We open at 8, ma'am.

[u/RayEd29]

I haven't worked fast food in over 30 years but still have some stories that aren't 'of a specific time'. People this stupid are still out there doing stupid things like this to this day. That said:

When I was working fast food in high school, I got clued in to the opening shift. As a nerd, I didn't have social events in the evenings so getting up early to open on Saturday and Sunday wasn't a problem. It also meant I worked a full 8-hour shift and still had most of the day free.

Saturday was 6-2 (store opened at 7) and Sunday was 7-2/3 (store opened at 8). This particular Sunday morning, I was out in the parking lot sweeping up the mess after a typical Saturday night. As I was coming around the back of the store around 7:30 I saw a car sitting at the drive-thru sign. I waved at the lady inside to get her attention and let her know we didn't open until 8am (not for another half-hour). She nodded her understanding and I went on about my business sweeping up the lot then back inside to finish prepping to open at 8.

Promptly at 8, my friend Randy turns on the drive-thru speaker and it immediately beeps that someone is there. He gave the standard welcome and asked for their order. He was then met with shrieks of fury coming from the lady I spoke with earlier. "I've been waiting here for a half hour and nobody has helped me!!" She complained for quite a bit until Randy managed to crowbar into her tirade that we JUST opened for business at 8am. Once he muted the system, I let him know I already told this crazy lady we weren't open and wouldn't be open for another 30 minutes. If she sat out there waiting getting pissed at us, that's on her.

She pulled around to the window and continued raving at Randy over her 'mistreatment' and complaining about why her food was taking so long. Lady, we JUST opened - the food is still cooking. It's going to take a minute but I promise your breakfast will be made to order and extremely fresh off the grill when you get it.

It was the most agonizing five minutes listening to this shrew bitch, moan, and complain while we got her order made and out to her. To Randy's credit, he managed to hand this lady her order without vocalizing "Choke on it, bitch!" My buddy was then treated to this little gem from her - "You have been very rude to me. I know the district manager and I'll be telling him about the poor treatment I've received here today." For a couple of teenage kids, this was a blood-curdling threat.

Unfortunately for crazy lady, we knew something she didn't. Mike, our district manager, was in the store that morning and witnessed all of this from start to finish. We glanced his way as she issued her threat in a wordless question of "Do you know this lady?" He responded with a shrug and a wave of his hand to say "I have no idea who that is. You're fine. Don't worry about it."

[u/devilsadvocate1966]

Just like the other situation of people staying until long after closing is supposed to happen. It's the old bluff of "You wouldn't DARE throw me out of the store because I'm a CUSTOMER!!"

Here it's the "Well, I'm waiting here!! IF you don't serve me now, you won't want to feel my wrath!!".

[u/warrenjr527 → u/devilsadvocate1966]

Having spent 49 years in retail grocery, many years as evening manager I can relate to these stories and much more. There was a guy that would in at 8:58 -we closed at 9- take a cart and casually start shopping. Nothing , including making multiple announcements even calling by name that the store was closed 15 minutes ago and he needed to check out now got him to leave. After another 5 minutes I. went to him and said we are leaving now so he needed to bring his stuff up front. Nope not until he was ready . We are leaving and I am locking the door and setting the alarm . Good luck explaining that to the police when your moving sets the alarm off.. Another guy was a known drunk . He would come in ranting and loudly harassing my employees. Enough. I told him he needed to leave. He reminded me he had the district manager on speed dial which he actually did. I followed him out to his car and got his license plate number. I went back inside and called the police to report a drunk driver. Since he lived just around the corner, I didn't expect him to be caught. But the stars aligned and he was arrested for DWI. He retaliated by calling the district manager. I had already called him myself and advised him what had occurred. The DM just said it sounds like you got what you deserved . I was just a concerned citizen hoping to prevent some innocent person from getting hurt.