As a former waitress, I have seen many types of customers and most of them bugged the hell out of me. I know that some people just want good service or want to get out of the house. Also, there are some pretty great people to serve that make jokes with you, treat you very well, and make you feel welcome to come back to their table. But there are some customers that are just a pain in the butt to serve to where you wish that you did not have to serve them. Servers typically remember particular customers that make them want to quit their job. Here's some examples:
1. Customers who do not tip.
For people that do not tip, or tip very little: please keep in mind that servers are paid 2.13 an hour and that all goes to tax. Tips are everything.
2. Customers who tip a decent amount and then take it away.
This rarely happens, but it does happen. Once, someone took away my coworkers tip IN FRONT of them. It was a table of four, they had all paid separately, and had left expect for one person at the table. My coworker went to check on the person still at the table and that person asks if her friend paid. My coworker looked in the book and said "Yes, ma'am". This person then asks if she tipped my coworker, she said "I think so, ma'am". She asks how much my coworker was tipped and she explained that she cannot count money in front of customers. This person then snatches the book away from my coworker, pays the bill, leaves a two dollar tip and then puts the rest of the money in her wallet and leaves. I do not know who you are or where you thought it was acceptable to do this, but I hope your friend finds out that you took money from a hard worker and kept it for yourself. She does not deserve a "friend" like you.
3. Customers who dine and dash.
For those who do not want to pay for their food, the servers have to pay for it. Again, we make 2.13 an hour. We do not work hard to pay for ignorant peoples meals when we are lucky to have a 20 minute lunch break.
4. High maintenance customers.
You are not the only people in the restaurant. We have other tables to take care of and they are being neglected because you're taking up all my time.
5. Customers who treat you like the scum of the Earth.
If you're going to treat the person who is handling your food like utter crap, do not go out to eat. One, we do not get paid enough for that kind of emotional abuse. Two, it's just not smart to mess with the person who handles your food.
Servers are on their feet for 12 hours a day, they go through the most crap out of anyone in retail/food service. So please, don't be one of these customers.