Customer leaves appreciation note for sandwich shop as 'mustard dude' — gets the kindest handwritten reply

Some customer relationships are built on familiarity, others on routine; this one in particular was formed around something as simple as mustard. A Reddit user, u/that-one-gaydude, shared a story that captured an exchange between him and his favorite sandwich shop. In a post titled "Wholesome sandwich shop," the user explained that he frequently orders from the same local sandwich place and is recognized for their unique request: a mix of all the mustards they use.

This time, the user decided to order something different. So, while placing the order, he included a short note, "Hey, it's me, the mustard dude. I appreciate you and all you do, sandwich people!" The message, intended as a kind gesture, was met with a surprisingly heartfelt response. Tucked in with the order was a handwritten note on white paper, reading, "We appreciate you Mr Mustard Man LOL! Hope you have a great rest of your day and we'll see you next time!! Or your next order lol." The note was signed off simply as "Sandwich People."

It was the effort of writing them down, personalizing them, and sending them back with a sandwich that made it special. A thoughtful note might seem minor, but for many customers, it’s the reason they come back. The value of this approach is also backed by research. According to a report by the National Journal of Business and Industry Association, US businesses risk losing $856 billion annually due to poor customer service, as over half of their consumers reduce or stop spending with a brand after a negative experience. The study also shows that globally, organizations are putting $3.7 trillion at risk annually because of bad customer experiences.

The post gathered a lot of support, and the response resonated with readers for its sincerity and warmth on both sides. u/Grattytood wrote, "That's a sweet bit of correspondence, OP. You made each other's day." u/happyphanx added, "Food is such a personal thing, with many cultural ties to connection and family. It’s easy to think of it as purely transactional at times, with drive-thru and delivery and all that. What a nice thing to be reminded that’s not the case. Love this." u/itz_soki commented, "I love when a small business starts recognizing you and does nice stuff like this! It makes me want to keep going back." u/VantasnerDanger noted, "The tiny dab of mustard on the very first letter is really chef's kiss." u/Atillion shared, "Funny, I just got through watching a Jersey Mike's guy making a special sandwich for a repeat customer. It must be sandwich day."

This kind of heartwarming customer-server interaction was depicted in another story, though under much more emotional circumstances. In a post shared by Megan King, a waitress at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, an elderly woman left a handwritten note after dining alone for the first time since her husband passed away. The two had exchanged only light conversation during the meal, but when King returned to clear the table, she found the note alongside a small tip. It read, "Thank you very much for your kind service. This was my first time eating out alone since my husband passed. I was hoping I could get through it." The message deeply moved King, who later shared that she had to excuse herself to use the restroom just to compose her emotions before tending to other tables.