The Most Outrageous Customer Purchases Ever

From "it seemed like a good idea at 2 AM" purchases to "impulsive buys," these shopping stories show that retail therapy occasionally requires its own treatment. Mark from Accounting turned his cubicle into a little funfair complete with a full-sized popcorn machine. "The smell of fresh popcorn really livens up budget meetings," he says, while HR silently changes office rules. Then there is Jennifer, who for her studio apartment purchased an industrial chocolate fountain. "I thought it would be romantic," she says, "but my cat found gravity that day." Her security deposit still under use. Dave's purchase of a professional-grade karaoke system for his bathroom ("I thought I sounded better in the shower!") and Lisa's acquisition of an antique British phone booth that currently serves as her "work-from-home office" round out the tales. Though they might not have been sensible, these purchases have definitely made life more exciting.

1.As You Sharpen Your Pencil, the Lizard Sharpener Goes From Chilled to Frilled

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Introducing a pencil sharpener that, in use, turns into a frilled lizard. Indeed, you did read correctly. This device could cause you to hesitate before sharpening your pencil. The lizard's frills fan out like it's auditioning for a role in the next Jurassic Park film as it turns. Just a little loudness is lacking. Your dull pencil issue now looks little compared to a desk lizard ambush. You could be laughing to yourself even with this unanticipated lizard drama. Who wouldn't find a tiny desk lizard really fascinating after all? Indeed, it's a discussion starter, but we'll keep with an ordinary sharpener. The company says a combination of classroom boredom and a genuine love of reptiles inspired their concept. Every sharpening process turns into a mini-performance as the frills of the lizard enlarge greatly as pencils get pointier. Teachers have conflicting opinions about this invention: while it undoubtedly makes children more eager to write, the continuous demands to hone already sharp pencils have ten-fold increase. Claiming they're "dragon scales" from their desk-dwelling companion, some kids have even begun gathering pencil shavings.