'[I was] called a Karen': Cashier freaks out on customer trying to correct a wrong order

We often hear stories online about customers who are acting unreasonable and unruly, like what you might call a "Karen," and we tend to take the employees narrating these stories at face value. But what about the times when the roles are reversed? What about situations where a customer is simply making a reasonable request, only to be met with a harsh response from an employee? At what point is it okay for a customer to get a little bit frustrated when their issue isn't receiving any attention from anyone in the organization?

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Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
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  • It's important to remember that both scenarios can occur, and there are always two sides to every story. After all, as it has been famously quoted, the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle.

    Imagine if we came across this cashier sharing their experience online. We might read posts about how an angry customer, acting like a "Karen," complained about her pizza, caused a scene, and lost their temper—maybe she was just having a bad day?

    Still, bad day or not, it's difficult to justify speaking to anyone in such a disrespectful manner. We can understand that it might have been a challenging situation for the cashier if they couldn't provide a refund due to company policies, but that still doesn't excuse their overreaction.

    See the original story below, as the customer shared it with the popular r/talesfromthecustomer subreddit community.

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    Hairstyle - 5,7
    via Wonderlane
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  • 02
    Font - r/TalesFromThe Customer. Posted by u/megabh420 Called a Karen Medium This morning I had to run my errands and order our pizza's for dinner tonight. I called in my order at the local pizza pizza place. They said give them 20 minutes for pick up. So I stopped at the gas station filled up my tank and sat in the parking lot.
    via u/megabitch420
  • 03
    Font - I ordered 3 pizzas with extra cheese, a cheese bread and 2 garlic sauce. My total was just a few cents over $50. Just under $10 for the extra cheese. I got them walked to the hood of my car and checked them. No extra cheese and no garlic sauce. I go back in explain what was wrong and asked for the money back as I didn't have the time for them to remake the pizza's.
    via u/megabitch420
  • 04
    Font - I paid with my debit card. So I told them they could either give me the cash back or apply it back to my card. Either way was fine with me. Whatever was easiest for them. The cashier told me the manager wasn't there only a shift leader so they could not refund me. They could only fix my order but as I said I didn't have the extra 20 minutes. I explained to them again I would understand if they were busy but I was the only customer there. They needed to call a manager and give me back my m
    via u/megabitch420
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  • 05
    Font - The cashier instantly starts yelling at me that I am being a Karen and they weren't going to do anything for me. I said look. that is over half my hourly pay and I just want my money back. She starts doing the clap with every word. You're a ignorant B and we are no longer going to serve you. You will not get anything back because your just a Karen. They knew the order was messed up but didn't care. She tells me I am banned from the store until a manager comes in and watches the camera to
    via u/megabitch420
  • 06
    Font - I'm sitting in my car messaging my husband about what happened. A young boy knocks on my window and explains its only his second day there. He was the one who made my order and didn't see the extra cheese until he heard the cashier complaining about the Karen who just left. He pulled the order back up on his tickets and realized he had messed up. He tried to tell her that he did the order wrong and it wasn't my fault. Yet she was
    via u/megabitch420
  • 07
    Font - still cussing up a storm and just wouldn't listen. So he grabbed a crazy bread and a garlic sauce and brought them out to me. Said he makes c pay too and understood why I was upset. He apologized a few times and said he would explain it to the manager and pay for the crazy bread he brought me to keep the cashier from yelling at him. He would make sure the manager knew it was a mistake on their end not mine. So I told
    via u/megabitch420
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  • 08
    Font - him I was sorry he was having to deal with the cashier and I understood it was a simple mistake not to worry about it but I would be calling on Monday about the cashier cussing my out and explain she should at least be in the back not dealing with customers if she couldn't deal with things without being rO to a paying customer.
    via u/megabitch420
  • 09
    Font - So now I feel bad for the young boy having to deal with the crazy lady and will complain on his behalf when I call in for my money back. Poor kid just wants to earn a little money. He was very sweet and the apology seemed very sincere.
    via u/megabitch420
  • 10
    Font - RogueDisciple That cashier need to be terminated. 498 Reply Share Bureaucromancer. Also worth noting that her banning you from the shop means basically fok all between not being a manager and the other employees disagreeing. 233 Reply Share
    via u/megabitch420
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  • 11
    Font - frangipanihawaii Some people just can't admit when a mistake has been made. I'm sure if they had appropriately explained that they needed a manager to refund you, asked for your number for the manager to call you when they got in there wouldn't have been all the drama. Sound like the kid who made the mistake needs to find a new job, because of that cashier, not him making a mistake 180 Reply Share
    via u/megabitch420
  • 12
    Font - Lunatic-Cafe-529. As a manager, I would want to know: 1. The cashier's behavior. NO WAY do I want that sort of behavior in my business! 2. The cook's behavior. That young man showed a high level of integrity and grace under pressure. He deserves praise. Good luck, Karen! ;) 48 Reply Share
    via u/megabitch420
  • 13
    Font - mashed-_-potato So many people are misusing the word Karen. Being a Karen does NOT mean that you are standing up for yourself or getting something corrected. Being a Karen means you berate people to get your way. Which is ironically how the cashier is acting 29 Reply Share
    via u/megabitch420
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