To be fuming with these selfish customers?

[squashedalmondcroissant]

I work in a cafe and sometimes we put out free samples of cakes etc to give people a taster and obviously try and tempt people into buying a full price piece. No obligation, but that is the general idea, even if they come back another time.

Family comes in, I have a tray of 6 samples out on the counter. They proceed to take ALL the samples for themselves. The samples were plenty big enough to share especially as most of them were very young kids who could have easily had a bite each.

Aibu to be fuming at this? They saw me put them out so they knew that was all I had to give away and they just took them all! This particular family are regulars and I know (and they know) that they had absolutely NO intention of buying any of the cakes. They never do, they have a bit of a reputation for being freeloaders, helping themselves to things they shouldn't and paying for take away and then 'conveniently' changing their minds after they're paid to eat in knowing that they haven't paid the extra charge.

Aibu to just ban them forever? or am I just grumpy after dealing with annoying customers all day

It’s a bit like you should never hold out a big tub of sweets to kids on Halloween - you put the number of sweets you want them to have in the kids bags

I think it's a bit weird to give out samples that are big enough to share? They're only supposed to be tasters, aren't they?

Cut the samples far smaller, so you have more of them, and have a note "1 per person".

Instead of whinging, just deal with it.

If they 'could' have shared, don't put such large 'tasters' out.

Use your words. Tell them not to take whatever you think they shouldn't be helping themselves to.

if they 'eat in' when they've paid 'takeaway' (though I haven't seen different prices anywhere for ages. I sometimes buy a 'takeaway' coffee, but sit to drink it because my job means I often need to leave in a hurry & want to take my coffee. Also my local makes a better takeaway coffee than drink in, so I order takeaway even when not working.

i get they're annoying, but they customers supporting your business. Take action to mitigate your annoyance. Banning them is biting your nose off to spite your face

if i take a sample and it’s on the generous size, i wouldn’t split it between my children

Id presume the cafe wasn’t expecting people to start break prices of cake up and that each sample was per person

Your samples should be a tiny bite per person. I don't see the issue as a consumer. In the olden days they'd put little squares of cheese by the supermarket deli counter and they would encourage my mum to take a sample for each of us kids.

If they change their mind where they sit then say oh sorry that will be extra now you've changed your mind (company policy)

Why would you ban them if they are regulars and are buying from you? Don’t put samples out is the obvious answer if it bothers you or keep them behind the counter so customers have to ask for a sample which shouldn’t be a big piece just a mouthful at most. If someone picks a big sample up for a child, that will probably be enough for the child so they won’t see the need to actually buy any cake.

I'm not really going to ban them even though I'd like to nor do I have the authority, I'm just venting 😂

It's just really annoying. They saw me put them out so I couldn't remove them without it being obvious.

Samples are a pre set size and we are only allowed to do a certain number per day hence my annoyance. They KNEW that they were just taking free stuff because it was there and had no intention of buying any of them.

They initially only wanted them for the kids but they decided to help themselves to all of them because they were free.

If they're repeatedly not good customers, I would speak up next time. If they decide to drink in, they need to pay the extra charge or take their drinks to go. There's always a few who will try it on if they think they can get away with it, but normally a quiet word polite word will deter most. If they continue to take the piss I would ban them.

So what if they leave a bad review? My business has a handful of bad reviews from similar piss takers, with the first couple I bothered to respond with the facts and got a lot of support from good, decent customers. If anything, having one or two bad reviews seems to have deterred further piss takers!

They sound like model customers 🙄

You really don’t like this family so you Op

you put out samples
they ate them

i have often given my children samples knowing i have no intention of buying 🤷

I used to do the samples at m&s the cheeky fuckers are infuriating. I was pretty strict though and would say stuff to the worse offenders, like 'its not meant to be a meal just a taster' 'didnt you take a sample a few minutes ago its not multiple goes you know' etc.
Shame the greedy fuckers 😂

In future, wait until they have gone to set out the samples. Or just put out a few and put out the rest when they have gone.

are you quoting shop policy there? 😆

What greedy f*ckers! I'd wait and see them coming and then either remove the samples or just put out 3 teeeeeeny tiny pieces when you see them heading your way. Another idea, when you clock them - take sample tray and wander around the shop asking if anyone would like to try a sample deliberately avoiding the GFs.

Samples are a pre set size and we are only allowed to do a certain number per day hence my annoyance.

How can samples be a "pre set size" ? Why can't you cut them up into smaller pieces?
A sample is supposed to be bite-sized. If they're big enough for people to share then you're doing it wrong.

@squashedalmondcroissant You don't say that you own the cafe so why do you care so much? I suggest a hobby.

They sound a bit of a pain if they're regularly pulling CF stunts, but if you don't own the business, you need to chill about it. Life is full of chancers, and this lot sound pretty low key to me.

So it was eg 6 samples and 6 people had one each? What's the issue. Fair enough if they took more than one per person

I think this is something business owners should be getting irritated by, not people who just work in the cafe - it's not your money, so why get het up about it?

I don't think you can really condemn people for taking free samples - there's no obligation on a business to provide these.

I dont know what your pricing is like re eat in versus take away but if the cafe isn't busy then is it really that big a deal if they sit down? Coffees usually aren't cheap even at take away. Obviously if it's just snd they've asked for take away, then move them on!

If you feel like the samples you put out are big enough for multiple to share, what doesn't you cut them in half or place smaller samples?

If it's actually about each person in a group having their own sample that bothers you then speak to your manager and suggest you have a one taster per group rule?

Sounds like this family is a regular shopper if they've developed a reputation between you and your co workers. Maybe the reason there isn't a policy for banning someone for taking a sample each or not paying the eat in charge is because the business would lose more than it gains.

If all the poor behaviour my family have had to put up with from customers in cafes and the store they work, taking too many samples is the least of it. One was physically attacked last week by a bloke who'd been caught stealing.

You've every right to be angry at the disrespect and rudeness and aggression some customers direct at store staff but banning for the things you listed seem a bit harsh, especially when it sounds like you and your co workers are enabling them but not making them pay the eat in charge.

They are cheeky sods taking all of the samples no matter the size. Rude.

Put a bug sign saying only one per family!!!

im intrigued by this “pre set size” that the OP can’t deviate from?!

Oh I thought she was manager or something