A trainer is talking to a new hire on their first day. We’re in the break room, and I can overhear their conversation.

Trainer: “Good first morning. You handled that customer pretty well.”

New Hire: “I didn’t know customers could be so… so…”

Trainer: “Stupid?”

New Hire: “Are we allowed to say that?!”

Trainer: “Back here? Sure. Just not to their faces.”

Another coworker comes to the break room and sees the trainer, who is also one of today’s floor managers.

Coworker: “Ah, [Trainer], I need your help with a customer.”

Trainer: “What is it?”

Coworker: “He doesn’t understand how to use a hammer. I’ve… uh… demonstrated, but he can’t figure it out, and he’s blaming me and wants to talk to a manager.”

Trainer: “A hammer? A simple swing-and-hit-something hammer?”

Coworker: “The basic $2.99 one.”

Trainer: *Looks up and sighs.* “Lord save me.” *To the new hire.* “Come with me. Let me show you how we call stupid customers stupid without them realizing it…”

I was working as a cashier when a family came in with kids who all looked to be under eight. Right next to the register was a rack of plywood boards; at this time, the bottom was almost depleted, and they hadn’t had a chance to move the plywood down to fill it, so the top racks were still quite full.

I noticed the oldest of the kids was walking on the bottom, and I called out to him to get out of there as it really wasn’t safe (he’d be a kid sandwich if the upper racks had collapsed for any reason). The mom quickly saw the issue and called him out. 

Good.

Then the dad suddenly turned to the kid, then pointed at me and said:

Dad: “If you don’t behave, I am going to let her spank you.”

I was too flabbergasted to respond as the family continued to shop. 

Who says things like that?!

A customer is looking at replacement blades for his circular saw. He has that “humming and hawing” look I see from time to time, so I ask him if he needs any help.

Customer: “Don’t you worry, miss, I’ll ask one of the experts when I see one.”

Me: “I’m actually trained to work in the power tools department, so I can answer all your questions.”

He looks me up and down, surprised that (gasp!) a woman can know a thing or two about power tools in the Year of Our Lord 2026.

Customer: “So can you tell me if I use this seven-and-a-quarter-inch blade on a saw that runs at 5,800 RPM?”

Me: “Yes, as long as your saw takes a seven-and-a-quarter-inch blade with a five-eighths-inch arbor. This blade is rated for up to 8,000 RPM, so your saw is safely below that. Just make sure the teeth face the direction of rotation, and the kerf is compatible with the riving knife.”

He stares at me, then turns to my manager, who just so happens to be walking by and is also a male. He was standing close enough around the corner of the aisle that he heard the conversation.

Customer: “Excuse me, can I use this blade on a 5,800-RPM saw?”

Manager: “No.”

Customer: “Right! That’s what I thought.”

Manager: “Well, you thought wrong. She was right about the diameter, arbor, RPM rating, rotation, and kerf. I just wanted to see whether you preferred one wrong word from a man over an entire correct explanation from a woman.”

The customer turns bright red.

Customer: “I… uh… so this blade will work?”

Manager: “I don’t know. You’d better ask the power-tool expert.”

He points at me and walks away.

I work in a large warehouse-type hardware store. A guy storms over to me, looking angry.

Customer: “How do I get to the rooftop parking?!”

Me: “We don’t have rooftop parking.”

Customer: “What do you mean? Of course you do! Where’s the ramp? I’ve circled this place twice now!”

Me: “We just have regular parking outside, on ground level.”

Customer: “That’s crazy! That can’t be right!”

Me: “Wait, so are you currently parked out there right now?”

Customer: “Yeah.”

Me: “Why are you still looking for parking?”

Customer: “I… don’t make me confused!”

Me: “Not as confused as I am!”

He waves me away and wanders back the way he came, still looking frustrated.

I told my manager about it, hoping to get a laugh from him, and he shakes his head and says:

Manager: “Don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I was at the Lowe’s in Charlotte a few months ago, and… they have rooftop parking.”

Huh, I guess he wasn’t THAT crazy after all.

I work in the tool industry, so I guess I give off a smell of competence when it comes to the industry. Also, I’m Korean. Whenever I go to Home Depot (quite often), I’m bombarded by a bunch of non-English-speaking Koreans who need me to translate for them or give them advice on their product.

One time I saw an older Korean couple running up to me, both speaking in fast Korean.

Older Korean Guy: “You! We remember you! You helped us with the power drill we bought last week.”

Me: “Auntie, Uncle! Yes, I remember you. How did it work out?”

They break into praise for the product, but now they need something else to tackle the next part of their project. I advise on what product I would buy, and they take my advice.

I then go and get the items I originally came in for, and see the couple again, this time trying to explain something to the cashier. They see me again.

Older Korean Guy: “Why aren’t you taking our coupon?”

I look at the coupon:

Me: “It’s for a different store. This is Home Depot; that’s for [Other Chain].”

I turn to the cashier and tell her that I’m explaining it to them in English. She looks grateful.

Older Korean Woman: *To her husband.* “I told you! They’re different stores! Just because they sell the same things doesn’t mean they take the same coupons!”

I ask the cashier something, and when she tells me the desired response, I interrupt the bickering couple by saying:

Me: “I get a professional and contractor’s discount here. I can get you a discount on your [item] that would be better than that coupon, if you like?”

Older Korean Guy: “Contractor? You don’t work here?”

Me: “No, I just shop here a lot.”

Older Korean Guy: “Oh! But you helped us both times!”

Me: “Haha, yes, I shop here a lot, and you needed help. I wanted to help.”

Older Korean Woman: “We need to thank you! Have you eaten? Come to our home for a meal.”

Me: “That’s okay, I am happy to help.”

Older Korean Woman: “No! We need to repay you. Tell me your number, and I’ll send you our address and a time for dinner.”

I tried to politely refuse one more time, but to say no to a Korean auntie who wants to feed you can be culturally rude, so I eventually accepted.

I had a HUGE dinner full of traditional Korean favorite dishes a week later. I also saw the project they were trying to do on their own, gave them some more advice, and ended up coming by a few more times to help them finish it, getting a huge meal each time.

I also met their family (they have four grown children plus many grandchildren) and got three new contracting jobs (paid in money this time) out of it. Not a bad outcome from just helping out an auntie and uncle…