I work IT for a big retail company, but we’re internal support only. We don’t support customers at all. One night, I get a call from a woman. Based on what she’s saying, it sounds like the register isn’t allowing her to process the return.

Me: “Okay, before I can look into that, I need your employee number.”

The caller then EXPLODES at me.

Caller: *Yelling* “Why do I have to give you my employee number? I don’t have an employee number! Do you have an employee number?”

I’m confused, since I still think she works here.

Me: “Um, yes, I do.”

Caller: “Oh, now you’re going to get sassy with me? Why do you have an employee number?”

Me: “Because I work for [Company]?”

Caller: *Seems to get even madder* “Don’t you take that tone with me! You know what you need to do? You need to stop talking, sit down, open your ears, and pretend you’re happily employed, and you need to help me, now!”

Me: “I’m going to have to put you on hold for a moment.”

Caller: “Don’t you put me on hold! You need to help me, right now!”

I put the phone on hold in the middle of her speech and turned to a coworker for help. He told me to call our on-call manager and conference them in/transfer the call. Before I could reach out, she ended the call. I immediately sent a message to my manager explaining what had happened. I also looked through my call logs and found that the call seemed to have come from our customer care team.

A couple of days later, my manager pulled me aside and told me what was going on. Apparently, that woman was a serial returner; she always has issues with something. She’d apparently purchased something on an account that was tied to her daughter’s name, and because of this, there were issues.

She’d apparently started dialing random numbers and had eventually gotten to an admin for the CEO.

Luckily, no one thought it was my fault, even though she was doing her best to blame everything on me, although I think that was just because mine was the only name she remembered.

I did have to go over the story with him just because he wasn’t able to get it out of her. Then, our customer care manager came over and thanked me for handling it in any way, and then explained that the gal who’d transferred it was new and had thought, like I had, that she was a salesperson having issues with the register itself.

Related:
Returner Burner: The Store Card Scandal
A Different Kind Of Returner Burner
Returner Burner, Part 8
Returner Burner: International Edition
Returner Burner: On Location

I’m a manager at a place where the food is made right next to the ordering station. Whoever the first person on the “make line” is can usually hear the customer ordering, as well as the current cashier. How the ordering system works is that you start with a predefined item and then modify it from there. One of our items is a fairly simple sandwich: mayo, lettuce, tomato, ham, and cheese.

A customer comes up. I’ve had issues with them being argumentative before.

Customer: “I want [sandwich] with mayo, lettuce, ham, and cheese.”

Cashier: “So, no tomato?”

This is a valid clarification to ask for since some customers can’t seem to grasp the idea of looking at a menu to know what all is on there.

Customer: “Well, that comes on the sandwich, right? So, yes, of course, I want it. Are you stupid?”

After this, a small back-and-forth ensues between the two. The person on the register is trying to explain that tomato is something he did NOT list and they were simply making sure.

The customer becomes more irate, places his hand forcefully down on the counter, and raises his voice.

Customer: “All I want on it is mayo, lettuce, ham, and cheese. Got it?”

Again, no mention of the tomato. Listening to this go on, I lean over and talk to the man.

Me: “So… Do you want the tomato, or not?”

At this, the customer practically goes on a tirade.

Customer: “You’re all idiots! Of course, I want tomato! It’s already included on the sandwich. Why would I not want it?”

After a bit more raising his voice and complaining, he storms to the door and turns to us.

Customer: “You’re all b****es.”

And he walked out.

I’m a cashier at a computer store. A customer comes up to my register with a new computer and some accessories. I ring him up, and he hands me a card for payment.

Me: *Handing the card back* “This card won’t work.”

Customer: “You haven’t even tried it yet.”

Me: “But you want your new computer for more than a couple of weeks, right?”

Customer: *Pauses* “What?”

Me: “This is your library card.”

The customer laughed, took back his library card, and gave me a credit card which worked just fine.

I’m a supervisor at a check-cashing and payday-loan company. It sounds much more horrible than it really is. I usually start my shift very early in the morning and the first manager doesn’t come in until nine or ten am.

Teller: “My customer wants to see a manager.”

I go to her window.

Me: “We don’t have a manager in yet, but I’m a supervisor. What can I help with?”

Customer: “I applied for a payday loan but was denied, and then you guys sent me a letter saying I was denied. Why would you do that?”

A payday loan is considered a line of credit, just like a credit card or car loan is. Federal law says that when a person is denied a line of credit, the company has to send them a letter explaining why they were denied even if the reason was explained to them verbally. The company even has to keep a copy of the letter on file to show that they are complying. I explain all of this to the customer.

The customer proceeds to rant about how ridiculous this is and how we are “rubbing his nose” in it. I don’t remember what all he said because I just tune out. Finally, he stops and glares at me angrily. 

Me: “I’m sorry you feel that way, sir, but please understand that we don’t make the laws but we do have to follow them. I hope you have a wonderful day.”

Then, I walked away. Later, the teller said he just stood there with his mouth hanging open for a few seconds and then stomped out. I don’t know what he was trying to get from this interaction but he wasn’t going to get it from me.

I’m at a craft store. I bring my yarn purchase to the register with a coupon for 40% off any regular priced item, which my item qualifies for. However, when I hand the coupon to the cashier…

Cashier: “I’m sorry; you can’t use that coupon on this purchase.”

Me: “But it’s not expired, and this brand isn’t on sale.”

Cashier: *Looking confused* “It’s not going to work even if I try.”

Me: “I just printed this coupon today. It should work.”

The cashier points to my total on the register display.

Cashier: “No, look. I promise it won’t.”

Then, I realize that the particular color of yarn I am buying is on clearance for some reason and it has rung up as a penny. 

Me: “Oh! I’m sorry; I didn’t realize the price. I guess you can’t charge me 60% of one cent.”

Cashier: “Exactly! I thought you saw the total.”

Related:
It’s Centless Trying To Argue