(I’m a manager at a pet store. During a rush, I’m at the registers for back up, and one of the newer employees approaches me.)

Employee #1: “What’s the difference between [Dog Food A] and [Dog Food B]?”

Me: “They’re both part of the same brand, but [Food B] is better quality, and [Food A] is cheaper.”

Employee #1: “Oh… I have a customer here who’s looking for [Dog Food AB].”

Me: “There’s no such thing as [Food AB]. It sounds like he combined the two names, but we only have [Food A] and [Food B].”

Employee #1: “Okay. That’s what I thought.”

(She leaves, and I finish up at the registers. A few minutes later, I head over to the [Dog Food B] aisle, and I find a customer talking with a different employee, who looks exasperated.)

Employee #2: *shows the customer a picture on her phone* “How about this? Is this the dog food you’re looking for?”

Customer: “Yeah, that’s it! [Food AB]!”

Me: “Okay, that’s [Food A]. I can show you where that is!”

(I lead the employee and the customer to [Food A] and hand a bag to the customer. He looks at it suspiciously.)

Customer: “This isn’t [Food AB]. It doesn’t say [B].”

Me: “We don’t have anything called [Food AB]. We have [Food A] and [Food B]. They’re both the same brand, but they have slightly different names. [Food A] is cheaper, and [Food B] is better quality.”

Customer: “The dog breeder said she was giving our dog [Food AB].”

Me: “There’s no such thing. There’s [Food A] and [Food B]. In my experience, most people who come in with a dog they got from a breeder are looking for [Food A] because that’s what most breeders in the area give their dogs. You’re probably looking for [Food A].”

Customer: “So… This is [Food AB]?”

Me: “This is [Food A]. There’s no such thing as [Food AB]. There is [Food A] and [Food B].”

Customer: “So if I give this to my dog, you can guarantee he won’t get sick?”

Me: “If your dog is already eating [Food A], then this should not make him sick, no.”

Customer: “But he was eating [Food AB]… Can I mix this food with his old food, so he doesn’t get sick?”

Me: “Sure! What does his old food look like? Is it in a blue bag or a red bag? [Food A] is in a blue bag, and [Food B] is in a red bag.”

Customer: “I don’t know…”

Employee #2: “Sir, did the bag look like this?” *shows him a picture of [Food B] on her phone*

Customer: “Yeah, that’s it! [Food AB]!”

Me: “That’s [Food B]. That’s the food you want?”

Customer: “Yes, [Food AB]!”

(We walk back to the [Food B] aisle. Employee #1 is lurking nearby but appears unwilling to jump back into the conversation. I hand the customer a bag of [Food B].)

Me: “This is [Food B].”

Customer: “This is [Food AB]?”

Me: “[Food A] is in the other aisle that we just left. This is [Food B]. There is no such thing as [Food AB].”

Customer: “So… which one do I want?”

Me: “…This one.”

Customer: “This one?”

Me: “Yes.”

Customer: “This is [Food AB]?”

Me: “…Yes.”

Customer: “So my dog won’t get sick on this? I don’t want my dog to get sick.”

(He lifts up the dog carrier he’s been holding. Inside is a very lethargic-looking dog who hasn’t moved or made a sound the entire conversation.)

Me: “Um… Well, [Food B] is healthier than [Food A], so this one will be better for your dog. But this is [Food B], not [Food A]. Is this the one you want?”

Customer: “Hmm…”

(He eventually left without buying anything.)

So, I am a female and I work in a food store, and our current shipment of blackberries has very tiny barcodes. This makes them very hard to scan. I make a remark about it. The male customer looks at me, and says

“It’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it”

Then he winks.

I can’t do anything but stand there and blink. I could not believe he just made a sex reference about blackberries. I am appalled and disgusted and finish the rest of his order in silence.

I custom fabricate hydraulic hoses for heavy equipment and automotive applications. There are more sizes, configurations, pressure ratings, thread profiles, and sealing systems than I can count. Each manufacturer decides what’s cheapest, and uses that. There is no rhyme or reason to it.

Customer: I need you to make me a hydraulic hose for my tractor.

Me: No problem, bring in the hose, and I can make a replica in about 15 minutes for you.

Customer: No, no. I didn’t want to spill oil so the hose is still on the tractor. It’s a Komatsu, I need the hose that’s on the left side. About half way up.

Me: Sir, I need to have the hose in my hands to make sure that the pressure rating, length, inside diameter, and sealing systems are correct.

Customer: Well aren’t you just f****ng useless *storms out*

Me: ………..

I work as an online retailer where I sell licenses for buyers to use forever. Since they’re expensive, I always ask for verification as proof of ID before dispatching them after payment – this is to ensure the buyer is genuine and to prevent fraud.

One day, a buyer makes a purchase on an expensive license. I sent them an email explaining the verification process and why it is needed and this is what I received:

Customer: All right, here’s my ID, but I still don’t know why you need it.

Me: [Facepalm].

I work at a watch repair shop in a shopping mall.
We change batteries, do minor jewellery repairs and send out repairs.
A couple of weeks back we had a meeting about employee safety safety which was not identifying an employee who works there if a customer states that they know them personally. This is due to safety reasons because we do not know them personally to a co worker or have been acquainted. Eg. An abusive ex partner looking for a co worker
One day I had a customer come in asking to get his battery changedon his watch. My assistant manager (in training) was working with me at the time and as I went to my desk to get to work he asked me if a certain co worker still works there.
I politely stated that I was not obligated to say as it is a privacy and safety matter.
His forehead immediately wrinkled and he starting raising his voice at me.
Him: It’a a simple YES or NO question, how hard is it for you to answer that?!
Me: I’m sorry but we do not state whether an employee works here or not for safety and privacy matters. You can personally call the employee if you wanted to catch up with her.
My manager was still in training and I didn’t want her to deal with him as she was still new to the job.
Him: What’s your name?
Me: (Says name)
Him: How is it any different from asking for an employees name? With your name I could search you up on social media on my phone
I get creeped out but as I finished up his watch and head to the register and he asks me,
Him: How long have you been working here? You seem young, maybe you should look in your employee’s manual and retrain yourself. If you continue to do that you’ll lose customers.
Me: I’ve never lost a single customer during my entire time working here, but if YOU ARE the first I’d be fine with that *smiles*
Him: *Speechless
Him: How long have you been working here and who is your manager?!
At this point he’s getting a little red in the face
Me: You don’t need to know that and I’ll be happy to give you his card after you tried to ask for employee information that I cannot give you because or police as well as wanting to search me up on social media
Him: *Silent*
He then pays and I hand his receipt and he left quickly. I have a quick message to my manager and he told me I followed the right procedures.
I ended up asking my co worker (the one the customer said he knew) about him and she didn’t know him either.