Customer service jobs are the absolute hardest.

I’d like to think people would treat each other much better if we all had to work in customer service for a year.

But human nature suggests that some people would use that as justification for their expectations, no matter how high.

Still it’s good to remember that it’s often a thankless job.

And that we could all stand to be a little kinder to the service workers helping us out each day.

Here are 13 examples of difficult customers.

1. It’s not always “Kids these days”

Sometimes it’s the people furthest removed from their service days who behave like children.

Older generations always say how rude the younger generations are; I have never in my life seen a GenZ yell at customer service employees in any setting, not once. These Gen X and Boomers lose their mind over anything. Entitled asf

— Kristin Stoops (@KristinHeery) July 3, 2021

2. Darned if you do, darned if you don’t

Nice setup, bro.
https://twitter.com/marinagovv/status/1023585351749836801?s=20

3. Rudeness is never necessary

And maybe people need help identifying their blind spots.

Waiting for the day emojis are on POS systems at restaurants. So when a guest is being annoying I can put “🙄” on the ticket.

— Alyssa Baker (@a_bakee) December 10, 2017

4. Folks in retail are still human

They’re not doing the job because they love to make you miserable.

the Purge but instead of killing for 24 hours we get to talk to customers the way they talk to us

— Amy Carroll (@Carroll_Amy_) November 9, 2018

5. They put up with a lot of different people all day

That much people-ing is exhausting even when everyone is on best behavior.

Until you work in food/retail , you will never understand the level of stupid that exist in the world 😤

— 𝒦𝑒𝓉𝓈𝒾𝑒 ♡ (@_ketsie) January 14, 2018

6. They hear the same dumb jokes over and over

And their livelihood might depend on their response.
https://twitter.com/kkaayyyla_/status/1024360451298287616?s=20

7. The same jokes over and over and over again

But they paste on a smile like you’re the first one.

when an item won’t scan and the customer asks me if it’s free https://t.co/LGrkMAEmt7

— emma julius (@emjulius5) January 9, 2019

8. You can demand to see a manager

But what do you have to gain?

I just want customers to know when they complain we don’t get in trouble we just make fun of you later..so who’s the real loser here

— 🦅 (@anima_deus) February 20, 2020

9. And then there are the ones who are just messy

Like, were you raised in a barn?

Working in retail actual frustrates the life out of me like how do customers think it's okay to leave clothes just lying about??? N how do they all seem to put stuff on the hangers backwards???

— Josh Daly (@_JoshDaly) October 31, 2017

10. But the customer is always right. Right?

Right??

customers wanna be right sooooo bad. like damn go clock in since u know so much

— NM (@ninamorla) October 3, 2018

11. Most retail workers would disagree

They only think they’re right.

the customer is always wrong. i’ve never known a more incorrect group of people than the customer.

— K (@kira_stapleton) May 25, 2021

12. Apologize, apologize, apologize…

For the wait that you can’t control, for the price that you didn’t set.
For the problem that you didn’t create.

working in retail means you'll be apologizing to customers at LEAST 300 times a day.

— Linton (@TheLintonWilson) August 16, 2019

13. They’re all just doing their best

But I mean, call them out on it.
https://twitter.com/Sumtin2tacobout/status/1395188575621287940?s=20

It’s REALLY hard to work in customer service. Maybe keep these in mind the next time you feel yourself losing patience.

What do you think? Should everyone have to work in retail at least once? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.