(A customer walks in with his prepaid cell phone and a phone card, clearly used.)

Me: “Hi! Something I can help you with?”

Customer: “Yeah. I just bought this card, and now my phone isn’t working!”

Me: “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Can I take a look at it?”

(He hands the phone over. After a few moments, I realize his SIM card is outdated and he’ll have to get a new phone.)

Me: “How long have you had this phone?”

Customer: “Probably about four years. I thought they made them to last longer than this!”

Me: “Well unfortunately, you’ll need a new SIM card. It’s an easy enough fix, and you’ll keep your minutes and phone number. You just have to give them a call and they’ll send you a new one, free of charge.”

Customer: “How long will that take?”

Me: “Three to five business days.”

Customer: “That’s ridiculous! That b**** who added this card screwed it up! I want a refund!”

Me: “Give me just a minute.”

(I call the phone company and confirm that the minutes that were added went through fine. It is simply the technology of the old SIM is outdated.)

Me: “Sir, the minutes were added without a problem. It’s just a SIM card that’s causing an issue; that’s all.”

Customer: “I can’t believe this! I demand a refund on these minutes, right now! Where’s your manager?”

(I find a manager and explain the situation. She comes over with me.)

Manager: “I heard you were having some issues with your phone. How can I help?”

Customer: “By giving me a d*** refund on these minutes, that’s how!”

Manager: “So you want the minutes refunded.”

Customer: “Yes.”

Manager: “The minutes that are still clearly added to your phone.”

Customer: “…yes.”

Manager: “So the nice woman who helped you out did her job at the time.”

Customer: “Yeah, well, I still want that b**** fired!”

Manager: “That’s not going to happen, sir. In the meantime, please do as this young lady told you to get your phone fixed. That’s the most we can do at this time.”

(He stares us both down for a minute before storming out.)

(At my job, I am well known to my customers for my politeness and excellent service. I’m also well known for my red and black hair, since it’s a bit different. My manager comes to talk to me. She is laughing a bit.)

Manager: “So we just got a customer complaint about you.”

Me: “Oh, really? I’m a little surprised.”

Manager: “Yeah, me too. You just missed the phone call, actually.”

Me: “Okay… well… what did they say?”

Manager: “She told me you were really rude to her.”

Me: “I was?”

Manager: “I know. I told her you were the nicest one here. I asked her if she was sure it was you and she said ‘Yeah, the girl with the red and black hair!'”

Me: “Okay…? Did they tell you what I said?”

Manager: “She said, ‘Well, she told me to have a nice day and everything… but she didn’t ask me how my day went! I found that incredibly rude!'”

Me: “Wow… really?”

(Two customers—who seems to be friends—are checking out a few small items. Customer #1 has already paid and is waiting while Customer #2 pays.)

Cashier: “That’ll be $11.97.”

Customer #1: “Ooh, you get pennies!”

Customer #2: “Oh, I love pennies!” *suddenly very serious and angry* “Unless they’re Canadian! God help him if he gives me Canadian!”

(Customer #2 is cheerful again, smiles at cashier as he gives her the three pennies.)

Cashier: *nervously* “Have a nice day…?”

Customer #2: *cheerful* “You too!”

(I’m unpacking the boxes for this week’s order from our supplier. They’re notorious for not sending the right amount of items.)

Me: “They sent us 59 hats in one box, and 13 in the other!”

Coworker: “What’s so strange about that?”

Me: “The hats are supposed to be packaged in multiples of twelve.”

Coworker: “So what are you complaining about?”

Me: “59 in one box and 13 in the other. It doesn’t make sense.”

Coworker: “But they’re both multiples of twelve! So what’s the problem?”

(To make it easier to keep track of how long things have been in our store, the date is printed on their tags along with a corresponding color. Right now we’re running a 50% off sale for almost every tag color except two, and there are multiple signs on our walls telling our customers this. A customer walks in briskly and approaches my counter without even looking at me.)

Customer: “I don’t want to think today. You’re going to tell me the price of things.”

Me: “Uh… okay?”

(The customer shoves a coat in my face.)

Customer: “How much is this?”

Me: “Well, what does the tag say?”

Customer: “I don’t want to think!”

Me: *looks at tag* “Well, it says that it’s $69. It’s also printed on a mint green tag. That means it’s 50% off right now.”

Customer: “I don’t want to think about it! How much is that?”

Me: “Well, half of 70 is 35, so it will be about $35.”

(The customer leaves the coat on my counter, and walks away in a huff. She then brings up another coat.)

Customer: “How much is this one?”

Me: “Well, what does that tag say?”

Customer: “I don’t know! I don’t want to think about it!”

Me: “The tag says it’s $99, and since it’s an orange tag, there’s no discount on it today.”

(The customer throws this coat down on top of the other, then proceeds to bring me a third.)

Customer: “How much is this one?”

Me: “Well, what does the tag say?”

Customer: “I already told you that I don’t want to think about it!”

(She walks out of my store angrily. Meanwhile, one of the regulars who was in the store and witnessed the entire exchange comes up to me.)

Regular: “Wow. She didn’t even say thank you.”