Rude regular at a bar

[rivvy]

I just got a job at a small dive bar. I was warned while training that this one lady was a bit difficult. She's been in twice now. The first time she asked me if my lip piercing was because I was African, and when I said no she said I should take it out. It's a small piercing, and I am clearly american. Then she said "you think it looks cute, but it doesn't". A few minutes later she was asking if the hood system was working because she could smell the food in the bar. It's a small bar, the food is no more than 10 feet away from her through an open door, and who doesn't like to smell food? Today I gave her her total and she told me it was wrong that the total is always 3.75. That's her total without tax. I explained there is tax and she insisted she's never paid tax before. I don't hit a add tax button, the register automatically does it. If don't charge her tax, for one it's illegal, but for another my register would be short later. About 15 minutes later she was asking me what I make at my other job, and how much money my husband makes. "we make a decent living" was not good enough for her, she needed an exact figure! I am not looking forward to the next time she comes in.

[emax4]

Next time she asks you, tell her that personal questions from customers toward staff are frowned upon there and are inappropriate customer behavior. If she persists, have someone else wait on her or take your time if you have no choice but to serve her. Seems the vibe is that all the regular staff know she's a bitch.

[sirwired]

Why doesn't mgmt. lower the banhammer? A customer that regularly aggravates staff isn't worth a piddly little $3.75 sale.

[thehuckster]

What a loony. Are these things she does and say before she drinks or after?

[skeptic53]

Agree with the "lower the banhammer" idea. Most bars have a sign posted that says "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone". She can't be providing enough profit to justify the aggravation...

[AngloSaxonViking]

How to deflect personal questions

There's a great way to make personal questions bounce back at the nosy parker; reply "Why do you want to know that?", then stare straight at the person in silence. Repeat if necessary.

[Andara Bledin]

On the staring; don't stare into their eyes. Stare at the middle of their forehead. Guaranteed to make most people rather nervous.

^-.-^

[EricKei]

Sec..er, thirded or whatever on the banhammer idea. Even if management doesn't want to because "she hasn't done anything THAT bad", it's often said that the bottom 10% of customers cause 90% of your problems/expenses...

Also, to ! We've and wine and cookies and bacon aplenty, help yourself -- Plus some brain bleach for those times when a SC becomes more , rather than just annoying.

[Merriweather]

There's a great way to make personal questions bounce back at the nosy parker; reply "Why do you want to know that?", then stare straight at the person in silence. Repeat if necessary.

That's always been my way of dealing with personal questions - a wide-eyed totally innocent confused look, with "why on earth would you want to know that?", usually with a bit of my somewhat lost southern accent thrown in. works wonders.

[Food Lady]

^ I love it. It's so rude to ask a person's salary!

[pzychobitch]

^ I love it. It's so rude to ask a person's salary!

I usually say "barely enough to afford the alcohol i have to drink from dealing with assholes like you all day long"

[Jester]

I love her comment about your piercing. "You think it looks cute, but it doesn't."

Next time she starts telling you what to do, questioning you, or acting like the asshog that she is, just turn those words around on her. "You think you're comments, are cute, but they aren't." Or...."You think you're acting smart, but you're not." Etc., etc.

Or you can go a route that's a bit more direct. "Darling, just remember, I'm the one controlling your alcohol." From experience, I can tell you that that tends to shut them up.


Bartenders are gods. Do not anger the gods.

[Ironclad Alibi]

About 15 minutes later she was asking me what I make at my other job, and how much money my husband makes. "we make a decent living" was not good enough for her, she needed an exact figure!

So give her an exact figure. It doesn't have to be the correct figure. Be creative and have some fun with. Cite a figure in pounds, euros, yen or galleons. And be sure to change it every time she asks about it.

[dalesys]

So give her an exact figure.

Firkins fer furlong.

[PepperElf]

"we make a decent living" was not good enough for her, she needed an exact figure! I am not looking forward to the next time she comes in.

you have every right to tell her "that's personal" and refuse to answer. really it's none of her fucking business, even if she wants to try making it so


and... is it bad that I originally read this as "nude regular at a bar"?