ADVERTISEMENT

"The customer is always right," reads customer service rule number one, popularized back in the early 1900s. Is this slogan truly correct, though? I'm pretty sure that anyone who's ever worked in this field has had the pleasure of encountering at least a few customers that were being rude to them for no apparent reason. I mean, we've even made a list of times customers acted like total jerks and got shamed for it.

And even though in such situations, the staff are expected to suck it up and stay collected, there's always a sneakier and a more subtle way to get back. Recently, TikTok user @officialtbw asked fellow customer service workers to share things they've done to a customer who has been rude to them, and started it all by revealing how he sometimes gives people cold butter instead of room-temperature, because he knows that cold butter will rip up their bread. Since then, thousands of TikTok users have jumped on the bandwagon by sharing their own little stories.

Without further ado, Bored Panda invites you to look through a list of some of the funniest, most savage and passive-aggressive ways customer service workers have gotten revenge on impolite customers. Don't forget to vote for your favorite ones and share your own stories in the comment section!

#1

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users someone paid me $17 in change while laughing to their friend that I'd have to count it so I lost count 6 times right as I was about to be done countin

lonewolf15mr , Andrew Turner Report

#2

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users As a delivery driver I once spent the entire drive en route to a chronically rude customer's house shaking the bottle of soda they'd ordered

apparently_unoriginal , Unknown Report

#3

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users I took a deep breath and was extra nice to them. They were so triggered but sounded insane complaining to my boss about how nice I was being

bread_farm , Vinqui Report

#4

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users when I was a teacher I had a parent was constantly rude. I told her her baby started walking so she missed her first steps

squeakersyarn , Randal Phoenix Report

#5

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users Under blend their smoothies so the little chunks block their straws

ebonymallinson , Kari Sullivan Report

#6

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users I'm in heating & air and if they're rude...I tell them it'll take 3 days to get the part for their heater..even though I have the part. be cold karen

mattnj26 , Paul Sableman Report

Add photo comments
POST
snickums avatar
Anna roberts
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worked at a Wendy's in HS. Do not piss of the people while ordering at the drive thru. JS

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users Sprayed fart spray in the isle because they didn't wear a mask and cussed me out when I told them we required a mask

rachaelhendrick , Wikimedia Commons Report

#8

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users When I was a cashier if anyone came to my register on the phone I always talked to them loudly to make it harder for them to talk on the phone

k_serasarah , Wikimedia Commons Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users allow them to put their card in to pay and hit escape so they have to do it again. repeat until I feel better

fiercemel , Unknown Report

#10

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users If they threw their money at me to pay, I'd throw their change back at them, smile and walk away

mirellesminis , Paulien Osse Report

#11

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users I “accidentally” forget to take the sensors off so they have to come back and I can waste their “precious time”

kayraalvarez , Wikimedia Commons Report

#12

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users Be nice to the wedding photographer. If you're not I include all the awful photos of you & sometimes even add some weight in photoshop

amzukiwsky , Wikimedia Commons Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#13

booked their airplane seat on a 10+ hour flight right next to the bathroom

renroh71 Report

#14

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users Used to work at a grocery store, if people were extremely rude to me I would squash their loaf of bread in my hand while packing it in a bag

danirectangle , pixel1 Report

#15

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users I put extra, extra hot sauce in their salsa then do not refill their drinks

laelwehnerhill , Maxell Miklós Report

#16

If someone was being very rude to me I would save their number at the end of the day and put it in insurance offers and stuff so they would get calls

amiekleigh Report

#17

I worked in the drive-thru at a Wendy's. rude people got broken straws for their sodas. because nothings more annoying than a cracked straw

rehtaeh.l Report

#18

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users she payed me in ones.... i checked each and everyone up to the light

clarak19 , Unknown Report

Add photo comments
POST
johnbaker avatar
John Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did it occur to you that ones may have been all she had?

alexisdraskinis avatar
Alexis draskinis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or that people are just asses. Had a couple create a $50 tab at my restaurant. Handed the server a bag of change to pay. ALL CHANGE!!! And not even big change like quarters & fifty cent pieces. Like a freezer bag full of nickels, pennies, & dimes! Took forever to count, which we had to do with them there to make sure it covered the tab. They then got pissed off at US because it took so long to count & we were "holding up their night"... You'd be amazed what people think are appropriate in a restaurant setting...

Load More Replies...
idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Employee is a d**k in this one. I used to bartend, I always had lots of ones. I've never heard someone complain about being paid in ones before, I mean, unless it was a new car or something.

hazelree avatar
Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is probably someone who worked for tips... so now you are the a**hole

hayleebookworm avatar
Piper McLean
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once saw a man a goodwill who had to go to his car to get a whole bunch of pennies so he could pay for a suitcase. Mabey this woman could only pay this way

kebiphotography avatar
Blake Ingram
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is really rude. This person may have had only ones. It's a situation I'm in constantly, and i apologize every time, but this is only makes people feel worse.

boredpandausergirl avatar
Bored Little Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes all I have is ones, I always say sorry cuz I don't want them to be mad at me.

biglebowski1128 avatar
Ray Lebowski
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's how to handle it. If you acknowledge that it's inconvenient for all concerned, most people will say, "It's alright, been there, had to do that." It's the smug ones, especially the entitled well-off teens and millenials on their little power trips, that tick cashiers, servers, and such off no end. Back in my customer service says, if the customer acknowledged the situation, I showed them how quickly I could count ones, quarters, dimes, etc. If they just stood there and got all huffy and impatient, I showed them just...how...long...I...could...take--so long as there was no one behind them, of course.

Load More Replies...
dannx68 avatar
Danjal Nyberg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Really? I never give a crap how they pay, as long as they pay. If they're rude I just don't engage with them more than necessary. Nice people get a little chit-chat.

cindycollins_1 avatar
CincyReds
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't see a problem with this at all....I mean unless the bill was like a $1000.00 but one's are money too!

tinasmith1 avatar
Smitin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Section 8(2) of Canada's Currency Act states that a payment in coins is a legal tender for no more than: $40 in toonies (or coins up to $10 denomination) $25 in loonies. $10 in dimes, quarters (or other coins above 10-cents but below a dollar) But I've been on both sides of this issue. If all I have is $50 in coins and someone refused to accept it because it's over $40..I'd probably put on my best Karen hat and ask for a manager. Money is money IMO. I've had to use rolled pennies to pay for groceries (before Coinstar obv). But I've also been handed a bag of coins and been asked to take payment from it, and while doing so, the customer thought I was so distracted by counting his bag of treasure that I wouldn't notice the porn mags he stuffed into the sleeve of his hoodie. He was wrong. He paid for the mags in coins. He just didn't know he did. **FYI - "loonie" and "toonie" are $1 and $2 coins.

troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unrelated picture...? Is this person trying to make it sounds worse than it actually was?

katrine_kaz avatar
Chaboom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would ask the cashier if it's okay I'll pay in coins or change since I got a lot of them (it was given to me as a change and I want to get rid of them). Most cashiers would gladly accept it as they can use it to give change to the next customers. No one complained, I just make sure my bill is not big enough for them to take a lot of time counting.

brunopaetsch avatar
Sabbie Bradley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a food server all I ever had was ones. Most cashiers were happy because they didn't have to call for change.

dietlemnsnapple avatar
Amy Cohen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked at Louis Vuitton. Someone paid for something in all 1s saying it was their gambling winnings. We almost cried.

jackstevens avatar
MiraiJack
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"And them I came back home and cried until I fell asleep for being such a whine piece of s**t"

miss-hoodoo avatar
Petra Schaap
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

over here you can only use a certain amount of pieces to pay something, I think its 50 or so.

l_wawrzonkiewicz avatar
Łukasz Wawrzonkiewicz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, this seems to be a better case to mention what I've written before under #1. Two years ago a guy billed with court proceedings brought 30 kilos of ones, twos, and fives to pay :D he had actually and excuse, as he had lost a trial against the police and seeked revenge :D

dirigobill avatar
Bill
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some women earn their pay in ones. If you "make it rain" with dollar coins you get arrested for assault

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#19

Sometimes if they get kids meals, I'll give each one a different toy so maybe the kids will fight over it and annoy the parents

rhyanrose1 Report

#20

I've given a tip back and said “ you clearly need this more than I do”

miss_struff Report

#21

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users I work at a deli and when I customer is being a Karen I'll squish the cheese together after I slice it so it's impossible to separate later

mickmoo420 , Unknown Report

#22

One time I gave someone their 99 cents change back in nickels and pennies because “that's all we had in store at the moment”

kristachuu Report

#23

I put them on my “don't take cake from her” contact list so when they call, i always tell them I'm booked

bakemydaymimo Report

Add photo comments
POST
hazelree avatar
Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

That assumes you can afford to lose money just to screw them .. and maybe you can

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

I worked at Verizon and I would make sure a little dust got under their glass screen protector on their phone

rebeca68r Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#26

I work at a restaurant and I made a lady wait the entire 40 minute wait time we quoted her even tho her table was ready in 20 minutes

kaiteeliz Report

#27

I used to work at a coffee shop and if someone was rude to me, I wouldn't stir their coffee so that all the sugar would just sit at the bottom!

_brendalc Report

Add photo comments
POST
grahambaker_1 avatar
Graham Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

or you could over-sweeten their coffee. because they could stand to be a whole lot sweeter.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Grocery store worker here and when rude asking To see if a product was in the back politely told him it had been recalled cuz people died

15minofame Report

#29

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users I used to purposely put the french fries at McDonald's upside down so it would spill as they pulled them out

_dee_nice_ , Wikimedia Commons Report

#30

Nonchalantly break their candy bars in half as I bagged them

emxiloveyouu Report

Add photo comments
POST
calebhaas avatar
Average Grizzlies Fan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If this is Kit Kat or Hershey then you are helping them, any other candy and it is just what they deserve

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

Not offer whipped cream on their hot chocolate because it's the best and they're the worst

robothive Report

Add photo comments
POST
calebhaas avatar
Average Grizzlies Fan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm honestly not a huge fan of whipped cream. I know a lot of people that love it though; it's always the most popular thing with the Thanksgiving dessert.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

I don't say a word to them and the person after them I'm alway extra and hyper with them. the look back like huh

mitcheoso Report

#33

If a customer spells their name out to me rudely, I spell it wrong just to make myself feel better

spillinbeans Report

#34

When I worked at a grocery store & ppl would throw their money onto the moving conveyer belt instead of my open hand, I'd let the belt eat the money

megan_brown2012 Report

#35

I work at a bqq restaurant and someone ordered $150 worth of food with no tip and I “forgot” all their bqq sauce oopssss

yasgee1.11 Report

Add photo comments
POST
piet-puk avatar
Piet Puk
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your boss is the real assh0le here for not paying you an honest salary.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

40 Passive-Aggressive Ways To Get Back At A Rude Customer Shared By TikTok Users When I worked at McDonald's and rude people would ask for extra sauce, I would give them pancake syrup

thekuebz13 , Unknown Report

#37

In a hotel... put them in a room above the parking garage entrance/valet. Also scheduled 4am wake up calls

pooter076 Report

Add photo comments
POST
idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's just going to get one of your co-workers screamed at.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

Left them on hold or mute until they hung up

kissthecreolequeen17 Report

Add photo comments
POST
iankoch avatar
Ian Koch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just pushing a hidden comment out of the way. keep scrolling and have a nice day.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

I'm an ultrasound tech...I used the COLD gel even though we have gel warmers

joypompeo Report

Add photo comments
POST
daisychain071 avatar
Daisy Chain
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like this is a bit rude, as it's someone's body you are being rude to. Also, if it's a pregnant lady, as a women, I know that hormones tend to skyrocket when we are pregnant.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Leave them on hold..... for a long time.... and then *accidentally* hung up and turned off my phone for lunch

megbgr Report

Add photo comments
POST
leonorabuk avatar
Leonora Roper
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.

See Also on Bored Panda