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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."

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

Is "BLT with cheese" going to be the new "See you next Teusday"?

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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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TmKhr
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2 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."

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Mihai Mara
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2 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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Ancsuri
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2 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.

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Catlady6000
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2 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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Michele Ferretto
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2 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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Eslamala
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2 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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Pamela H.
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2 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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Michele Ferretto
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2 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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Mihai Mara
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2 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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KatHat
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2 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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Mihai Mara
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2 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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WilvanderHeijden
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2 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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RaroaRaroa
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2 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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Bei Stenhaug
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took you 3 tries to understand his order? Whatever the reason for his request, you f****d up cutting a sandwich in half three times.

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

Why did you keep cutting it into quarters? Also, who does that? That's on you.

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

Overheard a woman at subway order a club on white bread, but no vegetables because she’s “not eating carbs”

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

Just think of all the calories he's going to burn lifting four sections of sandwich to his mouth instead of two!

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

Yeah, the customer was stupid, but OP is partly to blame for screwing up the order twice in a row.

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

she had to RE make it 3 times, so she f****d up cutting it in half three times. The first time the customer told her, then she had to re-do it on 3 more

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

[narrator voice] To this day, humans still do not know how many 1/4ths of a sandwich make a half. It is, and likely will remain, one of the great persisting mysteries of society.

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

This doesn't make any sense, you cut it in 4ths, he wanted it in half, how the F did it take you 3 tries to understand what a half means? Usually the customer the idiot, but sorry hun, bless your heart, you didn't come out looking good in this story

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

In over 30 years as an elevator serviceman, my favorite is the customer who asks, "How come it costs so much to maintain these elevators, they're never broken?"

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

My ex always asked that a bagel not be cut in half because it tasted different that way. Another one of a million reason = EX.

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

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+many+slices+do+you+want+your+large+pizza+cut+into&docid=608006076017947101&mid=CC24CA2F6233AAA483F8CC24CA2F6233AAA483F8&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

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

Psychology plays a big role on how we perceive if we are full or not. Eating small portions will make you feel like you haven't eaten alot. Eating with friends and talking will make you feel like you've eaten alot when you really haven't and spent most of your time talking. Eating on a blue plate will make you eat less than eating on a white plate.

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

So why did it take you 3 times to remake it? Wondering who's the weirdo, here.

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

My son keeps saying 1 - 4ths, I keep telling him it is said one quarter not one fourth.

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

faceplam* slowly swipes face* imagine being this dumb. if a whole sub is cut into 1/4's eat all of the slices. like this guy seems like the guy to talk to his dog then beat it because it won't reply back

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

Another post I don't believe but of course it's the internet after the second one you could have lined them up to show how big it is and given him one for free sounds like a post for clout. Or maybe he was mentally handicapped and you're just a hater

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

Oh my poor fellow would starve...LOL and pedantic people are real!!

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

Worked at a home supply store. Can't tell you how many times parents tried to put their kids on the display toilets... that were up on shelves with no front, so you could plainly see they weren't connected to anything. They would come in just to use the baño. My manager would come screaming "No es un baño! La tienda! Ferreteria!"

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

This is an old joke: Business man walks into a pizza joint and orders a pie. The pizza maker asks, 'do you want me to cut into 6 slice or 8 slices?' The business man thinks a moment and then says: "Cut into 6 slices, I'm not too hungry"...If this really happened, the sandwich customers was a living joke....

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

The amount of people who don't know how fractions work, especially in the U.S is worrying. I dealt with that kind of stupidity on a daily basis when I lived in L.A. "I wANt tHe 1/4 iNsTeAd oF tHe 1/2 bEcUz 4 iS mOrE tHaN 2, dUh!"

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