Stupid is as stupid does...

So at the video store you'll find that the new release wall consists of very thin display boxes picturing the movie on the front cover. There's a sticker in the right corner that says in fat red lettering: DISPLAY BOX ONLY. If the movie is in the store (not checked out) it will be placed in front of this thin display box.

You can imagine how many people bring the empty display boxes up to the counter. It's understandable: they may not be familiar with the way it works at our store. I usually point to the flashy sticker in the corner and say in a non-sarcastic voice, "This is actually the display box...the movie will be in a regular DVD case. You know, the thicker ones on the wall with the little locks on the spine."

The customer often blushes but it's an honest mistake. I can forgive them. What I can't forgive is the customer that insists on arguing with you.

"Well I always bring up the display box!"

"Um...the DVD isn't actually in this box, sir."

"It is all the other times I rent from you guys."

Holding up the three correct DVDs he brought up in one hand and the empty display box in the other, I say, "Can you see the difference between the cases you brought up? You see how one has a sticker that says DISPLAY BOX ONLY? Well, that means that it should stay on the wall."

Huffing and puffing. "Why do you have those on the wall if they don't have DVDs in them?"

"So customers know what movies we have, even if they're not currently checked in."

"That doesn't make much sense."

"What doesn't?"

"To have an empty box up on the wall. It's misleading."

"If we didn't have something up there we'd have a bunch of blank spaces and no one would know where to return the movies."

"Well I want to rent that movie."

"Okay...let me just make sure we have it in stock."

"Well you should--you had the box on the wall."

"Which box?"

"The one in your hand!"

"But sir...oh, never mind."

Some people just don't get it...