(I have just read back the customer’s seven-item order and told her the total.)
Customer: “Wait, does the strawberry malt have strawberries in it?”
Me: “Yes, the strawberry malt has strawberries in it.”
Customer: “Oh.” *pause* “Can I change it to vanilla?”
(As someone with Celiac disease, I always have to mention my gluten allergy at restaurants. Most places have excellent training when it comes to allergens. I’m in an ice cream shop.)
Me: “Can I get a small cone? I also need it gluten-free for an allergy.”
Employee: “Sure, no problem. Would you like a waffle cone with that?”
Me: “No… I have a gluten allergy.”
Employee: “Oh, well, I don’t know the community.”
(I am the shift lead at an understaffed ice cream shop that opens at three pm every day. The back of our shop is against a golf course. One day, I come out to find our dumpster full of grass clippings. The golf course has emptied their mowers there. I mention it to the owner over the phone, as he never came in.)
Boss: “What? Go over and give them a talking to. Our contract with the garbage company says all trash has to be bagged, and forbids lawn clippings! They will fine us for this!”
Me: “Um, we are usually too understaffed for me to step out. Maybe you could come and talk to them?”
Boss: “Do it on your own time, then! I’m not going to pay someone overtime just to talk to them! This has to stop!”
(Instead, I call the golf course during my shift. I basically get laughed at. Two weeks later, our dumpster is full of grass clippings and broken paver stones. The garbage company fines the owner an additional $50, and he calls me, furious.)
Boss: “I’m not paying an additional $50! Why did you let this happen again?”
Me: “I tried calling them and—”
Boss: “I told you, go over there one morning! Calling them won’t work!”
Me: “I’m not willing to do that on my own time. Anyway, I have another solution. I talked to the garbage guy, and he says that for $5 more a month, we can switch to a dumpster with a lock.”
Boss: “Five dollars a month! That’s ridiculous!”
(The third time it happens, I come out the next day to find a guy sitting by the dumpster in a lawn chair.)
Me: “What are you doing?”
Dumpster Guard: “Hey, my uncle hired me to guard the dumpster every morning and make sure no one uses it.”
Me: “You’re… guarding the dumpster. How much is your uncle paying you?”
Dumpster Guard: “$10 an hour. Sweet summer job, right?”
(He was paid more than any employee in the understaffed shop! Unsurprisingly, the ice cream shop closed the next year.)
(I work in an ice cream shop.)
Customer: “Can I try this flavor?”
Me: “Sure!”
(I hand her a sample stick with the flavor. After she tastes it, she tries to hand back the sample stick with her saliva all over it.)
Me: “Oh… There’s a trash bin right next to your hand.”
(It’s labeled, “TRASH.” The customer just looked at me and rolled her eyes. I’m sorry I didn’t want to touch your saliva-covered sample stick when we have cups clearly labelled, “TRASH,” on the counter.)
(My dad goes to get ice cream. At most shops in this area, a normal scoop costs around $2. This shop, however…)
Worker: “Sorry, we don’t have any more ice cream. But we can make sundaes for $7.50.”
Dad: *pause* “If you have no ice cream, what do you make the sundaes with?”
Worker: “Uh…”
