(I work in the kosher deli section of a supermarket.)

Customer: “I need ten potato pancakes, please.”

(There are only four potato pancakes in the display case. I check the cooler, but there are no more in there.)

Me: “Please excuse me, ma’am, but we only have four potato pancakes right now. I’m going to call my manager to see if we have any more in the back.”

(I call my manager. Unfortunately, the four potato pancakes in my case are the only ones in the store. We are all out. I relay this fact to the customer.)

Customer: “Could you please make some more? We have company coming over later and I need at least ten potato pancakes.”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we don’t make the potato pancakes here. We buy them pre-made from another company and we don’t have any more in stock right now.”

Customer: “But can’t you just go in the back and make some more?”

Me: “No, ma’am, I cannot. As I said, we don’t make them here. We buy them pre-made from another company.”

Customer: “I understand that, but can’t you just make more?”

Me: “No, ma’am, I cannot. We buy them pre-made. We don’t make them here.”

Customer: “Yeah, I get that, but why won’t you just make more?”

Me: “Ma’am, we do not make them here. We buy them pre-made from another company. I don’t have a kitchen in the back because there is no in-back for this section, and even if there was, I don’t have the ingredients.”

Customer: “Yes, I know, but why won’t you make more of them?”

(At this point, the customer’s husband walks up.)

Husband: “What’s going on?”

Customer: “He’ll only sell me those four pancakes in the case. He won’t make any more!”

Husband: “Why won’t you make any more?”

Me: “Sir, I’m very sorry, but as I explained to your wife, we do not make the potato pancakes here in the store. We buy them pre-made from another company. We’re actually not allowed to cook any hot food in this section, as it would be a health code violation.”

Customer: “I know that, but why won’t you make more?”

(The customer’s husband looks at her like she’s crazy.)

Husband: “Honey, they buy the potato pancakes already made from somewhere else. They don’t cook them here.”

Customer: “I know that! Why won’t they make more?!”

Husband: “Honey, shut up.” *turns to me* “I’m very sorry. Can we just have the four potato pancakes in the display?”

Me: “Sure thing, sir.”