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You Think Your Job Sucks? Then Take A Look At These 40 Employee Conversations With Clients From Hell (New Pics)
Everyone who has worked in retail knows that for every good customer, you get 2 horrible ones pulling up in the parking lot. It's a law. Like gravity.
But some people are so rude, so annoying, and so malicious, it's like they're on a quest to make as many workers miserable as possible. And sometimes they succeed.
When someone like that ruins your day, there's only one thing you can do. Vent online. I mean, you can't punch the jerk or anything—you're still in uniform. Pull off a stunt that damages the reputation of the company you're working for and you're out the door.
Bored Panda has compiled a list of these stories to show you that people in retail really deserve our respect; they go through these situations every day. For more similar experiences, check out our older pieces here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
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#2
pusheen buttercup 3 years ago
Glory hounding. Trying to do the right thing for the sake of appearances whether it kills anyone or not
In our piece on some of the most ridiculous customer demands ever, we mentioned one study that's relevant here as well.
Turns out, people treat retail workers worse when they're looking for bargains than if they were less price-conscious. The University of British Columbia (UBC) Sauder School of Business paper, which was published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology in 2017, looked at several factors to determine how customers treated employees.
One variable researchers analyzed was the words customers used when speaking to customer service workers.
"When shoppers focus only on paying the lowest price, they become less attuned to understanding the human needs of others, or even recognizing them," Johannes Boegershausen, a UBC Sauder Ph.D. student who co-authored the study, said in a press release.
Researchers also analyzed customers' feelings towards the employees by showing them pictures of a flight attendant in the Ryanair (bargain) uniform, the Lufthansa (luxury) uniform, and a neutral uniform. Customers viewed the Lufthansa and neutral flight attendants as equally human, but they saw the Ryanair flight attendant in a poorer light.
"We simply varied the brand, and found that people ascribed lower capabilities for experiencing emotions and feelings to the Ryanair flight attendant," Boegershausen explained, adding that this subtle dehumanization can take many forms and is not necessarily intentional.
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Another experiment had participants communicating in a live chat with a rude customer service representative. They were then offered the chance to punish the employee through a complaint. The researchers found participants were 18 percent more likely to give a rating that would lead to disciplinary actions against the employee when shoppers were adopting a price-conscious mentality than when they were not.
The researchers say the findings could help owners and management of discount stores, as the problem could affect their employee retention—previous research has shown that employees who experience rude and inconsiderate customer behaviors report higher levels of emotional exhaustion, job dissatisfaction, and burnout.
Judging from these posts, retail employees deal with a lot of dumb stuff. At least they're strong enough to laugh from their misery.
#12
pusheen buttercup 3 years ago
Ohhhh I've been there. I really have. There is genetic variation within every race... You can't say "you're not caucasian, because your nose is too big". I don't appreciate idiots who think they know your race better than you
#16
pusheen buttercup 3 years ago
It's so sad... Even if you don't like lgbt, you could at least be civil enough. Surely there is some area between best buddies and worst enemies. I know this because I met people who believe i am going to hell, but they're still my friends :)
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#31
Lunar Bicycle 3 years ago
When I worked in a garden center, a really friendly customer laughed and told me he had just embarrassed himself at another garden center by asking employees there, “Do you have chlamydia?” He said they just stared at him for a moment, so he followed up with, “Do you know where I can find chlamydia?” He then realized that he meant to say “clematis” and immediately turned around and left. I helped him find our clematis, and, as he was leaving, said, “At least you didn’t say you were having trouble finding the clitoris!”
#32
Mia Garza 3 years ago
to the ppl replying to this comment, Pro gay doesn't equal Anti straight, Pro black doesn't equal Anti white and vice-versa (or at least that's how it should be) so lets just try to spread positivity
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Debrina Blackmoon 3 years ago (edited)
I'm only prejudiced against all sorts of waste-of-cells fucktard shitpie pissant racist anti-lgbtqap+, other abusive cuntpie bitchweed unnatural disaster monsters equally!
𝕁𝕖𝕟𝕟𝕪𝔹𝕖𝕖 3 years ago
that was my exact reaction. Also sorry people are saying that u are racist :(
Bow, I’m a Slytherin 3 years ago
Really depends on what the person is trying to say. If they are just saying ‘oh, everyone matters’, then that isn’t racist. However, if they’re supporting the ALM group that disparages BLM, that is very racist.
All Lives Matter 3 years ago
Would y'all stop hating on my if I changed my username?? I'm not being racist. Black lives matter. I'm just saying that race, gender, other preference, e.c.t. shouldn't matter. But in some people's eyes, unfortunately, it does. I understand if you took it the wrong way, and I apologise, but I'm not trying to be racist in any way, shape, or form.
Sarah Moeding 3 years ago
But that's not what "all lives matter" means. As I said to another commenter, it's like coming upon a bunch of people that are injured, and instead of helping the person who is bleeding, you go to the person with the sliver instead. Yes, all the people have been hurt, but there's one who needs your help the most, and instead, you've acted as if all their injuries are equal. So you might not be intending to be racist, but your name indicates that you don't see that the person bleeding in front of you needs your attention immediately, and the rest can wait.
RinLo14 3 years ago
Yeah, not buying it. As has been explained a zillion times before, the phrase "Black Lives Matter" doesn't mean other lives don't matter. The BLM movement was created to bring awareness to the fact that Black people are, and have been, treated much differently by the police and the justice system than white people have. This doesn't mean that NO white people haven't been treated poorly by the police or the justice system. It means that Black people are much more likely to be approached and questioned by the police, detained, ticketed or arrested than white people in the same situations. It means that Black people are twice as likely to be killed by the police during arrests for minor offenses than white people being arrested for the exact same offense. Unarmed Black people are up to 4 times more likely to be killed by the police than unarmed white people. Considering that Black people make up only 13% of the population, this matters.
All Lives Matter 3 years ago
Unfortunately. I hope that the racist community changes their ways.
Fern wing night claw 3 years ago (edited)
I think your profile pic suggests that you support black lives and lgbtq but saying all lives matter is racist. It’s like when your neighbors house is on fire you don’t scream at the fireman because they aren’t caring for your house. So please consider changing that name.
Sarah Moeding 3 years ago
It's more like encountering people who are injured, and there's someone bleeding quite a lot, but you go to attend to the person with the sliver first. Yes, they're all hurting, but there's one who obviously needs to be attended to first.
Gay Llama 3 years ago
You also seem to be saying thst simply because all lives matter (they do). I didn't know what All Lives Matter meant before so I was an All Lives Matter supporter. If you do not know, All Lives Matter people normally say Black Lives Matter is racist because it doesn't include white people. They normally pretend like there is an invisible "only" before it when really there is an invisible "too" afterwards. I can tell fom your bio you do support black lives matter so you are not racist. I don't think you need to change you username or anything but if you want to avoid all the people commenting about how your racist you may want to change it to something like "Rights for all" or something like that.
All Lives Matter 3 years ago
I don't think saying 'Black lives matter' is racist. Within my username, I am attempting to show that collectively race, gender, preference, e.c.t doesn't matter. However I do like your suggestion!! I think I might change it :)
Emperor Kitten 3 years ago
For those down-voting - "All lives matter", while true, is meant to disparage groups like BLM. Obviously all lives matter, but that's not the point. BLM draw attention to racial disparity, while
Cassie 3 years ago
I disagree. I think it depends on the context in which it is uttered. In this case, the user's avatar includes imagery to include the black fist and flag imagery typically used by and for individuals who are LGBTQ. The phrase is racist when used as an argument against minority groups trying to be heard. It is not racist when the meaning is that literally every life matters.
Jocelyn Rawls 3 years ago
how because all lives matter no matter the their race so you are wrong.
Wesley Vincent 3 years ago
It’s really not because when we say _____ lives matter, we are just bringing more attention and increase the attention, and not making anyone equal. Saying all lives matter is more of a correct statement as it puts everyone on the same level.
RinLo14 3 years ago
Simply saying "All Lives Matter" doesn't make it true. It may mean you WISH it were true, but when Black people are suffering from police brutality and being killed by the police MUCH,more than white people in the same situations are, clearly Black lives aren't mattering as much as they should. The BLM movement was created in response to the unfair, unjust and blatant systemic racism in law enforcement and the justice system. It is meant to bring awareness and affect change. Turning it into something else about your own personal feelings diminishes what BLM is. Period.
Emperor Kitten 3 years ago
Cont. While ALM Tries to make them look racist to distract from the real issues.
Kat Rob 3 years ago
it's a skin manifestation of strep throat. As long as strep exists so will scarlet fever
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Christy Smith 3 years ago
Me either, but "Scarlet fever, a historic disease, is making a comeback in a select few countries and scientists are unsure why. Whether or not this trend will continue into 2020 remains to be seen, but affected countries and the public health community should rally to address this re-emerging threat head on.Dec 12, 2019"
Aisling Badsha 3 years ago
Had it 5 years ago, I physically couldn't even move my legs, it was pretty awful but I don't think it's contagious off books, though I could be wrong if I remember right it's one where you are more contagious before you even know you are sick
Warrior Mama 3 years ago
Mom of young kid here who freaked out when her 5yo was diagnosed with scarlet fever (after reading velveteen rabbit and who knows how many old books featuring how awful it used to be). Fast forward back to us - pediatrician explained that it's one kind of strep throat, child had to be on antibiotics 24 hours before returning to school, all was well.
Kat Rob 3 years ago
It's just strep bacteria. Wash your hands before touching your face or scratching yourself and you're fine
Katrina B. 3 years ago (edited)
It's not just about her though. Now all of those books have to be thrown out because of their exposure and most libraries have problems with budget nowadays. So thanks lady for causing even more problems.
Load More Replies... Laugh or not 3 years ago
Or they can quarantine the books, the time for the bacteria to die. And wash their hands before touching anything else.
Little Wonder 3 years ago
They weren't thrown out. They were wiped down with disinfectant and left to dry out and put back into circulation. It was fine.
Caroline Driver 3 years ago
Library date labels in ye olden days used to have 'do not return if you've had Scarlet Fever ' but I guess it's rare enough now that they've dropped it.
Sarah Grape 3 years ago
NOTE TO PEOPLE: if you are sick and have to turn in library books, CALL THE LIBRARY. they don't want you to come in and check them in, and probably will give you a discount on the late fee to discourage you.
Shaun Coleman 3 years ago
I wouldn't worry. My sister got Scarlet Fever and no-one else in the family caught it.
Joe Reaves 3 years ago
Even apart from the health implications, if they were quarantining with an infectious disease and had called the library to say so I bet the library would have renewed the books for them so they didn't have ANY fines.
Terilee Bruyere 3 years ago
Scarlet fever is absolutely horrible but not as dangerous as it once was.
#35
WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
Ok, we'll rename this fee to education-fee and raise it by 50%. The lesson you've learned is that you don't pretend to be rich when you haven't got a dime to spare.
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What do you think ?
Neale Coleman 3 years ago
Are any of these real? What is the point of this thread? (I've only read the first few so far...)
JessG 3 years ago
Me too, I had to stop because it's difficult to believe these are real, however, when you think about it, people can be pretty stupid, so who knows? (I read about four, and yeah, they just get worse and even more difficult to believe that some people are THAT stupid)
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Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago
Customers can suck. My mother received a call from an African American lady, a person she made a cake for. The cake was said to be cut on a Saturday. She received the cake on a Friday. She called again to say the cake was uncooked and that's why they wanted her to keep it in the fridge, now she wants a refund. What actually happened was she ate a slice of the cake. It was totally fine, and then she took a 4 day trip to Vegas without putting it in the fridge as suggested. Since the cake contains butter, when she came back, the cake was collapsing. My mom tried to tell her this, The lady called my mother a fraud and that the "real" restaurant was owned by a white man.
WaterLily Pond 3 years ago
Jeez some people are like Neanderthals when it comes to common sense. I was like 😵🤦♀️ the whole time reading this. 9_9
Ramona Rhein 3 years ago
I can handle naively dumb. I qualify there frequently. But mean, self righteous and stupid? We had a president like that. He’s gone. Let’s keep the likes of him under a large Boulder please.
Shannon Donnelly 3 years ago
I work in customer service - these are not fake. I had a man two days ago demand a refund and repurchase using "mall gift cards" tell me I could do it while he was outside my store during a lockdown. He didn't understand that I can't use my register for any reason. My registers are closed: I am a fulfilment centre only: as his order clearly states.
Glenda Pliler 3 years ago
It's natural for us to ridicule and scoff at those who do stupid things. But, friends, those people are still human. The more intelligent we are, the more responsibility we have to understand that those who are less intelligent need help, support, and patience, not ridicule. Just because "everyone" laughs at these, doesn't make it right to do so. Bored Panda, I love you but you make fun of people all too often, and that is not only cruel, it sets poor standards for readers.
Ayia Grace 3 years ago
Not a client but a vivid memory of me and my brother. I asked him to help clean up before our mo got home and he said no. I offered him a piece of gum if he did help clean up he agrees. We clean up and I have music on, I toss a book into the hallway asking him to put it away. No response, I look up. He's not there, he sitting in his room with his laptop. I ask him why he isn't cleaning, he says, "Yeah I did." We go back and forth, I never gave him gum and mom was on my side saying he had to clean up till it was all clean and THEN he would get gum.
Random Anon 3 years ago
It's entertaining yes but I sincerely hope most of these are made-up. I would lose too much faith in humanity otherwise.
birdie asf 3 years ago
Some of these give me headaches, some of these are obviously fake, and some of these make the customer seem like an idiot when in reality they really aren't.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 3 years ago
This entire thread could be titled: "Life In A World With Boomers"
Neale Coleman 3 years ago
Are any of these real? What is the point of this thread? (I've only read the first few so far...)
JessG 3 years ago
Me too, I had to stop because it's difficult to believe these are real, however, when you think about it, people can be pretty stupid, so who knows? (I read about four, and yeah, they just get worse and even more difficult to believe that some people are THAT stupid)
Load More Replies... Noemie Houtekie-N'Da 3 years ago
Customers can suck. My mother received a call from an African American lady, a person she made a cake for. The cake was said to be cut on a Saturday. She received the cake on a Friday. She called again to say the cake was uncooked and that's why they wanted her to keep it in the fridge, now she wants a refund. What actually happened was she ate a slice of the cake. It was totally fine, and then she took a 4 day trip to Vegas without putting it in the fridge as suggested. Since the cake contains butter, when she came back, the cake was collapsing. My mom tried to tell her this, The lady called my mother a fraud and that the "real" restaurant was owned by a white man.
WaterLily Pond 3 years ago
Jeez some people are like Neanderthals when it comes to common sense. I was like 😵🤦♀️ the whole time reading this. 9_9
Ramona Rhein 3 years ago
I can handle naively dumb. I qualify there frequently. But mean, self righteous and stupid? We had a president like that. He’s gone. Let’s keep the likes of him under a large Boulder please.
Shannon Donnelly 3 years ago
I work in customer service - these are not fake. I had a man two days ago demand a refund and repurchase using "mall gift cards" tell me I could do it while he was outside my store during a lockdown. He didn't understand that I can't use my register for any reason. My registers are closed: I am a fulfilment centre only: as his order clearly states.
Glenda Pliler 3 years ago
It's natural for us to ridicule and scoff at those who do stupid things. But, friends, those people are still human. The more intelligent we are, the more responsibility we have to understand that those who are less intelligent need help, support, and patience, not ridicule. Just because "everyone" laughs at these, doesn't make it right to do so. Bored Panda, I love you but you make fun of people all too often, and that is not only cruel, it sets poor standards for readers.
Ayia Grace 3 years ago
Not a client but a vivid memory of me and my brother. I asked him to help clean up before our mo got home and he said no. I offered him a piece of gum if he did help clean up he agrees. We clean up and I have music on, I toss a book into the hallway asking him to put it away. No response, I look up. He's not there, he sitting in his room with his laptop. I ask him why he isn't cleaning, he says, "Yeah I did." We go back and forth, I never gave him gum and mom was on my side saying he had to clean up till it was all clean and THEN he would get gum.
Random Anon 3 years ago
It's entertaining yes but I sincerely hope most of these are made-up. I would lose too much faith in humanity otherwise.
birdie asf 3 years ago
Some of these give me headaches, some of these are obviously fake, and some of these make the customer seem like an idiot when in reality they really aren't.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 3 years ago
This entire thread could be titled: "Life In A World With Boomers"
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