(This customer bought a couple packs of white t-shirts and socks.)
Me: “Your total is $28.77.”
Customer: “Were the shirts on sale?”
Me: “Yes, they were $2 off.”
Customer: “How do you know?”
Me: “…because that’s what the sale price is. See? It shows it here on the register screen.”
Customer: “Oh okay. But were they on sale?”
Me: “Yes.”
Customer: “Okay. Were the socks on sale?”
Me: “No.”
Customer: “Why not?”
Me: “Our sales change weekly and this week these socks aren’t on sale.”
Customer: “Why not?”
Me: “Because they aren’t on sale this week.”
Customer: “But why?”
Me: “I don’t know…corporate decides the sales.”
Customer: “Oh okay. What’s the total?”
Me: “$28.77.”
(The customer gives me $40 and I give him his $11.23. I used two $5 bills instead of a 10 because I didn’t have any 10s in my till.)
Customer: “I want a 10, I don’t want two fives!”
Me: “Sorry, I don’t have any tens in my drawer. I only have fives.”
Customer: “Why do you think that is?”
Me: “Well, when I get change from my supervisors they just give me fives. They don’t usually have any tens. And also customers just don’t usually pay with tens.”
Customer: “But why do you think that is?”
Me: “I don’t really know. Probably because the customers usually get money from ATMs and they only give out twenties.”
Customer: “Why do you think that is?”
Me: “I don’t know. I guess the banks just think that people really just need twenties.”
Customer, frustrated: “Wait, why are we talking about banks?”
Me: “I don’t know, you brought it up.”
Customer: “I don’t want two fives, I want a ten!”
Me: “Go ask at customer service. They might have some.”
Customer: “Why do you think that is?”
(I call the manager who gets the guy his ten. He finally leaves after asking me again if the socks were on sale.)