No Soup For You! Part 2

In my store’s deli, we generally put out soup without ladles when they aren’t the correct temperature. The soup table is heated, so we turn it up on high to let it “cook” for a bit. This is something corporate says we need to do, so I can’t exactly change it.

Usually, I put a sign out saying that they aren’t ready just yet, because I know it can be a little frustrating to some to see them out but not be able to take any. Silly me, thinking a sign would work with retail customers.

I’m doing other things I have to be doing, frying mainly, when a customer walks up to one of my coworkers on the other side of the deli.

Customer: “Excuse me? Where are the ladles? I want soup.”

My coworker then comes up to me.

Coworker: “Where are ladles? A customer wants one.”

Me: “The soups aren’t hot enough. It’ll just be a few minutes.”

My coworker relays this to the customer, who immediately goes to another coworker.

Customer: “I want a ladle! Why can’t I have a ladle?!”

Coworker #2: “I don’t know. Hey, [My Name], can you get a ladle?”

Me: “Like I said, they aren’t hot enough. I’m not allowed to.”

The customer storms over to me.

Customer: “You should be ashamed of yourself! What kind of service is this?! Why put them out if you can’t serve them?!”

Me: “The soup table heats up the soup. We don’t have a way to do that effectively back here. There’s a sign stating why.”

Customer: “No! It’s heated! There’s steam!”

Internally sighing, I walk over with a thermometer to check and, surprise surprise, it’s still not hot enough. I show her.

Customer: “I hope you lose your job. This is the stupidest thing, but I suppose I shouldn’t expect much from a retail worker!”

She walks off. My department manager walks over, confused. I explain what happened and she laughs.

Department Manager: “I’m writing today off as bad luck and hoping to God that tomorrow is better.”

Related:
No Soup For You!