(My boyfriend and I are looking for a drill. I’ve pre-shopped online and know that the exact model I want is in stock at this location. As we’re looking for the drill, an employee approaches us.)

Employee: *to my boyfriend* “Hi, are you looking for anything in particular today?”

Me: “Were looking for a drill I found online. It’s—”

Employee: *to my boyfriend* “Alright, if you come this way with me, we have some very nice [brand] drills that are new.”

Me: “Actually I found [another brand] that I like, and it’s on sale for—”

Employee: *to my boyfriend* “Oh, okay, [another brand] are over here…”

(The employee proceeds to show my boyfriend a VERY fancy and expensive drill.)

Me: “That’s a really nice drill, but we don’t need something like that. We just need a small one for around our house. I found the one I want online; it’s on sale for $29 right now. It has a Lithium battery and—”

Employee: *to my boyfriend* “Oh, we don’t have any Lithium drills that come that cheap.” *to me* “Sweetie, are you sure you didn’t find a electric screw driver when you were on our web—”

Me: “I found it! It’s that one.” *points to the drill*

Employee: “Oh, yeah… that one.”

Me:  ”It comes with a bit, right?”

Employee: “Uh…”

Me: “Oh, never mind, it’s on the box. This is the one I want. Thanks for your help.”

Employee:  ”Okay. Now, don’t forget to get an extra battery and the charger station for—”

Me: “Actually, on this one the battery is built in, and it charges on a cable. Thanks for your help.”

Employee: *walks off*

(I’m with my dad at a local hardware store buying paint. We have bought paint at a sister store under the same company so we have their paint formula card with us. An elderly male employee comes up to us as we wait.)

Employee: “Can I help you guys today?”

My Dad: “Yes, we need a gallon of this paint right here. We have the formula.”

(After looking at the paint card, the employee grabs a gallon of white paint and gets ready to add the mix. He looks at the card for another two minutes before handing it back to my dad.)

Employee: “I hope you guys aren’t in a hurry because this may take awhile.”

(Note: it’s never taken more than a minute to mix paint at either store.)

My Dad: “Why? What’s the problem?”

Employee: “Well, you asked for a gallon of this color, but you gave me the formula for a quart of paint. I’m gonna need some time to convert the formula to gallon.”

(My dad and I turn and look at each other, completely dumbfounded at what the employee said. Choosing not to humiliate the guy we give in.)

My Dad: “Okay, I’ll come pick it up tomorrow morning.”

Employee: “Perfect, because [employee that's a family friend of ours] is working then, so maybe she can figure this out!”

(I am a female woodworking student, but I’ve been making furniture and wood decorations for many years prior to that.)

Owner: “Hi, can I help you, little miss?”

Me: “Hi, yes thanks! I would like to get a planer #4, and also wood chisels, size 3/8, 1/4 and 1 inch. I also need a 6 inch bevel and a square.”

Owner: “Why don’t you let your husband deal with that and send him here so you don’t get his order wrong?”

Me: “…I’m sorry? I’m a woodworker. This is all for me, and I would like you to stop making sexist assumptions like that.”

Owner: “You women should stay in your kitchen and leave the manual work to men! In no way you could use a planer correctly without a man’s help, little miss. Also, it’s too heavy for a woman.”

(Note: It’s about 5 lbs. A kid could lift that.)

Me: “Thanks for your help, that’s going to be all.” *hands him my debit card*

Owner: “You sure you don’t want to wait until your husband can come with you so he tells me exactly what he wants?”

Me: “No! I don’t have a husband, and I don’t need any help with my tools, thanks.”

(He finally lets me pay. However, when he hands me the bag, I decide to have a little fun with him. I let my arm fall low and bend half my body towards the floor.)

Me: *exaggerating* “Oh my God, this is so heavy! Can a man in this store help me, oh poor frail girl, to carry this huge bag of manly tools? I think I’m going to faint!”

(I am a customer at a hardware store. They sell padlocks to which all the utility companies have skeleton keys, for locking up your switchboard. They’re very expensive and super-strong. I’m calling the store after being unable to unlock mine.)

Me: “I bought a power utility-compliant padlock for my meter box last week, and now it won’t open.”

Employee: “Are you using the key?”

Me: “I tried both keys that came with the lock.”

Employee: “Did they work?”

Me: “No, that’s why I’m calling.”

Employee: “Well, if you bring it back, we’ll replace it.”

Me: “That might be difficult.”

Employee: “Why?”

Me: “…”

(My older brother is at work with me. He has a history as a bully, and is definitely used to people being afraid of him. He comes in while I’m helping a young female customer.)

Customer: “So, this is the basic design that I’ve come up with for the chest. I need to have eight of the boards angle cut and the rest just straight to these measurements and angles.”

Me: “Okay, I can take care of that for you.”

Customer: “Yeah, I just wish I had space for a table saw at home, but you know how apartment living goes. There’s a miter saw at my parents’ house, but I wouldn’t have a way to transport the chest to my apartment from their house if I built it there. So, the patio it is. ”

Me: *surprised* “You know how to use one?”

Customer: “Miter saw? Oh, yeah. It’s easy…just have to double check your measurements. Also, I’m looking for a wood burning pen and some stain.”

Me: “Something tells me this is going to be really nice when you’re done.”

(At this point, my brother decides to jump in with an unsolicited comment.)

My Brother: “Only if her boyfriend helps her.”

Customer: *dryly* “You’ve made two assumptions I’d like to point out. One is that I’m seeing someone, and two is that I’d want to.”

(His feathers ruffled, my brother takes on a more menacing tone.)

My Brother: “You don’t know who you’re messing with, little lady.”

Customer: “Someone who needs both manners and breath mints. Excuse me…” *to me* “Can you show me where those two items are, please?”

My Brother: *shocked* “I apologize—”

Customer: “Get bent!”

(The customer left our store soon after. When she came back, she showed me photos of the finished chest; it was absolutely beautiful!)