She’s Being A Rotten Tomato

A little old lady walks up to my till and orders a chicken wrap. For those who have never eaten a wrap from our chain, it comes with chicken, lettuce, cheese, whatever sauce goes on it, and nothing else. The lady wants to add tomatoes to her wrap. We have to charge for this; it’s ten cents.

Customer: “I don’t want to pay extra for tomatoes!”

Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am, but it’s policy.”

Customer: “Well, I’ve never had to pay extra.”

Me: “They were supposed to charge you for that, ma’am. I’m sorry, but that’s policy.”

Then, she says something that makes my blood boil. She looks right at me and says…

Customer: “Oh, you must be new here. I never pay extra for tomatoes.”

She speaks in the most condescending “Oh, you’re so cute when you don’t know what you’re doing, little girl” voice I have ever heard in my life.

My biggest pet peeve is when older people treat me like I’m a stupid child and they know better so I just need to do what my elders tell me. So, of course, this kills my friendly customer service attitude immediately.

I grit my teeth, take the smile off my face, and gave her the blankest stare I can.

Me: “No, ma’am, I’ve worked here for five years; I think I know what I’m doing. You can pay the ten cents, or I can give you a wrap without tomatoes. Your choice.”

The lady got really quiet and then muttered that she would pay. She didn’t say another word to me; she just took her wrap and left.