I had a customer that would street preach in front of the store. When he was tired or wanted a snack, he would come in and then trap workers at the counter. Since we couldn’t leave if a customer was there, we had to listen. I finally told him one night:
Me: “You forcing me to listen is about the same as going hunting at the zoo. I’m easy prey because I can’t go anywhere or fight back.”
He actually backed off for a little while.
I work in an old-time five-and-ten-cent store. I have left for the day and am walking to my car.
Customer: “Are you still open?”
Me: “No, ma’am, we have closed.”
Customer: “Is it a soft close or hard close?”
Me: “I’m sorry but we’re closed!”
Customer: “Yes, but is it a hard close or soft close?”
Me: *Thinking* “CLOSED is CLOSED!”
Me: “Sorry, ma’am, the manager is grabbing her stuff to leave for the night!”
I’d never heard of a soft close before.
I am stocking shampoos when a girl in her late teens or early twenties approaches.
Customer: “Can you tell me where the toast is?”
Me: “The… toast?”
Customer: “Yes. I need to buy some toast.”
Me: “We don’t sell already made toast. Would you like me to point you to the bread aisle?”
Customer: “Is that what toast is made from?”
Me: “Yes, it is.”
Customer: “I’ll take the bread, then!”
I point out the bread aisle and she’s happily on her way. An older man who has been standing nearby comes up to me after this exchange.
Customer: “I can’t believe you got through that without laughing! Do you think she was drunk, high, or pranking you?”
Me: “I don’t know, but at least she’s happy!”
I’m looking to buy a digital camera as a gift for a friend who I know needs one. The camera I have is very good and I know it would suit my friend’s needs, so I’m looking for another one online. I find a seller on [Auction Website] selling a new one for a good price with cheap shipping, so I order it right away.
I live in a relatively small town in North Dakota, and the winters can be pretty harsh, so I think nothing of it when I get an email from the seller about the camera, telling me that the shipment may be delayed due to a bad winter storm in their area. I reply, saying that it’s fine and I understand, as my area is also currently experiencing a bad winter storm.
Out of curiosity, I navigate to the seller’s page to see where they are shipping from. To my surprise, they are shown as being in the same small North Dakota town I’m in! And somehow, neither of us noticed this before.
I have a laugh and email the seller again, pointing out the funny coincidence, and offering to just meet them somewhere local and pick up the camera if they would prefer. They reply with equal astonishment and amusement and agree to meet at a coffee shop for the hand-off.
We meet and share another laugh about the situation, and they even refund me the shipping charge in cash.
A couple of times, we’ve had customers try to spread their religions in our store. One was very understanding about not wanting to discuss such things while working; the other got booted out the door and told not to come back — a perk of owning your own business.
The worst, though, was the customer who needed a call when orders were ready and refused to answer their phone, letting it go to voicemail… the greeting of which was a Bible verse and prayer before they ever told you to leave a message. On their BUSINESS phone. Nope, nope, nope.
