I work on an in-house security team for a building. Today, I used the emergency exit to enter our cafeteria in pursuit of beverages because our janitorial staff was cleaning right in front of the main doors and I didn’t want to make footprints. Using this door brought me into the cafeteria from an unusual direction, and I ended up catching an employee off-guard.

He is a heavily-built guy — about 360 pounds on a six-foot-tall frame — and he was kneeling on the floor with his face pressed against the glass of our soda vending machine, his hands limp at his sides.

Me: “Ummm, are you okay?”

Employee: “Yeaaaah.”

Me: “Uhh… Whatcha… doin’?”

Employee: “Fitness.”

Me: “Sorry?”

Employee: “I told myself that I would only get a [Sugary Tea Drink] if I could do the same number of squats as the item number.”

I look at the machine. The tea in question is item fifty-two.

Me: “Oh…”

Employee: “Yeah, it didn’t go well. I fell down.”

Me: “Do you require a medical response?”

Employee: “No.”

Me: “Can you get up?”

Employee: “I can… but I decided not to.”

Me: “Oh, uhhh… Do you want to talk about it?”

Employee: “What? Really?”

Me: “Yeah, I don’t see why not.”

This perked him up and he got to his feet. We are now going to meet up and work out together in the building fitness center after my shift and talk about weight loss and goals and things.

I am on vacation visiting my family and we decided to eat at a grill and bar. It’s an early Sunday morning so the bar is closed.

There is a couple sitting in a booth way back in the corner by the bar, where no one else is seated. I only notice them when I get lost trying to find the bathroom. I am confused by them because they have no menu, drink, food, or anything and are sitting in silence. Once my family gets our food, the wife walks up to our waitress.

Wife: “How are they getting their food when we haven’t even gotten our drinks yet?!”

Waitress: “Oh, sorry, ma’am, what did you order? I’ll go get them for you and find your server.”

Wife: “WE HAVEN’T EVEN GOT THE CHANCE TO ORDER OUR DRINKS! We haven’t seen our server in ages!”

Waitress: “Oh, no, I am so sorry! Who was your server?”

Wife: “Some short blonde with a ponytail.”

Waitress: “Ma’am, she clocked out ages ago. She told us there was no one left in her section. We had no idea you were here, I apologize.” *Pulls out an order pad* “I can take your order back right now and expedite it.”

Wife: *Still red in the face and mad* “I’m getting a [breakfast item #1] and my husband would like a [breakfast item #2]. And I’m not paying for either of those.”

Waitress: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but breakfast ended at 11:00. It’s past 12:00 now; all the breakfast ingredients have been put away. Would you like to look at the menu again and I’ll come back to you?”

Wife: “That doesn’t matter. We got here at 10:30; we were on time!”

I am beyond annoyed now, so I decide to be a little passive-aggressive.

Me: *In a loud “whisper” to my family* “Wow, you would think someone would have enough sense to go and find someone if they were sitting for an hour and a half!”

Wife: *Flustered* “Well, well… Go get us a lunch menu and we’ll let you take our order when we’re ready!” *Stomps off*

Waitress: *Turns to us* “I’m so sorry about that.”

Me: “It’s not your fault she’s a bat.”

Sister: “Yeah, she’s being ridiculous.”

Waitress: “Thank you.”

She seems genuinely shaken up by the whole thing. I think it’s all over with until I can hear the woman shouting from across the restaurant.

Wife: “…AND I HOPE YOU KNOW I’M CALLING THE OWNER ABOUT YOU! TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE SERVICE! YOU IGNORED US FOR HOURS! YOU WOULDN’T FILL OUR ORDER BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T FEEL LIKE MAKING IT! I SWEAR, IF YOUR MANAGER WAS HERE…”

On and on and on. I am not a confrontational person, but I still feel the need to do something. I get a piece of paper and a pen from my mom’s purse and write a full report on what happened.

Our server had no way of knowing they were there; it was the other server’s fault for not telling anyone she sat them, and they were probably just sniffing for a discount because they intentionally waited as long as possible to find a server. I talk about how well our waitress handled the situation and how she is much more patient than I. I sign it and add my email address. I see the waitress coming back, looking near tears.

Me: “Miss, here.” *Hands her the paper* “I’m your witness if they try and complain about you.”

My family claimed that was very “extra” and unnecessary, but as someone who’s worked in the service industry, I wish someone would’ve done this for me.

I work for a gas station that is kind of in a busy section of the middle of nowhere. A lot of my customers are regulars that come in once or twice a day. A lady I’d never seen before walked in and up to my register.

Customer: “I was wondering if you could possibly do me a favor. You see, I left my wallet at home and everyone I know is at church and I really need a pack of cigarettes. Is there any possible way you could give me a pack, and I promise I’ll come back later and pay?”

Me: “I’m sorry, I cannot do that.”

Customer: “You don’t do things like that for your customers?”

Me: “No, ma’am.”

Customer: “But I’m in here all the time. I’ll come back later, I swear.”

Me: “I’m sorry.”

Customer: “This is bad business. Guess I’ll just see if I can find someone I know outside.”

She walked out and stood out near the doors asking people to buy her a pack. When I asked her to please stop, she left, but evidently, she came back and stayed out of my line of sight until she finally convinced another customer to buy her a pack. I have not seen her in the store since.

Afterward, I am telling this story to a coworker when the phone rings. She goes into the office to answer it and is back there for a while. When she comes back out, she looks exasperated.

Coworker: “What the h*** is going on today? That was some guy asking if we would fill his gas tank for free and he’d come back and pay next week when he got his paycheck. I told him that I couldn’t authorize that, and he got angry and said we’ve done it in the past. I’ve been here for two years and I’ve never heard of anyone getting free gas on credit.”

The following day, a man comes in asking for the manager by name. I don’t recognize this man.

Manager: “How can I help you today?”

Male Customer: “I called yesterday and spoke to a [Coworker]. I asked her if I could possibly get a tank of gas and pay for it next week and she refused to do it.”

Manager: “Ah… yes… I heard about your call. Sir, we are not authorized to give anyone free gas for any reason.”

Male Customer: “My bank account was hacked and I have a meeting in [County five minutes away]. You’ve done this for me before.”

Manager: “Sir, I’m sorry you’re having problems, but I cannot just give you free gas.”

Male Customer: “I know you can. I used to work here. [Store Manager] knows who I am.”

Manager: “Well, I’m not [Store Manager], I’m [Manager], and I don’t know you from a hole in the ground. I cannot help you.”

Male Customer: “Well, thanks for nothing. I guess I’ll just miss my meeting!”

Regular: “Guess I can’t ask for a free meal and $100 out of the safe until he leaves.”

I own a small electronics repair center. A customer brings in a computer that will not turn on.

Me: “This unit is too old to get new parts for and it’s going to require a complete rebuild.”

They don’t want to pay for it, so they take the computer back. Three months later, they come in again.

Customer: “We ordered some legacy parts online and had our friend rebuild it, but now it doesn’t have any video.”

I open the computer to find that said friend forgot the CPU and jammed the socket full of thermal paste.

Me: “This is still going to require the same rebuild.”

Once again, the customer rejects this and leaves. They come back four months later.

Customer: *Demanding* “You will replace the CPU of the computer! It was damaged during the last repair attempt!”

We are seven months into this ordeal from the original drop-off and I have had enough.

Me: “I am not paying for anything as the computer has never worked since it was brought in. I told you twice what needed to be done and you went elsewhere and had corner-cutting repairs completed.”

Customer: “Fine! Then I will give you bad reviews online!”

Me: “Be my guest. The entire lobby is under video and audio surveillance. I also keep pictures of any major damage during the repair. Any effort to defame my business will result in legal action.”

The customer stormed out. Two days later, I haven’t seen any reviews or heard from them.

I’m a regular at a coffee shop. Lately, the same woman has been coming in with her husband and trying to take my drinks. A simple reminder usually puts her in her place, but not today. She comes to the shop with the same man, and this time, she smirks at me and swipes my coffee, which is more expensive than what she ordered.

Barista: “Ma’am, for the last time, that isn’t yours!”

The woman starts speaking to her husband. The barista walks over to their table.

Barista: “Ma’am, you took that girl’s drink. Again. I’ve noticed a pattern with you. You always order cheap coffee and then take someone else’s. That stops here and now. You’re wasting other people’s money and the shop’s money. Either take what you ordered or don’t come back with your husband.”

Customer’s Husband: “You’ve been snatching other people’s drinks?! Is that how you could afford all those macchiatos? What is wrong with you? You are so rude to others! I can’t believe I married you!”

He bought me a new drink, and his wife was asked not to return unless she paid back every cent she conned.