Oh, I feel for you. I used to work in retail.
Besides people who didn't have the common courtesy to say things like : "please" "thank you" "have a good day, too." -
My "favorite" memories:
1. All the jerks who wait til Christmas Eve to shop when they have the whole friggin year. Then it is OUR fault there are long lines and we don't have THE BOOK they promised to buy someone. No, they don't want a gift certificate which can be used in any of our stores plus Borders around the entire country. No, they don't want another book which is similar and very good. Only THAT BOOK! None of the other thousands in stock will do. How DARE we not have it?
2. Woman who came in asking for a novel. Co-worker told her we didn't have it in stock (this was a book I'd never even heard of) but we'd be happy to order it for her. Co-worker proceeds to tell her ordering is free, book would come in within 3 days, and she's under no obligation to buy it. We just shelf it if she changes her mind. Woman proceeds to start screaming at the top of her lungs that our store sucks for not having the book she wants and then literally grabs some books and starts throwing them at us.
3. Woman who let her son throw ALL of the childrens books onto the floor. And seemed perplexed when I asked her to please have him pick them up.
I could go on and on...
I loved getting back at them. Once, I was working alone. Got about 5 people in line. The phone rings. Store policy said I had to answer phone within 3 rings. (if district manager caught you not doing so there was hell to pay. yes, she was psycho). I answer the phone, ask person to please hold the line. Go back to register. Woman in front of line asks me if I would find a book for her. I run to get it. As I come back, I overhear the woman behind that woman complaining about how long it was taking. I hand the book to the first woman who thanks me. Then, as I ring her up, I smiled quite ruefully, "God, I've been alone here all day. I could really use some help! Would any of you like to stay and help me? Things would move so much faster. I have to ring up customers, answer the phone, help people find things. Our daily shipment just came in. Almost twenty boxes. I have to receive all the books with our scanner, then I have to shelf them..." The second woman who'd been bitching turned totally red and looked down at the floor.