In some ways, it’s good that customer service is usually the first job a person works. It teaches patience, work ethic, manners, and the great art of passive-aggression.
This piece is based on an AskReddit thread. Link on the last page.
1/10. I was folding shirts at the department store where I work, minding my own business, when all of a sudden, a very large woman wearing nothing but Spanx came running out of the dressing rooms. She was screaming “There’s a perverted feral dog in my change room!”
I rushed into the change room to find a toy poodle sitting on this poor lady’s jeans. Despite the fact that this was the least ‘feral’ looking dog I’d ever come across, I apologised to the lady and removed the dog. Ialled down management to offer a discount to ease the trauma, whilst I searched for its owner.
Sure enough, she was on the other side of the clothing department and had innocently left her tote bag unattended whilst browsing. And yes – she looked like exactly the sort of woman who would have a purse dog.
“Hi ma’am, I’ve just retrieved your sweet dog who went wandering into the change rooms.” I handed over the pupper.
“Oh, Petal!” The woman coos, smushing the dog against her face. “She is a free spirit.” She puts the dog on the ground and it ambles off again (in the direction of the change rooms).
“Oh, no, sorry. You just need to make surePetal. is contained at all times – for the safety of others.”
“Oh, don’t worry she’s toilet trained, and went pee-pee before we came into your store.”
Had to try another tactic which was to make an announcement “reminding customers that animals are not allowed in store.” I didn’t see her after this, but apparently she still comes in on weekends with Petal.
Spanx lady argued her way to a $20 gift card for the embarrassment the scene had caused her. Hands down the biggest over-dramatization of anything I’ve ever witnessed but, hey, there was a perverted, feral animal watching her dress.
-pessimistpuppy
2/10. Im a locksmith. When I was in the shop one day, a customer was in getting some keys copied, nice and simple job. Suddenly while I’ve got the machine running, some shirtless guy comes in looking really frantic. I tell him I’ll be just a minute longer, then I finish the keys, and send the first customer on his way.
Frantic dude: “jeez, took you long enough, I need you to come unlock my car.
I’m already a little annoyed since its almost closing time, but I just figure he’s got a kid/dog/groceries in the car and give him the benefit of the doubt. Big mistake. (continued)
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He tells me his car is parked several miles away. His girlfriend drove him to the shop, and I can follow them back to his car.
Since it’s pretty much closing time, I just go ahead and set the alarm and lock the doors as we leave. He doesn’t like this and starts saying how I’m taking forever. Yeah yeah, take a chill pill, 5 extra seconds won’t kill you.
I get in my truck and follow them out there. When we get there, I grab my tools and head to the car. Surprisingly, there’s nothing in there except for the keys on the seat. No kids or dogs, so now I’m just hoping it’s actually their car.
“You’d better not mess up my doors, this is a classic, he says
Yeah, a classic ’93 Ford Taurus.
I open it up in about 10 seconds and check the insurance card, and yup it’s their car. I pick up the keys and go over to him, tell him it’s $40, and he just looks at me dumbfounded.
“Wait you mean I have to pay for this?”
“Yes sir, we charge a service fee when we have to go out to the location.”
“Well I’m not paying for that, you did it in 10 seconds, I could’ve done that myself if I’d have known how. ”
“Well I’m sorry, but I can’t do this for free.”
“I’m not paying you,” he says. “I don’t have any money!”
“Well,” I said, “if you think you can do it yourself, go nuts.”
I threw his keys back in the car, locked the doors, shut them behind me, and left.
-itstheleviathan
3/10. I used to work at an office supply store as a tech guy. I would repair computers and sell computers, printers, shredders, etc. Nothing crazy, but it paid for college.
I wore a gray polo with khakis. The company logo and brand was plastered across my polo, name badge, and of course, outside of the store.
One day, a man approached me and said “excuse me, where’s the milk?” (continued…)
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“It’s usually in the back but all I can find are office supplies!” You see, we were directly adjacent to a small grocery store. I started to explain this to him, but he was just angry that we were hiding his milk from him.
“Look look, I don’t want you to explain to me where this is, I just want the milk! Take me to the milk!”
He was a bit older and hard of hearing. Probably just having a bad day. My manager was a great guy and saw what was happening. He tells me to just take care of it.
So that’s what I did. I smiled, apologized, and asked the man to follow me toward the milk. We went outside, looped into the grocery store, and back to the milk. At this point, he understood his error and was apologetic and embarassed. He took his milk and shuffled off toward checkout.
A lady then approached me and asked where the grapes were. I walked her to produce. For I work in customer service, and service the customers I shall.
-FashBug
4/10. Customer approaches me at the pharmacy register.
Lady: I’d like to return an item I bought.
Me: Sure, do you have your receipt?
Lady: No.
Me: Okay, do you have the item?
Lady: hands me a prescription ointment with a damaged box and no label. The ointment tube is empty.
Me: I’m so sorry, we aren’t able to take back prescription items once sold. And used.
Lady: But I want my money back!
Me: checks her profile. Her most recent script for that product is two years old. She had a $0 copay. You didn’t have a copay for this medication…
Lady: Still!
-pillowwwws
5/10. I work in high end retail. have gotten to know some of the regular customers well, and I have their phone numbers so I can text them when new items arrive etc. Because of this, sometimes their profiles will pop up on social media as people I might know.
Earlier today while on Instagram, I clicked on one of my most frequent shoppers out of curiosity and scrolled through her feed. That taught me a valuable lesson. (continued…)
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Her profile looks great – beautiful house and cute kids. Perfectly portrayed life through an Instagram filter. Then I get to about 2 weeks back and see she posted a picture of a pair of boots she bought from me.
However next to the boots is a bouquet of flowers and a note “from her husband” saying “I love you so much and I know these will be the perfect pair for your winter wardrobe. Thanks for everything you do babe.
I suddenly felt very sad for her. It was a good reminder that social media isn’t real life. We never get to see how lonely people are beneath the surface.
-triggerfishyy
6/10. I was working the register at my fast food chain, and an old woman walks in.
Me: Hello! How can I help you?
Her: Hi! Is Zach in today?
Me: I don’t believe we’ve ever employed a Zach, I’m sorry.
Her: I come in to talk to him all the time! Are you new? Looks like you’ve hired a lot of new people.
Me: I’ve been here a while, are you sure this is his store?
Her: Huh? I live over in Troy, I usually stop in and say hi to him over there. I happened to be in this area though and was wondering if he was in.
Me: Oh, well I guess try the Troy store, because the same people work here every day.
Her: What do you mean?
I had to explain to her that every single one of our chain’s stores isn’t run by the same staff who just move around place to place. I hope it was just an elderly lady with a good sense of humor. It really didn’t seem like it though.
-mcsoups
7/10. I work at a local butcher shop. It’s a cool place with really fun customers. We’ve had many funny stories, but this one is my favorite.
A lady called the shop and I answered the phone.
“Hey,” said the woman on the other end. “I’ve got a strange request.”
“Ok, shoot.”
“I’m telling my husband I’m pregnant and I want to tell him with steak.” (continued…)
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I was confused but intrigued.
Like I want to package it in a way that shows I’m having a baby. That way when he freaks out at least there’s steak.
I’m so on board, but she doesn’t really know how she wants to do it so I brainstorm with my co-worker and we decide to make a package with two big rib eye steaks and two tiny tenderloin steaks all laying side by side and captioned it “Steak for the ENTIRE family.
She loved it. Actually made my day. See, working retail isnt all bad.
-rillican
8/10. So I work as a front end supervisor at a discount retail store. My cash register is also where the jewelry section so it’s also my job to show jewelry.
The jewelry counter goes around in a circle and connects to my registers so I’m basically in a giant fishbowl. If someone wants to see some jewelry all they have to do is come up to the counter and ask me and as long as there wasn’t someone already waiting in line then I will help them immediately. First come first serve kinda deal.
Since I am human I have the normal number of eye balls in the normal places so I don’t have 360 degree vision and therefore can’t see you if you are behind me. This is relevant to my story: There is one lady waiting in line so I call her up to my register and she has 3 items, I say hi and as soon as she sets her stuff down I hear someone else yell.
Lady: I WAS HERE FIRST!
I turn to look over for who yelled and it was an older woman probably in her 50-60s
Me: I’m sorry mam but this lady was here first and I have to check her out, but I will help you next.
Then she starts repeatedly screaming and banging her fist on the counter saying “I WAS HERE FIRST, I WAS HERE FIRST” like a spoiled three-year-old.
Before I can say anything else the lady I was about to check out told me to help the giant toddler first. I thanked her went over to help the person who was throwing a tantrum and as soon as I get over there she immediately stops, smiles was very polite and acted like nothing had ever happened.
-laurenjade17
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9/10. This little tale happened just yesterday. I was stocking a new set, stuff for holiday entertaining (sparkling cider, cookies, nuts and the like), when approached by an old lady with a stink face.
LADY: Excuse me, I need some help.
ME: What can I do for you?
LADY: How can I tell how much the cards are?
ME: Oh, the prices should be printed on the cards. I can show you if-
LADY: Well I saw that but I don’t wanna pay $4 for a card! That’s ridiculous!
…
ME: Well I’m afraid they aren’t discounted or on sale. The price is just whatever is printed on the cards.
Stink face intensifies.
Thankfully, she doesn’t argue. She just walks away angrily and spits back “thanks for nothing!”
Sorry I don’t dictate prices?
-RogueKitteh
10/10. So a group of kids all around the same age came in trying to buy booze. I asked them for ID and only two had it, so I refused their sale.
Later on a man came in saying “I’m here to buy booze for some kids. You refused to sell to my son because he had his younger friend with him so I’ve had to come and get it”.
Obviously I said I now can’t serve him either, as that would be a proxy sale.
Later on a lady came in and bought some booze. After she’d paid she said “I’ve just had to come and get this as you refused my son and my husband!” So, again, I grabbed the drinks off the till and gave her a refund, telling her that I can’t serve her now that I knows that.
Obviously she threw a fit, and I had to ask her to leave or I would call the police.
HOW DO PEOPLE NOT KNOW ALCOHOL POLICIES?
-Anonymous