I Walked Out

[customersruinmylife]

To the SC's in my bar...please behave. We already had the smoker twins who managed to get themselves arrested after throwing a briefcase at me, don't think we're afraid to call the cops on you!

I wasn't technically involved in any of this, as I had finished my shift and was having a few beers in the bar with a friend. Service had stopped, and my co-workers were going around asking people to drink up and leave.

A couple were sat next to one of the exits. They completely ignored all of the requests and they ended up being the only people left in the bar. Co-worker went over, asked them to leave again, and proceeded to open the exit doors they were sat next to. Another co-worker went over to keep her company.

All of a sudden, all I hear is "TAKE THAT BITCH!" and a MASSIVE jet of water coming out of the area they were in. My two co-workers starting running across the bar, screaming my managers name. One of them was SOAKED from head to toe.

Everyone who was working and myself ran over to the exits. The couple were gone, and a FIRE EXTINGUISHER was lying on the floor.

The couple did not like being asked to leave, so they unhooked it from the wall, and proceeded to shoot my co-worker with it! She was absolutely drenched, she looked like a drowned rat. Also, the water in the extinguisher was treated water, so her eyes were bright red and itchy. The strong chemically smell was also making her wheeze and cough.

The carpets were soaked, the quiz machines were soaked, lights were out, the water was EVERYWHERE.

Manager called the police whilst I looked through the security camera footage (I seem to be the only person who knows how to work it!) We had the CLEAREST images EVER of them doing it. They did it right in front of the camera in a well lit area.

They were picked up by the police...the guy was caught urinating at our bins...so not only did they trash the bar and assault a member of staff, they didn't even attempt a decent getaway!

They have been charged with assault and criminal damage :D

But wait...there's more!

The next day they came in for a drink! Someone who was working the night before went up to them.

CW: Get out!
SC: Wha...wha..why?
CW: You bloody well know why. After what you did last night! We're pressing charges! Get out! NOW!
SC: It...it...it...it wasn't me! It was my identical twin!
CW: Well maybe you should have a word with your identical twin...because he's fucking your girlfriend!

They stormed out...looking very offended.

I don't know what's going to happen now. I will try and keep you all updated, but I only have four shifts to go before I leave!

[customersruinmylife]

I decided a few months ago I wanted to go back to college and get myself out of the bartending world. Unfortunately I missed the deadline for the course I am interested in, and will now have to wait until September 2010 before I can go back.

I thought to myself "Ah well, no biggie. I can do another year easy!"

I now seriously believe I will have walked from the job in a matter of weeks.

Of course I would never just stop showing up. I would like a reference :D But it has now reached a point where I dread going into work. And when I say dread, I mean I feel sick to my stomach.

I used to love barwork, but as I moved higher up, the shit got worse and worse. Things were so much easier when I was just a lowly bartender making drinks! Being in charge of a bar is one of the most draining experiences I have ever encountered.

Mornings are the worst. All you get is scum. Alcoholics with very little teeth, who smell and spend all their time glaring at you and complaining. The pub hadn't been open five minutes, and I had a line of a dozen alcoholics at the bar, grunting impatiently at me. That sight alone made me feel depressed.

I love my co-workers, in the short time I have been there, I have made some very close friends. Two have already said that if I leave, they're coming with me.

[customersruinmylife]

I am taking a weeks holiday, not so I can rest, but so I can find a new job ASAP. I have GOT to get out of there. All of this has happened over the past 2 days.

Annoying Child 1

If yesterday was a hint to what summer is going to be like in that place, I know I am making the right decision about leaving. It has been very warm where I live in the UK, and the pub is next to the beach. So, all day yesterday the pub was overrun with children.

I love children, but I work in an environment that is not suitable for them. So when I am at work, I HATE them. All of the children were cranky. Half were cranky because they wanted to go to the beach, and the other half were cranky because they had just been to the beach and were sunburned and tired.

Then there was this kid.

So there I am, placing some glasses through the glasswash window, when all I hear is:

Child: NO!! I DON'T WANT TO GOOOOOOOO!!

I look, and all of a sudden a kid, probably about 6 years old, has wrapped himself around my leg! He was clinging on to me like I was a post, he was VERY close to my crotch and about an inch away from my balls.

I just froze. I didn't dare move. His idiot mother showed up.

Mother: Let go of the man sweetie.
Child: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Mother: Come on sweetie, let go of the man. It's time to go home.
Child: NOOOOOOOO! I WANT TO GO TO THE BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEACH!!

The mother timidly grabbed the childs hand. The child sunk his nails into my leg. I panicked and started shaking my leg.

Mother: Come on sweetie...

She managed to get him off me. She took his hand and walked out. He was screaming at the top of his lungs, and she reacted like he was the most innocent precious child in the world.

Oh. And did she say a word to me?

Did she fuck.

Nintendo Emergency

A frantic mother appeared at the bar.

Mother: Do you have any plug sockets that are free! It's an emergency.

I figured she needed to use the phone.

Me: Unfortunately the only sockets in the customer area are being used for the TV and gaming machines...
Mother: Oh God!
Me: Do you need to charge a phone?
Mother: No! The battery has died on my daughters Nintendo DS! She needs to charge it.

I could do nothing but sigh.

The daughter sat sulking for the rest of her stay.

Annoying Child 92384831158676

I got a bit fed up and did a head count.

There were twenty-five screaming children in the pub.

Usually it's an event if there's more than one! But twenty-five?!?!

No, I don't know

A lady sent back her meal.

SC: Can I have a fresh meal please?
Me: OK, what seems to be the problem?
SC: It's just so...you know!
Me: I'm sorry?
SC: It's just...it's just...you know!
Me: Riiiiight.
SC: Oh! Well never mind then!

The Twilight Bathroom Zone

SC: Excuse me, I seem to be lost! Can you give me some directions please?
Me: Oh...I'll try, but I don't live around here so I'm not sure how useful I will be...
SC: Can you tell me where the toilets are?

Again, I sighed.

Me: Just look for the neon sign that says "TOILETS"

It was above his head.

I Am Octopus

A family of eight ordered food. I can carry four plates at a time, but it's a struggle. I give them the first four meals.

Me: OK, I'll just be right ba-
Mother: Excuse me?!? Where are the rest of our meals????

My patience is wearing thin.

Me: I'm sorry, a witch put a curse on my mother, and as a result, I was only born with two arms.

The seven other people she was sat with laughed.

Nice Doggy

Someone brought a dog into the garden again!

Me: I'm sorry, but no dogs are allowed in the garden.
SC: Aw come on! He wouldn't hurt a fl-

The dog went apeshit and started snarling and snapping at me.

I just folded my arms and gave the SC a death look.

SC: Fine. We'll go.

Take your time

I went to serve on the bar.

SC: Can I order some food please?
Me: Sure, what can I get you?
SC: Well I don't know! I've only just walked in! In fact, do you have a menu I could look at?

I didn't have any handy.

Me: They are on the tables.
SC: Right, I'll be right back, don't go anywhere!

I went on my break.

Shout at me, and you will wait longer

I came back from my break and the bar was busy. I have absolutely no idea who is next.

Me: Ok, who was next please?

SC1: PINT OF CARLING!
SC2: FOSTERS!
SC3: BOTTLE OF BUD AND TWO PINTS OF JOHN SMITHS!
SC4: GUINESS!
SC5: DOUBLE VODKA AND COKE!

Yep, they all shouted at me at the exact same time. No "Can I have..." No "Please..."

I now officially no longer give a fuck.

Me: Oh! There's a dirty table in the customer area! Sorry guys! I'm gonna have to go clean it!

I walked off the bar.

If you're gonna lie...

I take food out to a table.

SC: Thank you. I hope it's a lot better than yesterday!
Me: Oh? What happened yesterday?
SC: The food was awful, and the attitude of the manager was appauling! We complained and he blanked us and walked off!
Me: Really??
SC: Yes!
Me: What time did this happen at?
SC: Oh, about lunch time.

Wait, I was the manager at that point! And I don't recall any complaints from them.

Me: Well, the only manager here at that time was me.
SC: Oh...uhhhh....maybe it...wasn't here then...maybe...uhhh...actually, now I think about it, it wasn't here! So silly of me! It was at *rival pub that looks NOTHING like ours*

Yeah, I think she was after something.

Oh just die already!

A co-worker and me finished at the same time. He asked if I wanted a drink after work. I agreed, as long as it wasn't there! So we went to the rival pub.

We walked inside, and two of the regular smelly alcoholic customers were there. It was happy hour, so they were there to get a cheap drink.

Regular: I think you'll find you're in the wrong pub gents! You should be in that one over there.
Me: Haha. (it was VERY forced)

The two regulars then moved from their current table, and sat at the one next to us! Co-worker and me were chatting (he was trying to convince me not to leave, he gave up in the end) and our conversation was constantly interrupted.

Regular: You had a busy day then?

Regular: Got any special offers coming up?

Regular: Are you working tomorrow?

Regular: Any chance of a discount next time I come in?

Regular: Don't be coming into work with a hangover tomorrow!

I turned to co-worker.

Me: Drink up. We're outta here.

Co-worker and me ended up going to a store, buying beer and going back to his house.

I fucking hope it rains tomorrow so all the customers will stay indoors.

[customersruinmylife]

The pub has a doorbell, but it is hidden so that it can only be used by employees who wish to get in on the morning.

I may have ranted about this guy in a thread before, but I'm going to again. I just refer to him as Old Man.

Some days of the week, I am at the pub two hours before it opens so I can let the cleaners in, do a stock take, let in deliveries, you know, things like that. Old Man will show up the second I unlock the door to let myself in. I don't know where the fuck he comes from, but the second I click that lock, he is there trying to get in. He knows what time we open, due to the fact he is in there drinking every. single. day. So why the fuck does he try and get in?

Old Man will then circle the pub for two hours. It doesn't matter what the weather is like, he will continually walk past, staring at me, giving me evil looks for not letting him in. He doesn't seem to get the fact that there could be a hurricane out there for all I cared, and I STILL wouldn't let him in. There is also a pub that opens early down the road. I don't get why he just doesn't shelter in there until we open.

As he circles the pub, he will look for other ways to get in. He once tried entering through the cellar when I had the doors open to let a delivery in. One day, while a cleaner was cleaning the garden, he saw that she had left the fire exit door open behind her. Old Man SPRINTED across the garden to try and get in. A cook spotted him and slammed the door just as he was a couple of metres away from it. Old Man then pressed his face against the glass. Cleaner then went apeshit because she had just cleaned those windows.

After giving up looking for ways to enter the pub before we open, he spends the last half hour at one of the entrances. He just stands there, staring at us. The cleaners are busy, me and the cook are busy unloading boxes, and he just looks at us, shaking his head as if we are just sitting around having a coffee.

Fifteen minutes before open, a co-worker will appear. Co-worker will ring the doorbell to get my attention. Old Man has now discovered where the doorbell is. Old Man will also rant at co-worker about how long he has been stood there and how unfair it is that he hasn't been let in.

I have been working at the pub for four months now, and I have been dealing with this Old Man every single morning. I am now tired of him. I have been trying to find ways to annoy him on purpose, like unlocking all the pub doors reeeeeaaaalllly slowly, and then opening the door he is stood at last. One day I pretended the key got stuck in the lock. The look of panic on his face was hilarious. Another thing he will do that really annoys me, is that when I go to unlock his door, he will YANK it open, while I am still holding on to the handle.

So, now you get the jist of how annoying Old Man is. Let's fast forward to yesterday.

It's five minutes before we open, and I have everything done. I am discussing what to do about a broken toilet in the gents with a cleaner, when I hear:

DING DONG! DING DONG! DING DONG!

I look. Old Man is ringing the doorbell repeatedly! I storm up to the door and unlock it. He attempts to yank the door open, but I pull the door back so it is open just a crack.

Me: Yes?
Old Man: You're not doing anything. I want in.
Me: It's only five to the hour. We don't open for five minutes.
Old Man: But you're not doing anything.
Me: Doesn't matter. We're not open.
Old Man: That's ridiculous.
Me: No, what I find ridiculous is you ringing our doorbell. We are not here to be summoned like that! You know what time we open, you are here at the same time every day. Please understand that I will never, EVER open these doors a minute before I have to.
Old Man: There's no need to be rude.

I just shut the door and locked it. I made myself a coffee and opened ten minutes late. No other customers were waiting, so I thought I'd teach him a lesson. When I did let him in, he reacted like nothing happened, and spoke to me really cheerfully.

Old Man: Good morning!

I think he was trying to make me feel bad. But I know he will be back at the same time tomorrow, and the cycle will start all over again.

[customersruinmylife]

There are no words. I have never, EVER seen anything like this. It was sad, it was sick and it was bizarre.

I've mentioned in previous posts that the pub is located just next to a church, so that means we get quite a lot of people in that have just attended a service, wedding or funeral. All of these groups are among the most entitled people I have ever known, especially the funerals.

It was quiet, and gradually, a funeral party started coming into the pub one by one. It was a depressing sight. It was a bright and sunny day, and I was in a good mood for once! And then a massive group of depressed people dressed in black came in.

And along came the widow...

The widow was in her late forties/early fifties, and she was practically carried into the pub by her twenty-something son and a friend. They had linked arms with her and were basically dragging her along she was that distraught. I am not exaggerating when I say she was howling like this:

Widow: AAAAAAAHHHWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! AAAAAAHHHWOOOOOOOOOOO!

She was sobbing her poor heart out. The son and friend sat her down, and decided the smart thing to do would be to buy her a bottle of wine.

So, for about an hour, the funeral were standing around drinking, and all we heard for an hour straight was "AAAAAHHHHHWWOOOOOO!!" from the corner where the widow was sat! It was getting very difficult to be sympathetic. Other customers were leaving because of her, and all I could think was "For fuck's sake, someone take her home!!"

And then an unwelcome guest showed up. We'll call her Mistress.

Mistress, in a similar drunken/distraught state, barged up to Widow.

Mistress: YOU MAY HAVE BEEN MARRIED TO HIM, BUT I WAS THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE!!
Widow: AAAAAHHHHWWWOOOOOOOO!! FUCK OFF! YOU WEREN'T INVITED TO THE FUNERAL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?? AAAAHHHHHWWWOOOOOOOOO!!
Mistress: I HAD EVERY RIGHT TO BE AT THAT FUNERAL! I LOVED HIM AND HE LOVED ME!
Widow: BUT HE DIDN'T PICK YOU DID HE?? AHHHHWWWOOOOOOOOOOO!! HE MARRIED ME!!
Mistress: BUT HE STILL LOVED ME!!
Widow: I WISH HE HAD PICKED YOU! THAT BASTARD HAS RAN UP A £7000 CREDIT CARD BILL IN MY NAME! WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT NOW??? AHHHHWOOOOOOOO!
Mistress: HE ONLY RAN UP SUCH A BILL TO BUY YOU ALL THE SHIT YOU DEMANDED! I WISH YOU HAD DIED INSTEAD!
Widow: YOU BITCH! AHHHHHWOOOOOOOOOOO!

Widow punched Mistress in the face. Widow's poor son tried to get in the middle but was shoved out of the way by Mistress. Next thing we knew, there was a full on cat fight happening! They had each other by the hair and were spinning around in circles!

What I found the most shocking was that not one member of the funeral party attempted to stop it. Finally, Widow's friend and son jumped in and pulled Mistress of her.

Widow's friend dragged Mistress outside, whilst the son tried to call Widow down. Her "AAAHHHHHWOOOOOOOO!"'s had grown about ten times louder. Widow's son met eyes with me, and he simply nodded his head, picked Widow up and led her out the back door.

Mistress and Widow's friend were stood outside arguing for about 20 minutes before Mistress finally left. The rest of the funeral party didn't stay long. They got the hint and went to a pub down the road.

It was such an awful sight. The cat fight only lasted about ten seconds, so there wasn't enough time to get near a phone to call the police. I just cannot believe such behaviour could happen at a funeral. I bet the guy who died is very proud of them.

[customersruinmylife]

This was HILARIOUS.

For some crazy reason, our door to the pub garden went crazy. Every time it was opened, it set off the Intruder Alarm...even if it was switched off. We had no idea why this was going on, so we locked the door and called out someone to come look at it. This annoyed the customers a little, as it meant they had to walk all the way around the building if they wanted to go into the garden for a cigarette (but the weather was shitty anyway!)

So, it's very quiet, and me and my co-workers are basically standing around waiting for customers, as there was that little to do. All of a sudden, we here the BANG of the front door being thrown open.

We look and see a young chavvy looking boy, probably about 15, sprinting across the pub, carrying a womans purse! We here another BANG and see two police officers, followed by a husband and wife run into the pub.

Officer: *down radio* We are in pursuit of the suspect, he is inside *my pub*

Guess what the chav did...

...he ran for the broken door...which was locked! He was going to try and escape through our garden. Realising there was no escape, he started punching the door over and over again, probably believing he could break it open. The officers ran up to him, and slammed him down on the floor. They began to cuff him.

Officer: We are placing you under arrest for theft. You do not have to say anything...*you know how it goes :D*

The purse he was carrying belonged to the husband and wife that entered after the officers. One of the officers had to hold the husband back as he tried to attack the chav. They all left without saying a single word to any of us!

It was all over in less than a minute. My co-workers and I were stood, with looks of :eek: on our faces.

[customersruinmylife]

This involved a regular customer. I am not very fond of this customer. He is the stereotypical old man. He is very entitled, he is a tight-wad (I once witnessed him chew a co-worker out because she accidentally short changed him a penny), he is inpolite, and to top it all off, he smells.

He walked up to me as I was clearing some tables and handed me a business card.

SC: I need you to call this number.

It was the business card for a local taxi firm. Their main office is located literally around the corner from the pub.

Me: Would you like me to call you a cab?
SC: No, I need you to call them. I got a taxi here this morning and I left a bag in the back. I need you to find out where my bag is.

OK, that annoyed me. I am trying to work. Do I really look like I've got time to run around after him? But...I know what this guy is like, so I decided to save an arguement and called the taxi company. Unfortunately, when I called them, I got an automated message:

Message: Hell this is *taxi company*. We are experiencing difficulties with our phone lines at the moment, so please leave your name and number and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We apologize for any problems this might cause. *BEEP*

I hung up. I couldn't be bothered with that.

Me: I couldn't get through. I got a message saying they were having problems with their phones.
SC: Well keep trying! I need that bag! You need to find my bag!

All of a sudden, he was treating me like it was my fault he had lost his bag.

Me: The taxi office is just around the corner. Why don't you pop in?
SC: No, you go down there and ask. I need that bag.
Me: :eek: I've got a pub to run! I can't be going off playing detective about something that didn't even happen here!
SC: You need to find my bag!
Me: You've been here for hours. How come it has taken you this long to notice you don't have it?
SC: I did notice...earlier. But I didn't need it then. I'm going home and I need it now.

I felt my brain begin to melt.

SC: Can you call them again?
Me: I'm sorry, I've got things to do.
SC: Well, call them later then.
Me: This is not my responsibility.
SC: Well I'll come in tomorrow and get someone else to find it!

I just walked away from him. He was making me angry. I pinned a note on the wall for the manager that is in tomorrow.

"If Stinky comes in asking you to ring *taxi company*, just tell him you called and they don't have his bag. It will save you a lot of grief. Believe me!"

[customersruinmylife]

Little bit of an update. He was at work today when I went in, but he didn't say a single word to me.

I asked the manager who was on in the morning if he had said anything. His response?

"Yeah! He's been bothering me all morning! I told him I called them and that they didn't have it just to humour him, but he didn't believe it! I lost it and told him to go and find out for himself. I mean, what am I? His mother??"

Ahhhh, I guess the title for my thread was spot on.

[customersruinmylife]

I may have a teaching job in my local school! I will be a teaching assistant whilst I wait for my university course to start in September 2010. I cannot wait!

Ten weeks, and I may be free of the pub! Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Yes, it has put me in a good mood. I just thought I'd gloat :D

[customersruinmylife]

After these two incidents today, I walked up to my boss and asked to be demoted. I am not yet in a position where I can simply walk from the job, but at least I can take a pay cut and shed all the responsibility. It's probably best after my reaction to these two SC's.

Don't throw change at me!

Grumpy old regular customer walks up to the bar.

SC: I want a pint of Carling in a Carling glass.

He is in all the time, and every time he asks for a Carling glass, which we do not carry. He is informed of this each and every time, and he still asks "just in case" we decided to order some in. We don't stock branded glasses, simply because they are expensive, and they always get stolen by grumpy old men like him!

Me: I'm sorry, but we don't have any Carling glasses. Is it OK in a regular glass?
SC: *grunts*

How foolish of me. I assumed that the grunt he replied with was a "yes". I presented him with his drink.

SC: I wanted a FUCKING CARLING GLASS!

He threw a load of change at me and turned to walk away.

Me: THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THAT!

He turned around to face me.

Me: IT'S JUST A GLASS. GET A GRIP!
SC: :eek:

He walked away without saying anything. That was probably wise, because I was in the mood for a good arguement.

I don't hang around the ladies bathroom

Second incident. An irrate lady demanded to speak to the manager IMMEDIATELY. I went over.

Me: Hi there, can I help?
SC: I have just been in the ladies bathroom and had a look around. TWO CUBICLES don't have toilet paper!!!!1111!!!
Me: OK, I'm sorry about that, I will send a female member of staff to sort that immediately.
SC: THAT IS NOT THE POINT!!!!111!!!blargh!!!11!! WHAT IF A LADY WENT INTO THAT CUBICLE AND THERE WAS NO PAPER??!?! WHAT WOULD SHE DOOOOOOO??
Me: I'm sorry, but I was not aware there was no paper, but I will send...
SC: YOUUUUU'RRRREE THE MANAGER! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AWARE OF THEEESSSSE THINNNNGGGGSSSS!
Me: I am also a MALE manager. I cannot go into the ladies toilets every five minutes whilst we are open for business checking the stalls for toilet paper.
SC: AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE THE MANAGER??? HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW WHEN THE TOILET PAAAAAPEERR RUNSSSS OUT??

I just couldn't do it anymore. I didn't want to talk to her, I didn't want to argue, I didn't want to be near her. I just let out a huge sigh, turned my back to her and walked away.

The SC stood there for a couple of minutes, looking very angry and confused.

SC: FINEEEEE! I GET THE HIINNNT! I'M LEEAVVVVING!!

[customersruinmylife]

This story got so epic that another pub got involved!

The cast of characters.

Me: Long suffering barman who is working his last days as a manager.
CW: Sweet co-worker who didn't deserve any of this
CC: Cool customer who said EVERYTHING that I wanted to say.
OPW: Worker from a pub at the end of the street.
SC: Who else???

It was very quiet, and co-worker was serving on the bar. I was wandering around, doing odd cleaning jobs and doing a little bit of reorganising. The SC came up to the bar first, CC was next in line. CW went so serve.

SC: Pint of lager.
CW: Sure thing.

She takes out a glass.

SC: That's dirty! That's dirty! Put it in a clean glass!

The glass was slightly water-marked, but not dirty. No matter. CW took out another glass.

SC: That's dirty too! That's dirty too! Get me a clean glass!

CW takes out a perfectly clean glass. She holds it up to the light to double check it is clean, and proceeds to pour the drink.

SC: IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR A CLEAN GLASS IN THIS PLACE!

I walk over to CW to give her support. CC jumps in.

CC: Look pal! Don't yell at the girl! The glasses are clean! It's just water marks from where they have been in the washer!
SC: I KNOW DIRT WHEN I SEE DIRT! THIS STUPID BITCH IS BLIIIIINNNDDD! I DON'T WANT A DRINK IN A DIRTY GLASSSSSSS!

He said it in a tone that, to be quite honest, frightened me. He actually sounded as though he was going to jump over the bar and kill CW. I wanted him out.

Me: OK, HOW ABOUT THIS? HOW ABOUT YOU DON'T GET A DRINK AT ALL?

CC cheered.

SC: WHHHHHAAAATTT?
Me: That was just...disgusting! I'm sorry, but I do not want you in here! I want you to leave.
SC: YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REFUSE SERVICE!!
Me: I bloody well am.
CC: Look pal, why don't you just leave. You are completely embarassing yourself.
SC: I WANT A DRINK, IN A CLEAN GLASS, AND I WANT IT NOW!
CC: Well, you're not going to get one are you? You fucked that one up well and truely. If you feel so hard done by, why don't you...call the police or something. Ha! Ha!
SC: GOOD IDEA!!
Me/CW/CC: :eek:

He got his phone out, dialled 999, but didn't press send. He just held the phone to my face.

SC: SERVE ME, OR I'LL CALL THEM!
Me: Oh my God :lol:
SC: DON'T THINK I WON'T!
CC: :lol:
SC: DON'T LAUGH AT ME! I'LL DO IT!

At this point, I am bursting with laughter, I just can't contain it.

SC: I'LL DO IT!
CC: Do it then!
Me: Do it, see where it gets you.
SC: I'LL DO IT!
Me: Do it. I'd quite like to see you get arrested for tying up the emergency services.

SC stared at me for about a minute. He put his phone away, and started to mumble.

SC: Forget it. But just so you know, I am reporting you to the owner.
Me: Fantastic. I hope I get fired.
SC: Weirdo.

He walked out. CC stood and laughed with us for a while about the SC. About fifteen minutes later, the phone rings. It is OPW.

OPW: Did you guys turf a guy out about fifteen minutes ago for complaining about dirty glasses?
Me: No, we turfed a guy out because he was a twat.
OPW: Right, because he came down here!
Me: And....
OPW: He walked up to the bar, and DEMANDED his drink in a clean glass, and shouted "AND IF YOU REFUSE TO SERVE ME I WILL CALL THE POLICE, JUST LIKE I AM GOING TO WITH *my pub*!!"
Me: Oh God.
OPW: Well, get this. He was only talking to the OWNER!
Me: And what happened next?
OPW: The owner went apeshit! He said "HOW DARE YOU WALK INTO MY PUB AND SAY THAT! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT! WE ARE HERE TO SERVE BUT WE ARE NOT YOUR SERVANTS! GET OUT! GET OUT NOW!"
Me: Oh boy, what did he do?
OPW: He looked really frightened and ran for it! It was hilarious!
Me: Haha!
OPW: Anyway, I thought I would give you that bit of gossip. Thanks for sending your crazies down here by the way!
Me: Anytime.

[customersruinmylife]

I've had a few days off. I get into work and there is a notice up on the wall, along with a print out of shot taken off our security cameras. Under the print out, it said "DO NOT SERVE THIS MAN. HIS NAME IS JOHN SMITH* AND HE IS BANNED FOR LIFE"

*His name is not actually John Smith. Obviously.

John Smith was a regular customer, but he was on his last warning about this behaviour. He always seems to be caught up in fights, but always claims he is the innocent one and that he was started on. He was also banned from several other pubs in town for his loutish behaviour. In short, he was an idiotic chav. I went to a manager and asked what he was banned for. Turns out, he got caught up in another fight the other night, and we had it all on camera that he was the one that started it. He threw a punch at a completely innocent man and then ran for it. As he ran, the manager told him to never return.

So, there I am, quite unhappily serving behind the bar. I look up, and who is right in front of me?

John Smith.

Me: I'm sorry John, but you have been banned for your behaviour. Can you please leave?
SC: WHAT? WHAT? WHAT HAVE I BEEN BANNED FOR?
Me: For punching that guy the other night.
SC: HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT! YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE!
Me: That doesn't matter. I have been intructed not to serve you.
SC: YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BAN ME! YOU DIDN'T SEE WHAT HAPPENED!
Me: I am not serving you. If you want to take this further, you will have to speak to the manager who was working on Wednesday night.
SC: I WAS THE INNOCENT VICTIM!
Me: Not according to our security cameras.
SC: I DEMAND YOU SHOW ME THIS FOOTAGE!
Me: No. You are not going back there.
SC: THEN I DON'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE EVIDENCE! I DEMAND YOU EXPLAIN WHY YOU HAVE BANNED ME!
Me: I have already explained this to you and I am not going to explain myself to you any further.
SC: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS IN PRIVATE WITHOUT ALL THESE PEOPLE AROUND!
Me: I will not do that. You are being aggressive and I would rather have witnesses.
SC: IF YOU DON'T SERVE ME I WILL KICK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!
Me: And now we have another reason to keep you banned. Can you please leave?
SC: YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU CAN'T KEEP ME BANNED!
Me: Like I said, you will have to take this up with a member of seniour management. But until then, you are banned.
SC: I'LL KICK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!
Me: OK then. You do that.
SC: COME FROM AROUND THAT BAR AND TALK TO ME LIKE A MAN!
Me: I'm quite happy where I am, thank you.
SC: YOU CHEEKY LITTLE SHIT, JUST YOU WAIT.
Me: That's fine. Are you going now?

He started walking towards the door.

SC: YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP ME BANNED! JUST YOU WAIT! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!
Me: You just threatened me in front of a dozen witnesses, and I have your name, John Smith. And the cameras also caught all of this. Are you really going to carry out your threat?
SC: YOU CHEEKY SHIT! YOU CHEEKY LITTLE SHIT!

He walked out the doors, cursing as he stormed out.

The next four or five customers in line congratulated me on the way I handled it. To be honest, I am so surprised about the way I handled it. At the moment I have a really short fuse when it comes to SC's, and I didn't lose it once! A cool customer walked up to me.

CC: How the hell did you handle that idiot? You have the best anger management I have ever seen! You did it all with a smile on your face! I would have killed him!

I don't think I've seen the last of him. Like I said, he was an arse-hole regular customer. I finished work today and the manager taking over from me said:

Manager: God, I bet I have to turf him out later tonight!

[customersruinmylife]

Mother of the year walks up to the bar. She is carrying a baby and is holding hands with a five year old boy.

SC: Can I get into the disabled toilet so I can use the baby change facilities?
Me: Sure, no problem.

I open the disabled bathroom for her. About ten seconds later, she storms out.

SC: I AM NOT FUCKING CHANGING MY FUCKING BABY IN THERE! IT FUCKING STINKS!

She stormed off and headed to the ladies.

What happened next was witnessed by an off duty co-worker who was luckily inside the ladies room at the time.

Mother of the year barges into the ladies. She places the baby down in the sink area, and starts to change it. She then turns to the little boy.

SC: Piss all over the floor sweetheart! Piss everywhere! Do your business all over the floor and make a mess. We'll teach them a lesson won't we? And then we'll make them clean it up.

Mother of the year gets her shitty baby wipes and starts smearing them down the walls! She then throws the shitty nappy across the bathroom. The little boy is walking up and down the bathroom, pissing everywhere. Off duty co-worker is stood, completely speechless.

SC: What the fuck you staring at?

Off duty co-worker stormed out of the bathroom and ran up to me.

CW: Customersruinmylife! You won't fucking believe what I just witnessed!!

I sent my only poor female worker in to check it out. She looked like she was gonna puke. I went up to mother of the year.

Me: You can get out, RIGHT.NOW.
SC: Why??? What have I done?
Me: You know EXACTLY what you have done. You were seen.
SC: Well, I wouldn't have had to have done it if the baby change didn't smell of piss! You made me act that way!
Me: You believe what you did was acceptable behaviour??
SC: Yes! Yes I do!
Me: Then I weep for the future of your children. Now get out!
SC: You haven't heard the last of this.

She collected her things and left.

I am so angry about this. Her poor kids, what are they going to turn out like?

[customersruinmylife]

Long awaited sequel to this thread: http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?t=51450

I learned a lot more about what happened regarding the incident in which he got banned. The guy John Smith attacked was the BROTHER of a co-worker, who was quietly enjoying a drink with his GRANDMOTHER, and had literally just returned from serving in IRAQ!

John Smith was completely wasted and kept bothering the two of them. When co-workers brother told him to go away, John Smith started shoving him. Co-workers brother shouted:

CWB: I've just come back from Iraq! I've come across a lot bigger bullies than a scummy little chav like you!
JS: You think you're so special because you went to Iraq!

John Smith punched CWB in the face and ran for it. The manager on that evening yelled that he was banned, then the events of my previous thread happened.

I also learned that last week he got banned from a bar across the street for jumping off a balcony and landing on an innocent bystander.

So, Saturday came along. It is the day before my holidays start and I am in a good mood. Oh wait, who is that walking towards the bar? Oh course! John Smith again!

Me: *under my breath* Fuck...here we go...
JS: Hey! Hey you! Am I still banned?
Me: You certainly are. Now can you go?
JS: I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I AM BANNED!!!
Me: So punching innocent customers and threatening me isn't a good enough reason?
JS: I WAS HAVING A LAUGH! JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN BAN PEOPLE!

My boss appeared out of no where and jumped in.

Boss: ATTACKING MY CUSTOMERS AND STAFF IS NOT HAVING A LAUGH!!
JS: THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU! IT'S BETWEEN ME AND HIM! HE'S THE ONE THAT BANNED ME!
Boss: NO, I WAS THE ONE THAT BANNED YOU. HE WAS JUST THE MESSENGER! NOW GET OUT!
JS: WELL YOU COULD AT LEAST TELL ME HOW LONG I AM BANNED FOR!
Boss: How about the forseeable future??
JS: AND HOW LONG IS THAT?
Boss: Until one of us dies of old age. Now GET. OUT. And by the way, I am calling Pub Watch about you. Good luck getting served anywhere in this town.
JS: BITCH!

John Smith stormed out.

For those who do not know, Pub Watch is an organisation set up by councils in the UK, where the owners and managers of pubs meet once a month to discuss violent/drunken SC's and what action can be taken against them. Basically with one word, she can get him banned from every pub in the area!

I still think he'll be back though

[customersruinmylife]

I have been off work for the past week and a half, and my first shift back starts in just over an hour. I have been informed by a co-worker that ALL of my shifts this week are manager shifts.

I asked my boss weeks ago if I could step down. I just no longer have the will or the energy to be the manager. In a months time, I am either going to be leaving the pub completely, or cutting my hours down to one of two shifts a week. I just want to go to the pub, make drinks, smile, be polite and then go home.

I am actually dreading work tonight. I feel sick at the thought of being in charge. I just don't care. I seriously worry for the next customer that yells "I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER!!" because, as bad as it sounds, I just do not care about them.

Ugh, please Boss, I understand that having an extra manager takes a load off your plate, but seriously, keeping me as a manager will probably do the business a lot of harm.

[customersruinmylife]

To everyone at Customers Suck, I wish these stories were made up, I truely do. All of these stories have taken place since Wednesday, so I will just divide them up like that.

Wednesday

I have been off work for ten days, I come back, sit in the office and have a chat with another manager over what has happened while I have been away. I look on the camera and notice that the bar is getting busy, so I step out to help my co-worker.

Me: Who was next please?
Customer: Hi there, could I have...

Next thing I knew, Psycho Bitch jumps in.

PB: EXCUSE ME!! I THINK YOU'LL FIND IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WAS NEXT!!!111!!!
Me: Oh, I'm sorry, I've just come from the back room so I don't know...
PB: WELL YOU SHHHHHOULD! TAKE MY ORDER NOOOOW! I MUST ORDER NOOOOW!!

The customer I first went to mouthed "Just serve her" to me.

Welcome back to work customersruinmylife!!

Death Returns

We haven't seen much of Death, but there he was, wandering around. He walked up to the bar, bought a pint of cider, but returned a few minutes later. He barged up to co-worker. It just so happened that it was the same co-worker that threw a pint over his head a few weeks ago.

Death: This doesn't taste right.
CW: Oh? What's wrong with it?
Death: It just doesn't taste right. Give me my money back.
CW: OK but you can give me the pint back.
Death: So you can throw it over me again? No! I'm keeping it and I'm getting my money back!
CW: No you're not. It's one or the other.

Death turned around and walked off. He returned after finishing his pint.

Death: I'm getting my moneys worth back!

Next thing we knew, he was running off with our muffin display! We shouted "HEY!!" and he dropped it. It was decided at that moment he was banned for life.

That was Wednesday.

Thursday

MOVE!

A concerned looking girl walks up to me.

CG: Hi there, ummm, me and my friends are having a meal, and this drunken old couple have come and sat with us. We have no idea why, we don't know them, they have just sat themselves at the end of our table. We asked them to move, seeing as there are plenty of other places to sit, but they just said "No, we're fine here!". We carried on eating, and now they are swearing at us, telling us to fuck off and everything.
Me: OK, I'll come over.

I walk over. I see three girls trying to eat their meals, and a couple, probably in their late fifties sat with them. The couples faces are VERY red, probably from drinking all day.

Me: Guys, these girls were here first, can you move to a free table please?
Woman: No, we're fine here.
Man: Yeah, we're not moving.
Me: No, it's not fine. There are plently of other places to sit, there is a table right there.
Woman: THESE GIRLS DID NOT RESERVE THIS TABLE, SO WE ARE NOT MOVING!!
Me: Did you reserve this table?
Woman: NO! BUT WE ARE MAKING A POINT! THESE LITTLE SLUTS SHOULD LEARN THAT THEY CAN'T SIT WHERE EVER THEY WANT!
CG: EXCUSE ME?!?! WE WERE HERE FIRST!! HOW DARE YOU CALL ME A SLUT YOU HAGGERED OLD C*NT!

Woman stood up, looking as though she was going to strike Concerned Girl.

Me: OK, you are going to have to move. This is NOT ON.
Man: NO! NO! NO!

He bellowed so loud that all my co-workers ran off the bar thinking there was a fight going on. So I now had a captive audience of co-workers and customers.

Man: YOU WILL HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE TO GET US MOVED! WE ARE NOT MOVING! THEY DID NOT RESERVE THIS TABLE! SO WE ARE SHARING IT!
Woman: AND IT'S TOO LATE! WE'VE ORDERED FOOD FOR THIS TABLE NUMBER!
Man: SO WE ARE NOT MOV-

I had had enough of them shouting at me.

Me: SHUT UP! I AM CANCELLING YOUR FOOD AND YOU CAN GET OUT RIGHT NOW!
Woman: YOU CAN'T DO...

At this point, a random customer appeared from no where and jumped in.

RC: WHY DON'T YOU TWO OLD JUNKIE FUCKERS FUCK OFF?!?! EVERYONE IN HERE IS LOOKING AT YOU. FUCK OFF, FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY!

I could have kissed RC. The woman stormed out of the pub, but the man was still there.

Man: You're going to have to call the police, because I am not going.
Me: Fine!

I got my phone out. As soon as he saw it, he bolted. Customers were booing him as he ran out the door.

It still baffles me. I swear, if I EVER see them again, I might spit on them.

You think THAT warrents the police??

Not FIVE MINUTES after the crazy couple, a crazy lady came up to me.

CL: There are two people at the table next to me and they are swearing! If they do not stop I am CALLING THE POLICE!

I went over. It was just two guys having a conversation. They were not loud, they were not drunk, and they were not aggressive. They were just swearing in their private conversation.

Me: Guys...can you keep the language clean?
Guy: :confused: Uhhh...Okaaayy.

I walked away and heard one of them call me a "conversation Nazi".

You ate it all?

Another crazy lady walked up to me.

CL: Excuse me, but the wrong meal was brought to my table.
Me: OK, I'll come over and sort that out for you.
CL: ITS A BIT LATE FOR THAT! I'VE ALREADY EATEN IT ALL!
Me: Oyyy.


I can keep this arguement up for hours

After all that, I went back on the bar to get away from the crazy customers on the floor. The bar was just as bad. An old guy obviously tried to jump the line.

OG: I will have...
Me: I'm sorry, but these girls were next.
OG: You're going to serve me next.
Me: No I'm not. I'm going to serve you when it's your turn. And I count ten people ahead of you.
OG: You're going to serve me next.
Me: No, I'm not.
OG: Yes, you are.
Me: No, I'm not.
OG: Yes, you are.
Me: Quit the Jedi mind trick. No, I. AM. NOT.

That was Thursday.

Friday

Friday had only one event. Death came back.

Me: Right, you are not getting served, can you please leave?
Death: What?!?! What for??!
Me: You tried to steal our muffin display.
Death: I was going to pay for it!
Me: Was that before or after I shouted at you and you threw it all over the floor?
Death: Uuuuhhh...
Me: Get out.

Saturday

I worked the morning and it was a nightmare. The delivery was over two hours late and showed up two minutes before I was due to open. I had no choice but to delay opening by an hour so I could get it in. There was already a line of old men outside. One of them actually stamped his feet when I put a sign up explaining why I wasn't opening.

I eventually got the pub open. The guy who stamped his feet stormed up to me.

SC: I want to know why you didn't open in time! I had been waiting for two hours for you to open!
Me: I put it all on the sign. I had to get the delivery away.
SC: That is not good enough. You could have still let us in!
Me: Absolutely not.
SC: :eek: Whhhhyyy?
Me: I have to think of my own safety and security. Are you seriously suggesting I let the public in this place and leave the bar unattended while I bring the delivery in the cellar? Leave all the full registers on their own, leave all the drink unattended so anyone could help themselves to it?
SC: You should have some faith in people.
Me: Sir, this job has destroyed all faith I have in people.


And that was the past four days! I had a serious talk with my boss. She is on holiday for the next two weeks, and when she gets back, I am cutting my hours down from 45 to 16. That should help.

[customersruinmylife]

Yep, got an interview for a teaching course, it's a week today, and, just by chance, it's my day off next Thursday, so I can attend without any of my bosses finding out! Woo!

I won't bullshit though, I believe my chances of getting in a very, very slim. I don't have the experience they are looking for, but I am hoping to blag my way in :D

If I don't get in, it doesn't matter because I can try again at Christmas, meaning I can spend the next three months getting the experience they are looking for from me. But still, there's a tiny, tiny bit of light at the end of the tunnel now. The ball is rolling. It might take a while, but I am outta there!

[customersruinmylife]

I've mentioned this in a previous thread. We have had problems with people bringing dogs into the garden, believing that the garden somehow doesn't count as part of the premisis. It happens at least two times a day, customer walks in with Fido, is told the dog is not allowed, and creates a scene because their precious little puppy would never hurt a fly. We also have several notices informing the customers that dogs are not allowed. We actually positioned one of the signs so that when a customer entered the pub from the garden, they had to push the sign to get the door opened.

On Saturday, I was working behind the bar and a co-worker came up to me.

CW: Customersruinmylife, there's a guy with a dog in the garden.
Me: Great.

I went outside, and a guy, probably about in his mid-fifties, is sat with a very mean looking pitbull. It snarled as I approached him.

Me: I'm sorry, but no dogs are allowed.
SC: What?!?! Where am I supposed to put my dog on a hots summer's day! I'm not locking him in the car!
Me: I am sorry, but they are not allowed. This is part of our pub, people eat and drink out here. Dogs are not allowed.
SC: Fine, I'll finish my drink, and I'll go.

So that was Saturday.

Fast forward to yesterday.

I walk into work, the the manager is looking extremelly stressed.

Me: Whats up with you?
M: Dog attack in the garden today.
Me: What?? What happened?

He told me the tale.

The same SC I threw out on Saturday returned with the dog! I guess being thrown out once wasn't enough. Manager went over to him and told him the dog was not allowed. Customer said the exact same as what he said on Saturday. Manager told him to finish his drink and go.

Then...the gardener arrived. Gardener was happily watering the plants, and had to go near the dog. The dog snarled. The next thing the gardener knew, the dog was sinking its teeth into his leg! The gardener actually had to RIP the dog off his leg and basically throw it across the garden.

Of course, in typical SC fashion, the customer was more concerned about his dog and shouted at the gardener. The gardener was in complete shock, and staggered back into the pub, and calmly asked a co-worker for the first aid box. Co-worker screamed. His leg was COVERED in blood. Co-worker had to drive him to the hospital.

Manager went out the back, and saw that the SC and Ripper had fled. He called the police, letting them know what happened, but for now, the SC has got away. The manager described the SC and there is no doubt in my mind that it was the same one I threw out on Saturday, so he knew the dog was not allowed.

A new rule has been put in place. If a customer comes into the garden with a dog, they go IMMEDIATELY, we take the drinks out of their hands and pour them on the floor. The signs have become even more prominant, so there is no excuse for an SC missing them. Of course, we all know they don't read signs, so this is gonna be fun!

The gardener is OK though, he's gonna have to take a few days off, but should recover.

[customersruinmylife]

I don't know if it's because I am leaving, but I have noticed a sudden increase in sucky customers over the past few days.

Pasta Bake Bitch

A dumb looking blonde walks up to the bar.

SC: Hi there, can I order the pasta bake please?

We go through the motions, where she is sitting ect ect, and I complete the order. All is well...until about eight minutes later.

SC: Can you cancel that pasta bake please?
Me: Oh, I'm pretty sure it's just about ready. Why do you want to cancel it?
SC: I've ordered pasta by mistake. I don't like pasta.
Me: You ordered a pasta bake when you don't like pasta?
SC: I know, I didn't realise...I would like to order something else.

I look over and see a co-worker walking out of the kitchen with her food.

Me: Well, if you want to order something else you are going to have to pay for it.
SC: Can't I just swap for something else?
Me: No, that food is going to get wasted now.
SC: Oh...I guess I'll have to eat it then.

A co-worker cleared her table.

CW: And how was your pasta bake?
SC: Lovely thanks!
Me: :banghead:

You want me to ban HER??

We have a group of ladies who come in for breakfast about two or three times a week. One of the ladies is heavily disabled, and the other two ladies are her carers. The handicapped lady can't really control what she says, and occasionally lets out the odd, random yell or scream. It startled me the first time I saw her, but she is actually a really nice person, and so are her carers.

Then we have one of our old men regulars. He is rude, and is one of the reasons I hate opening the pub, because he is always outside, waiting to get in before I even enter the pub! Upon seeing the handicapped lady and her carers enter, Old Man walked up to me.

OM: You need to ban her!
Me: Why?
OM: She cannot control herself in public! Have you heard her when she yells?

At that point, the handicapped lady yelled.

OM: See! You need to ban her!
Me: You are suggesting I ban someone who cannot help who they are??
OM: She is dissssssturrrbing meeeeeeee!!!

He walked away. I couldn't reply, because I wanted to throttle him. A few minutes later, Old Man leaves. One of the carers walks up to me, looking upset. The carer and me are on a first name basis.

C: Customersruinmylife, that...man...he just walk up to *handicapped lady* and told her she had no business out in public! He was so brutal...

Carer looked like she was going to cry.

Me: I just...I just don't know what to say.

I have passed on this story to all the staff and other managers. All are disgusted. There is no way he's getting served again!

Lazy?!?!?!?!?!

It's a public holiday in the UK this weekend, and that means that there are a lot of arseholes out and about.

A lady was asking a co-worker about making a booking. He didn't really know what to tell her so he passed her onto me. I was stood at the bar with the lady, organising the booking (she was really nice) when I hear what sounds like a barking sound.

SC: OW! OW! OW! *clicks fingers*

I look over, and see a rather irate looking man looking at me.

SC: ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO SERVE SOMEONE TODAY???
Me: I am just helping my customer at the moment. One of my co-workers will get to you in a minute.
SC: YOU AREN'T DOING ANYTHING!!!
Me: I am helping a customer at the moment, and it's not even busy.
Co-worker: I'll serve him now customersruinmylife.
SC: NO! I WANT HIM TO SERVE ME, SEEING AS HE ISN'T DOING ANYTHING!
Lady: He is in the middle of helping me, actually.
SC: HE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING! FUCK! FORGET IT! I DON'T WANT TO DRINK HERE ANYMORE!
Me: That's fine with me.
SC: YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LAZY BASTARRRRRRRRRRRRD!!
Me: Lazy bastard? I was here at 7am bringing a delivery in. What were you doing at 7am?
SC: I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU!
Me: Complain all you want, I couldn't care less.
SC: I'M LEAVING!!

I put on the most cheerful tone of voice I could.

Me: Bye! Byeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I was sorely tempted to blow him a kiss as well. He just about had a fit and ran out the door. The lady I was helping was in stitches laughing.

Three weeks tomorrow until my last shift EVER!!!!!!!

[customersruinmylife]

OK...this should go in Cursing Out Co-workers...but at the time, the co-worker was a customer, and now she is no longer a co-worker due to her actions.

I will refer to the co-worker in question as Stupid Bitch (SB). I don't know SB very well. She only works part time, usually really early in the day and the occasional weekend shift, so we haven't worked together very often. She seemed friendly enough, however someone did tell me that she has a bit of a temper on her, especially when she gets a drink in her.

It was a sunny day, and SB had been in the pub drinking with another co-worker. I will refer to him as Idiot Co-Worker (ICW). They had been in a fair while, and SB was getting more and more drunk. She stumbled up to the bar.

CW1: Customersruinmylife, I think SB has had enough.

I turn around and see SB swaying where she is stood. She is wasted. But CW2 is already in the middle of serving her.

Me: Are you OK there SB?
SB: Yeaaaahhhh....I'mmmm finnneee...
Me: OK, but make this your last drink, OK?
SB: K!

She gave me a thumbs up. I thought all was well. A few minutes later, she returned to the bar with ICW.

SB: Sambuca please!
Me: I thought I told you no more SB?
SB: Fine...what...cannn...I...haaaavvvvvee?
Me: Water. And lots of it.

I gave SB and ICW a glass of water. ICW found the whole thing funny. I carry on what I'm doing, when I hear:

SB: Fucking wanker...who the fuck does he think he is refusing to give meeeee alcoohoooll!

SB and ICW walk off. But a couple of minutes later, they return to the bar to drink their water. I walk up and down the bar serving, and all I can hear is: "Wanker!" "Fucking bastard! I want served!" "Fucking retard, refusing me alcohol!" I lost it and walked to the end of the bar.

Me: I am NOT putting up with this. I wouldn't take this shit from a customer, and I am certainly not going to take it from staff. Now can you move away from the bar? I am sick of listening to you. Go home, and go to bed.
ICW: Oh leave off it customersruinmylife!
Me: Don't you start! If this is how it is going to be, then NO STAFF are getting served at all. You can all leave and go somewhere else.
ICW: But you're leaving! What difference does it make to you?
Me: I am getting insulted, and you're pissing me off. I might be leaving in a week, but at the moment, I am still in charge, and you guys have just successfully got the staff banned tonight.

I walked out the back into the office. I had to cool off. I was going to let the whole thing slide, and not mention it to my boss, until this happened.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I open the office door, and SB is stood there.

SB: WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARRRREEEE??? I'LL GET YOOOU FUCKKKING SAACCCKKKED!

She was that drunk she lost her balance...and fell into the cellar.

She landed in a massive heap, on top of several crates and bottles, smashing several of them. She attempted to stand, but slipped on the mess she had made, and fell over again. I lost it, and screamed at the top of my voice.

Me: WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU PLAYING AT!?!?!?!

I grabbed her by the arm and dragged her out of the cellar, and dumped her at the end of the bar. No co-workers had noticed she had stormed behind the bar except for ICW, who was giggling. His giggling stopped as soon as I dropped SB, and the bar was left in complete silence. SB piped up again.

SB: YOOOUUU'RREEE FUCKKKINGGG SAAAACCCKKKEEDD! JUSSSTT YOU WAIIT TILLLL I TELLLL *BOSS* WHAT YOU DDIIIID TO MEEE!

ICW didn't say a word. He picked her up and walked out. All the staff stopped what they were doing, and just stared. None of them dared look or say anything to me. I told a co-worker I was going in the office, and under no circumstances was anyone to come to the door and bother me. I sat down, and wrote an essay, pretty much everything I am typing now, to my boss.

After the shift, my co-workers and I sat down, and apparently it wasn't just me she went for. She called CW1 a fucking slut. She walked up to a gay co-worker and said he was worse than a peadofile, and even bothered the boss' son!

So, that happened on Thursday. I was in quite early on Friday, and Boss called me into the office.

Boss: I want you to witness this.

She called SB.

Boss: Hi SB, I am just calling to tell you not to come in to work tonight...or tomorrow night...or next week...in fact don't come back in at all...why, you ask? Well why don't you ask customersruinmylife, CW1, CW2, ICW, my son, and pretty much every single customer who was in the pub last night.........Oh! You can't remember anything of last night? Isn't that handy! Well, I'm sure you'll have great fun trying to piece that together! Goodbye!

She hung up.

Boss: I've already had words with ICW. He is suspended for the weekend. He thought she was joking around...the idiot. My son already told me what happened last night and...I am so shocked I can't describe how angry I am. It is exactly like you said. We take enough shit off the customers in here. We WILL NOT take it off the staff.

Staff are banned from drinking in the pub for a month. ICW isn't very popular at the minute.

I am very glad I am leaving next week! I can't be bothered with the fallout of this.

[customersruinmylife]

Well, that's it! I have had my last shift! And what was most annoying about it was that I didn't have an SC event! I had 5 years of bartenders rage ready to take out on any SC's I encountered, and then they all went and behaved themselves!

Feeling a lot of mixed emotions at the minute. Two years ago I thought I wanted to work in bars forever, despite the SC's. I loved my job, but as soon as I went to management level, that's when it all went downhill. The shit that came with it just wasn't worth it. And when I had to leave my bar and move to the pub I just quit, well, that was like going into a war zone! The SC's were out of control and none of the other managers seemed to want to do anything about it.

As I was cashing up on my last shift, I overheard a co-worker talking in the glasswash area:

CW: I don't want customersruinmylife to go! We finally get a manager who gives a fuck about the well-being of the staff, and takes the time to get to know us, and he gets driven out! It's just not fair.

I'm going to keep posting on here, so don't worry. There are some stories I haven't told yet!

[customersruinmylife]

I've got a new job...and it is at the pub I have just left!

The teacher training is going very, very well, I absolutely love it, however, I am not getting paid for it. I will not get any kind of income until January when the course starts. I saved up quite a bit of money, and that would normally get me by, but with Christmas coming up, my funds are going to be a bit stretched.

My girlfriend, who works at the pub, was talking about this to a co-worker. She's a bit worried I am going to end up overdrawn and with huge debts, and to be honest, it was making me worry a little bit. But I left the pub not only because I wanted to start my teacher training, but because I absolutely could not stand working with the drunken customers anymore. My old boss overheard this conversation.

Not to sound too bigheaded, but I am quite a good cook. At the pub, if a cook called in sick or they were busy, I could go in and help out very easily, and it was a blast. I was away from the customers, free to say what I wanted and had a laugh. My old boss called and offered me a job in the kitchen, part time of course.

I am very tempted to take it. None of the reasons why I left were to do with bad management or anything. It was because of the horrible customers. Now I have been given the chance to earn some money, do my teacher training and get away from the customers! And best of all, I won't be a manager anymore! No responsibility!

Anyone here have any views?

[customersruinmylife]

A new manager started at the pub this week. This guy is basically my replacement, and has apparently been working in pubs for 25 years. He has been brought in from another pub in town, and my God, he has left an impression.

I'm going to divide this up into days. Remember, I only work at the pub part time now, so most of the incidents I heard were from other people. I will call the new manager NM.

Monday

So NM starts at the pub. Boss gives him a tour and introduces him to the staff. Boss has to leave, so she leaves him with another manager for the rest of the day. The manager she left him with is not much older than me. He is in his mid-twenties, hasn't been managing pubs for all that long, but he knows what he is talking about. NW is in his late fifties.

Apparently, during the whole day, NW spoke to the manager like he was five years old, constantly saying things like "Now look here, young man..." and always seemed to call him "Boy". Now, this doesnt sound like much, but he did it ALL THE TIME. Manager was getting very irritated being spoken to like he was a naughty child.

Later in the day, a co-worker who works in the kitchen came in. NW follwed him into the kitchen and introduced himself.

NM: Now, I just need to ask...do any of you in this place KNOW HOW TO WASH PLATES?

CW laughed, thinking it was some sort of joke to break the ice. It wasn't. NW was deadly serious.

NM: YOU are getting a crash course with me on how to wash up!

NM dragged CW to the sink, and showed him how to clean a plate. Yes that's right. He actually showed him how to do the washing up, and apparently used the most patronising tone he could. This was also while the kitchen was having a little rush, so the food orders were getting delayed because of this.

NM: ...and then, when you have cleaned it, put it into the dishwasher, and push this button. Did you get all that?
CW: Uuhh...yeah.
NM: Good. Any questions?
CW: Umm, well no. But just so you know, I have worked here for five years. I know how to wash a plate.
NM: Yeah...right.

NM walked out the kitchen. CW was stunned.

Tuesday

Nothing much happened on Tuesday apparently. Except for that he was working with the same manager as the day before. Again, he spoke to him like he was a little boy. Manager had to go vent with a member of staff.

Remember, this is a member of management, bitching about another member of management to a member of staff. He was that annoyed.

Wednesday

NM had his first shift on his own. A day shift. A co-worker who was working on the bar on Tuesday night was also in. He called her into the office.

NM: Hi, I am NM, the new manager.
CW: Oh hi, pleased to meet you.
NM: I noticed you were on shift last night...
CW: Yes I was.
NM: Well, I have to tell you, I am quite frankly disgusted with the standard of the close last night.
CW: Oh...may I ask why?
NM: There was some broken glass in the yard. WHY was this not taken care of?
CW: Oh, I wasn't anywhere near the yard last night, I was responsible for cleaning the bar area...
NM: That is NOT what I am asking! Why was this not taken care of?
CW: Well, I didn't know anything about it...
NM: Then WHY didn't you check?
CW: Well...I would have thought it would have been a manager or supervisors responsibil-
NM: No! You should have checked!
CW: But I was taking care of the bar! Usually a member of management checks the yard when they lock up.
NM: Do not answer me back!

He handed her a broom and dustpan.

NM: Get out there and get it cleaned.

It was freezing cold, windy and it was raining. CW is a very timid girl, so she did as she was told, but I swear, if it had been me, that broom would have been up his arse.

Thursday and Friday were his days off.

Saturday

It was 5:45 and me and two co-workers walked into the pub. We were due to start at 6pm. We walked behind the bar and headed for the back room where we could get changed and ready for our shift. It was also quite busy when we entered, and there were quite a lot of glasses everywhere.

NM: Oh, nice of you to join us!
Me: Oh...hi, I don't believe we've met...
NM: Never mind that! Can't you see we are busy?! There are glasses everywhere! Don't you people know how to wash a glass? Would you like me to teach you??
Me/CW1/CW2: :confused:
NM: Right! Over here! The three of you!

NM then proceeded to teach us how to wash a glass, in the exact same manner he had used to teach one of the cooks how to wash a plate.

NM: And that is how you wash a glass! Got it?? Good! Now do something useful and wash the glasses! We are busy!

The three of us walked into the back room as quick as we could.

CW2: Who the fuck was that? He didn't even introduce himself! Why is he shouting at complete strangers?

NM's shift ended. A different member of management burst into the kitchen, with his hands buried in his face.

M2: I am so glad that ARSE HOLE has gone!! Oh my God! I have never met such an infuriating man!

Sunday

A member of barstaff's bus dropped her off half an hour before her shift was due to start. She made herself a coffee and headed for the back room.

NM: No, no, no! You can start now!
CW: Huh?
NM: Put the coffee down and start right now!
CW: Are you going to pay me for starting right now?
NM: No-
CW: Then no!

CW shut herself in the back room. She had never met him before either. Apparently NM left a note behind for the manager taking over to look out for the "troublemakers" in the pub.

And that was his first week!

Boss has been off all week, but I think words are going to be had when she returns. I just don't understand how someone could be that rude on their first week!

I have got my first full shift with him tomorrow. I don't normally work Monday nights, but I am covering for someone who is on holiday. Basically, I work in the school all day Monday, and then I am going to have to go straight from the school to the pub, so I am not exactly going to be in the mood for someone being rude to me!

[customersruinmylife]

I mentioned in my previous thread that the new manager hadn't made a good impression on the pub, but I hadn't encountered anything sucky yet. Well, I just did, not even five minutes ago.

A co-worker who works in the kitchen was whining that she was working tonight. She really didn't want to and was meant to be going to a friends birthday party. I would have worked the shift if she had swapped with me, but she just wanted me to do the shift, meaning I would only have one day off this week, and that is NOT including my days at school. So I refused.

About five minutes ago, I get a phone call. It is new manager!

NM: Hi customersruinmylife, I was just wondering if you could come in a couple of hours early tonight.
Me: Early? Wh-
NM: *interupting* Yes, come in at 5 instead of 7. That would be great! See you!
Me: Hang on! I'm not working tonight.
NM: Yes you are.
Me: No I'm not.
NM: I think you are.
Me: Well I'm not.
NM: Are you sure you're not mistaken?
Me: Yes, because I write my hours down in a diary each week, and I don't work Fridays because I have my placement in school all day.
NM: .....
Me: So, I'm not working tonight.
NM: Well...we need someone in tonight because CW has called in sick.

He was talking about the girl that was bitching about wanting the night off.

Me: So you were aware she was meant to be working tonight?
NM: Uhhh...
Me: So you just outright LIED to me to try and trick me into working???
NM: Uhhh.....
Me: You do know I am part time right? I am already working five days this week and you just tried to make me work six??
NM: Well...we still need someone in the kitchen tonight. We have a booking.
Me: Well I'm not working.
NM: You have plans then?
Me: No! I just don't want to! *click*

He has tried ringing back twice. I refuse to pick up. I'm so angry :rant:

[customersruinmylife]

When I do an evening shift, my bus home is due at eight minutes past the hour. If I miss that bus, then I am waiting until after 11pm for the next one, and it's a half hour journey home. This is a major pain if I am on my school placement the next day, so it's pretty important that I get the first bus. The bus stop is right outside the pub, so I have eight minutes to get changed and go for it.

So food has finished, and the clock has struck the hour. I am done. I walk out the kitchen, to the back room, get changed and am heading out. All of a sudden, I hear:

NM: Ah-hem! Customersruinmylife, wait a moment!
Me: What is it?
NM: I have some customers ordering food. If you could go back in the kitchen and make it, that would be great.
Me: But the kitchen's closed! I've turned everything off!
NM: Oh, well, I thought you wouldn't mind...
Me: ...going back in and cooking food while I am not getting paid? I've got to go get my bus.

I started to walk away.

NM: Now, customersruinmylife, let's not be unreasonable.
Me: I have a bus that is due in less than 5 minutes. It will take 15 minutes for me to get everything turned back on again. NO. I have to be up at 6:30 for my placement. I am not waiting around until 11pm for the next bus.
NM: But you're the only person on tonight who knows how to run the kitchen. You can't let the customers down.
Me: If the customers could read, they would know what time we stopped serving food at. They should not be ordering, and you shouldn't let them.
NM: Well I've already told them yes and rang the food through. Here's the ticket.

It wasn't a simple run of the mill order. Four meals with sides, and it would have required me to turn everything back on, and unwrap loads of things.

Me: Nope, not doing it. I'm finished, and I'm going for my bus.
NM: But the customers...
Me: You will just have to go and tell them no.

I walked out. I heard him call after me. I am livid.

[customersruinmylife]

So, as some of you may know I am currently trying my best to become a teacher. Unfortunately, I am not on a course at this moment in time, and will not be back at university until 2011. This is because I did not apply for any courses until I was absolutely certain that I wanted to teach, and by the time I had decided, I had missed the deadline.

So for the past few months, I have been volunteering at the school. Going in two days a week, working with the kids, helping the teachers, just so I can make my CV look good when I do eventually apply. I also absolutely love it, and have never cared that I was not earning money doing this.

So I go into school yesterday, and the head (principle) pulls me into her office. The first thing I think is "Oh God, they're getting rid of me!" because each time I saw her in a corridor she would ask "So how much longer are you going to be with us then?"

So we sit down at her desk, and she asks me what my plans are for the next year. I tell her about how I am not going to be in unversity until the latter half of 2011, so I was basically hoping to carry on what I was doing until then. She leaned over and asked me:

"Would you like a job here?"

I stammered a lot, and just blurted out "Yeah!"

They are going to pay me for, well, basically doing the same thing I have been doing over the past few months! She said that everyone in the department speaks very highly of me, and they believed I should be getting some money for what I'm doing.

I now do three days a week rather than two, and the wage is £3 an hour more than what I earn at the pub! And it is about a million times less stressful! I am staying at the school until the end of the school year (July) and then they will review if I can continue for another year after that, but she says that is just a formality and I should have no problems.

I walked out of the office, and I had tears in my eyes. I was just so happy!

However...I am not earning enough money to quit the pub just yet. But I can certainly cut my hours in half!

[customersruinmylife]

That's right ladies and gentlemen. I have finally had enough. Congratulations management, you have broken me.

This happened about...thirty minutes ago, so it is all pretty fresh and raw.

I am working another horrible kitchen shift. I am on my own, I haven't had my break and food tickets are building up.

Where was the manager? In the office.

Where was the kitchen supervisor? In the office.

They have been in there for the majority of my shift. I asked a member of the floor to go and get one of them to help me. They returned with KS, who looked at the tickets, and simply shrugged them off and returned to the office. I called him back, no luck. No one was going to help me. More and more food was building up, and the orders were starting to get complicated, as we had groups of customers who wanted substitutions and allsorts. Steak meals are coming through, and the grill has stopped operating for some reason. I am on my own and I am busy, and I don't have the time to figure out what is wrong with it or attempt to relight it. I am getting more and more upset. I am in tears.

I thought to myself "Wait til Boss gets back from her holiday and hears about this!"

And then I thought about all the other times I complained. All the other times I reported wrong-doing from the management and staff, how I pleaded for backup with all these things, and how she promised she would get them sorted. And nothing changed. Despite her saying that things like this would stop, they carried on, and I have been putting up with this crap for a year.

I am tired of it all. I am so fed up of busting my balls for minimum wage, only to be told by a smart assed manager that I am not working hard enough. I am fed up being walked all over, being stuck on the same shitty shifts with the same shitty treatment. I am fed up with people who earn 50p more an hour than me treating me like crap. They are not better than me

So that was it. That was all I needed. I dropped whatever I was holding, and walked out the door. I walked straight into the back room and got changed. I got a few bemused looks from other members of staff. I returned, and saw that the bar was full of people with menus. I turned to co-worker.

Me: CW, you might want to let these people know that there is no one to cook their food. I am done, I have had enough, I am not letting them treat me this way anymore.

CW walked right up to me.

CW: And I do not blame you one little bit. Good luck.

And I left.

[customersruinmylife]

I've shed a lot of tears over the past couple of hours. I believe I'm just in shock. I don't regret it at all. The only thing I do think about is that September may be a little bit of a difficult month until my new job pays me.

I just feel so angry about it all. I feel angry at myself for allowing it all to continue so long, and I am angry about the fact that these people are in charge of people's jobs! They are driving the staff to breaking point, I was just the first one to snap. Last week alone I witnessed three co-workers break down and cry over the actions of a manager. How can this be allowed to continue? I wish they were part of a large coporation or something so I could report them and go above their heads, but I can't.

I'm actually surprised it was me that went. I have had a feeling that someone was going to walk out for weeks. The staff are so unhappy, it is service with a scowl not service with a smile.

[customersruinmylife]

Or... hes going to call you 5 minutes after you shift asking where you are.



You were 100% right! I got two voicemails. I refused to pick up my phone because I was around all the kids from school who were getting their exam results, and I didn't think it would be a good idea to answer the phone and let all my rage out in front of them. One voice mail asked where I was. The other said "Customersruinmylife, please call me, I think we need a word"

I never called back. I did think about it, but when I went to dial the number I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The thought of it made me feel ill.

I don't know a lot about what happened aftet I left. I haven't spoken to any of my co-workers that were on shift, but I do know one thing. Apparently, right before I walked out, the kitchen supervisor and the manager were about to ask me to stay later, because the kitchen supervisor wanted to go home early!

If they had made it to that kitchen five minutes earlier, blood would have been spilled.

[customersruinmylife]

I have a little bit of an update. I decided to go into the pub to put in a letter of resignation. That way, I will always be able to say I quit, and that they didn't fire me. I was really stunned about what greeted me when I walked in.

Everyone simply said to me "Hi, how are you?" ect. They all treated me like it was a completely normal day, and I was just walking in to do my shift. Everyone that was there was not on duty when I walked out, including the manager. Not one of them knew what happened, including the manager. He had been off for the past two days, and he had no idea that I had walked out, so me telling him that I would not be back was a bit of a surprise for him!

It really looks as though the manager that was on on Monday night has tried to keep what happened quiet. We don't think he wants Boss finding out why I left. I explained what happened to the manager that was there, and told him that I had quite simply had enough. The job was not worth the money or the stress anymore.

"Well, I could have a word with M, and maybe we can dust this whole thing over, and you can still continue to work here." He said.

I told him that too many false promises and I was tired of the solution to everything being "I will have a word" I didn't want words. I wanted actions, and I told him that I would not be returning to work.

"Fair enough. I understand what you are saying, and I am sad to see you go like this"

I walked out the pub...with a smile on my face.

[customersruinmylife]

Well, I found out what happened after I walked out. The co-worker I spoke to went to the office immediately after I left, and banged the door. She knew I had done the right thing right away, because they were sat with their feet on the desks, and looked offended that they had to get up to speak to her.

CW: Umm...you might want to go into the kitchen. Customersruinmylife has gone.
M: What do you mean gone?
CW: As in, he has had enough and walked out.
M: Haha. Good joke.

He went to close the door. She blocked it.

CW: No! No joke! He has gone! That kitchen is empty and there are about fifteen tables of food waiting to be cooked!

They barged past her and walked into the kitchen. They looked around, thinking I was hiding or something! The co-worker who was working the floor spoke up.

FCW: He's not hiding! He has gone!
M: What the fuck? What about this food?
FCW: Well, I guess the two of you will have to cook it, won't you? It's only fair. Customersruinmylife has done more than his share tonight!

The two of them sulked in the kitchen for most of the evening, trying to get everything cooked while getting it cleaned and closed down. After the kitchen was closed, M returned to the office, and KS went home. At the end of the shift, CW went to have a word with M.

CW: I think it would be best if you tried to get his shift covered for tomorrow.
M: Why? He'll be in.
CW: I don't think he will somehow!
M: Well if he doesn't come in he will be in even more serious trouble!
CW: I don't think he cares about that. You see, those of us who actually spend some time outside of the office actually saw what happened, and he is fucking pissed off. There is no way he'll be in tomorrow, and I don't think anyone, apart from you two, blame him one little bit.
M: He'll be in. You'll see.

I wish I could have seen the look on his face when I didn't show.