If you’ve ever worked in the service industry you understand the peaks and troughs of showing up to work every day. More often than not you get customers who come in and within only a few moments of exchange just completely ruin the whole day. Nevertheless, the customers who make the job worth it come in just when all hope seems lost.
When one service worker shared an exchange he had with a customer on Twitter, industry workers from around the world quickly responded with similar stories of what they’ve lived through and now come to giggle at looking back. Click through these 35 stories and share the giggles.
1. “There Goes Your Tip”
Just delivered Grubhub to this customer, and now I see why Coronavirus is kicking our ass pic.twitter.com/sPZTNIyteG
— decent pigeon (@decentbirthday) July 14, 2020
2. One Expensive Glass of Orange Juice
The bartender looked at me like I was an idiot for a second but we had a good laugh after I told him the story.
Orange juice was only like $3 or something, but that’s on her. One of the friends she was sitting with looked super embarrassed, but I just kinda rolled with it.
— Matthew J. Kuiken (@Juris_Sequoia) July 15, 2020
3. Chicken Quesadilla Without Cheese
I once witnessed a woman order a chicken quesadilla without cheese.
me: soft chicken taco?
her: NO. a chicken quesadilla without cheese.
the dude behind the counter was confused.
me: si, sin queso.
him:…?
he gave her a soft chicken taco, she walked out all smug.
we roared.— Pfunk, the shenanigator (@Gluonsrule) July 15, 2020
4. Beef n’ Cheddar
I worked at Arby’s for a few years and I wanted to die every time I heard “What kind of cheese comes on the ‘Beef n’ Cheddar’?”
I used to think those Critical Thinking exercises in school were dumb… BUT APPARENTLY PEOPLE NEED THEM!— Arawn Nox 🔞 (@ArawnNox) July 15, 2020
5. Large Nacho Meal
Customer: large nacho meal.
Me: okay, what three dips would you like with your nachos?
Customer: coke.
Me: sorry, I need to know what dips you need first
Customer: *flashes card* card.
Me: no I really need to know which dips you want
Customer: *puts card in machine*
🤦🤦🤦— abbie (@AbbieDavy) July 15, 2020
6. Mocha versus Hot Chocolate
I once had a customer ask me for a Mocha but no espresso in it so I just told him oh you want a hot chocolate? And he was like no I want a mocha. I explained to him what a mocha was but he still wanted a mocha with no espresso. So I charged him for a mocha n gave him choccy milk.
— 👻SpookyDookie💩 (@lucipurrrrr666) July 15, 2020
7. Latte versus Steamed Milk
Also another customer asked for a latte with no espresso so I told them you just want steamed milk? And she said no a latte with no espresso. So I gave her steamed milk and then she complained that it tasted like milk. Like????
— 👻SpookyDookie💩 (@lucipurrrrr666) July 15, 2020
8. “I was going to get those”
(2/2) then the most kind worker I have ever met came up to me and said “that was very nice of you she was so rude” and took me out the back to the cool room where they had even BETTER flowers. moral of the story – people suck but the real ones stick up for each other
— Spooksplays🎃_ (@SqueaksPlays) July 15, 2020
9. Cup of milk vs. Cup of water
I know someone who managed a Starbucks and had a lady that would come in for an espresso, but “only half the espresso” they tried to explain that’s not how that works and she wound up coming in and paying more for a half cup of espresso with water for years
— Particularly Tiny Potatoe (@PtinyPOTATOE) July 15, 2020
10. All of the meats
And he says “all of them” like no sir do you know how much extra I would have to charge you for that? People find it very hard to grasp that subway has an actual menu and you can’t just pick any amount of meats. Also vegetables. They constantly just say they want everything. NO
— Mary 🎵📖🖊 (@yikesmary) July 15, 2020
11. “My Cappucino has coffee in it”
I worked at a coffee shop years ago and someone complained their cappuccino had coffee in it 😑
— Scorched Earth 🗽 (@stheastonishing) July 15, 2020
12. The Return of Mocha versus Hot Chocolate
Omg this lady lost her dang marbles chewing me out. She could not fathom that mocha could mean chocolate and coffee. So, we said “okay, a chocolate latte coming right up.” I made her a regular mocha. She took a sip and went “SEE?!! Was that so hard?! God..” Karen’s are a plague.
— Sandwich Menu (@DietSoDuhx) July 15, 2020
13. Cold Hot Chocolate
At my cafe once some lady asked for a cold hot chocolate. I said “Alright so like, a chocolate milk?” and she said “No, a COLD hot chocolate.”
— evie (@Caramalameet) July 15, 2020
14. Dorito Loco Taco
one time when i worked at taco bell a lady ordered a dorito loco taco. i asked her what flavor and she said the nacho cheese one. it rang up NC dorito loco taco bc that’s the name of it and she yelled at me bc she “didn’t want dorito flavor, she wanted nacho cheese flavor”
— 🧚🏼♂️ (@_lexieb_) July 15, 2020
15. Grilled Cheese with No Cheese
literally saw a ticket print out of the machine that read, “grilled cheese” with the modifier “no cheese” and i wish i could have quit on the spot.
— ash (@suonoita) July 15, 2020
16. Stories from the Hotel Front Desk
My favorite was the ppl who’d give you dirty looks or yell you for packing up breakfast an hour after it was over after coming down an hour late to eat. Like mam, there’s a sign right there and you’re told when breakfast starts and ends. Sorry you didn’t get any.
— Chey Taylor (@LilBitBray56) July 15, 2020
17. Searching for Apple Pies the night before Thanksgiving
I told her that we bake them first thing in the AM and we bake in bulk so, no, I could not bake her one. She stared at me another 10 seconds and then stormed off. (2)
— kwilso (@OMGKaren_) July 15, 2020
18. “Does this cheese have milk in it?”
When I worked in a 5 star kitchen I got asked,(While I was pouring milk into Cheese dip that was starting to clump.) “Does this cheese have milk in it? Cause my table has 1 lactose intolerant.”
I asked her what is the main ingredient in cheese. She STILL need reassurance.— (╭ರ_•́) к เ ร ค (@NopedTheFuckOut) July 15, 2020
19. “How many pieces come in an 8 piece?”
My first job was at a chicken restaurant, and a customer asked me how many pieces of chicken came in an 8 piece dark, and I’ve been disappointed in humanity ever since.
— Accomplished Shopaholic (@EssenceBeasley) July 15, 2020
20. Just the bun and a slice of American cheese
I once knew a woman who would order a cheeseburger w/no burger for her picky eater daughter. At McD’s. The bun & a slice of American cheese. I used to always wonder what the conversation in the kitchen must have been like when that order would come in.
— Shanon Taylor (@DrSpEdinNV) July 15, 2020
21. “No it’s supposed to be $5.99”
One time I was ringing up an item for a customer; he told me this item should be $5.99. But it was on sale so I told him, “Well you’re in luck because it’s actually cheaper. It’s $3.50.” But he just looked at me and glared, “NO. It’s supposed to be $5.99.” He didn’t buy the item. pic.twitter.com/PAGxANx7Tb
— kure.kat (@Glaciaca) July 15, 2020
22. 2 for 1
I had a guy come to the deli counter super-pissed that there were only 1/2 lb containers of pepperocinis in the case, because he needed a “whole pound” I could not get him to hear that he could get two, and ended up having to empty two into a larger tub for him
— Tabetha (@djinnantonnix) July 15, 2020
23. Cappuccino with no foam
Reminds me of a Starbucks customer who wanted me to make them a cappuccino with no foam. -_-
— Rob “Wear a Fkn’ Mask, Spoopid” Rich (BLM/ACAB) (@RobsteinOne) July 14, 2020
24. Turkey and Ham without Ham
I used to work at a Subway and I vividly remember a woman ordering two turkey and ham subs, one without ham. I said “oh, so a turkey sub, what kind of bread-“ and she was. So insistent that she get a turkey and ham without ham. So I charged her extra for a sub with half meat.
— Noodle/Rin | Commissions Open! (@n00dl3gal) July 15, 2020
25. “You’ve lost my business”
Some kid and his dad decided to kill their wait time by throwing a souvenir football *inside* the small restaurant gift shop I worked at, and the dad had the gall to say “Looks like she doesn’t want our business!” and storm out when I caught it and wouldn’t pass it back lol
— stonecrop (@allstonecrop) July 15, 2020
26. “First polite, nice customer all day”
Adjacent to this: one time I went into a cafe, politely asked for a coffee and sandwich, and the barista broke down crying.
I asked what’s wrong and what she said hurt my soul:
“It’s just… you’ve been the first polite, nice customer all day!”
It was noon. They opened at 7.
— Jamie Jeans (@JoltStudios) July 15, 2020
27. Even the kids refuse to get food with him.
My friend’s ex husband, not born and raised here, used to ask for a cheeseburger without cheese all the time. She never did get through to him. The kids refused to go get fast food with him. 🤦🏽♀️
— Kristina of ⭐️⭐️ (@maytagsmom) July 15, 2020
28. Purchasing a hot latte the night before consumption…
(2/2) she then complained to him that the night before she had purchased a HOT latte because she was planning on drinking it early the next morning.. then in the morning she goes to drink it and it’s COLD. She was dead serious about getting it remade. I hate people.
— 𝙼𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚊 𝙻𝚞𝚗𝚊 (@Moonpie_Luna) July 15, 2020
29. “Waste your money then”
People used to yell at me when I worked drive thru at wendy’s when I would punch in hamburger instead of cheese burger no cheese. Same story when they ordered the deluxe plain (the only thing that makes deluxe different is the added toppings)
Like alright waste your money then.— Ross is trans™ (@queer_hellenic) July 15, 2020
30. HBHM versus CBHM
Apparently the toys in the HBHM and CBHM were different and she wanted the CBHM toy, but not the cheeseburger. The kid behind the counter offered to switch the toys, but Karen insisted on getting the CBHM with no cheese.
🙄
It was a truly bizarre exchange.— Edna K — I voted and so should you (@EdnaK_) July 15, 2020
31. Too many toppings to choose so everything will do
I owned a burger spot comparable to Five Guys, and we had like 20 different toppings to choose + sauces. I got tired of explaining why the bun couldn’t handle “everything”, so I’d just give them whatever 3 or 4 toppings I felt like.
— KirkerBezerker (@KBezerker) July 15, 2020
32. “They used to let me do that here”
I had a lady who would order a hamburger with cheese and refuse to pay the extra for cheese. I would just give her a cheeseburger at the hamburger price. That was 30 years ago and I bet she still does the same thing and says “they used to let me do that here.”
— J. Edgar Hooper (@yeoldwalrus) July 15, 2020
33. Turkey Ranch & Swiss
when i worked at qu*znos i was always asked the same question about the turkey ranch & swiss 😔
— willy wonka special (@snailteaparty) July 15, 2020
34. “Have you had a long day?”
Get me total substitute order. Saw him and thanked him and told him to be safe as he gave my order. Not telling this story to pat myself ob the back, but to let you know ppl like you are doing a great job. Keep it up. A lot of us appreciate what you do.
— Rusty Burns (@RustyBurns54) July 15, 2020
35. Grubhub responds
P.S. DM us for your well-deserved tip
— Grubhub (@Grubhub) July 15, 2020
Thankfully, it turns out not everyone is a dummy and some people still have empathy AND their wits.
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