Working in customer service is quite a colorful experience, as you get to meet a whole bunch of people, some of whom are polite, others, not so much. I remember the days when I was a waitress… Actually, I fetched people coffee well into my late twenties until I managed to get a gig elsewhere that was far from the public eye. I was relieved that I didn't have to deal with customers anymore…These tipping stories really capture a couple of moments that I think everyone comes across after working a…

Every server feels their stomach drop when they see a toddler seated in their section. Like any service industry member with PTSD, for a split second, they'll imagine the terrors of cleaning melted ice cream from the corners of the booth seats, Karenish mothers yelling at them for a side of ranch, and scrubbing the crayon scribbles off the tabletop...

Anytime there's a contest at a minimum wage job, it seems like whatever corporate baboon who thought of the idea has never actually stepped foot into the establishment they're attempting to manipulate. As out of touch as corporate contests are and no matter how pathetic the 'prize' is, there are still desperate employees who take part in the event. But the real winners, at the end of the day, are always the C-level suit monkeys counting their bonus checks and buying yachts.

People are entitled to having hot takes if they are the right ones. Obviously, some unpopular opinions are not worth giving time for, since they are simply too ridiculous to entertain. But every so often, someone on the Internet poses an idea that makes you think about why certain standards and customs even exist. Or sometimes it's just a well-supported critique of a popular culture phenomenon. Regardless, these are perhaps the few instances in which people online just might be giving the Inter…

Perhaps everyone should have made their resolutions this year to be kinder to their servers and bartenders. If you're not part of the problem but you are witnessing a Karen customer throwing a tantrum for no good reason, perhaps you should consider stepping in and defending the people who have been on their feet for multiple hours and are just trying to get you your food and drinks the way you ordered them. No one is trying to mess up, and so much of what goes on in a bar or restaurant is outsi…

Working in a kitchen is an eye-opening experience that will forever change how one eats at a restaurant. Not only does one gain further appreciation for what servers and restaurant workers have to put up with, but also one has a greater sense of the pandemonium that occurs behind the scenes. Yes, television shows like The Bear provide some insight into this visceral world, but hearing from actual restaurant workers directly is the best window into that experience. These restaurant secrets, whic…

Whether we would like to admit it or not, some people have been blessed with endless patience—or at least, what passes for boundless in our minds when we have the patience of a ten-year-old. However, does that suggest that those people are suddenly better than us mortals? No, it does not. It does, however, imply that we still have room for growth. In the story that follows, a displeased waitress talks about having to cope with a continuous flow of rough customers. However, OP explains that she…

Working in customer service is both a blessing and a curse. While it is true that you interact with a variety of individuals throughout the day, you also sort of roll the dice and hope that the people you meet will greet you with a smile and a friendly attitude. Well, the story below is of a girl who hosted/managed the restaurant she has been working at for the last five years. On that particular night, though, in contrast to other nights, OP encountered one of the worst couples she had ever me…

Assigned spots are assigned for a reason, or so you would think. One restaurant owner felt entitled to his neighbor's spot in the parking garage because it served him in the sense that it was close to the restaurant he owned. At first, OP, the neighbor, had no idea that it was the restaurant owner. All they knew was that there was someone parking in their assigned spot. OP would call the restaurant again and again, asking them to move the car, and to stop parking there. Restaurant management co…

Every time we dine at a fine restaurant, we mentally prepare ourselves for the horrible moment when we get handed the check. No matter how prepared we think we are, our hearts skip a beat as soon as the bill lands on the table. The story below is of a young and daring teenager who thinks he can get away with anything. I guess it has to do with the naivety of children that lingers in our teens. To get back to the point, this young boy opted to invite all of his closest buddies to a fancy restaur…

Entitled people often don't realize when they're disrespecting someone. Lost in their own world and wrapped up in their own tiny lives, self-important folks don't realize how their actions are affecting the people around them– especially those of us too polite to clap back. However, once in a blue moon, entitled naivety can punish someone without conflict.

Consider this: You have been working for what seems like forever. Just as you are about to clock out, a couple enters the restaurant and asks to be seated. You obviously attend to the unwelcomed couple, and then just like that you realize that you're not going home anytime soon. As if that weren't awful enough, the couple now treats you like they own the restaurant, giving you the run-around, yelling at you, and expecting you to treat them like royalty. Well, that's exactly what happened to our…

Running around the restaurant trying to take orders, pick up dirty plates, and grant ridiculous requests such as ‘Give me a literal bowl of ketchup’ is exhausting. Especially when your entire wage depends on the kindness of strangers, also known as customers. Are they going to tip? How much are they going to tip? Will I be able to afford to fix my car this month, or am I going to cry when I see my account balance instead? You never know. Around the holidays, people are often a little more gener…

Every one of us has at least one friend who could benefit from a little modesty. I mean, I'm all for self-love and confidence, but it's a fine line to walk. The story below accounts for a young and proud man who was deeply humbled by a small chicken. This is the story of an arrogant individual who, like most conceited people, tends to reap more than he can sow. I'll let you decide whether to refer to this man as Mr. Hotshot or Adam. However, let's get back to the point, Adam invites the whole f…

Before we wrap up the dysfunctional year that was 2023, let's do a recap of the most dysfunctional customers servers were forced to encounter on the job. Being a server requires a certain bandwidth to be able to withstand a lot of unfair treatment from managers, Karens, etc. That being said, every so often, that bandwidth is tested no matter how much experience one may have in this field. Sometimes, customers demand something so outrageous (like seriously, dude? you can't live without tartar sa…

Sometimes it's just the idea of revenge that gets the blood pumping. The sheer possibility that you could retaliate if you wanted to. But alas, when it comes to Karens in the wild –it's best to be the bigger person. Especially when said Karen is shouting and turning heads for no good reason. In this case, OP works at a sandwich store; everything is fine and dandy until a Karen demands for her order to be delivered a different day. Chaos ensues when she finds out that isn't a possibility. And by…