20+ Retail workers whose customers drove them crazy: 'No exceptions... until a customer complains loudly'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jul 16, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Some customers will find an item without a price tag on it and start insisting that actually, since it's unmarked, it's free. This is the kind of "joke" that the customer thinks is hilarious… and the cashier has heard 5 times this week. Plus, some customers will then clarify that they aren't joking, and they really do think that cantaloupe or rotisserie chicken should be totally free just because it doesn't have a price sticker on it. These folks are a special kind of dimwitted, and there are plenty of ways that customers bug the good retail staffers of the world with their inane questions. 

My retail pet peeve was when people tried to pay by check at a fast food restaurant that did not accept payment in that way. This was in the 2010s, and even then, that was just not really a way that most stores accepted payment anymore. It had to be cash, credit, or debit. Like no, sir, you cannot pay for a $10 burger meal with a check. "Why?" Because I can't accept it. "Why not?" Because I have no way to cash some random person's check personal check, and neither does anyone else at the store! This isn't the 1950s anymore. And more importantly, the person at the cash register doesn't make the big decisions, someone at HQ making 100x more money decides that. Even after hearing "no" several times, many people would still insist on talking to the manager…who would tell them the exact same thing all over again. 

That's because some customers are conditioned into complaining until they get a free meal or steep discount on whatever they're buying. They love that "customer is always right" mentality. They're happy to hand cashiers a crumpled handful of change totalling about $5, then insist there's at least $20 there, because "they counted." Others will wreck the fitting rooms and leave their clothing scattered all over, and some just want to watch the world burn as they leave random merchandise all over random store shelves. Just ask the retail workers of the world, who can tell you all about it down below. 

Then, read about some employees who couldn't believe how incompetent their coworkers were, like one person who shared, "We sent 10k copies of a useless calendar to a client." 

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  • 01
    annemg Managers who don't back you up. It's always "This is the rule, no matter what, no exceptions", until a customer complains loudly, then a manager will show up and make you look like an idiot.
    via u/annemg
  • 02
    TheGow I use to work in Retail and that job made me hate people. People who can't read the price. It's right there under the item but they have to come and ask me how much it is. And people who only hand you one item at a time for you to scan so they can
    via u/TheGow
  • 03
    make sure it rings up the right price. Which pretty much slows down the line so much it backs it up. And people who tell me stupid sh thinking it's funny like "You look bored, here let me give you something to do" When I'm standing at the register. And people who don't have enough money, but bring a sh ton of stuff up to the
    via u/TheGow
  • 04
    register and makes you total the order after scanning every item so they tell you when to stop. Then they take their time deciding which items they want more so you have to void stuff so they can add other stuff.
    via u/TheGow
  • 05
    People who talk on their cell phones and ignore you while you are checking them out. You try to ask them questions but they ignore you. And then afterward they want to fuss at you for something that you actually tried to ask them earlier. Or holding up the line to finish their call before they pay. Carrying a single check with them in their pocket so its all wrinkled when they give it to
    via u/TheGow
  • 06
    you and and check machine doesn't want to read it. Not understanding that some produce it priced by pound and getting ped when their huge bag of grapes or apples rings up 5. bucks when they thought it was just 95 cents. Not putting sh back on the shelf where they found it.
    via u/TheGow
  • 07
    kampamaneetti • Me at the beginning of the transaction, "Do you need a bag for this?" Customer, not paying attention "no." Me at the end of the transaction, "Thank you and have a nice day." Customer (with attitude) "EXCUSE me, can I have a bag?"
    via u/kampamaneetti
  • 08
    . Change first and then the bills into my hand please, the coins slip all over the paper, and don't give me a dirty look when it takes me 5 seconds longer because I've dropped half your change. • Moist money • Americans, please stop making fun of the $1 coins, they're called "loonies" because
    via u/kampamaneetti
  • 09
    there's a loon on one side, not because Canadians are simply trying to be ridiculous. Why the f can't people stack baskets? • If you hit on me, don't get p ed because I reject you, I would never be within 10 feet of you in the real world. • Yes I look young, f you, you're old.
    via u/kampamaneetti
  • 10
    No, I cannot make anything "less heavy." • The customer is wrong 95% of the time. I don't give you sh when you make a mistake, so don't give me sh if I do. I'm not doing it on purpose, I'm human, and trust me I do everything I possibly can to do everything perfectly, it's not fun for me to embarrass myself.
    via u/kampamaneetti
  • 11
    . Try to remember I'm not working this job at minimum wage because I enjoy it, I'm scraping by, just like you once were. • I'm not less of a person just because I'm serving you. • At least try to be discreet about checking your receipt, instead of glancing at
    via u/kampamaneetti
  • 12
    . me distrustfully while going over it at the end of the checkout. • It's not my fault if a . price is wrong. • Cell phone, get off it. Thank you for reading.
    via u/kampamaneetti
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10530390784
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 14
    babypton I'd have to agree with what you said about the money. sometimes people just THROW THEIR MONEY AT ME. Especially when its all crumpled... Also, When people leave their trash right in front of a trash can, but dont throw it away.
    via u/babypton
  • 15
    [... • Where's store X? Can you give me direction to store X? Do you know if store X is open? Is store X blah, blah blah? and etc... NO!!! Why the f would I memorize details of another store when I work here?!? | had a guy actually call in to ask me the phone number and address of a competing
    via u/[deleted]
  • 16
    business (he knew he was calling the business I am working at). • I want this at Y price because: some unintelligible argument / it has a microscopic scratch / i'm a customer/i'm cheap / it was on sale 2 months ago / it's old / i don't understand the concept of supply and demand/ etc..
    via u/[deleted]
  • 17
    • I don't like your company's policies so I will bother you lowly retail workers on end because I know I can ramble on and on knowing that if you were to say anything back, i'd complain and try to get you fired. Okay buddy, I'll just walk over to my computer and accommodate your frivolous requests without any
    via u/[deleted]
  • 18
    managerial or corporate approval. • (related to OP) Here's your $19.73 in change I left on the counter even though you had your hand out in anticipation to accept a large amount of change. • Do you have any iPhone. 4s? or When are you getting any in? (500 times a day)
    via u/[deleted]
  • 19
    NOOOOOOOO. It's only been 3 weeks since the release date and the world is out of stock. What makes you think I have any? Even if I did...there would be a large lineup and they'd be gone in less than an hour. • Could you hold an (incredibly highly desirable product) for me? and give me a call my cell/home.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 20
    F off... really? You want me to risk my job to get you some more material bulls (that you don't need) even though this product will sell itself without any help at all. (I think you know where I work...) there are more.... f really need to vent.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 21
    wizardsbaker i work at a cigar shop...my biggest pet peeve is when a customer comes in and is looking for a cigar that he had 2 years ago. He doesn't remember the name. He got it in Florida. It was brown and had red on the band. Oh, and it tasted really good. They expect me to have whatever it is they're talking about and get genuinely upset when I
    via u/wizardsbaker
  • 22
    inform them that they just described 94% of the cigars I sell and, because he doesn't remember the name, I have no idea what cigar he's describing. What the hol is that sho!?
    via u/wizardsbaker
  • 23
    Kaberu Required add-ons. "You must sell x% of this single product" or "You must sign up x people every day for our mailing list/discount card/credit card." Otherwise, YOU'RE FIRED! Look people: if you track percentages of single items (I'm looking at you Game
    via u/Kaberu
  • 24
    Informer @ Gamestop!) to such a degree that it's better to turn away or ignore a customer that's not interested, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!!! You know what's even better? When those goals are based on "company averages"... uh, how the h I is every store supposed to beat the company average? If every store does
    via u/Kaberu
  • 25
    better, that just raises the company average! You will ALWAYS have approximately half the stores above average, and half the stores below average... that's the point of averages! I'm not a math whiz, but statistically speaking, you do realize you people are morons, right?
    via u/Kaberu
  • 26
    Cheezburger Image 10530391296
    via freestocks on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 27
    squidkid People who can't/won't control their kids.
    via u/squidkid
  • 28
    Eleglac While checking to see if a big bill is legit: "HAW HAW I JUST PRINTED IT THIS MORNING"
    via u/Eleglac
  • 29
    Fortunately I have come up with a standard response: "You did a good job, sir, the ink didn't even smudge!" And that is how you turn a pet peeve into a happier customer.
    via u/Eleglac
  • 30
    Chief_White_Half... Working in deli, it's when the store closes at 9:00 and now it's 9:05 and I have very diligently cleaned my machine and a customer wants me to cut some meat.
    via u/Chief_White_Halfoat
  • 31
    FFS you couldn't come while the store was open could you? And if I tell you the machine is now soaked in chemicals, don't complain that the store is still open and you still expect me to cut meat. It's only open because you refuse to leave.
    via u/Chief_White_Halfoat
  • 32
    [deleted] I'll go ahead and add one: Bargain shoppers • These prices are not negotiable The coupon says "online only/Not for electronics/Not for this sh you're buying". It won't work, I'll tell you it won't work, I'll try it, Well lookit that! Didn't work!
    via u/[deleted]
  • 33
    No, I won't mark down the display model any further, it's already marked down. Someone else will buy it for that price. • Don't buy $200 worth of groceries to then pour over your receipt, notice one extra package of Koolaid rung in, and then stop me in the middle of my next transaction. Just
    via u/[deleted]
  • 34
    go to customer service. Go ahead and buy it at Wal-Mart then.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 35
    Cheezburger Image 10530391552
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 36
    [deleted] Things that bother me are: People not looking at signs and asking me where stuff is. Not putting stuff back where it belongs when they don't want it anymore (I once found an onion in one of the freezers). Carts not put in corrals and just pushed around. Putting cash/change/card on the belt (A guy lost his because
    via u/[deleted]
  • 37
    of this). People thinking I'm being ride when I'm not. Being bothered or mad because "their" product isn't available to them. Going into a lane that is clearly closed because they think they are so god special.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 38
    gorlock14 I worked PC sales, and I really wanted to get the customer computer that made the most sense for them. I hated being asked for the best cheapest computer. That tells me nothing, and I have no idea what the real question is. Those traits are mutually exclusive.
    via u/gorlock14
  • 39
    11218
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 40
    [deleted] Working at Costco, I get the same jokes from customers over and over. So when you're at Costco, please: • Don't pretend you don't have your membership card • Don't ask if I need to see the receipt for your children on the way out (six times in one day I got this)
    via u/[deleted]
  • 41
    • Don't suggest something without the tag/barcode is free and laugh heartily at the clever joke I've already heard twice today • Don't refuse to show your membership card when I request it, tease me, then finally smile and hand it over (three times in a row one day)
    via u/[deleted]
  • 42
    However if you notice it's begun to rain as you approach the exit door, feel free to ask, "Is it raining?" About 8 out of 10 people do this. It starts to sound ridiculous from my perspective, and sometimes I want to shout "YES IT'S RAINING YOU G D IN MORONS" but mostly it's hilarious.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 43
    I know they're just trying to make polite conversation or try to bring something personal into what otherwise would be a very impersonal interaction, but it just gets. so old. Also, I do know my name is a palindrome. I've been informed of this four times in the past week.
    via u/[deleted]

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Tags

cash register retail shopping retail worker customers terrible customers working cashier workplace pet peeves shoppers
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