I have a few friends who work retail, and we’ve talked about nightmare customers. The shop closes at 7:30 every Friday, but two people often walk in between 7:10 and 7:30 to demand service that takes 30minutes to complete for one person and is appointment only which all appointments are closed by 7:00pm for the staff to leave on time. They expect to be served despite the fact that the tools required for the service are already put away by 7:10. Sometimes my friend bends to their requests, but I keep telling him: closing time is closing time, and doing so is like teaching your dog to eat off your plate. It’s okay for now, but it will come back to bite you.
If you’re going to show up close to closing time and are still willing to be served, then TIP THEM WELL. I’ve done it a few times, and I’m guilty of it, but I’ve made it worth their while.
There was one time in 2023 when my friends and I wanted to get together for some wings. We stopped by a dinner on the outskirts of town at 10:30 pm, and they close at 11:00 pm. We went in, and I asked if they would still serve us because I know it’s late. And I don’t want to be an asshole. They served us, and we enjoyed our wings while catching up on life before leaving a hefty tip on the table.
This year, there was another time when we went out to a local car hop at 8:30 pm, which closes at 9:00 pm. The girls serving and taking orders did a great job, and it was scorching hot outside all day. Since I don’t go out to eat often and would rather give my business to mom-and-pop shops rather than the local megacorporation, we all pitched in and left a 40% tip – which came out to be around $24 on our $60 meal. When she came to take the tray from the car window, she asked if we needed anything else, and I handed her the tip of $24. Her face lit up, and she asked if this was a mistake. I said it was on purpose, and for her to have a good night. She smiled and thanked us before we left. Although the tip hurt my wallet quite a bit, with my brain reminding me of the $24 I lost, it felt good to help someone out – especially since she likely deals with a lot of crappy people in crappy weather.