The Curious Case of the Four-Year-Old Dr. Pepper: A New Year’s Eve Tale from the Front Desk
If you’ve ever worked a front desk—at a hotel, retail store, or anywhere with a gift shop—you know that sometimes the wildest stories don’t come from guests, but from your own coworkers. On New Year’s Eve 2022, Reddit user u/SuperboyKonEl found themselves in the middle of an inventory escapade that perfectly sums up just how entertaining (and exasperating) workplace dynamics can be.
Picture it: You’re new to monthly inventory, surrounded by candy bars, novelty keychains, and a wall of soft drinks. You’re ready to conquer the task when—bam!—you stumble on a pack of Dr. Pepper with a suspicious date on the label. What happens next? Let’s pop the top on this fizzy workplace conundrum.
The Inventory Initiation: When Expiry Dates Spark Debate
Inventory is a ritual as old as retail itself. It’s a time for counting, organizing, and, most importantly, discovering just how much expired merchandise has been lurking in the shadows. For u/SuperboyKonEl, this was their first time on inventory duty. Eager to do a good job, they quickly noticed a batch of Dr. Pepper bottles with the date “12-26” printed on them.
Simple enough, right? December 26th. As in, last week. As in, these sodas have officially crossed into “do not sell to guests unless you want a complaint” territory.
But no front desk tale would be complete without a coworker ready to challenge the obvious. Enter: The Skeptic.
The Skeptical Coworker: Master of the “Are You Sure?” Game
We all know that coworker. The one who never admits they’re wrong, who questions everything in a tone that manages to be both incredulous and condescending. In this story, our hero asks their colleague to remove the expired Dr. Pepper from the shelves. Instead of a simple “Sure thing!” the coworker asks, “What are the bottles saying?”
“12-26,” comes the reply.
Deadpan, yet dripping with skepticism, the coworker fires back: “Are you suuurrre that’s not the year?”
Let’s pause for a moment. Is Dr. Pepper secretly the world’s most indestructible soft drink? Does it have a shelf life longer than some hotel managers’ careers? The answer, of course, is no. But the real fun is in the delivery—the coworker’s condescension, and our protagonist’s matter-of-fact response: “Yeah. I’m fairly certain the pop doesn’t expire in four years.”
Touché.
Why Do Some Coworkers Struggle to Admit They’re Wrong?
This isn’t just a funny story about soda. It’s a snapshot of a universal workplace truth: Some people would rather defend an absurd position (“Maybe Dr. Pepper lasts until 2026!”) than simply say, “Oops, my bad.” What is it about being wrong that’s so terrifying for certain colleagues?
Psychologists say it’s all about ego protection and fear of looking incompetent. In customer-facing jobs, where mistakes are scrutinized and the snark can be relentless, some folks armor up with denial or deflection. The trouble is, it makes for moments that are equal parts hilarious and facepalm-inducing—like the idea that a soft drink could outlive a presidential term.
The Inventory Chronicles: More Than Just Counting Stuff
If you’ve worked in hospitality or retail, you know inventory isn’t just about numbers. It’s about teamwork (or lack thereof), problem-solving, and, sometimes, playing referee in debates that would make even Judge Judy raise an eyebrow. One coworker is a stickler for the rules, another is a master of creative interpretation (“Maybe ‘12-26’ is a secret code!”), and you’re just trying to make sure no one gets food poisoning from ancient snacks.
What makes this story resonate is its relatability. We’ve all been there: doing our best, only to be sidetracked by a colleague’s stubbornness or skepticism. And while it can be frustrating in the moment, sometimes all you can do is laugh—and share the tale online for the rest of us to enjoy.
Final Sip: Share Your Own “Coworker Logic” Moments
So, the next time you’re in the break room and spot a coworker squinting at an expiration date, remember: It’s not just about the soda. It’s about the personalities, the quirks, and the stories that make every workplace unique.
Have you ever had a coworker who couldn’t admit they were wrong? Did you survive a particularly memorable inventory shift? Share your own tales of “coworker logic” in the comments below—we’re all thirsty for more!
Cheers to the unsung heroes of inventory, and to all the Dr. Peppers that didn’t make it to 2026.
What’s your funniest, most exasperating coworker moment? Drop a comment and let’s commiserate—or celebrate—the wild world of the front desk together!
Original Reddit Post: Coworkers...well some coworkers.