Customer Service Employees Share 30 Encounters With Clients That Left Them Speechless

To begin with, while we can see from the stories that working in customer service requires quite a lot of patience not to lose your cool while dealing with difficult people, there are also quite a few rewarding aspects.

Bored Panda contacted Marlon Joseph, the creator of The Modern Waiter Podcast, who kindly agreed to share his insights. So coming back to the great aspects of this industry, Joseph shared that most waiters would say that they enjoy it because they love helping people or make good money with a flexible schedule.

“Working as a waiter requires you to influence people, solve problems and manage emotions,” he emphasized. “All of which is three fold. You do it with management, co-workers and guests alike.”

So Joseph noted that the reward does come from who you become in the process of learning how to orchestrate all of that.

Now, speaking about the biggest misconceptions that people have about this industry - “Customer service people battle the stigma that we do the work that is so simple, anyone can do it.”

Joseph added that to some extent, anyone is capable of doing it; whether or not they can do it well is why good service is appreciated. “We do it because we enjoy walking the tightrope. It is a physical job that can be very fun and not because we have no skills and no other options.”

Finally, it’s clear that some customers make the job in customer service more difficult, so we asked Joseph to share a few tips on how we can make it easier.  “Any guests looking for good service, my best advice is to ask and allow,” he said. “Ask for what you want. Ask if it is possible. Allow the waiter to assist you the best that they can.”

He emphasized that some guests tend to get in by demanding and directing how things should go. “There is often a solution that works for the guest and the company. Allow them to fix it.”

Additionally, customer service workers can also do well by being their guests' best advocate. “Put yourself in their shoes and you will find patience and professionalism. Pretend you are taking care of a version of yourself.”

And speaking on how can workers maintain professionalism when faced with rude or difficult customers - “I am sure there are going to be some situations that go off track. That is what managers are there for. Let them handle it.”

So guys - don’t forget to follow The Modern Waiter Podcast on Instagram! Also, listen to their podcast where you can find interviews and discussions from two friends with over 45 years of combined restaurant server experience about food, work, and fun! It is available on iTunes, iHeart Radio, Spotify and on your favorite ways of listening to podcasts!

And what about you - have you worked in customer service? Do you have any stories about the most memorable customer interaction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!