Client: “The screenshot you sent is all wrong. It doesn’t let me play the video. It seems to simply function like a photograph of someone’s screen!”

I am at a big box store with my three kids (eight and under) in tow. I grab a cart mainly to corral the kids while we grab two items. There’s one person in front of us at checkout. When it looks like they’re wrapping up, I pull the younger two out of the cart and tell my oldest to go return the cart. He trots off just as the other customer leaves. I let the younger two dork around with my phone at the end of the lane so I can make our purchase.

Our cashier frankly looks like she’s had one of THOSE days that desperately needs to be over, and she says in a world-weary voice:

Cashier: “Didn’t you also have a little boy with you?”

Me: “Oh, yeah, he’s just returning our cart since we won’t need it for these.”

I hand her our two small items just as my son returns to the checkout.

Cashier: *Clearly shocked* “Oh, wow. Well, thank you. Nobody… nobody ever puts the cart back!”

Me: “Yeah, well, I used to work retail. I feel your pain.”

I can only imagine that she saw a little boy MIA and was dreading what havoc he may have been wreaking. Hope we gave her a little hope to make it through the rest of her shift!

Related:
It Takes One To Know One, Part 2
It Takes One To Know One

I currently work in part from home, and, as a test engineer, I have a lot of things jacked into my lab computer. This requires a flock of USB port hubs. One fails, and since I already used my last spare without remembering to order a backup, I need to visit a physical store to get a replacement.

I check the websites of all of the chains with local stores for stock of a suitable temporary device and price I can get reimbursed for, and I find one that will do for a few days listed as, “In stock at your store: $12.99”. 

“Awesome!” I think. It might be crap, but if it functions for a few days until the proper unit shows up, I’ll be good.

I go to the store. They have it, but it is priced at $35. 

Rather than just walk out, I talk to the manager and his assistant. The manager is pretty on-the-ball, but the assistant can’t stop talking.

Assistant: “It happens all the time. When a customer asks, we just fix the price. It’s the corporate website, technically, not ours. This is really just the convenience charge.”

Okay. Problem. Big problem.

Me: “This is illegal. You’re aware that your prices are not correct, and the website reflects what the correct price in your store is, and you only fix it when someone complains?”

Assistant: “Yeah, I agree it’s illegal, but…”

Did he really just say that?

Me: *To the manager* “See you later. Or, actually, no. I won’t.”

And I walked out the door. I checked the website again, and it had no indication that store prices may differ, and it clearly stated that the item was in stock at the store for $12.99.

I stop for gas during a road trip, and after paying for my gas at the pump, I decide to run inside to use the restroom and get some snacks and drinks. The restroom is out of paper towels but otherwise in good shape, so I just wave my hands around a bit, wipe them on my pants, and head back out.

After choosing my snacks and drinks, I head to the cash register. The cashier starts scanning my items without saying anything.

Me: “Just to let you know, the men’s restroom is out of paper towels.”

Cashier: *Annoyed, almost angry* “Well, what do you want me to do about it?”

Me: “I wasn’t sure if anybody reported it yet, so I just wanted you to be aware.”

Cashier: “Yeah, but you said the men’s restroom, so what do you want me—” *gesturing to her own body* “—to do about it?”

I chose to bite my tongue, pay for my stuff, and leave. I hope SOMEBODY replaced those paper towels eventually.

An older customer approaches me looking for something his wife has asked him to get.

Customer: “I’m looking for a Dove shampoo in a blue clear bottle.”

Me: “Okay, the Dove hair care products are right here, but I’m afraid I don’t see any bottles that match what you’re looking for.”

He leaves after not finding the product he wants and I get back to the project I was working on. A few minutes later, he approaches again.

Customer: “I found what I was looking for, no thanks to you.”

Me: “Sir, are you sure that’s the right product? You said you were looking for Dove and that’s Dial.”

Customer: “Well, that’s what I meant, but you should know that you have another section of shampoo further down. You think you would know your own section.”

Me: “Sir, there is no other shampoo section. That’s either body wash or hand wash that you have. You’re positive that’s what you needed?”

Customer: “Yes, this is what I wanted.”

So, it’s not what you asked for at all, but it’s my fault for not knowing.