I’m in a large, nationwide office supply store the night before my university term starts, and I’m getting some things I’d realised I’d run out of. My father is with me, but he’s wandered off to look at sketchbooks while I’m looking at folders. 

This store has everything you would ever need if it pertained to school, offices, or businesses in general: technology, backpacks, notebooks, sketchbooks, pens, pencils, etc. But it’s only the sort of things you would use in an office or business, not anything specific to what that business may be.

As it’s night, and nearing store closing, it’s relatively quiet. Suddenly, I hear a couple talking from the aisle behind me.

Man: “Hmm…I don’t think they have it.”

Woman: “But they must! This is a supply store!”

She pauses.

Woman: “Oh, there’s an employee! Excuse me! Can you help us?”

By this point, I’m done selecting what I want, but I’m curious what they were looking for, so I stay where I am. The aisle they were in had art supplies, and this store has the biggest range, and was the only place in town that had brands like Copic markers, and when I was younger, I spent many a day choosing the best I could afford when I took art in school. They had EVERYTHING you could ever want.

Naturally, I’m curious as to what they couldn’t find.

Employee: “Yes, ma’am, are you having trouble finding something?”

Woman: “Yes! I can’t find your sewing supplies!”

Employee: “…sewing supplies?”

Woman: “Yes! Like needles and cotton! I thought it would be here, but it’s not!”

Employee: “…I’m sorry, but we don’t sell sewing supplies. We’re an office supply store.”

Man: “Exactly!”

Employee: “I’m sorry, I don’t follow. We sell OFFICE supplies. For businesses, offices, and students.”

Man: “Yes, exactly! You supply to offices! And businesses! What if there’s a business that repairs things? How can you not sell sewing supplies?!”

Woman: “This is discrimination! You need to sell EVERYTHING a business may need!”

Employee: “Ma’am…”

Woman: “What am I meant to do now?!”

Employee: “You could go to [national craft, fabric, and sewing store]?”

Man: “They’re already closed! You sell art stuff, why don’t you sell sewing materials? Some businesses may do sewing too, you know!”

They start arguing with the poor employee, who keeps saying that yes, it’s an office supplies store and NO, they don’t sell, and have never sold, sewing materials. I ducked out of the aisle and found my father.

Dad: *Seeing me trying not to laugh.* “What’s up with you?”

Me: “…I’ll tell you in the car.”

I did. We both laughed. This happened about ten years ago. I still think of it when I go to the store.

I worked at a pizza place for several years as a teenager, including during the Brisbane floods of 2011. Half the roads in the area we delivered to were closed, and residents were flooded in.

Caller: “I want to order a pizza!”

When a customer calls on the phone number linked to their account, we automatically see their name and address in their order history.

Me: “Madam, if this is to be delivered to your home address, then I’m afraid we can’t do that today. Your area is experiencing floods and—”

Caller: “—I know! I can see a river outside my window where my street used to be!”

Me: “…So, you understand why we can’t deliver today?”

Caller: “Uh… no?! I can’t drive out, so you have to bring the pizza to me! That’s why I’m f****** ordering!”

Me: “Madam, if you can’t drive in or out of your street, our drivers can’t either.”

Caller: “That’s what the delivery fee is for you f****** idiot!”

Me: “Sure, b****, just hold on a sec while I fire up the chopper.” *Click.*

We let her multiple call backs ring out until she got the hint.

I’m getting groceries at the supermarket. One shelf had grapes for a low price, and they’re now sold out. As I’m looking, another customer walks up.

Customer: “Well, I had grape expectations. But it looks like they’ve sold out.”

I just had to laugh at that one.

I worked in a store that sold computers, and the current sale we had going was that if you bought certain computers, you would get one of those ‘cheap’ Android tablets (worth $99, but the cost price was $25) for free.

A customer walks into the store, and I recognise her as someone I sold a computer to in the last few days with the tablet deal.

Customer: “I got this tablet a few days ago, and I don’t need it. I would like to return it.”

Me: “Sure, can I see the receipt?”

The customer hands over a receipt, which shows the tablet zeroed out (usually a bold line on the receipt with a [B] at the end).

Me: “You got this tablet under the deal we had a few days ago, so you got this for free. I can take it back, but you would be better off selling this on Facebook or something.”

Customer: “No, it was $99, so I’d like that back.”

I spend about ten minutes trying to explain that’s not how it works, until the manager comes over and (not politely) states the situation and tells her to f*** off.

Whenever I stop at a petrol station to fill up my car, my five-year-old son will read the number off the pump when we go inside to pay. He’ll then tell the person behind the counter. He’s happy he can help his dad.

A few days ago, we pulled into one of our usual petrol stations, and after filling up, we headed inside to pay. The lady behind the counter is one we’ve seen a few times before.

Son: “Pump number two!”

Lady: “Oh, thank you [Son].”

She then pulls two sheets of stickers out from behind the counter.

Lady: “[Son], would you like a sticker?”

Son: “Yes, please!”

Lady: “Dinosaur or a smiley face?”

Son: “Dinosaur!”

She leans forward to put the sticker on his hand, while I thank her.

Lady: “I knew he liked dinosaurs, so I made sure to get some dinosaur ones. I’ll be getting some others for the other kids.”

I thanked her again and left. It really brightened up our day.