What was your "I shouldn't have said that" moment when talking to a customer?

1. I was talking with a customer on the phone and giving her answers she didn’t like. Then she, this grown woman, just starts whining. Not like using words with a whiny voice but actually doing a “uuuuuhhhnnnnnnn” kind of whining. I’ve worked with toddlers a lot so it was just instinct to say back to her “Ma’am, please use your words” as if I was talking to a 3 year old. It did not go over well.
   — youngloudandsnotty


2. A lady was complaining about her parents in law and told me to make sure I like the parents of whoever I marry. So I said “Oh my fiancé’s parents are dead so I lucked out.” She did not laugh.
   — heyybeth


3. A customer tried to exchange cash with me and I told her no and explained that we can't as a policy to protect against fast change artists. She really suspiciously, in an exasperated voice, was like "but I'm obviously not a fast change artist!" and without thinking I, "That sounds like something a fast change artist would say."
   — greenPotate






4. A woman's kids were trashing an endcap. I asked them to stop and she was angry I talked to them and told me it was my job to clean it up, the kids were fine. My response didn't go over well. "Oh my word, your kids are so annoying. That's not an accident I have to clean up, that's intentional damage and you're encouraging it." Got written up for that mouthing off.
   — brinazee


5. Fast food. 15 years old. Customer is screaming at a rookie. Said rookie walks away to get a manager. Customer turns to me, “get her back here, I want to give her a piece of my mind.” Me: “are you sure you have enough pieces to spare?”
   — puppyninjas


6. This guy ordered three coffees, I brought him two immediately after ordering so he asked where his third one was.. First response out my mouth was “I only have two arms.”
   — oliveu14






7. "I shouldn't have done that" actually. I was rinsing beer glasses behind the bar with one of those giant, high pressure sprayers that kind of look like a small shower. A guy was mad that we wouldn't return his girlfriend's obviously fake ID. He looked like he was about to come across the bar. Without thinking, I turned, still holding the sprayer and hit him full on in the face. He left. I didn't get fired.
   — dirtypaws2020


8. Not what I said but how I said it. Waiting tables and I get this friendly looking couple. I walk up and before I can start with the pleasantries the guy sees me, and in a heavy Australian accent, he says “hi there mate. How are you.” I was thrown off by the accent and by being interrupted before making an introduction and for whatever reason, my mind could only focus on the accent, and so, when I went to respond I did it in an Australian accent — “not too bad mate. Yourself”. I realized i was doing it as it was leaving my mouth but I couldn’t stop. I was convinced I was gonna get pinched square in the face... turns out my fake Australian accent isn’t bad. The guy is delighted to meet an Australian. Asks if I’m in America on the Work program. Now I’m stuck. If I admit I’m not Australian I’m worried he’ll be offended even though I didn’t mean to offend him. If not, I have to play this part for the next hour. Yeah. I committed to the role. Got a 40% tip though so that was kinda nice and worth the stress.
   — piknick1994


9. "if you wanna make some dumb protest against my company and waste my time that's fine, I'm still getting paid while you're wasting your time" Got written up for that one
   — InverseHivemind






10. A woman got mad at me after i didn’t tell her that one of the items i rang up was full price. I told her “well i can’t read you mind, can i?” She was sooooo mad, livid. But dont act like i know your budget or how much you want to spend. The screen is right there so show you how much all the prices are. And I’ll gladly take something off if you don’t want it. Just quit my job in retail after 5+ years yesterday, so cheers to that. Edit: word
    — _hayhay


11. I was on a call with a customer who was complaining and absolutely irate. I had only been on the job for a few weeks and was becoming flustered. There was literally nothing I could do to calm this person down or get him to accept my answers. I was finally about to get him off the line when he made a sarcastic comment to the extent of "wow thanks, you've been *such* a great help." In my rush to say "no problem" or "you're welcome" I ended up saying "your problem" and hanging up. He called several times after that and I just ignored the calls because I was so exhausted.
    — sportsworker777


12. I answered a customer call when I worked at a movie theater and it was a couple asking me for directions to the theater from wherever they were. They were driving and getting frustrated with me, and I was kind of getting frustrated with them for being mad at me when I assumed they were talking to me on a smartphone, so at some point I said something like, "most people would just use the internet." They did not like that.
    — MnMsLoser






13. I was telling clients their dog was dying and they handed me their phone to tell their daughter (on the line, official owner of the dog) what was happening. I took the phone, introduced myself, then promptly said "How are you?"
    — SharpieSunrise