(I work in the Kitchen Design section of a national Home Improvment chain. It’s of note that I’m transgender, male to female, not that this is common knowledge. I have passed as female for quite some time when this happens. I hear shouting coming from towards the back of the store, I know Lumber is understaffed from two callouts so I see if I can help. An older female customer is clearly very upset with a male customer, as I walk up she even shoves him in the chest. He’s quite tall and muscular, he doesn’t budge but I’m still scared this has escalated to violence. Perhaps against my better judgment I step in.)

Me: Ma’am! You can’t be putting your hands on anyone under any circumstances.

(I step in between them and hold my hand up to her. She has to be over 40, the idea that a twenty-two year old has to tell her this is laughable.)

Female Customer: Not my fault! This a******* if a f****** mysoginist! I can’t BELIEVE the audacity of some people! Sexual harrassmemt, I want to talk to your manager and get this on tape!

(I don’t wish to be rude but this guy looks like a male model with more muscles, I find it odd that he was sexually harrassing this lady. From behind me.)

Male Customer: I didn’t harrass her, I asked her if she needed help getting a few of these down. (He motions to lengths of wood that, frankly, look really heavy to me.) I didn’t see anyone from (Store) so I just thought I was being polite.

Female Customer: Polite? POLITE?! YOU THINK UPHOLDING PATRIARICAL OPPRESSION OF WOMEN AS WEAKER THAN MEN IS POLITE!?! I HAVE BEEN OPPRESSED MY ENTIRE LIFE BECAUSE MEN LIKE YOU THINK THEY KNOW BETTER THAN ME JUST BECAUSE I’M A WOMAN-

(I’ve heard enough at this point. I see my manager approaching but he’s still a ways down the aisle along with a member of security. I don’t like to play the “trans card” but I am pretty sure it will get her to quiet down better than a male manager and a male member of security. I interrupt her.)

Me: You think you’ve been oppressed? Try being a young trans girl trying to afford to put herself through college working a full time retail job and taking nineteen credits! (I’m right, she goes white and deflates. It’s all about being a minority with these kinds of people.) This man was being helpful and considerate, that wood looks really heavy and I would frankly be concerned if either you or I tried to get it down ourselves!

(She is conflicted now, wanting to offer rebuttal but not wanting to offend me. From behind me again.)

Male Customer: You’re trans?

(I nod, fearing the worst – still some people who aren’t super accepting in Texas.)

Male Customer: Wow, I never would have known, you’re gorgeous. (I blush.) This might seem crazy but… Would you let me take you to dinner, as a thank you for saving me from her?

(I can only nod, speechless. My manager and security catch up, they slowed down when the yelling stopped.)

Manager: Everything okay here?

Male Customer: Yes, sir. Thanks to your beautiful employee here. (I blush harder.) She saved me from this crazy woman asaulting me.

(The female customer launches herself at us, frothing with rage. The male customer spins me around so I don’t get squashed between them. She hardly reaches him before she’s dragged away by security. I swear my eyes have literaly exploded with hearts like I’m in a cartoon.

We’ve been together ever since. Got engaged this past May. Thank you, crazy lady, for helping me find my soulmate with your insane screeching.)

(It’s the height of summer, and our fountain drink dispenser has decided to break, spraying syrup and soda water everywhere when someone tries to use it. We’ve got a repairman requested, but he won’t be in for a few hours yet. We’ve cordoned off the area with tape, chairs, and signs, and cleaned up the mess. Both cashiers are dealing with customers when a new one in a suit walks in. I spy him talking on his cell phone as he walks toward the fountain drinks, and I know what’s coming.)

Me: Sir! I’m very sorry but the fountain drinks aren’t working right now.

Him: *waves at me* Fill up on number three! *he returns to talking on his phone, looking down at the chairs blocking him, and frowns before moving them out of his way*

Me: Sir, please don’t do that. We put those chairs there to prevent people from reaching the broken drink dispenser.

Him: *while I’m saying the above, he looks studiously at the bright orange “out of order” tape crisscrossing the air just before the drink dispenser* “These idiots. I’m going to have to call you back.” *he hangs up and pushes the tape aside, tearing it, as he grabs a cup*

Me: Sir! Don’t use the drink fountain, it’ll make a mess!

Him: What is wrong with you people? It’s like you don’t want a sale! *he pulls aside the out of order placard blocking access to the fountain drink, puts his cup under it, and pushes the button*

Fountain Drink Dispenser: *does its best impression of a college freshman midway through the first bender; the syrup drools all over his hand and arm, and the soda water sprays everything within five feet of him, including another customer in line*

Him: What is wrong with you people! Why did you let this happen?! *He goes on a several minute, expletive-laden rant about us, how he’s going to sue us, and even threatens to punch us a couple times. The other customers present, including the one he’d sprayed, yell at him for not listening to us, and eventually he storms off. It takes us half an hour to clean up after him, during which three more people attempt to get fountain drinks. We eventually decided one of us just needed to stand there and physically block customers from it.*

I work at The Royal Palace in Stockholm. It’s pretty central, smack bang in Old Town, quite distinctive as palaces tend to be. There’s also lots of signs about with maps over the building pointing out the different museums within + signs down in Old Town pointing towards the building. Regardless, this exchange happens daily.

Customer: Is this the palace?

I’m working the counter at a fast food restaurant.

Customer: I have this coupon.

She hands me a coupon for a $5 Turkey sandwich meal.

Me: And which sandwich would you like this for?

Customer: I’d like the chicken.

Me: I’m sorry, this is for a turkey sandwich only.

Customer: Okay. (Pause.) The roast beef.

Me: I’m sorry, not that one either. The turkey, like the #10, or 11

Customer: How about the #3?

(The #3 is an Italian sandwich nowhere near the turkey sandwiches)

Me: No, that one has no turkey on it.

At this point the customer gave up and just said “whichever”.

(My company only sells to other resellers and distributors. When means we do not sell to the general public or to other resellers’ customers directly. The warranty is covered through us which means we can only replace the item directly to the customer. Every once in awhile i’ll have our resellers’ customers contact me directly for direct orders or a refund on an order (which we cannot do since we do/did not sell to them directly) Below is a recent conversation i had with one of our reseller’s clients.

Reseller’s Client: Hi I need to do a return on a PO we ordered the wrong batteries and we would like to place an order with you directly for the correct one

Me: I’m sorry sir but we can only provide replacements, and since you ordered the incorrect part you will need to go through your reseller for a refund and re-order through them.

Reseller’s client: But the parts came from you why can’t i get refunded and place a new order?

Me: You don’t have an account with us we have no way to credit you back nor did we sell these to you directly. We can only refund you if the PO was placed directly with us. You have an account with (Reseller), you will have to contact them for credit and to place a new PO.

Reseller’s Client: Can I get pricing any way for the correct batteries?

Me: As I said before we cannot take direct orders from you you will need to contact your reseller for pricing and re-order through them.

Reseller’s Client: So i can’t get pricing?

Me: Not from us no, you will need to contact your reseller to place the new order through them.

Reseller’s Client: But i just want pricing…

Me: Please contact your reseller for pricing. Thanks and have a good day *hangs up