19 Redditors Confess Things Customers Do That Servers Absolutely Hate
If you've worked in any customer service position, including a server, then you've probably dealt with some really rude or problematic customers. It's almost inevitable that you will encounter a customer that gives you a hard time because there's really no easy day on the job when you're working in customer service.
[ ADVERTISEMENT ]
There are also a lot of things that customers do on a regular basis that they think are okay, but the servers hate when they do these things. Posts like these really help us as people to be better customers to our servers.
Customers sometimes will be doing things that servers hate without even realizing it, so it's always great to educate customers so that our servers have a bit of an easier time on the job. There are a ton of things that might aggravate or make servers mad, but we've gathered 19 of the best ones that might help you the next time you go out.
We have these 19 things that servers hate that customers do. This can all make us pay a little bit more attention to what we do when we're out being served.
Let's dive into this and hear what the servers have to say.
1. Customers expecting their order to be done instantaneously
"I work at a cafe and had a lady make a call-in order. She told us when to have it ready and didn’t give us a chance to tell her how long it would take.
So when she showed up, her order wasn’t ready because we were busy, and she literally made everyone stop what they were doing to pay attention to her complaining and blaming us for her being late. If you’re running late for work, don’t order food!"
2. When they don't tip
"A lot of people don’t understand that servers usually have to tip out, meaning we pay the kitchen staff and hosts/bartenders out of our pockets a percentage of our total sales, not our tips. So if you don’t tip me, I have to pay 2–10% just for the pleasure of serving your cheap ass!"
3. When they pull the "I know the owner" card
"One time, a customer was throwing a fit because I wouldn’t give her stuff for free, and she threw the 'I know the owner' at me. I smiled at her and said, 'Yes, I know him too, as he’s my boss.
I know he wouldn’t be okay with me giving away free product.'"
4. When people don't pick up their to-go orders in time
"People come 40 minutes late or after closing time to pick up their food when people just want to go home."
5. When they applaud a broken dish
"Clapping when glasses break seems like such a dick move."
6. When they refuse to even tip a penny
"I hate, and this sounds stupid, when people get like a penny back and don’t drop it in the tip jar. Like shit, I get a dollar and change in tips, and I can’t use my card for everything.
I once fumbled a guy's change, and a quarter fell into the tip jar. He had me get it out."
7. When customers steal a servers pen
"Not tipping is a jerk move. Stealing my pens when I have five to six tables all splitting checks? Just heartless."
8. When they yell at the cashier or server for the kitchen's mistake
"I understand bringing it back if your food is missing something, and I have no problem getting it corrected for you, but if you start throwing shade at me for no reason, then I will be annoyed."
9. When customers order to-go, but the sit down and eat it
"They would leave a huge mess of their to-go boxes and expect us to wait on them too."
10. When they expect wait staff to wait right next to them
"You ask a customer if they need another minute, and they say, 'No, I’m ready; don’t go anywhere.' Then they study the menu for another five minutes... Dude, I’ve got stuff to do!"
11. When they make reservations for a huge party but they forget to cancel
"Please, please, please call and cancel your reservation if you're not coming! It's not as big a deal for a two-top or four-top, but if you no call/no show for your 12-top dinner reservation, you're a dick.
This happens multiple times a week (always big parties) in my tiny (15-table) restaurant and costs the restaurant and staff money. We set those tables aside for you up to TWO hours in advance and wait another 15–30 minutes for you to show.
We could have seated many more people, but instead turned them away just for you to be lazy and not call. We won't judge you if you have to cancel, just let us know!"
12. When customers hang out at the tables after close
"I still have to clean up after you leave, so you staying until midnight when we close at 9:30 affects me (and others) more than you may realize."
13. When people "tip" with praise
"I always say that the folks who tell you how great you are but barely tip you are giving you a 'verbal tip' to make up the difference."
14. When people get drunk and hit on their servers
"I always hated it when drunk dudes would come in and be super obnoxious about hitting on me. Thank you, but you've already been here half an hour, dumped everything from the table onto the floor, and now you won't order something without finding out if I'm into you or agree to a date with your drunk self?
Hard pass."
15. When they ask to sit somewhere else or they choose their seats
"When I was a host, I hated when people would ask to sit somewhere else. There's a host for a reason, people."
16. When people let their children run wild
"Teach them to behave at a restaurant, or keep them at home."
17. When they give a bad tip
"My BFF and I worked together in many restaurants over the years, and a few times when getting a shitty tip, she’d give it back to them, saying they obviously needed it more than she did. Of course she’d get in trouble, but dammit I admired her balls."
18. When they demand free add-ons
"When I worked at Donatos, one customer placed a carry out order that was about $120, and he had the nerve to ask me if he could get a drink for free. I said I couldn't do that and he was all 'but I paid this much.'
I was like, 'I don't really care.' Surprisingly, he didn't tip."
19. When customers are just rude
"The bottom line is that good servers are just human beings trying to make a living, just like you and me, so don’t be an asshole!"
If you're been a server or cashier in customer service then you've probably had experiences like these before. I definitely am taking notes on what these servers said so that I can be a better customer, but a lot of it is common sense things that we should already be doing.
What's one thing you hate that customers do?