customer service

Retail workers have undoubtedly been one of the most under-appreciated class of workers since the dawn of mass consumerism. Being polite and helpful to rude customers all day for a wage that barely covers living expenses is soul-sucking enough when there isn't a series of commercial holidays intersecting with a global pandemic. Since the dreaded Black Friday is upon us, we thought we'd share a handful of retail horror stories from the subreddit r/TalesFromRetail for all the brave wage warriors out there. You're not alone and we feel for you.

There are very few jobs as thankless as that of a retail worker. Having to juggle your regular responsibilities and entitled people should be an Olympic sport. This Twitter thread from last week is proof that everyone needs to work retail at some point so we can avoid the horror stories these poor people had to endure.

If you've ever worked in a customer service position, then you've guaranteed encountered your fair share of Karens and other horrible, entitled customers who make your job a lot harder than it needs to be. We're not going to stereotype generations here, but as proven by the memes you're about to see it's the Baby Boomers who are always the worst. Sorry, not sorry.

It doesn't take a genius to know that working retail during the holidays is an absolute shitshow. But Twitter user @dylan_thyme took to the site to share how insane it is to work in a fancy grocery store in particular. From shows of extreme entitlement, to people who are apparently willing to throw away money, it's a thread filled with trashy atrocities - and of course, the token Karens. Let's all resolve to be extra nice to grocery store workers this year. They deserve it. 

We love anyone willing to troll, roast, or deceive people on the internet - as long as they steer clear of bullying. This kind of mischief is pretty much all we have in the prank zone now that so many people are cooped up inside. One of the best trolls of all time, that fake Customer Service account, was actually run by two Georgia comedians. They'd troll some pretty obnoxious people by changing their account's profile photo to whatever business the poor sucker was trying to tear apart. We've put together some of their greatest hits, but damn do we wish these dudes were around for the age of Karen.

Dining outside, in many parts of the United States, is a happy seasonal treat. A chance to take in the sunlight while enjoying a relaxing drink or some good food. But as many cities are reopening following coronavirus lockdowns (some only allowing outdoor dining) Twitter user @fresshel (Helen) felt the need to remind people of how insufferable and entitled patio diners can be. Her June 19th tweet reads:

" Anyone who has worked at a restaurant with outdoor seating already knew tht patio people do not care if u live or die"

While this may sound like an unfair generalization of people who prefer to dine al fresco, it seems that many people who have worked in restaurant and bar service agree with Helen's sentiment. In the tweet's replies, people are sharing horror stories of "patio people" and revealing that a surprising number of sadistic people actually dine in the rain - forcing their servers to get soaked or be escorted with an umbrella. Next time you decide to sit on the patio, remember these people and avoid this entitled behavior. And remember to tip your server.

Anyone who works in or who has worked in the customer service industry will know the horrors of...The Karen. Doesn't matter if you're a waiter, bartender, call center rep, or you work at an Urban Outfitters - Karens are everywhere and they don't discriminate when it comes to speaking to the manager. 

Now scroll through some memes that might give you PTSD and click here for even more!

If you think your job sucks, then just take a gander through the following posts written by an amused and frustrated butcher who has, let's just say, seen it all when it comes to terrible customers. The stupidity here is truly amazing, people.

Be sure to check out the Butcher Stories official Facebook page for even more woeful tales of staggering stupidity!

Customer service workers will know EXACTLY what these irritating tweets are all about. You'll feel them deep in your soul. Luckily, most customers tend to be very nice and understanding, but when you get that one entitled a-hole, it can just really ruin your day. These tweets will make you positively rage at the amount of stupidity and entitlement!

As hysterical citizens flock to Targets, Walmarts, and local businesses to hoard toilet paper and hand sanitizer, some seem to forget that the people stocking shelves and managing stores are humans, too. Frustrated grocery store manager @dadopotamus took to Twitter to share his feelings about many COVID-19 fear shoppers: 

"I manage a grocery store.  I gotta say.  You're all giant scumbags."

While the tweet may seem negative, other retail workers joined in to share their experiences, and those of loved ones who are crumbling from the stress of trying to help people get the supplies they need. While of course there are polite people taking only what they need during this crisis, according to this thread there are far more people crying injustice and treating workers like crap. We've included many of the anecdotes in this gallery, but for more disappointment (and some seriously defensive tweets) check out the thread here.

It doesn't really look like the Karen memes are going to slow down any time soon, but that's totally okay with us. The "Karens" of the world need to learn their place, and we just hope that the memes will get through to them. 

Check out even more Karen memes over at eBaum's World!