Why are some people so easy to hate? How mean have you been?

[K'Ehleyr]

I prefer hot chocolate.

We do that with squirty cream and marshmellows but that's £2.25 so they don't have that

People do seem to get more careful with their money as they get older. Figures, as retirement funds may not be as thick as a working salary. However, that does not excuse trying to cheat your way to a 30p discount latte.

Bet you would have just given them the damn lattes if you'd known they were going to kick up such a fuss!

Indeed I understand being careful with money ~ I used to have to take the reduced tickets off all our food bought from the supermarket, when Son started to complain we couldn't afford 'proper' food

But He got my back up with the comments about our food hygiene. As further posters have said, well suggested ~ don't mess with the person serving your meal/beverage

The service food industry can be a pain in the ass, K'Ehleyr. You have my sympathies there! As for why it's so easy, well, because some people go out of their way to make your life harder, and they derive satisfaction from doing so. It's easy to dislike or be frustrated by such people. It's easy because we usually don't get to know them beyond the annoying tendencies they display while in our presence. For all we know, when they leave the club, they could donate a thousand dollars to orphans and give out free hugs all day, but while they're there, we see a part of their personality that is easy to rail against.

I have been mean before, and I can be very mean, with cutting remarks even, but it's usually a response to someone being cruel, incredibly stupid or both, and it never lasts and I always regret it.

There are about 20% of my customers which I really like and have fun with. 60% that I can fake a smile for but the other 20% .
Still ~ it's a job and I chose to do it ~ it's just nice to 'release a bit of steam' now and again

So you are the bartender? I assume you live in Europe also? Do they tip there or do you get paid more than bartenders in the states? If they do tip, did you get a tip? None of these questions really change my opinion, just curious. My opinion is that you were in the right. I have been working in resturaunts for over 15 years and I know how it is. Old people in particular always want something for nothin.

Thank you for the support Hilbilly.
Yes, I'm bar/cook/washer-upper etc... And no, unless it's a proper booked 'sit down' serviced meal and drinks we do not get tipped. My basic wage is £6 per hour and for that I can do without the attitude ~ well unless it's mine

Ha, that's interesting

In the pizza shop where I work we get people trying to pull stuff like that all the time. They will order a margarita and load it up with all these other ingredients, trying to make a menu pizza at the price of a marg (usually much cheaper). We know their game though and charge them more than they would have paid had they been honest about what they wanted. Fun times

We do a set fried breakfast but recently the menu was changed so you could add individual items. We now have them pondering at the bar to work out which way would be cheaper .

We had a society of 15 men in the other day and rather than go through all the options and to speed things up I gave them toast and preserves as they came in and then plated up with all the choices ~ mushrooms, bean, toms etc...

One chap stared at his plate and said "I don't want a tomato". To which I replied "Well don't eat it, but if you leave anything you don't get pudding!"

Recently I was talking with a private pilot over the phone discussing a pressure altimeter that we'd overhauled 5 YEARS ago..he wanted it covered for free (we offer only a 12 month warranty ) While discussing the impossibility of a freebee repair with "Captain Thomas" (why some joker who flys a Cessna 172 insists on being called "Captain" is beyond me) he informed me of the following.. "Son, you're just gonna have to fix it for free, 'cause I'M BETTER THAN YOU!!" I lost my temper and told him.."Well, you're still gonna die someday.." and hung up on the jerk...

You have my approval to pinch him hard ~ the back of the knee is best

People who want to wash my car windows at the traffic lights.

PISS OFF! I didn't ask you to start washing my window so don't get pissy when I don't give you money!

One time I got really fucked off cos that morning I had just washed my car - DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE!

I thought that only happened in movies

At my local supermarket they have carwash guys who shout at you when you park ~ my car is so covered with bird poo (I live next to a copse) they don't ask anymore

Nothing I could do at my old job when a customer would piss me off except for throwing their change in their hand and make them pick up their cash on the counter. I would use the dirty tong when a customer was rude to me

That's exactly what I mean ~ don't mess with your food provider

I used to have an after-school job working on the jewellery counter of a catalogue store. Unlike the "regular" side of the store there was nowhere obvious for customers to line up and there was no numbered ticket system, so I had to rely on my awful memory and the decency (ha!) of the customers themselves in order to be fair and serve them in the proper order as they'd be standing all around the jewellery counters. This was a nightmare around the holiday season, when 3 or 4 more people would show up when I was elsewhere picking stock. In a way it was funny, though, because it turned into a preschool sand-slinging-type ruckus, with 3 people all claiming they were next in line. One time I completely lost it and told the customers that my shift wouldn't end for another 5 hours and that I was perfectly happy standing there doing nothing while waiting for all of them to act like grown-ups and be fair and polite to each other. It worked.

Love it!
I truely think that everybody should work in a service environment at some point ~ then they will realise how tough it is and how not to be an assehole

But what they do ~ which is the crunch of my arguement (and if you've read so far ~ thank you) A mug of coffee with hot milk is a Latte which costs £1.80. An Americano (a coffee) in a cup with whatever GDMF milk you want is £1.50. But what they want is coffee in a mug with hot milk and to pay 30p less (sorry, I'm boring myself)
So I got pissed off with them and told them to 'Go Fish'

Actually isn't that rather a cafe au lait? A latte in my opinion is mostly milk with just a little bit of coffee, and not the other way round.

It's the fact that they wanted it in a mug that is the price difference.

The OP should have served them Baldrick's famous special coffee with the "chocolate" sprinkles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEYyjVuk5M8

But what they do ~ which is the crunch of my arguement (and if you've read so far ~ thank you) A mug of coffee with hot milk is a Latte which costs £1.80. An Americano (a coffee) in a cup with whatever GDMF milk you want is £1.50. But what they want is coffee in a mug with hot milk and to pay 30p less (sorry, I'm boring myself)
So I got pissed off with them and told them to 'Go Fish'

As has been mentioned, a latte should be espresso, not coffee. If you are charging 1.50 for a coffee with milk, but 1.80 for, uh, a coffee with milk, then you can see their confusion about the price difference. If the product is the same, why is the price different?.

The mug bit! I know it's petty, but he annoyed me. It was my day off, I shouldn't have been there, was bought in for no reason and he argued with me

 

[Roger Wilco]

What's the difference between a cup and a mug?

 

[K'Ehleyr]

What's the difference between a cup and a mug?

A cup is like a tea cup, a mug is a mug.
Roughly about 30% more in a mug.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The mug bit! I know it's petty, but he annoyed me. It was my day off, I shouldn't have been there, was bought in for no reason and he argued with me

Also, steamed milk requires more effort, right?

 

[K'Ehleyr]

The mug bit! I know it's petty, but he annoyed me. It was my day off, I shouldn't have been there, was bought in for no reason and he argued with me

Also, steamed milk requires more effort, right?

There's a lot of puff involved! You do realise we just go out the back and make the noises yes?

 

[Scout101]

What's the difference between a cup and a mug?

A cup is like a tea cup, a mug is a mug.
Roughly about 30% more in a mug.

Kinda buried the lead on that one, didn't you? Pretty easy to defend if the sizes are different. On the other hand, since he's basically just ordering a smaller version of the same thing, his point about the price difference makes sense. If $1.80 gets you a 'large' mug, then why WOULDN'T the same ingredients, prepared basically the same way (you said they can have the milk however they want it, and warm milk isn't unusual in some parts with coffee) be cheaper if you got the smaller size?

Nick's comments about the pizza thing still leave me firmly convinced that THEY were in the wrong there, and taking it out on customers for pointing it out.

Key to this whole thing seems to have just come recently, though. You said you weren't supposed to be there that day, were frustrated by that, and in a pissy mood. Reasonable to be frustrated by the whole thing, but really looks like you brought your problems into an issue that really didn't fit the reaction you gave. Were the customers REALLY the problem? Everyone has days they just don't feel like putting up with people, but doesn't automatically make whatever you decide right because you're in a pissy mood...

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The mug bit! I know it's petty, but he annoyed me. It was my day off, I shouldn't have been there, was bought in for no reason and he argued with me

Also, steamed milk requires more effort, right?

There's a lot of puff involved! You do realise we just go out the back and make the noises yes?

Yeah, I know. I was just pointing out that the added labor can justify the extra 30p as well.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

What's the difference between a cup and a mug?

a cup = eine Tasse
a mug = ein Becher

-- at least according to my German-English dictionary.

Note that a mug is not the same thing as a beaker or a tumbler, which don't have handles.

A cup is like a tea cup, a mug is a mug.
Roughly about 30% more in a mug.

100% according to Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mug

although coffee cups tend to be a lot larger than tea cups.

Mugs also don't have saucers; cups do.

 

[Captain_Nick]

In the pizza shop where I work we get people trying to pull stuff like that all the time. They will order a margarita and load it up with all these other ingredients, trying to make a menu pizza at the price of a marg (usually much cheaper). We know their game though and charge them more than they would have paid had they been honest about what they wanted. Fun times

This one is crazy, and I think you're the one in the wrong. These customers aren't playing games, they're pointing out that your pricing structure is retarded, and doesn't make sense. Random numbers, but if a plain pizza costs $5, and toppings are $1, then you are stupid if you're charging $7 for a pepperoni pizza. Can't fault a customer for being better at math than the guy that made the menu, and realizing that a $5 pizza plus $1 for one topping is cheaper than you're charging for the ease of just ordering a pepperoni pizza. Usually, the menu works out so that if you're ordering something more complex (say, buffalo chicken pizza, and comes with blue cheese, onions, etc), it's slightly cheaper than having to put all the toppings on yourself. If you priced the individual toppings so ordering it piecemeal is cheaper, it's YOUR fault. And if you "fixed" the price to charge me more for pointing out your problem, I'd be speaking with the manager or owner, etc and having them explain why their employees were stealing from me to try and teach me a lesson.

Life in retail certainly sucks, but that's a pretty clear example where the retail employee is in the wrong, and being a prick for the wrong reasons when THEY are at fault. Why is the Menu pizza "usually more expensive" than ordering a plain pizza and paying to add those same toppings on?

Hi

You make too many assumptions sir - first, that we care what random Americans on the internet think - second, that I'm not the manager - third, that we don't have the right to charge what we like and tell you to go jump if you aren't willing to pay. In fact the only thing you got right was that the customers are better at arithmetic than the store owner. That is 100% right but not really a salient point as most five year olds are smarter than our stores owner.

I am guessing that you are an American. Americans are well known in this country for their rather liberal views on 'customers rights'.

Fortunately they are also well known for not knowing what an acceptable tip is in this country. Word to the wise - tipping isn't as important here as it is in your country, but if you ask the driver at your door this question he will hit you for 50%.

 

[Kestra]

In the pizza shop where I work we get people trying to pull stuff like that all the time. They will order a margarita and load it up with all these other ingredients, trying to make a menu pizza at the price of a marg (usually much cheaper). We know their game though and charge them more than they would have paid had they been honest about what they wanted. Fun times

This one is crazy, and I think you're the one in the wrong. These customers aren't playing games, they're pointing out that your pricing structure is retarded, and doesn't make sense. Random numbers, but if a plain pizza costs $5, and toppings are $1, then you are stupid if you're charging $7 for a pepperoni pizza. Can't fault a customer for being better at math than the guy that made the menu, and realizing that a $5 pizza plus $1 for one topping is cheaper than you're charging for the ease of just ordering a pepperoni pizza. Usually, the menu works out so that if you're ordering something more complex (say, buffalo chicken pizza, and comes with blue cheese, onions, etc), it's slightly cheaper than having to put all the toppings on yourself. If you priced the individual toppings so ordering it piecemeal is cheaper, it's YOUR fault. And if you "fixed" the price to charge me more for pointing out your problem, I'd be speaking with the manager or owner, etc and having them explain why their employees were stealing from me to try and teach me a lesson.

Life in retail certainly sucks, but that's a pretty clear example where the retail employee is in the wrong, and being a prick for the wrong reasons when THEY are at fault. Why is the Menu pizza "usually more expensive" than ordering a plain pizza and paying to add those same toppings on?

Hi

You make too many assumptions sir - first, that we care what random Americans on the internet think - second, that I'm not the manager - third, that we don't have the right to charge what we like and tell you to go jump if you aren't willing to pay. In fact the only thing you got right was that the customers are better at arithmetic than the store owner. That is 100% right but not really a salient point as most five year olds are smarter than our stores owner.

I am guessing that you are an American. Americans are well known in this country for their rather liberal views on 'customers rights'.

Fortunately they are also well known for not knowing what an acceptable tip is in this country. Word to the wise - tipping isn't as important here as it is in your country, but if you ask the driver at your door this question he will hit you for 50%.

I like how you take a well thought out criticism of your post and instead of responding in kind, turn it into an opportunity to criticize Americans. Classy.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

...But what they do ~ which is the crunch of my arguement (and if you've read so far ~ thank you) A mug of coffee with hot milk is a Latte which costs £1.80. An Americano (a coffee) in a cup ...

What's the difference between a cup and a mug?

A cup is like a tea cup, a mug is a mug.
Roughly about 30% more in a mug.

What's the difference between a cup and a mug?

A cup is like a tea cup, a mug is a mug.
Roughly about 30% more in a mug.

Kinda buried the lead on that one, didn't you? Pretty easy to defend if the sizes are different. On the other hand, since he's basically just ordering a smaller version of the same thing, his point about the price difference makes sense. If $1.80 gets you a 'large' mug, then why WOULDN'T the same ingredients, prepared basically the same way (you said they can have the milk however they want it, and warm milk isn't unusual in some parts with coffee) be cheaper if you got the smaller size?

...
Key to this whole thing seems to have just come recently, though. You said you weren't supposed to be there that day, were frustrated by that, and in a pissy mood. Reasonable to be frustrated by the whole thing, but really looks like you brought your problems into an issue that really didn't fit the reaction you gave. Were the customers REALLY the problem? Everyone has days they just don't feel like putting up with people, but doesn't automatically make whatever you decide right because you're in a pissy mood...

I'm not sure what 'buried the lead' means but I'm assuming 'get's to the point' and as you correctly point out ~ it is a size issue.

I accept that I was in a pissy mood but I've been waiting for months to say this to these guys ~ and yesterday the time was right and I have no regrets.

Today I also pissed off a co-worker ~ I'm so on a roll
He was suppose to come up and help me in the cafe and he decided hiding in the pro shop playing on his phone was easier than giving me a hand with the broken washing-up machine, a room full of dirty crockery, a page full of food orders and people at the bar.

So He came up ~ cocky as shit ~ and wrote His personal lunch order out. I and said "If you want that you do it yourself and the other 7 orders as well"

Funnily enough he left

Also, steamed milk requires more effort, right?

There's a lot of puff involved! You do realise we just go out the back and make the noises yes?

Yeah, I know. I was just pointing out that the added labor can justify the extra 30p as well.

Thank you Alidar ~ I didn't mean to sound sarcastic
It does take more work.

And another thing that really gets to me is that they talk to the back of my head...
I'm doing the coffee, I'm offering the hot milk, I'm pointing out sugar, the GDMF menu and when I'm heating the milk ~ which is a loud process ~ I can't hear what they are saying.

I've taken to wearing chop sticks in my hair (you have to have your hair "up") Customers think it charming ~ they don't realise I'm giving my own 'V' sign to them

 

[Captain_Nick]

I like how you take a well thought out criticism of your post and instead of responding in kind, turn it into an opportunity to criticize Americans. Classy.

My post wasn't a criticism of Americans per se. I would never complain about massive tips.

Your oversensitivity to this issue is interesting. And the fact that you sympathise with the other guy tells me that you too must be an American. Am I right or what?

 

[Kestra]

I like how you take a well thought out criticism of your post and instead of responding in kind, turn it into an opportunity to criticize Americans. Classy.

My post wasn't a criticism of Americans per se. I would never complain about massive tips.

Your oversensitivity to this issue is interesting. And the fact that you sympathise with the other guy tells me that you too must be an American. Am I right or what?

It came off as an unwarranted criticism of Americans in an attempt to misdirect from the fact that Scout really was correct in his assessment of the situation. Sympathy and oversensitivity really has nothing to do with whether or not I agree with his position here.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Sorry, you are wrong. I know it's hard to understand but trust me, I know better than you do.

The simple fact is there are cultural differences between you lot and us, and for whatever reason you are choosing to interpret my pointing out these differences as criticism. Which in itself is an American thing, the whole 'you're either with us or against us' business.

The fact is if you think you can come into my store and say this or that to me you will learn very quickly that we are not so desperate for your dollar that we will kowtow to your psychotic whims.

 

[Captain_Nick]

The fact is if you think you can come into my store and say this or that to me you will learn very quickly that we are not so desperate for your dollar that we will kowtow to your psychotic whims.

This is such an unbelievable awesome sentence that I am quoting it for posterity.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

No, no it's not.

You can charge what you want, but you would still be wrong. It would be a stupid pricing structure. It's entirely different than ordering steamed milk as your milk choice (as opposed to skim or something) so you can get a caffè latte. Adding one topping a la carte should not be cheaper than ordering the kind of pizza with that one topping. If it is, you should give it to the customer.

Yes, you can do what you want. But that doesn't mean it isn't stupid to do it that way.

 

[Kestra]

"Psychotic whims"?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

The fact is if you think you can come into my store and say this or that to me you will learn very quickly that we are not so desperate for your dollar that we will kowtow to your psychotic whims.

This is such an unbelievable awesome sentence that I am quoting it for posterity.

The only person around here displaying any "psychotic whims" would be you. For someone bitching so much about Americans, you aren't exactly representing your country in the best light here.

 

[Captain_Nick]

Yes, you can do what you want. But that doesn't mean it isn't stupid to do it that way.

I never said it wasn't stupid. BUT hospitality is not a rational industry, it's a hugely emotional one. I suspect that is because most people in hospitality are there because they couldn't get a better job somewhere else.

Surely you have noticed this when you go into McDonalds and the serving girls are swooning over the attractive customers while the fatties are standing in line for five minutes hoping against hope that they will be served at some stage.

Christ even where I work whenever a hottie comes in to pick up her pizza the boys all fight over which of them will give it to her. It's nuts - creepy guys dont get anywhere near the same level of service, even though they are generally your best customers.

As for me, the way I treat customers is directly linked to how good I'm feeling. Lucky for them that's pretty good most of the time.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Yes, you can do what you want. But that doesn't mean it isn't stupid to do it that way.

I never said it wasn't stupid. BUT hospitality is not a rational industry, it's a hugely emotional one. I suspect that is because most people in hospitality are there because they couldn't get a better job somewhere else.

Surely you have noticed this when you go into McDonalds and the serving girls are swooning over the attractive customers while the fatties are standing in line for five minutes hoping against hope that they will be served at some stage.

Christ even where I work whenever a hottie comes in to pick up her pizza the boys all fight over which of them will give it to her. It's nuts - creepy guys dont get anywhere near the same level of service, even though they are generally your best customers.

As for me, the way I treat customers is directly linked to how good I'm feeling. Lucky for them that's pretty good most of the time.

If your company doesn't care about building a client base, I'm sure that's fine. Stupid and assholish, but fine. I'm worked at plenty of low-quality, minimum wage jobs. I found no need to actually be difficult to customers. If they were extremely hostile, I'd stop helping them, but that's it.