A common one is getting defective products. For example, buying a camera that doesn't focus properly from the start. When you take it back, they often try to say it's user error instead of a manufacturing defect.
Another is the bait - and - switch tactic. They advertise a great deal on a product, but when you go to the store, they tell you it's out of stock. Then they try to sell you a more expensive version. I've seen this happen a lot with electronics like headphones. It's really frustrating.
One time I bought a laptop from Best Buy. It was supposed to be brand new but when I got home and opened it, there were scratches all over the screen. I immediately went back to the store, but they were very unhelpful and tried to blame me for it.
One horror story could be dealing with an extremely irate customer who just wouldn't listen. An employee was trying to explain the return policy for a damaged item, but the customer kept yelling and even threatened to sue. It was really scary for the employee as they were just doing their job.
One common 'Buy Here Pay Here' horror story is getting a car with hidden mechanical problems. Dealers might not disclose issues like a faulty transmission or bad brakes. Another is exorbitant interest rates that end up doubling or tripling the cost of the vehicle over time. Also, some dealers are very strict about late payments and will repossess the car quickly, leaving the buyer with no transportation and still in debt.
One common factor is expectations. In a best buy, the product usually meets or exceeds our expectations, like when a new book we buy is even more interesting than we thought. In a worst buy, it fails to meet them, such as a shirt that looks a different color in real life. Another factor is price - quality ratio. A best buy often has a good balance, but a worst buy may seem overpriced for its low quality.
These horror stories can create a very tense workplace environment. When employees have bad experiences like being harassed by customers or wrongly accused by management, it makes everyone on edge. For instance, if one employee is publicly scolded for something they didn't do, other employees will be worried that the same could happen to them.
Death is a very common theme. It can be sudden, violent or a slow, creeping dread. For example, in many stories, characters are haunted by the specter of their own death or the death of others.
They usually have intense build-ups of suspense and mystery. Scary elements are introduced gradually to keep you on the edge of your seat.
I'm not sure if iheart radio buys horror stories. They mainly focus on broadcasting various radio shows, including music, talk shows, etc. There's no clear information indicating they purchase horror stories specifically.
Missing flights can be a real nightmare. You could be all excited for your holiday, get to the airport on time, but then there are delays or cancellations. You end up having to scramble to find new flights, and sometimes it can cost a lot more money. And it can also cut short your planned holiday time. For example, I once had a connecting flight that was cancelled, and I had to stay overnight in an airport waiting for the next available flight.
One common theme is the unknown. Stories often play on our fear of not knowing what's out there, like in a story where a character hears strange noises at night but can't figure out the source.