I’m a stocker at a local supermarket. Today, I’m in the dairy department. I’ve just finished working the dairy load and I’m in the process of pulling the aisle forward when a customer comes up to me.

Customer: “Excuse me, do you have any more [Brand] fat-free vanilla caramel creamer in the back?”

Not only do we not carry the variety that she’s looking for, but it doesn’t even exist.

Me: “Sorry, ma’am, but [Brand] does not make a fat-free vanilla caramel creamer.”

Customer: “I know you sell it! I’ve bought it here before. I keep coming back and you never have it!”

Me: “[Brand] only makes vanilla caramel creamer in regular. You might have bought that previously, instead, and we have plenty on the shelf.”

Customer: “No! I want the fat-free [Brand] vanilla caramel!”

Me: “Again, we don’t carry it because it doesn’t exist. I guarantee you there’s not going to be any there.”

Customer: “Ugh, you’re so lazy! Stop wasting my time and go check for me!”

I give up and go to the back just to satisfy her. Surprise, surprise, we don’t have any of the creamer she wants.

Me: “Ma’am, I just checked, and I can confirm that there is absolutely no [Brand] fat-free caramel creamer.”

Customer: “Ugh, fine, I believe you. Now, can you tell me when your next order of [Brand] fat-free vanilla caramel creamer will come in?”

Cue internal facepalm. Such is the life of retail.

I am a regular customer at a chain pizza store that runs a particularly good deal for a large pizza for about $8. As we order from them roughly once a week, they know my order by heart and know my car when I pull up. When you walk in, there is a large screen that shows the status of your order. I see that mine will still be in the oven for a few minutes.

Employee: “[My Name], right?” *Checks for my order* “Um… It’s not ready yet.”

He sounds nervous when he tells me.

Me: “That’s fine. I saw on the board that it wasn’t quite yet. I’m sure it won’t be too long.”

Employee: “Oh… Yes. I can ring you up now.”

Me: *Joking* “Do I get a prize for being the first person to read the sign today?”

Several of the employees laugh and one says, “That’s true.”

Employee: “Your total is [amount $1.50 less than normal].”

Me: “Huh? Um… That’s for the carryout, right?”

Employee: “Yes. See, here’s your coupon.”

He gave me the employee discount in addition to the deal. I’m not complaining, but now I wonder how people have screamed today about a two-minute wait.

My husband and I go to a chicken fast food place famous for its Louisiana-style chicken. We go through the drive-thru and order a [Chicken Meal #1] with a side of [Side #1]. We are the only customers in the drive-thru and there is nobody inside.

Worker: “That’ll be [price]. Here’s your order, sir.”

Husband: “Thanks, ma’am.”

My husband pulls away as I start going through the order. I open the chicken container and see that it is [Chicken Meal #2].

Me: “Honey, this is [Chicken Meal #2], not [Chicken Meal #1].”

Husband: “No problem. I’ll just park here and bring it back in.”

He goes back inside the restaurant and lets a worker know. She apologizes and hands my husband a container with [Chicken Meal #1]. He comes out and gets back in the car with the correct chicken.

Husband: “Well, that was interesting. I tried to give her back the wrong chicken and she told me to keep it.”

Me: “It’s about to get more interesting. They gave us [Side #2] instead of [Side #1].”

Husband: “Are you kidding me? I’ll go back in again.”

He goes in a second time to get the correct side.

Husband: “She gave me [Side #1] and told me to keep [Side #2].”

While en route home, I realized that there was no [Bread Side], which should automatically come with the meal we ordered. Back we went. The workers were very apologetic. My husband and I found it overly amusing that an order could be messed up so badly. In the end, we ended up getting a whole bunch of chicken and a side for free.

I work in a sandwich shop. I’m helping train a new hire, but he’s basically done and can be mostly left alone to deal with customers. An elderly couple comes in. I probably should have dealt with them myself because they’re known for being particular to the point of frustration, but I’m busy preparing for the next day. My coworker takes their order and I’m nearby if he needs help. They get all the way to him wrapping the sandwich when I hear:

Old Lady: “That’s all, but we didn’t want it toasted.”

I turn around when I hear this because that’s one of the earliest steps. They just watched my coworker put the sandwich in the oven, take it out, put the toppings and sauce on, and are just now mentioning they don’t want it toasted. The poor coworker just turns to me with a helpless expression and I sigh, going for the bread to make a new sandwich.

Me: “Did you not notice it was toasted?”

They just glared at me as I remade the sandwich. I 100% wasn’t allowed to say that, but what the h***?

While waiting in line at the store, I overhear this conversation.

Cashier: “Everyone’s always thinking I’m fifteen! It’s so awful! How old do you think I am?”

Customer: *Awkwardly* “Nineteen?”

Cashier: “Yes! I’m so happy you got it right!”

Customer: “Sure.”

The transaction finishes. I step up.

Cashier: “Hey, sweetie! Are you waiting on your mom?”

Me: “I’m thirty.”

The transaction finishes in awkward but blissful silence.