When you work in the food service industry, you can easily tell which customers have never been on the other side of a register. Because if they had been, they wouldn’t do these things. While there are many understanding and lovely customers out there and instances where the employee is indeed in the wrong, here are some of the main behaviors that those serving you would really like you to avoid doing. We’d appreciate it a lot.
1. Talking on the phone.
Even if your phone call is that important, please don’t take it with you up to the counter. Not only is it rude, it makes extremely hard for us to communicate with you and make sure we get you what you paid for. This especially goes for those customers that ignore us or signal that they’re on the phone when we try to talk to them about what they ordered or ask a question. Yes, we know you’re on the phone. We’re just not sure why. Please show us some common decency and put the call on hold while interacting with us, thanks.
2. Giving lots of sass.
It’s okay if you’re having a bad day, everyone has them, but please don’t take it out on the person getting your food for you for small or non-issues. We will respond pleasantly of course, but it doesn’t feel great to be snapped at when we ask you to just repeat what you said. We have a lot on our minds every time we take an order. Sometimes we don’t quite catch what you said. It happens. This also applies to complaining about pricing or that something is sold out for the day. Chances are, the person you’re berating has no control over these factors.
3. Asking where your order is every thirty seconds.
I totally understand asking once after a few minutes, if it seems like it’s not too busy, just to make sure it wasn’t lost or forgotten. This does happen on occasion. However, asking multiple times, getting angrier each time-- especially when it is clearly very busy and there are many orders in front of yours-- is just unnecessary. There are other customers to take care of and we try to give everyone our utmost attention to get the orders out in the sequence they were put in. Please be a little patient and understand that during rush hours, there will be a wait.
4. Complain about the line once you get to the register.
Why? I can’t help this and I’m going as fast as I can. You do not have to wait in that line any longer; you’re at the register. Why do you feel the need to tell me how long you waited in line and what are you hoping will happen because of this?
5. Assume we’re dumb and treat us as such.
I may work a minimum-wage job, but that does not automatically mean I’m not intelligent. That’s an unfair stereotype and just plain insulting. I go to college, I just have loans to pay off and limited time to work, so hence the part-time job. Or maybe my family is struggling financially. Or maybe I just need work experience. You can never be sure of the situation. Along those lines, don’t refer to me as a “kid.” I work, I pay rent, I graduated high school. I can drive and vote. I am not a child. I may seem young to you, but these well-meaning comments come off as belittling.
6. Saying, “Are you new?” to an employee.
It’s usually pretty clear when someone is new. He or she asks a lot of questions and need help from coworkers. New people take a little longer than the rest of us to do things. And maybe this question is meant to put the newbie at ease. But it does the opposite. Not only does it point out the obvious to the other customers around and draw more attention to that fact, it makes the person self-conscious and embarrassed. Especially if they aren’t new and they’re just having a bit of trouble that day. It’s kind of like asking a woman, “when the baby’s due?” when you aren’t certain of her pregnancy. You should probably just not.
7. Paying larger sums in only change.
We understand trying to get rid of change or maybe not having the proper cash on you and really needing a coffee, but when you are considering paying more than about $5 in all coins, maybe don’t. We usually have to then count it to make sure it’s correct and put it all away in the drawer. If there’s a line, this holds things up for every customer behind you. These customers might then get annoyed at us about the extra wait. Perhaps consider exchanging some of the coins for bills at a bank or another store.
8. Throw shade when I don’t remember your “usual.”
I get it, you come here a lot. So from your perspective, I should certainly remember your favorite pastry and how you like your latte. I mean, you come here every day. But I take the orders of so many other people daily that sometimes they all blend together. This is definitely true if your usual is a generic, popular order. I may see you walk in and recognize your face and part of the order, but it may take a while until I know you and what you get on sight. Even longer for me to have it ready for you when you come in. There are of course exceptional employees that remember all the regulars and their usuals, but not everybody can do that. Please don’t crucify us for that. We’re trying.
