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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate customers

541 replies

rahjama · 30/04/2022 09:46

Somewhat lighthearted.

Working in hospitality/retail, what things do customers do that really, really annoy you when you're working? I'll start

  • Booking for 6 people and then saying "Hope it's okay we're now a party of 194"
  • Paying in cash but they're 1-20p short. "Can you cover it?" No I cannotHmm
  • Sitting on tables that are dirty/unset/in the process of being cleaned when there are clean and set tables literally next to them. Then complaining about the lack of cutlery.
  • Buying the cheapest pint, saying it's flat/doesn't taste right, then swapping for the most expensive pint.
  • Picking up an allergen menu and then saying "is this all you do?" No that's all we do GLUTEN FREE it says at the top!!!!!!!!!
OP posts:
Jellykat · 30/04/2022 19:35

One of my jobs is in an Antique shop and if i had a pound for everytime i get asked if i'll take 50% or less then the actual price, 'for cash'..
like it makes any difference!

whatuser · 30/04/2022 19:52

'No tag on this?...oh it must be free then hahahaha'

Shutup

whatuser · 30/04/2022 19:54

AlexCabot · 30/04/2022 18:51

Supermarket worker here. If the product isn't scanning and you say "Oh, it must be free then" please be aware that the person on the till wants to punch you in the face.
It's never been funny.

Cross post!

twomumsonebump · 30/04/2022 19:56

Used to work in a supermarket. Had a man try to pay for all his groceries with a voucher that was 1) taped together 2) out of date 3) for a new lawn mower.

He genuinely couldn't understand why I wouldn't accept it.

AskingforaBaskin · 30/04/2022 19:57

This may get me shot but during the hospitality restrictions I was going to scream if I had one more nurse/HCP worker state

Why do we have to follow the rule of 6 we work together. We're front line workers. We've worked all through the pandemic blah blah blah

STFU Brenda and take it up with Boris is am not booking your party in and I've told the venue you all plan to walk in and stealth sit so they are going to ask you to leave.

It was every day multiple times

notprincehamlet · 30/04/2022 19:57

Mostly I think YABU ... but I could have done without the customer who returned a very used toilet seat because the hinges were starting to rust after a year. Please just bring a photo of the fault and leave your biohazards at home.

Wafflehouse · 30/04/2022 20:07

I regularly have to work on the customer service desk and the people that want to return an item but can’t even say hello, they just dump the item down in front of you. It’s just basic manners isn’t it?

We also have a regular that comes in every Friday to waste someone’s time. She picks a different person each week, deliberately looks for something that is not out, again something different every week, sends them off to go and find it, when she’s given it she dumps it elsewhere in the store. Never any intention of buying the thing.

slashlover · 30/04/2022 20:42

Charity shop.

I know our toys are donated and therefore often not in boxes, that doesn't make it a free for all. The toy section is also not a babysitting service while you wander the rest of the store.

Why would you think donating your worn underwear, used sex toys, mouldy clothing, random knife in a bag of clothes etc. is acceptable? That also applies to dumping all your crap outside while the store is closed.

Please stop trying to switch tags or remove prices, you're STEALING FROM ABUSED KIDS!!

Also, for every retail shop ever - if the store opens at 9am then standing outside staring at me from 8:55am is not going to make the doors open any quicker. If the store closes at 5:30pm, then you should be on the pavement outside at 5:29 and 59 seconds, not still browsing or slowly making your way to the till.

Figstar4eva · 30/04/2022 20:46

When you've got heavy plates of food burning the skin off your fingers and you say "I've got the mixed grill, the boneless basket and the medium sirloin?"and they all just sit and stare at you.

I agree with all of them except this one. I work in hospitality in the US so maybe it's a little different due to our tipping culture but we have a numbering system so all staff know who ordered what. I'd never go to a table with plate and have to ask who had what.

Scottishflower65 · 30/04/2022 20:46

anagram other word is scum

Babyvenusplant · 30/04/2022 20:59

Someone I know worked in a supermarket call center and once had to deal with a woman calling to complain and demand a refund for ONE slightly dodgy onion in a multipack of onions 😂 he ended up refunding her 8p

AlexCabot · 30/04/2022 21:03

Babyvenusplant · 30/04/2022 20:59

Someone I know worked in a supermarket call center and once had to deal with a woman calling to complain and demand a refund for ONE slightly dodgy onion in a multipack of onions 😂 he ended up refunding her 8p

I processed a refund for 4p yesterday.

squashedalmondcroissant · 30/04/2022 21:05

@slashlover you've reminded me about the people who stand outside the restaurant/cafe 15-30 minutes before the posted opening times and then complain that you aren't open or use the extremely witty and original 'ol chestnut line of 'You forgot to unlock the doors' 😡😡 No we ducking didn't you twat, we aren't open yet!!

If anything it makes me take my sweet time even more if they stand there and stare at me 😁

YouHaveYourFathersBreasts · 30/04/2022 21:18

Young people (under 25) who want to buy age restricted products but don’t carry ID on them. The Apple Sourz you’re going to heave up in a gutter later on is not worth me losing my fucking job and getting a huge fine, fuck off.

HunterAngel · 30/04/2022 21:21

Customers on the phone. It’s a pharmacy, I do actually need your attention stop being bloody rude and just talk to me.

Customers who say ‘I’ve a prescription to collect’ then we both just stare at each other. There’s several hundred bags back there I need a name dammit! Something! And no the name of the surgery doesn’t help, funnily enough your surgery produces thousands of prescriptions every week not just yours.

People who arrive at the counter and start tapping in the counter while shouting ‘anyone serving’. Patience is still a virtue and I’m sure you can wait the 20 seconds it takes for me to put down what’s in my hands. Some fucker actually whistled at me once. Like a bloody dog he was calling to heel.

Original poster
rahjama · 30/04/2022 21:22

Figstar4eva · 30/04/2022 20:46

When you've got heavy plates of food burning the skin off your fingers and you say "I've got the mixed grill, the boneless basket and the medium sirloin?"and they all just sit and stare at you.

I agree with all of them except this one. I work in hospitality in the US so maybe it's a little different due to our tipping culture but we have a numbering system so all staff know who ordered what. I'd never go to a table with plate and have to ask who had what.

I have no idea how this would even work. How on earth do you remember what meal is for what person? In restaurants of 250+ covers? What if one person orders for the whole table, how do you know who's food it is then?

We just go to the table number and say what the dish is and the customers are then expected to say yes, that is mine. And then we put the dish in front of them. So it's really difficult when they can't remember who had what but the plate is a burning your hand because its a lot hotter than you anticipated it would be when you picked it up.

OP posts:
AskingforaBaskin · 30/04/2022 21:26

Figstar4eva · 30/04/2022 20:46

When you've got heavy plates of food burning the skin off your fingers and you say "I've got the mixed grill, the boneless basket and the medium sirloin?"and they all just sit and stare at you.

I agree with all of them except this one. I work in hospitality in the US so maybe it's a little different due to our tipping culture but we have a numbering system so all staff know who ordered what. I'd never go to a table with plate and have to ask who had what.

Absolutly not how we would do it here :D you claim your food or it goes on the table and they sort it our themselves

L0lla · 30/04/2022 21:29

Yanbu!
Hell is other people…especially twatty customers

EarringsandLipstick · 30/04/2022 21:44

I have no idea how this would even work
I'm in Ireland and in any half-decent restaurant this is what happens. They mightn't get it perfectly right but generally are able to match the dish to the person.

NamechangeFML · 30/04/2022 21:46

Y''all have to google Scott Seiss: patron saint of customer service. Bless him. Hes had tears streaming down my face with his videos.

EarringsandLipstick · 30/04/2022 21:47

That being said, I agree of course that if a staff member asks who's having a particular dish, you should of course pipe up!

I had a meal out recently in a lovely restaurant (courtesy of my brother as I wouldn't be able to afford it) & one of the nicest things was the excellent service. 6 of us & they got each course right for each person, no checking.

EarringsandLipstick · 30/04/2022 21:47

I think customers in their phones at tills is incredibly rude

EarringsandLipstick · 30/04/2022 21:48
  • on
SirGawain · 30/04/2022 21:58

Tothepoint99 · 30/04/2022 18:06

Did you not plan to clean the restaurant that night?

Show quote history

Ok Tothepoint99 I'll pop by your house and throw food on your floors. After all you'll be cleaning tomorrow won't you>

Dorkwillow · 30/04/2022 22:02

Used to work on the deli in Morrisons. After years of “enough for a sandwich!” when asking people how much ham/turkey/beef they wanted I said to a man “well how big is your bread? Are you having toastie loaf, milk roll or a full baguette?!” 😳😂
Moved on to an opticians and you’d be surprised (or not maybe) how many people come back and complain they can’t see when they take their glasses off 😫