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Ok, before I even start this, honky is listed in the sticky regarded sucky customers, it's not a racial slur, just the most fitting descriptor I could think of for these people. Here's one of my worst (and no, I didn't end up being entirely professional, but neither did they deserve it):
One night, I'm working at Arby's. I'm still crew, at this point. So it's me, an extremely non-confrontational so-so coworker, and one of the managers I've trained. It's about 5 hours into a long, boring night. If it weren't for the danger of the slicer blade, I could do this crap in my sleep, at this point. I'm making food, CW's on drivethru, lobby's closed, and manager is god knows where (generally took at least 5 hours to do nightly inventory, so that's my guess). This customer pulls around the building and up to the speaker, kinda weaving as he does (I hate drunk drivers with a passion, lost too much of my family to them), and lays on the horn as soon as CW finishes her greeting. I don't know if you've ever worn a headset while someone honks into the speaker, but lemme tell you it hurts like hell. Anyway, CW is flustered, takes the order, and asks me to take their money (she's obviously on the verge of tears). Sure, I'll deal with asshat (who happens to be ordering from the back seat), they're a dime a dozen. Riiiight. Went a little like this (adrenaline kicked in, so some of it's a little hazy).
Me: Bipolar and cranky (and when my irish blood gets to boiling, only a good old fashion beating or a nice long toke [can't do that one anymore
] will cool it down again)
OBG: Obnoxious Black Guy (not that I give a damn about race, half my family's black; just adds a little to the setting, I guess)
CM: Clueless Manager (Sweet guy, just... well, clueless)
*car pulls up, windows up*
Me *lean out and hold drink out to raised window*
OBG *eventually rolls down window and takes drink, otherwise ignoring me*
Me: $8.41
OBG *ignores me for about 3 minutes, then hands me the money*
Me *count out change, wait for OBG to acknowledge me, then count it back to him. Shut my window and fume*
Me *holding bag of food out to OBG*: Here.
OBG *ignores me for at least 3 more minutes, shows no sign of turning soon*
Me *lean out DT window, drop bag on the seat next to OBG, shut window, and head off to do damage control w/ CW (she's still fighting off tears)
>The Fun Part<
OBG *starts banging on DT window*
Me *open window*: What?
OBG *screaming, leaning in DT window*: I don't appreciate you throwing my food at me, you (can't remember exactly, insert generic "skinny white boy" slur, w/ cursing)
Me *probably red to the whites of my eyes by this point*: Yeah? I don't appreciate you honking your horn into my speaker much, either.
OBG: That does it you (see above)! I want a refund!
Me: What?
OBG: REFUND! R-E-F-U-N-D!
Me *doing my best deadpan*: Congratulations, you can spell. I'm impressed.
OBG: YOU GIMME MY DAMN MONEY BACK RIGHT NOW
Me *sigh, realize I've probably pushed it a little far, SC or no*: Whatever, I can't do refunds, lemme get the manager. *attempt to shut window, picking up the sawed-off mop handle we use to lock it at night (can't leave my till unattended)*
OBG *reaches hand in to hold window open*: What do you think you're gonna do with that, (once again, generic cursing) I'll beat your ass, you (" ").
Me *definitely bright red from the neck up, vision literally going crimson, and about to lose it completely*: Shutting the window so I can get my damn manager, that's what.
OBG *still holding window open*: F* that, you leave this window open!
Me: Not gonna happen, jackass, somehow I don't trust you.
(about this time, the manager realizes something's wrong, and comes up)
CM: What's going on, here?
OBG: This stupid F'ing (generic slur) threw my food at me, and I want my money back!
Me *explain as best I can when all I wanna do is reach out and kill this guy*
CM: Alright, hold on, we'll get you your money back (GHAAAA!!!)
OBG *leans in and pokes his finger at me*: I'll be waiting for you when you get off.
Me *smiling for maybe the first time tonight*: Don't bother waiting, I'll be off work at 2:30
CM: Maybe you should go ahead and head to the back while I refund this guy.
So I go and try to cool down... not happening, but w/e. CW asks if she should call the cops, and I ask her not to. I want to vent my frustration, damnit (besides, if I'm off the clock, I won't get fired for it). CM comes back and gets a slightly more complete story from me before launching into the "You should still have handled that better" speech, and we go about our night. By the end of the night, I have a headache from the unused adrenaline, but the extra energy got us out early, so I bloody well waited for the bastard for at least 15 minutes after I told him to be there. Of course, it's probably better that he never showed... I've been known to black out if I get pissed enough, and not know when to stop... Walk home (no car at that time), smoke a LOT, and try to let it go.
Surprisingly, this was the last I really heard of it. We had a really laid back (if largely ineffectual) Store Manager at the time, and he basically gave me a slap on the wrist (didn't even write me up). I know I could, and should, have kept my cool, but that's the only guy I ever really lost it on... well, the only customer at least
. CW was worried for weeks that they'd be waiting for me after work one night... never happened though.
One night, I'm working at Arby's. I'm still crew, at this point. So it's me, an extremely non-confrontational so-so coworker, and one of the managers I've trained. It's about 5 hours into a long, boring night. If it weren't for the danger of the slicer blade, I could do this crap in my sleep, at this point. I'm making food, CW's on drivethru, lobby's closed, and manager is god knows where (generally took at least 5 hours to do nightly inventory, so that's my guess). This customer pulls around the building and up to the speaker, kinda weaving as he does (I hate drunk drivers with a passion, lost too much of my family to them), and lays on the horn as soon as CW finishes her greeting. I don't know if you've ever worn a headset while someone honks into the speaker, but lemme tell you it hurts like hell. Anyway, CW is flustered, takes the order, and asks me to take their money (she's obviously on the verge of tears). Sure, I'll deal with asshat (who happens to be ordering from the back seat), they're a dime a dozen. Riiiight. Went a little like this (adrenaline kicked in, so some of it's a little hazy).
Me: Bipolar and cranky (and when my irish blood gets to boiling, only a good old fashion beating or a nice long toke [can't do that one anymore
] will cool it down again)OBG: Obnoxious Black Guy (not that I give a damn about race, half my family's black; just adds a little to the setting, I guess)
CM: Clueless Manager (Sweet guy, just... well, clueless)
*car pulls up, windows up*
Me *lean out and hold drink out to raised window*
OBG *eventually rolls down window and takes drink, otherwise ignoring me*
Me: $8.41
OBG *ignores me for about 3 minutes, then hands me the money*
Me *count out change, wait for OBG to acknowledge me, then count it back to him. Shut my window and fume*
Me *holding bag of food out to OBG*: Here.
OBG *ignores me for at least 3 more minutes, shows no sign of turning soon*
Me *lean out DT window, drop bag on the seat next to OBG, shut window, and head off to do damage control w/ CW (she's still fighting off tears)
>The Fun Part<
OBG *starts banging on DT window*
Me *open window*: What?
OBG *screaming, leaning in DT window*: I don't appreciate you throwing my food at me, you (can't remember exactly, insert generic "skinny white boy" slur, w/ cursing)
Me *probably red to the whites of my eyes by this point*: Yeah? I don't appreciate you honking your horn into my speaker much, either.
OBG: That does it you (see above)! I want a refund!
Me: What?
OBG: REFUND! R-E-F-U-N-D!
Me *doing my best deadpan*: Congratulations, you can spell. I'm impressed.
OBG: YOU GIMME MY DAMN MONEY BACK RIGHT NOW
Me *sigh, realize I've probably pushed it a little far, SC or no*: Whatever, I can't do refunds, lemme get the manager. *attempt to shut window, picking up the sawed-off mop handle we use to lock it at night (can't leave my till unattended)*
OBG *reaches hand in to hold window open*: What do you think you're gonna do with that, (once again, generic cursing) I'll beat your ass, you (" ").
Me *definitely bright red from the neck up, vision literally going crimson, and about to lose it completely*: Shutting the window so I can get my damn manager, that's what.
OBG *still holding window open*: F* that, you leave this window open!
Me: Not gonna happen, jackass, somehow I don't trust you.
(about this time, the manager realizes something's wrong, and comes up)
CM: What's going on, here?
OBG: This stupid F'ing (generic slur) threw my food at me, and I want my money back!
Me *explain as best I can when all I wanna do is reach out and kill this guy*
CM: Alright, hold on, we'll get you your money back (GHAAAA!!!)
OBG *leans in and pokes his finger at me*: I'll be waiting for you when you get off.
Me *smiling for maybe the first time tonight*: Don't bother waiting, I'll be off work at 2:30
CM: Maybe you should go ahead and head to the back while I refund this guy.
So I go and try to cool down... not happening, but w/e. CW asks if she should call the cops, and I ask her not to. I want to vent my frustration, damnit (besides, if I'm off the clock, I won't get fired for it). CM comes back and gets a slightly more complete story from me before launching into the "You should still have handled that better" speech, and we go about our night. By the end of the night, I have a headache from the unused adrenaline, but the extra energy got us out early, so I bloody well waited for the bastard for at least 15 minutes after I told him to be there. Of course, it's probably better that he never showed... I've been known to black out if I get pissed enough, and not know when to stop... Walk home (no car at that time), smoke a LOT, and try to let it go.
Surprisingly, this was the last I really heard of it. We had a really laid back (if largely ineffectual) Store Manager at the time, and he basically gave me a slap on the wrist (didn't even write me up). I know I could, and should, have kept my cool, but that's the only guy I ever really lost it on... well, the only customer at least
. CW was worried for weeks that they'd be waiting for me after work one night... never happened though.