‘You play, I play': Quirky Karen throws tantrum at hotel front desk, employee remembers her a month later and makes sure she gets the worst room in the building

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jun 14, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

When you go to check in a hotel, do you treat the front desk clerk like a robot who needs to be unplugged and sent to the dump if there is one misunderstanding or are you a human being who understands that miscommunications are inevitable and can give everyone a little bit of grace due to that fact? If you are that first one, then I hate to break it to you, but you are a top notch Karen. Just because somebody works in customer service, does not mean they are immune to miscommunications. It's very obvious by the way you talk to staff that you have never worked in hospitality or any sort of service industry job. Because most miscommunications are the customer's fault, and yet the staff always gets blamed. So have some dang empathy…

 

Unfortunately, for this employee, she got a "quirky" Karen who thought her unique aesthetic saved her from the typical "Karen" title, but her tantrum begged to differ…  

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  • However, luckily for this employee, she was able to get her revenge a month later when the Karen returned. After the tantrum she threw last time, you better believe she quickly earned herself to always get the hotel's worst room. That's just how the cookie crumbles, Karen. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10516060416
    via Unsplash+ (and Antonio Verdín)

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

  • "Front Desk Supervisor Neither Forgives NOR Forgets"

    I work at a hotel. It is very clear by the way people engage with me and my team whether they have ever had a job in customer service...like there is no way they would speak to me the way they do if they could even for a MOMENT imagine being in my shoes.
    via BonktheClown69
  • Prime example- White lady (obviously) with HUGE glasses, comically large frames that give, "I'm just quirky energy walks into our location. She comes up to the front desk to check in. Early in the process she tells me
    via BonktheClown69
  • she is going to buy a beer from our little market area. I said something along the lines of, "Okay we can do that at the end." While I'm checking her in I ask for her to insert a card for the reservation. I
    via BonktheClown69
  • will say, not every front desk person does this every time. A lot of them just say the expiration date and use the card on file. But this isn't my first rodeo and I know that if we don't get a card physically taken at check in (or at least look at the card since there are cameras at the desk) it is
    via BonktheClown69
  • nearly impossible to win a case for damages. The argument that the card on file isn't the one they meant/want charged etc can get the case thrown out real quick. ALSO I am the supervisor so I do things properly? I
    via BonktheClown69
  • truly do not care that much if the other teammates follow procedure to the letter. They're overworked and underpaid so unless it's a huge deal I don't make a stink about much. But I am under higher scrutiny and also don't like sh up so...sue me! I follow the rules!
    via BonktheClown69
  • She inserts the card and I wrap up checkout and give her the room keys. She then goes and grabs the aforementioned beer. I ask her if she wants to use the card on file, aka the one I just took the authorization on for the room(cost of the room, tax, and $20 rounded up per night).
    via BonktheClown69
  • Balistic! Immediately! "Didn't I just pay for the beer?!" Well no...first of all I had no idea what beer you were going to pick out and like...they cost different amounts... have you been in the world before? Are you new here? Also why would I charge you for a mystery beer in the
    via BonktheClown69
  • middle of check in? Like I haven't even given you the keys and you're thinking that I'm charging you for a beer that I DON'T EVEN KNOW THE BRAND OF??? Proceeds to freak out on me, I change the card on file immediately. Worth mentioning that I had not
    via BonktheClown69
  • CHARGED her card. I put an AUTHORIZATION on it. Similar to a ride-share app before you decide if/how much you want to tip. I inform her that the new card will be charged. when she checks out, but the authorization will not be released until then as well. Pouty, furious,
    via BonktheClown69
  • devestated...it was quite a show. Look, I'm not devoid of empathy. It was probably about a $500 hold which would stress me the f out if it was on an account I wasn't expecting. I'm broke most of the time, it would be a huge hit (worth
    via BonktheClown69
  • mentioning she was there. for work so she makes enough money that they be sending her a outta town...but still.) That was not the issue. People throw tantrums on a daily basis where I work. Unfortunately working at a fairly nice and semi expensive hotel
    via BonktheClown69
  • does not draw the most down to Earth crowd. While I'm changing the card on file, she says something under her breath. I know it's nasty but if you're gonna say something nasty, say it with your chest. So I ask what she said (in the tone of "Did I miss
    via BonktheClown69
  • something?") "What are you, dumb? Why would you put that large of a hold on my card?" OH MAMA! So we're doing name calling? Okay I see you!
    via BonktheClown69
  • Cheezburger Image 10516073216
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

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

  • What are YOU? Dumb? Why would I be taking money for a beer (that once again I had no idea the brand of and more importantly the price of) in the MIDDLE of checking you in? Oh you think that's the end of it? HA me too girl.
    via BonktheClown69
  • But no, the next morning I'm back at the front desk. One of the managers happened to be there, which was very rare. I had filled her in and on the fact that we were probably going to receive a negative review in the survey we send out to every guest when they check out the MOMENT I
    via BonktheClown69
  • clocked in. Y'all know the camaraderie that forms in the face of entitled customers, resentment is thicker than bld. She walks up and I had sh to do, she walked up to my manager to check out anyway so I was moving to restock the coffee station. Mama
    via BonktheClown69
  • stops me in my tracks, "I think you should be here for this." Yippee. I walk over to her and my manager. She then begins her monologue, fully berating me. Not using the word dumb again, but it's dripping off every
    via BonktheClown69
  • word that comes out of her puckered a hle of a mouth. At the end of her speech (that she clearly feel asleep daydreaming about), she says...and I quote..."I think we can all agree you made a mistake." Girl. Be so for real.
    via BonktheClown69
  • I ain't agreeing to SH. I say some noncommittal platitude and my manager apologizes profusely (f our 100% satisfaction guarantee because we gotta swallow the sh guests throw our way and smile and thank them for their understanding and patience.)
    via BonktheClown69
  • The end. Of that encounter. But not the end of the story. This is my petty revenge. About a month later she walks through the doors. again. Mind you, my eye sight and memory are absolute. Dog sh. Often guests walk up and I ask if they have stayed with
    via BonktheClown69
  • us before, sometimes with a response of. "I was here last week" Like it's rough out here for a guy like me. But HER. I recognized her instantly, because of those STUPID glasses.
    via BonktheClown69
  • She walks up and I pretend I don't remember her, maybe she can tell it's an act or maybe she can't. She says very little, and I am vaguely warm with a de d look behind my eyes. "I hope you enjoy your stay." She won't.
    via BonktheClown69
  • I placed mama in room 513. Notoriously the worst room in the hotel. Management has expressed multiple times that it is a last resort, we only put someone in 513 if the hotel is fully sold out and they are the last one to check in.
    via BonktheClown69
  • We were at 46% occupancy Now, the worst room in a nice hotel is still nice. It's not soaked sheets and mold in the bathroom. 513 is the last resort because when you open the curtains... nothing. A wall of steel. No natural light. 513
    via BonktheClown69
  • faces the water heater, and there is nothing outside the window except the cruel and cold sheet of metal that tells you...you are exactly where you belong.
    via BonktheClown69
  • You play, I play. It's game, and no I can't clap back or get physical or really do anything tangibly bad to you. But I don't forgive, and I will not forget! Don't play unless you're willing to suffer the consequences.
    via BonktheClown69
  • Long story short: I put guests who are a h les in bad rooms at my hotel
    via BonktheClown69

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