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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.

#2

Customers-Stories-From-Hell

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pusheen buttercup
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glory hounding. Trying to do the right thing for the sake of appearances whether it kills anyone or not

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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.

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Sum Guy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would use that even if my father didn't die... you got served and I wasn't rude to you... smiling is nice, but you can't expect someone to be smiling the whole day

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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.

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Judging from these posts, retail employees deal with a lot of dumb stuff. At least they're strong enough to laugh from their misery.

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Ripley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Imagine being so small-minded that you have a meltdown over what fried potatoes are called.

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Sum Guy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get it... the mind is a stupid thing and will often do something like this

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pusheen buttercup
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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Ripley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd say that lady is definitely going to miss her flight once the "grade-school educated" security person is through with her.

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pusheen buttercup
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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Kathryn Baylis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For a second there, I thought the biatch was going to try and blame it in her kid. Wouldn’t put it past her.

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Full of Giggles
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although, it would have been a far more believable excuse. Security probably would have just confiscated the DVD and let the family leave without consequence.

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Khavrinen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're stealing things to give for presents, you may have kind of missed the whole point of Christmas.

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Thay
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly.... Ive seen some people straight up use their kids as ways to shoplift. CHECK UNDER THE STROLLERS AND (this one bugs me its so terrible) UNDERNEATH THE CHILD! Yes I have seen people instruct their toddlers to sit on things to walk out with them. Crazy what people try to get away with

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Fluffy Griffin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Orrrrrrrrr, they did purchase it legally but the cashier forgot to pull the tag/swipe the tag. I have had this happen at least once a year, if not more. Granted, I don't freak out about it to security.

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Id row
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"You ruined x-mas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving and somehow Flag Day. Whatever, you suck at your job anyway."

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Oskar vanZandt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The person was assuming this was a mother, father and daughter. Probably unrelated thieves running a scam...

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Chaotic_pansexual
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow Single handedly ruined an entire holiday by removing something from a bag. Impressive

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Christy Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She should have said, "Actually yes, it does make me happy, thank you so much for this wonderful gift!"

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Random Anon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel bad for the daughter really. These two knuckleheads make as good a role model as a toilet plunger in a public restroom.

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BG Rey
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lovely way to teach your children to be honest, truthful and blame others for your deceitfulness.

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Anonymous User
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm, this one needs more info. Did they pay for it and the cashier just didn't scan the security tag? That has happened to me several times. They may really HAVE screwed up the surprise of the DVD...

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Robyn Wilson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had something similar had at a charity's thirty store I was working at...a man was buying a backpack. We have to "test the zippers"...in one pouch...whole load of dvds (stacked and arranged neatly). Man claimed his child did it..worst this guy claimed to be a preacher. Called me a bad christian for not cutting him a deal. Note: not religious.

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backatya
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I may have ruined the present but you actually ruined Christmas because you'll be in jail lady.

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M Kate McCulloch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is it that the very same people who talk about pulling yourself up by the bootstraps when taking about poor people, immigrants and institutionally disenfranchised people are the ones who refuse to take responsibility for their own actions?

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'Tammy Chapman'
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

damn people, they said they set the alarm off, not that they stole something. Yeah they were d***s, but the OP never said they stole something.

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Jiya Agrawal
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, it was the Christmas gift for the girl FROM THE SHOP OWNER, duh!!!😂

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deanna woods
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So this woman thinks that her getting caught stealing is the clerk's fault.

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#31

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Lunar Bicycle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!”

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#33

I Played Your Music For My Friends, So Give Me $400 Or I Will Sue! (X-Post - Clients From Hell)

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Ripley
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no, I want to see them take it to small claims . . . I want to see how far it will fly when it's thrown out.

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#35

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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mulk
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like: "make me appear first on google search when somebody search for [goddam words which have nothing to do with the customer's business]"

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Vorknkx
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have you had one of those cases when you can't remember a password, ask for a reset, and when you type in the new password, it says that you can't use the old one :D

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