* I can’t get over, no matter their frequency, people who cut off another customer whom I’m OBVIOUSLY currently assisting in order to get to their desired item quicker. I always respond the same way with the same gritted teeth, sarcastic smile “I’ll be happy to help you just as soon as I’m finished helping this nice person.” This year, I’ve been working in an international chain store of bath and beauty products. Was showing one woman lipsticks and using the back of my hand to show the color. All of a sudden, the woman on the other side of me, who was already being helped by another associate, grabbed my hand and said “I want that color. Can you show me that one?”

* Similar to “Forkner” lady, McBookstore is filled with condescending shoppers who are certain their education is far superb to yours. One (particularly rude and condescending) man: “I’m looking for a DVD of the BBC series ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’” (in such a tone that implied I could never have seen or appreciated anything that featured on BBC)Me: “Oh sure, it’s actually an HBO series. It’s over here.” Him: “No, it’s not, it’s from the BBC.” Me: “Actually, it’s by and about the co-creator of Seinfeld. It was on HBO.”

* One former McBookstore associate had a great game he played with customers. Often at ye olde information desk, customers approach and just blurt out what they want and wait for you to patiently serve them with a smile. i.e. “That new Grisham book.” Said associate would ask a series of questions just to try to get a complete sentence out of them. Very entertaining.

Ah, retail. Sigh. A real window on humans in their most animalistic form.