The Very Hungry Photocopier
Bookstore, Crazy Requests, Editors' Choice, Liars/Scammers, Main Character Energy, USA | Right
| September 29, 2026
One of our regular trouble customers walks in, and I start to tail her. I’ve been given permission to be blunt with her to show we’re not messing around.
Customer: *Holding a book.* “Can I use your photocopier?”
Me: “No, you cannot photocopy the books we are trying to sell you.”
Customer: “I just want to photocopy enough to see if I like it.”
Me: “That’s a twenty-page children’s picture book about a hungry caterpillar.”
Customer: “Look at it this way: this means you can let me read the book but keep this copy here for someone who wants to buy it!”
Me: “You must be very fit to be able to jump through all those hoops. No, you cannot use the photocopier. Go to the library.”
Customer: “I don’t like it there! They make you give the books back!”
