The coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have made us appreciate customer service workers more than ever before. Anyone who works retail knows that it’s not always easy dealing with customers (just ask this guy who had a run-in with someone refusing to wear a face mask). Not everyone is polite and understanding. Some people are just plain unreasonable.

There are many customer service employees who have shared their nightmare stories, and if you can relate to the idea of a nightmare customer service story (you might be thinking of a vivid memory right now), you probably know that it can be kind of  therapeutic to hear about other similar experiences.

If you have never worked in a customer facing job, get ready for an eye-opening experience. Here are 15 horror stories from the trenches. Some of them are amusing, and some of them sound pretty dramatic. You might have a bit more compassion for retail workers and people on the other end of that customer service phone call after you read these stories.

1. Too Much Foam

   Worst order I ever took at Starbucks was an angry italian woman lecturing me that her cappuccino had too much foam. Yes ma’am I realize starbucks is not creating an authentic italiano capp, would you like to know how you should order it in the future? No? Slurs? Okay. 🙂

   — Ibraheem | BLM ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 (@97_ibraheem) July 15, 2020

2. Cold Hot Chocolate

   At my cafe once some lady asked for a cold hot chocolate. I said “Alright so like, a chocolate milk?” and she said “No, a COLD hot chocolate.”

   — ACAB (@Caramalameet) July 15, 2020

3. No Cheese

   I once witnessed a woman order a chicken quesadilla without cheese.me: soft chicken taco?her: NO. a chicken quesadilla without cheese.the dude behind the counter was confused.me: si, sin queso.him:…?he gave her a soft chicken taco, she walked out all smug.we roared.

   — Pfunk, the shenanigator (@Gluonsrule) July 15, 2020

4. Green Lemons

   When I used to work at a restaurant I was taking an order for a customer and she said she doesn’t want any “green lemons” with her food. I asked if she was referring to limes then she got mad and corrected me shouting “green lemons!” Before you ask, yes she was lol

   — Camilio 🍉 (@miyosenpai) July 15, 2020

5. Hold the Ham

   I used to work at a Subway and I vividly remember a woman ordering two turkey and ham subs, one without ham. I said “oh, so a turkey sub, what kind of bread-“ and she was. So insistent that she get a turkey and ham without ham. So I charged her extra for a sub with half meat.

   — Noodle/Rin | Commissions Open! (@n00dl3gal) July 15, 2020

6. He REALLY Didn’t Like That Beer

   Once at a bar I worked at we didn’t have a beer a guy wanted so I suggested another. Well thirty seconds later I guess he decided he didn’t like it bc he THREW the entire pint glass over the bar at me. Ahhh how I do not miss serving.

   — Hannah (@Joy_Hannah_89) July 15, 2020

7. It’s Literally in the Name

   I worked at Arby’s for a few years and I wanted to die every time I heard “What kind of cheese comes on the ‘Beef n’ Cheddar’?”I used to think those Critical Thinking exercises in school were dumb… BUT APPARENTLY PEOPLE NEED THEM!

   — Arawn Nox 🔞 (@ArawnNox) July 15, 2020

8. Hamburger or Cheeseburger?

   Just delivered Grubhub to this customer, and now I see why Coronavirus is kicking our ass pic.twitter.com/sPZTNIyteG

   — decent pigeon (@decentbirthday) July 14, 2020

9. Brownie or Nothing

   I once had an old man literally scream at me and demand for a manager bc he asked for a brownie and I tried explaining to him that we literally didn’t have brownies on the menu. I told him that we had chocolate cake but he demanded he get a brownie.

   — Hay 🍃 (@MoodyBoolicious) July 15, 2020

10. “The Usual”

    I like when people ask for their “usual” order but don’t know what that is, cannot explain it, then get annoyed and demand you ask their regular server (whose name they also never know) because “they know what I order.” 🙄

    — Annie Packman (@annie_packman) July 15, 2020

11. No Milk

    I used to be a barista at a specialty coffee shop and this woman asks me “can I get a cappuccino, but with no milk?”I go, “so…just espresso???” And she’s like, “wait what no, just a cappuccino but without milk.”🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃

    — パール 🐚 (@_pearlish) July 15, 2020

12. It’s Supposed to Be Half Foam

    When I used to work at Dunkin’ one of the most annoying things would be when people would order a cappuccino with no foam OR order a cappuccino and complain that there’s too much foam… when a cappuccino is basically half foam lol…

    — Soy Bonita🇯🇲 (@Zombie_Repelent) July 16, 2020

13. You Can Get More for Less

    Just yesterday, guy came in the drive thru, ordered 4 hot dogs, and I told him that bc of a deal we’re currently doing, it’s cheaper to get 5, not to mention more for less. But noooo he wants to have an attitude about it, like damn sorry just tryna help😭😭

    — RiRi (@Rita_mri) July 15, 2020

14. Crispy Noodles

    I work at this Asian restaurant and this lady ordered our CRISPY noodle bowl for take out. She called back about 30 mins later yelling at me saying “I ORDERED YOUR CRISPY NOODLES AND THIS IS DISGUSTING THE NOODLES ARE HARD AND CRISPY I CANT EAT THIS” what tf u expect?

    — Scotty Lavoie (@ScootsMckenzie0) July 15, 2020

15. The Chef Banned Ketchup

    People are so weird w/ food. One time I worked with a chef who didn’t allow ketchup in the place. It was a SPORTS BAR. Lol the entire bar staff half to hide ketchup bottles around the bar. The chef found it one day, went out the door and threw the ketchup across the street. Crazy

    — Jen (@jmany03) July 16, 2020