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?

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.

shaynameidela avatar
chimesstreet avatar
paladinofshadows avatar
Nightmare Scar Paladin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cheese dips after a little bit start to clump up, it's completely normal, and the milk helps make them creamy again

Load More Replies...
hazelree avatar
Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who makes cheese dip in front of guests in a 5 start restaurant... also, just say yes, the cheese dip has milk in it.

jessgunn77 avatar
y_themptander avatar
YoyoSthlm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Five star kitchen and cheese dip?? I really want to know where this restaurant is!

cip-iesan-67 avatar
Cip IESAN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I presume you can also find chemical cheese in the supermarkets...

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

I dont get it. Normal (hard?) Cheese here in europe has far less than 1% lactose because of fermentation process. I dont know anyone with lactose intolerance who couldnt eat it incl myself. Only (soft?) Cheese, like french cheese, has contains lactose and causes problems for some lactose intolerant people. I had a friend who never has eaten pizza bcs she said she was intolerant to lactose, which makes no sense to me, because the pizza cheese almost has no lactose. Today most of the time it is fake cheese on some pizzas but some lactose intolerant people i know are still not eating it...

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

Raphael, the cheese used on pizza in the US outside NY is often a preshredded cheese that has whey powder added to it to decrease clumping, whey is super high in lactose. In NY and possibly some other places with old time pizza making history, mozzarella alone is used but it's often a less aged one and still has lactose in it. So in the US "pizza cheese" is often pretty high in lactose.

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

If something is gluten or lactose free or vegan etc they are always labelled on menus in restaurants, so if it says cheese filled or cheese coated, you’d assume there is milk in it! (Lactose intolerant person here)

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

There is milk that has had the lactose removed, and there is the same thing with cheese. You, noped, is actually the clueless one here, and the client is giving quite specific allergy information that you are just fobbing off, something you can get criminally charged for, if something happens and you knowingly and wilfully ignored it. With that attitude, your kitchen is nowhere near 5 star.

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

They could ask if they have plant based cheese in general. If you see them using normal milk you can't ask them if is normal. That kind of stuff you ask them straightaway. I am lactose intolerant and I learned to ask them if the cocoa or caramel sauce has any milk traces. Also I told them that I am allergic to lactose so they will take it more seriously. :-p

george-florinconstantin avatar
George-Florin Constantin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In this industrial day and age, assuming that milk is the default main ingredient in any cheese is wishful thinking, especially when it comes to the "cheese" used in fast food restaurants.

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

There's something called vegan cheeze, never tried it and never will.

thalia13lovering avatar
Thalia Lovering
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am lactose intolerant but I can eat cheese. My intolerance is very mild and only milk makes me sick.

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