It’s two days before Christmas and I’m in line at a game store in a strip mall. I need to get three gift cards: two for sisters, and one for another friend. This takes me nearly half an hour due to both customers and employees. For starters, the store is staffed by only two employees. There are two people in line ahead of me.

Customer #1: “Do you have a copy of Plants vs. Zombies 2?”

Mind you, you can download this game for free.

Employee #1: *Checks inventory* “Looks like we have one left.”

The employee checks the rack and notices that it’s not there.

Employee #1: “Is anyone here holding Plants vs. Zombies 2?”

Customer #2: “Yes, I am.”

Employee #1: “These people would like to buy it.”

Customer #2: “I’ve been holding it in my hand since before they came in the store; they just got in line before I did.”

Employee #2: “I’ll call around and see if any of our other stores have it.”

Customer #1: “I should be able to buy that copy; I was in line first.”

This goes on for a bit while [Employee #2] calls around. Meanwhile, [Employee #1] goes through the process of — slowly — ringing up [Customer #2]’s purchases. I am next in line throughout all of this.

Employee #2: “Looks like our store twenty minutes away has it; I’ve asked them to hold it for you.”

Customer #1: “You have been very rude to me! I can’t believe you would sell that game to her when I was clearly in line first.”

Customer #2: “I was here before you; I just got out of line to get more things.”

Customer #1: “IF YOU GET OUT OF LINE YOU LOSE YOUR RIGHT TO PURCHASE ANYTHING!” *Leaves in a huff*

[Employee #1] then motions me up, and I request three $10 gift cards.

Employee #1: “Looks like the only gift cards we have say, ‘Happy Birthday,’ on them.”

Me: “Seriously? These are for Christmas! I don’t even need Christmas themes; just the standard black gift cards you carry all year will do!”

Employee #1: “Let me check.”

In the end, he managed to find two non-“Happy Birthday” gift cards. I feel bad for that employee, working with people who think it’s okay to start customer feuds, dealing with idiot customers, and working in a store run by a manager who doesn’t know how to staff properly or manage basic inventory items.

My sister and I are Christmas shopping for our stepmother. She likes scented lotion, so we’re going through the various products [Store] has to offer.

Sister: “Champagne Toast.” *Sniffs* “Well, it smells like champagne, but I don’t smell any toast.”

Me: “[Sister], that’s a champagne toast.”

Sister: “Oh!”

I’m working in the fitting room at a big box store where we wear blue vests with the store logo on the back. A customer is trying on clothes, and her friend is waiting for her outside. The friend is wearing a skirt, a Christmas sweater, and reindeer antlers. Another customer approaches her.

Customer #1: “Do you know where [item] is?”

Customer #2: “I don’t know. I don’t work here.” *Gestures to me* “Perhaps she can help you?”

The only thing I can figure out is that the customer looked a bit like one of the front end supervisors.

I’m waiting on a couple and, as I give them their check, they also ask for the bill of a single army veteran I’ve also been waiting on. I happily give them the check and wait for them to leave before telling the man his bill was paid by a couple that wanted to thank him for his service.

Veteran: “Well, I really appreciate that. Honestly, I don’t need help with money, but here. Take this and if another veteran or just someone who seems to need the extra help comes in use it to pay for their bill and tell them ‘Merry Christmas.’”

He gives me $15, about the cost of his meal.

Me: “I would be happy to, sir, and thank you very much.”

All of this occurs as another table I have of two ladies that just ordered kids’ meals are getting up to leave. They are at the table right next to the veteran; they head out to the store area, I’m assuming to pay their bill and leave. I quickly clear the table and pick up the $4 left on it. About two minutes later, they return and stop me as I come out of the kitchen.

Lady #1: “How much money did we leave on the table?

Me: “There were $4 dollars left there.”

Lady #2: “Are you sure? Because she is missing a $5 bill?”

Me: “I’m sorry, I did not see it. There were only four ones on the table, but feel free to look around that area in case it fell on the floor.”

Lady #1: “Oh, no! What am I going to do?! I’m just not sure how I’m going to pay this check without it.”

As she is saying this, she keeps glancing at my server book where I have the money the veteran gave me separated from my own.

Me: “I’m sorry. I did not see it, again, but feel free to look around.”

I walked away thinking, “Your bill was only $5; it should not be that hard to come up with.” Later, I realized that the first lady had walked out without paying her bill after hearing the guy give me money to pay for someone’s meal. She decided to try and get the money from me, and after I ignored her fishing attempt, she just left figuring that I would have to do so anyway. Fortunately, my manager just wrote off the check and, by using my employee discount, the money the veteran gave me was enough to buy two meals for the many veterans that frequent my restaurant.

It’s a couple of days before Christmas and I’ve gone to the superstore to grab some Christmas and birthday wrapping paper, as I still haven’t wrapped my girlfriend’s presents and her birthday is two days after Christmas. I get in the store and immediately find birthday wrapping paper, but none Christmas-themed. As I keep walking around the aisles, someone stops me.

Customer: “Excuse me, sir. Where did you find the Christmas wrapping paper?”

I’m wearing a black sweatshirt and khakis so it’s hard to mistake me as an employee.

Me: “I don’t work here.”

Guy: “Oh.”

The guy seemed to get flustered and walked off. After the fact, I thought about how he’d asked me and I realized he probably didn’t actually think I worked there; he just saw me with wrapping paper, probably assumed it was Christmas, and thought I might know and I just instinctively told him off. Oops.