Almost everyone (no matter what job youāre in) will probably have to deal with a customer at some point. All of us would have had a bad experience with a customer and, almost certainly, heard the 5 most annoying words on the planet; “The customer is always right”.
I put it to you that the customer isnāt always right. What if I were to say that every now and again the customer isnāt right. What if I said that sometimes the customer is just a royal pain in the neck.
Working in the service industry requires a certain degree of patience; the ability to fake a smile, some more patience and a pretty thick skin. There are certain situations that crop up on a regular basis and smash your entire mood to bits. However, no matter the situation youāre faced with, no matter what boring and pointless issues customers spew in your face, you must always force a smile and fake polite concern. After all, theyāre paying the bills.
āExcuse me, do you work here?ā
Nope, not me. I just enjoy prancing about here like a big fairy wearing the uniform. I wouldnāt even consider leaving the house without a name badge. Yes, I work here.
Of course, I understand that it can be hard to grab the attention of staff at times and āExcuse meā is the go to phrase but thereās really nothing fun about hearing it every working day. It is however much more polite than being whistled at, at which point Iād usually turn round as say āOh, have you lost you dog?ā
Screaming children
As I work at a bar & grill, this is one that really does get to me. While usually Iād over-exaggerate, I mean everything Iām about to say.
People are trying to eat, stop your child from running about like a headless chicken, screaming like a hedgehog. (They scream like a baby, YouTube it if you donāt believe me). Itās not alright for your ‘sprog’ to play with the salt and pepper, itās not ok for IT to throw cake all over the floor. Itās definitely not ok for you to get up and leave without even the slightest attempt to tidy up a bit.Ā
Donāt come to the bar to pay and sit the annoying ankle biter in a stool and scream in my face. What would happen if I came to your work and threw cake on the floor and screeched in your ugly mug?
The aggressive sigh
Usually this is what youāll hear when you tell a customer that something is out of stock or that basically, they wont be getting what the want. Iām sorry but its not my fault that itās popular and everyone has bought it before you. Donāt be rude or Iāll drop kick you in the face.
Upselling
This is the one and only time that I feel sorry for customers. For those that donāt know, upselling is basically where you try and persuade a customer to by something additional or more expensive.
This is a crucial part of business but, I really hate doing it just as much as I hate to be on the receiving end of it. If I wanted to buy that, Iād have asked for that instead, wouldnāt I? You have to upsell with every customer because you know that the one customer you don’t ask will be the one that actually did want to upgrade their fries, but didnāt know the option was available and now youāre responsible for the bad Trip Adviser review.
Not all customers are vexatious. While it only takes one annoying customer to ruin your day, it only takes one positive interaction to make it all worth while and remind you why you actually enjoy working in the service industry, regardless of how much you moan.
Let us know some of yourĀ ‘Customer is always right’ moments that have stuck with you and made your blood boil!Ā

Brilliant (Y)