My daughter and I had an APPALLING experience at a very popular bagel and coffee chain in the Netherlands, which I normally love when I have the rare chance to treat myself to something.

I can NEVER get myself something amazing like a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, but yesterday morning, my daughter had a very important meeting about her future, requiring intercity travel. We were out of the house so fast I needed to grab SOMETHING, so I was delighted when we spotted the bagel place.

I have health issues, and my daughter has a post-viral fatigue syndrome so we, unlike seemingly just about everyone else in the city, were wearing masks for our own safety and because we understand asymptomatic transmission — and despite the prevailing opinions, there IS still a health crisis on.

The guy at the counter looked a lot like Hawkeye from “The Avengers,” so our good mood got even better because that’s fun, and he seemed really nice.

Employee: “What would you like?”

Me: “I need to look at the menu first.”

Employee: “Okay.”

Then, he put on a teasing, “you silly person” tone.

Employee: “You know, those masks are no longer needed.”

Me: *Politely* “They’re no longer required by law.”

I thought we could leave it at that or that he might, as has happened before, demand that I list my personal health concerns for him, but no. He rolled his eyes and started laughing.

Employee: “Oh, come on!”

I turned to my daughter.

Me: *Quietly* “Yeah, let’s go somewhere else.”

The employee yelled after us as we walked out.

Employee: “Oh, what? REALLY?! SORRY, OKAY? WHAT THE H***?!”

We just kept walking, so he CHASED US INTO THE STREET, screaming.

Employee: “Hey, you! You… FOOLISH WOMEN! I hope you… I hope you TAKE ANOTHER VACCINE!”

I’m really not sure what that was supposed to mean.

My daughter is painfully shy and autistic, and she has some trauma in her past. This frightened her, so she had to go into her important meeting already far too anxious, so she had a distressing day. (The meeting went great, though.) And I, of course, did not get any breakfast.

I’m trying to figure out how in the world the guy thought mocking, screaming at, and CHASING customers would get them to buy a bagel.

Related:
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 24
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 23
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 22
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 21
An Ugly Side Of Society Has Been Unmasked, Part 20

A customer comes in and orders a strawberry drink that comes with actual strawberry pieces along with the strawberry tea. I make it and give it to him. He picks up the drink and looks weirdly at it.

Customer: “I asked for no strawberry pieces in this.”

I am 100% sure he did not.

Me: “Oh, okay. No worries. I can remake it for you really quickly!”

Customer: *Scoffs* “Good, because I’m allergic to strawberries!”

Me: “…”

A husband and wife walk in. The wife finds a table and the husband orders two coffees. As I am handing them to him, his wife shouts across the store.

Wife: “Did you check what kind of plastic cups they’re using? Look at the code on the bottom!”

The husband promptly complies by turning BOTH coffees upside down to check the bottom of the cups. As you would expect, gravity does its thing all over the counter.

Me: “Why would you do that?”

Husband: “I… I thought maybe if I was quick enough the coffee might not fall.”

Me: “Why did you try it with both drinks?”

Husband: “I… don’t know.”

We stare at each other in shocked silence for a few more seconds.

Husband: “So… can I get these remade?”

Me: *Sighs* “Just as soon as I’ve cleaned the counter, sir.”

I remake the drinks and hand them to him.

Husband: “Shoot! I forgot to check the code under the cup.”

I work in a coffee shop and bakery where breakfast is from 7:00 to 11:00 am, no exceptions. You’d be surprised how many people come in and expect breakfast when it’s long past noon or later. Some even have the nerve to get angry, like it’s an inexcusable crime not to make them an exception to the rules.

Customer: “I’d like two coffees and a breakfast sandwich to go.”

Me: “We can give you the coffee, sir, but I’m afraid breakfast is over for the day.”

It is almost noon already.

Customer: “Come on, have a heart! My son is in the hospital and he’s really wanting one of your sandwiches! Can’t you just make me one?”

Me: “I’m sorry, sir. We can’t do that.”

Customer: “Oh, come on, have a heart! It’s just one sandwich!”

Cue my manager, who happens to be close enough to listen.

Manager: “All the stuff for breakfast is already put away, sir. We’re not doing breakfast again until tomorrow.”

Customer: “Have you no heart? Can’t you make an exception for me? My son is in the hospital!”

Manager: “Sorry, sir, but no.”

Me: “You can still order anything else on our menu, just not breakfast.”

Customer: “That’s not what I came for!”

In the end, the customer practically throws down the money for the coffee, which he still wants.

Customer: “That’s the last time I order here! See if I ever come here again!”

After he was gone, we all stared at each other like, “Did that really just happen?”

Sorry about your son, sir, assuming your story is true, and we hope he gets well soon.

I’d like to hope you were just overreacting from the stress, but for heaven’s sake, there’s no need to have a little public tantrum over a silly sandwich and accuse us, to our faces, of being “heartless.” Come on!

My name is a very traditional Irish name, and a pain if I’m honest. I’ve had a life of people mispronouncing it and struggling to fill in forms. I normally go by my nickname for anything not official.

I’ve ordered a coffee and sit down waiting for it to be made. It’s pretty busy so it’s a fair wait.

I‘m waiting for my coffee, someone with the same order as mine gets called out.

Customer: “That’s mine.” *He collects his order.* “You forgot the cream.”

Worker: “This one specifically states no cream.”

Customer: “This is ridiculous, and you have the wrong flavour, and is this even a large?”

Worker: “Is your name [My Name]?

Customer: “Well, no, but that’s my order.”

Me: “I’m sorry, I think that’s my order. Is it for [My Name]?”

Worker: “Er, yes? Probably. Sorry if I messed it up.”

Me: “Hey, no worries, to be honest, I rarely even use it.”

The man is stood way too close to me, arms folded.

Me: “Oh, and the coffee is perfect, thank you.”