50 Strange And Surprising Requests Customer Service Workers Handle Every Day

Retail’s wildest customer requests will leave you laughing—and cringing!

Damjan

• Published in Interesting
• December 4, 2024

Customer service jobs come with their own set of challenges. Workers in these roles often have to deal with customers who need help with simple tasks, but sometimes, the requests they get can be downright strange.

Many customers don’t know how to do basic things, and that’s where the frustration starts. For example, one person might ask how to open a bag of chips, while another might need help downloading a website or turning on a phone that’s been off for weeks.

It’s not just confusion over products—sometimes customers ask for things that don’t make sense. Imagine calling a pet store and asking if they sell lawnmower parts.

While some requests can be funny, they also remind us that many people lack basic knowledge about what different businesses offer. Even when workers give helpful answers, some customers still argue, insisting they haven’t gotten the help they need.

Many retail workers share these experiences, and social media has become a place for them to vent about the wild requests they receive. Though these stories might seem funny, they show the difficulty of customer service. Employees must stay calm, even when dealing with bizarre or frustrating requests.

We've collected a selection of posts and pictures from retail workers that will hit a nerve for anyone who's worked in a customer-facing role.

One customer once asked how to open a bag of chips over the phone!

"Pretty Much Sums It Up"

"Be Gone Karen"

"These Signs Should Be Posted At Every CVS"

"Abusive Customers"

"This Has Happened Multiple Times Already"

"Think I'm Getting The Point Across?"

"Anyone Else Have These Problems?"

"Up At 4 Am Every Day 😢"

"No Lies Detected"

"When A Customer Starts Calling You By The Name On Your Name Tag"

"Very Interesting Story... But I Still Need An ID To Check"

"😔"

"I’ve Experienced This At CVS More Than Anywhere Else I’ve Ever Worked"

"Let Me Have A Word With My Supervisor"

"🤣🤣"

"When An Old Person Tells You "Well, You Just Lost A Paying Customer!"

"Can You Take That Off?"

"Since My Last One Blew Up Here's 3 More 🤓"

"All The Time"

"Yep"

"😂"

"This Is A Fact"

"Relatable"

"🙃"

"Excuse Me Is Your Pharmacy Open???"

"When You Can't Take Their Coupons"

"Everyday At CVS"

“Why Can’t You Take This?”

"Please. Shut Up!"

"Why Can't They Just Stare At Their Phones In Line Instead"

"Damn Chip Readers"

"Got My First Complaint About My Appearance!"

"Photo Department? Never Heard Of Her"

"Is It Filled Yet???"

"When You’ve Spent The Last 15 Minutes Frantically Looking For A Lady’s Photo Order And You Finally Find It Under Her Maiden Name And She Goes, “I Haven’t Gone By That Name In Five Years. How Funny, Right?!”

"Already Got 10 Calls In An Hour Get Out Of My Head Get Out Of M"

"One Sign Didn't Seem To Be Enough For Some People"

"😂😂"

"Some Memes I Made So We Can Laugh At The Stupidity"

“It Just Says Processing, Why Is It Not Taking My Card?”

"LOL"

"CVS Might Win The Award For Worst Customers In The World"

"Just Gonna Leave This Here"

"When An Elderly Customer Walks Up To The Photo Kiosk, Spends.0002 Seconds Looking At The Screen, And Makes Eye Contact With You From Across The Store"

"The Pharmacy Close At 7:00pm Pharmacy Line At 6:51 Pm"

"All Of Us On A Daily Basis"

"Yes, Yes, Go On"

"Since My Last One Blew Up Here's 3 More 🤓"

"Change"

"Found This In The Customer Bathroom Today…"

Patience and empathy are essential when dealing with customers and service staff. While some requests might be amusing or frustrating, they often reflect struggles with basic tasks that can lead to more significant issues for everyone involved.

Service workers are constantly tested, requiring them to stay calm, professional, and supportive, especially in unpredictable situations. The takeaway is simple: kindness and a willingness to help make all the difference, even with the slightest requests.

Damjan