Sometimes You Have To Question Customer Behaviors
Customer: “I’ll have the Italian.”
Me: “Okay, well we have the Italian BMT, the turkey Italiano, and the spicy Italian. Also Italian bread, which do you mean?”
Customer: “The spicy Italian obviously.”
Me: “Okay, and is that a sandwich or a salad?”
Customer: “A sandwich!”
Me: “Okay, what cheese?”
Customer: “Double Swiss, and I know it’s extra, I’m not stupid.”
Me: “I’m just making sure you get the right sandwich.”
Customer: “Well how about you stop asking questions and just get me my sandwich!”
I proceed down the line in silence. I stand at the toppings section and just stare at the customer.
Customer: “Aren’t you going to give me any toppings?”
Me: “Yes, if you tell me what you’d like.”
Customer: “Lettuce, tomato, sweetcorn and red onion!”
I silently add them and then we get to the sauces. I just stare at the customer.
Customer: “Aren’t you going to add any sauces?”
Me: “Yes, if you tell me what you’d like.”
Customer: “Ugh! Sweet onion! Are you slow or something?”
Me: “No, I’m just not asking any questions.”
Customer: “You… you’re just being difficult on purpose!”
I silently add the sauce and start wrapping it up.
Customer: “Wait, I wanted that toasted!”
Me: “I’d have known that if I’d been able to ask you if you wanted it toasted.”
Customer: “You’re a f****** b****!”
I silently toast it. I hand the sandwich to them and say:
Me: “You are a truly awful person… and no, that’s not a question.”
Yes, they complained but my manager essentially agreed with me and told them to be more cooperative with the ‘sandwich artists’ in the future. He told me not to call a customer awful again but I made no promises.
