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My first post...and a couple of SC tales...

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  • My first post...and a couple of SC tales...

    SC tale #1:

    Here in the U.S., I worked at a fast food restaurant as a teenager. Sunday through Thursday, we would "close" at 11 PM. Fridays and Saturdays, we would close at midnight. The restaurant also had a gas station that also closed at those times, unless you paid with a credit card (because the pumps had to be authorized manually).

    Well, when we closed, we would turn off the building's exterior lights and lock the front door.

    I can't tell you how many times we would either be mopping the floor in the front dining room, or cleaning up in the back, and either hear someone banging on the front door, or someone pull up to the drive thru...

    The exterior lights are off, OK dummy? That means we're closed! Don't pull up to the drive through and shout "HELLO!!" We're busy trying to clean, so we can go home! Want 24 hours? Go to the other place down the street that's actually open 24 hours a day!

    SC story #2:

    Lady walks up to the front counter one day, where I am working. She puts down her purse, looks me straight in the face and says, "I'm here to place an order."

    No, I thought you were here for some other reason!

    SC story #3:

    Thuggy looking unintelligent teen comes in while I am Manager on Duty. Asks for a cup for some water. I give him one of our "standard" water cups. What does he do? He puts lemonade in it.

    I notice, and walk out while he's standing there (like an idiot) drinking his FREE lemonade. I say to him something like, "That's some interesting-looking water. Pour it out, and get out of my store."

    SC Story #4:

    Any idiot who comes in and thinks they can get me to "hook them up" with free food. Especially when you know they've treated you like crap in the past.

    That's just 4 off the top of my head. I'm sure I'll come up with more...

    I'm just glad I don't work in that industry any more. Although I will say that working in that industry does give you a WAY different perspective when you get out.
    Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.

  • #2
    Quoth mjr View Post
    I'm just glad I don't work in that industry any more. Although I will say that working in that industry does give you a WAY different perspective when you get out.
    I can attest to this. When I was a teenager I worked at a casual dining restaurant starting out as a dishwasher, busboy then moved my way through the kitchen up to egg grill cook (the one who calls out the orders for the rest of the galley). Anyways, I saw just about everything. That experience is one of the main reasons why I tend to not complain about and send back any food I get served. If it's just wrong I will send it back and hope for the best. I saw firsthand what other cooks would do when people sent food back after the wait staff complained about the order. I NEVER messed with people's food because it's not in my nature. If it was wrong I just fixed it.

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    • #3
      Quoth Willis View Post
      I can attest to this. When I was a teenager I worked at a casual dining restaurant starting out as a dishwasher, busboy then moved my way through the kitchen up to egg grill cook (the one who calls out the orders for the rest of the galley). Anyways, I saw just about everything. That experience is one of the main reasons why I tend to not complain about and send back any food I get served. If it's just wrong I will send it back and hope for the best. I saw firsthand what other cooks would do when people sent food back after the wait staff complained about the order. I NEVER messed with people's food because it's not in my nature. If it was wrong I just fixed it.
      It really kind of opens your eyes to how people in the foodservice industry are treated, too. Since my experience working in foodservice, I go out of my way to be polite to them, and to make their jobs as pleasant and easy when dealing with me as possible.
      Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.

      Comment


      • #4
        Quoth mjr View Post
        It really kind of opens your eyes to how people in the foodservice industry are treated, too. Since my experience working in foodservice, I go out of my way to be polite to them, and to make their jobs as pleasant and easy when dealing with me as possible.
        Yea it does. I have some stories, but I don't want to jack your thread.

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        • #5
          I still do it occasionally, at my store, and sometimes a side job. My customers are generally very nice at the store, and yet I have such a hard time being nice because I'm stressed, trying to take orders (and then wash my hands every. single. time), cook orders, do food prep, and clean up my coworkers' messes (which aren't always their fault; they are just to busy to keep up). At least fast food workers have anyone beside them helping out.
          "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

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          • #6
            Quoth Food Lady View Post
            At least fast food workers have anyone beside them helping out.
            Not always.

            One morning, I get in to the store to open. Now, this is a major fast food chain.

            So I'm there at 5:30 in the morning to open. And the store opens at 6.

            So I get there, and I start counting the money for the tills, etc., and I notice that the person/people who are supposed to be working in the kitchen have not arrived.

            So I go back and start prepping the back for when they get there, thinking they will be there by 6 AM. Well, 6 AM rolls around and it's time to open. So I open the store. With nobody else there but me.

            So I had to run the front cash register, the drive thru, and prepare all of the food...for about 2 hours straight.

            I would take an order, go wash my hands, make the food, take the persons money, and repeat.

            Fortunately, I think that was one of the slower days.

            IT was like that until about 8:30 or so, until the mid-shift manager came in. She looks at me and says, "Where is everyone?" so I told her I was the only one that came in. She then asks, "Why didn't you call me?"

            "Um, I didn't really have the opportunity..."
            Skilled programmers aren't cheap. Cheap programmers aren't skilled.

            Comment


            • #7
              Lady walks up to the front counter one day, where I am working. She puts down her purse, looks me straight in the face and says, "I'm here to place an order."
              Well to be honest, I'd rather see them actually open their mouths and use their words. I see a lot of PFB letters where the customers just stand there and stare and then get pissy that no one takes their orders.

              Story 3: bleh. I hate thieves. Did he act "offended" that you called him out on it? (I know a lot of assholes like that try to act like you're the one in the wrong for catching them stealing etc)

              story 4: yeah right. as if you're suppose to put your job on the line and steal from the company to make them happy? Fuck that they're not customers. ... cos customers BUY stuff.

              Comment


              • #8
                Welcome to CS!

                My parents actually met because of the food industry, my mom being a waitress and my dad a manager at the same restaurant. I grew up hearing their SC stories and have a certain respect for those who work/ have worked in those types of places; simply because I know I couldn't. Hell, I even found a piece of a bowl (as in a chip of porcelain) and nearly swallowed it. And I still didn't raise a stink! THAT'S how bad some of the stories were that my parents told me. Just a simple word to management is all it takes.

                As for your stories; #3 made me laugh pretty hard seeing as I know a few kids who would try to pull that. I think they might be a little smarter about it though and fill it up at a different place... Let's hope not...

                #4... Good christ... Did they get offended when you wouldn't? (That would be a common basis the many stories my dad would tell me as a little kid)

                Anyway, I hope to hear more stories from you. Welcome aboard!
                Some people just need a high five...

                In the face with the back of a chair....

                Comment


                • #9
                  I think everyone should have to work at least six months as a low-ranking foodservice employee, and six more in a similar Retail job, before being allowed to go out and get a quote-unquote "real job" ~_~ Most of us here have done both, just replace "months" with "years"...

                  While I have found that most people who treat wageslave workers like robots/take advantage of them have never been there themselves, I reserve a dark place in my heart for people who HAVE worked these jobs, and are still jerks to current workers anyway.
                  "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                  "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                  "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                  "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                  "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                  "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                  Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                  "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Welcome! J2K should be along shortly to give you the usual welcome, I'm sure. Meanwhile, back to your post.

                    1) Customer Standard Time at it's finest. Isn't it great?
                    2) Reminds me of when I worked at the C-Store that made pizza, and people would call the pizza phone saying they wanted to order a pizza. I always wanted to tell them we weren't making pizza that night, or something equally smartassed.
                    3) Nice try, thief. Out the door with you. I agree with PepperElf in wanting to know if he got offended though!
                    4) Sure...Because I'm willing to risk my job to do something completely illegal for you. No. I hate people like that!

                    Please, feel free to post as much as you like! Looking forward to it!
                    "And though she be but little, she is FIERCE!"--Shakespeare

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Quoth BrenDAnn View Post
                      Welcome! J2K should be along shortly to give you the usual welcome, I'm sure.
                      That's me!

                      Welcome to CS.com! Talk to Jester for booze, talk to dalesys if you need a dirty joke to fit any situation, tie down RetailWorkhorse if you want any bacon before he eats it all, and talk to Gravekeeper if you need pants.

                      Which, of course, brings me to my next point--

                      Surrender your pants.
                      PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                      There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

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