I recently decided to shop around for new car insurance and filled out a form online to get a quote from [Large Insurance Company], but the page timed out and I didn’t get the quote.

A few hours later, an agent calls as I am walking out the door for work, so I ask them to call back later. The next day, they call again while I’m on my way to work.

Agent: “Hello, this is [Agent] from [Large Insurance Company]. Could I speak with [My Name]?”

Me: “This is her, but I’m actually on my way to work right now, so I can’t talk. You could call my husband and speak with him, though.”

Agent: “Okay, I’ll just call back later. Would this evening work?”

Me: “Umm… maybe? Why don’t you just call my husband right now? I can give you his number.”

Agent: “Oh, I’m not able to take down any numbers. I’ll just call back later. Or you can call us back. Here is our number so you can write it down. It’s [Number]. Did you need me to repeat that?”

Me: “Well, as I said, I’m on my way to work now, so I can’t take down your number, either. I guess just keep trying and maybe you’ll get lucky. Thanks.”

It’s not looking promising.

(I work at a fabric and craft store during the months between the times I traveled out of state for college. During my time there, there was a regular that all of us dreaded seeing. She would stay in the store for several hours, be very particular about how her fabric gets cut, be very vocal about people and things she didn’t like, and every visit would grantee that she could call the corporate office to file a complaint about someone for something, even about managers. It got to the point that corporate stopped listening to her due to finding her claims false when they would investigate or find the employee in the right. I’ve returned from college and resumed working for a few weeks when I noticed that I have not seen [Regular] at all. I ask my coworker about this…)

Me: Hey I haven’t seen [Regular] for sometime….has she been in here?

Coworker: Oh her? She got banned.

Me: What?! Why?

Coworker: So she came in and tried to check out using wanting to use one coupon over and over again on everything she got because she was ‘such a good customer’ and [Manager] explained to her several times about why we can’t do that. She got so mad that she went to all the customers in the store and told them about how much she hated [Manager] using the N-word and that she was going to shoot her in the parking lot.

Me: She threatened to shoot [Manager]!!??

(I should note that [Regular] is a older white woman and [Manager] is a tall black woman)

Coworker: Yep, [Manager] was pissed so when [Regular] finally left she called to police to file a report. They said that we should not let [Regular] on the property anymore and they were go to her house and inform her that she is now banned from the store.

Me: Sheesh….I knew she was bad but I didn’t know she was that bad….

Coworker: Yeah, [Manager] said that she could handle complaining and yelling customers but whenever someone uses racism or threatens her life, she will get serious.

(It has been a few years since then and [Regular] has never returned to the store. [Manager] had always been my favorite to work with because of her strong work ethic and caring attitude to all the employees. She eventually left when she got a promotion at her other job but it was moments like this that make me respect her so much.)

We have recently hired a new employee to work exclusively with a particular client. At our company, we have a ninety-day probationary period for all new hires. Unfortunately, the new employee is not a good fit, alienates the client right from the start, and appears to have exaggerated the skills he listed on his resume. We make the tough decision to let him go before the probationary period is up.

Me: “…so, unfortunately, the client is just not happy and we don’t feel you are working out in this position. We have to let you go.”

Associate: “Wow. Okay. So, what happens now? Is this effective immediately?”

Me: “Yes, it is.”

Associate: “But like, can I still get on my computer? I have a few things to do.”

Me: “We don’t need you to do anything; we’ll take care of anything that is still in progress. You can just take your personal belongings and head out.”

Associate: “Can I get on the computer for a few minutes to delete some personal stuff?”

Me: “What kind of stuff? You’re not supposed to have anything personal on your work computer.”

Associate: “Oh… Like… paperwork and things like that. It has my social security number and personal info on it; I want to delete that.”

Me: “We hired you. The company already has that information. Anything on there will be kept secure, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Associate: “I would just feel better if you let me delete things.”

Me: “I’m going to have to go with ‘no’ on that.”

I never did find out what he had on there that he was so worried about. IT did their job and kept anything that was on there private.

(I work in a well known retail store, and needless to say we get extremely busy on holidays. There was a long line at my register and the next customer with a baby in his cart comes up.)
Me: “Hi, did you find everything alright sir?”
Customer 1: “Yes, it’s all good. I want to buy this, and I have a discount from my email.” [He tries to pull up his email but the reception in our building is horrible so it takes a while.]
Me: *sees the customers behind him are waiting* “Sir, if you want, you can finish your transaction here, walk out to the front door and load your email, and then bring the receipt to customer service to get your discount.”
Customer 1: “Oh that sounds great! *finishes transaction, and proceeds to place his cart on the side of my register and leave to the front. With his purchase and baby still in his cart.
Me: *sees he’s already too far to say something, so I just keep with the line*
Customer 1: “Ok, ma’am, I have my coupon ready.”
(Clearly he misunderstood me, and I’m in the middle of another transaction. I tell him I can’t make an adjustment at my register.)
Me: Sir, I said after you get the coupon ready, go to customer service, sorry.”
Customer 1: “What? What do you mean?! *he gets flustered*
Me: *looking at the very long line still waiting and the next customer in line gets annoyed*
Me: “I’m sorry sir, I can’t make an adjustment here, and plus I’m in the middle of a transaction here.”
Customer 1: “You said I could load my email and get there discount. And also why would I leave my baby here?”
Me: (mentally thinking, I don’t know WHY would you leave your baby here? I’m getting paid to watch over children.)
Customer 2: “Too bad. I’m in line now.”

(My family is visiting the pizza counter while at a game center for my work-sponsored “family night.” As part of the deal, we were each given a coupon for a drink and two slices of pizza. We are a family of three.)

Me: “I have these coupons; I’d like four cheese pizza slices and two pepperoni.”

Clerk: “You want… What?”

Me: “Four cheese slices and two pepperoni.”

Clerk: “But the coupon is for two slices.”

Me: “We have three coupons.” *shows them*

Clerk: “But you can’t have four cheese; the coupon is for two.”

Me: “Okay, then I’ll have two cheese, two cheese, and two pepperoni.”

Clerk: “Great! I’ll get that for you!”