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n2doc

(47,953 posts) Tue Apr 1, 2014, 12:30 PM Apr 2014

Customers Who Don't Know What Words Mean: Restaurant Horror Stories [View all]

Welcome back to Behind Closed Ovens, where Kitchenette relates the weirdest, grossest, or just plain funniest stories to come out of working in the food industry. Today, we bring you people who do not understand simple concepts like "gluten-free" and "veggie subs" and "smoked salmon," and who are angry about it. Enjoy.

"I worked at Subway in high-school and on a slow-day, a lady came in and asked for a 'tomato, lettuce, and cheese sub.'

Easy enough, so I set about making it for her. Mid-way through the process, she stopped me and asked, "I don't see a 'tomato, lettuce, and cheese sub' on the board. Where is it?!" I replied, "Oh, well, it's just a veggie sub…" She curtly responded, "No, I don't want a 'veggie sub', I want a sub with tomato, lettuce, and cheese. That's all. I told you!" I replied, "Yes, ma'am, that's what I'm making." Her: "But where is it on the board?" Me: "It's on the board. It's a veggie sub; that's what I have to charge you for." Her: "I'm not having a veggie sub!" Me: "Yes…you…are?" Her: "I'M NOT A VEGETARIAN!"

This went on until she became so irate that she told me to stop because she was going to a competing sub franchise "where they understood English" and didn't try to rip her off (at the time, a foot-long veggie sub was the cheapest item on the menu at $3.99). She then flipped me off and made a failed attempt at slamming the front door with a spring-loaded door closer that slowed down the process. Fun Fact: She was meaner and more disrespectful than the guy who robbed the place with a machete two weeks later."

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http://kitchenette.jezebel.com/customers-who-dont-know-what-words-mean-restaurant-ho-1555279230

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Customers Who Don't Know What Words Mean: Restaurant Horror Stories [View all] n2doc Apr 2014 OP

This message was self-deleted by its author Brickbat Apr 2014 #1

It's good that the folks serving those imbeciles can laugh. LiberalAndProud Apr 2014 #2

If you've ever dealt with the "general public" in any sort of retail Warpy Apr 2014 #78

IT help desk stories are the funniest. LiberalAndProud Apr 2014 #80

I always joke that one of the reasons I went into nursing Warpy Apr 2014 #82

How do we get customers to unlearn the bullshit that "the customer is always right"? Glassunion Apr 2014 #3

It's not bullshit demwing Apr 2014 #6

I've worked in the service industry for my entire life (25+ years). It's bullshit. Glassunion Apr 2014 #8

I understand how you feel demwing Apr 2014 #16

You're absolutely right LiberalLovinLug Apr 2014 #28

I'm in convenience retail. Wife is in department store retail. Glassunion Apr 2014 #31

So this reminds me pipi_k Apr 2014 #34

Dick's last resort has the same model. Glassunion Apr 2014 #36

There's a Norm's in Whittier that's the only halfway decent place open on xmas day. Iggo Apr 2014 #45

Like Seinfeld's "Soup Nazi.". nt tblue37 Apr 2014 #55

Jaysus !!! You are an ASSET to your employers! MADem Apr 2014 #77

You're right. And it's spreading to every walk of life. stopbush Apr 2014 #30

Her objection was that she was being charged for a veggie sandwich lunatica Apr 2014 #14

That's what I mean by framing demwing Apr 2014 #15

You can only try.... daleanime Apr 2014 #19

How can you reframe the fact that she wanted to see it on the board lunatica Apr 2014 #23

Say this: demwing Apr 2014 #35

That might work lunatica Apr 2014 #79

Excellent points, demwing. Bonx Apr 2014 #25

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2014 #73

I think the "customer is always right" is simply a way to rationalize, "I'll deny my own... LanternWaste Apr 2014 #11

Offerring superior customer service demwing Apr 2014 #17

Do you currently work retail? nt Javaman Apr 2014 #18

When you deal with the occasional idiot, it eats your soul a little bit. Iggo Apr 2014 #69

"The customer is always right" was an advertising slogan. The_Commonist Apr 2014 #27

That was Harry Selfridge. He was an American who started Selfridge's in London in 1909. Manifestor_of_Light Apr 2014 #44

Right on! I have no tolerance for those that are rude or abuse service industry employees. Inkfreak Apr 2014 #48

By telling them at every opportunity to read the wonderful site: kentauros Apr 2014 #40

I know of a book you might like... Lancero Apr 2014 #46

Reminds me of Jack Nicholson in "Five Easy Pieces" who wanted toast, but it wasn't on the menu. John1956PA Apr 2014 #4

I practically had to do that once when a server nilram Apr 2014 #58

Perhaps the Subway worker should have said something like: Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #5

It's easy to think of that now. Mariana Apr 2014 #54

I worked in a Mexican Food Restaurant..all kinds of language mishaps, but the coolest thing.. Tikki Apr 2014 #7

I stopped at a general store on the Rio Grande River in Texas one day. postulater Apr 2014 #9

That's too funny! Inkfreak Apr 2014 #49

I know, I actually saw him eating the salsa with a spoon out of the corner of my eye, but couldn't.. Tikki Apr 2014 #52

If you are near Owego auntsue Apr 2014 #62

Really good Mexican food is some of the best stuff on Earth. Tikki Apr 2014 #71

Did you ever have anyone complain that the corn leaves wrapping the tamales were inedible? eridani Apr 2014 #67

My sisters restaurant used to have a sweetbread appetizer on the menu. Xithras Apr 2014 #10

Instead of military service, I think all Americans should spend 6 months of their early adult years KittyWampus Apr 2014 #13

Absolutely! alcina Apr 2014 #32

As a Former Retailer RobinA Apr 2014 #47

I said this very thing yesterday after watching a very rude man talk down to a woman serving him. Inkfreak Apr 2014 #50

But, but, that description is still missing something nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #42

Would've been even worse, probably... Spider Jerusalem Apr 2014 #76

The funny thing is, it's an organic "nose to tail" restaurant that markets to "foodies". Xithras Apr 2014 #81

I worked at a Gristedes (union job =double time on Sundays!) and was standing behind KittyWampus Apr 2014 #12

... geardaddy Apr 2014 #24

i once overheard a woman next table over at a Chevy's in LV ask for a chicken quesadilla, no cheese. frylock Apr 2014 #20

The server should have just given them the burrito shell with chicken in it NightWatcher Apr 2014 #26

Not to be too picky nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #43

One thing I've always wanted to do pipi_k Apr 2014 #21

These days the jerk is probably armed and eager for an opportunity to shoot you. nt tblue37 Apr 2014 #56

I know... pipi_k Apr 2014 #64

Here's a possible solution fantase56 Apr 2014 #22

and sometimes... servers don't know what words mean nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #29

Or what is in their own sandwiches! csziggy Apr 2014 #38

Well I know that to that wedding I brought safe food bars nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #39

For many more such stories, notalwaysright.com has a bunch Electric Monk Apr 2014 #33

One of my favorite sites! kentauros Apr 2014 #41

For the last hour and a half Union Scribe Apr 2014 #65

Why don�t you sub shops just have tuna? Why is it always tuna fish everywhere I go? Electric Monk Apr 2014 #66

I know Aerows Apr 2014 #75

I once helped a customer execute a slur against me..... tableturner Apr 2014 #37

The gluten free dead man walking is my favorite. That was hilarious. n/t Jefferson23 Apr 2014 #51

in the example posted the worker comes off as an ass also JI7 Apr 2014 #53

Yeah, sounds like the worker kept saying "veggie sub" just to annoy the customer. Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #57

How so? Boom Sound 416 Apr 2014 #59

The worker should have said something like Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #60

Sure, but Boom Sound 416 Apr 2014 #61

What kind of person would be rude to someone handling their food? IronLionZion Apr 2014 #63

An astounding amount of people are rude to the people handling their food. Iggo Apr 2014 #70

That was an interesting read treestar Apr 2014 #68

The last one was hilarious Aerows Apr 2014 #72

It seems slightly harsh on the last example to include her with the others. Donald Ian Rankin Apr 2014 #74