Years ago, I used to work at a pizza restaurant making minimum wage. It was time for my first review a year after working there. Lo and behold, I got a PERFECT SCORE in their points-based review system. My raise was to be twenty-five cents an hour, the top raise they would give. Even though it was a minimum-wage job, I still prided myself on being a hard and valuable worker. My manager was a good guy and recognized how valuable I was to him and the restaurant. Then, this conversation happened.

Manager: “Looks like you’re getting the twenty-five-cent raise. However, corporate policy says that if we do your review before it’s time to, you only get 20% of that raise.”

Me: “Excuse me?”

Manager: “Yeah. That means you are getting a five-cent raise.”

Me: “Oh. Why didn’t we just wait, then?”

My manager gave me some answer that I don’t really remember. What I believe happened was that our overbearing, bossy, and all-around horrible human being of a district manager — he threw a pizza against the wall when he didn’t like how it looked — pressured my manager into doing that so the company would save money on me. I could tell that my manager didn’t have the spine to try to stand up to him. 

I went home that night and spoke to my wife.

Me: “I got a raise.”

Wife: *Sarcastically* “What was it? Ten cents?”

Me: “No. Five.”

Caller: “So, every time I try to place an order, I get a message saying the credit card has been declined, and, like, why am I getting those messages?”

Related:
This Is Why We’re In A Recession, Part 105
This Is Why We’re In A Recession, Part 104
This Is Why We’re In A Recession, Part 103
This Is Why We’re In A Recession, Part 102
This Is Why We’re In A Recession, Part 101

I am waiting in line to hire a four-seater bike to use while we are in the holiday park. I wait for some time before the person in front of me gives up, and I can move ahead and inside and see what the wait is.

I can see a middle-aged woman arguing with the holiday rep. I catch this much:

Customer: “I don’t understand. I’m not going to steal it, am I?”

Holiday Rep: “I am sorry, but it’s a standard fee.”

Customer: “But why?”

Holiday Rep: “It’s a standard charge if the bike is damaged or late; you get the money refunded if not.”

Customer: “But I can’t afford it.”

Holiday Rep: “I’m sorry, but the system will not let me process the hire without it.”

She huffs and stomps off, only to linger around the tills.

Me: “I’d like to hire a four-seater, please.”

Holiday Rep: “That will be a £10 deposit and [some small amount] for the day.”

Me: “No problem.”

Customer: “They are ripping you off; you won’t get your money back!”

Me: “I hire one every year and I’ve never had an issue before. In fact, you are the only person I have ever heard having an issue.”

Customer: “Well, it’s just… I’m not… It’s not fair.”

I hired the bike and they brought it round. We left before the woman moved from her spot. Not sure why people want to spend their holiday arguing about something that can’t be changed, with people that cannot affect it even if it could.

I work at a gas station. One day, this old lady comes in and asks my coworker to put gas in her car for her because she doesn’t know how to. He helps her and the whole time is very polite to her.

Lady: “For some reason, everywhere I go, everybody gets mad at me. Today, I didn’t want to pay for parking, and the parking workers didn’t let me leave until I paid for my parking ticket!”

After that, they both come inside.

Lady: *To me* “How much do I have to pay?”

Me: “That’ll be [price].”

She looks around her wallet a little bit.

Lady: “Oh, I guess I don’t have enough money. Well, I come here all the time; I’ll bring it next time.”

My coworker and I look at each other.

Me: “How much do you have, ma’am?”

Lady: “[About 40€ less than the total].”

Me: *Politely* “Okay. You go home get the money and get back here in about an hour max. We don’t have to call the police; just be here as soon as you can, and all will be good.”

She seems offended.

Lady: “I don’t want to drive home and then back here for just 40€!”

Me: “Ma’am, we work until 2:00 pm. If you don’t bring the money by then, we have to pay that 40€ that you don’t have.”

Lady: *Shocked* “But I’m a regular customer! And I’m from a wealthy family. My brother is a lawyer! You should treat me more nicely!”

I’m already so annoyed and shocked that I’m having this conversation with a grown woman.

Lady: “You are so insensitive and cheap! You won’t pay that 40€ that I don’t have?!”

She just goes on and on. Eventually, when we mention the police, another 100€ appears in her bag and she is able to pay. Before leaving, she says:

Lady: “You’re a horrible person! No wonder you work at a gas station.”

I love my job.

I work at a popular clothing store. Just like any store, we have set prices, and sometimes those clothes go on sale.

I was working on the register, and it was not busy, so I was cleaning and hanging up clothes to run when a customer came along. I set up the register and was ready to ring her up.

Me: “Hello, I can ring you up right here!”

She walked up and set the jacket on the counter.

Customer: “I was wondering about the price of this jacket. Do you think you could check it for me?”

At my store, we didn’t have any price checkers anywhere around the store, so this was not a weird request at all.

Me: “Of course! Let me check!”

It rang up as $20.99; it used to be $50.

Me: “This jacket is $20.99!”

Customer: “Oh, well, I can only pay $15 for it. Is that okay?”

Me: “I’m sorry?”

Customer: “I can only buy this jacket for $15. It’s not like anyone wanted it, and it’s summer, so nobody is going to buy it.”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, the price here is set and we don’t allow haggling.”

Customer: “Can I have a manager here?”

This is when I knew I was in it for the long run. I radioed my manager, and he came very quickly.

Manager: “Hello, ma’am, is there a problem?”

Customer: “Yes, your employee won’t let me haggle the price down.”

Manager: “I’m sorry? We don’t allow haggling here. If anything, she did the right thing.”

Customer: “Well, fine. I won’t be shopping here anymore.”

Me: “Have a good day!”

Manager: “Radio me if she comes back. Good job.”