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The customer service industry is not for the faint-hearted, and yet most Americans, 107.8 million people, work in private service-providing industries. 16.7 million of them work in the leisure and hospitality sectors, meaning they handle customers’ orders on a daily basis.

And if you've ever worked in a restaurant of some sort, you’d know this is not a walk in the park. Although you do meet lovely people and locals you can call by their name, and the loyal clients who always get their usual, sometimes things are not that pretty. Entitled customers, spoiled kids, and clients who don’t even know what they want are also part of the job.

So when the Twitter user @Kealy22 posted the question “Customer service workers, what is the complaint that broke you?” on her thread, people had a whole bunch of stuff to share. So get ready for stories about customers from hell.

Shouting, complaining, calling corporate, speaking to the manager, acting aggressively, wasting everyone’s time—these are some of the most dreadful real-life client incidents that will change the way we look at customer service workers for good.

Image credits: Keally22

Image credits: Keally22

Image credits: Keally22

Image credits: Keally22

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People-Share-Customer-Service-Complaint-Stories

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Raine Soo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love your response! Was the customer clever enough to understand it?

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Bored Panda reached out to Tay, who goes by the Twitter handle @taylorkiwi, who joined the viral thread to comment on her experience working in the customer service industry. Tay’s tweet read: “customer where I work at a golf course. I kindly asked a member not to move the patio chairs around as it was a Covid rule. She proceeded to lick her hands and touch ALL the chairs on the patio as a 'joke.' Her friends did not laugh. I did not laugh.”

Tay said that she always loved working in customer service, but it’s been challenging. “I mean I hate it, but I love it. As frustrating and irritating as people can be, finding out ways to work and relate to different types of people is a learning curve.”

In fact, Tay confessed that she has been “yelled at, talked down to, and personally insulted.” But “learning how to handle these moments has helped me grow,” she added.

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Raine Soo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Self-important people tend to be some of the nastiest people.

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Martin Kaine
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have to say you're important..........you're not really that important.

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

When I was in my 20's, I had a customer get smart with me like that. "That's why you're just a cashier." He obviously had money and wanted everyone to know it. Flashy jewelry, showing all his cash, driving an expensive car, expensive clothes, etc. But no class whatsoever. To tell you the truth, he came across as a drug dealer.

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Ren Karlej
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I'm retelling this correctly, not about a cashier but a story of someone showing off his money distatefully. My grandfather was a waiter in one of the top London restaurants during WWII and a customer called him over in order to pay his bill, left a tiny tip and then lit a cigar with a five pound note. My grandfather punched him.

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Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate this mentality! Cashiers are an important part of all of our lives. (As are receptionists, flight attendants, trash collectors, janitors, shelf stockers, customer service reps, etc.) How can people be so condescending?

kimberlyyoung avatar
Kimberly Young
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

RIght? I would love it if all of the people who work these thankless jobs just decided to go on strike for a few days just to show people how important their jobs actually are (but unfortunately the people who work these jobs are so underpaid that they usually can't afford to take even one day off).

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Canadian in Cornwall
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work for Woolworths head office in the UK in Customer Relations. Read: Complaints Department ! Such fun ! One piece of work was yelling at me over the phone about our "stupid girl" behind the till. After 3 "stupids", I stopped her in her tracks. "our member of staff does not deserve to be spoken about in this manner. You will stop speaking of her in this way, or you will be banned from the store....forever!!! Shut her up REAL fast !!! lol xx

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Daritania Tejin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A customer who was trying to argue with me once tried to make me feel small, "My husband can't come down here and deal with this, he works 8 hours a DAY." I said "That's nice, madam. I stand working here for eight and a half hours a day."

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

Narcissistic, self centered people have no empathy, and never realize the long term effects of their insensitive comments.

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Grumble O'Pug
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't let her petty idiocy and selfishness get to you. I worked as a bank teller at one point and had many customers who loved to pointedly let me know that I was barely worth their time. It's like a disease.

kathrynbaylis_2 avatar
Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People like this are the exact ones we like to see fail and fall.

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Kristin Ingersoll
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a boss call me useless once. I was working two jobs, going to school, was an overachiever like you wouldn't believe, and a member of MENSA. I knew she was wrong right in the moment. But I've never forgiven her. What a way for a female leader in a tough business to treat a young woman working so hard to make it as well.

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

People who say nasty things like this are those with the lowest self esteem.

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

as 2020 has proven, people like cashiers especially those who work in supermarkets/grocery stores, putting themselves at risk to make sure people can buy food or whatever, are some of the most important people, in fact. They are Essential, Karen probably isn't.

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Erica Cochrane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i'm a barista and we get this all the time. people assume we're stupid or beneath them in some way. most of my colleagues, including myself, either have a university degree or are studying for one. a coworker wrote a womans name down 'josephine' and the woman mocked her, 'that's not how you spell it, it's spelled 'josefin' but i wouldn't expect you to know that, you're JUST a stupid barista' and coworker was like 'i'm studying for a masters in english, what do you do?' the woman promptly shut up. don't treat us like morons. we're people too. i've had someone say to me 'oh, your mother must be so proud of you' super sarcastically because i made a mistake running through his order, because he'd been mocking me constantly for the last 2 minutes. then he told me coworker her hair was a mess. we asked him to leave at that point.

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

Thats why you should stop telling your kids how special they are. It spoils them. My parents beat me. I'm nice to people until they're nasty to me but I'm not a spoiled self -importent bitch.

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Aria Whitaker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favorite quotes of all time is from Eleanor Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission". Whenever I encounter a snide, self-aggrandizing person like this, I remember it.

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Cee Mor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While watching students after school, a mother came up and told me she was too busy to sign her child out because she had a real job and was busy on the phone...well if you don't consider watching you kids real work...I guess we can all stop doing it.

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Leo Domitrix
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was super-freaked out during exams in med school and a cashier asked if I was okay and I snapped at her, "You can't even begin to understand!"... I feel shi**y about it to this day.

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

I've twice been an ass to a service person. I felt really bad and returned to give an apology and a big tip. Then there are other cases where I said things I shouldn't have and didn't have opportunities to make amends. Oh well, regrets have one good purpose: we try to do better.

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

That cashier is so stressed out because SHE'S important. She's not just some stupid entitled *****.

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Trish Greene
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She would have more stressed had that VERY IMPORTANT CASHIER not been there to ring up her order. Why do people have to be so rude? Cashiers are much needed!

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

everyone should have to work at least a month as a cashier somewhere, just so they know what it's like

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

I worked at this over priced high end grocery store. This woman was showing me a small bottle of oil that was almost 50 bucks. Told me I should buy it. I said I could not afford to shop in the store and shopped at No Frills. She looked at me and said Ewww, I would not feed their food to my dogs. I have never forgotten it and it was 20 years ago.

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Kim Lorton
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m sorry? Who are you? Important? Hmmm that’s sooo not interesting. She sounded like she was a boring bitch! Never think you are small. Never. You are amazing!

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

In my experience, only someone with a very low self esteem, very insecure, or stupid as s**t feels the need to despise others' value like this.

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Sam Kunz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People can only make you feel small with your permission. Eleanor Roosevelt

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Lisa Chambers
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No she was stressed out because she realized how disposable she is. And she dumped her poop on you. Sidestep and keep on truckin'.

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Yana Makarevitch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you need to reassure yourself by bringing down others, it means deep inside you realise how worthless you are.

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Will Vega
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We dont who that woman was.But because you are a cashier you are far more important right now that she will ever be.

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Will Vega
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Note to self ,odds are that woman probably invented the vaccine that cures covid or cancer or something

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Sue Clifford
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those words hurt and are hard to forget. I am so sorry you had to run into someone so egotistical and mean.

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

I don't understand that attitude. I've worked in a store and briefly as a waitress. Honestly, I would find it tough to do it again. Plus, I missed my favourite coffee shop after our office moved. The staff there was super nice, including to a friendly panhandler.

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Cynthia Humphreys
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's the one looking small now! Makes you wonder how she became like that.

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Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

ugh. one like for this post (not my comment) is one prayer to GET THESE PEOPLE OFF OF THE FACE OF THE EARTH

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

what a bitch. she ain't s**t. Say it with me y'all SHE AIN'T S**T! SHE AIN'T S**T!

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Full Name
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people have zero self awareness. That's just the way it is, sadly.

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother-in-law, sadly. Wonderful woman until dealing with those in the service industries. It Could get really embarrassing. As a server, I learned a lot about dealing with these people from her.

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Tay said that when it comes to dealing with entitled, impolite, and challenging customers, she takes on a “killing with kindness” strategy. “Typically if it’s someone much older or much younger, I ensure I do everything right and everything perfect. It’s a very satisfying feeling knowing that they are having a mental struggle trying to come up with something to complain about.”

But the best moments are when “you have an awful customer sitting with a friend who really isn’t so bad. By being kind to them when they are clearly trying to belittle me, I know they feel foolish and their friend is embarrassed.” Tay said it’s the perfect way to ruin their day while making their day the best it can be.

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Ty Stratton-Quirk
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people, you just wish would find a Huntsman spider in the front seat of their car.

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's nice to see managers stand up for employees instead of throwing them under the bus

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Raine Soo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How does one not know the difference between a fingernail and a slice of onion?

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When asked if she agrees with the saying that the customer is always right, Tay replied: “Hell no, the customer is usually never right. I am paid to be an expert in what I’m doing, even if it’s just an expert in the menu and serving.”

She added: “Oh really, last time you were here you were allowed to substitute chicken for shrimp? Well, I’ll have you know the protein is cooked into the sauce and you can’t change it out.” Although Tay agrees that the customer should be accommodated as best as possible, it doesn’t mean they’re right.

If you’re thinking of working in the customer service industry, Tay said you have to be able to adapt to each person you interact with. “The correct answer for one person might be insulting to another. They have different personalities, different ways of interpreting information, and different ways of socializing.”

There’s no one copy-paste way to behave with clients, so you have to be extremely versatile to be able to handle both pleasant and not-so-much situations that happen daily.In the end, Tay revealed that smiling through a painful customer is also a part of the job. “There’s nothing I can do during a shift that’ll make me put on a real smile if I’m working with an awful customer.”

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On the other hand, “the thought of me complaining and having my friends and coworkers agreeing with my struggles during our after-work glass of wine makes it all worthwhile.”

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate people with ill behaved children who don't bother to discipline them.

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do adult humans NOT know coffee contains caffeine? Though good move quitting rather than strangling her

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Were they fried in lard? That is possible though unlikely and some shortenings contain pork

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

Lady, they are not going to buy a round table and put your name on it.

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The worker likely had to know before entering the rest of the order because of the ordering system. Some people are just insane

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BusLady
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would think that legally, the money belonged to you. The police would have regarded it as a nuisance call. And what a lousy boss.

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Raine Soo
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you ever get the feeling that some folks just wake up angry at everything and everyone?

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BusLady
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Personally, I prefer beer in the bottle. I'm sure she lost a lot of respect for her prof after that.

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Samantha Lomb
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that is not done right and very carefully, it constitutes child abuse as kids don't get the proper nutrients.

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Toujin C'Thlu
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*sighs* What is with men thinking that women don't understand machines, simply because they're women? Especially these days.

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