In Sweden, we have something that is called “pant”; whenever you buy a bottle or can of soda, beer or cider, you also pay around ten cents extra (pant). You get these extra cents back by putting the cans or bottles in a machine, normally placed in a grocery store, that scans the barcode of said container (panta).

On a normal busy weekday after work, a lady around sixty years old comes into the grocery store with around five bottles and cans in her walker. She puts the bottles and cans into the machine and gets an error message on two of the bottles. Immediately, she flags down a young-looking employee.

Lady: “Why isn’t the machine scanning my bottles?” *Hands over the two bottles*

Employee: “This one has no barcode and cannot be scanned. Let’s try the other one.”

Another error message appears on the machine.

Employee: “Is this bottle old? That could explain why it doesn’t work.”

Lady: “It’s maybe two or four years old or something like that. I don’t know! That shouldn’t matter! It should be able to scan!”

Employee: “Well, that’s the only reason I can come up with. I can’t help you.”

In Sweden, the customer definitely isn’t always right and employees, therefore, aren’t obliged to a**-kissing.

Lady: “What am I supposed to do with these, then?! Throw them away?! They should be able to scan!”

The employee starts to walk away since she has other things to do during her shift.

Employee: “Sorry, there is nothing I can do.”

Lady: “Do you mean to tell me that I should throw them away?! That’s sick! I’m gonna take these to another store and try there!”

Employee: “You do that.”

After a string of drive-offs — asking the cashier to turn a gas dispenser on, pumping the gas, and then driving off without paying — the gas station I work at institutes a new policy where a customer wishing to pay inside after pumping needs to leave some form of payment or their keys. They can’t leave their ID as they can easily drive off without it and simply go to the DMV to get a replacement. Everyone is okay with this policy except one “special” customer.

Customer: “Turn pump one on for me.”

Me: “Were you going to prepay or just pump and pay after?”

Customer: “Well, I don’t know how much I want so I want to pump first.”

Me: “Our pumps allow you to pay outside, as well.”

Customer: “I don’t trust those things.”

Me: “Fair enough! The options available would be to either leave your keys or some form of payment.”

Customer: “I’ll leave my license.”

Me: “I’m sorry, but that’s not one of the available options.”

Customer: “Why not?”

Me: “We’ve had people drive off without their license. Leaving your keys or a form of payment, preferably cash, insures the gas will be paid for.”

Customer: “This is ridiculous. I’m here all the time, always around this time.”

For context, even though I’ve only been here a few months, I usually always work the same shift.

Me: “I’m usually always working this shift at this time. I’ve never seen you before and your vehicle does not look familiar. I don’t know you so I’m not allowed to turn on the pump without your keys or payment.”

Customer: “Whatever.”

The customer goes back to his car and comes back in.

Customer: “Here.”

He throws an old-looking debit card on the counter.

Customer: “You said a form of payment, so there you go. Turn on the pump now.”

Me: “I should also let you know that if the card doesn’t work, and you have no alternate form of payment, the police will get involved quickly.”

Customer: “Are you threatening me?”

Me: “No, just merely stating facts. If you don’t pay for the gas, you will be getting a visit from the police. There are cameras everywhere and you’re on at least three right now.”

Customer: “Whatever!”

He throws his keys at me.

Customer: “Now turn it on. I’m not going anywhere.”

Me: *Overly cheerful* “Thank you! See you in a bit!”

He did end up paying, but not before causing a scene in front of a store packed with other paying customers, all of whom agreed with me that the right thing to do is ask for some assurance they will pay.

I’m a shelver at a public library. Unlike most of the libraries in the area, our parking lot has meters. This is the city’s decision, not the library’s, but that doesn’t stop people from complaining to the staff about it.

I’m shelving in the children’s section when I overhear this happening.

Little Kid: “Mommy, I don’t wanna go! I wanna stay!”

Mom: “I know, honey, but Mommy doesn’t have more money to put in the parking meter.”

As they walk out of the children’s section, she announces loudly:

Mom: “That’s why we don’t come here very often! [Nearby Town #1] doesn’t have parking meters at the library… [Nearby Town #2] doesn’t have them… only [Our Town]!”

It was definitely the most passive-aggressive complaint I’ve heard yet. The funny thing is that when I mentioned it to the children’s librarians later, they hadn’t even noticed her!

We usually only have a manager and two sellers. One of those sellers is also designated cashier.

I’m the cashier this morning, and we aren’t very busy. Suddenly, I have a small line of about four people, the other seller has to help someone in the fitting room, and my manager has to go to the back to accept shipment. There is no one to cover the floor and definitely no one to help me ring up.

I’m ringing out [Customer #1]’s decently-sized purchase and [Customer #2] right behind her starts sighing loudly and sucking her teeth.

[Customer #2] then comes up to the counter next to [Customer #1] and slams her stuff down.

Customer #2: “Isn’t there anyone else who can ring?”

Me: “Actually, no. Unfortunately, I’m the only one available as my coworker is assisting a customer in the fitting room and my manager had to go to the back to accept shipment. We’re not busy on Thursday mornings, as you can see, so we normally only have three people working. But thank you so much for being patient; I really appreciate it.”

[Customer #2] looked shocked and said a small, “Oh,” right as I finished up with [Customer #1].

I was expecting [Customer #2] to continue to be rude, because that’s how it usually goes, but she actually apologized and said she hurt her back at the gym, so standing there for so long — she was in line for maybe two minutes, max — was hurting. Either way, it was nice to have a customer actually apologize for their behavior.

Related:
In Line And Out Of Line, Part 14
In Line And Out Of Line, Part 13
In Line And Out Of Line, Part 12
In Line And Out Of Line, Part 11
In Line And Out Of Line, Part 10

This happens during my first week on the job as a food runner for [Restaurant]. I’ve just delivered some meals to a table in the bar and am checking if they want anything else. I feel someone poke me, hard, in the ribs. I yelp in pain and shock, spinning around to see a couple on the next table over. The man starts loudly complaining at me, oblivious to my startled scream.

Customer: “My food is cold!”

He holds the plate out to me. It’s a partially-eaten gammon steak, with a couple of wet mouthfuls of chewed food piled next to it. Other people’s saliva deeply grosses me out, and I can’t help but flinch away from the plate. He shoves it closer and all but yells in my face.

Customer: “Touch it! Feel how cold this food is!”

I am pointedly ignoring his request while trying to recover my composure.

Me: “I‘m so sorry that’s happened! Here, let me take that. Would you like me to get the chefs to make you a fresh one?”

Customer: *Accusingly* “You don’t believe me, do you?! I’m not making this up!”

Me: *Desperately* “I do believe you, I promise, can I just—”

I moved to take the plate from him, and he GRABBED MY WRIST and forcibly smooshed my hand into the chewed food. I don’t remember anything about whether it was actually cold or not; it took all the concentration I had to not throw up in my mouth.

Related:
On The Need For Hazard Pay, Part 21
On The Need For Hazard Pay, Part 20
On The Need For Hazard Pay, Part 19
On The Need For Hazard Pay, Part 18
On The Need For Hazard Pay, Part 17