I have never worked in retail, but most of my friends did so I've been subjected to the horror stories about the awful treatment they receive from customers, especially during Christmastime.
The most wonderful time of the year doesn't always feel that way when you work in a store or when you're braving the crowds desperately trying to find last-minute gifts for your loved ones.
While most customers try to be on their best behavior, there are always a few Scrooges around to torment retail workers. Just ask Sarah Bélanger Demaneuf.
Sarah is now a writer and a food photographer, but she once used to work in retail and has some priceless stories to share.
With the holiday season in full swing, Sarah was recently reminded of a time she had to deal with a really "rude" customer right around Christmas, so she took to social media to recount how she hilariously managed to get revenge.
"I just can't get into the holiday spirit until I post this," Sarah confessed at the start of her Facebook post explaining the story behind her "favorite Christmas ornament."
"The Star of Vengeance"
"I was working at a local retail store after Christmas and all our ornaments were reduced to 75 percent off," the Alabama woman began her story.
"This little star was 50 cents (about 40p). A terrible woman (dressed to the nines and driving a high-end Lexus, so pretty well off) came into the store and wanted four star ornaments, but wanted to pay only 25 cents a piece."
Hoping to get her way, the woman started arguing with Sarah, "becoming increasingly rude and belligerent."
When she finally realized that all her haggling and noise-making weren't going to work, she informed Sarah that she has a friend that works at one of the store's other locations who told her the price of ornaments will be further reduced the next day, so she will return in the morning.
"'I can't guarantee they'll still be here,' I said," Sarah wrote. "And the jerk said, 'There are 12 in the store. No one is going to buy all 12. I'll get what I want, prepare to feel stupid tomorrow.'"
This rude comment drove Sarah to experience what she described as a "Grinch moment," so she decided to buy all 12 of the star ornaments that were available.
But that was just the start of her revenge plan.
Sarah called the store the lady mentioned and purchased all the star ornaments they had there too. Still, she wasn't satisfied, so "just to be extra spiteful," she bought the star-shaped ornaments they had in stock at the two other stores in the area.
"It was the most vengeful $30 I ever spent," she admitted.
As promised, the woman came back as soon as the store opened the next morning, but the decorations she wanted were all gone. "I had the pleasure of telling her that ALL of the star ornaments in North Alabama had been sold to one customer," said Sarah. "The look on her face was worth every penny I spent."
In the years since the incident, Sarah would give the ornaments to her family and friends, but "saved just one" for herself. She concluded, "17 years later, I still smile when I hang it on my tree."
Some may call it petty, but Sarah still got the last laugh without being rude about it.