ADVERTISEMENT

Serving fajitas hot is not a walk in the park. It’s rather like walking on eggshells, ‘cause an encounter with a customer can go sour anytime. And forget the mantra “The Customer Is Always Right.” Reality is a teeny tiny bit different.

The truth is, some customers are just too much. From ordering something that’s virtually non-existent and coming up with their own takes on the menu to plain yelling and calling corporate, this is the daily bread of food industry workers.

Thus, fed up with entitled customers, people on Twitter got together for this viral thread and shared their stories of working as food servers. Nobody said that accommodating serial a-holes for a living was meant to be easy, but nobody warned them it’s that damn hard, either.

#2

Worst-Customer-Stories

JoltStudios Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it me or has anyone else noticed that common courtesy isn't common anymore?

manowce avatar
manowce
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

each time my 5-year-old says "goodbye" and "hello" and "thank you" in the store people comment on how wonderful he is. like, it's normal..?

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

I had a studend job cleaning a big office starting at 5pm once. There would be some people still in the office. I always say hi to everyone i saw. I casually asked a woman "how are you!" and she answered with teary eyes "you're the first person who speaks to me today" I am still in shock :-(

devil_ avatar
devi L.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rude customers need to be denied service everywhere. Then they'll have to cook for themselves

popapach avatar
troufaki13
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why can't people just be nice? Does it make them physically ill or something? Pfft

kate_49 avatar
Anandra Danubis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The customer is always right" mantra has led to people believing they can do or say anything and still expect to be treated well.

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

This is exactly right! Treating customers like gods who can do no wrong turns people into monsters. I'm all for polite customer service, but it's gone too far - especially in the USA

Load More Replies...
shannonodland avatar
Dippin Dot
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand how difficult it is to be nice. When I would go to restaurants and the server would do their normal "how's your day going" spiel I would always respond with "fine thanks, how about yours?" 9 out of 10 times they'd be surprised and actually look up from their notepad and respond in a shocked tone. When they bring the food, drinks, refills, ask how things are going, I always thank them. It's simple politeness, and it goes a long way!

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

I've had several customer service reps thank me at the end of calls in the past few months. I think people are taking out their frustration on customer service people, which is so unfair. I try to be extra polite and easy going, even when I have a problem (like my bank wasn't updating my account balance and I was missing a fair amount of $$$$).

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

Kindness and common courtesy costs nothing... and yet many people withhold both.

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

I could tell volumes about it how recently customers have become more aggressive and more rude. To greet the barista is not a custom anymore. To ask for a coffee is not a custom anymore - they DEMAND a coffee. Upon paying they throw the money at you and be happy if you don't get rude remarks like "you have a strange head"

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

I have actually had people ask why I said Thank You when all they did was their job. They don't even know what it is to be appreciated for actually doing their jo

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

Oh, my...the poor girl. This abusive behaviour needs to stop.

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

No reason for people to mean to one another. This person is getting you coffee. I would kill for a good cup of coffee, mine sucks a*s

robert-townsend avatar
Billy The Kid
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only good thing that has come out of this virus is that people actually move aside when you are walking in the street

delphinum4 avatar
Zophra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm ready for the downvote, but really? For 5 hours not one person was polite or nice? Think of how many people that would be. This many people are awful? Maybe it wasn't the people...

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

Believe me, that is life in retail. For some reason, people don't think twice (or even once, really) about treating "essential personnel" as their own personal doormats.

jbfitztubekidz avatar
J&B FitzTubeKidz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This breaks my heart. Please people, respect your restaurant workers!

prava-hanuma avatar
Unaffected
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A while ago I let the cashier know that she overcharged me for an item. She refunded the money and thanked me for not yelling at her!

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

This isn't about customer service from hell. This is about customers from hell and one nice one.

valrico63 avatar
Sam Cook
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always do my best to be kind to the baristas working at any coffee shop I go into. My favorite experiences at a coffee shop are all at my college's main one, where I became good friends with most of the workers there, especially their manager. He would talk to me about films, literature, shows, and games I loved, and he even gave me copies of The Lord of the Rings when found some limited edition ones somewhere because I had mentioned I still somehow hadn't bought them despite having read them maybe ten or times since I first read them in sixth grade. It also helped that my best friend worked there, but even when he and the manager weren't there, I would sometimes stay until near-closing and keep them company as they closed up, which many of them said was nice because they found it kind of lonely without everyone. They came to know me enough that some of them would give me free drinks every once in a while, and they would always smile and chat when I came in if they could.

valrico63 avatar
Sam Cook
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nearly got a job there, too, but someone applied just before me, and even though he got the job, I became friends with him and we would joke about it, like me saying to another friend, "And this is the guy who took my job." I really miss hanging out there, but I've heard they're planning to reopen when school starts up on the third of September, so maybe I'll have the chance to hang out there. In short, it's always good to smile at workers even when you're having a hard day, because just a small act of kindness goes a long way.

Load More Replies...
kjl01 avatar
Karen Lyon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are just so many people out there who seem to think that anyone who works behind some counter in some business deserve to be treated like dirt. I can never, never be that way. It's just not hard to be respectful.

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

OMG - how can people be so nasty? I'm glad you made her day.

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

I will always believe those who excel in customer service possess a special and rare skill worth paying extra for... I wish you could put "People expert" on a resume, graduated from school "Real World Experience" with a major in Patience.

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

Yep. Sounds about right. Some days you get customers that see previous customers yelling at you and they decide to yell at you too. It's the ones that break the chain and choose to be nice that just make your WHOLE day. :)

greggb57 avatar
Gregg Bender
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to be an airline supervisor. Abuse was a daily thing, even when things were going fine. After twenty years, I gave it up for an airline office job.

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

Kindness is a cheap commodity! Kudos to this person who was kind to her!

bl4ket4ylor avatar
Blarrg
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a tiny part of me that wonders whether it could have been an act to get a better tip. I guess that qualifies as both optimism and cynicism, depending on how you look at it.

truthmonster00 avatar
Truth Monster
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well, if she breaks down like that when people are nice to her....i would be a rude customer too! A crying employee is a slow employee! -kidding-

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

This happened to me once. I went to pay for gas and the clerk asked me how I was doing and everything like that and was surprised when I asked how she was doing. She said I was the first customer to do so.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Bored Panda reached out to a college student named Palmer, better known by his Twitter handle Decent Pigeon, whose tweet on delivering Grubhub to a problematic customer went viral with 374.2K likes as well as 58.7K retweets and comments. In addition to creating content for Twitter, Palmer has also worked for DoorDash and Grubhub for the past three years and he agreed to share what it was like.

“The funniest part of the industry is that when a customer is mad, they have (a couple of times) tried to degrade me based on my job title, the ‘service industry worker,’” Palmer told us. “It’s almost like I only do it on the side while I study in college to get another job.”

Palmer can’t wrap his head around the customers that degrade the industry they rely so heavily on. “I’ve encountered tons of amazing people in the industry, so why chalk it down to just their job title?” he continued. “Cliche, but people just need to learn to respect one another.”

This viral thread has shown Palmer that he is not alone, “and that I am not cursed with all the psychos of the industry.” He also said that none of the stories truly surprised him because “many customers in the service industry are extremely entitled and rude.”

ADVERTISEMENT
#5

Worst-Customer-Stories

DietSoDuhx Report

Add photo comments
POST
dutchvanzandt avatar
Oskar vanZandt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just nod your head and give them what you were going to give them... no sense talking to some people.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

It’s not the first, and let’s be real—probably not the last time we hear about entitled customers. Just take a look at our previous post on people sharing ridiculous demands from customers from hell or this post on customers acting like total jerks and getting shamed for it online. Such incidents are all too common, but there may be an underlying reason for it.

In fact, American consumer culture focuses a lot on making people feel special and people come to expect it. This article suggests that “They feel like they have a right to act however they want towards others until they’re appeased—which winds up isolating the consumer and shaping their view of the world as 'me against them.'”

This type of rude behavior is related to the entitlement mentality which basically screams “Me!” in most daily-life scenarios. Psychiatrists say it is manifested in an over-exaggerated sense of self-importance, lack of understanding of others, and unwillingness to compromise.

ADVERTISEMENT
#7

Worst-Customer-Stories

Juris_Sequoia Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never argue with stupid. Just humor them and let them pay champagne prizes if they want Sprite in a champagne glass.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Worst-Customer-Stories

notsuohsports Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have heard similar variations of this so many times, it is really concerning how many people do not grasp the concept.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

When it comes to the food service industry, bad customer behavior is usually associated with attitude problems and plain rudeness. But this research showed it’s much more sinister than that: “behaviors of entitled customers negatively impacted waitstaff employees.”

Moreover, “the participants in the study have reported 'physiological arousal, negative affect, burnout, and feelings of dehumanization as a result of dealing with these patrons.'” In these cases, sticking to the age-old mantra “the customer is always right” may make matters even worse.

#10

Worst-Customer-Stories

Glaciaca Report

Add photo comments
POST
kevinwayne avatar
Kevin Wayne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Quote by Albert Einstein: "two things are infinite - the universe and human stupidity and i'm not sure about the universe"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

Worst-Customer-Stories

Gluonsrule Report

Add photo comments
POST
pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

laughing at stupid customers, while out back, is the ONLY thing that keeps customer-service staff sane. Retail, hospitality, corporate..... we all laugh at stupid customers while out the back. Only way to survive.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Worst-Customer-Stories

teastainedtears Report

Add photo comments
POST
terybriggs avatar
Mama Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are the a******s that make those of us with real food allergies look bad

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Worst-Customer-Stories

suonoita Report

Add photo comments
POST
terybriggs avatar
Mama Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must have been the same dipshit that didn't want cheese on his cheeseburger!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Worst-Customer-Stories

djinnantonnix Report

Add photo comments
POST
uvacavfanatic avatar
Bill Taylor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should have called it a "special order" and charged him triple for the one pound container...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Worst-Customer-Stories

queer_hellenic Report

Add photo comments
POST
chimesstreet avatar
Tabitha L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really really don't understand the cheeseburger, no cheese thing. What do they think a hamburger is? Do they think hamburgers are made of ham?

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

Worst-Customer-Stories

villagethot Report

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

With all the cameras at fast food places, I would think you could catch who this was by their license plate, and yes it's absolutely worth it to press charges against harassment of any sort.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Worst-Customer-Stories

MoodyBoolicious Report

#21

Worst-Customer-Stories

Caramalameet Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can kinda understand this coz cold hot chocolate tastes different to chocolate milk.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Worst-Customer-Stories

StormAnnV Report

Add photo comments
POST
terybriggs avatar
Mama Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, I have never had them charge my credit card either when checking in. They give me the option at check out to pay with the card, with another card, or with cash. When I am checking in, there shouldn't be a charge at all since I just got to the hotel and haven't even walked into the room yet let alone stay in it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#24

Worst-Customer-Stories

MusicalShyGuy Report

#25

Worst-Customer-Stories

NopedTheFuckOut Report

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

There is cheese with lactose and there is cheese nearly without lactose - depends on the manufacturing process. You cannot know, you have to read the product analysis if you are lucky enough, that there is one. I know it, because I am lactose intolerant and had to learn it. And then there are people that are lactose-intolerant, and there are people with an milk allergy, also two seperated issues. So it is not allways a dumb question, even if it feels like it for someone who has no idea, because he has not to deal with it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Worst-Customer-Stories

AbbieDavy Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Without any other context I am presuming the customer didn’t really speak english, had an intellectual disability, had a stroke or a neurological disorder etc.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

Worst-Customer-Stories

97_ibraheem Report

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

I love to torture my Italian friends with our fake Italian foods! So yummy but so wrong

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

Worst-Customer-Stories

jmadfour Report

Add photo comments
POST
terybriggs avatar
Mama Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because her kid would have had a full blown temper tantrum right there in the restaurant so she tried to make the best of it by ordering what the kid wanted and expected Jay to understand. sheesh!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Worst-Customer-Stories

yikesmary Report

Add photo comments
POST
whisky-lady avatar
Ksenia M
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It seems like Subways work differently here because you can definitely get all the vegetables without paying extra. Is that different in the US, you only get like tomatoes and onions but you pay more for pickles?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Worst-Customer-Stories

KiIIersound Report

Add photo comments
POST
amandasherland_1 avatar
Amanda Sherland
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God, I have a friend who does this and it drives me bonkers to listen to him talk on the phone, ordering something or getting customer service. He always talks over the person and misses all their questions and then gets mad at them.

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

Worst-Customer-Stories

NellyBelle3379 Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should have rung it up as a cheese pretzel wo cheese. That's one dollar extra...

View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Worst-Customer-Stories

yeoldwalrus Report

Add photo comments
POST
mariecraycrayjackson avatar
Queen Jackson.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's stealing tell her to get the f**k out. I feel like I'd be fired the first time this happened to me, cause I don't like entertaining b******t.

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