To comment when a customer abuses staff

[Labyrinthian]

Im abroad. Waiting in coffee shop queue, guy in front of me has a heavy accent, hardish to understand. Menu in English, staff speak English and local language.

Guy in front is super rude ordering. Really aggressive to staff. Then One of staff ask him to repeat something, he goes mad, shouting at her, including 'god your stupid, you can't even speak american'.

I interrupt politely and ask him to stop speaking to the staff that way. He goes CRAzY. Roaring and shouting at me. Who the f do i think I am. My parents and family must be ashamed of me. On and on. Shouting right in my face. Really aggressive. Eventually goes back to his transaction, shouts at staff, turns back on me 3 times in total attacking me. Tells me his family is from this country so he has the right to speak to staff like that.

I do not engage further and he gets more and more angry. Eventually he leaves.

Then I go to pieces, shaking. He was very scary. I ended up staying there in case he was outside waiting

So aibu? Would you have interrupted? This is not my first time doing this BTW, I've done it in both supermarkets and restaurants because I hate to see people harassing those in jobs they feel are stupid\ beneath them (and I've done it in a school and office too - all times were completely justified).

Generally I am quite a shy person and try to avoid confrontation. However, I've worked in the service industry for some time and I HATE when customers are rude to staff (and sometimes the other way round) and when I see it I can't help but get involved.

I'm only tiny but once I got right up into the face of a London business man, who'd literally spent the best part of 20 minutes berating a Train Manager on a long distance train for something he had absolutely no control over. Admittedly, I surprised even myself! God he was vile. The Train Manager gave me an upgrade some people, however, are so enraged that they're beyond redemption

You did a good thing OP. I'm sorry the guy turned out to be so aggressive and scary but I think it's good that you stood up for the person he was being so rude to.

I am more cautious than the OP and wait until the aggressor has moved on and then tell the staff they have my support, that they did not deserve that sort of behaviour.
Too afraid I might get smashed in the face, I'm afraid.

I was in McD there was a woman really losing the plot and showing off. The drink on her tray had spilled a bit, instead of saying "Can I get a fresh burger" she went way OTT,
"They can't f*king eat that , that's my kids fking tea, would you f*cking eat that" over and over

The servers just looked at each other. Maybe they let it wash over?
I said to her "D'you eat with that foul mouth?" and got a fuck off for my pains.

At work (NHS) we have to deal with rude Service Users, I would not tolerate any swearing at me but in the case of an arguementitive person, if I find out what the problem is, can I resolve it, if not who can.
Then if there's no solution, turn it round and ask them what they think can be done. (Which usually goes round in circles because its something I've already looked at)

I had a member of staff who intervened once because a patient (not one of mine) was late and couldn't be seen. They literally followed me round swearing.
I'd already checked with whoever was meant to see them so I was The Messenger and obviously deserved To Be Shot.

We sadly get used to the dealings of the General Public and sometimes its just as easy to let them rant unless it turns nasty.

I find the best tactic if someone says something rube or abusive is just to let it hang there. They will either go quiet or backtrack.
Though of course I'm thinking "Did you mean to be so rude CuntyChops"?

I told someone who approached the supermarket checkout while chatting on their mobile throughout the transaction a couple of weeks ago they were being rude.

Checkout staff thanked me profusely afterwards as they get it all the time but of course aren't allowed to say anything about it; not on a par with being verbally abused/ranted at of course.

I would definitely stand up for the member of staff. I work in the NHS and have been there.

I hate rudeness and bullying. I will not accept it and will take the consequences as they come.

(Although according to my colleagues, i give good resting 'oh do fuck off dear' face )

I think the staff will have appreciated it, I would have done when I worked in retail. I loved it when my "regular" customers came to my defence when I had someone being horrible.
That guy sounds unhinged.