'I got to continually tell customers "No"': Pet store employee and wise boss gets satisfying revenge on entitled customers

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 19, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Customers do not read the signs in the store. You can say whatever you want — "Well, I read the signs in the store, it's not all customers!" — but sadly, you're wrong. Customers often technically can read signage, but for whatever reason, they don't absorb any of the information displayed. Then they march right up to the nearest employee to ask them the question that the sign would've answered for them, had they bothered to skim it. 

Workers can put up a bright red sign that says "80% off items with red tags." They will then spend all day answering questions like "Why are there red tags on these items?" and "What price is this red-tag item?" or "Are you having any sales today?" It simply doesn't matter, and I imagine there's some kind of psychology behind the reason that customers don't understand what a clearly written sign is trying to tell them. I think some customers are very focused on getting their item and getting out, and they just don't absorb new information because of this intense level of focus.

This person had to deal with a nightmare scenario at their pet store job: the registers are down. This means it's cash only in a year when a lot of people just don't even carry cash anymore. Their boss hung a huge red sign on the door, then added a few more signs, but that didn't stop customers from trying to buy items with their cards. 

Customers are so weird, too. They'll hear that the registers are down, and that they have to pay with cash. Then, they demand to speak to the manager, as if the manager can wave a magic wand and make a Point of Sale system reboot and work again. It's so ridiculous, and you can read the entire story below. 

Next up, check out this wild photo that a customer captured at a fast-food restaurant of a maintenance man standing on the food prep area: "Is this standard procedure?" 

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  • 01

    "The day I got to continually tell customers 'No' was a great day"

    Woman in pink shirt looking upset and shrugging with tan puppy in pet store in background
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

  • 02
    This was years ago but I still remember it fondly. It was a day that all the yelling in the world didn't matter. Our boss said no exceptions. Also, customers don't read anything for sh.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 03
    I worked at a major pet store and we'd get pretty busy on the weekends. We had 4 registers total and would run them all during the Saturday rush.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 04
    Cat looking out of store window with postcards in background
    via Erik Witsoe on Unsplash+

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

  • 05
    Well, one day our card system went down in a strange way. It WOULD process the credit cards, but it would literally take about 4 minutes from card swipe to approval. That really adds up.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 06
    We were informed by corporate they were working on the problem but it was likely to last for hours.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 07
    So our boss wisely did everything possible. She put a sign in great big red letters about the problem and hung it on the door. She put a sign on one of our registers up high so it was visible from the floor that it was a cash only register. She put a sign on the column near the register that this register was cash only.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 08
    Tan puppy in pet store in background
    via Daisy D on Unsplash+

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

  • 09
    She put me on the cash only register cause she knew I wasn't easily intimidated. She told me that under no exceptions was I to accept cards at that register.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 10
    The lines were LONG. It could literally take someone over 30 minutes to get through a credit card line. But of course the cash only one is moving right along.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 11
    So people would see that and move from the credit card lines to my line. They'd get to the front and I'd tell them it was cash only.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 12
    "Your other line was taking too long!" "I've only got one thing!" "I'm in a hurry!" Nope. Sorry. Go back to the other line.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 13
    Early on I made the mistake of telling one customer that I could run cards but my system was messing up like the others. They reached out their card to me. I said no. They told me I just told them I could take it. I said I won't.
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 14
    They threatened to get a manager. I asked who did they think told me to refuse the card. Rinse and repeat that scenario for hours. (Though I did start lying and saying my machine was completely broken)
    via u/PhoenixApok
  • 15
    But I admit I took a lot of pleasure in telling people that tried to cut or just didn't read the multiple bright red signs they had to pass that nope. Don't care if you're at the front of this line. Go to the back of that one.
    via u/PhoenixApok

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customer service workplace-stories jobs job pets work customers workplace pet store
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