decentbirthday via Twitter/Screenshot
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decentbirthday via Twitter/Screenshot

1. “There Goes Your Tip”

When one GrubHub delivery driver decided to share his text exchange with a customer on Twitter it quickly went viral. Soon hundreds of people who work in the food or customer service industry started sharing their own experiences of situations with tricky customers. For those of us in the service industry, we can all understand these situations and now are able to share a giggle through the pain.

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

Matthew went to take his table’s drink order but one customer didn’t seem to fully understand what she was ordering. When Matthew tried to clarify, the customer became rude and insistent. So instead of just getting a $3.00 orange juice she got the same thing for $7.95.

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

Here is another case of the customer not fully understanding what they are ordering and when the server tries to correct they are met with rudeness. When the woman asked for a quesadilla without the cheese the server tries to offer a soft taco which is what she is actually trying to order. But instead of taking the correction, she’s insistent- yet still walks out with a soft chicken taco.

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

This one is a more interesting experience a food industry worker shared but an experience that we can all understand happens more than once. They share that for years they’ve worked at an Arby’s and got asked the question of “what kind of cheese comes on the beef and cheddar” so many times that at some point wanted to die every time they heard it. Most times working in the service industry makes you question the common sense and critical thinking of everyone around us.

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

Sometimes you get those customers who just completely ignore the question you ask them. Take this story for example- when this worker asked the customer what three dips they would like with their large nacho meal the only response they received was their drink order and when asked to clarify again twice more, the customer promptly paid for their meal. Never stating which three dips they would like.

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

For this next one it is something so simple and seemingly easy to understand but this exchange is repeated throughout the industry. That exchange is the mocha versus hot chocolate debate. Customer service is about giving the customer exactly what they want even if sometimes they aren’t aware of what they are actually ordering.

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

This Twitter user shared another experience where another customer asked for a latte but with no espresso…which is just steamed milk. When clarifying the customer’s order they insisted on the latte with no espresso so that’s what the worker made. Only for the customer to come back and say it tastes like 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”

This one you can understand even if you haven’t worked in the industry. Whether you are shopping for food, clothes or anything in between sometimes there’s another customer right behind that makes a scene. As soon as you pick something up they say to you “I was going to get those“. When a service worker saw this happen to one customer they decided to show them kindness and take them to a full room of better options.

(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

The saga of ordering specialized coffee but mixing up the ingredients in ways that don’t make sense continues with these two stories. Another order asking for a latte with no espresso which as we just read is just a glass of milk. And the other story shared was when a customer came in and asked for “half the espresso” which ended up with her getting a half cup of espresso watered down for years to come.

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

Sometimes customers just want everything on the menu…literally. When this worker tried to clarify with the customer of what specific meats he would like on his sandwich his response was “all of them” which unfortunately as many of us in the service industry know that doesn’t work. Sometimes customer service entails pointing those customers to the menu and assisting them, with lots of patience, until they find the choice that matches what they are looking for.

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”

Coffee seems to be a more complicated ordering process for some of us to understand as these tweets keep coming in. For this next example someone complained their cappuccino had coffee in it…a cappuncio has only two ingredients: espresso and milk.

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

As more tweets keep flooding in the mocha versus hot chocolate debate stands out repeatedly amongst the rest. One user shares that one customer couldn’t fathom the suggestion that mocha could mean a mixture of chocolate and coffee. So their solution to the problem? Telling the customer “okay, chocolate latte coming right up” and giving her their regular mocha drink.

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

Another user shared another story about someone ordering a chocolate drink but this time with a twist of the words. This time a customer asked for a “cold hot chocolate” which is a chocolate milk. But as usual the customer was stern and quick to correct the worker repeating “no, a 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

Sometimes how the food rings up on the register can confuse them into thinking the worker put their order in wrong. Take this example from a worker a taco bell. When a customer ordered the nacho cheese flavor dorito loco taco it rang up as NC dorito loco taco. Once the customer saw that she immediately yelled at the worker saying she “didn’t want dorito flavor“…

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

Then we have those orders or modifiers that come through that make zero sense. Take this example where a worker saw a ticket print off their machine that requested a grilled cheese with a modifier of no cheese. It’s requests like these that push customer servers to the brink of wanting to quit right then and there.

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

But it’s not just the food industry workers that get hit with situations we’ve just read through. Even the hotel industry hopped on this viral thread adding their experiences with customers. Whether it questioning of what is being charged on their card or getting berated because breakfast has ended and the hotel guests come down an hour late to eat.

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

Sometimes when customers are in a panic because they’ve forgotten to prepare for their holidays they take it out on the workers. This worker describes a night when one lady came in at 9pm the night before Thanksgiving in search of fresh baked apple pies. After explainling to the customer that the fresh baked apple pies are baked first thing in the morning in bulk she promptly stormed off.

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?”

This next one is another test of common sense questions customer service workers are tested with each and every day. While they were working their shift at a 5 star kitchen they had to pour milk into a cheese dip that had started to clump. As they were doing this they were stopped and asked “Does the cheese have milk in it? Cause my table has 1 lactose intolerant.”

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?”

Sometimes with these questions workers have to search deep within themselves to find the patience to speak the answer to the question. Questions such as the one this worker shared when they were working in a chicken restaurant and was asked “how many pieces come in an 8 piece”. Sometimes it’s best just to answer the question plain and simple stating “I would say it comes with about eight pieces”.

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

Then we have the picky eater children and parents seeking out any solution that’ll meet their child’s needs. For one woman her daughter wanted a cheeseburger but no burger. Just a 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”

Sometimes when a customer believes they are right they just have to be right. Doesn’t matter what the correct answer is. One user shared their experience with a customer who, when being rung up for his item, learned it was actually on sale. However, this seemed to displease the man, who reiterated the right price was $5.99 and then proceeded to not purchase anything at all.

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

Sometimes it is the simplest things people find so irritating. Take this guy for example who went into a deli and got upset to only see there were 1/2 pound containers of pepperocinis in the display case because he was seeking a whole pound. When the worker tried to explain to him that he could get two he wouldn’t hear it. Instead he had the worker empty two of the 1/2 pound containers into a larger tub.

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

Now back to more tough coffee exchanges baristas have experienced. This Starbucks worker shared a story that another customer wanted a cappuccino with no foam. Once again we are reminded that cappuccino’s only have two ingredients and foam is simply a part of making this drink.

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

Then we have other orders where what the customer should’ve ordered seems so much easier than the actual request. Such as this woman’s request for two turkey and ham subs and one without ham. When the worker stated “oh, so a turkey sub…” the woman was insistent on her order. She was then charged extra for a sub with only half meat.

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”

If you’ve worked in the service industry you know we’ve all been in situations where we’ve been told or at least overheard a customer state “you’ve lost my business”. Seems like the worst thing in the world until you hear about situations such as these tweeted out on why the business “lost” these customers. Such as this user sharing why a father and son walked out of the restaurant after the worker caught the football they were throwing inside the small restaurant gift shop.

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”

Through all the darkness, tears, frustration and tests of patience most customers bring to customer service workers some customers bring in a glimmer of light and kindness that has the power to change the whole day. One user shared their experience when they went into a cafe and politely asked for coffee and some food. Which made the barista break down in tears at the simple fact this was her first polite 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.

One user shared that her friend’s ex husband could not understand how ordering a cheeseburger without cheese was wrong. Although the wife tried to explain it to him she never could get through. At some point even the kids refused to get food with him because of this.

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…

This one seems to confuse everyone who reads it. This user shares an experience she had with a customer who had purchased a hot latte the night before with plans to drink it the next morning. After leaving the drink out all night when she went to drink it the next morning the drink was now cold which made her immediately drive back in a rage to complain to the workers.

(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”

The most frustrating part of customer service is trying lowkey to help the customers and getting yelled at for it. Just as this user shared when they worked at a Wendy’s drive through and would ring up a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger with no cheese to try and save the customer money. However, when the customers would see this it would many times end with the worker only getting yelled at for trying to help.

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

Just as this user types, sometimes the situations that unfold with customers can only be explained as “truly bizarre exchanges”. Such as this one- they further explain where a woman wanted a cheeseburger happy meal toy but not the cheeseburger. When the workers offered to simply switch the toys in the meals the woman insisted on getting the cheeseburger happy meal with no cheese.

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

Then we have the times where the customers are given too many options and it seems too overwhelming to choose from so they request everything. However, as this Five Guys owner writes, the buns simply could not handle “everything” so he had to come up with a solution for customers like this. For these special customers he would give them whatever 3 or 4 toppings he felt like that day.

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”

Then there are those customers who have berated the workers so badly the workers have no other choice but to just let that customer slide. Such as this woman who would order a hamburger with cheese and refuse to pay for the extra cheese. The worker ended up solving this problem by giving her a cheeseburger for the hamburger price. While reflecting with everyone writing on this viral post they wondered if she still does the same thing and states, “they used to let me do that here” to the new workers.

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

Another worker shares the trials and tribulations of customers asking what is in the food option that has every ingredient in the title. They write when they used to work at quiznos they were often asked about what was in the turkey, ranch and swiss. Sometimes the answers we seek are right in front of our eyes.

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?”

When one DoorDash called this user panicked because something they ordered wasn’t available anymore, the customer decided to respond reassuring that it wasn’t a big deal and taking a moment to ask if they’d had a long day. This kindness allowed the worker to calm down and then get the customer a new substitute order. Allowing both parties to leave the exchange happy.

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

When Grubhub saw this tweet go viral and all the responses it was attracting they decided to do something about it. Not only did they acknowledge their worker with a response to being treated so poorly by a customer but they also instructed them to DM them for their well-deserved tip.

P.S. DM us for your well-deserved tip

— Grubhub (@Grubhub) July 15, 2020