# Post your memorable encounter with a brain-dead clerk.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 2, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236 "2003-09-02T23:57:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/81 "2003-09-06T02:43:28Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Qazzz \*  
> \*\ ***Danceswithcats** , is that a real place? The bunny place? Your post had me laughing so hard! 🙂 Bunny-Butt cola! 😃  
> \*\*

No, sadly I must confess that Boo-Boo Bunny is a creation of my warped mind when I’ve had too little sleep and much too much time to think of stuff like that! 😃

Can I get you a Bunnyriffic shake with that? :eek:

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**Author:** ![store-clerk-slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@store-clerk-slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/store-clerk-slacker)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/82 "2003-09-06T03:47:51Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \*  
> \*\ ***store-clerk-slacker** Relax! This thread is about human foibles we all recognize. \*\*

LOL…I truly did not mean for that to sound like a rant in anyway, I merely reacted to the posts that I read, from yes, having a bad day. WE all have out “slapping the forehead moments”, I have at least two a day, so that I will agree and I do see the humor in SOME of the posts…lol

But I would like to share my “brain dead customer” moment…I work in a video store now, and we are a bit old fashioned in the sense that we dont use a computer, our register is from the late 60’s (no kidding) and we write everything down on tickets, persons name, movie titles, price…ect…I had this guy come in the other day…wandered around for about 115 min and then approached me…

me: Can I help you?

bdc: Yuh, where are your new releases?

me: In each section, the top 3 shelves, genrally in the middle

bdc walks over grabs a movie, brings it to me…has a HUGE yellow sticker on it that says “NEW RELEASE” …says: Is this one a new release??

me:err…yeah

bdc: How do you know? Theres alot of movies in here…I’m sure its hard to keep track of ALL the new ones

me: See that BIG yellow sticker???(points to sticker)

bdc: (confused look) yuh…what about it?

me: sighs…what does it say?

bdc: “New Release”…so what…that doesnt mean…( sarcastic grin on my face as I then see him finally get it)

bdc: OHHHHH!!! der…I guess that BIG yellow sticker saying "new Release is my first clue huh? :smack:(laffin) I’ll take this one

I get that conversation at least 5xs a day…lol

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**Author:** ![jesleigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@jesleigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesleigh)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/83 "2003-09-06T04:49:36Z")

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Anyone care to start a post about brainless customers? Then, I can help out, A LOT! ( I work retail pharmacy, and I just got off an 8 hour shift)

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**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/84 "2003-09-06T05:46:15Z")

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Out of the blue, I just remembered a brief encounter of my own.

A couple three years back, we were at some theme park or another, with a group of visiting relatives. We walked past a small concession stand (one of the smaller hot-dog-stand looking umbrella carts that are scattered about such parks) and I decided to grab a drink.

I wait in line behind two or three other likeminded folks, get to the front of the line, and order a soda. The total was some amount just below $3. I paid for the drink with a single (that’s $1) and a $2 bill.

I guess the uncommon $2 bill threw the counter girl’s routine off somethin’ fierce, as she looked from me, to the bill, to the girl working the stand with her, and 'round again about three times, before finally whispering something to her coworker.

All was made clear when the coworker replied, “Yes, there is such a thing. Give the man his change.”

Gave me a giggle, anyway.

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**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/85 "2003-09-06T07:03:56Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sarcastic Fringehead \*  
> \*\*Me: Keep the change.
> 
> ::clerk hands me two dimes and a penny::
> 
> ::I get my internalized frustration smile::
> 
> Take my money, dammit! \*\*

Company rules at many places prevent employees from keeping the change. If we put the money into the register, the till will go over and cause trouble. If we pocket the money, it looks like we’re stealing. We can’t take your money, dammit!

Me as a braindead clerk at Hop-a-Long Video:

Customers would bring in coupons that said “Get any video or game for only 99 cents each for up to three movies or games!” Trouble is, most people would give the coupon to me before they gave me their movies. Coupon gets set aside and quickly forgotten. “That will be $12.39!” say I, cheerily. Customer stares blankly. 10 seconds later: “I gave you a coupon.” I apologize and scan the coupon. Now, this wouldn’t be so bad if it only happened once or twice. In my time at Hop-a-Long Video, I probably received 100-150 coupons. I pulled the disappearing coupon trick on a third. Of course, I also had braindead customers who managed to miss the large-type “EACH” on the coupon, and would wonder why I was charging them $3.24 when “it should be a dollar, dammit!”

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**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/86 "2003-09-06T12:09:26Z")

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After a really long day at the Dairy Queen, I once answered the drive-thru with “Hi, welcome to Taco Bell, how can I help you?” After a long, puzzled silence from the microphone, I realized that I didn’t work at Taco Bell.

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**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/87 "2003-09-06T12:45:23Z")

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I’m at the grocery store check out lane. I put the white plastic divider between my groceries and the person behind me.

Clerk rings up my groceries, then swipes the divider. Several times. And says “Do you know how much this is?”

Me: Excuse me?

Clerk: This won’t scan. Do you know the price, or should I get a price check?

At that point, I am totally bemused. I glance at the customer behind me, who has his head down and his shoulders are shaking with surpressed laughter.

Me (through clenched teeth): I changed my mind. I don’t want it anymore.

I completed my purchase, got out of there, sat on the outside bench and laughed myself silly.

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-memorable-encounter-with-a-brain-dead-clerk/199236/88 "2003-09-06T15:24:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tortuga \*  
> \*\*The mind boggled, I mean, really. What kind of weirdo orders two buns and bacon as “double bacon cheeseburger plain?”  
> \*\*

My wife would go to McDonalds and order a Filet-O-Fish sandwich, hold the fish.:eek:

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