Awkward Customers

[Nyff 0]

Bit of a rant here, but hey ho! Just got back from the pub/restaurant I work at after having to deal with some particularly awkward customers. A table of four adults and three kids came in at about three. It says outside the pub, and on the website, that lunch service finishes at 2, and we run an 'Afternoon Bites' menu between 2 and 5.30. But anyway, they stroll in, with give them the menu they can order from and they walk to their table and pick up some full menus on the way.

 

He asks the girl working with me at the time if the kids can order from the kids menu. She goes and asks the kitchen. They say no, so she tells them that, unfortunately, they can only order food from the reduced menu (as we told them..). So anyway, they start having a go at her (and bring her to tears), and then come up to order with me and do exactly the same thing. I tell them all I can do is ask the kitchen, and as the girl working with me has already asked them and they've said no I can't promise anything. So I ask the kitchen anyway and, surprise surprise, I get the same response.

 

So I go and tell them, and once more they start having a go. They are going on about how they "Won't be able to feed the kids" and how they've read the website and that says we serve all day (it doesn't say that >_>). And that's when they get sarcastic and start having a go at the chefs saying that they probably just want a break and are making it up that we can't cook them meals from the full menu.

 

From then on they were just incredibly awkward and short with us, no matter how nice we were to them.

 

It's people like this who I imagine have never ever workied in any sort of customer facing role, especially in a pub.

 

They expected two non-managers to tell our head chef that he had to cook meals from the full menu for them, and expected us to be able to do something about it when we were told it wasn't going to happen. They thought that the chefs were just being lazy and probably had nothing to do, but what they don't know is that all weekday afternoons are spent preparing for the week end, and who could blame the chefs, who come in at 9 and are there til 11 at the earliest, for having a bit of a break anyway!? And then they spent the rest of their meal being incredibly rude to the two staff working at the time, so much so that another table noticed how difficult they were being.

 

Fair enough if you're a little annoyed at not being able to get what you wanted for lunch, but to bring a girl to tears because you are being that rude? I can't think of anything worse.

/rantover.

[Lazarus 0]

you could of just suggested that they get something to eat elsewhere

[Barney 0]

I'd never act like that as :

 

1) I'd not like to be treated like that in return

2) Poo in my food

[Gemmill 47130]

Did you cry too?

[Nyff 0]

you could of just suggested that they get something to eat elsewhere

 

They suggested that themselves. "What it all boils down to is whether you want our business or not". What I felt like saying was "Well, actually, and speaking not as a manager, I don't particularly want your business because without you here we can clean up everything and I get to go home earlier...". They seemed to think that 4 adults and 3 children having some lunch would make a massive difference the the overall outlook. Our number of covers will run well off into the hundreds tomorrow night, and 7 people wouldn't really have much of an effect at all..

Edited April 8, 2010 by Nyff

[Guest alex]

Hope they got the Cantonese special - Cream of Sum Yung Gi.

[Gemmill 47130]

I'd never act like that as :

 

1) I'd not like to be treated like that in return

2) Poo in my food

 

Exactly. If I'm the chef here they're all getting special mayonnaise in their Afternoon Bites.

[Park Life 71]

Did you cry too?

 

[Guest Barrack Road]

Bit of a rant here, but hey ho! Just got back from the pub/restaurant I work at after having to deal with some particularly awkward customers. A table of four adults and three kids came in at about three. It says outside the pub, and on the website, that lunch service finishes at 2, and we run an 'Afternoon Bites' menu between 2 and 5.30. But anyway, they stroll in, with give them the menu they can order from and they walk to their table and pick up some full menus on the way.

 

He asks the girl working with me at the time if the kids can order from the kids menu. She goes and asks the kitchen. They say no, so she tells them that, unfortunately, they can only order food from the reduced menu (as we told them..). So anyway, they start having a go at her (and bring her to tears), and then come up to order with me and do exactly the same thing. I tell them all I can do is ask the kitchen, and as the girl working with me has already asked them and they've said no I can't promise anything. So I ask the kitchen anyway and, surprise surprise, I get the same response.

 

So I go and tell them, and once more they start having a go. They are going on about how they "Won't be able to feed the kids" and how they've read the website and that says we serve all day (it doesn't say that >_>). And that's when they get sarcastic and start having a go at the chefs saying that they probably just want a break and are making it up that we can't cook them meals from the full menu.

 

From then on they were just incredibly awkward and short with us, no matter how nice we were to them.

 

It's people like this who I imagine have never ever workied in any sort of customer facing role, especially in a pub.

 

They expected two non-managers to tell our head chef that he had to cook meals from the full menu for them, and expected us to be able to do something about it when we were told it wasn't going to happen. They thought that the chefs were just being lazy and probably had nothing to do, but what they don't know is that all weekday afternoons are spent preparing for the week end, and who could blame the chefs, who come in at 9 and are there til 11 at the earliest, for having a bit of a break anyway!? And then they spent the rest of their meal being incredibly rude to the two staff working at the time, so much so that another table noticed how difficult they were being.

 

Fair enough if you're a little annoyed at not being able to get what you wanted for lunch, but to bring a girl to tears because you are being that rude? I can't think of anything worse.

/rantover.

Did the blokes look like rugby types and the women like that woman from The Modern Parents. That's what was coming in to my head there.

 

To be honest I would've said fuck off, I've got no idea how people can tolerate such rude customers. I think the "I see it on the website" bit was canny funny like, we all love a good blagger.

[Rob W 0]

oddly people expect a restaurant to serve them the food they want

[Craig 6702]

oddly people expect a restaurant to serve them the food they want

 

Oddly restaurants expect people to read the fucking signs

[Happy Face 29]

oddly people expect a restaurant to serve them the food they want

 

 

Do you go to a single restaurant for ALL your eating needs? If Fujiyama aren't serving Big Mac's they're out of whack?

[Guest alex]

Rob's the champion of the awkward wanker though. And by that, I mean he won a national competition.

[JawD 99]

I can't stand/tolerate people like that. I just don't have the patience. I remember we lost a customer as he was making unrealistic demands and shouted at a lass (down the phone). He asked to speak to me and said did I want his business or not. The silence that followed my "no" was glorious

 

I've never worked in a pub or similar. But I doubt I could work with the general public.

[Toonraider 0]

Did you cry too?

 

I was just about to ask that too!

 

My Hubby runs his own business which gives him the luxury to say to awkward, rude customers....please fuck off and take your business elsewhere He honestly does, he doesnt need them ruining his day.

[Cid_MCDP 0]

 

"This job'd be great if it wasn't for the fuckin' customers."

[Nyff 0]

I can't stand/tolerate people like that. I just don't have the patience. I remember we lost a customer as he was making unrealistic demands and shouted at a lass (down the phone). He asked to speak to me and said did I want his business or not. The silence that followed my "no" was glorious

 

I've never worked in a pub or similar. But I doubt I could work with the general public.

 

I wish our manager had the balls to do something like that, but he simply doesn't. Any time someone complains (even for the smallest of things), he will take the meal off their bill. Someone complained that the 'Whole Lemon Sole' had too many bones in (it's a WHOLE Lemon sole ffs...), and despite the fact that they ate all of it regardless, he gave them it for free...

[Rob W 0]

Rob's the champion of the awkward wanker though. And by that, I mean he won a national competition.

 

a long time ago - that's true

[Gejon 2]

I can't stand/tolerate people like that. I just don't have the patience. I remember we lost a customer as he was making unrealistic demands and shouted at a lass (down the phone). He asked to speak to me and said did I want his business or not. The silence that followed my "no" was glorious

 

I've never worked in a pub or similar. But I doubt I could work with the general public.

 

I wish our manager had the balls to do something like that, but he simply doesn't. Any time someone complains (even for the smallest of things), he will take the meal off their bill. Someone complained that the 'Whole Lemon Sole' had too many bones in (it's a WHOLE Lemon sole ffs...), and despite the fact that they ate all of it regardless, he gave them it for free...

 

Where is it you work again....