# Dealing with the public
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 12, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066 "2003-07-12T23:38:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@WildChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildChild)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/1 "2003-07-12T23:38:07Z")
I have been a waitress for the last year and a half and it still amazes me the way people will treat the person who will be or is serving their food. Can anyone please tell me why the general public has pms and is there anything I can do about it. I.E. if you were in a bad mood what would you want you’re waitress to do? And how can I explain that just because “the customer is always right” does not mean that I am required to stand there and take all their shit?😕
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### Author:  [@Eilsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eilsel)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/2 "2003-07-12T23:49:10Z")
I am always appalled and even embarrassed for customers who act that way. I mean, what nerve. I usually try and be nice and make sure I say please and thank you … I mean it may be the wait staff’s “job” to do what they’re doing but it doesn’t mean common courtesy has to go out the window.
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/3 "2003-07-12T23:50:00Z")
“The customer is always an asshole” would be more accurate.
If people are in a bad mood there is nothing you can do right. I suggest being a robot, don’t show them that they are pissing you off.
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### Author:  [@WildChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildChild)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/4 "2003-07-13T22:41:28Z")
I appreciate the advice. I will however be changing my name to “Johnny 5”.
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### Author:  [@Plankspanker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plankspanker)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/5 "2003-07-13T22:49:31Z")
i worked at McDonalds for about 6 months. my speed of service was inversely proportional to how much of a twat the customer was. also stuff like swapping diet coke for coke etc. man, we really were nasty to people sometimes. but i guess if u wanna be nasty to us just cos we’re wearing the crappy uniform, dont expect good service assholes!!!
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### Author:  [@WildChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildChild)
#### Post date: [July 13, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/6 "2003-07-13T23:02:00Z")
I’ve tried doing that. But envariably, when I could have had a 1 tip I get .50. Doesn’t seem like much but it adds up. The only plus side is that they may not come back. THe Coke thing just means that I will have to fix it and look at them again, much sooner than I waould have liked. The only time anything like that ever worked was when a lady stood up to yell at me because I hadn’t brought her daughters desert. (the kids were st a different table) I told her that her “child” had told me that she and the other girl were going to split it, She told to just bring it out. SO I told that Yes, I would ring it as long as she understood that it was her fault not mine. She never came back.
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### Author:  [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/7 "2003-07-14T00:55:49Z")
I don’t know, honestly. Don’t let the bastards get you down, especially the ones who think being a waiter or waitress means you’re their slave and they can treat you however they want. And I’m sure some of them will be along shortly to tell me they CAN do whatever they want cause by gum, they PAID!
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### Author:  [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/8 "2003-07-14T15:09:40Z")
I recommend visiting [www.customerssuck.com](http://www.customerssuck.com) . Lots of horror stories about rude and/or stupid customers (as well as ways to get even with them without risking the loss of your job) abound there.
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### Author:  [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/9 "2003-07-14T15:14:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Plankspanker \*
> \*\*i . also stuff like swapping diet coke for coke etc. man, we really were nasty to people sometimes. \*\*
Yeah, real intelligent. And exceedingly nasty when the person whose diet coke you swapped with coke keels over and goes into a diabetic hypergycemic attack, coma and almost dies. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/10 "2003-07-14T16:20:21Z")
I _hate_ the public. It’s full of people.
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### Author:  [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/11 "2003-07-14T16:24:28Z")
When I used to work in Burger King when the cutomer was an ass, (which suprisingly was actually not that often), I’d just give an evil grin and say “Enjoy your meal.” So they’d think I’d put something in it.
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### Author:  [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/12 "2003-07-14T18:15:18Z")
You missed the Server Vs. Bad Tipper war in the Pit a while back, I take it.
Never fear. Swiddles, who waited tables professionally for three years, comes to your rescue: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=152064](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=152064)
Oh, and there’s a great book all servers should check out. [Waiting](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060932813/qid=1058206467/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-2598305-0478241?v=glance&s=books) by Debra Ginsberg. I liked it because it both celebrates and derides serving. She hates it, but is also slightly addicted to it. Good stuff.
As to why people are rude to those who serve them, whether it be in a restaurant, a retail establishment or anywhere else, simple: little people need to abuse those they see as inferior in order to feel powerful. I chose to feel sorry for them, and get a job where I didn’t have to deal with them as much. Ahhhh…
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/13 "2003-07-14T19:32:53Z")
OTOH, this sort of thing goes with the territory. If you don’t like dealing with the general public, a certain number of whom are going to be jerks, don’t work in a public “service” job. It’s your JOB to be pleasant, professional, and polite. If your attitude when someone complains is “I’m sorry that happened. What can I do to make it better?” you have at least fulfilled your duty.
BTW, I am ALWAYS courteous and not condescending to clerks, waiters, or anybody else who’s doing something for me. I tip well for reasonable service and I overtip for extra-special service.
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### Author:  [@WildChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildChild)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/14 "2003-07-15T17:01:01Z")
Thankyou for you in-put. I always appreciate people who understand that I am doing my job, and are courtious. My problem is with all the p.o.s.s’ that fill that they can be rude just because.
I should probably specify that I work a graveyard shift. And while many of the people are of pleasant humor, and a joy to be around (no kidding), there are some people that sober or no, think that they are the only people that matter and that I am dirt because I am working a job at 2:00a.m. . They don’t seem to understand that me being there at all is already me going the proverbial “extra mile”. You never really appreciate nighttime until you have to live with out it.
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### Author:  [@WildChild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildChild)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/15 "2003-07-15T17:43:39Z")
Dear and Revered **Swiddels** ,
I wish I cauld have been around for that thread. As it now stands, I make minimum wage, and have to pay taxes on 8% of my sales. So when I get a rude customer not only do I not get a tip, but the I.R.S. ass rapes me for the priveledge of putting up with them. I have also noticed that people that don’t tip find some obscure thing to complain about, to justify them not tipping. But they won’t complain to me, because they know that I might be able to rectify the situation, when there is no situation at all. They do it to my manager, which in many circumstances could effect my job.
While many people could say that they are paying for the food, I agree, tipping is payin for the service. My employer pays me to show up. At the same time I have many regular customers that cannot afford a tip, that I will gladdly wait on at any time, simply because of what they add to my life. Sometimes a laugh when you are ready to scream means more than the money. I just wish that I could charge their happy asses for the therapy I will need soon.
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### Author:  [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/16 "2003-07-15T18:01:12Z")
Congrats, Wildchild. By refering to me as revered, you are my new favorite Newbie.
Yea, that was my basic argument in the Pit thread. The thing is, almost EVERY server makes minimum serving wage. For my state, (Vermont) that’s something like $3.44 an hour. Doesn’t matter if I worked at a restaurant for 2 years, I’m NEVER gonna get a raise. However, I’d usually end up making $15-$20 an hour, so it all balenced out in the end.
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### Author:  [@Capcha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capcha)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/17 "2003-07-15T18:17:01Z")
I didn’t realize how stupid and rude people are untill i started a cashier job at a local Pharmacy.
I cannot believe some of them try to return stuff that have been obviously used. (our policy that once broken, it has to be in mint condition, but as far as bottles or products from the pharmacy, we don’t accept if broken seal)
And a lot are just plain rude. I know how frustrated they feel, but taking it out on me and make me feel like a steaming pile of shit when obviously it’s not my fault? common, gimme a break.
lol i even had a client trying to bargain price on a brandspanking new phone. 'Ello? enybody up there? i’m a CASHIER at a PHARMACY. Since when you think you can bargain prices in here?
That’s why i am, like **MLS** , very nice when i’m the customer, and tip a good one because i know how **hard** their jobs are.
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### Author:  [@Zenham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenham)
#### Post date: [July 15, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/18 "2003-07-15T18:32:46Z")
Being one of those diabetics who’s had a hyperglycemic incident because someone screwed up my 40oz. diet coke (have no idea whether it was intentional), I appreciate your little joke, Plankspanker.
Please, don’t breed.
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### Author:  [@Plankspanker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plankspanker)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/19 "2003-07-16T01:17:00Z")
nah **Zenham**. these are those annoying people that ask for the stupid half coke n half diet coke with the whole ‘i’m trying to watch my figure’ crap, and weighing in at around 17+ stone. the machines we had at the restaurant i worked at were a bitch to do that with. if they were not nasty, fine, i’d do it. it’s when they start gettin all arsy cos they had to wait in line (like everyone else)… i never did it to a pure diet coke for that reason. it used to worry the hell outta me when my coworkers did that…
seriously.
and i dont intend on breeding anyway 🙂
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### Author:  [@Plankspanker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plankspanker)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-the-public/188066/20 "2003-07-16T01:18:47Z")
gah, that reason being diabetes. my father is diabetic, so i do know all about it…
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