Do you think throwing a fit is justifiable? [in this situation]

[youshinesobright18]

So, I work at a fast food place. I'm in high school and going to college in the fall, so don't judge. Anyway, today we were rather busy for a Monday. This guy came into the restaurant, threw his food onto the counter and exploded. He went off an a rant about how he had to drive all around the town and then drive back because we got his food wrong. He asked if this was how we made our money. He stomped off. He yelled. Fast food isn't easy.

We have to make over 10 different sandwiches all with variations according to the customers as well as try to get it done as quickly as possible. Our main focus is obviously the drive-thru. So we have a screen full of orders, trying to get drive-thru out but also get the counter orders out in a timely fashion.

So sometimes an order gets mixed up, sometimes we put 4 pickles instead of the 3 you requested, or we forgot to not put on the tomatoes. Is it really that big of a deal? Is it that much of a hassle to just pick the tomatoes off? To deal with one extra pickle?

I just think this kind of behavior is absurd. Yes we are fast food, yes you expect the orders to be handled perfectly, but that doesn't always happen.

So I'm asking, would you have freaked out like this guy? Do you think we are a respected company so we should be expected to get every order right? Or do you feel like this isn't a big deal?

I guess I was just a little appalled and I'm curious what you all think. I welcome all opinions. :]

[AJtogo]

The customer is always right. The company offers individual orders and should get them right every time so there will be repeat business. It is a big deal to the company and therefore should be a big deal to its employees.

That being said, there are a lot of ignorant people out there who can blow things way out of proportion. This guy was probably inconvenienced and very ticked at having to return but blowing up at the counter staff, or even the manager, accomplishes nothing. The only thing he will get is a corrected order and maybe some service recovery.

My daughter worked in the service industry (not fast food) and hated dealing with the majority of customers that came into the store. Her complaints had more to do with people who wanted special treatment and would rant and rave if they didn't get it, so I have some understanding of what you're feeling. The key is to not take it personally.

[answerguy]

Most rational, civil people don't carry themselves this way in public fare. However, on the same note, if you do anything for a career where you work with people, you'll learn that there are unappreciative jerks everywhere you go in life. My best advice is to not take it personally. We all make mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Omg I feel you. I work in fast food too and sometimes you get these crazy immature irrational people who like to act a fool. I think there is a right and a wrong way to go about things. Yes the customers pay for it so they deserve to get what they paid for. That doesn't mean they can come in acting an ass because that's not right either. As long as they are respectful about it I don't mind

[stevo]

Hell no. It's irritating, but that doesn't give him the excuse to act like a child just because a mistake was made.

[brohoe223]

absolutely not your not 2 or 3 grow up