I was working at Blockbuster as an assistant manager while I was going to school. I would go to classes during the day and work the closing shift. I’m not sure if it was a company or district policy, but they wanted the manager and assistant managers to work a variety of shifts with each one working at least one opening and one closing shift per week.

Me: “I don’t have a problem with that, but because of my class schedule, I’ll only be able to open on weekends.”

Manager: “That’s fine. No one really wants to open on the weekend, anyway.”

I had been there for about six months when we had a manager change. I explained to the new manager about my school schedule and the arrangement with the previous manager.

New Manager: “I don’t like that arrangement. I want my assistant managers to have more flexibility.”

Me: “I understand that, but I’m not going to give up school for this job. Consider this my two-week notice.”

I rarely saw the new manager because she opened on the days that I closed. I worked my normal schedule for the next two weeks. A few days before my last day, I looked at the next week’s schedule, and I was scheduled for my normal days and hours. I enjoyed the job, I got paid a little over minimum wage to talk to people about movies, and it fit my school schedule. The only reason I was leaving was that [New Manager] wanted me to be more flexible. I thought that maybe [New Manager] had changed her mind and was willing to be more flexible.

Since I had given my notice, I could have left my uniform on [New Manager]’s desk and dropped my key in the return box after locking up the store. But since I enjoyed the job and the hours I was scheduled for fit my schedule, I decided to continue working. The next week, I was still on the schedule. I kept working and I kept getting paid.

This happened for about six weeks.

Then, I went in to open the store on a Sunday after being off the previous day. I opened the door and went to turn off the alarm. The alarm said I had entered the incorrect code, so I entered it again. Same result. After the third attempt, the alarm started going off and the police were automatically dispatched. I went out front to get away from the wailing sirens and to wait for the police to arrive.

When the police arrived, I explained the situation, and I showed them my lanyard and that I had the key to the store.

Me: “I do work here, officer.”

Officer: “Can I talk to your manager?”

Me: “I’ve only met her one time, and I don’t have her number with me. But I can tell you where the schedule book is; that has everyone’s numbers in it.”

She went in and got the book and called [New Manager]. I could tell the officer was looking concerned as they were talking.

After she got off the phone, she asked me:

Officer: “Do you want to change your story?”

Me: “No. I am just here for my normal shift to open the store.”

Officer: “The manager is on her way down here, but she informed me that you used to work here but quit about six weeks ago.”

I nervously laughed and explained the ordeal to the officer. I could tell she didn’t believe me until I suggested she look at the schedule. She even commented that I was scheduled for four days the upcoming week.

[New Manager] finally arrived and talked to the officer. While they were talking, I took off my polo shirt and handed it to [New Manager], along with my lanyard and the keys to the store. 

New Manager: *Looking flabbergasted* “Who’s going to close the store next week?!”

The officer and I looked at each other, both looking even more flabbergasted.

Me: “Not me. I don’t work here, lady.”

I’m working in a video rental store when the first “Harry Potter” movie has just become available.

Coworker: “Those Americans are so stupid! They call it Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone over there! Like American kids are too dumb to know what a philosopher is!”

Me: “Well, no, there are stupid people on both sides of the pond.”

Coworker: “Yeah, but not as bad as over there.”

Me: “Last night an adult customer asked me for a copy of Harry Potter And The Fell Off A Stone.”

Coworker: “…there are exceptions to every rule!”

I used to work at a movie rental store. We would occasionally move movies and games out of circulation and sell them for steeply discounted prices with a policy that didn’t allow for returns.

A customer came in and chose a video game.

Me: “Would you like to check it for scratches and such first to make sure it’s up to your specifications?”

Customer: “Just sell me the game.”

Me: “Okay, sir. Let me remind you before you cash out that we have a zero-returns policy on used games and DVDs.”

Not even two hours later, he came in and started yelling and swearing up a storm.

Customer: “This f****** game won’t work! I want a refund!”

Me: “I’m sorry, sir, but there’s nothing I can do.”

He threatened to call the cops, and I shrugged, so he stepped outside to do that. He apparently also called my store manager, who he knew, because she showed up at the same time the police did and gave him a full refund before the police ever got involved.

And I got yelled at, of course, despite the manager being the one so adamant about not allowing returns on used items.

I was fairly glad when we closed down less than three months later.

Back in the days of video rental stores, I am working a Saturday night and a new big-budget action movie is now available. It’s rated PG-13 for some “moderate action violence” but nothing too crazy.

A mother comes up to the counter with her children. They look excited to see the movie.

Mother: “I’m worried this movie might be a bit violent for my children.”

Me: “I’m no expert and I don’t know your kids, but unless they’re a bit sensitive it should be suitable for most children aged eight and up I’d say.”

Mother: “But they really want to see this movie. Hmm. Do you have it as a PG or G version?”

Me: “Uh… no, ma’am. That movie was released as a PG-13.”

Mother: “Do you have any at the back?”

Me: “…it doesn’t work that way, ma’am. The movie is made by a studio and released as is. We don’t get different versions of it.”

Mother: “Well… could you ask them?”

Me: “You want me, a clerk in a video rental store, to call a major Hollywood studio, to ask them to release a PG edit of their blockbuster movie and send it to this little store in Wyoming, for you to watch with your children tonight?”

Mother: “Is that complicated? I can pick it up from [Store on other side of town] if that’s easier?”

I tried to explain how moviemaking works quickly. She rented the movie. I didn’t hear any complaints.

Related:
Rated R You Serious?!, Part 9
Rated R You Serious?!, Part 8
Rated R You Serious?!, Part 7
Rated R You Serious?!, Part 6
Rated R You Serious?, Part 5

I used to work in a movie rental store. This was about the time that they tried “no more late fees” as a strategy to get people to rent. However, there was a restocking fee charged if your rental was over a week late which was far far less than the late fees used to be; I believe it was a $2 one-time fee instead of $2 per day.

I come into the store to find a note left by my closing supervisor from the night before saying that a very loud and rude customer is going to be coming in today to speak to me about the restocking fee and how unfair it is, even though they were three weeks late and we had already credited off the fee for them this once since it was their first offence.

In they come, and they start yelling at me about how no more late fees means they never want to pay another late fee again, no matter when they return their rentals. I try to explain that is not how it works, but they don’t listen. They just repeat what they are saying, with much swearing and yelling and generally disrupting the entire store with their tantrum.

Finally, I’ve become frustrated enough and fed up with their attitude. I point to the sign behind the tills, which has the restocking fee on it and when it applies.

Me: “Can you read that?”

His eyes bug out and he screams.

Customer: “Are you trying to tell me you don’t think I can read English?!“

Me: “No, I asked if you can read what it says for me since I want to make sure you see it’s there.”

Customer: *Grumbling* “Yes.”

Me: “Good. Then that means, as of right now, the restocking fee is not false advertising and you are aware that continued abuse of our services will cause this charge. I encourage you to make your own decision as to whether or not it is worth continuing to rent from us. But as this is a family store, you should also know that screaming and swearing are not tolerated. Have a good day, sir.”

I walked off into the office after that, but from what I’m told, he stood there with his jaw half open and his eyes bugged out for about half a minute, just staring at where I had gone, and then left the store and never came back.