I’m working in a shoe store and a customer comes in.

Me: “Hi there. How can I help you today?”

Customer: “I ordered a pair of shoes online.”

Me: “Okay, what was the last name on the order?”

Customer: “[Customer’s Last Name].”

Me: “Okay, let me go grab it for you. In the meantime, may I see a photo ID, please?”

She gives me her ID. I find the order and open the box to show the customer the shoes.

Me: “Okay, are these the correct shoes? Do they look okay?”

Customer: “Those are the right shoes, but I want to check them as last time they tried to give me a pair of worn shoes.”

Me: “Oh, my! I’m so sorry about that! Feel free to make sure that they look okay.”

Customer: “Excuse me! These look like they have been worn, as well!”

I look over the shoes, and they both have the shapers inside perfectly and there are minuscule particles of dirt and dust on the bottom of the shoe. These most likely haven’t even been tried on and just sat in a warehouse and got dusty.

Me: “I’m sorry, could you point out where you see indications of them being worn?”

Customer: “They’ve got dust and dirt ground into the bottom here! I don’t see why you guys keep trying to sell me an $80 pair of shoes that has already been worn!”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it looks like these have just maybe been tried on once but probably just collected dust in a warehouse.”

Customer: “Of course they’ve been worn! They have dirt ground into the bottom!”

Me: “Would you like me to try and remove the dirt for you? I’ve got the supplies right here.”

I show her the alcohol wipes.

Customer: “No, that’s not the problem. I just want to know why I’m being sold shoes that have been worn! Someone could have had athletes’ foot, and I don’t want to catch any fungal infections from a worn pair of shoes that’s supposed to be new!”

Me: “I’m sorry, but there are no visible signs of wear like smell, indents, or extreme dirt on the bottoms, so the packers that shipped them would have no reason to mark them as worn and not send them. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that someone did not try on a pair of shoes; we sometimes ship shoes out from stores themselves and not the warehouses. Even if they are from a warehouse, somebody may have shipped the shoes back after trying them on and not liking them.”

Customer: “Is there any way I can get a discount since they’re worn?”

Me: “I don’t believe so but let me check with my manager.”

I call the manager over, who then tells the customer everything I have already said and refuses to give a discount. The customer still makes a fuss, but there is nothing we can do in our system for worn shoes that aren’t actually worn at all. As she finally decides to leave, I make a small remark to try and break the tension.

Me: “I totally understand where you’re coming from about the germs. Would you like me to spray some sanitizer inside the shoes for you?”

Customer: “No, that’s not necessary. I guess I’ll just have to do it at home.” *Stomps off*

Me: “I hope you have a great rest of your day!”

Seriously, who makes a big deal about perfect shoes with some dust on the bottom and then won’t even let me fix it for them?

I work for a natural beauty product store. I answer the phone.

Customer: “Hello, I’d like to know what oil is good for the hair?”

Me: “Castor oil is very good for—”

Customer: *Cutting me off* “A friend told me macadamia oil is good!”

Me: “Well, yes, macadamia oil is also good—”

Customer: *Cutting me off, getting impatient* “Yes, I know, but I want to know what other oils you have!”

Me: “…”

I’m working the till when a customer comes up with a name-brand greeting card. The card scans for $2.00.

Customer: “The sign says ninety-nine cents.”

I’m new and we are busy, so I override the price to ninety-nine cents. The guy comes in a couple of weeks later with the same statement, so I override the price again. The third time he comes in, I have gone to that section to check the sign.

Me: “The sign says starting at 99 cents.”

He shut up, paid the full price, and never pulled that on me again! He knew I was a new hire and was scamming the store.

I’m shopping at a popular superstore that’s having a really good sale on kitchenware. I’m replacing some cooking utensils when a young couple approaches me.

Young Man: “Excuse me, but I was wondering if this would melt?”

He points to an all-plastic turner.

Me: “If you leave it in the pan, yes, but I’ve you’re just cooking, then no. If I can make a suggestion, I’d go for this one.”

I pick up one made of metal and plastic.

Me: “It’s better quality and only fifty cents more.”

Young Woman: “Thank you, we’ve just moved into our first place and don’t really know what we’re doing.”

Me: “You’re welcome. I have some time to spare. If you would like, I can help you out.”

Young Man: “Thank you, we’d really appreciate it.”

I spent the next hour helping them pretty much set up their whole kitchen. While some things were a little more expensive, I saved them money on others. I found out they were international students who had just moved out of the dorms into their first apartment together and neither had lived on their own before.

When we went our separate ways, the young woman hugged me and they both thanked me profusely.

Customer: “I have a pair of [Brand] boots. I know it’s been over a year, but they are coming apart at the top. I have my receipt still and took it to the store, but they said they couldn’t do anything. Can you help?

Me: “When did you buy the boots?”

Customer: “November of 2019.”

It’s May of 2021.

Me: “It’s definitely well past our return policy, so let me check with management about if there is anything we can do.”

Management tells me there’s nothing we can do. He bought the boots a year and a half ago and they are just now coming apart? Sorry.

Me: “Okay, sir. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that we can do, considering you’ve had them for a year and a half, and our return policy is only thirty days.”

Most of the time, we are flexible, especially if they fall apart within six months, but a year and a half?!

Customer: “Okay, that’s fine, but I’m gonna let you know now, I’m never gonna buy these boots from you guys again.”

He then hung up, and I almost died laughing. Okay, sir. Believe me, that’s okay with us; you clearly don’t want to spend any money with us, anyway! I can’t believe people think they can exchange things after a year and a half of wearing them!