A customer walks over to my section in a huff.

Customer: “Where is the paint in this stupid store? I was sent down here, and they lied!”

Me: “They’re right behind you.”

There are literally dozens of paint cans a few feet behind her.

Customer: “No, they’re not!”

I walk past her and put my hand on the can. It took her a good ten seconds to accept the paint was, in fact, there. But God forbid the customer is wrong, she rebounded.

Customer: “Yes, well, I didn’t want to be shown where the paint is! It should be brought to me!”

My very first customer of the day comes in and tries to pay with a $100 bill.

Me: “We don’t have the change for that, since we just opened.”

He gives me the puppy eyes and says:

Customer: “It’s all I have.”

With a sigh, I take it and, of course, there’s no change for it in the register, and my manager says there isn’t enough in the safe. We go through the lengthy process of reversing the old order.

Customer: “Ugh, okay, fine, I’ll pay with my card.”

Are you freaking serious, you lying little gremlin?!

But it didn’t end there. Oh no. 

My next customer orders a meal for $19. But does he hand me a $20? Of course not. $100.

Me: “Sir, I’m sorry, but we definitely don’t have the change for this. We just opened, and I know for sure we don’t have it.”

Naturally, the LITERAL IMPOSSIBILITY of this transaction isn’t going to deter him. After all, it’s all he has! He insists I get my manager, who again comes and says we don’t have change.

Customer #2: “Ugh, okay, fine, I’ll pay with this $20.”

Two coworkers called out that day, and we definitely didn’t have time for this foolishness. These kinds of customers can eat rocks!

I took a job that requires traveling to different states for long periods of time, sometimes over a year at each assignment. I got a PO Box at my first assignment and requested that all of my mail be forwarded to that PO Box. When I moved to my next assignment, I went online and applied to move my PO Box to a post office near my next place.

In order to finalize the transition, I had to go to the new post office and present my ID. It was a few weeks before Christmas, and the office was slammed, with one employee behind the desk.

At first, I felt bad for her, then I heard her talking to the people waiting in line. To summarize, the first person wanted to buy a single stamp but she would only sell the entire book and the second was asking to buy a roll of tape to affix a shipping label to a box, but the employee kept repeating that she could do nothing until the label was attached to the box (while standing beside a display filled with rolls of tape for sale).

Finally, it was my turn.

Me: “Hi, I’m transferring my PO Box here.”

Employee: “You what?”

Me: “I transferred my PO Box to this location?”

Employee: “Okay, and?”

Me: “You … need to verify my ID?

Employee: “Okay, so give it here.” *She takes my IDs.* “Nope. Next!”

Me: “Wait, why?”

Employee: “You gotta have a Georgia ID for a PO Box.”

Me: “No I—”

Employee: “—Yeah. Next!”

I left instead of arguing, but I did call customer service to verify that I was correct.

Customer Service: “Well, you do not need an in-state ID to open a PO Box, much less transfer one. Will you be able to go back tomorrow?”

Me: “I can.”

Customer Service: “Okay, my name is [Name], and I will be there from [hours].”

Me: “Thank you.”

I went back the next day, and the same woman was at the desk.

Employee: “I already told you—”

Me: “—I spoke with [Name], who confirmed that I do not need an in-state ID, and she said she would be here today. Please go get her.”

Employee: *Rolls her eyes.* “This is ridiculous. You went and told because you didn’t like the way I was talking to you.”

Me: “Please get [Name].”

[Name] came out and processed my transfer with ease. [Employee] stood by, glaring at me the entire time. I smiled and waved to both as I left with my new PO Box keys.

I work at a Dairy Queen. One wintry day, it is roughly -30°C (about -22°F) and the wind is absolutely howling; it’s the kind of weather that makes you regret having skin. But it’s not snowing, which means driving is quite safe, which means the city is as busy as ever – as much as many of us would rather stay home than even walk between a warm car and a warm building. As such, we’re getting quite a few customers.

Or, rather, we should be. 

I have one customer eating in; the rest are going through the drive-thru. They’re also LEAVING, without placing any orders, and because of the layout of this location, I am fully aware of the cause – my coworker, who is manning the drive-thru window. I try and stop it from happening, and am constantly insulted in return. It’s not long before the manager comes out of his office, looking equal parts upset and confused.

Manager: “Okay, what is going on? I keep seeing customers come up to the drive-thru and then speeding through so fast it’s a miracle they’re not crashing in this wind. Why isn’t anyone placing any orders?”

Me: “Because every time a customer comes here, to a business best-known for selling ice cream, and places an order that contains ice cream, this jacka**, who works for a business best-known for selling ice cream, insults them for ordering ice cream, and tells them to order something other than ice cream.”

Manager: “What the h***?! [Coworker], is this true?”

Coworker: “It’s f****** minus thirty! What sort of dumb s*** eats ice cream in the middle of winter?”

Manager: “People who like ice cream! Are you seriously telling me you are mistreating our customers and refusing to take people’s orders because you wouldn’t order the same thing?”

Coworker: “I’m not taking those orders because they’re f****** stupid!”

A brief shouting match ensued; [Manager] ended up firing [Coworker] on the spot and taking over the drive-thru for himself.

Customer: “I’m looking for [product]. It’s usually right here, but you’ve gone and moved it again!”

Me: “Normally it would be there, ma’am, but the product has been discontinued by the manufacturer. I know that because I buy [product] too, so it’s very annoying.”

Customer: “Well, why the h*** would you do something stupid like that?!”

Me: “Why would I… buy it?”

Customer: “No! Discontinue it! Why would you do that?!”

Me: “Ma’am, we didn’t discontinue the product; the manufacturer did.”

Customer: “Well then, why did you let them?!”

Me: “It’s not up to us. The manufacturer can do whatever they want.”

Customer: “You need to call them up and tell them to bring it back.”

Me: “You can message them via their website to let them know you’re upset about their decision, but here at [Store] we can’t do much.”

Customer: “No, you need to call them up and tell them that Mrs. Rosenberg is very disappointed with them; they’ll know who I am; I buy one every week, and that I demand them to bring it back.”

Me: “Again, ma’am, that’s something you’ll have to do yourself.”

Customer: “No, you need to do it for me.”

Me: “I can’t, ma’am.”

Customer: ” Don’t get in my way. I’m used to having people do things for me, and I’m used to getting what I want.”

Me: “I can tell, ma’am.”

Mrs. Rosenberg did not get her way that day, even after speaking to me, my supervisor, the store manager, and finally the regional manager over the phone. Some people just have time to burn…