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

What the hell she gon pay her bill with then? Sense of rudeness to cashiers?? my God

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

Well, that’s what happens when the help isn’t around and you have to do the shopping by yourself (/s, in case you didn’t already notice it just dripping off the words).

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

I kinda get the feeling that she didn't have money (or the total ended up being more than she expected) and just used that question as an excuse to get out of the situation. Still a dumb response though.

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

I used to work at an Antiques shop. One day, a lady came in and wanted to buy a present for a friend. She asked the prices of very different things ranging from a hundred dollars to 5.000. So I carefully asked how much she wanted to spend on the gift. And she answered exactly the same thing as this lady. That's none of your business. Needless to say she asked a few more prices and left. Empty handed.

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

Does anyone else read this, and wonder...ma'am are your panties all twisted up in your buttcrack? Just me? Lol

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

One busy Christmas I loved overhearing the cashier ask the man ahead of me, "Will that be cash or credit?" "Cash." "May I see your I.D. please?" He handed it over, with the cash, but without further ado. The cashier returned his I.D, thanked him, and off he went...without either one ever tuned in to what just transpired.

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

A lady paid for an article with her card but it was declined. When i told her she said "Well of course it is. My pay doesn't go in till Friday". Funnily enough, i didn't know that.

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

A friend of mine has a brother called Sean who drives a taxi. One night a man got in and Sean asked him "where can I take you?" To which the passenger replied, "what business is that of yours"?

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

None of your business! Then proceed to taking out a ton of coupons.

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

I can actualy see how this could end up there. The lady may have thought her ability to be able to afford the item was in question, not what form of payment will you be using. How are you paying depending on circumstances could have been triggering, if this was a tv or sofa vs loaf of bread, a bigger cost item may have made them feel like they were being judged if they did use credit. Older people used credit cards to pay over time, now some just use an all in one card and have the cash.

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

I never thought of it that way,maybe feeling insecure at that moment? Makes sense.

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Chloe *Leah* Pheonix
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm just asking how do you want to pay today are you gonna use cold hard cash or ones and zeroes

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

Cashier should have known better than to ask Karen such a personal question. I hope her purchases were returned to stock so she had to start over.

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

A new employee refused to allow me to pay for my purchase with cash unless I gave her my phone number.

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

Maybe she is a close friend of the manager and she expected to get the merchandise free?

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

"WHY ARENT YOU RINGING ME UP WHILE WE WAIT FOR YOUR MANAGER?!"

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

That woman should go back to her cave and not venture out anymore.

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

of course this is funny.. but still - I just say "by card " and try to wave my mobile phone somewhere near their card apparatus. It it`s credit or debit, well, it`s printed on the card, but is it really that big a difference in the US?

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The weird one!
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

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

Don't you know who I am, how dare you ask me such a personal question 😀

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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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sarge-m , twitter.com Report

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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
Community Member
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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#19

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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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