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I work for a large chain supermarket, something that rivals Walmart in America except they have opened smaller shops locally to be more convenient for our customers.

While working the till I was serving an older gentleman, packing his bags and random chit chat I thought he was already to go when he stopped and put his bags back on the desk.

Man : I went up to your main store yesterday and I bought a TV that said it was 40 inches on the box but when I got it home I measured it and it’s only 35 inches. That can’t be right that, because the box says 40 and it’s only 35. That’s false advertising that.

I was a little taken aback because it’s not something I am trained to handle when the customer asks a random colleague in a small express.

Me : How did you measure it?

Man : I measured it like this.

He lifts up his arms and demonstrates him measuring it from side to side, I saw the problem immediately.

Me : yer, you have to measure it from the bottom left corner to the top right corner.

The customer looked really confused by my suggestion.

Man : Why would I measure it like that? It’s false advertising saying it’s 40 inches when it’s not.

Me : Only because that’s how they do it with monitors and TV’s otherwise you’d have a really long TV and the top’s of people’s heads would be missing.

I demonstrated by holding out the dimension with my hands but he still looked sceptical.

Me : I promise that’s how they do it with TV’s, you can still call customer service when you get home or go and talk to customer service in the main store they would be able to help you better than I can.

The man still looked sceptical, gathered his bags and left.

(My mom and I are in a clothing shop, picking out clothes for my new baby cousin. I am young, evidently from the age range of 10 to 13.)
Mom: Could you get that red dress for me? It’s on the shelf next to you.
Me: Yeah, sure!
(An older lady and a woman are next to me. The elderly lady speaks up)
Older Lady: Do you know where the ________ is?
Me: Uh…
(The lady waits for me to speak, and it’s a bit awkward.)
Lady: Oh, first, do you work here?
(I am obviously relieved of speaking, and I smile regretfully)
Me: No, I’m so sorry! I wish I could help!
(The lady was very polite about the situation and continued with her search, and I hope she found what she was looking for!)

I work the information desk of my local public library.

A woman came up to me and asked how to cancel her entertainment contract without getting penalized by the company.

The most I could tell her was to get a lawyer.

I’m 12 years old sitting at our kitchen table when suddenly our landline rings. Note: the telemarketer is female.

*Phone rings*
Me: *Answers* “Hello?”
Telemarketer: “Hello, this is [Name] with [Company] I am looking for [Name]. Is he currently home?
Me: Are you a lady?
Telemarketer: *Awkwardly silenced*
Um, yes.
Me: Oh okay. *Hangs up*

I used to work in a mall food court. At that time we were including either Hot Wheels cars or Barbie dolls in the kids’ meals. This little girl came up to the counter, tears streaming down her face. I asked her what was wrong, thinking she might have gotten lost. She said “My daddy says I cannot have this Barbie because she is black” as she held the unopened toy up, her hand visibly shaking. My heart broke for this poor little girl. I said “Oh, sweetie… I am so sorry. Let me get you a different doll” I traded her dolls and she went on her way back to the the table.

Soon after her father came storming back up to the counter with the doll in hand and dragging his daughter behind him. He then threw the doll down on the counter. “This thing was in the same box with that (racial slur) doll, wasn’t it? This one was tainted by that (racial slur) doll.” I tried to say I could give a car instead of a doll, but he snapped back with “We don’t want any toys from you (racial slur) lovers!” His poor daughter was trying her best not to completely loose it.

I am in complete shock as are all my co-workers and the nearby mall patrons. He then stormed off and this girl just looks over her shoulder at us … such pain and sorrow in her eyes.

This had to be close to twenty years ago, but it still haunts me that someone could be that racist and mean spirited.

Little girl, you are all grown up now. I wish I could have thought of something to say or something to do… some way to help you. I hope you managed to keep it together while living in that toxic environment. I hope you rose above all of it and have a good life now.