I am the sole scale operator for a waste facility in a small town. Some of my regulars can be… obnoxious. Every now and then, I’m able to call them on their crap.

Customer: *Ranting about politics*

Me: “Okay, you’re all set!”

Customer: “What, don’t you agree? Or are you just not allowed to discuss politics around here?” *Begins to rant about free speech*

Me: “It’s not that, it’s that this place is literally a dump. We deal with enough trash around here!”

The customer shut up and left, speechless.

This story was told to me by the assistant store manager of my place of work. I work at a thrift store that closes at 7:00 pm every day (except Sundays at 5:00). The store hours are posted on the door. Starting thirty minutes before we close, we make announcements saying we are closing in [number] minutes and will reopen the next morning.

A woman enters the shop about ten minutes before we close. She hears the announcements we make, yet still browses. There is a long line, so as long as there is a line, we don’t say anything to customers browsing after closing. Twenty-five minutes after we close, the line is gone but she is still browsing. A team member reminds her that we are closed and she says she will head up to the cashier right now. The staff are doing their closing assignments at this time.

Five minutes later, one of the production team members walks out and mentions to the assistant store manager that there is a lady still shopping. Different team members have been reminding her every five minutes that the store is closed and she keeps saying she will be right up. The manager walks up to the woman to see what is going on. Now it’s forty minutes after closing.

Manager: “Ma’am, we are closed.” 

Woman: “Okay, I’ll be right up, promise. I just have to use the bathroom first.”

The manager goes to the registers to wait for her to walk her out so he can lock the doors behind her.

Five minutes later:

Manager: *To a female associate* “Can you go see where that woman is? Check the bathroom, too.”

The associate walks away to check. Five minutes later, the associate comes back and says the woman is by the floral department — at the opposite side of the store from the bathrooms.

The manager goes over to the woman.

Manager: “Ma’am, we are closed. You need to head to the checkouts now as we are about to close down the last cashier.”

Woman: “But I’m not done shopping!”

Manager: “No, you are done. It is fifty minutes after we are supposed to be closed. Take your items to the cashier now and pay.”

The woman and the manager walked up to the cashier and she paid for her items while asking for the corporate number. The manager gave her one of the customer service business cards, and as she was leaving, she screeches that “this is horrible customer service” and that “[we] will be fired by tomorrow morning”.

The manager smiled and waved as he locked the doors behind her.

It’s been three months and nothing has happened.

Related:
Not Very Closed-Minded, Part 49
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 47
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 47
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 46
Not Very Closed Minded, Part 45

My store is set up where the doors to the outside open into a vestibule, and then another set of doors open into the actual store. The doors are all glass. Like any store, we have regulars who come every day. Normally, they start to wait in the vestibule about ten minutes before the store opens.

Our doors open at 9:00 am. Usually, a manager, like me, will unlock all the doors and let the customers in. We go by the clocks on the registers — or the wireless phone the floor manager has — to know when to open. 

One day, it is 8:59 am and I am heading up to the doors to unlock them. As I am walking up, a man I have never seen before is standing by the door in the vestibule, tapping his foot, and looking at his watch. He has his keys in his hand and is tapping hard on the glass with a key, pointing at his watch, and then tapping on the glass again. 

I walk up to the doors, unlock them, and greet everyone waiting with a, “Hello! How are you all today?”

Customer: “You’re late!”

Me: “I’m sorry? Late for what?”

Customer: “It is 9:01 am and you are late opening the doors!”

I check the time on the wireless phone in my pocket.

Me: “No, sir, by my clock it is 9:00 am. We opened right on time.”

Customer: “Your clock is slow! Where is the manager?!”

Me: “I am the manager, sir.”

Team members have bright-colored shirts with the store logo on them, while managers dress in business casual and have lanyards with IDs around their necks. I am wearing black pants with a blazer and my lanyard.

Customer: “What is corporate’s number?! I’ll have you fired!”

I handed him the business card with the customer service number and he stomped out the door.

I work in a waste and recycling facility, and sometimes, if a customer is dropping off one item, they are allowed to go around the scale. A version of this conversation happens at least once a week when I’m ringing up customers. I need to get their vehicle information so I can let the appropriate destination know the vehicle is coming.

Me: “Okay, you’re all set. What are you driving today?”

Customer: “A 2017 Chevy Equinox Limited Edition with heated seats.”

Me: *Brain completely short-circuiting* “Okay, that’s an SUV?”

Customer: “It’s a Chevy.”

So is a Silverado! I can’t remember EVERY vehicle!

I come down with a simple cold, as confirmed by a negative test for the other thing and a doctor’s visit. It includes a lovely, phlegmy cough. We’re in a mask mandate for the entire state, with most businesses requiring masks, as well. Basically, wearing a mask is a habit for everyone at this point. I stop for gas before work and decide to surprise my office with some of this particular chain’s famous donuts.

Upon entering the gas station, I note several other people trying to go about their mornings, including one maskless man. I roll my eyes but mentally note to stay away from him. However, it’s not long before I also notice that he is purposefully getting into everyone’s personal space. He also has an energy about him that makes it clear he is looking for a fight, waiting for someone to say something to him about his lack of a mask.

I grab the donuts and get in line to check out. There are markings on the floor to keep people in line six feet apart, so I find myself standing next to the coffee and cappuccino machines. It is at this moment that the maskless gentleman decides he absolutely needs a coffee, and the only one that will do is from the machine directly next to me. It is also at this moment that I feel a slight tickle in my throat. Just as he’s reaching past me, I cough as loudly and dramatically as possible.

The look on his face is absolutely priceless as he scurries out of the gas station and back to his car. I let those around me know it is a confirmed simple cold, played up for dramatic effect, and we are all able to finish our business at the gas station in peace.

Related:
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 19
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 18
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 17
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 16
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 15