It’s no news that working in the food service industry is a tough and thankless job. Yet, the most difficult part may not even be the long hours, low pay, or cruel bosses. For many of the employees, it’s the nightmarish customers who feel entitled to treat other human beings like garbage.
Whether these people are physically assaulting servers, stealing tips, or letting their kids run around like it’s their playground—they deserve to be publicly shamed for acting like complete jerks.
Bored Panda compiled a list full of the most horrible clients that ever set foot in a restaurant. In fact, some of these pictures are so bad, you can't help but scratch your head and think what on earth is going on. Scroll down below to check them out, and don’t forget to upvote the most unbelievable ones.
Psst! If you’re in the mood for some more horrible customer stories, take a look at our previous posts about it right here and here.
This post may include affiliate links.
Customers Assaulted Me With Drinks And Food. My Back Is Bruised By How Hard A Grown Man Threw His Drinks At Me. Can I Press Charges?
Woman Gives Bad Review Because She Didn't Get Hired
Many restaurant workers are getting sick and tired of clients treating them like pawns on a chessboard. It often seems that customers are feeling a lot of anger and frustration and think that it’s completely normal to take it out on their server. The question is, why do some people believe that they are entitled to act this way?
Melanie Morrison, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Saskatchewan, said that when it comes to demeaning and disrespectful behavior, there are three contingents. First, there’s the issue of social dominance—people believing that they actually deserve to be more powerful and dominant over others.
According to her, these people are often the leaders in an organization with subordinates lower on a hierarchical structure: "There's still that belief that they have a socially dominant position, they have more power over this individual and they'll treat them in a demeaning way because of that."
This Server, Who Served This Iconic Line
USA needs to move away from the tipping system. Waitstaff shouldn't have to perform for patrons to survive. Owners need to pay a real living wage to their staff.
Yeah, it's good to see more and more people are racing consensus on this.
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I've done this a few times then when they came back in no one waited on them. We know who you are and we tell everyone we work with.
This is so f*cked up. You are not doing your job because you feel you need the tips because your job doesn't pay enough. I can understand why you are not serving them, but I still don't think your behaviour is OK.
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Pay your workers so they don’t rely on tips, America. It’s embarrassing.
This has got to be the oldest threat/joke/statement in the industry, everyone threatens to do this, besides, if caught, you'd definitely risk getting fired.
Was coming here to say the exact same thing. I've heard people say they've done this soooooo many times. Yeah they'd all be fired.
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I hate to say this but the opposite is true. I know in my small town who makes the most money and I know who barely get by. The people who are well off tip very little or not at all. People who barely get by I've watched count out small change just so that they give something. I always have a code when I worked at this one job: if I've already been tipped enough for a taxi ride home, and a ride to work the next day, then I'm OK, you needed it more.
That was my FAVORITE line when I was a server/bartender! I went to a private college (with a lot of help from my family, aid, and I bartended 6 nights a week at a popular and upscale lounge to pay for school). Classmates (usually the super rich ones with open credit cards paid for by their parents) would see me working and say, "Awww. It's so sad you have to work!". They would then order ridiculous drinks like a top shelf long island (a drink that would cost about $30 as opposed to the regular $12). They would run up a $125+ tab (on the card they didn't pay themselves) then tip $1 or $2. I would immediately give it right back saying, "Clearly you need this more than I do." My manager always had my back too!
The problem with you and many who rely on tips is that you almost demand tips rather than hope for it. If something is optional, it should mean optional. In today’s culture you are almost compelled to tip (otherwise you are considered immoral) and waiters rely on this compulsion rather than their service to earn it. Servers know that 15-20% tip is std and they will receive it at least from 7/10 times—so then what compells you to do your job better?
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Happened to me once when I worked as a waitress in a high end topless dancer nightclub. 2 guys kept ordering top shelf liquor and usually most customers tip after each round when they pay cash. These guys didn’t. So it being an open floor with plenty of other customers that night, I ignored them and went on my way. They didn’t tip a single waitress that waited on them. They complained to the manager that no one would wait on them, we told him why, and he told the customers why. They claimed they didn’t realize it was customary to tip after each round so the manager sent me back to wait on them. $15.50 for the next round of drinks and they tipped 50 cents. (Usually most would tip about $2 for a round that expensive and this was 25 years ago). I just looked at the two quarters in my hand, smacked them onto the glass topped table they were at and told them they obviously needed it more than me and walked away.
Sounds like the exact line from the movie “Waiting…” when the redneck leaves a tip and he confronts him before he walks out
I've done that. Oh my god - I've done that. Chambermaiding an extended suite where there had obviously been a party - unwritten rule: unopened snacks the staff gets to keep. Not too much to ask for cleaning up your puke, right? Oh no - these guys (suits) come back and take the two cans of soda and three bags of chips left over from the entire party (and it was a big one). One of them had the grace to look embarrassed and tried to give me a toonie as some kind of tip. A toonie! I'm cleaning p!ss, sh!t, puke, alcohol, food ground into the carpet and furniture and this guy passes the $10 in his wallet to go into the change pocket for $2. I didn't take it. "Oh no - you'll need that to get ice for the soda you came back for."
Good on you! You took back control of the situation and didn't let these pieces of garbage trample your dignity.
I am assuming they are not from a country where this would be standard.
I don't understand why servers have to be tipped? Isn't it like any other job where the employer pays them a salary?
because it's united states, where servers are amongst those who often gets such a low salary that they rely heavily on tips to be able to pay their rents, food, clothes etc. in many other countries, they get a decent salary and the tip is only meant as a bonus for a good job, and not a 'requirement' to survive. there are even countries that consider tipping an insult.
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Sounds too made up, and not commenting on a tip is Wait Staff 101. That being said, if you don't need the job, go for it.
The Shade
I hope that this was shared to social media, so that creep could be identified and arrested.
The second one includes the slightly marginalized groups that don’t actually hold any socially dominant position in our society. However, if they go to a restaurant, they can suddenly feel in control. "They can become somebody who has been given a bit of power over a server in that moment," Morrison said. "They can treat them in a demeaning way and be powerful in that environment because the conditions allow them to be."
Finally, there are people who are just plain impolite. The professor mentioned that people who fall in this group are just rude and it doesn’t connect to the sense of power at all.
I'm A Waitress. I Gave This Table Everything They Needed, Quickly, And Get This Lovely Tip
This Grown Man Throwing His Candy Wrappers For Me To Sweep Up During Work
She added that people who tend to be empathetic to a server’s mistakes are usually those who previously worked in the restaurant business themselves. However, there’s nothing wrong with having certain expectations.
"If it's something surrounding the food or the environment or something, then you can ask for some changes. … Take a breath. Think about it. Look realistically at the server—is that the server's fault?"
Instagram Is Killing Food
Letting Your 9 Year Old Kids Eat The Watermelon In The Salad Put It Back. They Were Also Poking The Fruit
Whatever happened to, "parents must accompany children to the buffet?" I hope they had to pay for the wasted food that their brat caused.
Ever since the pandemic began, there’s a recurring trend: humans appear to have forgotten how to be nice to each other. Especially when it comes to interacting with people whose job is to help and assist another person.
The lockdowns, isolation, and many other things that came with the pandemic have been with us for so long that it might have left a negative impact on our emotional health. People feel especially frustrated when it seems that life is coming back to normal but new threats and restrictions come their way. It doesn’t take long to realize that this unique situation will be the new normal, and many are still not prepared for it.
This Mother
One of my friends did this at my house once - just laid her baby down on the dining table and changed the diaper. She put the dirty diaper right on the table (just pee, but still) and didn't even wash her hands when she was done. My other friends and I were all too stunned to say anything, but it definitely made us see her differently.
Letting Your Kid Watch A Movie On Full Volume In A Restaurant
Bernard Golden, Ph.D., a psychologist and the author of Overcoming Destructive Anger, told TIME that during this period, people’s threat system is at a heightened level. "During COVID, there has been an increase in anxiety, a reported increase in depression, and an increased demand for mental health services," he added.
It looks like the easiest targets to vent and express frustration are people who work in the service industry. "It’s displaced anger," Golden explained. "They’re angry about other things but they take it out in those encounters."
Restaurant Customer Caught Taking An Upskirt Picture Of Underage Host
This Lady Has Been On The Phone Since She Sat Down, While Her Kid Is Running Around Doing This To The Salt Shakers
He continued: "We don’t filter ourselves as much as we used to. On the internet, people feel like they can say anything. They no longer guard themselves. And I think they transfer that lack of filter into public life. I think from leadership that we’ve had in the last number of years, that’s only been more encouraged."
At My Local Chinese Buffet's Restoom, Why Are People This Way
Couple Prioritizes Their Food Over A Dying Man
Shoutout to the most selfish couple. Someone was having a heart attack at Roma’s and while the server was helping the man out, this couple started complaining about their food not being served to them immediately.
The Nerve Of This Lady
The treatment restaurant workers are currently getting from such nightmarish customers seems almost unbearable. At the end of the day, it does not matter if people think they’re better or more worthy than everyone else—acting like a total jerk to others should never be justified.
Trashy And Just Plain Stupid
If You Do This Because “Someone Is Paid To Clean It Up” Frick You
Entitled Military Spouse Demands Free Meals
Way To Put Essential Workers' Families At Risk Right Before The Holiday Season
This Is What Someone Left At A Buffet Because They Were Mad They Found 2 Dirty Plates And Were Asked To Wear A Mask
Just Chillin At The Coffee Shop
All You Can Drink
ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, and more ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww like what the actual fúck is this
Food Fight In Public
Seriously
Squatting On A Restaurant Table For A Picture
Watched This Family Put These Trays Full Of Food On The Ground Instead Of Cleaning It Up. I Only Cleaned It Up After I Watched Someone Trip Over It
He Found The One Good Seat
I Was Waiting For My Order At Pizza Hut When This Girl Comes Out Of The Bathroom With A Roll Of Toilet Paper. Needless To Say, She Left The Restaurant With It
Make Yourself At Home, But In A Public Starbucks
Nice Restaurant- Kid Watching Cartoons On Volume 100
I guess the phone is cheaper than getting a human babysitter and leaving the crotch goblin at home.
This Is My Home Town
That is absolutely illegal. Time to call the cops. Maybe he will end up on the sex offender registry
The Absolute State That People Have Left This KFC In
Gender Reveal In A Restaurant? Why Not I Guess
I am so grateful to not live in a rotten 3rd world country like that. Some students trashed a restaurant a few years ago, you know what happened? They were hunted down by the police and given huge fines. They were all over the newspapers. And their fraternity was reprimanded and had income deducted. Y'all need to do better and stop letting people get away with s**t just because they are the customers EDIT BECAUSE NITPICKING ASSHATS I'm saying the US is rotten and is a 3rd world country. I never mentioned other countries, I don't mean any other country. I am not shitting on any other country, developing or not. ALso I never said my country was perfect, that's completely besides the point
This Racist Note Left At A Thai Restaurant In My City
So My Co-Worker Got This Today
Dog Owners Who Think This Is OK In A Restaurant
They Continue To Sit At Their Table Hours After Closing Time, Totally Indifferent To The Fact You Have To Wait Around For Them To Leave So You Can Close Up
Said She Doesn't Come To The Mexican Restaurant For The Food, It's For The Free WiFi
This Family Let Their Kid Crawl All Over The Restaurant Floor, Nearly Tripping Several Servers
Treating A Server Like This Is Trashy (Facepalm)
Leaving This As A Tip
Pretty much sums Trumpsters up. Obnoxious, horrifically rude to people in service jobs and will tell them to get a better job but freak out when they have to wait for food service.
If You’re A Parent, Do Not Let Your Kids Make A Mess Like This
What A Disgusting Way To Not Tip
Smoking In A Non-Smoking Restaurant Because You Do What You Have To
It stinks, it won't be "secret" but its not a surprise. The pandemic has revealed how selfish and stupid people can be
He Took The Fan That Was Blowing Cool Air Throughout The Whole Café, And Turned It So It Only Pointed Onto Himself
Welcome To Oklahoma, Where Bringing Your AR15 To A Restaurant Is Normal
How to tell the world you are a Republican who is deeply insecure in your masculinity
She Demanded A Child Seat And The Confused Waiter Brought One
Its a 4 person booth. Is she really too fat to put it on the seat next to her?
A Customer Today Wanted To Return Some Produce Because "It Was Too Ripe", I Asked Him If He Had Already Tried Eating It In Anyway. He Said "Does It Look Like I Touched It?"
This Person Who Thought It Was OK To Put The Dog On The Counter Where People Eat
Absolutely asshole behaviour. But that is one cute pup. Asshole needs to leave, but the dog can stay (just not there)
The Friend Said "I'll Take The Kids To The Car While You Clean". The Mother Looked At It Said "Not My Problem" And Left
When we ate out with little ones, I always found that if I asked for a dustpan and brush to clean up the staff would say “Oh - don’t worry about it! We’ll do it”. Which was incredibly nice of them. But also sad that they were stuck doing it and that that was the standard mess they were used to cleaning up.
Note: this post originally had 183 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Tipping culture keeps you mad at customers when you should me mad at the people in power who allow you to be paid $2,53 + tips.
I stopped reading after number 10. Just couldn't handle these rude shitty people.
Sorry to say, but this is the American culture “customer has always right”. Come to Europe, i travel a lot and except the kids cartoons (but most of the time the manager politely asked parents to shut down the phone or pute headphones on and they did) never saw this type of behavior in restaurants even in food courts in Europe, but in America unfortunately yes, saw some of this many times….hate me…
This is the s**t-upon punching down because capitalism isnt actually working for them, but they are in denial as are most Americans. They won't tip the $3/hr waitress, but they will vote for corrupt GOP Senators who reward themselves with insider trading and top-rate tax cuts! 🤦🏼♀️ A perfect sample of US political and economic ignorance.
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The entitlement here is strong. Such a lack of regard for other peoples’ comfort, enjoyment and work environment. How did it get like this? When did it become ok to abuse your position on the planet? Yes, someone is paid to clean, yes, someone is paid to serve, yes, someone is paid to cook BUT no-one is paid to deal with unhygienic items left behind, no-one is paid to be assaulted, no-one is paid to be abused and swerving the convention to tip is low, that’s their livelihood. As for your fellow diners, no-one wants to deal with whatever lowlife attitude you bring to the restaurant, stop being a scumbag eh?
This is all so disgusting I feel bad for upvoting pretty much anything. Oh my? Even just continuing reading is such a chore! When is this all gonna stop!?
Here's a tip: If you cannot afford to leave a decent tip, you cannot afford to go out to eat.
Here is a tip from me: pay your workers, so they do not have to rely on tips. Tips should be given only when an oustanding service was done, not when you just do your job. This works in a lot of European countries (and not only there). PS: I do usually tip 10-15%, even if the service was "standard".
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Who edited this post?!! You may want to re-edit it- loads and loads of re-prints
There are just than many people who change their kid in public.
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This behavior continues because it's allowed. If someone threw a drink on me I would punch them in the throat. If someone goes out of their way to be racist, overtly nasty or rude they should be banned from returning. People need to be held accountable for their behavior, no one has the right to treat another person like trash.
Things are at their worst now too. Why I just get all food to go, tip and eat at home. I have no desire to be anywhere near the public these days. People are SO rude now. It's disgusting to see.
My favorite restaurant here in my tiny city has excellent food. Just plain old American cooking, nothing fancy, nor can/will the cooks attempt anything "gourmet." In light of that, all of us who live here and eat there--ALL of us---treat the staff more like friends than staff, and I've never seen anyone give the waitresses a bad time, nor a bad tip (owner will not hire male servers, for good reasons). I've always deeply appreciated wait staff, it being a job that I'm physically incapable of (nor would my hot temper do well), so I tip generously, as do most diners. I really like that about my adopted city. It's like that all around this wee place, everywhere one goes. Now, if we could just get rid of the far-too-many druggies....
If these people are so disgusting in public, imagine how bad things are at home!
By the time I got to the end, I was just furious with the managers/owners of these places. People will act like d**ks and of course it's infuriating that they do. But if we don't nip it in the bud and stop them, it will get worse and worse. I NEVER saw kids running around restaurants up until maybe 10-15 years ago. The first time it happened, it should have been shut down. Lose one customer, whoop-dee-do. You'll lose me and a while lot of other people as a customer if you don't stop kids from running around, stop them from putting dogs on the table, stop people playing videos at the table, etc.
After decades on restaurant and customer service work, am I surprised? Not by a single one...
I enjoy these lists for the fun, but then I'm often left depressed by the end that these people are part of humanity and think their behavior is acceptable. Either that or I was raised by old fashioned family members.
The bushmen parents with their feral offspring worry me. At this rate, these kids will grow up to be as entitled and bigoted as their folks.
I have learned more about people in the past five years than I ever wanted to know.
When will restaurant punters understand that you can NEVER get one over on servers - they have access to your food before you do FFS! Everyone who has ever worked in catering has spat, pissed, taken from the pig bin etc. in the nasty customer's food/drink; even in the poshest places.
What's with these people bleaving dirty diapers at restaurants? They should be arrested!
Wow, so many people complained about all the ones with bare feet, they took them down. Except for the ones on tables. That's just gross.
Looking at the posts make me lose all hope in humanity. Whatever happened to our civilization? If there's still ever such one. It seems that everyone is just all about, "me, me, me" - "I am entitled and I know my rights." Oh, my goodness.🙈
Most of these are diapers left and shoeless people, so list seemed really redundant halfway through.
How many of us consider it fine to leave our rubbish behind at the cinema?
Hopefully not many. You don't throw your trash out in the theater? That isn't cool either bud
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This only happens because you guys let them do this! You let customers walk all over you, because 'the customer is always right'. They're not. This quote never took into account that people are dishonest or have unrealistic expectations. And on the other side, you let businesses get away with paying you below minimum wage, so you need to rely on tips, which means you can't say something about all this s**t to a customer, or they won't tip you. Unionize, get a living wage and stop allowing this to happen!
Why do you think restaurant workers aren't fighting for this? Of course we'd like to be paid a better wage, and most of us want to do away with below minimum wage pay. There will always be disgusting trashy people out there, whether we "let them" or not.
Load More Replies... Tipping culture keeps you mad at customers when you should me mad at the people in power who allow you to be paid $2,53 + tips.
I stopped reading after number 10. Just couldn't handle these rude shitty people.
Sorry to say, but this is the American culture “customer has always right”. Come to Europe, i travel a lot and except the kids cartoons (but most of the time the manager politely asked parents to shut down the phone or pute headphones on and they did) never saw this type of behavior in restaurants even in food courts in Europe, but in America unfortunately yes, saw some of this many times….hate me…
This is the s**t-upon punching down because capitalism isnt actually working for them, but they are in denial as are most Americans. They won't tip the $3/hr waitress, but they will vote for corrupt GOP Senators who reward themselves with insider trading and top-rate tax cuts! 🤦🏼♀️ A perfect sample of US political and economic ignorance.
Load More Replies... The entitlement here is strong. Such a lack of regard for other peoples’ comfort, enjoyment and work environment. How did it get like this? When did it become ok to abuse your position on the planet? Yes, someone is paid to clean, yes, someone is paid to serve, yes, someone is paid to cook BUT no-one is paid to deal with unhygienic items left behind, no-one is paid to be assaulted, no-one is paid to be abused and swerving the convention to tip is low, that’s their livelihood. As for your fellow diners, no-one wants to deal with whatever lowlife attitude you bring to the restaurant, stop being a scumbag eh?
This is all so disgusting I feel bad for upvoting pretty much anything. Oh my? Even just continuing reading is such a chore! When is this all gonna stop!?
Here's a tip: If you cannot afford to leave a decent tip, you cannot afford to go out to eat.
Here is a tip from me: pay your workers, so they do not have to rely on tips. Tips should be given only when an oustanding service was done, not when you just do your job. This works in a lot of European countries (and not only there). PS: I do usually tip 10-15%, even if the service was "standard".
Load More Replies... Who edited this post?!! You may want to re-edit it- loads and loads of re-prints
There are just than many people who change their kid in public.
Load More Replies... This behavior continues because it's allowed. If someone threw a drink on me I would punch them in the throat. If someone goes out of their way to be racist, overtly nasty or rude they should be banned from returning. People need to be held accountable for their behavior, no one has the right to treat another person like trash.
Things are at their worst now too. Why I just get all food to go, tip and eat at home. I have no desire to be anywhere near the public these days. People are SO rude now. It's disgusting to see.
My favorite restaurant here in my tiny city has excellent food. Just plain old American cooking, nothing fancy, nor can/will the cooks attempt anything "gourmet." In light of that, all of us who live here and eat there--ALL of us---treat the staff more like friends than staff, and I've never seen anyone give the waitresses a bad time, nor a bad tip (owner will not hire male servers, for good reasons). I've always deeply appreciated wait staff, it being a job that I'm physically incapable of (nor would my hot temper do well), so I tip generously, as do most diners. I really like that about my adopted city. It's like that all around this wee place, everywhere one goes. Now, if we could just get rid of the far-too-many druggies....
If these people are so disgusting in public, imagine how bad things are at home!
By the time I got to the end, I was just furious with the managers/owners of these places. People will act like d**ks and of course it's infuriating that they do. But if we don't nip it in the bud and stop them, it will get worse and worse. I NEVER saw kids running around restaurants up until maybe 10-15 years ago. The first time it happened, it should have been shut down. Lose one customer, whoop-dee-do. You'll lose me and a while lot of other people as a customer if you don't stop kids from running around, stop them from putting dogs on the table, stop people playing videos at the table, etc.
After decades on restaurant and customer service work, am I surprised? Not by a single one...
I enjoy these lists for the fun, but then I'm often left depressed by the end that these people are part of humanity and think their behavior is acceptable. Either that or I was raised by old fashioned family members.
The bushmen parents with their feral offspring worry me. At this rate, these kids will grow up to be as entitled and bigoted as their folks.
I have learned more about people in the past five years than I ever wanted to know.
When will restaurant punters understand that you can NEVER get one over on servers - they have access to your food before you do FFS! Everyone who has ever worked in catering has spat, pissed, taken from the pig bin etc. in the nasty customer's food/drink; even in the poshest places.
What's with these people bleaving dirty diapers at restaurants? They should be arrested!
Wow, so many people complained about all the ones with bare feet, they took them down. Except for the ones on tables. That's just gross.
Looking at the posts make me lose all hope in humanity. Whatever happened to our civilization? If there's still ever such one. It seems that everyone is just all about, "me, me, me" - "I am entitled and I know my rights." Oh, my goodness.🙈
Most of these are diapers left and shoeless people, so list seemed really redundant halfway through.
How many of us consider it fine to leave our rubbish behind at the cinema?
Hopefully not many. You don't throw your trash out in the theater? That isn't cool either bud
Load More Replies... This only happens because you guys let them do this! You let customers walk all over you, because 'the customer is always right'. They're not. This quote never took into account that people are dishonest or have unrealistic expectations. And on the other side, you let businesses get away with paying you below minimum wage, so you need to rely on tips, which means you can't say something about all this s**t to a customer, or they won't tip you. Unionize, get a living wage and stop allowing this to happen!
Why do you think restaurant workers aren't fighting for this? Of course we'd like to be paid a better wage, and most of us want to do away with below minimum wage pay. There will always be disgusting trashy people out there, whether we "let them" or not.
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