I need a new computer. I go to a national company with a local branch that generally served me well and take a look at what is available.

I talk to the salesman, pointing at one which has all I want at a price I am prepared to pay.

Me: “I’d like to take a look at that one.”

Salesman: “Certainly.”

He goes off to get it and then comes back.

Salesman: “Sorry, that one’s out of stock.”

I point to the one next to it; it’s almost what I want, but it is a bit more expensive.

Me: “What about that one?”

The same thing happens again: the salesman goes off to get it and then comes back.

Salesman: “Sorry, that’s out of stock, as well. We get our deliveries on Thursday.”

Me: “No worries, then. I’ll go somewhere else that isn’t playing bait-and-switch.”

I went to a different company and got a computer sort of the same as the one I’d been looking at but considerably cheaper.

I am a store manager in a seasonal Halloween store. Every year when it gets close to the end of the season, all sales become final and the store does a sale to try and sell last-minute items the days after Halloween. With that in mind, we have to put up sale signs for the sale that is coming up, and inevitably, someone will try to get the items that are normal price on the sale price.

A customer approached me and puts items on the counter.

Customer: “These items are on sale, correct?”

Me: “No, the sale starts this weekend, so they are still normal price.”

Customer: *Gets huffy* “No, your signs say that everything is 50% off.”

Me: *Smiling* “I am sorry, ma’am, but that sale starts on November third.”

I point to the small sign that we have at every register; the dates for the sales are clearly printed with the percent off they will receive on those dates.

Customer: “Well, I don’t read the fine print.”

She walks out. I shrug and put her items on the other counter to be put back on the floor when I hear an irate voice talking to my coworker. 

Customer #2: “No one told me that all sales were final! I demand to see your store manager!”

I turned around to see a customer that I had helped over the past weekend. I smiled and she grumbled under her breath. Turns out, she wanted to return a few items, even though I had told her on multiple occasions that all sales were final; she was trying to pull a fast one and get her money back. After she left, my worker looked at me and said, “Well, we have only been open an hour; what else is going to happen today?”

Related:
The Nightmare Customer Before Halloween

This was my first experience in retail where I learned what many customers would be like.

Seasons are changing, so we put a lot of shirts we have to get rid of in the front and mark them 50% off. I am working the register when a woman comes up to buy her things. I ring her up and can see a look on her face like something is wrong.

Customer: “Why is this so much?”

Me: “Pardon me?”

Customer: “This should only be $10, not $20.”

I think that maybe her item is on sale, so I ask if she could point out the sign because I’m not aware of it. It is a small store and we don’t have to walk anywhere.

Customer: “This sign here.”

Me: “This sign says that all shirts are 50% off.”

Customer: “Yes, so why is this full price?”

Me: “This is a hat.”

I’m getting tired of salesmen at my door trying to sell me yet another energy plan. I have put a sticker by my door saying, “To whoever rings this doorbell: if you are here to spread your faith, sell anything, or give advice about energy suppliers, we will charge you twenty-five euros per conversation to listen to your story. You are required to pay this sum in advance. By pressing this doorbell, you agree with the aforementioned terms.”

It’s sarcasm, of course, but most people get the message. Some keep on trying, though.

I’m on my computer in the room next to my front door. I see a salesman waving frantically at me through the window. I point toward the sign by my door, but he keeps waving. Frustrated, I go to open the door.

Me: “I know you are here to sell but I’m not buying. Didn’t you see the sign?”

Salesman: “No, I didn’t see any sign from way over there!”

He points two feet to the side, where he was standing as he was waving.

Salesman: “Besides, I didn’t actually ring the doorbell, so…”

He seems all proud of himself for discovering that loophole — how could he have known that without reading the sign, I wonder — and launches into his sales pitch.

Me: “Let me stop you right there. You are the fifth representative for energy suppliers I’ve had on my doorstep this month alone. I’m not interested.”

Salesman: “But we’re the cheapest!”

Me: “Yeah, so they all say. Now leave.”

The salesman death-glared at me, then sulked away, muttering under his breath.

I get that they have a job to do, but why they choose to be complete buffoons about it still baffles me.

The small supermarket I work at used to have these weekend deals from Friday to Sunday and would usually involve two or three items. These deals were really popular and really good value. Quite sometime after we stopped doing these weekend deals, I get tannoyed to the till.

Coworker: “Hey, [My Name], can you do a shelf-price check on this?”

I get handed a jar of coffee.

Coworker: “The gentleman here claims it is only £1.99.”

I am initially puzzled as that particular coffee is very well known and very expensive, brand. I check the shelf and find that the man is mistaken.

Me: “It says £6.99 on the shelf.”

Customer: “But last time I bought it, it was £1.99. It was some kind of weekend offer.”

Then, it clicks. That coffee was on a weekend deal at £1.99 at one point. I put the sign out myself. But that was months ago.

Me: “Sir, the weekend deals changed every week. And we don’t do weekend deals anymore.”

Customer: “Oh.”

He looks slightly crestfallen at the news. As he leaves the shop, my coworker and I can’t help but giggle.

Coworker: “But today is Wednesday.”

Related:
Sales End, But Bad Customers Are Forever