(I’m lactose intolerant, but I don’t impose it on people. But if I’m at a restaurant, I will ask if they have other options. I’m stopping at a well-known fast-food restaurant in my French town.)

Cashier: “Hi. What can I get you today?”

Me: “Hi. I was wondering if your hot chocolate was made with milk?” *in case it is made with water and powder*

Cashier: “No, it’s made by the machine.”

Me: “Okay… I’ll take a hot chocolate.”

(I Googled it later and found out that it was made with milk.)

(I work in a restaurant which has three distinct parts: the kitchens, a regular dining room, and a bar, which contains slot machines. The story takes place in the bar, while I’m working in the kitchens. This customer is a regular and always asks for free coffee while playing on the slot machines. This, however, would be illegal. This time around, the customer and her friend actually order coffee, but…)

Customer: “Excuse me?”

Barmaid: “Yes, how can I help you?”

Customer: “This coffee tastes horrible.”

Barmaid: “I don’t see how that’s possible. I just made it; it should be quite fresh.”

Customer: “Well, it’s disgusting. I want a refund.”

(This customer basically just wants free coffee, which is simply not something we do.)

Barmaid: “Well, how about this. I can go make a fresh new pot of coffee and serve you that, instead.”

Customer: “Fine.”

(The barmaid goes in the back, out of sight from the customers, wastes a little time, and pours two cups of coffee from the very same kettle as the previous time.)

Barmaid: “Here’s your coffee. Is this better?”

(The customer and her friend both sip their coffee and become very pleasant.)

Customer: “Yes, this is much better. Thank you!”

(We sell cosmetics at our store and often give away things with certain products. One customer insists on receiving these things without purchasing the required products.)

Me: “I’m sorry, sir, but I cannot give away things for free; it is against our store’s policy.”

Customer: “Oh, my God! Did I ever say I wanted free things? I said I wanted gifts!”

A few days ago, a customer was trying to withdraw money from his debit, but was unable to do so. Since it was only a few dollars and he looked like he was having a rough day, I took out change from my pocket and gave it to him. I didn’t give it another thought, since I’ve done this a few times before and no one’s ever returned the favor.

So to my surprise, the same guy comes in today. Since I had forgot about it, I didn’t really remember him. He handed me a twenty, thanking me for the other day. At first I thought he was just paying for gas, but when he smiled and walked away, I remembered him. Gotta love great clients like that. Thank you dear sir, you made my day!

(I have invisible disability that make walking difficult and stairs are a long pain. I’ll avoid them as much as possible. I have to go two floors up. I don’t know this building, so I arrive at the closest door I was instructed by the original directions I received. I’m trying to find the elevator but I don’t see any. I stop the first person I see:)
Me: “Excuse me? Can you tell me where’s the elevator?”
Person #1: *sigh* “…yeah it’s over there, keep going, you’ll find it.”
(By the tone, and his face expression you can tell he think I’m just lazy. It’s nothing new. I keep walking but after a while I think I must have lost my way, so I ask another person.)
Me: “Excuse me? Can you tell me where’s the elevator?”
Person #2: “Yes, keep going in that direction, you’ll reach the cafeteria, at the far left corner you’ll see [restaurant], it’s just past there.”
Me: “Oh… it’s that far away.”
Person #2: *frowning* “No, it’s just over there, past [restaurant].”
Me: “Okay, thanks.”
(I know what she wasn’t understanding is that, for her who doesn’t struggle with mobility it’s close by, but for anyone who does struggle, it’s far. Notice I’m not even in the same wing I started in anymore. I finally reach the elevator. There’s a neon pink sheet stating “Taking the stairs is a good way to make your thirty minutes of exercise a day!” and the elevator is locked. Good luck to everyone in a wheelchair, with a walker, on crutches, using a cane, or is injured, in pain, pregnant etc.!)