When I was a freshman in college, I had a maths teacher who was very strict about how she taught and how she expected us to learn. For example, she would force students to take notes, and if they didn’t, she would make them leave.

During our midterm exam, someone asked how much time was left and [Teacher] said we had five minutes. At this point, I was only about halfway done with the test, so I rushed and finished it barely in time. Most of my classmates and I turned in our tests and left the room. When I checked my phone, I realized there were another twenty minutes left. The students who hadn’t finished in five told me that after we left, [Teacher] realized that she had read the clock wrong and gave them another twenty minutes that those of us who left didn’t have.

I’ve always been pretty good at math, but obviously, after rushing half the test, I didn’t get a good grade. The part I didn’t rush was perfect, though.

In the next class, after showing us our results, [Teacher] said that we needed to develop a strategy to improve our grades. She said that if we created a plan, stuck to it, and provided evidence of us doing it, she would give us some extra credit. What she expected us to do was say something like, “I’ll practice every week,” and submit pictures of us doing it as evidence, or something like that.

Now, while I didn’t blame [Teacher] for reading the clock wrong, I did blame the fact that I thought I only had five minutes left for not doing well on that test. I was confident that I could have gotten a perfect grade on it if I’d had the extra twenty minutes. And so, what I said I would do is “bring a watch to the next exam”.  Was it an arrogant thing to say? Yes, but I also thought it was stupid to follow along with [Teacher]’s plan to micromanage our studies.

[Teacher] got mad at me and said that if I didn’t do anything else, I would fail the final for sure, but I assured her that the watch was enough for me to do better.

A few months later, on the day of the final, I submitted a picture of a watch on my wrist as evidence of sticking with the strategy. I got a perfect grade on the final. Since my strategy for improving my grades worked, she had to give me extra credit — not before arguing that I didn’t deserve it, of course.

I work for a software company. I had a conversation with one of our clients regarding setting up a billing rate for an entire year. This was after twenty minutes of trying to convince them that 1/1/11 to 12/31/11 was a full year and that they were the correct start and end dates.

Client: “This isn’t making any sense! They can’t end in the same year if it’s a full year between the two dates!”

Me: “Yes, in this situation it can, because the dates are the first and last days of the year.”

Client: “This is unacceptable! What do I tell my boss?”

Me: “I’m sure they’ll understand.”

Client: “If I won’t, then they won’t!”

Me: “Sir, if no one in your company is familiar with how a calendar works, I’d be very surprised.”

They took it to their boss, and I didn’t hear back. I guess they got it!

Our store is having a Leap Day sale for February 29th only.

Customer: “I won’t be here on Saturday. Can I get the sale on Sunday?”

Me: “I’m afraid the sale is just for Leap Day, so it’s just the one day.”

Customer: “But isn’t Sunday February 30th?”

Me: “Uh… no.”

Customer: “Well, it should be! If the Leap Day falls on a Saturday, they should make it a weekend thing!” 

She left with a “tut” that I couldn’t delay the Earth’s rotation by a day.

I have just given a customer their prescription when they suddenly get a shocked look on their face.

Customer: “When am I?!”

Me: “Uh… it’s 7:15 pm.”

Customer: “No! The date! I need to know the date!”

Me: “July 8th.”

Customer: “What year?!”

Me: “2023.”

Customer: “Oh, no! I came too far!” 

He runs out without explanation.

Next Customer: “What is he taking? I want to make sure I’m not on the same thing!”

I am on the customer service line for my large retail store.

Caller: “I ordered [item] yesterday, and I want to come in to collect it. How late are you open?”

She did order it yesterday, but just before close, so the item will arrive tomorrow.

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but I am looking at the system and your order won’t be in until the store opens tomorrow.”

Realistically, the deliveries show up at 5:00 am, but the business opens at 6:30.

Caller: “No! I want to pick it up tonight!”

Me: “It will be ready for pickup tomorrow, ma’am.”

Caller: “That’s very disappointing! I expect you to call me as soon as the item has been delivered.”

Me: “Yes, ma’am.”

Caller: “As soon as it’s delivered! If you delay me any further, I will complain!”

Me: “As soon as it’s delivered, ma’am?”

Caller: “Yes! Delivered! Can’t you understand English?”

Me: “Loud and clear, ma’am.”

Caller: “Hmm… We’ll see.”

The next day, at 5:00 am on the dot, I’m making a phone call back to the original caller.

Caller: *Very groggy, after about five rings* “Hello?”

Me: “Hi, this is [My Name] calling from [Store] to let you know the item you ordered has arrived and is ready for pickup at your earliest convenience once we open.”

Caller: “What f****** time is it?!”

Me: “Five in the morning, ma’am. The item has just been delivered, and I am calling you as you so clearly instructed yesterday. We open at 6:30 am.” 

She just hung up. That was yesterday, and her order is still waiting for her to pick it up.