I am just a kid when my mom and I go to get ice cream at a well-known local place by the beach. There’s only one other customer when I walk in and begin looking at the flavors. The other customer, after getting her ice cream, suddenly shouts at my mom.

Customer: “Move your fat a**! You shouldn’t be eating this, anyway!”

My mom has never been slim but she wouldn’t be considered fat, either; she’s curvy and muscular. My mom, the shop worker, and I are all shocked by this woman’s rudeness.

Mom: “You mind your own business!”

The customer just walked out like nothing happened. My mom and I suddenly didn’t feel like eating ice cream and were about to leave, but the man working the counter told us we could have free ice cream for having to deal with that old lady’s harassment.

Customer: “Is pistachio ice cream just mint chocolate chip but without the chocolate chips?”

Me: “No… then it would just be called mint.”

Customer: “Oh. And what’s a fudge stick?”

Me: “A stick of fudge.”

Even after several years working in customer service, I’m still not sure it is possible to answer questions this stupid without sounding patronising and/or sarcastic. Pointers much appreciated!

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

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