I work in a gelato store. Many people ask what gelato is, but not usually like this. Two teenage girls walk in and look at the gelato.

Me: “Hello! Would you like to try some gelato?”

Girl #1: “No.”

I see they are looking at it like they want some.

Me: “I can give you a sample if you’d like.”

Girl #1: “What is this stuff?”

Me: “It’s gelato. Italian ice cream. Would you like to try it?”

Girl #1: “Oh, no, thanks.”

She keeps looking at it.

Girl #1: “Can I try the [flavor]?”

She tries.

Girl #1: “Is this ice cream?”

Me: “Yes, Italian ice cream. It’s called gelato.”

Girl #1: “Oh, I don’t want gelato.”

She then proceeded to buy some.

I work at an ice cream shop. People love to complain and try to get free ice cream. We have a special sundae of the week which is a caramel supreme sundae. It’s basically a hot fudge sundae with caramel added. A guy comes to my counter.

Customer: “I’ll have a large hot fudge sundae.”

As he’s ordering, he’s looking at the special sundae poster. A lot of people say one thing but mean another, so I want to double-check. 

Me: “The hot fudge sundae or the special caramel one?”

Customer: “Didn’t you hear me? I said I wanted the hot fudge.”

Me: “You got it.”

I make it for him and he goes to eat it. Fifteen minutes later, he comes back with a completely empty sundae cup.

Customer: “You got my order wrong.”

Me: “Sorry, what did I mess up?”

Customer: “You didn’t put any caramel on it.”

Me: “Oh, I thought you wanted the hot fudge?”

Customer: “Put your listening ears on. I said I wanted the caramel.”

Me: “Oh, didn’t I double-check with you? You said, ‘Didn’t you hear me? I said I wanted the hot fudge’.”

Customer: *In a threatening voice* “Are you arguing with me?”

Me: “Certainly not. I’d be happy to make you a caramel supreme. It’ll be [price].”

Customer: “Excuse me? I’m not paying for you to get it right.”

Me: “I made you what you ordered. I also double-checked with you. I can give you some caramel, but I can’t make a whole new sundae since you ate all of it.”

Customer: “This is ridiculous! Get me your manager right now.”

Me: “Yes, sir.”

I go get my manager and explain the situation to her. She makes the guy a sundae.

Manager: “Sorry, sir, here you go.”

Customer: “It’s good to see there’s at least one competent person here. Tell your girl she needs to listen better.”

Manager: “I will.”

I got scolded for arguing with a customer. Apparently, we’re supposed to give free sundaes whenever someone complains. Needless to say, I didn’t stay long since there was zero support from management. Examples like this are why people are nasty to service people.

Related:
Any Given Sundae, Part 3
Any Given Sundae, Part 2
Any Given Sundae

Two teenage girls came into our store, where we mix ice cream together with fruit, candy, etc. on a large slab.
Coworker: “Would you like toasted or untoasted coconut?”
Girl #1: “What’s the difference?”
Coworker: “….. One of them is toasted?”

(It has been a slow day with just two people working. We are sitting on our phones when a woman pokes her head in.)

Woman: “Y’all got mayonnaise?”

(My coworker and I wait a few seconds to see if she’s joking. She just stares at us intently.)

Coworker: “Sorry… we just have ice cream. Try [Restaurant] down the street.”

(The woman left without a word. One of the weirdest experiences in all my years of food service.)

I’ve been delivering with a third-party food delivery app to earn some extra cash. Today, it is insanely hot. It is still around ninety degrees at six pm. As a result, most of my deliveries are for ice cream.

I get to the ice cream store and see a line outside. Due to the current health crisis, only a few people are allowed inside at a time.

The owner of the store is outside controlling the line and answering questions. He notices me standing there.

Owner: “Can I help you?”

Me: “Yeah, I’m picking up an Uber order for [Customer].”

Owner: “No problem. [Employee], can you get the order for [Customer]?”

As the employee walks inside, I see someone walk up and open the door to the restaurant. The owner stops him. 

Owner: “Can I help you?”

Other Delivery Driver: “Yeah, I’m picking up a [Third-Party Delivery] order. I’m going inside to get it.”

He continues to try to walk in.

Owner: “Sir! You have to wait out here; it’s too crowded.”

Other Delivery Driver: “No, it’s fine. I’m just picking up an order.”

Owner: “Yes, I know. One of my employees will be out and she’ll get it for you.”

Other Delivery Driver: “So, it isn’t ready?”

Owner: “No, dude, it’s probably ready. I’m just waiting for someone to grab it.”

Other Delivery Driver: “So, it’s not ready?”

Owner: “It’s ready! Just give me a minute.”

Other Delivery Driver: “F*** this. I’m not waiting for f****** ice cream. I’m canceling the order.”

Owner: “JUST WAIT ONE MINUTE! IT’S READY!”

Other Delivery Driver: “No, f*** this. You don’t know how to run a business. I’m canceling the order.”

He walked away. That whole thing took less than a minute. Right after he left, the employee came out with my order and I left. I feel bad for the guy’s customer. Hopefully, he wasn’t able to cancel the order and someone else picked it up for them.

Related:
Literally Scream For Ice Cream, Part 5
Literally Scream For Ice Cream, Part 4
Literally Scream For Ice Cream, Part 3
Literally Scream For Ice Cream, Part 2
Literally Scream For Ice Cream