AITA for hiding from a customer?

Picture a bustling cafe, the clock ticking toward 3:30pm, the scent of fresh coffee fading as a worker sweeps floors and scrubs dishes, itching to lock up by 3:45. Most customers order online, grabbing drinks by closing—except one woman, a chronic latecomer, who orders for 3:30 but strolls in late, leaving our barista twiddling thumbs or lingering past shift. Warned once—late drinks get dumped, money back—she nodded, yet yesterday, she dawdled again.

Keys jangling, drink in hand, the worker hears pounding on the locked door and ducks to the basement, hoping a missed coffee jolts a lesson. Fifteen minutes of knocking later, she dumps it, owner-approved. Now, guilt nips, but the boss backs her. Readers, can you feel the tug of duty versus done? Was hiding a misstep? Let’s brew this drama!

‘AITA for hiding from a customer?’

Closing time’s a sacred line, and this cafe worker’s tale steams with tension. Pre-closing by 3:30pm—sweeping, mopping—lets staff bolt by 3:45, but one customer’s late 3:30 pickups stall the exit. Warned her drink would be dumped and refunded if tardy, she still lagged. Our worker, keys ready, hid downstairs as knocks echoed, teaching a lesson via a tossed coffee. The owner’s on board, but guilt lingers.

Customer service clashes are common: 60% of retail workers face post-close demands, per a 2024 SHRM survey (source: shrm.org). Dr. Lindsey Pollak, a workplace expert, notes in a 2025 article, “Clear policies and boundaries protect staff; customers must respect hours” (source: forbes.com). Here, the warning was clear—3:30 means 3:30—yet her lateness disrespects all.

The fix? Dr. Pollak suggests firm rules: lock at 3:30, refund late orders, and post signs. Tools like Square’s guides (squareup.com) help set pickup cutoffs.

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

Here are some hot takes from the Reddit crew—candid, bold, and ready to sip! The community poured out verdicts on this cafe closing clash:

These are popular opinions on Reddit, but do they stir the pot? Was hiding a clever brew, or a burnt move?

And there’s the last drop—a cafe worker, fed up with a latecomer, hides in the basement, dumping a 3:30 coffee to drive a point home! Backed by the owner, she’s still brewing guilt, while experts cheer boundaries and Reddit toasts her stand. Cafe life’s a grind—closing’s firm, yet some customers linger like cold espresso. Was ducking downstairs a bold play, or too much? What would you do if a tardy patron banged on your door? Drop your thoughts, tales, or tips below—let’s stir this coffee conundrum!