Retail is like the Wild West: it's vast and untamed. And who needs to maintain composure in the midst of such mayhem, in your humble opinion? That's the customer service agent, of course. The story that follows is from a disappointed sales department employee. The Original Poster (OP) holds a job at a small business located in the neighborhood shopping center. The business has had to deal with an increase in theft lately. Unfortunately, due to the shopping center's numerous rules and restrictio…

Communication is the secret to success. Communication is the key to finding solutions for many issues. The story that follows shows how effective communication can, in certain situations, result in an early issue diagnosis. Below is the account of a pleased youth soccer team coach. OP recalls participating in the municipal recreation league a few years back. There were two fields accessible at the time: one was a large, well-kept, very distant field with enough seating for parents watching thei…

Even if you are the most friendly person in the world, even if you love people and constantly enjoy having company, one thing constantly remains a challenge, and that is having roommates. Having to live with someone you don't know so well is an experience that is hard to describe. Each of you has your own habits, house rules you grew up on, and pet peeves, and finding the middle ground usually seems impossible. Many succeed with that task, but some fail miserably. Like the person who wrote this…

An entitled customer, who the OP claims was a total Kevin, got instant karma when he tried to make the innocent retail employees' lives miserable over a return. In the following story, 'Kevin' would not accept the store's policy of in-store credit refund for his item. So, he decided to cause a scene for the poor employees on shift who don't even have a say in the store's policy. So, whether Kevin blew up or not, there wasn't anything they could do about it.

It's nearly impossible to stay up to date with technology. The rate at which the world changes is almost unfathomable. However, what happens if you deliberately select outdated technology to guarantee a smooth transition, only to be left with a dysfunctional device? The story that follows tells the account of a son who purchases a flip phone for his elderly father. OP chooses an easy-to-manage cellphone for his father, who can no longer keep up with the rapid advancements in technology. However…

There are a few general rules to be aware of as a self-sufficient adult prepared to take on the world. First is that you should never, ever irritate the person working at the front desk. This covers lodging facilities, dining establishments, nightclubs, the grocery store, and—above all—the representative handling your airline seat. The story that follows is an account of a resourceful small airline representative. At that point, having worked in the field for years, OP was acquainted with a few…

There will always be those who believe we are gifted and capable of achieving success in life, and there will always be others who think we will never amount to anything worthwhile. The secret to success is to never give up and to never allow someone to bring you down. The story that follows is from a frustrated student. OP has been studying to teach art. As part of his training, he must work as an assistant to a senior faculty art teacher for six months. Although OP was ecstatic to have the op…

When living in one flat with several roommates its is so important to keep a somewhat pleasant environment in the household. To keep the peace, there are a few thumb rules that everyone should know before moving in with someone else. The first rule of thumb would be never to take your roommate's belonging with out their permission (even if you are just ‘borrowing’ it). The second rule would be to always clean up after yourself. And lastly, well, when ‘entertaining’, always let the others know t…

Hierarchy is the cornerstone of the business world. There will always be subordinates and superiors in the organization based on seniority and experience. But what would happen if you were caught in the middle of an argument, or perhaps a more accurate description, an ego clash, between two of your managers? Well, the story below is an account of a dissatisfied store salesperson. OP has worked at a single shop for the past six months. Six months is a century in the retail industry, particularly…

It's critical that you and your landlord get along. Maintaining a positive relationship with your landlord could make or break the rest of your stay at that specific apartment complex. But what if, in spite of all your hard efforts, your landlord still considers you offensive? In the story below, a furious tenant recounts how he's devised the perfect scheme to exact revenge on his entitled landlord. For context, let me say that OP and his partner recently moved into a new apartment building, bu…

The business world is cruel. They take great pride in their well-known motto, which emphasizes the value of family and how they treat their staff as one large, happy family. But when the chips are down, who gets pushed aside first? Yes, exactly. Think about that for a moment. The story that follows is from a dissatisfied hotel employee. At the time of the incident, OP had been managing multiple duties. He drove the shuttle for one of the airline crews and was responsible for loading and unloadi…

It's important to keep a friendly relationship with your neighbors. Depending on how you play your cards, they could either be your greatest ally or your worst enemy. However, what would happen if your neighbor turned out to be the devil dressed like an angel? This is the story of the new guy on the block. OP moved to a new, developing neighborhood with his lady love. They were ecstatic about starting a new chapter in their lives and moving to their new home. However, things changed when the un…

Some like to complain, while others take pleasure in solving problems. However, for a strange reason, we always encounter the 50% of the population who get their kicks from criticizing and complaining about those around them. The account that follows is the story of an innocent bystander who was the target of an irate customer who was attempting to mail an item through the postal office. At this point, you probably think this is just another typical event. Unfortunately, it probably is. But thi…

Finding work is harder than it looks. We don't even begin to consider all the little details that go into our future careers when we apply for a job. like, off the top of my mind, a mandatory background check? In the story below, OP runs the risk of losing his job because his background check does not match the information he provided on his resume or in his interviews. However because he was forced to sign a confidentiality agreement with his prior employers, OP failed to disclose some of the…

The account that follows is the story of an extremely entitled mother who finally learned valuable life lessons such as never accepting candy from strangers, setting boundaries, and being cautious around strangers. The story starts when OP invites her kids to the water park. Unfortunately, OP's severe motion sickness prevents her from enjoying the rides with her children. However, because being a mom requires sacrifice, OP arrived on site prepared, clutching a bag full of ginger candies that wo…

Keeping a cordial relationship with your neighbors is vital. It's the kind of connection where I scratch your back and you scratch mine. You don't have to be best buddies who hang out 24/7, but at the very least, you should be considerate of them. The story below is an account of a frustrated and petty neighbor. This man is one of the nicest people I've ever heard of, so don't let his current status fool you. I would stop at nothing to have him as a neighbor. It was a wintry, stormy night when…