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Welcome to Bored Panda, how may I help you? Ah, I see. So, you Pandas work in the food, retail, and services industries and started the week off dealing with some incredibly dense customers. Denser than the core of Planet Earth, you say? Well, don’t worry about it, plenty of us have been there.

In fact, our team has collected a whole bunch of examples of the dumbest things that customers have said and done, to make you feel better. Trust us, you’re not alone in this. Of course, this isn’t to say that all customers are dumb: most are polite and decent. However, a small proportion of them are nightmare material and don’t even know what chicken wings are. And here’s the proof. Grab a soul-healing cup of tea, scroll down, upvote the situations that made you laugh, and share your own retail nightmare scenarios in the comments.

Bored Panda reached out to Save the Student, a British project that advises students on how to make their money go further, about how the pandemic affected the job market and what to do if you feel like you're stuck at a job where you feel demeaned. Jake Butler from Save the Student said: "It does depend on location and other factors, but finding a job during the pandemic, specifically lockdown, has been extremely difficult for students. It's true that some businesses, such as supermarkets and delivery companies, have increased recruitment, but large student employing sectors such as retail and hospitality have really stuttered due to being closed for many months."

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#2

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TmKhr
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I too want to lemonade some important papers while I drink some laminate soda

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Jake from Save the Student added that while some retail and hospitality jobs are returning, many students are "shunning them as there are worries about job security and also working conditions." According to Jake, one of the main worries that many have is that the market is weighted towards the employers and not the employees.

"For those that feel demeaned in their current job, I would suggest it's worth studying the rights you have as an employee," Jake told Bored Panda what we can all do if we find ourselves being treated less than humanely at our workplace. "Even during the pandemic, there is no excuse for an employer to break the law at your expense. And if you feel you're being treated especially poorly I would suggest looking to switch jobs, but doing so wisely."

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TmKhr
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A woman in a Finnish Facebook sales group didn't want to tell her clothes' size because she didn't want anyone to know how big she was.

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It’s easy to stay professional when the customers who you deal with are nice, pleasant, and see you as a human being. But the challenges start when you come face to face with someone who demeans you, acts overly entitled, or simply asks incredibly dumb questions. All of which makes you question why the nation’s education system has set the bar so low.

Earlier, I’d spoken about how to deal with difficult customers with Alexander Kjerulf. He’s the founder and Chief Happiness Officer at ‘Woohoo inc.’ and knows a lot about helping keep employees motivated, happy, and using their skills at their best.

Alex put it very simply that if you feel like you’re forgetting that you’re a human being worthy of humane treatment at your job, then you should seriously consider moving on. “Quit, and find a better place to work, where they actually care about their staff. And quit sooner rather than later. The longer you stay, the more they will grind you down until you lose all the energy and optimism you need to move on and find a better job,” he told Bored Panda.

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sarge-m , twitter.com Report

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TmKhr
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're right, there's no one here, it means you've broken in and police are on their way to arrest you

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He said that it’s common in restaurants to treat their customers like kings. And some places complement this by treating their employees badly. However, this is far from all right! It shouldn’t be the norm.

“99% of people are nice, but the occasional rude client is unavoidable," Alex noted that you will have to deal with difficult customers sooner or later. It’s not something that you can avoid forever and ever, no matter how good (or lucky) of an employee you are. "You can learn tricks to deal with them, and that's great, but no one should have to put up with mistreatment."

#10

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Mihai Mara
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The rule "an eye for an eye" should have been applied: "here's your HOT latte!" *splash*

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#12

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Ancsuri
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you have to give a tip in the US? How does it work? Cause by us, you can give a tip if you want to, but you can choose to pay just the price of the food.

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Working in the service industry doesn’t mean that you have to be a doormat, however. If you find yourself constantly being walked over, belittled, and demeaned, you have to reach out to your manager for help. They should be willing to step in and help you deal with anyone who isn’t acting like a human being should.

#15

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Catlady6000
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember replying something about how if nobody came in to shop, they wouldn't open, and the customer continued to sympathize and wonder why they opened on a holiday

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“You have to remember that in many cases a customer who behaves badly is not necessarily a bad person—it can be a good person having a bad day and that’s why they’re acting out. But the sad truth is that some customers act this way because they’ve learned that it works and will get them discounts or preferential treatment,” Alex said that some customers might be nightmare material by accident while others are very Slytherinish and sneaky.

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#16

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Michele Ferretto
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not the first time I hear a pregnant lady be called fat by other woman. For the love of God, what's in their mind!?!?

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#17

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Eslamala
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Real actual cheddar or that laminated orange plastic you get in the U.S??

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#18

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Pamela H.
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes there is no "grass fed" chicken meat at the store, but Chickens do eat grass. Obviously you don't own a chicken.

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Michele Ferretto
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Since you were there you could make him notice the size of the chip, so it could very hardly be injected with any vaccine (I bet he believes that too).

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TmKhr
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would like to know how the woman would've "made it correctly"

Shadow
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it was made like a McDonald's milkshake it may have just needed to be stirred a bit more to get the flavouring through it more. I've definitely had chocolate milkshakes from MD's that tasted funny for the first sip, stirred it and it tasted fine afterwards.

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Michele Ferretto
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I worked as a barista at some parties years ago. A pretty drunk guy came back saying that his beer "tasted funny". My experienced co worker took the bottle, he put it down just out of the view of the customer and right away he gave it back (the same bottle) to the customer, who tasted it at said "that's ok!" and went away. I was there staring at my co-worker, he looked at me, smirked and just said "Drunks..."

Dorothy Parker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes people just want/need more attention to make up something lacking in their lives.

CrunChewy McSandybutt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many years ago I worked at KFC and did the same thing to a lady that said the thigh was too small. Some people just like to complain to feel powerful, I guess.

Kathryn Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rearrange the food on the plate or transfer it to another plate, add some new garnish, maybe some more gravy, and it’s like you gave them a whole new, freshly cooked, meal.

Randy Monteith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Years ago Jimi Hendrix the famous guitar player complained to his roadie that his WahWah pedal was not working properly so the roadie gave him a 2nd one and JImi still complained . The roadie gave him a 3rd one and Jimi complained about it not sounding right as well. The roadie had enough and without telling Jimi he gave him back the first original one and Jimi was happy and said " That's the way it should sound all the time "

Myrkur
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people just really want and need to complain, even if there is nothing wrong. So weird

Jane Alexander
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rotten customers come and go but I've had a few rotten bosses and they tend to hang around til you quit. One bitched me out on the restaurant floor because there was a little over a glass ful in the shake I made for the kid he gave the spoiled shrimp to. I quit that day.

Luuta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There have been studies on this and you really do eat with your eyes as much as your sense of taste. I've seen three documentaries and they're well worth watching and if you're bothered, the tests are easily replicated.

Erica Cochrane
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

had a girl make me remake her drink because i'd put cream on it (We asked at the till and she said she wanted it), i had planned to scoop it off, but she said 'no, i'm allergic to cream' i had to ask her if the milk that he drink was made of was ok, it was fine...

Amanda Hunter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter was a server for a while, the crew would 'crop dust' bad customers ( walk by the table and fart)

alwaysMispelled
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a nurse. I had a patient complain that I made ice water wrong. I'm totally 1,000% serious. They asked for ice water. I brought water w/ ice in it. This same patient cut their foot. Walked all over and around their room. Did nothing to try and stop their own bleeding. Then called and said there was blood everywhere. BECAUSE YOU WALKED ALL OVER THE PLACE!

Derek Neibarger
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great example of customer service. Ever consider that there was actually something wrong with the milkshake, and that the customer just said it was "better" because they didn't want to wait on your lazy ass to fix it a second time? And that you may have lost a returning customer because you couldn't perform the most basic function of the job?

Mumchkin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BK customer: I want half vanilla half chocolate shake. Me: Absolutely, which do you want on the bot tom? BKC:I want side by side half and half. Me: Can't do that, it's separate spouts for the flavors. BKC: *SIGH* OK then swirl it. She just didn't get it.

Marco Conti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Legend has it that Michelangelo was being harassed by a citizen of Florence because the latter thought David's nose was too big. Michelangelo, who did not suffer fools lightly, went up on the latter with a handful of marble dust, made it look like he was reshaping the nose, but only let some dust drop off his hand, and then stood back. "Much better!" was the citizen's response.

Znaya
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people just have to be right whenever they choose to be right 😀

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#30

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make sure you never run out of blinker fluid. It's very important in traffic!!

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#31

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KatHat
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The full original phrase is: "The customer is always right in matters of taste". ie, if they want to paint their house screaming purple or buy a gold sequin pantsuit, you say YES that's wonderful. It was never supposed to mean what it's come to mean.

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Mihai Mara
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now I am curious how you explained it and what the customer finally understood.

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#36

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's the entitlement of "I orderded a cheeseburger without cheese and that's what I'm getting and paying for. You do not chance my order without my divine consent, you underpaid wage slave."

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#40

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy's an idiot, of course, but who ever cuts anything in quarters at Subway? Sure, if someone asked, but they don't normally do that do they?

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#43

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Kay blue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a kid I thought that once you ran out of money on the card you were given a new one.

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Lily Mae Kitty
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I run estate sales and they do this constantly. We open at 8 and at 8:05 someone will ask if we're discounting yet or if they can have it for half price. They also take prices off to see if you'll make it cheaper. I had a lady who took the prices off 4 items and left them on 3 inexpensive items. I made them $2 more than they originally were and she couldn't say s**t b/c then it would be obvious who took the prices off. She decides she doesn't want two of them but she had to pay extra for the 2 she really wanted. Hope she learned her lesson.

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WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's like that guy who ordered a 5 meter high flagpole. When it got delivered he refused it because it was 5 meters long but not 5 meters high.

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#48

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PhoenixplaysX
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We used to tell people the registers automatically shut off at closing time.

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Dagnirath
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it were me, I'd probably pick the 3 or 4 least compatible toppings and said, "If you don't like it, you should have picked it yourself.

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David Wong
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a table of 3 customers their dishes served nice and hot. But they keep chatting for somewhat over 30 minutes without eating. Then complained over the cold foods.

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Jo Firth
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If they think coffee costs 10 cents they're a hell of a lot older than baby boomers.

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Downunderdude
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not on the customer's side, but could she not use a tray? Would have saved a trip, too.

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe he had no idea how to use imperial units, didn't know what ozes were, only milliliters.

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