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Anyone who's ever worked in the food service industry is bound to have met one of these—an extremely rude customer who shouldn't be allowed back into the restaurant. Or to order food ever again! The sad part is, rude customers aren't even that rare.

They're pretty darn common and make the lives of waiters, restaurant employees, and baristas a waking nightmare. Bored Panda wanted to show you some of the things service industry personnel have been through with rude customers, so we collected some of the best posts by servers from all over the net. As you scroll down, upvote the posts that made you feel for these workers, and be sure to leave us a comment with your own experiences serving food in the comment section. Would you like fries with that?

Alexander Kjerulf, the founder and Chief Happiness Officer of ‘Woohoo inc.' told Bored Panda that if your workplace is causing you to forget that you're a human being who's worthy of care and humane treatment, you shouldn't work there anymore. "Quit, and find a better place to work, where they actually care about their staff," he told Bored Panda. "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."

Alexander actually made an entire video about quitting a bad job. Meanwhile, you'll find the rest of the insights that he shared with us below. Anyone who's working in the service industry, whether you're a server, a cook, or a manager, should have a read.

#1

Math Is Hard

Math Is Hard

BruceInc Report

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wandiledludlu avatar
Sum Guy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone was complaining because they got a discount

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

That's how stupid these people are and they can't even see it. So full up with their own sense of self-worth and so tragically lacking in any form of sense. Common or otherwise.

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noneanon avatar
Random Anon
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the collective facepalm can be heard from Mars.

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

I'm so embarrassed- this is my current area (town) Super ultra conservative, non mask wearing, MAGA loving idiots.

yungkeylo_1 avatar
Keyy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i can verify that this is prolly real ,, i used to work in a gas station and i didnt like counting out change so i would do the same thing and people would really get mad about 4 pennies

rusty7354 avatar
Rusty Beedle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You were SUPPOSE to get $52.80 so you MADE an extra 20 cents.

caseymcalister avatar
Casey McAlister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, that's nice your principles don't let you take extra change. Or your inability to count.

forums-n-stuff13 avatar
Logically Reasonable
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I went through a Burger King drive thru once. My bill was about $5 and some change. When I got to the window and paid, I handed the cashier $10.00...........he handed me my change and slammed the window shut. I counted my change. $15.78 cents. Ok, they are PAYING customers to eat their food apparently. I drove on to the next window, took my burger and left.

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

Actually the customer got more back, what is the issue dude!?

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

"eighty cents wouldn't kill me. But twenty cents would kill you". Such a nice lady #Sarcasm

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

The tax difference between cities where I live, can bring out Extreme pettiness in people. We're talking about 10 cents people.

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

"People can't be so stupid..." -> "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED !!"

jainu11 avatar
Jainu Jogani
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Next time at PTA someone suggests making math optional, I am showing them this.

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

First of all this lady is Maron and can not do math. Second if it was in the area that I live many restuarants pass on the fee from credit card company to the person using card so it would cost her even more. And finally do people not realize that wait staff has to pay taxes(a certain percent of the total cost of the bill) that the government thinks that wait staff will be tipped even if they do not get a tip at all. So it actually cost this person to wait on you when you don't leave s tip because gov. Assumes you got that tip and wait staff taxed on that.

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

i've had custumers with bad math thinking i was scamming them when i was actually charging them less cuz i didn't wanna end their change with .95 for example lol

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

People like this deserve to be slapped until they are left unconscious !

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

She gives you the right change and you get money back to pay on card because she wouldn't give you money that wasn't yours?

marneederider40 avatar
Marnie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is the deal with people not putting a space before opening parentheses. I see it all over the place the past year(like this).

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

Has this Beth person heard of a certain mathematical property called 'rounding'? Because I don't think so.

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

She didn't charge you the twenty cents otherwise your change would've been 52.80. Too quick to complain!!!

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

He got 20 cents and complained? Better 80 cents lost than all sense.

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

I heard of this interaction before, I’ve always wondered how the lady felt after knowing (if she did) she lost out on $

deetag123 avatar
Dee Tag
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait a second. The restaurant actually gave her more money back!! What?! Smdh.

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

Who tf cares even if you did get not enough back, it's basically just a little extra in the tip.

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Purr·maid
Community Member
2 years ago

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T͜͡h͜͡e͜͡ f͜͡a͜͡c͜͡t͜͡ t͜͡h͜͡a͜͡t͜͡ s͜͡h͜͡e͜͡ (B͜͡i͜͡t͜͡c͜͡h͜͡ K͜͡a͜͡r͜͡e͜͡n͜͡) w͜͡o͜͡u͜͡l͜͡d͜͡ t͜͡h͜͡r͜͡o͜͡w͜͡ a͜͡ t͜͡a͜͡n͜͡t͜͡r͜͡u͜͡m͜͡ o͜͡v͜͡e͜͡r͜͡ 80 c͜͡e͜͡n͜͡t͜͡s͜͡ t͜͡e͜͡l͜͡l͜͡s͜͡ m͜͡e͜͡ s͜͡h͜͡e͜͡'s͜͡ a͜͡ s͜͡h͜͡i͜͡t͜͡-s͜͡t͜͡i͜͡r͜͡r͜͡i͜͡n͜͡g͜͡ d͜͡r͜͡a͜͡m͜͡a͜͡ q͜͡u͜͡e͜͡e͜͡n͜͡.

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Oskar vanZandt
Community Member
2 years ago

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If the service was okay, I'd have said "Just make it $50.00 back" if the service was exceptional I would've rounded it off to $55.00 and asked for $45.00 back. I'm not a big tipper, but a fair one as far as I can afford.

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

Did you just admit that you would tip under $3 on an almost $50 tab?? Pretty sure "not a big tipper" is a bit of an understatement there buddy...

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Luthor
Community Member
2 years ago

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I guarantee this happened in the United States. One of the ost uneducated countries in the world.

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

I'm American, but grew up and went to school all over the world in schools largely using the European educational system. Things that taught me: 1- morons are everywhere. 2-arrogant and patronizing people are also everywhere. If you have any questions as to what you and this lady have in common, look up: "Illusory Superiority" and the "Dunning-Kruger Effect"

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#2

I Can’t Believe People Can Be This Stupid

I Can’t Believe People Can Be This Stupid

veronikaklein Report

#3

Left On My Co-Workers Table

Left On My Co-Workers Table

dagregory Report

Alexander was upfront that employees should expect and demand support from their managers. "I know that it's common for restaurants to treat their customers like kings and their employees [badly], but that doesn't mean it's OK," he said.

"99% of people are nice, but the occasional rude client is unavoidable," Alexander from 'Woohoo inc.' said that there's no avoiding rudeness in the long run. "You can learn tricks to deal with them, and that's great, but no one should have to put up with mistreatment."

For Alexander, working in the service industry doesn't mean that others can walk all over you. "Having a service job does not mean that other people get to demean you or belittle you and managers must be willing to step in and protect employees' dignity and mental health."

#4

Latina Waitress Received Racist Note Instead Of Tip

Latina Waitress Received Racist Note Instead Of Tip

EpicTwinkieGamer Report

#5

This Was Posted In A Restaurant Group

This Was Posted In A Restaurant Group

somnifacientsawyer Report

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#6

A Group Of Kids Filled It Up And The Parents Shouted At Customers Attempting To Complain

A Group Of Kids Filled It Up And The Parents Shouted At Customers Attempting To Complain

ya-boi-445 Report

Tipping's either a sore subject or a complete non-problem depending on where you live. In the United States, for example, tipping at a restaurant or a cafe is nearly ubiquitous. You're bound to get some weird glances and questions if you refuse to tip or if you don't tip enough.

#7

Decades Of "The Customer Is Always Right" Has Created The Most Entitled Idiots In Human History

Decades Of "The Customer Is Always Right" Has Created The Most Entitled Idiots In Human History

CMCXCV Report

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

We should get rid of that whole customer is always right attitude. It's not ok. It never was.

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#9

My Cousin Just Posted This On Facebook. She Is A Waitress At Outback And This Was Left Behind

My Cousin Just Posted This On Facebook. She Is A Waitress At Outback And This Was Left Behind

Adda717 Report

I'll be frank. The US tipping system… is a bit weird. It's on the same plane of existence as not posting the full price of a meal or a product with the tax included. However weird forced tipping might be (and how it essentially makes customers, not the employers, pay a large chunk of the workers' wages), it doesn't change the fact that it's a cultural thing in the States. You just do it.

#10

My Aunt And Her Friend Took Me To Dinner. These 10 Lovely People Sat Next To Us, And Didn't Even Leave A Tip!

My Aunt And Her Friend Took Me To Dinner. These 10 Lovely People Sat Next To Us, And Didn't Even Leave A Tip!

MaryStarBlazer Report

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#12

Seen On A Facebook Post On How People Should Tip Their Servers 20%

Seen On A Facebook Post On How People Should Tip Their Servers 20%

ImAKraken Report

So not tipping someone or even poking fun at a server who expects a tip isn't the way to go. Sure, the entire system should be overhauled so that tipping isn't mandatory, but until that utopian moment, we're stuck with what we have.

#13

You Can Just Picture The Trashiness From This Customer

You Can Just Picture The Trashiness From This Customer

IWriteForTheFunny Report

#14

Wouldn’t Let Him Underage Drink So He Didn’t Tip

Wouldn’t Let Him Underage Drink So He Didn’t Tip

Xenologon Report

Rudeness, however, isn't just linked to tips. Customers from hell find all sorts of ways to belittle servers. From namecalling and ‘flirting' to acting like spoiled, entitled children (no offense to spoiled and entitled kids). However, employees shouldn't rise to the provocations while also protecting their own dignity.

#16

Please Don’t Leave Fake Tips I’m Trying To Go To College

Please Don’t Leave Fake Tips I’m Trying To Go To College

iskermitagod Report

#17

My Friend Waited On Two Underage Kids Who Tried To Order Drinks. Stiffing Servers Has Always Made Someone A Bad Person, But During A Pandemic When Benefits Have Run Out And Restaurant Employees Are Struggling More Than They Already Did? Despicable

My Friend Waited On Two Underage Kids Who Tried To Order Drinks. Stiffing Servers Has Always Made Someone A Bad Person, But During A Pandemic When Benefits Have Run Out And Restaurant Employees Are Struggling More Than They Already Did? Despicable

bortsimpsonson Report

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

Again, I call bullshit on these asshats trying to say they'd be leaving a massive tip, otherwise. These POS would never leave huge tips.

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Earlier, I'd had a chat with Alexander from ‘Woohoo inc.' about what people should do when dealing with rude customers. “Keep your cool and remember that whatever abuse they're giving you is no reflection on you as a person,” he said.

#19

Displaying Your Bare Feet In A Restaurant

Displaying Your Bare Feet In A Restaurant

boozinBanthony Report

#20

This Family Let Their Kid Crawl All Over The Restaurant Floor, Nearly Tripping Several Servers

This Family Let Their Kid Crawl All Over The Restaurant Floor, Nearly Tripping Several Servers

langleywaters Report

#21

Smoking In A Non-Smoking Restaurant Because You Do What You Have To

Smoking In A Non-Smoking Restaurant Because You Do What You Have To

cahabaham Report

“That customer doesn't even know you, so there's no way it could be you. But on the other hand, don't be subservient. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and tell customers that abuse is not tolerated. And if it persists, hand them over to a manager as soon as you can and let them deal with it,” Alexander explained how we should deal with problematic people. It's all about striking a balance between being professional and having a spine.

However, Alexander pointed out that not all customers who behave badly are bad people in and of themselves. There's a bit of nuance there! “It can be a good person having a bad day and that's why they're acting out.”

#22

Stop Tipping And These Folks Will Land Better Jobs

Stop Tipping And These Folks Will Land Better Jobs

TheLatinGerman Report

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

That last sentence works for me. Because if you stop tipping wait staff in a culture that requires the customer to make up staff wages, and they DO all leave for better jobs there will be no one to FEED YOU AND YOU WILL HAVE TO GO AWAY

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#23

My Sister Got This While Waiting Tables

My Sister Got This While Waiting Tables

RekNepZ Report

#24

At Least He Used The Proper Form Of "You're"

At Least He Used The Proper Form Of "You're"

danasaurus_rexx Report

Though that doesn't change the fact that some customers really are rude because they thrive on it and know that being bullies works (sometimes). “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,” Alexander, the Chief Happiness Officer at ‘Woohoo inc.' said.

#25

Someone Keeps Stealing The Tip Jar At My Local Donut Shop

Someone Keeps Stealing The Tip Jar At My Local Donut Shop

opvuuu Report

#26

"Why I Have Not Tipped!!!"

"Why I Have Not Tipped!!!"

oblivionkiss Report

#27

From My Friends’ Server Group. This Was Given By A 6 Top Instead Of A Tip

From My Friends’ Server Group. This Was Given By A 6 Top Instead Of A Tip

californiagovernor Report

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

You never know when someone is doing the best they can. You also don't know if they've been trained to be more hands off. You may wind up taking it out on the wrong person

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What's more, Alexander added that rather than thinking that the customer is always right, we should go for something more down-to-earth like “be nice.” Or at least avoiding being rude. Of course, this goes for customers and employees alike! “Whenever I'm a customer anywhere, I always try to be kind and positive to the staff—even when occasionally I have to complain about something. It's literally the least I can do.”

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#28

Guy Left A Negative Tip To Subtract From The Total After Calling The Restaurant While Inside To Rush His Order

Guy Left A Negative Tip To Subtract From The Total After Calling The Restaurant While Inside To Rush His Order

Kanye-Westicle Report

#30

Your Tip Is That Because Of Me, You Still Have Yuor Fredom™

Your Tip Is That Because Of Me, You Still Have Yuor Fredom™

ALasagnaForOne Report

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

When they put their own lives on the line for their country (not just their social lives in following their partners around their posts) then they can have the military discount. It's so old fashioned to define your own status by your partners job, let alone expect a discount from it.

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Note: this post originally had 51 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

We'd love to hear your stories about the rude customers you've had to deal with, dear Pandas. What's your go-to strategy for somebody who's acting entitled and ruining your day? Do you stay professional and diplomatic all the time or do you confront them when they've overstepped your boundaries? Let us know what you think below.