23-year-old coffee shop manager stands up to an entitled Karen who falsely claims to be a loyal customer in an attempt to get a free drink: '[I've] never seen her before in the 2 years [I've] worked here'

This customer is obviously not a regular at the coffee shop, because the morning manager has never seen them.

Unless they're ordering coffees from DoorDash or sneaking in hot drink couriers every day, this entitled customer was just trying to leverage their fake loyalty to get a free drink. However, the savvy 23-year-old cafe manager saw right through their rouse.

Karens embody a certain level of customer service entitlement. Empowered by their angular bob haircuts and oversized sunglasses, Karen-types stomp all over the minimum-wage customer service employees in their path, creating hostile environments and threatening negative Yelp reviews to get their way. Oftentimes, employees will simply yield to their requests in order to make the noisy, aggressive problem go away sooner, but there are moments in every barista's life where they'll have an opportunity to put a Karen in their place.

Albeit rare, baristas can use these few moments to let their true feelings shine through the stiff, polite smiles that usually embellish their work aprons. Vanquishing a Karen in real time is extremely rare, but when you get the opportunity to do so, you can't let the moment pass. And you'll certainly be glad you put the rampaging entitlement to rest, saving the entire shop from the clutches of another bulldozer customer hellbent on receiving special treatment in return for impolite behavior, bad tips, and a lingering reputation in local neighborhood walking groups.

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From the Author

via JesKessenheimer

One of my first jobs ever was as a barista. I learned how to make boiling hot coffee for ungrateful customers, I mopped the floors, I ate free bagels, and generally, my time at the cafe was pretty cool. Back then, I was making about $8/hour, which seemed hunky-dory until the weekly Karen showed up.
My coworkers all knew her and had dealt with her, but someone pleasing and placating the regular Customerzilla was more important than standing up to the meanest beast that walked into the shop. One day, one of my coworkers had the gusto to tell her off, and it was an epic moment for all of us. It may have seemed like nothing to correct her on her exact drink order, but for a woman who constantly undermined and gaslit our team of baristas, this small victory was enough to give everyone the confidence boost we needed to keep going. Thanks to this one, seemingly benign act, we all became more empowered to stand up to customers, especially when they were clearly in the wrong.
Trust me, it's worth the loss of a $1 tip. The company will survive with one less Karen customer on their regulars roster.
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