I was walking through the parking lot into work, my jacket still on.

Guy: “Hey! Take my cart in for me!”

I still don’t know how he even knew I worked there.

A client has requested that I design a series of twelve covers for children’s puzzle books and specified that I am to use bright primary colours.

Client: “You seem to have used some colours more than once.”

Me: “Yes, there are only so many colours.”

Client: “Well, you’re the designer. Can’t you come up with some new ones?”

I work in an auto shop and recently became a manager there. My boss warned me that the higher you go in retail, the harder it gets to deal with customers. I thought he was joking because I’ve had pretty chill and downright friendly customers for the majority of my time working there.

But this one customer actually makes my blood boil. I’m not a violent or angry person by any means, but he really tests my patience.

First, he walks into the store and shows me the product he needs on his phone. He has already visited the website, so he already knows what he is looking for.

All right, cool. This’ll be a quick transaction. I get the product for him and go to my register. As I’m about to scan it, he hits me with this.

Customer: “I’d like to use this code.”

He shows me an online code on his phone. I stare at him.

Me: “Are you planning to buy the product online?”

Customer: “No, I want to use the code in here.”

Me: “I can’t use that code. You can only use it online.”

Customer: “But it’s your store. It’s the same thing; it’s your website.”

Me: “I’m aware that the website and our store have the same name, but we have no control over whatever happens online.”

Customer: “Where’s the manager?”

I’m giddy on the inside to finally be able to use this line.

Me: “I am the manager. And I’m telling you that this code is not going to work in the store.”

Customer: “Why can’t you just honor it?”

Me: “Honor what? There’s nothing to honor, because this is an online code, and you are currently in the store. In-store purchases and online purchases are completely separate things. It’s not going to work.”

Customer: “I didn’t see you type it in.”

Never taking my eyes off him, I proceed to type in the code and move the monitor so he can see it. I hit enter and nothing happens

Customer: *Pauses* “Well, something’s wrong with your computers, because the other stores have done this for me.”

Me: *Almost losing my temper* “There’s no way our other stores have done this. The code is supposed to be used online, so if they were to type in the computer at the store, they would’ve gotten the same result as me. Nothing.”

The customer makes a big huff and finally goes into his email to pull up a coupon that can be used in the store.

Customer: “I’ll be calling corporate about this.”

Me: “You do that.”

I relayed the entire interaction with this guy to my boss, and he laughed his a** off, and even his boss lost it when he told him.

I’m all good now, but man, that customer was not listening to a word I said.

I clock out from my shift at a restaurant. I’m heading out the door when a customer stops me.

Customer: “My daughter just threw up all over the table!”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I just clocked out. I can’t help you — state law and all that. Sorry!”

I was so glad to be able to say that and get out of there!

I used to work at a pottery place where everything was hand-painted. Sometimes, some of the small details would be slightly different. I had a customer order five dessert plates in a certain pattern, but two different people had painted the plates so there was a small difference in the size of the flowers. She came in to pick them up.

Customer: *Angry* “It’s ridiculous that these aren’t exactly the same! I waited so long to get these! I desperately need them for Thanksgiving tomorrow!”

She really hadn’t waited that long.

Me: “I can offer you three of the plates for free, and you’ll need to pay for the other two. I can also give you our Black Friday sale price, so those two will be 50% off.”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say because it just made her even angrier.

Customer: “You can’t do that! How will you track the inventory?”

Me: “I’m the store manager. I have a few ways I can adjust the inventory.”

Customer: “You liar! You’re too young to be a manager!”

She ended up leaving after that without getting her plates.