Reading this story reminded me of a very similar encounter. I’m working at an electronics kiosk in a shopping centre, selling phone cases and screen protectors. A customer walks up holding a phone with a crack in the screen.

Customer: “My screen broke.”

Me: “Oh, we don’t offer screen repair, only screen protectors.”

Customer: “What do you mean? It says right there that your screen protectors prevent damage.”

Me: “Well, yes, it’s just preventative.”

Customer: “What’s that mean?”

Me: “The protector’s like car insurance; helpful only before the accident.”

Customer: “What do you mean?”

Me: “Well, like how there’s no point getting insurance after the accident. You need it before.”

Customer: “I’m not following. Insurance pays out if you get into an accident.”

Me: “Yes, but only if you have the insurance before the accident.”

Customer: *Eyes widen.* “Wait… really?”

Me: “Uh… yeah? No insurance company will insure you after the accident.”

Customer: “So wait… all these people are just around paying for insurance… for nothing?”

Me: “Hopefully, yeah!”

Customer: “That’s crazy!”

Me: “Wait, sir, are you driving around without insurance?”

Customer: “Of course I am! I haven’t had an accident yet!”

He stormed out, with me too shocked to do anything. Let’s hope that final ‘yet’ won’t be prophetic!

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I work in a mall kiosk offering passport photos and novelty photo booth prints. A couple in their 60s approaches the counter, holding a sheet of prints with cartoon sunglasses and sparkles edited onto their faces.

Customer (husband): “Hi, we were trying to get passport photos, but we got these instead.”

Me: “Oh no, that’s from the fun booth. The passport one is on the other side of the kiosk.”

Customer (wife): “We were wondering why the camera told us to ‘strike a pose.'”

Customer (husband): “And then put digital fireworks over our heads.”

After a little laugh, I directed them to the correct booth. They didn’t seem annoyed that they had to pay again, commenting that now they had something fun to put on their fridge door.

I was covering a break at one of our zoo’s snack carts yesterday, the kind that sells soft pretzels, sodas, and churros. The churros are simple: pop them in the toaster oven for six minutes and they’re ready to go.

It was decently busy, and someone had just cleared out the last of the ready churros. I hadn’t had a chance to start a new batch yet when the next family stepped up.

Customer: “Hi! Can we get six churros?”

Me: “Sorry, I’m out at the moment, but I’ve got more going in the oven. They’ll be ready in about six minutes.”

They were disappointed but understood. I told them they could come back later once they were ready. As I got the next batch started, I heard a new voice pipe up.

New Guy: *Irritated.* “Why isn’t there a sign saying you’re out?”

Me: “I’m making more right now. They’ll be ready in a few minutes.”

To be clear, I had not sold anyone churros yet. I figured that was that.

Spoiler: it wasn’t. 

This guy didn’t leave. He just sidled a few feet to the side and started muttering with the previous family. I didn’t notice at first because the visibility inside the cart is half blocked by a giant Dippin’ Dots poster. But after a couple of customers, I realized he was still standing off to the side… actively discouraging people from getting in my line.

New Guy: *To other guests.* “She’s out of churros. Don’t bother. Just order something else and wait with us. We’re first.”

Mind you, he never bought anything. Never asked to wait. Never got permission to linger in front of my cart like a snack goblin. 

Finally, the toaster oven dinged. I pull out a fresh batch, coat them in cinnamon sugar, and start loading the warmer. I was going to be nice and wave him and the earlier family over. But before I could, the actual next person in line walked up and ordered a churro.

I start serving her, and that’s when the guy completely loses it.

New Guy: *Storming up.* “NO! GIVE ME MY CHURROS NOW! I’VE BEEN WAITING OVER HERE!”

Me: *Calmly.* “I didn’t tell you that you could wait there, and I haven’t sold you anything. I have plenty of churros. Now, if it’s okay with the next person in line, you can go after her.”

He either misheard me or just didn’t like not getting his way, because he huffed, swore under his breath, and stormed off. I served the kind lady at the window and then offered the actual patient family the next shot at churros, which they appreciated. 

A few minutes later, my coworker returned from her break. I told her the story, and she said I was being way too nice. 

Fair.

I went off to take my own break and informed the MOD (Manager on Duty), just in case. Right as I’m opening my mouth to explain, the radio crackles:

Cashier: *Over radio.* “Uh, someone’s here asking for the name of the churro girl. He wants to file a complaint.”

The MOD gives me the classic “What did you do now?” look, and we head out together. As soon as I explain that I never denied him service, I just wouldn’t let him cut the line or commandeer my cart. The MOD nods and says:

MOD: “Sounds like you did exactly the right thing.”

I later found out the cashier refused to give him my name, and he left… still without buying a churro.

The cherry on top? She shared her tips with me that day and gave me an extra-big cut “for surviving The Churro Man.”

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I work in a watch repair kiosk inside a train station. An older gentleman approaches, holding a clearly cheap, plastic watch. It’s lost its wrist straps so it’s just the watch face by itself.

Customer: “This used to be my brother’s. Keeps stopping. Can you fix it?”

Me: “I can take a look, but sometimes it costs more to fix these than replace them.”

Customer: “No, I don’t want to replace it. I just want it to tick again. It’s sentimental.”

That part’s fair. I nod and open the back. There’s a corroded battery welded into the contacts like it’s fossilized. I show him.

Me: “This battery probably hasn’t been changed in over a decade. It’s leaked into the movement—”

Customer: “—Oh, don’t give me the sales pitch. I’m not stupid. Just put a new battery in.”

Me: “It’s not about the battery. The acid ruined the internals. It’s basically a paperweight now.”

Customer: “You people always say that so we’ll buy a new one. I know how this works. You just want a sale.”

He storms off. A few minutes later, I hear someone trying to jam something into the coin slot of the coffee machine behind me.

It’s the same man.

It’s his watch.

Me: “That machine might give you change, but it won’t change reality.”

He stops, shocked that I’ve been able to poke my head around and see what he’s doing.

Customer: “You’re f****** useless! This watch is f****** useless!” *Kicks the coffee machine.* “This is f****** useless! My brother is f****** useless! Everything is f****** useless!”

He throws the watch to floor, and storms off. I guess he’s going through a bad… time. (Sorry.)

I’m an older gal working one of those mall kiosks that sells phone cases and chargers. We also have a small printer that can print customized photos onto the phone case.

Another old gal comes up to me with a photo of her dog in a Santa hat.

Customer: “Hi, I’d like this printed on a phone case.”

Me: “Can do! What model is your phone?”

Customer: “Oh, I don’t know. It’s an iPhone. One of the big ones.”

Me: “Do you know the number? Like 14, 15, 16?”

Customer: “Whichever one’s best. Just make it fit.”

Me: “Sorry, but I need to know exactly which model, so the camera cutout lines up.”

Customer: “Ugh, why does everything have to be complicated? In my day, phones just made calls.”

Me: “Right, and in my day, dogs didn’t have Christmas photo shoots.”

Refreshingly, this made her laugh. She showed me her phone, and I was able to get her the correct case – picture of an angry Christmas chihuahua included.