A Karen overreacts to a power outage, causing a huge scene and demanding food and water as she thinks it's an emergency: 'She did end up leaving a nasty review, there she ended up deleting herself after our manager replied to it.'

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Jun 25, 2026 1:45 PM EDT

Another story about a troublesome customer… are we surprised?

It's no news the fact that a Karen appeared and made a scene, it's almost everyday stuff at this point. Their method to completely ruin a customer service employee's day is almost always the same. Complain about something nobody can fix, get mad at the response, and make a scene, start demanding something in return for what she is "suffering", make the scene worse by not receiving what she wants. Is like they have a step-by-step guide to bother service workers, as if they didn't have to put up with too much already.

Working in customer service gives you some superpowers that can only be achieved by putting up with thousands of ungrateful customers. For example, spotting if a client is going to make a scene before they even open their mouths. This can be some kind of stereotype, but it's actually really useful to de-escalate a situation. When you spot someone difficult from afar, you prepare yourself mentally to deal with the situation and therefore prepare to bring "the big guns" to avoid starting a riot. For the ones that have never worked in customer service, the big guns are comp stuff and managers.

In this Reddit story, the user is so used to this kind of problematic customer that he treats the issue as "another Karen story". That is the best way to take work. If every single customer that screams at you makes you cry or feel sad, then you are not prepared to work in the service industry. You have to create an alternate personality that doesn't care about anything anyone says and just smiles through the pain. After all, if someone treats an employee badly just because they didn't get what they wanted, then they have the poorest manners ever. 
 

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  • A candle illuminating during a power outage, representation.
    via polarmermaid

    A candle illuminating during a power outage, representation.

  • This one happened a few months ago. The city was working their way down the street, working on updating underground utility lines. They eventually made it to our block, and outside of traffic complaints about traffic and noise during the day, it wasn't too bad.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Being that the construction crew was right behind the building, whenever there was a planned outage of services, they would notify us a day or two in advance.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • The day prior to this incident, we had received a notice that the power was going to be out for several hours starting around 6pm. We were given a timeframe of about 2hrs, but the last time they did it, it was more like 4hrs.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • We covered all the bases. Preassigned all incoming guests, generated keys and printed reg. cards. I was even given temporary mobile access to our PMS to check for last minute reservations. Our morning shift made notices for the power outage, and called all our inhouse guests to let them know how about the situation. The few that she wasn't able to get a hold of she left a voicemail for them. On top of that, before leaving for the day, our gm brought down a box of
    via Zelgadiss007
  • emergency glow sticks to give out to guests should they need them. Our maintenance guy was on site to shut off/on the elevator.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Everything was going smooth and in typical city crew fashion the shut down happened about 45 minutes late. Since it was already dark, I had already cracked a few glow sticks and hug him around the windows of the lobby. I had about 3 people waiting to check in when the power went out, and all were aware of what was going on. Not 5mins later a Karen burst into the lobby, and cut off the guest i was attending.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: "What the h_I is going on?!?! I don't have electricity in my room!"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: "it's a planned power outage, there's a construction crew behind the building" right
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: " and why wasn't I told about this!?!"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: * checks her reservation on app * "it looks like our morning agent tried to get ahold of you and left you a voicemail. We also had a noticed posted this morning in the breakfast room in the lobby"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: "I received no such call. What am I supposed to do now? I have kids with me"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: "I understand and I do apologize, but the outage is only going to last an hour or two. Power should be back on shortly. I do have some emergency glow sticks, if you'd like to take some to hold you over till then"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: "THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! YOU HAVE TO TURN THE POWER BACK ON NOW!!!"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: "I would if I could, but that's something you have to take up with the city since they're the ones working on the utilities atm"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: "UUUUUGHHH!!!! Whatever, where the h I are we supposed to line up for food?"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: "The breakfast is from 6am to 10am in the breakfast room down the hall."
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: "I'm not askingg about breakfast, Im asking about food! You guys are obligated to give out food and water during an emergency situation!"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: "Ma'am, this is a planned outage not a natural disaster. The only area affected buy the outage is our block and the two others behind the building. If you need water, I can get you a couple of water bottles"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • * at this point two of the three guests are trying their best not to laugh*
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen: "No! You have to give us food and im going to also need two cases of water for me and my kids"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Me: "Im sorry, but I can't do that. There are several dining options in the area, and there is a grocery store 5 minutes from here; all of which i'm sure still have power"
    via Zelgadiss007
  • Karen ended up storming off, and I didn't hear from her for the rest of the night.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • She did end up leaving a nasty review, there she ended up deleting herself after our manager replied to it.
    via Zelgadiss007
  • stootchmaster2 I wonder where guests get this "Emergency Supplies" mindset from. I've also had an overdramatic guest demanding supplies during a power outage. He was wanting blankets and water, like we were in some sort of disaster area.
    via stootchmaster2
  • ConsistentParking424 Demanding water, as if her kids drink water. With a Karen for a parent I bet they only drink soda and energy drinks. Plus, even if there was free food, there would be something "wrong" with it. I love that she deleted her review after the manager replied. Thanks for sharing, love it when Karens don't get their way.
    via ConsistentParking424
  • lexmozli I would've messed with her and just agree with anything she demanded but deliver nothing. When she would come back and ask what's up I'd play dumb like our previous conversation did not happen and THEN deny her demands. Like a "you must've been talking with my twin" prank.
    via lexmozli
  • A person working at the front desk of a hotel, model image.
    via Helena Lopes

    A person working at the front desk of a hotel, model image. 

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customer service tales from the front desk karens in the wild power outage
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