This happens when my husband and I go to replace my phone at a 2nd hand store. I recently dropped it and cracked the screen to the point you can’t see anything. The man behind the counter is very nice and we find a phone to replace mine. While my husband entertains our son I ask about a phone case.

Salesman – Are you wanting a case?

Me – Yes please! I don’t want this one breaking like the other one. I really want it protected.

Salesman – *proceeds to pull out every girly case encrusted with glitter and gems*

Me – Wow that’s a lot of glitter *laughs* Do you have anything not so shiny?

Salesman *Hands me another pretty case that is ultra thin*

Me – That’s pretty but I really want something that will protect my phone if it falls again. I don’t want it to break.

Salesman *Gets a case that will protect it but is bright pink*

Me – ….Do you have anything other than pink?

Salesman – No, not for that phone.

Me – *sighs* ok, that’s fine I’ll take it.

He gave us really good deals on everything but I felt he wasn’t listening about the case I wanted and that I wanted to PROTECT my phone not cover it in glitter. I get he probably got a lot of girls in there that would’ve loved those crazy cases, but next time probably should listen instead of generalizing. All in all I found it more comical than anything.

(I work for a small, independent, and local internet service provider in San Francisco. I usually just process incoming payments and make sure client accounts are paid up and in good order. From time-to-time I get questions from people regarding their accounts and pricing. My email conversation with a new small-business client whose office in a large commercial office building was installed a short time ago, confused about their bill.)

Client: “Hello!

My understanding is that I’d be charged $50 a month.

Please advise. Thanks.”

Me: “Please refer to the communication from our sales team regarding your service at [address] (reference/ticket number ******), “We have a flat rate bandwidth and pricing structure in place at [address]. I do not see that offering a lesser speed than 100 Megabits minimum and a lesser monthly rate is an option here. We do not offer our Residential service in Commercially zoned buildings.”

Our sales team confirmed the $100/mo pricing with you before and after the installation was scheduled. The bill you received for February’s service is correct.

Please reply or call if you have further questions.

best,
[Me]”

Client: “Thanks for clarifying. I will say $100 a month for my 250 sq ft. office as a solo practitioner is pretty steep. Even for San Francisco.”

Me: “Unfortunately, the $100/mo price point is the lowest we can go in your building given the commitments and agreement in place with the building ownership. That said, I can assure you that our prices in your building are competitive, especially when compared up against similar bandwidth services from other providers in your building.

Please reply or call if you have further questions.

best,
[Me]”

Client: “Just so I’m REALLY CLEAR, and you can tell the powers that be at [local company] this for me….$100 BUCKS A MONTH IS EXPENSIVE for internet service for my solo practice.

Check’s in the mail but don’t expect my neighbors on my floor to pay twice as much as they’re paying for [national internet conglomerate]. No matter how much they say they dislike the service.”

Me: “Thank you! I’ll be sure to pass your concerns up the ladder. That said we have several happy clients in the [address] complex. Our clients like that we’re a local company, along with these other points that make [local company] different from the likes of [national internet conglomerate]:

-[local company]’s main office and truck dispatch is right here in [neighborhood].
-We do not charge for service calls if the burden is on us.
-The network location that services your building will be only a few blocks from your address.
-[Local company] promises minimum speeds while other providers provide up-to speeds.
-[Local Company] has month-to-month terms with no penalty for leaving.
-There are no additional taxes, fees or equipment rental fees tacked on to your monthly.
-There are no rate increases over time.
-[Local company] is dedicated to Net Neutrality.

Again, I’ll be sure to communicate your concerns up the chain.

best,”

Client: “First off, it’s a building. Not a complex. Secondly, NO ONE ELSE ON MY FLOOR has [local company] anything. So, just forward along what I’ve asked you do.

Thanks. End of line.”

Me: “By your command”

Client: “Your customer service agent [me] just earned [local company] a 1-star Google review. I’ll be talking to [my name] manager and quite possibly the owner of [local company] to discuss my issues with you lack of client service and your exorbitant pricing for my office building. Your customer service manager will be getting a complaint today about you.”

Me: Ooooookay… So I guess they don’t like Tron/BSG/Sci-fi?

The owning partners, who are also my direct supervisors, got a chuckle from the whole thing.

Fifteen year ago, i was managing the website of a little company. It was my first job and I was a rookie, having just finished my studies.
We had a mailing list sent weekly, with links pointing to our website articles.

My work would include looking at the stats, and look where our visitors come from.
One day, I spotted a “new” referer meaning someone landed on our site from another server i wasn’t used to. I clicked the link and arrived on a email account. No on the login page, but directly IN the mailbox.
It was the ISP’s internal webmail page. Login informations were not hidden, but clearly transmitted meaning that anybody with the link could access that person’s email account. A very serious security flaw.

I tried phoning the support several times, trying to get hold of a manager, without success. I finally left a message on their support form explaining (without giving details for security reasons) that there was a serious vulnerability in their system and giving them all means to contact me ( personnal & professionnal)

I had to wait 2 weeks before receiving a very laid- back phone call from a manager asking what was exactly the issue and he didn’t seem particularly alarmed after I gave him the details
Needless to say, I warned all my contacts the stay away from this ISP, since the rookie that I was spotted a basic programming mistake their didn’t, and also they were so slow to answer

(We have a new delivery driver who is one of the servers’ cousins. He’s been with us about a month, and spoiler alert: he’s not the most reliable employee. After not showing up for his shift yesterday- his cousin freely admitting that they got very drunk together the evening before his shift and he spent the day passed out on her couch- he comes into work rasping and explaining that he lost his voice. About an hour later, I see him joking around, practically yelling in a thick Russian accent.)

Me: Hey! Got your voice back already?

Driver: *in a Russian accent* No. But I ck-an talk ee-n thees accent.

Me: *nodding like it makes total sense* Cool!

(I move on to other tasks as customers come in. After a while, I’m refilling the ice bin from our commercial ice maker, using a small bucket. Our delivery driver watches for a moment, then walks up to me:)

Driver: *still with an accent* Ahh. You *feel* zhe ice boo-cket. You have strong arms. You will be good warrior.

(He nods approvingly. I look down at my 5’1 stature, and then back up at all 6 feet something of him. Before I can open my mouth, the other server- his cousin- runs up.)

Server: [Driver]! Leave [my name] alone! Unlike some people, she actually has a work ethic and SHOWS UP.

Driver: *still with the accent* I will not handle theese disrespect! Back in Soviet Russia-

Server: Stuff it! Shut up and get your s*** done!

I’m at an amusement park with my sister, her husband, and their 7-year-old daughter. It’s her first visit to an amusement park and while she’s tall for her age, we’re only sticking to rides she can handle. As we get into one ride, the operators are clearly extremely distracted, chattering back and forth and giggling with one another. My sister and I buckle into one seat while the little girl gets in with her dad on another; now, her dad works for the railroad and is a big, hefty guy, and she’s a tiny little girl, but this hasn’t been an issue on any of the rides so far.

Cue the safety check. The reason for the operators’ distraction becomes clear, as they are far more focused on giving these instructions to each rider than actually checking the belts and bars: “When you come out at the bottom, it’s [Operator]’s birthday. Yell ‘Happy birthday, [Operator]!’ as you come out of the ride, okay?” They repeat it to everyone and rush through the check.

And they ignore my brother-in-law waving his hand, trying to get their attention, yelling at them that the restraint bar in their car didn’t lock. He manages to smash it in as the ride launches, crushing his leg, and none of us enjoy any of the ride as we’re freaked out about my niece getting thrown free and possible injury to my brother-in-law’s leg.

Nobody yells “happy birthday” as we get out of the ride. My sister chews out the ride manager for carelessness, but the manager doesn’t seem to understand or care what happened and we finally walk away. My brother-in-law had some bruises, but it took the rest of the day to convince my niece it was okay to go on another ride. We finally got her to go on a regular roller coaster and she loved it, but the day could have ended in disaster. High spirits are one thing, but do your darn safety checks before launching a ride! Especially with kids!