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You know how you enter the store to get some milk, only to see the shelf full of pinot grigio right in the way, staring at you with no place to hide? This moment of pure impromptu is basically the essence of the “decisions were made here” meme that shows the lonely product (one intended to buy) standing in the midst of the indulgence section, whether it’s beer or ice cream.

But no matter how funny it may be in the joke format, the reality is a tiny bit different. It turns out, it’s one of the most annoying things customers do while shopping, according to supermarket employees—not even mentioning taking a thing out of its package and leaving it lying out somewhere.

Below is the list of seriously annoying stuff we should all quit immediately if we ever want good shopping karma.

#2

When People Stop In The Middle Of An Aisle And Act Like They're The Only Ones In The Store

When People Stop In The Middle Of An Aisle And Act Like They're The Only Ones In The Store

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#3

"If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You."

"If You Let Your Kids Do This, [screw] You."

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Bardhi's Dad
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really annoying. What kind of parents are them? How do they educate those children?

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Back in the 1950s and '60s, the vibe at supermarkets was totally different. According to author Blake Morgan, “brands treated customers like they didn’t have brain cells and used loud and obnoxious voices and obviously exaggerated print.”

It all changed with Ogilvy, the father of advertising who said that you gotta treat customers like you treat your family members. Because, essentially, they’re potential clients.

Then, the now-famous phrase “the customer is always right” was pioneered by successful retailers named Harry Gordon Selfridge, John Wanamaker, and Marshall Field. This approach stuck with us for many years to come, and it’s still in use today. But critics claim it doesn’t work in the current times.

#4

If You Really Love Your Heros, Consider This

If You Really Love Your Heros, Consider This

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Laugh or not
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, calling people 'heroes' for doing their jobs is a good way to pat them on the back, congratulate them and avoid thinking about work conditions and salaries.

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#5

"Retail Workers Know What I Mean"

"Retail Workers Know What I Mean"

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

Wait does that mean it actually doesn't look like that??? MY BRAIN CANNOT HANDLE THIS

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

"Are you sure you don't have one out back?" "Yes, we keep a few back so we don't sell them b/c we're in the business of not selling stuff."

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

"This isn't the back room! The back room is giant! This is a closet!" Ma'am/Sir, the backroom IS the closet.

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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked counting products with RGIS for a while. Long time ago. Counted everything from dollar General to best buy. Dollar general and dollar tree had tons of stuff in back. The Disney store in the Huntsville mall had tons off stuff in back ( I specifically remember this after 17 years because I accidentally dropped a mickey mouse snow globe and it shattered).

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

As a kid, I sometimes had to be in a store and the workers would guide me to the back because there is the employee toilet or something and it’s always superbig.

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

So true...I'm so tired of customers asking me "are you sure there's not more in the back room?" after I've told them five times "Everything we have is already out on the floor"

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

But the one in Walmart... whenever they open the doors it looks like that... Walmart lie??

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

This empty "supply" area is NOT the retail workers' fault. It is corporate management's fault. This is why I shop, primarily, online. I got sick of going to stores for a single item to be told, "it should be on the next truck" and I say "when will the truck be in" and be told "in a few days, maybe Thursday" and I say "will it have such and such" and they say "there is no way to know until it gets here" and I say "then why do they have computers ordering"? It is NOT the workers fault, it is management's "fault." But I am NOT going to go to ten different stores looking for something that may or may not be there. I just buy it online, now.

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

Hahahaha! Although, my regular grocery store's shelves were empty of Diet Coke & I asked if maybe it just hadn't been re-stocked yet. The cashier called (whomever) and he brought out 3 12 packs for me, as I was correct in they just hadn't gotten that far yet. It never hurts to ask, just don't assume they're purposefully withholding products from you.

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

My daughter used to work for a national retail chain. She would find customers in the stockroom demanding she find what they wanted. The store floor was out.

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

I work in grocery retail and the only time we have a dozen spare pallets full of freight are when the holiday display pallets come in. The ones to build all the pretty displays that get trashed daily.

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

A friend who worked for Tuesday Morning -- which doesn't have a stock room, everything is on the sales floor -- would tell customers, "Let me check," and disappear for a few minutes or go to the bathroom. Then reappear and say, "Sorry, that's all we have." People seemed much happier with that scenario.

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

yip we sell the stuff we don't make it .smile & say please come this way to customer service .When I get rude customers I speak to them same way they speak to me show them my badge ask them if they want me to call the manager most of the time they preferer too decline .YOUR HUMAN NOT A ROBOT

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

At Next in the UK, the back really was more like the right image. I think Next is unusual though.

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

Our storage area was just on the other side of swinging doors, I took them back, pushed open the door to prove it. However if there was just one box, perhaps one that hadn't been crushed yet, they were sure it was full of each item they wanted

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

Fun fact: mirror is used to show this space enormous in this final scene of Indiana Jones.

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

Oh, yeah. They always think all the best and freshest stuff is "in the back"

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

haha - We got rid of 'the back' in our store as we had daily deliveries - but people would think you were a d**k if you just said 'we have no back stock' - so I'd have to go and stand in the managers office for the time it would take to 'rummage and find' the non existent item WE KNOW OUR STOCK - IF ITS NOT THERE IT DOESNT EXIST - THATS WHY WE ADVISE ORDERING VIA OUR SERVICE

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

Also what groc shoppers don't understand is things like bread, chips and all kinds of other foods are brought in daily by vendors. So the stores don't have as much control over when it goes on shelves or if there's any backstock at all.

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

For some reason the Jurassic Park Theme song started playing in my head when I looked at the second picture.

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

Many of us would go to the back to chill for 5 mins when they asked to check the back....also one lady said if she could get a new shirt. I was confused....because we sold new clothing....she wanted one from the back.....we didn't have it. We always tagged everything and put it on the floor right away....some people just don't understand.

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

It's even WORSE when you work in a TINY store like 7-11!!! WHAT store room????!!!!

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

'll just go out the back and see if we have more.....stands out back staring at nothing....walks back out....nope I had a real good look we are all out.

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

In my country there's no thing as "the back" if the thing you're looking for is not there, well... is not there, period.

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Ty Stratton-Quirk
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Alright, I've called the back, and the item you want is being retrieved by top men." "Who, exactly, is looking for it?" "Top. Men."

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#6

Getting Told The Same Joke

Getting Told The Same Joke

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In the times of consumerism, customers are no longer the perfect beings worthy of praise. According to the author Alexander Kjerulf, sticking to the “customer is always right” mantra has multiple adverse effects.

It makes employees unhappy, it gives abrasive customers an unfair advantage, it results in worse customer service, and it ignores the fact that some customers are just plain wrong.

Even if being customer-centric is part of the customer experience, that doesn’t mean brands and companies have to follow it blindly. They should rather seek a smart balance in making both customers and their workers equally happy.

#7

"Working In Retail Is A Special Type Of Hell"

"Working In Retail Is A Special Type Of Hell"

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

When I was a kid, customers had to pay for stuff they dropped and destoyed. Doesn't seem a thing anymore.

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#9

Customers Who Don't Say Hi

Customers Who Don't Say Hi

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cybermerlin2000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always say Hi and I'm very cheerful about it because I feel like they have taken the time to be nice

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#10

When They Act Like Masks Don't Apply To Them

When They Act Like Masks Don't Apply To Them

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#12

All The Employees Have To Do Is Put Stuff Away...right?

All The Employees Have To Do Is Put Stuff Away...right?

"If you do this, f**k you."

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#13

When Customers Leave Stuff From Other Aisles In Places They Shouldn't Be

When Customers Leave Stuff From Other Aisles In Places They Shouldn't Be

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

You don't have to work in a supermarket to hate this...I feel for you all.

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#14

"I Think We All Can Relate. Am I Right?"

"I Think We All Can Relate. Am I Right?"

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

One of the things I really like about Germany. A simple „NEXT“ is common and completely sufficient.

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#15

When They Tell Employees Their Whole Life Story

When They Tell Employees Their Whole Life Story

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, I have heard about a women having a colonoscopy, a woman being a prostitute and that the fella with her was her pimp and bf, a guy with a big bandage telling me about his infection that was literally oozing pus etc. Some things we just don’t need or want to know.

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#17

When Guests Forget The Entire Reason Employees Are In The Store

When Guests Forget The Entire Reason Employees Are In The Store

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

But, the customers are only there because the store is open...? Then isn't it the fault of the management?

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#18

When They Walk In Just Before Closing

When They Walk In Just Before Closing

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

Just close the doors 5 to 10 minutes minutes before closing time and only let customers out. Common practice in the Netherlands.

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#19

When Customers Forget How A Store Works

When Customers Forget How A Store Works

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#20

When They Come .5 Seconds Before Closing Time

When They Come .5 Seconds Before Closing Time

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

In my country it is mandatory by law to have 'online cash registers' everywhere, that works like sending all data directly to some tax office or anything. It means if a shop is officially open from like 9 to 18, they can't sell you stuff AFTER 18, because register will note the tax office that out of business hours this shop was doing business. Therefore, shops can legally tell people who come this late that sorry, if you can't make your purchase in the next ten seconds, we can't legally serve you.

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#21

"Black Friday As A Wal-Mart Employee."

"Black Friday As A Wal-Mart Employee."

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#22

When Customers Leave Their Dirty Trash In The Carts

When Customers Leave Their Dirty Trash In The Carts

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

When one fails to understand the simple fact that the supermarket employee is not their mom, and therefore not there to clean up after them.

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#24

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Bardhi's Dad
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Well, let me think a bit about this generous offer you made... NO!"

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#25

Even Though Zebra Says 1 But Not Binned In Anywhere

Even Though Zebra Says 1 But Not Binned In Anywhere

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Bardhi's Dad
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You just go in the back, rest for 5 minutes and come back to tell him "No. We don't have it. I checked everywhere"

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#26

Things-Supermarket-Employees-Hate

Things-Supermarket-Employees-Hate

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A.M. Pierre
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet I did get charged twice at a bookstore once when this happened. Took forever to get my money back. I realize that's an exception, not the rule, but I am wary now.

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#27

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

Actually... my wardrobe looks like this. But i didn't shop any outfit since a year so, it'just my wardrobe.

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#28

"Why I Hate Working In Retail."

"Why I Hate Working In Retail."

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#29

When Customers Disappear After Employees Go Into The Back To Get Something For Them

When Customers Disappear After Employees Go Into The Back To Get Something For Them

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Bardhi's Dad
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me the scene with Rowan Atkinson and Alan Rickman in the movie "Love Actually"

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#30

Cough Cough

Cough Cough

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel awful for my son. He spits when he talks because of a few reasons. He has a lateral lisp which causes excess saliva and he has low muscle tone in his mouth which causes him to still dribble and not have as much control as most people do. I worry how that will impact him as he gets older.

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#32

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

But sometimes people who don't work at a store can be found folding things because they unfolded them.

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#33

When People Leave Food In A Cart

When People Leave Food In A Cart

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

Carts need a sign, like, “Don’t complain about rising prices of food when you do this s**t!”

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#34

When People Take Something Out Of Its Package And Just Leave It There

When People Take Something Out Of Its Package And Just Leave It There

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

I admit: I did that once or twice. The packaging had no information about the fabric on it, but I need that info for my decision. Afterwards I really really tried getting the stuff back in the packaging, but gave up after 5 to 10 minutes. If the damn manufacturer is not able to print the f*****g type of fabric on the packaging and I have no chance getting the stuff back in the packaging because it was packed under a vacuum... sorry. And yes. I asked staff about the type of fabric, and mostly the answer is a blank stare and an „I don’t know...“

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#35

When They Beckon An Employee Over Like They're A Trained Animal

When They Beckon An Employee Over Like They're A Trained Animal

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#36

Things Supermarket Employees Hate

Things Supermarket Employees Hate

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

Customers hate being asked this, too. Why does it matter? Is there a price differential?

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#37

Who Just Decided "No" On The TV?

Who Just Decided "No" On The TV?

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#38

When They Don't Recognize The Difference Between In-Store And Online

When They Don't Recognize The Difference Between In-Store And Online

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

So the customer went the extra mile to check if the item he wants is still in stock before he makes the trip, with a service the store provides for exactly that purpose, and you hate him for it? Wow. That’s entitled.

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#39

"98% Of Customers Are Illiterate"

"98% Of Customers Are Illiterate"

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troufaki13
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes this discount applies only to certain items and it isn't always clear which one

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#40

People Who Shop At The Absolute Last Minute

People Who Shop At The Absolute Last Minute

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In a way I wish we had coupons like they do in the US but as a past checkout operator I am also glad we don’t. Takes up so much time.

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