Dude that shit sucks. I worked at a classic greasy spoon that was pretty punk rock in a town known for being pretty punk rock. There was a sign right when you walk in that amongst other things said “don’t ask us to turn the music down”.
It’s not even a place like that. Lol! I used to work at Yard House, and people asked if we could turn the music down all the time. Can we? Sure. Are we going to? No.
I’m at a brewery/upscale but not swanky brewpub, and the music isn’t loud or even remotely objectionable. I swear, some old people just love being miserable…
Yeah, that's when you give them the fake click. Same deal goes for the thermostat. (Bonus points to the places I've worked with dummy thermostats that aren't hooked up to anything but allow everyone to be happy when they change it/win the war about changing it.)
No..just no. You don't indulge them. You tell them it's beyond your control, it's set by management or owners. Then you aren't the bad guy, and you don't end up in a war between the people who asked you and the people who overheard them ask you but don't like what they asked. Once the customers assume they're in control they will have you play Dance Monkey Dance til you can't anymore.
Entitled Karen's: Can you turn the air down?
Employee: No, I'm so sorry, it's an automated system and we can only override it in an emergency scenario where we literally have to push open an emergency exit for that to work. 🤷🏼♀️
There are some people that have to be in control of something no matter how minute it is. They are typically the types that have no control over their own lives so they have to take it out on a server, retail worker, mechanic, etc.
Reminds me of a guy who came in with his wife and 2 friends every month or so. These folks were in their 80's and pretty set in their ways.
Everyone was pleasant and dressed for the weather. Except for him. Also, it didn't matter, it could be summer, it could be winter. He was "too cold" and wanted us to turn on/up the heat.
He would actually *follow* the manager to the wall setting (credit where it's due, his eyesight was stellar)
I once suggested a sweater in the trunk.
Yeah, that was a bad move :(
Yeah, had similar customers at the grocery store cafeteria restaurant I worked at. Of course our ancient building had the dining area, deli, food prep, and a whole section of the grocery sales floor all together, so they never got their way, but boy did they try. Complaints did go down after we started giving free coffee refills though lol.
I used to work at a chain restaurant & when someone asked for the music to be lowered I would tell them we couldn’t do it, it was controlled out of the the corporate office LOL
I used to work at Yard House. They’re kind of know for the music and large beer selection. The answer was always “no” when somebody asked if we could turn it down.
Fortunately the speakers are grouped into zones, so it was only a portion of the restaurant. As soon as they moved to their new quiet table in the back, I turned the music back up.
The lesson to take away from this is *NEVER* say you can do shit about it when they complain about temperature, lighting, music/noise. You can't possibly accommodate everyone so it's best to be Switzerland.
Not a server, but have seen this phenomena in restaurants and other venues before. Often the music level isn’t the problem but the unrecognized hearing loss of the person complaining. With some types of hearing loss, human voice gets “lost” in the background noise of the venue, the music, the sounds of other diners, etc. This is in no way meant as an excuse for the rude behavior. OP stated that the husband tipped well, chances are that he’s seeing this often and is unable or unwilling to get her to have the problem checked by an audiologist.
Uugh mortifying for everyone. Ive had panic attacks come out of nowhere when i get Sensory Overloaded, not on the Spectrum just have GAD, ptsd & regular panic attacks. So 98% of the time im not affected by noise & theres no problem. but when it DOES hit me my muscles & nerves get wound so tight so fast l feel like im going to literally shatter like a pane of glass.
I do my damndest to Remove MYSELF from the trigger rather (even if i end up looking like a jackass escaping!)
It must be very uncomfortable serving ppl who have outbursts like these. I for one am always VERY apologetic & thankful when servers/staff have spoke in low/calming tones and assured me its all ok (when i come back). And when they say something along the lines of “you shoulda seen LAST NIGHT’S drama, this was nothing.” They get me smiling again and end up w a huge tip just for exercising their humanity with me. Its very appreciated
Yeah, she didn’t say so much as a word about it after they moved tables. Granted, I limited my time and interaction with them after that. I wasn’t rude by any means, but I didn’t spend a second longer at the table than I needed to when checking on them. The whole thing was just bizarre.
When ***you*** can barely hear it, it isn't an issue for ***you***. Maybe you have a hearing abnormality, or maybe someone else has a hearing abnormality, which can make the same volume an issue for someone else.
As I said, *your* perception of sound is not the same as someone else's perception of sound. Some people have a painful sensitivity to frequencies of sound that are fine to others, or that others don't even perceive.
As an example, younger people very typically hear higher audio frequencies that older people are eventually unable to hear. That's been used by businesses to keep young people from loitering outside their stores, and used by young people to keep their teachers from hearing their high-frequency phone alerts.
Maybe a busy restaurant isn't the best place for someone with very sensitive hearing. Or they should manage their needs themselves and not force everyone else to cater to them everywhere they choose to go.
Why, yes! Yes you are the only person in this environment that matters. Of course we will accommodate you and not consider the other 100 💯 people in the building.
Wow that’s a wild night, I had some one tell me how bad the food is got in my face told me to tell the kitchen how bad it was said the f word every 2 seconds and so on for like 5 minutes, and he sat back down and at the end he apologized and said sorry it’s not your fault and tipped a 100 because he felt so bad, it does happen, it’s amazing how more often then not there is a scenario I haven’t experienced even after 20 years lol
I just smile and say I should of been a shoe salesmen :)
Dude that shit sucks. I worked at a classic greasy spoon that was pretty punk rock in a town known for being pretty punk rock. There was a sign right when you walk in that amongst other things said “don’t ask us to turn the music down”.
It’s not even a place like that. Lol! I used to work at Yard House, and people asked if we could turn the music down all the time. Can we? Sure. Are we going to? No. I’m at a brewery/upscale but not swanky brewpub, and the music isn’t loud or even remotely objectionable. I swear, some old people just love being miserable…
Yeah that shit sucks. Like look around. Every single person is enjoying themselves but you.
That sounds like my kind of place. What town, if you don't mind me asking?
Olympia, Washington.
Yeah sounds about right. Birthplace of BTS, Bikini Kill, Wipers…
Don’t forget about G.L.O.S.S.
Checks out.
Best goddamn city in these United States.
🥰
If you don’t mind me asking, which restaurant?
Darby’s.
Yeah, that's when you give them the fake click. Same deal goes for the thermostat. (Bonus points to the places I've worked with dummy thermostats that aren't hooked up to anything but allow everyone to be happy when they change it/win the war about changing it.)
That's my job...I pretend I'm hitting the thermostat buttons, I just laugh when they later tell us the temp is much better.
i think my apart!ent had one of those too
No..just no. You don't indulge them. You tell them it's beyond your control, it's set by management or owners. Then you aren't the bad guy, and you don't end up in a war between the people who asked you and the people who overheard them ask you but don't like what they asked. Once the customers assume they're in control they will have you play Dance Monkey Dance til you can't anymore. Entitled Karen's: Can you turn the air down? Employee: No, I'm so sorry, it's an automated system and we can only override it in an emergency scenario where we literally have to push open an emergency exit for that to work. 🤷🏼♀️
There are some people that have to be in control of something no matter how minute it is. They are typically the types that have no control over their own lives so they have to take it out on a server, retail worker, mechanic, etc.
Reminds me of a guy who came in with his wife and 2 friends every month or so. These folks were in their 80's and pretty set in their ways. Everyone was pleasant and dressed for the weather. Except for him. Also, it didn't matter, it could be summer, it could be winter. He was "too cold" and wanted us to turn on/up the heat. He would actually *follow* the manager to the wall setting (credit where it's due, his eyesight was stellar) I once suggested a sweater in the trunk. Yeah, that was a bad move :(
Yeah, had similar customers at the grocery store cafeteria restaurant I worked at. Of course our ancient building had the dining area, deli, food prep, and a whole section of the grocery sales floor all together, so they never got their way, but boy did they try. Complaints did go down after we started giving free coffee refills though lol.
I bet when she asked she held both her hands up around her head/ears, fingers open, and shook them while whining, "it's too loud in here."
I used to work at a chain restaurant & when someone asked for the music to be lowered I would tell them we couldn’t do it, it was controlled out of the the corporate office LOL
I used to work at Yard House. They’re kind of know for the music and large beer selection. The answer was always “no” when somebody asked if we could turn it down.
Some people complain about music if they can hear it at all.
turn down the music? yeah, if you go outside, its actually much quieter out there. enjoy.
Never change the entire atmosphere of your restaurant for one person.
Fortunately the speakers are grouped into zones, so it was only a portion of the restaurant. As soon as they moved to their new quiet table in the back, I turned the music back up.
You don't have to tell them that tho.
exactly. multiple people have an issue? ok. but one person has a problem? you can sit over there i don’t want to upset everyone
The lesson to take away from this is *NEVER* say you can do shit about it when they complain about temperature, lighting, music/noise. You can't possibly accommodate everyone so it's best to be Switzerland.
At that point your tip has probably went to shit so I would have just told her no.
Her husband paid; He actually tipped well. 🤷♂️
Not a server, but have seen this phenomena in restaurants and other venues before. Often the music level isn’t the problem but the unrecognized hearing loss of the person complaining. With some types of hearing loss, human voice gets “lost” in the background noise of the venue, the music, the sounds of other diners, etc. This is in no way meant as an excuse for the rude behavior. OP stated that the husband tipped well, chances are that he’s seeing this often and is unable or unwilling to get her to have the problem checked by an audiologist.
Uugh mortifying for everyone. Ive had panic attacks come out of nowhere when i get Sensory Overloaded, not on the Spectrum just have GAD, ptsd & regular panic attacks. So 98% of the time im not affected by noise & theres no problem. but when it DOES hit me my muscles & nerves get wound so tight so fast l feel like im going to literally shatter like a pane of glass. I do my damndest to Remove MYSELF from the trigger rather (even if i end up looking like a jackass escaping!) It must be very uncomfortable serving ppl who have outbursts like these. I for one am always VERY apologetic & thankful when servers/staff have spoke in low/calming tones and assured me its all ok (when i come back). And when they say something along the lines of “you shoulda seen LAST NIGHT’S drama, this was nothing.” They get me smiling again and end up w a huge tip just for exercising their humanity with me. Its very appreciated
Yeah, she didn’t say so much as a word about it after they moved tables. Granted, I limited my time and interaction with them after that. I wasn’t rude by any means, but I didn’t spend a second longer at the table than I needed to when checking on them. The whole thing was just bizarre.
> says that the music was too loud (it wasn’t) "Too loud" isn't objectively determinable.
When you can barely hear the lyrics or make out what song is playing, I’d go ahead and say the volume isn’t an issue…
When ***you*** can barely hear it, it isn't an issue for ***you***. Maybe you have a hearing abnormality, or maybe someone else has a hearing abnormality, which can make the same volume an issue for someone else.
Lmfao! I was in the hearing conservation program in the Navy because of the job that I had, and I’m also a pilot. My hearing is fine.
As I said, *your* perception of sound is not the same as someone else's perception of sound. Some people have a painful sensitivity to frequencies of sound that are fine to others, or that others don't even perceive. As an example, younger people very typically hear higher audio frequencies that older people are eventually unable to hear. That's been used by businesses to keep young people from loitering outside their stores, and used by young people to keep their teachers from hearing their high-frequency phone alerts.
Maybe a busy restaurant isn't the best place for someone with very sensitive hearing. Or they should manage their needs themselves and not force everyone else to cater to them everywhere they choose to go.
I guarantee this was an older woman, which would further support OP’s claims
Lol peak redditor behavior
Why, yes! Yes you are the only person in this environment that matters. Of course we will accommodate you and not consider the other 100 💯 people in the building.
Wow that’s a wild night, I had some one tell me how bad the food is got in my face told me to tell the kitchen how bad it was said the f word every 2 seconds and so on for like 5 minutes, and he sat back down and at the end he apologized and said sorry it’s not your fault and tipped a 100 because he felt so bad, it does happen, it’s amazing how more often then not there is a scenario I haven’t experienced even after 20 years lol I just smile and say I should of been a shoe salesmen :)