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For a lot of people, working in customer service is their first job. It doesn’t require a degree or special qualifications, so it’s perfect for those who are still in school or want to work part-time while studying in college. But it is definitely not an easy job. It is both physically and emotionally demanding and requires a lot of patience and good communication skills, but the compensation usually doesn’t reflect how much goes into it.

The two customer service jobs that a lot of people have had are in retail and food service. They both have many similarities, but Twitter user @bluehoodiebaby wanted to ask people “If you have worked in food service AND retail which is worse?” At the end, no consensus was reached as Twitter users revealed that both jobs had quite a few downsides.

Image credits: U.S. Pacific Fleet

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Image credits: bluehoodiebaby

People were naming the salary differences, differences in relationships between colleagues and with customers. They also were comparing working conditions and their emotional state while having to work at one job or the other. So here are some of the answers people left in the thread.

More info: Twitter

#2

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

I'm waiting for a crime series episode where they find a body in the freezer and it's not a murder it's just a poor employee that wanted to hide from a horrible customer! Of course i want to see the punishment of the customer as well!!!!

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The tweet became pretty popular with over 20k people liking it. And they were not holding back, revealing all the ugly parts of working both in retail and in food service. If you think one is more despised than the other, surprisingly, it’s not the case as there are many varying opinions.

But one thing that was common for both jobs was the unsatisfied and rude customers. If you are a person who has not worked in this field and you always greet your waiters and the cashiers, you may not notice how many people are really rude to the people who are doing them a service. So folks in the thread were saying that they had terrible experiences with customers in both jobs.

#3

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

To be fair, GrubHub delivery drivers haven't been my favorite and are the main reason why I no longer use their service.

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#4

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

Well, obviously he didn't have any interaction with customers that's why he prefers the kitchens

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#5

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

This is just sad. Wonder what would happen to the USA if by some miracle people started treating their peers like they want to be treated. And I can't even begin to imagine what would happen if people got paid decent livable wages so they do not have to work multiple jobs to have a decent life.

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The thing that made people dislike food service more was the smell. Because you always smell like food, even when you get home. To the point that people wouldn’t even want to pick them up from work. Another thing that a lot of Twitter users mentioned was that it was so hot in the kitchen that they were always sweaty.

People choosing retail as the bigger evil were saying that it was such a boring job when it was quiet and the shift could seem endless because of that. Also, they saw their retail jobs as more annoying because they would do the same thing over and over again just for it to be messed up by a customer.

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#9

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

Always worse when you are a woman unfortunately! That's so sad

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As for the pay, it seems that people saw that it was more worth it to work in food service as you would receive tips because even though you had to endure the angry customers and hard physical work, you would still earn more than working in retail, where you may encounter less of the “Karens” and you may get to do less physically demanding work, but you wouldn’t get any financial bonus.

After reading the thread, you come to an understanding that both jobs are not the ones you would want to work for a long time if you have the liberty of choice. People were choosing a side, but it was choosing the lesser of the two evils.

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#11

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

Commission focused retail should be declared illegal. People on both sides get scammed and the only ones who benefit are the criminals behind this scheme.

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#12

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

What is non sales retail? I thought retail was selling stuff? Sorry, not American.

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These people laid out their own arguments of why they think food service or retail is worse after working in both, but we would be really interested in hearing your experiences and your own view. If you don’t fancy leaving us a comment, then upvote the answers to the question that you agree with the most!

#13

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

I don't get this thing where employers demand their staff to stand for hours for absolutely no reason! I'm not going to ruin my body from my 20-30's for nothing (yes I'm a lazy millennial🙄)

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

You realize foreigners just don't know how to tip because everywhere but America gets paid a living wage and don't need tips. In fact in some countries it's rude to tip because it's considered begging.

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#18

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

I HATE WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT!!! They wouldn't leave this staff outside the fridge in their home but at the market they expect someone to run after them and fix their mess!!!!

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#19

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

Oh god- I hate it when people do that. They always seem to enjoy it too.

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Kisses4Katie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Working at McDs I was asked by a customer (who was telling his kid how important college is) if I ever went to school. “Why yes. I had a scholarship to (Ivy League school)” Not bragging because I still get minimum wage for the most part. Just pointing out it got me nowhere.

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#21

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

This does not sound like work it sounds like torture to earn money

#23

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#24

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

I'm sorry but, you make this kind of money in restaurants for two reasons: 1. It's fine dining or other high end expensive place. And 2. You are an attractive woman

#25

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

Honestly it's a health issue and it's better to quit in these situations! There is no point to die for a f*****g job

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#26

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

Not to mention the overtime to fold after closing that usually it's not paid!

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#28

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

Why don't all the food workers in America go on strike for more pay? They just can not sac you all

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#30

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Joshua Selbitschka
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3 years ago

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#31

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

Agree! Some people i met there went through hell and were like angels made from adamant/ zen masters.

#35

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

Again - Food service will either scrap you or make you a zen master

#38

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#39

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

In retail they can also complain that everything is your fault!

#40

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

It was 20 years after leaving retail before I was able to listen to Christmas carols. And to this day I will not leave my house in Black Friday.

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