I work in a family-owned pet food and supply store. We have this program that often has deals like “buy one get one free” for certain products, and when a deal is going on, we’ll put a little paper sign up by the product.

A woman comes in and buys three things: a case of the most expensive cat treats we carry — the case is like $40 — and two small bags of freeze-dried meal mixer things. I ring her up and tell her her total, and the woman gives me the ugliest look.

Customer: “One of these is free.”

She grabs one of the freeze-dried meal mixer bags.

Me: “It didn’t ring up as free…”

Our system is weird. Some of the time, it’s up to date with the program’s deals and will automatically ring it up as such. Other times, we need to enter the stuff into a completely different system to redeem the deals and rewards. It’s a pain.

The customer gets angrier and more aggressive.

Customer: “The sign said it was ‘buy one get one free’.”

I’m about to tell her that she may be right and that I will go check the sign when my manager speaks up.

Manager: “That’s for the kibble. You buy a bag of kibble and get one of the freeze-dried bags free.”

The customer responds in the nastiest tone I’ve heard from someone yet:

Customer: “That’s not what the sign says.”

My manager gets up, and she and the customer go to check the sign. It’s quiet for a moment, and then the woman comes storming from around the corner.

Customer: “YOU KNOW WHAT?! FORGET IT!”

She was absolutely irate. She stormed out the door without any of her stuff. My manager returned to the counter. Just like she’d said, the deal was to buy a bag of kibble and get a bag of freeze-dried meal mixers free.

Customer: “I need you to book me some flights to the Philippines.”

Me: “Sorry, ma’am, I can’t do that.”

Customer: “Why not? You did it for me once before!”

Me: “Because this is a pet store, ma’am. It’s not a service we offer. You need to talk to a travel agent. Also, I have never in my entire life booked flights to the Philippines.”

Customer: “I don’t believe you!”

I had to just tell her no and end the conversation. To clarify, she didn’t want anything for her pet. The flights were for herself, a full-grown human.

A customer brought her entire family in, complained about our price, demanded a discount and bonus because:

Customer: “I spend a lot so you gotta give me a complimentary bonus.”

Me: “Ma’am, I’m afraid we can’t give any bonus.”

She snatches the lint rollers from one of my coworkers (while they’re still using them!) and puts them in her plastic bag.

The worst part is my coworker knows that our “lovely” boss is gonna ask and yell at us about those missing lint rollers…

My husband and I are walking toward the front entrance of a store next to a pet store. A woman is standing right outside the entrance with a puppy. My husband nudges me and nods toward the puppy. The woman sees us, screeches, and points at us.

Woman: “You’re distracting him! Go away!”

We stop a few feet away. The puppy is busy chewing on some trash he’s found, not even acknowledging us.

Me: “Hey, your dog is—”

Woman: “He’s none of your business!”

Husband: “Um… we’re going in [Store Behind Her]. Excuse us.”

Woman: “And I’m training here.”

Me: “Your dog is—”

Woman: “No! I am f****** tired of people interrupting my training!”

Me: “He’s chewing—”

Woman: “If you don’t shut the f*** up…” *Waves a fist at me.*

I silently point to her dog, who is trying to inhale a discarded fast food wrapper.

Woman: “No! Bad! Drop it!”

She reached for the puppy, who now thought this was a game and started to run away. The woman scooped up her puppy. We scooted into the store and told the nearest staff member what was going on outside. He said there was nothing he could do since the sidewalk is public property. She was not there when we left.

In Sweden, everyone has a twelve-digit personal number of the year/month/date you were born, as well as four random numbers. It’s used EVERYWHERE to identify you, and it’s pretty much more essential than your name. Only people have them, NOT pets.

I’m at a pet store. I’m tired and stressed because my cat peed on my couch and I don’t really have the time to go to the store, but I have to get something to remove the odour and stain. The lovely salesperson finds what I need and proceeds to help me check out.

Salesperson: “Are you a member?”

Me: “Yes.”

Salesperson: “Personal number?”

Me: “Mine or the cats?”

She just looks at me, and two seconds later, I realise what I’ve said.

Me: “Wait, no, I did not mean to say that. She’s a cat; she doesn’t have one. My number is [personal number]. Sorry, I’m just really tired today.”

Salesperson: *Laughing* “That’s okay.”

She entered my number, I paid, and we wished each other a good day. I’m pretty sure I also almost tripped over something while leaving, but I gave her a good story, so I’ll take it.