Ketchup Me Right Or Don’t Ketchup Me At All
(I am a manager at a popular fast food restaurant and currently serving customers in the drive thru. I have a headset on to hear what customers are saying at the speaker.)
Coworker: “Hi there, how can I help you?”
Customer: “Yes, I just came through here and got small fries, and I got NO ketchup! I want new fries WITH ketchup!”
Coworker: “Okay, sorry about that ma’am. Just pull to the second window and our manager will help you.”
(I prepare the new fries and put them in a bag, and make sure to grab a handful of ketchup packets to accompany them as she comes up to my window.)
Me: “Sorry about that, ma’am! Here you are. The fries just came up!”
Customer: “How can you give someone fries with no ketchup!”
Me: “Sorry, ma’am! Have a good day!”
(Thinking that would be the end of ketchupgate, I resume my other regular duties. Ten minutes later, the same woman, now irate, storms into the lobby and up to the counter with her food bag in hand.)
Me: “Hi there, ma’am, is there anything I can help you with?”
(She overturns her empty bag and several unopened ketchup packets spill onto the counter.)
Customer: “You gave me nine ketchup packets for one small fries?!”
Me: “I’m sorry?”
Customer: “You gave me NINE KETCHUP PACKETS for ONE small fries! Are you trying to be smart?!”
Me: “Ma’am, didn’t you return to the drive thru for the sole reason of getting ketchup?”
Customer: “But NINE ketchup packets?!”
Me: “I’m sorry ma’am, I suppose I just wasn’t aware of how much ketchup you wanted.”
Customer: “I demand to speak with your manager!”
(I look at my uniform and then the surrounding crew members’ uniforms. My uniform is quite clearly different from all others.)
Me: “I am the only manager on duty, ma’am.”
Customer: “YOU’RE the manager?!”
Me: “Yes.”
Customer: “And you gave me NINE packets of ketchup?”
Me: “Yes.”
Customer: “Well what do you have to say for yourself?”
Me: “I suppose I am pleased to know that I was able to go above and beyond your expectations for ketchup sustenance.”
Customer: *storms off muttering incoherently*
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
