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Anyone who has ever worked in customer service knows that some experiences stay with you forever. Whether it's difficult customers, workplace absurdities, or management decisions that leave you speechless, there’s no shortage of material for comedy. That’s exactly what Stephen Beals captures so well in his 'Adult Children' comics, turning everyday frustrations into humor that resonates with countless readers.

A prolific cartoonist, Stephen has been creating daily comics for years, consistently finding fresh inspiration in the quirks of modern life. His dedication to the craft is evident, but like many independent artists, he also relies on the support of his audience to keep creating. As the artist puts it: “I love being read and love my readers. If you like a creator and are able to, consider supporting them through their Patreon or website. Nobody is trying to get rich. We just want to do what we love and entertain you.”

Scroll down to enjoy the latest comics from the series, and don’t forget to check out the rest of our interview with the artist below.

More info: Instagram | Facebook | x.com | stbeals.com | gocomics.com

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

A comic by Stephen Beals about retail and customer interactions, showing staff fighting over who helps a customer.

stbeals Report

Final score:
15points
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amybeckler avatar
AmyBcat
AmyBcat
Community Member
Premium 4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too, frequently

1
1point
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RELATED:
    #2

    A comic by Stephen Beals depicting work stress and retail profits, with corporate unhappy despite higher numbers.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    14points
    POST
    sarah-jones avatar
    sbj
    sbj
    Community Member
    Premium     1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I never understand this , my bosses are so intent on keeping our shareholders happy but they like me don't get a salary increase but carry on regardless

    4
    4points
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    #3

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, featuring a customer demanding to speak to a manager, who is a velociraptor.

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    Final score:
    14points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I did sometimes want to be a velociraptor...be when you're a nurse it never works out

    2
    2points
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    #4

    A Stephen Beals comic depicting frustrating customer interactions in retail.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    14points
    POST
    lilianaspiro avatar
    Liliana Spiro
    Liliana Spiro
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is so rude, and I see quite a few people doing this on the regular

    6
    6points
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    #5

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress in retail, where an employee arrives soaked, but isnt scheduled to work.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    13points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok. Your smile wasn't wasted on all those folks on the bus...

    1
    1point
    reply
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    #6

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail and work stress, featuring a conversation about updating a phone number.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    13points
    POST
    sarah-jones avatar
    sbj
    sbj
    Community Member
    Premium     1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Result!

    5
    5points
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    #7

    A comic by Stephen Beals depicting work stress, with a customer complaining about not finding help and being told to apply for a job.

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    Final score:
    13points
    POST
    lilianaspiro avatar
    Liliana Spiro
    Liliana Spiro
    Community Member
    1 month ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Needs Aloe Vera for that burn...

    3
    3points
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    #8

    A comic by Stephen Beals on customer interactions, with a customer complaining about dirty bathrooms and an employee explaining hourly cleaning.

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    Final score:
    12points
    POST
    nathanschinigoi avatar
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This. I wish i could go to the disgusting mens houses and p**s all over the place.

    3
    3points
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    #9

    A comic by Stephen Beals illustrating retail work stress and bad customer interactions with a child misbehaving.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    12points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a brainless activity

    1
    1point
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    #10

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress, showing a customer refusing a store credit card and offering five dollars instead.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    11points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes! Pay it forward baby! Be a Pro proletariat!

    2
    2points
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    #11

    Stephen Beals comic depicting customer interactions at a retail checkout, highlighting common work stress.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    11points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Perhaps a "special" que for such special people (idiots)

    2
    2points
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    #12

    A comic by Stephen Beals on retail and customer interactions, showing a customer complaining about a long line.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    10points
    POST
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    #13

    Stephen Beals comic: An employer asks a female employee to work overtime; she declines, citing childcare, illustrating work stress.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    10points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Freedom works if you work it.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #14

    Stephen Beals comic depicting customer interactions with an employee saying it is quiet, leading to a long line.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    10points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Heh heh...times flies when you're havin' fun...

    1
    1point
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    #15

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail and customer interactions, with a customer complaining about short staffing.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    9points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But Victoria, Sense isn't Common 😒

    1
    1point
    reply

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

    #16

    Stephen Beals comic: a customer demands to speak to a manager, then assistant manager, but only the employee is there.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    9points
    POST
    nathanschinigoi avatar
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was so tired of being yelled at for not having a manager or assistant on staff, because the company didnt care and was saving money, that i started just giving them the managers phone number so they could yell at him. Turns out they found the money for an assistant manager pretty quick after that.

    3
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    #17

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, illustrating a female employee upset about her salary.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    9points
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    nathanschinigoi avatar
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And they wonder why they cant keep good employees. Theres more money in the hiring budget than the retention budget, so good employees stick for a couple years and then get a new job to get the deserved pay raise. Corporate stupidity at its best.

    2
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    #18

    Stephen Beals comic: Two women discuss winning the lottery and opening cat shelters, highlighting work stress and customer interactions.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    9points
    POST
    #19

    A Stephen Beals comic on customer interactions, showing an angry customer complaining to a retail worker about the store.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    9points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is an Art

    1
    1point
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    #20

    Stephen Beals comic showing customer interactions about retail prices and the lack of manners.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    9points
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    #21

    A Stephen Beals comic illustrating work stress from retail music and customer interactions.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    nathanschinigoi avatar
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had two jobs back to back that played "rock lobster" about 3-4 times a shift. Funny at first, but the stupid animal sounds he makes at the end of the song still haunt my nightmares. 3 years of a man screeching animal sound everytime i worked.

    1
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    #22

    A Stephen Beals comic about work stress, depicting an employee insisting on leaving at three despite being needed.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well? Yeah.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #23

    Stephen Beals comic: an angry customer complains about waiting for a pharmacy to open, but it doesn't open until 9am.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Perhaps it's That sort of "script"...😬😬😬

    1
    1point
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    #24

    Stephen Beals comic illustrating a coworker advising on handling customer interactions and work stress.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    amybeckler avatar
    AmyBcat
    AmyBcat
    Community Member
    Premium     4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    An Art Form .. again

    2
    2points
    reply
    #25

    Stephen Beals comic showing a manager learning an incantation to improve retail work sales from a customer.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    8points
    POST
    #26

    Stephen Beals comic: customer angry pharmacy is closed for lunch, employee says they learned the secret to a happy life.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    #27

    Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress, customer service, and hating the human race.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    #28

    Stephen Beals comic illustrating customer interactions and retail work stress as a customer struggles with self-checkout.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    7points
    POST
    ginadeau avatar
    goldoche
    goldoche
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate it with all my soul.

    4
    4points
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    #29

    A comic by Stephen Beals showing customer interactions, where a coughing customer claims to be vaccinated.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #30

    Stephen Beals comic: a new district manager asks an employee if she is vaccinated and she says yes, both doses.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #31

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, showing an emotional support dog in the workplace.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #32

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, depicting a male employee talking to a female colleague.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #33

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress, with a customer demanding to speak to the manager.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #34

    Stephen Beals comic depicting customer interactions and work stress with a customer asking for an early Christmas sale.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #35

    Stephen Beals comic illustrating work stress: a worker has nightmares about retail work tasks and schedules.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #36

    Stephen Beals comic on customer interactions, showing a pharmacy worker dealing with a customer during lunch closure.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #37

    Stephen Beals comic on work stress and customer interactions, with a customer demanding help after giving advice.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #38

    Stephen Beals comic illustrates work stress as managers line up, discussing store readiness for a CEO visit.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #39

    Stephen Beals comic depicting retail work stress, with a man applying for a job and a woman interviewing him.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #40

    Stephen Beals comic showing work stress as a retail worker faces a CEO visit and managerial panic.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    6points
    POST
    #41

    Stephen Beals comic: a woman returns home to her dog and partner, who has cooked a meal, easing her work stress.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #42

    Stephen Beals comic: A male customer asks a female employee personal questions, showing retail and customer interactions challenges.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #43

    Stephen Beals comic: Two male retail workers discuss a past desk job and the challenges of customer interactions, specifically finding bread.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #44

    Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress and confused customer interactions over text messages.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #45

    Stephen Beals comic about customer interactions and work stress featuring a rude tourist demanding to speak to management.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #46

    Stephen Beals comic on work stress: a customer questions a retail worker about their late lunch and disrupted sleep.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #47

    Stephen Beals comic about retail customer interactions with a closed register and a cat accepting bribes.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    kacorradini avatar
    kaycee14
    kaycee14
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is the customer getting older in each panel?

    0
    0points
    reply
    #48

    Stephen Beals comic illustrating customer interactions and retail work stress over meat choices near closing.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #49

    Stephen Beals comic depicting customer interactions at a service desk, featuring a cashier and a customer.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #50

    Stephen Beals comic depicting customer interactions during the holidays with a retail worker discussing selling items.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    maggiefulton avatar
    Maggie Fulton
    Maggie Fulton
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I pity store workers during the holidays, especially when they have Christmas music on for about two months…

    2
    2points
    reply
    #51

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, showing a customer confused about Black Friday sales at a gas station.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #52

    A comic by Stephen Beals on work stress, where a retail worker transforms into a dragon due to overwhelming smells.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #53

    A comic by Stephen Beals illustrating work stress in retail, with an employee facing a demanding customer over product selection.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #54

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail work stress, showing a customer interacting with an employee at a counter.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #55

    A Stephen Beals comic about customer interactions, illustrating two retail workers discussing family relationships.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #56

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail and customer interactions, showing a customer sharing personal news with a worker.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #57

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress and retail: two colleagues discuss how vacation doesn't alleviate work stress.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #58

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress, showing a couple discussing work-life balance and energy used up by work.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    5points
    POST
    #59

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, featuring a smoking employee and a raptor.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #60

    Stephen Beals comic: A customer asks a retail employee for a specific soup and store information, demonstrating customer interactions.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #61

    A Stephen Beals comic strip about retail work stress, depicting a manager asking an employee to work overtime.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #62

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail work stress, showing customer interactions during store closing time.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    nathanschinigoi avatar
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Nathan Schinigoi
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh how i wish we could do that. I did have a cool manager who turned off the lights when we closed and that seemed to do the trick. Funny how they dont understand until you inconvenience them.

    2
    2points
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    #63

    Stephen Beals comic on customer interactions and retail work stress as a customer asks for help with a scanner.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #64

    Stephen Beals comic about customer interactions: an older man questions a young person looking at their phone.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #65

    Stephen Beals comic on customer interactions, with a new greeter and colleagues discussing job difficulty.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #66

    A comic by Stephen Beals on retail work stress and customer interactions, with an employee enduring an annoying customer's comments.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #67

    A comic by Stephen Beals illustrating retail work stress during holidays, showing a customer and a stressed employee.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #68

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, featuring an elderly customer and a retail employee at a checkout.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    etcetera5 avatar
    43Duckies
    43Duckies
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is important to understand: it's a "social nicety", not a "question".

    0
    0points
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    #69

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail and customer interactions, depicting a demanding customer asking to speak to a manager.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    etcetera5 avatar
    43Duckies
    43Duckies
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OMG, if *only* one could complain to the customer's "manager"!

    0
    0points
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    #70

    A Stephen Beals comic about customer interactions and work stress, with a manager failing to convince a cat to commit to a retail job.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #71

    A comic by Stephen Beals illustrating retail, work stress, and customer interactions through a series of dialogues.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    4points
    POST
    #72

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress, showing an employee struggling with store closing announcements and stacking boxes.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    ginadeau avatar
    goldoche
    goldoche
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love the "Do not stack boxes" joke, it's so perfectly true.

    2
    2points
    reply
    #73

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, showing a customer trying to enter a closed store.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #74

    A comic by Stephen Beals on retail work stress, depicting an older customer's lengthy rant to a new employee about shopping history.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #75

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions in retail: a customer asks why flounder isn't sold, worker replies it would upset Little Mermaid.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #76

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress: employee discussing snacks with a manager and later drinking a giant shake.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #77

    A comic by Stephen Beals illustrating retail work stress, showing an older employee wanting to retire from difficult shifts.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #78

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, showing various office scenes.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #79

    A Stephen Beals comic on customer interactions and retail work stress, where an employee confronts a customer about cologne.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #80

    A Stephen Beals comic on work stress and customer interactions, with two people at a desk making small talk.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    3points
    POST
    #81

    Stephen Beals comic depicting work stress and customer interactions with a customer complaining about store holiday closures.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #82

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, showing an employee dealing with a customer's unreasonable refund request.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #83

    A comic by Stephen Beals depicting customer interactions, with a frustrated customer talking to a retail worker about bacon bits.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #84

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress, featuring a customer making a bad joke to a retail worker.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    chakatblackstar avatar
    ChakatBlackstar
    ChakatBlackstar
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Word of advice: you are not the first person to tell that joke. Ever. No, not even that one.

    1
    1point
    reply
    #85

    A comic by Stephen Beals discussing work stress, focusing on the importance of coworkers versus the job itself.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #86

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions: a customer tries to guilt a retail worker about green beans using her daughter.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #87

    A Stephen Beals comic about customer interactions, showing a customer shouting Worst Service Ever! while a retail worker stands by.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #88

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress, depicting an employee refusing overtime due to hating it more than liking extra money.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #89

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, illustrating a manager trying to convince an uninterested employee to see their job as more than just a means to an end, with a species barrier punchline.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #90

    A comic by Stephen Beals showing retail, work stress, and customer interactions, with two women talking at a desk.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #91

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, showing a woman with a cat assistant at the counter, refusing to help if a customer doesn't like cats.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #92

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress, depicting a conversation where a new stocking manager is chosen due to family connections, not merit, and is told she gets along better with boxes than customers.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #93

    A comic by Stephen Beals about work stress, showing an argument between a manager and an employee about scheduling, highlighting the employee's feelings of being replaceable and the manager's insensitivity.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #94

    A comic by Stephen Beals about retail, work stress, and customer interactions, featuring conversations at a desk.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #95

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, featuring two women discussing snowmobiling and sledding.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    2points
    POST
    #96

    A Stephen Beals comic about customer interactions and work stress, depicting two men at a restaurant table.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    1point
    POST
    #97

    A Stephen Beals comic about retail work stress, showing an elderly couple frustrated by a store remodel.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    1point
    POST
    #98

    A comic by Stephen Beals about customer interactions, showing an older man scolding a young person looking at a computer, then interested when he finds out it's a cat live stream.

    stbeals Report

    Final score:
    0points
    POST
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