Regular customer throws tantrum that convenience store employee doesn't know her order by heart: 'I try to explain [my] short-term memory loss'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Feb 13, 2025 2:00 PM EST

The world simply does not revolve around the customer, no matter how much they'd like to believe that it does. 

Of course, it's nice to be a regular customer at a convenience store or coffee shop, where employees know what you're going to order before you do. It's special and it's communal, but it's a luxury. It should not be expected that employees at these establishments remember your orders by heart. Of course, it's nice if they do, but remembering your one order is certainly not a required part of their job responsibilities. Keep scrolling below for this story about a disgruntled customer who seemed to think otherwise!

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    连锁 CHAIN Ships 20% RIBING
    via Li Lin

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This employee tried to remember the orders of regular customers but couldn't remember this one Karen customer's preferred brand of supplies. This frustrated her to no end, resulting in an unnecessary temper tantrum. Thankfully, the employee was smart enough to think on his feet and guilted the customer by telling her about his short-term memory loss. You'd think she would feel bad after that comment, but as we know all too well about Karens at this point, they will remain willfully entitled…

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    "Karen is disappointed that she's not the exception to my aging process, so I try to explain short-term memory loss."

    Regular customers are a retail store's bread and butter, I know this, and after 5 yrs at this convenience store; I try to engage those folks personably as friends, not just clients. I try to remember their jobs, kids, hobbies and of course; their
    via loCAtek
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    product preferences. I know, that if I see somebody coming in, and pull their favorite ciga tte brands down, ready to go as they get to the register; they're going to appreciate my customer service.
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    Well, about a year ago, a Karen started working near-by to our establishment and chose us as her go-to ciga tte stop. While I did recognize her face when she came in; after two or three stops,
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    she seemed to expect me to know her orders ahead of time, and got a little huffy when I had to ask her what she wanted.
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    Again, it's been a year, so the other night she was disgruntle that I had to ask yet again what she did she want? (I knew it was ciga ttes, and what brand; just couldn't remember if she wanted 'longs' or 'shorts')
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    To respond to Karen's accusation that, "I should know this!" ...I explained to her that life and age, had afflicted me with 'short-term memory loss' which is a verified, medical thing, and add to that;
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    the high number of individual preferences people had every day meant: she wasn't so - special that I'd remember her.
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    Karen counter-whined, "But everybody has memory issues!" "Okay" I replied aloud, "I'm just trying to tell you why I don't remember you."
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    I'd LOVE to not have memory- loss, but sorry Karen, I can't control it just for you.
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    UPDATE: Thanks to all the people having fun with this in the comments. You get me. As mentioned, this Karen is a regular, now that she lives or works nearby - any suggestions as to what my next reply should be, when she says that I should remember her? Something to traumatise her back?
    via loCAtek
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    Winning comment receives 'NO Bucks' and 15 nano-seconds of fame on Reddit!
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    faultyideal89 · 11d ago • "But everybody has memory issues!" Then why does she expect you to remember her?
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    CrankyManager89 11d ago I hate when customers assume I remember them or act like they know me for real. Like, we're not friends.
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    Fireattmidnight • 11d ago I can't remember names. I would probably remember that I see her regularly. If anyone says "you should remember" my response is "I serve hundreds of people,
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    I am in no way going to remember everyone's favs! I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday!" | get migraines and have depre son, sometimes I forget I spoke two seconds ago.
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    LESS Od 0% Nesqu Oval Ovasaqu MMM Tea PRICES DROPPED W$4.29 $3.50 ial Breakfast Skin & Sun Care Coffee & Tea Biscuits Coffee $4 $100 ALWAYS $11. Muesl LOW PRICE ALWAYS $14. Cereal Breakfast PRICES DROPP
    via Franki Chamaki
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    Here's another update with a similar anecdote about a disgruntled Karen customer!

    It happened again! Same sh different day! Well, different Karen - same sh different day! Let me explain the background noise; -
    via loCAtek
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    Those currently in retail, know that Marble-O has started offering digital 'coupons' for your smartphone. You download the coupon, and it will display a bar code that when scanned at the register; discounts your smokes by a dollar or two.
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    Well, in my store's experience, sometimes those work, and sometimes they don't. Sh ot, some (most) times, 'Merica Spearmint brand paper coupons never work, and we just manually discount the price later.
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    Now, in comes this Karen that I recognize but don't remember why, until she says, she wants to use her phone's Marble-O digital coupon. Uh-oh. She tells me, that the last time I couldn't make it work, and had to call my manager for help. (I vaguely recall this) So,
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    she did get her discount, but now that I'm alone at the register; she doesn't want to waste her coupon on me if it isn't going to work.
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    Oooo-kay, fair (but r de) point, and I agree with her, that maybe she shouldn't use it and lose it, because honestly- I'll admit that I CAN'T remember all the permutations and combinations it takes to make digital coupons work.
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    Now, she gets offended, because, 'This is supposed to be your job.' and she'd seen the manager show me the procedure. Yeah, once.
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    ...and that was weeks ago. If I don't use new training, I will lose new training - it's as simple as that. Memory retention is more successful with repetition; and I hadn't gotten that yet.
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    Cue to her not believing me, and assuming that I'm doing this just to make her life more difficult. SMH No Karen, this isn't about you. You've simply exceeded this unit's memory capacity.
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    I can do my job and do it so well that I get tips sometimes and great reviews. My boss likes me, and my customers like me - shot, sometimes they even buy me candy So, I'm doing my best with the brain I got. You're welcome.
    via loCAtek

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customer service employee karen-customer customers convenience store entitled people karma karens in the wild karen entitled people
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