what hours we’re available to work. At the bottom of the page is a field that asks if there’s any upcoming dates upon which I won’t be available to work. Even though I’ve already told the manager the dates I’ll be away, I write them down on the sheet just to be sure. A couple of weeks later, I begin work, and a couple of weeks after that, the rosters for the weeks I’ll be away come out.

Me: “Excuse me.”

Manager: “What’s up?”

Me: “I’ve just noticed that I’m rostered on in two weeks. I’m going to be away then.”

Manager: “You are? Why?”

Me: “I’m going to Japan for a few weeks.”

Manager: “Oh, yeah, I remember you telling me about that. Don’t worry about it. I’ll sort it out. Thanks for letting me know.”

I think no more about it, and a few weeks later, I head to Japan with my friends. About a week and a half into the trip, I receive a phone call from work.

Me: “Hello?”

Manager: “[My Name], it’s [Manager] from work.”

Me: “Hi.”

Manager: “I’m just calling because you’ve not been into work all week, and I need to know if you’re going to be in today.”

Me: “Um, I’m actually in Japan, so no, I won’t be in today.”

Manager: “What? How long are you away for?”

Me: “Until the end of next week.”

Manager: “Well, I’ve actually rostered you down for all that time. You can’t just take time off work whenever you want. You have to make sure you tell me when you’re going away in advance, so I know not to roster you on. Now I have to fill all your shifts for the next two weeks.”

Me: “Oh, um, sorry about that, but I did tell—”

Manager: “When did you say you’re going to be back?”

Me: “[Date].”

Manager: “Thanks. I guess I’ll see you then.”

A few weeks later, I got back to work just in time for a period of employee review, where the managers sat down with all the new staff in their departments and gave them feedback on how they’d been doing so far and where they could improve. Apparently, I’d been doing quite well, except my manager had had to mark me down a bit for not giving her enough notice that I was going away. I guess telling her three times wasn’t enough. Luckily, she was gone by the next time I needed time off work.

I work in the produce department of a large natural foods store that prides itself on its superior customer service.

One day, an older man asks me to put some ice in his cooler since it is a very hot day and he has over an hour to drive to get back home. I cheerfully comply and don’t even blink an eye when he follows me into the produce prep room, normally an area off-limits to customers.

Both my forearms are tattooed, and when I roll up my sleeves to scoop out the ice, the man lets out what I can only characterize as a growl. I glance up at him and he is scowling at me fiercely. I just keep scooping, and finally, he says:

Old Man: “Young lady, if God had wanted you to have those things on your body, you would have been born with them!”

I don’t stop scooping his ice into his giant cooler, and even though I know it could cost me a write up, or maybe even my job, I say:

Me: “And if God wanted you to have a big cooler full of ice, you would have been born at the North Pole instead of in here asking me to do this for you.”

Old Man: “One day, God will judge you and you will be found wanting!”

I left it alone at that point since I was finished scooping and just told him to have a lovely day. I guess he thought God’s judgment was punishment enough. Thankfully, he left without further complaint.

Related:
Tit For Tat

I am working at the checkout.

Me: “Sir, your total is $75.55. Would you like to round up to $76 and support [Charity that supports veterans]?

Customer: “What? H*** no! I believe a person should be able to stand on their own two feet!”

Me: “Very well, sir.”

I don’t expect every customer to donate so I quietly move on. For this customer, however, I seem to have hit a nerve.

Customer: “It’s just un-American, it is! Begging for money!”

Me: “Please swipe your card, sir.”

He swipes his card as he continues ranting.

Customer: “Those d*** communists wouldn’t think twice about it! Those d*** Commie countries in Europe think they have all the answers!”

I have no idea how asking to round up his dollar has resulted in this rant about communism and Europe but I am glad the transaction is over.

Me: “Your receipt, sir. Have a nice day!”

Customer: “You agree, don’t you? People should be able to stand on their own two feet or get out of the country!”

Me: “Sir, the charity we are supporting in this store is for some people who, in defending this country, literally have no feet.”

Customer: “Well… I… uh…”

I turned to the next customer and started their transaction. The anti-communist stood there for a moment before deciding it was best to leave.

Related:
Needs To Work On His Socialist Skills, Part 3
Needs To Work On His Socialist Skills, Part 2
Needs To Work On His Socialist Skills