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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that telling a customer to "be careful you don't get a paper cut" is odd..

39 replies

imwithspud · 25/10/2015 21:43

When handing over a receipt? Dd1 requested McDonald's as her birthday treat dinner tonight so I went out to the nearest drive through to get it. Was told to park up and wait, not a problem. Very overly polite, verging on sarcastic woman comes out, hands food over, warns us it's hot (it actually wasn't, it was pretty much cold and had to be reheated at home - a 2minute drive away) and before handing the receipt over she kindly reminded me to be careful of paper cutsHmm

I've never in all my years as a consumer of goods and services been told to be wary of paper cuts when taking a receipt. I thought it was odd at the time but It wasn't until I'd driven off that I realised she seemed overly nice to the point of sarcasm, not sure why as I always make an effort to be polite to fast food and retail workers as I know what it can be like from experience to have to deal with rude inconsiderate people daily. Incidentally most of our order was wrong (yes I should have checked before taking it home) and I'm now paranoid suspicious that it was buggered up intentionally and that the sarcasm was some sort of irony pisstake.

Probably putting far to much thought into it, like I do with everything but Aibu to think that the servers comments were strange and sarcastic and to wonder why they felt the need for it?

Interested to hear others odd experiences with fast food/retail workers if you have any.

OP posts:
CupboardOfBacon · 26/10/2015 02:04

Working in an industry not to dissimilar I can imagine that a customer complained about getting a paper cut and the staff were then all told they must warn customers of the perils of paper cuts with receipts

WatermelonWomble · 26/10/2015 02:14

Hi!

I work in McDonalds and believe me, we try very hard not to mess your order up. Mistakes happen- my store served 115 cars in an hour this morning so it can be stupidly busy. It can be really hard to make sure you're getting the right food in the right bag when you have ten orders on your screen and you're falling over your co-workers trying to get into stations.

I tend to get quite hyper/full of adrenaline when it gets busy and it makes me very chatty/cheerful. I've said things that come out sounding wrong but there's never any malice behind it- I'm just trying to be friendly and nice in the 30 seconds I have to chat with you. I've warned people to be careful of the D-bags (the large ones with the handles) because they're flaming sharp on the top!

What uniform was she wearing? A polo shirt, checked shirt or white shirt?

Axekick · 26/10/2015 06:45

Lol! Grinnever seen an OP tell themselves that they ABU !

Was just thinking the same

Working in an industry not to dissimilar I can imagine that a customer complained about getting a paper cut and the staff were then all told they must warn customers of the perils of paper cuts with receipts

I was thinking this too.

Op you sound lovely. Thanks

ReginaBlitz · 26/10/2015 08:57

It's because you were being awkward fuckers! I bet you ordered a cheese burger without the cheese as well.

Damselindestress · 26/10/2015 09:35

Wouldn't bother me. I don't think she meant it sarcastically. People are under a lot of pressure in those jobs. I've worked retail before and I've also worked as a mystery shopper. Servers are monitored to make sure they make the appropriate amount of eye contact and small talk and smile (one chain, not Mcds, even asks mystery shopper so check for creases round the eyes to confirm the smile is genuine) all while processing the order within a very strict, specific time frame. If the server isn't really feeling it, this forced enthusiasm can come across as fake or sarcastic. Her comment was strange but she probably just ran out of things to say but had to keep inanely babbling in case she was being watched. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Axekick · 26/10/2015 09:53

I had a friend who always asked for a cheeseburger 'with no cheese'.

She thought it hilarious,

RealHuman · 26/10/2015 10:09

That's dedication to the cause of dad jokes - it's an extra 10p for a cheeseburger! Shock

SaucyJack · 26/10/2015 10:16

Actually, she sounds like the woman who works in our local Co-op OP.

She puts an a big false performance of obsequiousness, and it just comes across as really snide and PA.

I think these people have a bit of a chip on their shoulder about working in a customer service role, but whatevs. Their problem. Don't let it affect you.

Axekick · 26/10/2015 10:22

That's dedication to the cause of dad jokes - it's an extra 10p for a cheeseburger!

Hahhaa I never thought of that. I might ask her if she fancies a McDonald's today....so I can point it out! Wink

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 26/10/2015 10:25

I'm guessing they've actually just been trained and she's now got a stupid amount of bizarre things to warn customers about. She probably felt like a twat saying it so tried really hard to make it sound genuine and then it came across even worse.

howtorebuild · 26/10/2015 10:27

I love the pickles from others burgers.

PeasinPod1 · 26/10/2015 11:07

I ask for extra pickle & cheese... is that really naughty? Shock

My local MaccyDs drive thru (Wandsworth roundabout) have the best staff I've encountered at any shop or restaurant- they are gorgeous (most could/should be models/actors!) ever smiling, friendly, upbeat, I know some by name and they ask how me/my young DS are as we drive past.

I always think if I ever won lottery, started my own business & hired staff I'd try and poach them all in a heartbeat.

Sazzle41 · 26/10/2015 13:43

I didnt even know you could ask them to take stuff out, it wouldnt occur to me (even if it did, I'd hate to be considered 'difficult' so wouldnt ) or, to ask for extra things either. As a) i can pick out the pickle and it doesnt leave a taste as far as I can tell b) dont you have to pay for extra's? Or am i missing out because actually i would like extra onion and cheese but too scared to ask (anxiety issues)

WatermelonWomble · 26/10/2015 16:24

It's 20p per extra in my store. Please don't be scared to ask- as long as you're clear what you want, we really don't mind!

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