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Welcome to Bored Panda, how may I help you? Ah, I see. So, you Pandas work in the food, retail, and services industries and started the week off dealing with some incredibly dense customers. Denser than the core of Planet Earth, you say? Well, don’t worry about it, plenty of us have been there.

In fact, our team has collected a whole bunch of examples of the dumbest things that customers have said and done, to make you feel better. Trust us, you’re not alone in this. Of course, this isn’t to say that all customers are dumb: most are polite and decent. However, a small proportion of them are nightmare material and don’t even know what chicken wings are. And here’s the proof. Grab a soul-healing cup of tea, scroll down, upvote the situations that made you laugh, and share your own retail nightmare scenarios in the comments.

Bored Panda reached out to Save the Student, a British project that advises students on how to make their money go further, about how the pandemic affected the job market and what to do if you feel like you're stuck at a job where you feel demeaned. Jake Butler from Save the Student said: "It does depend on location and other factors, but finding a job during the pandemic, specifically lockdown, has been extremely difficult for students. It's true that some businesses, such as supermarkets and delivery companies, have increased recruitment, but large student employing sectors such as retail and hospitality have really stuttered due to being closed for many months."

#2

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clientsfromhell Report

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TmKhr
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I too want to lemonade some important papers while I drink some laminate soda

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#3

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ladyyatexel Report

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Michele Ferretto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Staff are slaves to that kind of lady. So "no people" in her mind.

Rod Egret
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure staff is not actual people: otherwise they would be treated with respect and paid a decent salary, right?

Cheri Aline Sydney
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And you, Rod, do not know that this Manger doesn't pay fairly and treat the Staff with respect... The comment to the Lady gave the impression that this Manager treats the Staff well... Maybe you should use a thinner brush when you paint groups of people with your generalizations!

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Madam must be living in Imagination Land where everyone is her servant. Pffff

Dash Blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who work in restaurants are people? Well, I’ll be damned.

Calypso poet
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We always kept the doors locked until the last second unless it was a regular. Otherwise we would have people ordering soup before we could get it to a safe temp. We were a bar that had mostly subway style food. Yes, people stop in for a beer at 10 am. Retired people and third shift workers. I worked in enough other places with real fire code violations. That's not one to worry about. Same with retail clothing. I'm counting cash, you're not coming in even though you can see me.

Sabrina
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If there are no people in there, who is the person she was talking to. Is she talking to the ghost manager? 😨

JayWantsACat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine how much of a better place the world would be without these types of people. This is the type of person to applaud a bakery for discriminating against LGBTQ+ folks and then throw a 'MUH FREEDUM" tantrum when another store requires a mask to shop there.

Jim Sorensen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never worked at a restaurant where we kept the front doors unlocked if we were closed.

Erica Cochrane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we have a capacity sign up just now (obviously because of corona) and it clearly states on it that the staff are included in the count. but the way i read it is always as 'Yes, the staff are people too'

Dan Pieniak
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sound like the store management was stupid on this.... There are locks on doors that will be locked outside, but can be opened from the inside.

Radek Suski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s pretty saddening how many people do not consider their “servants” as human beings.

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Jake from Save the Student added that while some retail and hospitality jobs are returning, many students are "shunning them as there are worries about job security and also working conditions." According to Jake, one of the main worries that many have is that the market is weighted towards the employers and not the employees.

"For those that feel demeaned in their current job, I would suggest it's worth studying the rights you have as an employee," Jake told Bored Panda what we can all do if we find ourselves being treated less than humanely at our workplace. "Even during the pandemic, there is no excuse for an employer to break the law at your expense. And if you feel you're being treated especially poorly I would suggest looking to switch jobs, but doing so wisely."

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#5

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fallen-gravity Report

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TmKhr
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A woman in a Finnish Facebook sales group didn't want to tell her clothes' size because she didn't want anyone to know how big she was.

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#6

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xoannaababyy Report

It’s easy to stay professional when the customers who you deal with are nice, pleasant, and see you as a human being. But the challenges start when you come face to face with someone who demeans you, acts overly entitled, or simply asks incredibly dumb questions. All of which makes you question why the nation’s education system has set the bar so low.

Earlier, I’d spoken about how to deal with difficult customers with Alexander Kjerulf. He’s the founder and Chief Happiness Officer at ‘Woohoo inc.’ and knows a lot about helping keep employees motivated, happy, and using their skills at their best.

Alex put it very simply that if you feel like you’re forgetting that you’re a human being worthy of humane treatment at your job, then you should seriously consider moving on. “Quit, and find a better place to work, where they actually care about their staff. And quit sooner rather than later. The longer you stay, the more they will grind you down until you lose all the energy and optimism you need to move on and find a better job,” he told Bored Panda.

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#7

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sarge-m , twitter.com Report

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TmKhr
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're right, there's no one here, it means you've broken in and police are on their way to arrest you

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He said that it’s common in restaurants to treat their customers like kings. And some places complement this by treating their employees badly. However, this is far from all right! It shouldn’t be the norm.

“99% of people are nice, but the occasional rude client is unavoidable," Alex noted that you will have to deal with difficult customers sooner or later. It’s not something that you can avoid forever and ever, no matter how good (or lucky) of an employee you are. "You can learn tricks to deal with them, and that's great, but no one should have to put up with mistreatment."

#10

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The rule "an eye for an eye" should have been applied: "here's your HOT latte!" *splash*

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#12

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collegefessing Report

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Ancsuri
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have to give a tip in the US? How does it work? Cause by us, you can give a tip if you want to, but you can choose to pay just the price of the food.

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Working in the service industry doesn’t mean that you have to be a doormat, however. If you find yourself constantly being walked over, belittled, and demeaned, you have to reach out to your manager for help. They should be willing to step in and help you deal with anyone who isn’t acting like a human being should.

#15

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember replying something about how if nobody came in to shop, they wouldn't open, and the customer continued to sympathize and wonder why they opened on a holiday

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“You have to remember that in many cases a customer who behaves badly is not necessarily a bad person—it can be a good person having a bad day and that’s why they’re acting out. But the sad truth is that some customers act this way because they’ve learned that it works and will get them discounts or preferential treatment,” Alex said that some customers might be nightmare material by accident while others are very Slytherinish and sneaky.

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#16

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xxkaileyx Report

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Michele Ferretto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not the first time I hear a pregnant lady be called fat by other woman. For the love of God, what's in their mind!?!?

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#17

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ArawnNox Report

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Eslamala
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Real actual cheddar or that laminated orange plastic you get in the U.S??

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#18

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creatingchaoswithin Report

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Pamela H.
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes there is no "grass fed" chicken meat at the store, but Chickens do eat grass. Obviously you don't own a chicken.

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#19

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Michele Ferretto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since you were there you could make him notice the size of the chip, so it could very hardly be injected with any vaccine (I bet he believes that too).

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#30

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make sure you never run out of blinker fluid. It's very important in traffic!!

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#31

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junior_derose Report

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KatHat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The full original phrase is: "The customer is always right in matters of taste". ie, if they want to paint their house screaming purple or buy a gold sequin pantsuit, you say YES that's wonderful. It was never supposed to mean what it's come to mean.

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#35

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gallusrostromegalus Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I am curious how you explained it and what the customer finally understood.

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#36

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queer_hellenic Report

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the entitlement of "I orderded a cheeseburger without cheese and that's what I'm getting and paying for. You do not chance my order without my divine consent, you underpaid wage slave."

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#40

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jojoachew Report

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy's an idiot, of course, but who ever cuts anything in quarters at Subway? Sure, if someone asked, but they don't normally do that do they?

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#43

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tamsenrochelle_ Report

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Kay blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid I thought that once you ran out of money on the card you were given a new one.

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#44

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Lily Mae Kitty
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I run estate sales and they do this constantly. We open at 8 and at 8:05 someone will ask if we're discounting yet or if they can have it for half price. They also take prices off to see if you'll make it cheaper. I had a lady who took the prices off 4 items and left them on 3 inexpensive items. I made them $2 more than they originally were and she couldn't say s**t b/c then it would be obvious who took the prices off. She decides she doesn't want two of them but she had to pay extra for the 2 she really wanted. Hope she learned her lesson.

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#47

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rxoary Report

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like that guy who ordered a 5 meter high flagpole. When it got delivered he refused it because it was 5 meters long but not 5 meters high.

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#48

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MoonyInBlack Report

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PhoenixplaysX
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to tell people the registers automatically shut off at closing time.

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#51

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KBezerker Report

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Dagnirath
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it were me, I'd probably pick the 3 or 4 least compatible toppings and said, "If you don't like it, you should have picked it yourself.

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_priskillah_ Report

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David Wong
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a table of 3 customers their dishes served nice and hot. But they keep chatting for somewhat over 30 minutes without eating. Then complained over the cold foods.

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#53

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starfleetrambo Report

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Jo Firth
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they think coffee costs 10 cents they're a hell of a lot older than baby boomers.

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#54

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Downunderdude
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not on the customer's side, but could she not use a tray? Would have saved a trip, too.

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#55

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beemucus Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe he had no idea how to use imperial units, didn't know what ozes were, only milliliters.

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#59

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