(I am at work, and we are currently having our store remodeled. The entire inside has been gutted, to be completely rebuilt. We’re currently operating out of a trailer right next to it. Three customers walk into the temporary office, one after another. Note: there are construction trucks, huge garbage dumpsters, and construction personnel outside, and there are signs posted everywhere.)

Me: “Hello! Welcome to [Store]. How can I help you?”

Customer #1: “Are you guys remodeling?”

Me: “Yes, we are! They’re remodeling the entire inside of our store for us!”

Customer #1: “Wow, that must be rough, having to work in a small trailer like this. How long have you been in here?”

Me: “Oh, it’s not that bad, actually; we’ve only been in here about a month now.”

Customer #1: “That’s a long time! I bet you guys miss having your building! How long until they’re done?”

Me: “They should be done in about one more month. How can I help you today?”

(I process her transactions, and she pays and leaves. [Customer #2], who has been behind her the whole time, comes up.)

Me: “Hi, how can I help you today?”

Customer #2: “I guess you guys are doing a remodel or something, huh?”

Me: “Yes, sir, they’ve been working hard at it for about a month now, but we’ve only got about one more month to go until they’re done.”

Customer #2: “Well, that’s great. I know you guys have been here a long time. I bet it sucks working in a tiny space like this, though.”

Me: “It’s not so bad. What can I do for you today?”

(I process his transactions, and he pays and leaves. [Customer #3] comes up, who has also been inside the whole time.)

Me: “Hello, how are you today?”

Customer #3: “Good, thanks. I couldn’t get into the main store; are y’all doing some construction or something?”

(Before I can even reply, [Customer #4] walks in.)

Customer #4: *nearly shouting* “What’s wrong with your building?”

Me: *mental facepalm*

(Sadly, nearly everyone who comes in asks those exact same questions, and make the same jokes about how they bet we wish we had our store back, etc. I can’t wait until we actually do have our store back!)

(I’ve been giving a customer prices over the phone on several of our products.)

Customer: “Oh, hey, do you know [Former Employee]? He used to work up there!”

Me: “No, sir, but I’ve only worked here full-time for three years. I’m sure some of the guys remember him, though.”

Customer: “Oh. Well, [Former Employee] is my dad. Do you think I could get a discount since he used to work there?”

Me: “Um… No, sir, but you can sure tell him we said hello!”

(I checked with my manager later, and his dad hadn’t worked for us for 18 to 20 years.)

(This story takes place about a month before Christmas. We don’t order product for the store. It is a large chain, and the company determines what we do and don’t sell. I am just a sales associate at the time. Also, everything in the store is cheaper than $5.)

Customer: *walks up to me on the sales floor* “Do you sell anything for Hanukkah?”

Me: “No, I’m sorry we never got anything like that in.”

Customer: “Well, why not?”

(I explain to her the product situation and she gets angry.)

Customer: “This is ridiculous. How am I supposed to celebrate without [specific products]?”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but there’s nothing I can do. You can try another store, but it may be a bit more expensive.”

Customer: “This is insane. I want [specific products] and I don’t want to pay a lot for them.”

Me: “Ma’am, again I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do.”

Customer: “Well, a complaint needs to be made.”

Me: “I understand. If you would like to contact our corporate office–“

Customer: *cuts me off* “You want me to complain? That’s your job; you’re the one that doesn’t have what I need.”

Me: “You want me to complain?”

Customer: *now yelling* “Yes, you don’t have what I need and it’s your job to make sure that I get it. Take care of it now.”

Me: “Have a nice day, ma’am.”

(I turned around and walked away only to hear her complain to another associate.)

(I’m a specialist in cameras, and work a lot as customer service’s technician.)

Customer: “This camera my boyfriend bought me is missing its charger.”

(I notice the model and know the problem right away.) 

Me: “That camera doesn’t come with a charger, as it uses four AA batteries.”

Customer: “What?”

Me: “You can’t recharge batteries in that camera, so it doesn’t need a charger. You just replace the batteries. They are just behind you; you need to buy a new pack.”

Customer: “But it was working before.”

Me: “Yes, as it was provided with batteries. Now they are out of power, and you need to replace them with new ones.”

Colleague: *next to me* “The batteries are dead. You need new ones.”

Customer: “But cameras come with chargers.”

Me: “Selected models do, yes, but some current cameras don’t; they are powered by disposable batteries. Buy a new pack, and I can show you how it works.”

Customer: *just walks off, confused*

(I’m a vendor. I represent certain companies and the products they make. I am working with a manager in dairy with some juice our company makes. This occurs while we are standing and going over upcoming events. The manager is female, in store apparel; I am male, with my company logo all over me.)

Customer: “Excuse me, sir, where can I find [obscure item]?”

Me: “I’m sorry; I have no idea. This lady here—” *points to manager* “—knows everything about this area and can answer that for you.”

(After she directs the customer…)

Me: “While we are standing here, if everyone asks me questions and not you, you have to buy these displays.”

Manager: “You’re on!”

(Cue six people coming up to us in the span of five minutes –all different ages, both male and female. All of them come up to me. To my surprise, even the women immediately come to me.)

Manager: “THIS IS GARBAGE!”

Me: “Sign here, please!”