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Welcome to Bored Panda, how may I help you? Ah, I see. So, you Pandas work in the food, retail, and services industries and started the week off dealing with some incredibly dense customers. Denser than the core of Planet Earth, you say? Well, don’t worry about it, plenty of us have been there.

In fact, our team has collected a whole bunch of examples of the dumbest things that customers have said and done, to make you feel better. Trust us, you’re not alone in this. Of course, this isn’t to say that all customers are dumb: most are polite and decent. However, a small proportion of them are nightmare material and don’t even know what chicken wings are. And here’s the proof. Grab a soul-healing cup of tea, scroll down, upvote the situations that made you laugh, and share your own retail nightmare scenarios in the comments.

Bored Panda reached out to Save the Student, a British project that advises students on how to make their money go further, about how the pandemic affected the job market and what to do if you feel like you're stuck at a job where you feel demeaned. Jake Butler from Save the Student said: "It does depend on location and other factors, but finding a job during the pandemic, specifically lockdown, has been extremely difficult for students. It's true that some businesses, such as supermarkets and delivery companies, have increased recruitment, but large student employing sectors such as retail and hospitality have really stuttered due to being closed for many months."

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TmKhr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I too want to lemonade some important papers while I drink some laminate soda

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Jake from Save the Student added that while some retail and hospitality jobs are returning, many students are "shunning them as there are worries about job security and also working conditions." According to Jake, one of the main worries that many have is that the market is weighted towards the employers and not the employees.

"For those that feel demeaned in their current job, I would suggest it's worth studying the rights you have as an employee," Jake told Bored Panda what we can all do if we find ourselves being treated less than humanely at our workplace. "Even during the pandemic, there is no excuse for an employer to break the law at your expense. And if you feel you're being treated especially poorly I would suggest looking to switch jobs, but doing so wisely."

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TmKhr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A woman in a Finnish Facebook sales group didn't want to tell her clothes' size because she didn't want anyone to know how big she was.

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Otter
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is "BLT with cheese" going to be the new "See you next Teusday"?

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It’s easy to stay professional when the customers who you deal with are nice, pleasant, and see you as a human being. But the challenges start when you come face to face with someone who demeans you, acts overly entitled, or simply asks incredibly dumb questions. All of which makes you question why the nation’s education system has set the bar so low.

Earlier, I’d spoken about how to deal with difficult customers with Alexander Kjerulf. He’s the founder and Chief Happiness Officer at ‘Woohoo inc.’ and knows a lot about helping keep employees motivated, happy, and using their skills at their best.

Alex put it very simply that if you feel like you’re forgetting that you’re a human being worthy of humane treatment at your job, then you should seriously consider moving on. “Quit, and find a better place to work, where they actually care about their staff. And quit sooner rather than later. The longer you stay, the more they will grind you down until you lose all the energy and optimism you need to move on and find a better job,” he told Bored Panda.

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TmKhr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're right, there's no one here, it means you've broken in and police are on their way to arrest you

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He said that it’s common in restaurants to treat their customers like kings. And some places complement this by treating their employees badly. However, this is far from all right! It shouldn’t be the norm.

“99% of people are nice, but the occasional rude client is unavoidable," Alex noted that you will have to deal with difficult customers sooner or later. It’s not something that you can avoid forever and ever, no matter how good (or lucky) of an employee you are. "You can learn tricks to deal with them, and that's great, but no one should have to put up with mistreatment."

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Mihai Mara
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The rule "an eye for an eye" should have been applied: "here's your HOT latte!" *splash*

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Mark Cleary
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ya, that sounds ridiculous, but..... Going thru a drive thru once and asked for a plain cheeseburger, meaning-no condiments,-no ketchup, mustard, nothing, just a plain cheeseburger. Driving away on the highway, opened it up, and found......a hamburger, no cheese. I literally got a plain cheeseburger, that came without CHEESE.....🤦‍♂️

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I Liquored On
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Im sure I cannot be the only person who had a customer complain that their coffee was too hot? I would just put it under the counter and keep working and then call their name again a few minutes later and hand it back. Usually they were quite happy with their cooler coffee. My faith in humainty was never tested quite as harshly as when I worked as a barista

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Mumchkin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd have done that too. At Burger King, I had a few customers that wanted plain Whopper Jr's, that's just a burger. They would argue that they are not the same size. I finally stopped trying to explain it to them and just charged them the extra money for their own stupidity.

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Furious George
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work as a batista, and let me tell you that people will walk into absolutely any coffee shop and order Starbucks drinks. The funny part is that almost all Starbucks drinks are not actually what they're named. The first time I handed someone an actual Macchiato I had to stop myself from laughing as they asked for the manager.

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PeachPossum
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He needs to meet up with the virgin screwdriver lady... perfect match

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Thorfin Wolfsbane
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had a customer at a coffee shop request a “flavor shot of cappuccino”. Tried to explain it’s a whole drink and not a flavor. Ended up sending him next door to a gas station where, “I think they have what you’re looking for”

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Diplodocus Dinosaur
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was eating with my friend at our favourite pizza restaurant when a customer came in and demanded they serve him a "Choo-choo pizza". The owner said they didn't have any pizza on the menu called Choo-choo, but if he told him the ingredients he could make him one. The customer said no; it had to be the Choo-choo pizza. The owner repeated what he had said and asked what to put on the pizza. The customer said what the topping was. I can make a pizza like that, the owner said.The customer said no and repeated that it had to be a Choo-choo pizza and got more and more angry. After arguing a bit more he stormed out, still shouting about the Choo-choo pizza. My friend and I had a laugh together with the owner. Every time after that when we came to the restaurant, he greeted us by saying "Choo-choo?" and we answered "Choo-choo!". It became our secret joke.

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JayWantsACat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of that one post about a customer wanting a "cheeseburger with no cheese", being told that's a just a hamburger, the customer denies reality and insists on their original order even after being told the hamburger was less expensive.

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Calypso poet
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg lol! I am kinda clueless about about coffee drinks. I love espresso when I need a jolt and am on the run. When I was in the mood for an Iced coffee so earlier this year I stopped into a Crimson Cup that opened just before the pandemic. They were so nice and made a suggestion that was perfect! If you don't know ask! The baristas are there and not making McCafes for a reason!

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Mya Lugar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can lead a mule to water, but you can't make him a horse?

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Rainy Day Wolf
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The oposite happened to me all through technical school when I became vegetarian I went to the cafeteria and asked for a quesadilla and I was informed they didn't sell quesadillas only sincronizadas... sincronizadas are tortilla, jam and cheese... so for the rest of my time there I had to request for sincronizadas without jam (which are plain quesadillas)... eyeroll

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RGNix
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, the names are so confusing, that this sounds like a mistake that I would make.

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Luuta
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Doh. What she needs is brains. Sadly, her current lack of them is bloody offal.

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Bonnie Edwards
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is my understanding that espresso is only one type of coffee. Perchance the customer wanted a different type of coffee in his mocha?

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

Mocha can also be Coffee and Chocolate. Best with Dutch cocoa.

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Jason Basa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At Starbucks, we made the hot chocolates with vanilla syrup and chocolate syrup, so a no-espresso Mocha is possible there but it could also be called a hot chocolate with no vanilla syrup.

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Elena Ktmr
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my country, a certain cofee chain makes mocha with instant coffee instead of espresso.

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Nicholas Kraemer
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2 years ago

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Why start or continue the argument. You can make the drink so why are you starting a fight?

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Ancsuri
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have to give a tip in the US? How does it work? Cause by us, you can give a tip if you want to, but you can choose to pay just the price of the food.

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Working in the service industry doesn’t mean that you have to be a doormat, however. If you find yourself constantly being walked over, belittled, and demeaned, you have to reach out to your manager for help. They should be willing to step in and help you deal with anyone who isn’t acting like a human being should.

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Catlady6000
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember replying something about how if nobody came in to shop, they wouldn't open, and the customer continued to sympathize and wonder why they opened on a holiday

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“You have to remember that in many cases a customer who behaves badly is not necessarily a bad person—it can be a good person having a bad day and that’s why they’re acting out. But the sad truth is that some customers act this way because they’ve learned that it works and will get them discounts or preferential treatment,” Alex said that some customers might be nightmare material by accident while others are very Slytherinish and sneaky.

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Michele Ferretto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not the first time I hear a pregnant lady be called fat by other woman. For the love of God, what's in their mind!?!?

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Eslamala
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Real actual cheddar or that laminated orange plastic you get in the U.S??

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Pamela H.
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes there is no "grass fed" chicken meat at the store, but Chickens do eat grass. Obviously you don't own a chicken.

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Michele Ferretto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since you were there you could make him notice the size of the chip, so it could very hardly be injected with any vaccine (I bet he believes that too).

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Mihai Mara
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make sure you never run out of blinker fluid. It's very important in traffic!!

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KatHat
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The full original phrase is: "The customer is always right in matters of taste". ie, if they want to paint their house screaming purple or buy a gold sequin pantsuit, you say YES that's wonderful. It was never supposed to mean what it's come to mean.

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Mihai Mara
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I am curious how you explained it and what the customer finally understood.

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the entitlement of "I orderded a cheeseburger without cheese and that's what I'm getting and paying for. You do not chance my order without my divine consent, you underpaid wage slave."

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RaroaRaroa
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy's an idiot, of course, but who ever cuts anything in quarters at Subway? Sure, if someone asked, but they don't normally do that do they?

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Kay blue
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid I thought that once you ran out of money on the card you were given a new one.

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Lily Mae Kitty
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I run estate sales and they do this constantly. We open at 8 and at 8:05 someone will ask if we're discounting yet or if they can have it for half price. They also take prices off to see if you'll make it cheaper. I had a lady who took the prices off 4 items and left them on 3 inexpensive items. I made them $2 more than they originally were and she couldn't say s**t b/c then it would be obvious who took the prices off. She decides she doesn't want two of them but she had to pay extra for the 2 she really wanted. Hope she learned her lesson.

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like that guy who ordered a 5 meter high flagpole. When it got delivered he refused it because it was 5 meters long but not 5 meters high.

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PhoenixplaysX
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to tell people the registers automatically shut off at closing time.

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Dagnirath
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it were me, I'd probably pick the 3 or 4 least compatible toppings and said, "If you don't like it, you should have picked it yourself.

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David Wong
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a table of 3 customers their dishes served nice and hot. But they keep chatting for somewhat over 30 minutes without eating. Then complained over the cold foods.

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Jo Firth
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they think coffee costs 10 cents they're a hell of a lot older than baby boomers.

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Downunderdude
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not on the customer's side, but could she not use a tray? Would have saved a trip, too.

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Mihai Mara
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe he had no idea how to use imperial units, didn't know what ozes were, only milliliters.

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