I’m an administrative assistant for a school within a large university. I mainly work under the associate dean of the college and answer her phone line when she isn’t here or is busy.

We’re coming up on deadlines for applications, and we’ve had a ton of fee waiver requests since the fee is a little steep at $90.

Me: “Good morning, [School].”

Student: “Hi, I’m applying there and haven’t submitted my application yet because I’m waiting for a fee waiver. Is it still possible to get one?”

At this point in the admissions cycle, 99% of the fee waiver codes have been given out and we’re saving a handful for special cases. I completely understand why some applicants can’t afford the fee, but there’s nothing I can do about it as a lowly assistant.

Me: “I’m so sorry, but all of the fee waivers have been given out at this point. Can I help you with anything else?”

Student: *Dejectedly* “No… I guess not.”

Me: “All right, then. Have a nice day.”

Two seconds later, the dean’s line starts ringing. I clock instantly that it’s the same number that just called the general line. Eyebrow raised, I answer.

Me: “Good morning, [School].”

Student: *Click*

I suppose he was trying to get around me to someone higher up, but he could have just asked for me to transfer him.

My husband and I were waiting to board a flight when an announcement was made that the plane was not big enough for everyone to have their bags in the overhead compartment and any large bags would have to be checked as we boarded.

A flight attendant approached us and, without a word, she placed a “VALET” tag on my backpack and walked away.

Husband: “Excuse me? What is this?”

Attendant: “Did you not hear the announcement we just made?”

Me: “Yes, but—”

Attendant: “Okay, good, you were listening. You can pick it up when you get off.”

Me: “It’s not going in the overhead. It’s my—”

Attendant: “Do you need to speak to security? Because I can get someone, but they’re only going to tell you what I just told you.”

Me: “Please do.”

The attendant stared at me for a moment before going to the phone. The head of security arrived and the attendant headed him off before he even got to us. She followed him over to us, a smug smile on her face.

Security: “Hi, folks. I hear we have a little disagreement over this bag here. See, this is a small plane, and a lot of people will have to valet-check their bags. You will get it back once the plane lands; all you have to do is pick it up as you exit.”

Me: “This is my one carry-on item and it’s full of medical supplies. I do not want to be separated.”

I opened the bag to show what I had.

Me: “We are permitted one carry-on item, are we not?”

Security: “Yes, that’s fine.”

He looked back at the flight attendant and then removed the “VALET” tag.

Security: “Have a nice flight, folks. I apologize for the confusion.”

Me: “Thank you, sir.”

[Security] then walked away to speak to [Attendant]. We could see her turning red, either with anger or embarrassment, and glaring at us. When we scanned our boarding passes, she stuck her arm out to block us from passing.

Attendant: “That bag goes under the seat or under the plane.”

Me: “Yeah. We’re aware. We spoke with security, just like you did. Excuse us?”

She lowered her arm and we boarded the plane. By the time everyone was on, there was still plenty of room in the overhead bins and people were very unhappy about having to valet their bags.

A woman comes into the pharmacy to pick up her medication. She is getting two of the same meds that are different doses; she alternates taking them daily, so for a month’s supply, she gets fifteen of each instead of thirty.

Thirty minutes after purchasing, she returns to the pharmacy.

Customer: “Why did you only give me fifteen of each instead of thirty?”

Me: “You have to alternate both doses, and they will make up a full month’s supply.”

Customer: “I’m not happy with this! I want thirty of each!”

Me: “Your insurance won’t cover sixty pills for thirty days.”

Customer: “Okay. I understand. No problem.”

Me: “Have a good day!”

Customer: “But where is the rest of my medication? I want thirty!”

I am so confused at this point, so I explain again.

Customer: “Okay. I understand.”

I walk away, and she calls me back.

Customer: “But where are the rest of my medications?”

I explain a third time.

Customer: “Okay, sure, but why are you withholding my medication?”

This happened enough times that I got frustrated and had to get the pharmacist. It was just so crazy because she said she understood what I said but then asked why I wasn’t giving her the medication!

I work grocery pickup. Recently, corporate has reduced the hours that we have to shop orders. We had four hours, then three, and now two. In addition, corporate will automatically send a text telling people to come to pick up their order an hour before their pickup time whether or not we have finished shopping their order. For context, we need to shop the entire hour before we can send it in to billing.

A customer arrives half an hour before their pickup time.

Customer: “Hello, I’m here to pick up my order.”

Me: “And what’s the name on the order?”

Customer: “It’s [Customer].”

Me: “Sadly, the order is not ready yet, and will not be until [time].”

Customer: “What do you mean? I got a text saying it’s ready.”

Me: “Corporate will send out those texts an hour before pickup time as a reminder. They send them regardless of the progress on the order. We’re waiting for the deli for your order at the moment.”

Customer: “But I didn’t order any deli. Why do I have to wait?”

Me: “Because we can’t send your order in to billing due to having to send the whole hour in at once.”

Customer: “That’s not very professional, is it?”

Me: “Well, I could bring you out your order, as you didn’t get any deli, but I would not be able to give you a paper receipt. You’d get one through email.”

Customer: “That is unacceptable. My order should be ready when I am ready to pick it up.”

Me: “Sadly, there is only one person in the deli, so they have been behind today.”

Customer: “I want to speak to your manager. I shop here often, and you always mess up my order.”

The customer got a $25 gift card from my spineless manager. She also didn’t want two out of the three substitutions we gave her and complained for half an hour to the manager after I took her order out.

Oh, and it was her first order, so she lied about shopping often. Gotta love retail.

Security on this airline is known to be really tough. I am waiting to go through security behind the quintessential sweet little old lady.

She is setting off all sorts of bells and whistles but apparently having trouble hearing or understanding the security guard. He looks at her, rolls his eyes, and waves her on through.

I am through quickly and as I am passing her, she catches my eye.

Little Old Lady: “Humph! He didn’t think I could be a terrorist, did he?!”