Debate: Was I wrong to stop offering free water refills at my booth in the Ohio State Fair?

I spent 8 years at the Ohio State Fair handing out free water refills to anyone with a bottle. Last year, a customer waited 15 minutes while I helped a family with a $300 order, then screamed at me for ignoring her. Now I'm wondering if I was enabling bad behavior by being too nice. What do you all think - should customer service mean unlimited patience, or do we have a right to set boundaries?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina_johnson862d ago

I ran a small drink stand at our county fair for a few summers and stopped doing free refills after the second year. People would take advantage and leave their bottles on the counter when they walked away, expecting me to watch their stuff. I switched to a pay-what-you-want jar for refills and it completely changed the vibe. Most folks still threw in a quarter or a dollar, and the entitled ones just moved on without causing a scene. Setting that boundary actually made the whole experience better for everyone.

hart.mark2d ago

Have you ever tried just putting a sign out that says "refills are on the honor system" and seeing how it goes? I did something real similar at a little lemonade stand my kids ran and it cut down the nonsense overnight.