Anyone who works in retail knows the struggle of dealing with people who just have no sense in their minds at all. You deal with crazy people, people who don’t have time for it and people who do not want to watch their kids. Regardless of who they are, I deal with them on a consistent basis and this is why I deserve an award:

1. For always repeating myself like I am a robot.

Customer: "Where are the bathrooms?"

Me: "Down the steps to the right."

*three seconds later*

"Where are the bathrooms?"

2. For reading to customers like they are four years old.

Customer: "How much is this?"

*sign is bright as day*

Me: "It’s $3.95."

3. For when customers can read, they reassure me that they can read.

Customer: "Is this $12.95?"

Me: "That’s what the sign says, but thank you for reassuring me that you can read."

4. For when customers think they know what my job is and take it upon themselves to tell me what it is.

Customer: "There’s a backpack that’s outside that I don’t think belongs to anyone."

Me: "Park Police can help you with that."

Customer: "I mean it’s your job, not mine."

5. For dealing with customers who think they are better than all the other customers I deal with.

Me: "Okay, so your total is $21.10, cash or credit?"

Rude customer: "How do I get downstairs!?"

Me: "Okay, so here is your receipt. Have a great day!"

*turns to rude customer*

"Now, did you have a question?"

6. For dealing with customers who think they know what the signs say better than I do.

Me: "Okay. Your total is $49.81."

Customer: "How much?! The sign says that tee shirts are 25 percent off."

Me: "No. The sign says that Cherry Blossom tee shirts are 25 percent off. There are no Cherry Blossoms on this shirt, sir."

7. For dealing with customers who think that they are funny.

*Item doesn’t scan*

Customer: "Oh, it must be free. Hahaha."

8. For dealing with customers who are in a rush.

Me: *dealing with a customer, but another customer behind them puts their items in my face*

Me: “Please get that out of my face. I see that you are next.”

9. For dealing with customers who ask questions of things I would have no knowledge of.

Customer: "What time does the Capitol close?"

Me: "I don’t know. Guess you’re gonna have to go to the Capitol and find out."

10. For dealing with customers' children.

*Child comes into store and touches any and everything and is reckless.*

Child: "Oooo. Can I have this? What are these?" *knocks everything on the floor*

Me: "Lord, why are you testing me?"

11. For trying to be nice.

Me: "How are you today?"

Customer: *silence*

12. For dealing with customers who think I control every aspect of the building.

Customer: "Where are the trash cans?"

Me: "At the bottom of the steps."

Customer: "Downstairs?! Seriously? Ugh!"

Me: "I’m sorry. I forgot I was the one who decided to put the trash cans down there."

13. For basically dealing with impatient people.

Me: "Okay. So this is how it works. Each region is color coded--"

Customer: "What is this? Where does this go?"

14. For serving customers.

Customer: "Thank you so much. You have a good day. I hope someone does something nice for you, because you have done something nice to me."

Me: *tears up* "I hope you go to heaven."

The list goes on and on, and truly I need an award for the 500+ people I deal with on a consistent basis. I do not always deal with unpleasant customers, some are very nice. But nevertheless, I know that I am working on my customer service and most of all my patience. And evidently that will help me in the long run.