I get an order to take out. The restaurant isn’t busy but all the staff members are running around like headless chickens. I finally get my food, but the paper bag is wet at the bottom. I look inside and the container of coleslaw has been placed under the rest of the food and crushed open. Everything that wasn’t sealed is now covered — which would be fine if I actually liked coleslaw! I try to get someone’s attention. 

Me: “Excuse me? Hello?”

No chance; they are all rushing around, back and forth, between the counter and back.

Me: “Excuse me?”

Worker: “Yes?”

Me: “My food, look at how it was packed. The coleslaw is all over the bag. I have my receipt.”

Worker: “I might be able to replace the coleslaw for you. Let me call a manager.”

Me: “Sorry, but that’s not really enough. The chips are covered in it. I’d like them replaced, too.”

Worker: “I think they look fine.”

Me: “With all due respect, they are not. I’d like them replaced. I haven’t even left the counter; this was how they were packed.”

Worker: *Sighs* “Sir, all of our employees are well trained in this. We can’t be held responsible once you receive your food.”

Me: “I have already explained that this was how I received it. Look, even the counter is wet. Are you calling me a liar?”

It’s a very awkward silence as the manager turns up.

Manager: “So, what’s the problem?”

Worker: “He dropped his food and now wants it all for free.”

Me: “That’s not what I said at all. One of your employees put the coleslaw under all the rest of the food. You can see the packet has completely split from the weight; it’s everywhere.”

Manager: *To the worker* “You saw him come back in?”

Worker: “Yeah.”

Me: “Did you? Because that security camera will show otherwise.”

Worker: “I don’t know, maybe… Yeah, probably. I was busy.”

Manager: “I am sorry, sir. Let me get everything made fresh.”

Me: “Great, thank you.”

Manager: “Check his food before he gets it, please.”

Eventually, my food was ready and was set on a shelf. The worker made a big deal out of looking busy and avoiding the counter — I’m sure just so that I had to wait longer. I had to get the same manager to give me my food before it got cold.

I ended up making a complaint. They checked the cameras and confirmed that the events happened as I said they did, and they sent me a voucher.

I took my little brother out to a chain chicken wing restaurant for his birthday. I ordered a ten-piece wing platter. When I got it and started eating, I noticed I only had eight wings. Now, I don’t typically complain about food, but I wanted what I paid for. I waved the server over.

Me: “I’m not trying to be difficult, but I ordered a ten-piece platter and only got eight wings. I’d like to either change my order to an eight-piece or get two more wings, please.”

Server: “I don’t know how to change the order, but I’ll get you more wings.”

She goes to the kitchen and comes back about fifteen minutes later with another ten wings!

Me: “Why did you bring me ten more?!”

Server: “They’re on the house because you handled our mistake so calmly!”

It just shows that not being a jerk can get you a long way in life.

In Kansas, you have to be eighteen to smoke and twenty-one to drink and gamble. I’m nineteen, but I look about sixteen, and this causes some confusion, but it’s never been a problem until this happened.

Me: *Going up to the counter* “Can I have some [Cigarettes], please? Here’s my ID.”

Clerk: “This isn’t you.”

Me: “What? Yes, it is. My hair’s shorter, and I’m wearing makeup in the picture, but it’s definitely me.”

Clerk: *Scoffs* “I know your kind. You come in, thinking you can scam us out of cigarettes and booze. Well, I’m not buying it. And I’m going to have to confiscate this.” 

Me: “You can’t keep that! Civilians are not allowed to keep IDs, even fake ones.”

Clerk: “You’re lucky I don’t just turn this over to the police. I’m going to destroy this thing right now.”

To my horror, she sticks my ID in the shredder behind her. I’m furious and upset, and I shout for the owner, who happens to be a friend of my mom. 

Owner: “Hey, [My Name]. What happened? You’re crying!”

Me: “She destroyed my ID!”

Owner: *To the clerk* “What?! You don’t have a right to do that! Go get your stuff; you’re fired. I’m so sorry, [My Name]. I’ll get your cigarettes for you.” 

The clerk tried to apologize and say she was doing him a favor, but he was having none of it and told her he’d file a police report on her later. Then, the clerk gave me a look to kill and stormed out with her purse. The owner of the gas station helped me get a new ID and did file a police report with the local police.

Unfortunately, the clerk did not take too well to being fired. She keyed my car, went to the bathroom on my mom’s front lawn, and tried to lure our dog out in traffic. I filed a restraining order, and my mom’s friend provided the tape to the court. The judge was not impressed by the clerk’s behavior, told her to stay away from me, and sentenced her to community service and a month in jail for defecating on my lawn.

My uncle is in town and wants to take my parents, my husband, and me out for dinner. I am the first one to arrive at the restaurant along with my three-month-old, who is in an infant car seat. The restaurant is currently pretty empty. 

Me: “Hi there. I am waiting for my family to join me, who should be here soon, but is it possible to be seated while we wait for them so I can feed my daughter?”

Hostess: “That’s fine. How many people total?”

Me: “Five adults and one infant. Can we also please have a booth so I can set her next to me?”

She doesn’t say anything but grabs five menus and tells me to follow her. She takes me to a small table for four.

Me: “Oh, I’m sorry. Is it actually possible to get a booth?”

Hostess: “Why?”

Me: “I have four other adults joining us, and I would like a spot to set my daughter next to me.”

Hostess: “Can’t you just get another chair and set her on the ground?”

Me: “I’d really prefer not to.”

She stares at me for a while before saying that she’ll be back. She comes back with the manager.

Manager: “What seems to be the problem here?”

Hostess: “She’s unhappy with where I set her.”

Me: “I was just wondering if it’s possible to get a booth. There’s going to be a total of five adults, and I would like to set my daughter next to me rather than on the floor.”

Hostess: “I told her she could just get another chair.”

Manager: *Looks confused* “Yes, of course, you can have a booth. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

Hostess: “But I told her she could just get another chair!”

The manager rubs the bridge of his nose and looks annoyed.

Manager: “Just go back to the front, [Hostess].”

During college, I have a part-time job at a daycare. My shift starts at 12:00 pm and work is usually about a thirty- to thirty-five-minute drive from where I live. It is 11:20 am and I am getting ready to head out when I get a call from the front desk.

Receptionist: “Hey, [Coworker #1] had a family emergency and had to leave. We’re short staff and [Coworker #2] and [Coworker #3] need to take their breaks. Can you come in at 11:30, instead?”

Me: “I’m actually just getting ready to leave, but since this is the normal time I leave, I won’t be there until probably 11:50 at the earliest.”

Receptionist: *Pauses* “Well, that doesn’t help us.”

Me: “I’m sorry? I live at least thirty minutes away from work. I won’t be able to get there any earlier.”

Receptionist: “Fine. Just get here as soon as you can.”

I luckily get mostly green lights on my drive, so I arrive at work at 11:45 am and clock in. When I get in, my coworkers look ticked.

Coworker #2: “You know, it’s highly inconvenient that you didn’t help us out and come in earlier. Now we’re late to take our breaks. Just remember this when you need a favor.”

Me: “Are you kidding me? [Receptionist] called me forty minutes before my shift started and my drive is usually at least thirty minutes, sometimes longer. I got here as soon as I could.”

Coworker #2: “Oh, I, uh… She didn’t tell me that. I just assumed you lived closer and refused to come in. Sorry.”

Later, my boss comes in asking to speak with me.

Boss: “[Receptionist] tells me that she called you to come in earlier for your shift when you were needed and you refused. That’s very unprofessional of you and I expect better next time.”

Me: “She called me at 11:20 asking me to be there at 11:30. I live thirty minutes away. There was no way I could get in any earlier. I got here at 11:45 am, earlier than I told her I would be, clocked in, and immediately went to the room afterward.”

Boss: *Pauses* “I’ll have a conversation with [Receptionist]. Sorry about that.”

Lots of things like this happened throughout my time working there. I didn’t stay much longer.

Related:
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 14
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 13
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 12
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 11
A Most Unreceptive Receptionist, Part 10