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Anyone who has ever worked in the retail sector probably knows the age-old motto: “The Customer Is Always Right.” While this is a well-intentioned piece of advice for good customer service, it doesn’t mean it’s true! In fact, there's a whole website devoted to exposing the truth behind the myth, aptly named Not Always Right.
Some customers, because they are people like any others, make mistakes. They might have had a bad day, feel overly emotional and take it out on the nearest person, who just happens to be their waiter. Some people are just unrealistic in their demands, and expect the impossible. And of course, there will be a few customers out there that are just idiots, plain and simple.
The guys from Not Always Right have compiled a list of stories from times when customers got it very wrong indeed, with hilarious results! Scroll down below to check them out, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite!
More info: Not Always Right
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#4
Angela Campbell 6 years ago
Not really...my granddaughter has caught about 5 or 6 birds. Been doing it since she was around 2 y/o. Even caught a hummingbird once.
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Jane Alexander 6 years ago
I have to wonder if the bird was sick or injured to have been so easily 'picked up' outside.
Rafaella Bueno 6 years ago
Maybe they hang out in front of the store because some clerk feeds them too. So they got used to people too.
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Susanna Vesna 6 years ago
Birds outside by the door...Was it an owl with a Hogwarts letter by any chance?
Meghan Crownover 3 years ago
I feel bad for that customer. They wasted valuable time catching that bird.
Tegan Frid 6 years ago
What kind of birds are you selling that could be mistaken for a local North American bird? Like, that was a pidgeon or a seagull most likely.
earringnut 6 years ago
there are a lot of very pretty song birds. also because detroit.
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#5
Nadine Ducca 6 years ago
I'm glad the caller got genuinely laughed at. Some people just deserve that as a response to their stupidity.
#14
#16
BREAK YOUr perceptions 6 years ago
and she thinks a scammer would be happy? those jerks are always jaded
#25
Sarah Figini 6 years ago
I worked as a glass collector in a bar when I was 14. A man actually bit my a*s once when i was clearing his table, then his wife had the audacity to shout at me and blame me for 'encouraging him' because I was wearing tight pants.
#26
Kristin Connon 6 years ago
It's sad to say that every woman has at least one story similar to this, and most, if not all, men. Sexism just sucks. Period.
#28
Ehren Thomsen 6 years ago
Kudos to the customer for not only realizing his error, but also understanding the OP comeback!
#30
Tiny Dynamine 6 years ago
The amount of stereotypes someone uses is inversely proportional to their level of education.
#31
Bunnies4Zwin 6 years ago
I get annoyed at people who don't ever tell off their children. Even if they are punching your legs nonstop. (happend to me)
#35
Lynn Donovan 6 years ago
Useless trivia: in France we use first names instead of NATO phonetic alphabet. B as in Brigitte, D as in David...
#38
#48
Daniel (ShadowDrakken) 6 years ago
And this is why I never use those b******t terms at coffee shops. I either say Small/Med/Large, or I specify the size in ounces if they happen to have it listed. That way The size name is always accurate.
#60
Jessica Stohr 6 years ago
Reminds me of my lost baby blanket that they threw out immediately upon finding :(
#61
Nadine Ducca 6 years ago
Wow. Sounds like the sandwich wasn't for her but she felt the need to spew out how vegetarian she was anyways...¿?
#67
paulo marreco 6 years ago
Yeah, come back later. Like, about 50 years later; maybe then you'll find all the holograms you want.
#74
Susanna Vesna 6 years ago
I dont get people who spend 100s of dollars and then get so f*****g cheap over some 5$! Keep the coupon and try to use it next Saturday!
#76
Beth 6 years ago
Count yourself lucky. I used to deal with an elderly woman with Alzheimers who would come into reception, tell us about her appt, wait, pay, request a receipt etc.... all for in an organisation she had nothing to do with. We'd just do what she asked, make her a cup of tea while she was waiting, call her son and quietly refund him the $ she's paid. She was always very sweet, just confused.
#77
Nadine Ducca 6 years ago
Something similar happened to me, but the other way around. We went to a supermarket to get something twenty minutes before closing time and were told that they had already closed the registers... Not cool. It's not like we showed up one minute before closing.
#80
Miriam Brose 6 years ago
Um... I think that's how it works when you compliment a baby. Or did the other costumer expect an answer from your daughter?
#85
Daniel Losinger 6 years ago
True story: I used to work with a Graphic Artist who could only work with the mouse turned backwards.
#86
#88
Maualo Velflo 6 years ago
OP was talking to the cashier in the burning building from a few posts back
#90
Sarah Figini 6 years ago
my mum would have dragged me out of there (after paying) and scolded me so hard. Prob would have gotten a little leg slap and it would have been well deserved too
#91
Miriam Brose 6 years ago
Maybe you should hold a picture of a cow in your store for showing such people... Sadly most people REALLY do not know what a cow looks like. Some people in germany do believe they are purple because of our Milka ads...
#92
Sarah Figini 6 years ago
they can be used for christmas decorations if you worship Satan, maybe ?
#93
Nadine Ducca 6 years ago
lol "that's just sick" like people have some weird sliced cheese fetish. lol
#95
#97
#98
#100
Zenozenobee 6 years ago
So... Mr is upset because you are more concerned for his daugther safety tha he is. Interesting.
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What do you think ?
SanchaTheSeeker 6 years ago
Not all of these are 'customers from hell'. Some are just downright funny
Jilltdcatlady 6 years ago
Some, I would say, were summoned from Hell to test the people's Religion... LOL!!!
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Ashley Say Wha?!? 6 years ago
Wish I could add to this post, I have a crazy one from when I was a pharmacy technician back in the day.
Just JoLynn 6 years ago
You could share it here in the comments. I for one would like to read your story.
Load More Replies... Nadine Ducca 6 years ago
lol - Where I work we prepare the exams for Cambridge English, enroll the candidates, supervise the exam day, etc. Once, a woman was enrolling for an exam and she reached the part of the (very short) form that said "date of birth." She looked up at me and asked: "What's that mean? My birthday? Or the day I was born?"
Kristel 6 years ago
If it was Dutch it would make sense. We have our 'geboortedag': the day we were born. And a 'verjaardag': the day we age another year. So geboortedag includes date, month and year. And verjaardag includes only day and month. So the words specifies if you need to include the birthyear or not.
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Misterscooter 6 years ago
My motto when dealing with customers quickly became, "The customer is not always right but they are always important." Sometimes that was hard to live by.
Brynne Gunn 6 years ago
I had a customer come in to return a radio. Our policy states she has 30 days to return it. (our policy is 90 days with exceptions, stated on the back of the receipt) She bought it dec 1st. (it's feb 12th). I ask a manager since it's only $30 and we make an exception. I let the customer know about the policy and that we will return her item this time, but remember for next time. She still gets angry! She demands to see where it says this, and starts yelling in line for a good 5 mins. Even though we returned her item.
Shana 6 years ago
I'm happy I don't have to work with customers anymore. Worked several years in a small grocery store myself and I just started hating some of the regular customers at some point... Our store had a deal for loyal customers with our store-card and a coupon to get 1 free item every saturday. Ofcourse sometimes we'd run out of that item so we'd just offer a different one. Had a customer come in "uh weren't we getting -1st item- for free today?" Me: "yes sir but we ran out, so now we're offering -other item-." The man scoffed and said "I just came out of work so I couldn't come earlier, you shouldn't run out of these things" Me: "well sir I can't do anything about that, it was a busy day and we ran out early" Man: "I don't care. I demand to see your manager, I'm a loyal customer and I want my free item!" I called the manager, explained what's going on, she told him the exact same thing and to take the other item that was offered or get nothing. Customer is NOT always right.
Shana 6 years ago
Or some other fun ones: an older woman who had clipped coupons from the paper for discount on a 500grams pack of butter. She tried to use the coupon on 2 packs of 250gram. And yes, even though it is the same amount (price isn't the same though), we can't use the coupons that way. Took so long to explain this to the woman who kept on complaining that WE shouldn't make those coupons (which we don't...). Or customers coming in to exchange items, that we didn't even sell... Or at the cold cuts section, asking for meat cut at a certain thickness, show the slice, they say it's ok, 6 slices later, "oh wait could you make it a bit less thick, I don't need those first slices though" ... And my absolute favorite, customers coming in at less than 5 mins before closing, which we tell them, and they agree saying "it'll just take a minute" and they try to fully load their cart with groceries.... *sighs*
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Loveboo23 6 years ago
As a Server. Me: Hello, can I get you something to drink? Customer: Yes, do you have coffee? Me: Yes, would you like decaf or regular? Customer: Do you have any flavor coffee? Me: No, Sorry Customer: Do you ever read your customer request or comments? Do you even care as to what we would like? [knowing very well I can not do anything about this] Me: Okay, I'll call corporate and tell them. So they can have this Huge meeting about your flavored coffee... Customer: It was just a question...
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
I was not the employee, just fortunate enough to be in the midst of this exchange: I was in line at my local non-member big box store (whose initials are the same as my own) when I saw the following and fell in love with a lovely woman of advanced years. C- poor overworked cashier BRAT- Basic Really Annoying Teen M- yours truly SG- a Senior Goddess This place can never seem to keep enough people on staff, at least they always have up 'Help Wanted' signs and lots of young people come and go. There was only one register open and the line was long which was no big deal. At least until the BRAT got in line. She pushed her full cart up, hurrying the last 10-15 feet to beat out two others approaching and proceeds to whip out her cell and share her conversation, full of complaints about having to wait, about how they don't know to run the place, etc. That, while a bit annoying, is, these days, just par for the course. But she added a special twist- she started tap-tap-tap-tap-tapping her k
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
keys against the steel cart. Okay, not too bad for the first 5 minutes but by the time I finally reached the cashier I was ready to see if I could throw those keys across the parking lot. The cashier and I exchanged a look and I softly whispered, for his ears only, "Boy, that is pretty annoying, don't you think?" He agreed enough to say to the BRAT, "Miss, that's a very annoying sound. Would you please stop doing that?" Of course this set off the mini-EW and she exploded: "Who the F--K do you think you are? I'll do whatever I want and there's nothing you can do about it!" (It was a few months ago so I hope you'll excuse my inability to recall every word of her rant.) When she finally ran out of steam the kindly little SG leaned forward and said, just loud enough for the rest of us to hear, "Sweetie- remember, you never want to be a b***h by accident."
Load More Replies... Ryan Agarwal 6 years ago
All of them are really funny. I think that’s these situations only happen because they don’t know how some things work—for example, the guy with the black-and-white print outs who wanted them in color. I love them 😂
Randy Boulett 6 years ago
#3 infuriates me because it doesn't fit with the premise of this list
KrisF 6 years ago
I work as an admin, but sometimes have to help with IT so I've got a lot of these. I think the most WTF moment was when I got a call from the VP asking me to go help a manager who couldn't open a link (it was a text string instead of a hyperlink). The manager also called me very irritated about it and none of the guys in his office could figure it out. I had to walk across campus to right click on a link.
Just JoLynn 6 years ago
When I was 19 I worked at a video store, and we had the birth date of all our account holders listed...well one day I notice it is a customers birthday and wish him a happy birthday. He proceeded to tell me off, and finished with how much he hates his birthday. I just stood there dumbfounded.
just a thought! 6 years ago
And I thought I was around idiots all the time ... One of my friends wanted a micro Sim for her phone ... And so she thought it would be right to cut her Sim card with scissors . she came over to me to smooth down the edges of the sim card😂😂😂she's a 16 year old
Angela Turrall 6 years ago
Except you can do that easily. I used the same SIM for years just reducing the size each time by cutting as I changed phones... I only ended up getting an actual nano sim when I lost my phone and had to replace everything. The connector size is the same, it’s just the plastic surround that’s different.
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Kevin Braid 6 years ago
no point me even reading these, NAR is one of my favourite sites and i have read all of em mostly, about 90% at a guess. do yourselves a huge af favour, go bookmark that site its brilliant, look up this DE TING IS BLUE AND BLUE ON DE TING
James (Post author) 6 years ago
You are right! We actually had a link to their website below each photo. However, as some people might not notice it we have also updated our article to make sure everyone sees the source.
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ivan bolitekurac 6 years ago
Dont need to put the word "real" in the headline.We all know the stories are real.
Just JoLynn 6 years ago
I'm sure many of them are, I've dealt withcsome of the situations described here.
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SanchaTheSeeker 6 years ago
Not all of these are 'customers from hell'. Some are just downright funny
Jilltdcatlady 6 years ago
Some, I would say, were summoned from Hell to test the people's Religion... LOL!!!
Load More Replies... Ashley Say Wha?!? 6 years ago
Wish I could add to this post, I have a crazy one from when I was a pharmacy technician back in the day.
Just JoLynn 6 years ago
You could share it here in the comments. I for one would like to read your story.
Load More Replies... Nadine Ducca 6 years ago
lol - Where I work we prepare the exams for Cambridge English, enroll the candidates, supervise the exam day, etc. Once, a woman was enrolling for an exam and she reached the part of the (very short) form that said "date of birth." She looked up at me and asked: "What's that mean? My birthday? Or the day I was born?"
Kristel 6 years ago
If it was Dutch it would make sense. We have our 'geboortedag': the day we were born. And a 'verjaardag': the day we age another year. So geboortedag includes date, month and year. And verjaardag includes only day and month. So the words specifies if you need to include the birthyear or not.
Load More Replies... Misterscooter 6 years ago
My motto when dealing with customers quickly became, "The customer is not always right but they are always important." Sometimes that was hard to live by.
Brynne Gunn 6 years ago
I had a customer come in to return a radio. Our policy states she has 30 days to return it. (our policy is 90 days with exceptions, stated on the back of the receipt) She bought it dec 1st. (it's feb 12th). I ask a manager since it's only $30 and we make an exception. I let the customer know about the policy and that we will return her item this time, but remember for next time. She still gets angry! She demands to see where it says this, and starts yelling in line for a good 5 mins. Even though we returned her item.
Shana 6 years ago
I'm happy I don't have to work with customers anymore. Worked several years in a small grocery store myself and I just started hating some of the regular customers at some point... Our store had a deal for loyal customers with our store-card and a coupon to get 1 free item every saturday. Ofcourse sometimes we'd run out of that item so we'd just offer a different one. Had a customer come in "uh weren't we getting -1st item- for free today?" Me: "yes sir but we ran out, so now we're offering -other item-." The man scoffed and said "I just came out of work so I couldn't come earlier, you shouldn't run out of these things" Me: "well sir I can't do anything about that, it was a busy day and we ran out early" Man: "I don't care. I demand to see your manager, I'm a loyal customer and I want my free item!" I called the manager, explained what's going on, she told him the exact same thing and to take the other item that was offered or get nothing. Customer is NOT always right.
Shana 6 years ago
Or some other fun ones: an older woman who had clipped coupons from the paper for discount on a 500grams pack of butter. She tried to use the coupon on 2 packs of 250gram. And yes, even though it is the same amount (price isn't the same though), we can't use the coupons that way. Took so long to explain this to the woman who kept on complaining that WE shouldn't make those coupons (which we don't...). Or customers coming in to exchange items, that we didn't even sell... Or at the cold cuts section, asking for meat cut at a certain thickness, show the slice, they say it's ok, 6 slices later, "oh wait could you make it a bit less thick, I don't need those first slices though" ... And my absolute favorite, customers coming in at less than 5 mins before closing, which we tell them, and they agree saying "it'll just take a minute" and they try to fully load their cart with groceries.... *sighs*
Load More Replies... Loveboo23 6 years ago
As a Server. Me: Hello, can I get you something to drink? Customer: Yes, do you have coffee? Me: Yes, would you like decaf or regular? Customer: Do you have any flavor coffee? Me: No, Sorry Customer: Do you ever read your customer request or comments? Do you even care as to what we would like? [knowing very well I can not do anything about this] Me: Okay, I'll call corporate and tell them. So they can have this Huge meeting about your flavored coffee... Customer: It was just a question...
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
I was not the employee, just fortunate enough to be in the midst of this exchange: I was in line at my local non-member big box store (whose initials are the same as my own) when I saw the following and fell in love with a lovely woman of advanced years. C- poor overworked cashier BRAT- Basic Really Annoying Teen M- yours truly SG- a Senior Goddess This place can never seem to keep enough people on staff, at least they always have up 'Help Wanted' signs and lots of young people come and go. There was only one register open and the line was long which was no big deal. At least until the BRAT got in line. She pushed her full cart up, hurrying the last 10-15 feet to beat out two others approaching and proceeds to whip out her cell and share her conversation, full of complaints about having to wait, about how they don't know to run the place, etc. That, while a bit annoying, is, these days, just par for the course. But she added a special twist- she started tap-tap-tap-tap-tapping her k
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
keys against the steel cart. Okay, not too bad for the first 5 minutes but by the time I finally reached the cashier I was ready to see if I could throw those keys across the parking lot. The cashier and I exchanged a look and I softly whispered, for his ears only, "Boy, that is pretty annoying, don't you think?" He agreed enough to say to the BRAT, "Miss, that's a very annoying sound. Would you please stop doing that?" Of course this set off the mini-EW and she exploded: "Who the F--K do you think you are? I'll do whatever I want and there's nothing you can do about it!" (It was a few months ago so I hope you'll excuse my inability to recall every word of her rant.) When she finally ran out of steam the kindly little SG leaned forward and said, just loud enough for the rest of us to hear, "Sweetie- remember, you never want to be a b***h by accident."
Load More Replies... Ryan Agarwal 6 years ago
All of them are really funny. I think that’s these situations only happen because they don’t know how some things work—for example, the guy with the black-and-white print outs who wanted them in color. I love them 😂
Randy Boulett 6 years ago
#3 infuriates me because it doesn't fit with the premise of this list
KrisF 6 years ago
I work as an admin, but sometimes have to help with IT so I've got a lot of these. I think the most WTF moment was when I got a call from the VP asking me to go help a manager who couldn't open a link (it was a text string instead of a hyperlink). The manager also called me very irritated about it and none of the guys in his office could figure it out. I had to walk across campus to right click on a link.
Just JoLynn 6 years ago
When I was 19 I worked at a video store, and we had the birth date of all our account holders listed...well one day I notice it is a customers birthday and wish him a happy birthday. He proceeded to tell me off, and finished with how much he hates his birthday. I just stood there dumbfounded.
just a thought! 6 years ago
And I thought I was around idiots all the time ... One of my friends wanted a micro Sim for her phone ... And so she thought it would be right to cut her Sim card with scissors . she came over to me to smooth down the edges of the sim card😂😂😂she's a 16 year old
Angela Turrall 6 years ago
Except you can do that easily. I used the same SIM for years just reducing the size each time by cutting as I changed phones... I only ended up getting an actual nano sim when I lost my phone and had to replace everything. The connector size is the same, it’s just the plastic surround that’s different.
Load More Replies... Kevin Braid 6 years ago
no point me even reading these, NAR is one of my favourite sites and i have read all of em mostly, about 90% at a guess. do yourselves a huge af favour, go bookmark that site its brilliant, look up this DE TING IS BLUE AND BLUE ON DE TING
James (Post author) 6 years ago
You are right! We actually had a link to their website below each photo. However, as some people might not notice it we have also updated our article to make sure everyone sees the source.
Load More Replies... ivan bolitekurac 6 years ago
Dont need to put the word "real" in the headline.We all know the stories are real.
Just JoLynn 6 years ago
I'm sure many of them are, I've dealt withcsome of the situations described here.
Load More Replies... 
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