Me: Hey! How’s it going?
Coworker: Aww, you took my customer?
Me: Customer? Where? I don’t see any customers.
Coworker: Right in front of you!
Patron: what
Me: There are no customers here. This isn’t Barnes & Noble
Coworker: They’re customers.
Me: They’re not customers. They’re patrons.
Patron: what
Different Coworker: I only use the word “Patron” around staff. Otherwise I call them customers.
Me: But why? That doesn’t make any sense and implies that they came here with the intent to spend money. It’s an incorrect term.
Coworker: But if they go to, say, Trader Joe’s after, they’re customers.
Me: That is not relevant. There are no customers in this building
Coworker: I’m a customer.
Me: You are missing the point
Patron: So, can I have my books, or…?