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1j09xng
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The Jesus people are really getting out of control.
|
"If you died right now and were standing at the gates of heaven, and they asked you why you should be let in, what would you say?" - The man at one of my tables yesterday.
I told him that was a loaded question, that I don't talk about religion at work, and could I get anything else for them?
He told me if I recited the sinners prayer with him I would get into heaven. I told him I had work to do.
They tipped 20% and left me a miniature Bible (which I gave to my coworker because whatever religion makes you think it's okay to harass people at their job about the afterlife is *not* my jam) so that was cool I guess but like **damn**. What's up with these people wanting to "save" everyone??
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1j09xng/the_jesus_people_are_really_getting_out_of_control/
| 5,256
| 494
| 1,740,755,646
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1iysvux
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Nasty customer made inappropriate remark
|
Yesterday during my dinner shift a son wanted a to go cup for his Coke, I asked dad if he wanted one too. He said no thank you
I turned around and I hear him say “but you can wipe my ass while your at it” in a rude tone. I was so shocked I didn’t say anything
They tipped 20%
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1iysvux/nasty_customer_made_inappropriate_remark/
| 228
| 44
| 1,740,590,661
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1ikmdjo
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
tips for being a better busser/SA
|
hi all, i just wanted to ask the servers on here how i can be more useful as a server assistant and if other more experienced bussers could give me tips on being quicker and more efficient. i do think im doing better compared to how i started off, but im always looking to improve because i genuinely do wanna be helpful to the servers and contribute.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1ikmdjo/tips_for_being_a_better_bussersa/
| 11
| 4
| 1,739,018,331
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1idngrv
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tip-pool across AM & PM shifts dependent on hours worked?
|
I keep trying to type this out with a whole report on my workplace but I’ll keep it simple:
Has anyone ever worked at an establishment that divides tips between lunch and dinner shifts? I can see and appreciate the logic as long as everyone carries their weight.
What really confuses me is the way they break down the hours; they say it’s an hourly based on the hours worked that day divided by number of individuals that worked those hours. Then, they distribute the hourly mean to the number of hours worked per person.
Does this make sense? Has anyone experienced this?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1idngrv/tippool_across_am_pm_shifts_dependent_on_hours/
| 12
| 21
| 1,738,245,286
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1i5fo0w
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
fellow waiters offended I carded them
|
Saw a post about IDing patrons that reminded me of a particular instance. I worked at a national chain restaurant and we often had staff from nearby restaurants come in on mid Sunday afternoons for a meal and drinks after their lunch shift ended. I was the closing lunch waiter and got a table with five or six of them. I'd never seen nor waited on them before so I carded the table accordingly. Some of them quickly scoffed at the notion even though none of them were over 25yo. Most were 21/22. They (waiters) were offended that they had to pull out their IDs. I told them I couldn't handle the fine and loss of my job if I was busted by TABC. Did they think I owed them something? Did they think they looked old enough?
I myself was just 21 at the time. I was your average skinny white college kid but was already losing my hair (up front) so I looked a bit older. I said let's make a bet. I'm carding all of you before I go get the drinks. When I come back, you each get to guess my age; you can all choose a different number. If any one of you gets it right, I'll pay for your whole meal. (They really liked this idea!) But if you don't guess it, then I want the fattest tip you've ever left. They agreed to tip accordingly. When I came back, they'd written down their guesses on a drink coaster. None were correct; the closest guess was maybe 24. I smiled and dropped my ID on the table. Told them I'd let them look it over and get it when I came back to check on them. Needless to say they were VERY surprised. Kind of taught them a lesson that day. And I made a BIG & FAT tip.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1i5fo0w/fellow_waiters_offended_i_carded_them/
| 372
| 39
| 1,737,339,274
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1i10k2k
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tips for transitioning from casual to fine dining?
|
I’ve worked at two restaurants, both casual. The first was as a host/busser which I did for a year, the second was as a server for four years, and I also did bartending for a little over the last two years.
I wanted to increase my skills/income so I applied to a fine dining steakhouse and I landed a job as a server assistant. I’m excited to start and the manager told me it’s very easy stuff even coming from casual dining.
I want to start on the best note possible to maybe be moved up to server one day. Any tips?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1i10k2k/tips_for_transitioning_from_casual_to_fine_dining/
| 43
| 26
| 1,736,838,733
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1hsb136
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
He asked for my Venmo
|
Nothing huge, but this table I was serving, the man came up and said “hey I have an awkward question”
Immediately I assume that because they are already closed out, they paid and didn’t look at the receipt and wanted a refund on something. so I say “yeah, what is it?” And he says
“My mother paid and she didn’t tip you well, you deserve a better tip than that, do you have a Venmo?” He ended up tipping me $15 and I thanked him profusely, especially after such a slow night (current total was about $25)
There’s good people out there :)
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hsb136/he_asked_for_my_venmo/
| 1,839
| 84
| 1,735,869,125
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
1hqnegl
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Single mom, 20 year teacher transitioned to server. Give me your rockstar advice on working New Year’s Eve, and making the most tips
|
I spent 20 years in the classroom up until two months ago when I transitioned into being a server at a steakhouse. Tips have been pretty good during the holidays, but I'm wondering what is by y'all have for working New Year's Eve tonight.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hqnegl/single_mom_20_year_teacher_transitioned_to_server/
| 28
| 21
| 1,735,677,267
| 12
|
tip
|
hot
|
dee4vb
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
To the guy who came in with his wife Sunday night, 20 minutes before closing:
|
You stuck your head in the front door around 20 minutes to 10, looking expectantly with your blonde wife in tow. I swallowed disappointment, yet again, while wearing a pained smile, and waved you into the bar area.
You sat down and ordered straight away: top shelf bourbon on the rocks for you, Prosecco for the wife, and a volcano cake to share. You were both well-dressed and charming and funny. Your wife was hot and smelled good.
You both savored every bite, made me laugh, tipped 30%, and breezed out the door with 2 minutes left on the clock.
I love you.
(This fictional post is based on true events!)
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/dee4vb/to_the_guy_who_came_in_with_his_wife_sunday_night/
| 22,141
| 384
| 1,570,419,854
| 12
|
tip
|
top
|
xjc7fx
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
“If I order a glass of wine, do I pay for it?”- a tale of the table that made me question reality
|
Yesterday, two top. Two people sat themselves in my section at a dirty table (the table cloth hadn’t even been changed.) The people weren’t RUDE exactly, while we resat the table, they asked “Where’s our menus?” While the busser, me, and hosts are trying to move around them clearing glasses and plates. They acted confused if anything, like, how DARE this table not be ready for us at a reservation based fine dining restaurant.
I got waters, and tried to do my spiel (the whole these are our chef specials etc etc) and they interrupted me. “If I order a glass of wine, do I pay for it?” I thought I misheard so I asked “What do you mean?” And they repeated themselves “If I order a glass of wine do I pay for it?”
I said very professionally, “Yes it will be on your bill at the end of the dining experience.”
“Oh…” they said, disappointed and confused. “Do I want the burger or the salmon?”
“Hmm, are you in the mood for red meat or seafood? The burger is garnished with xyz and sits between a baked in house blah blah bun, rich savory flavors, while the salmon is a top x vegetables and a brightly flavored z glaze.”
Again, a stair of confusion.
“I can give you a moment if you would like to review the menu further.”
“No, we’re ready now.”
“Ok, what would you like?”
“I don’t know.”
In my brain right now I’m just wondering, WTF is happening? There is no language barrier. There doesn’t seem to be a culture barrier. They aren’t acting rude or upset, just confused. They’re well dressed and at least 40, they HAVE to have gone to a restaurant before to know how this works.
The other friend then says “She’s asking you want to order.” Ok alright. She want me to decide for her. That’s actually pretty common, you just need to explicitly say that.
“Alright, I suggest the salmon then. And for you?”
“I’ll have the BlahBlah filet, well done. Absolutely no pink.”
I repeat the order back, they agreed, I think I’m in the clear, and I’m about to walk away.
“Will you bring us appetizers?”
“Of course, what would you like?”
Them, not even opening the menu. “Chicken wings.”
“I apologize, we don’t have chicken wings, might I suggest X or Y appetizer? We also have Z chicken entree which would be the closest thing to chicken wings, and is an excellent sharing option.”
Blank stare.
Other friend-“She just wants something fast.”
I explain our from scratch kitchen, how all of our appetizers take as long or longer than the entrees. (Yes, even a well done steak)
I offered to bring extra bread, and again repeated the order. Decided on entrees only and extra bread.
I brought two portions of bread. “Here you are, our (restaurant name) freshly baked bread and whipped butter.” Our bread looks like bread. There is no mistaking for anything else.
The table looks at me aghast and confused, like I messed something up.
“This is bread?”
“Yes.”
“So, this is bread?”
“Yes, it is our baked in house bread.”
“At (popular restaurant) they have XYZ bread and served with oil. Why is this your bread? It’s not XYZ bread.”
“You are right, it is different bread. I would be happy to bring you olive oil for dipping. Would you like olive oil?”
“No… are you sure you don’t have (other restaurant’s) bread?”
Ok, if you want their bread maybe go there?
“Yes, I am sure I don’t. I apologize. Is there anything else I can bring for you at the moment?”
“No…” filled with disappointment and confusion.
30-40 minutes later, a food runner finds me with BlahBlah Filet in hand. “Table 77 said they didn’t order this.”
I go up to the table.
“You ordered the BlahBlah Filet, cooked well done, correct.”
“Yes I want the BlahBlah Filet.”
“Ok. Here is your BlahBlah Filet.”
“Nonono, that is not the BlahBlah Filet. It doesn’t have the (she then describes a completely different steak with other garnishes and sides. Sides that we don’t carry.)”
“I see. I apologize that the BlahBlah filet was not you had envisioned, however this restaurant does not have the meal you described. Would you like to enjoy this meal, or order something else from our menu.”
“Yes. I want the BlahBlah Filet.”
My brain is melting. I feel like I’m losing my grip on reality. Am I not communicating properly? Why are me and this table not living in the same reality? What is happening?
“This is the BlahBlah Filet.” I say, gesturing to the plate in front of her.
“Oh, no… it’s not.”
After a few back and forths, she decided she did not want the BlahBlah Filet, or to order anything else. She sat and watched her friend eat her dinner is record time. Chicken wing lady was really hungry.
I drop off the check, process the card, easy. When I see she has finished signing it, I go back to the table and ask “I can take the check presenter if you are all set with it.”
She then hands me her untouched still folded cloth napkin. To her credit both are black and rectangular. But there is definitely a texture and weight and material difference you would immediately notice.
“I can clear this napkin for you, but may I have the check presenter?”
“I just gave it to you.” She has no malice or anger in her voice. I double checked and nope it was a napkin.
I eventually got the check, tipped 15% which was honestly better than I hoped. They left their jacket, and no surprises here, the tags were still on. OF COURSE they are the type of people who wear things and return them.
The whole thing just left me exasperated and bewildered. It completely drained my social and emotional battery. I felt like Kate McKinnon in the re-enactment of Gaslight skit, where he’s like “This is a steak.” And she’s like “Uh, I’m pretty sure it’s a pineapple.”
TLDR - Yes you have to pay for stuff.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/xjc7fx/if_i_order_a_glass_of_wine_do_i_pay_for_it_a_tale/
| 15,020
| 1,238
| 1,663,688,564
| 12
|
tip
|
top
|
awq6hq
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Customer steals tip off of the table, waitress "convinces" him to bring it back.
|
One of my favorite coworkers is a woman who's been serving for over 30 years. She's not well liked by many because she's meaner than a bag of piranhas, but if you can fire back (and do your job right) she'll respect you and be your best friend.
She told me a story today from back in the 80s when she first started. She sees this guy come in wearing a real nice suit, and she watches him take the cash someone left as a tip, right off of the damn table as she's going back into the kitchen. She walks up to him and says "I saw you take that. I want that money back on the damn table when I get back out here."
She returns to the floor after a minute holding a pitcher of water. Lo and behold, the money isn't there. As she passes the table, she "trips" and dumps this pitcher of ice water all over this guy in his nice suit (in the middle of a Michigan winter). She goes into a fake bout of apologetics
"Oh my goodness I'm so sorry sir! I'm so sorry!"
She leans in and whispers: "I'll be back in a minute with the coffee motherfucker."
She comes out a minute later, coffee pot in hand, to find that her money has mysteriously reappeared.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/awq6hq/customer_steals_tip_off_of_the_table_waitress/
| 7,898
| 108
| 1,551,585,027
| 12
|
tip
|
top
|
1gjjkb2
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I can't believe guests like this actually exist!
|
Had a table come in yesterday while kind of slow. Seemed to be three generations of a family: grandma, younger daughter, and a baby maybe close to a year.
Fairly polite and they order their kid some noodles early on. I bring out the kiddo's food.
I bring them some napkins and when I'm back I already see noodles on the floor. Not exactly new or unexpected.
Grandma smiles at me, and apologizes for it. I tell her don't worry, it's not that uncommon and looks pretty minimal. Grandma laughs and says it will get worse.
She wasn't kidding. Every time there is more are more stuff on the ground. They keep asking for more napkins and water.
Tables a disaster but they finally finish. They ask for some more napkins and boxes and I obliged, also dropping the check.
I run off to use the bathroom and give them time to get the check.
I come back and am absolutely stunned.
Not only has everything been prebussed and stacked neatly, but the mother has completely cleaned under the table. The table itself is completely wiped down. When I walk up the grandmother is holding the child while mom is actually scrubbing our high chair!
Never, in my years of serving, has a table with a messy kid 100% cleaned up after themselves.
And they apologized again! And left a 40% tip!
What is this world coming to?!?!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gjjkb2/i_cant_believe_guests_like_this_actually_exist/
| 6,672
| 166
| 1,730,740,505
| 12
|
tip
|
top
|
1gcj0g7
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Some kids are getting raised right
|
I had a two top the other night, pretty late. 17-18 years old, a guy and a girl. They only ordered dessert to split and it took a bit to come out. I had a few other tables so I wasn't really concerning myself with them too much. It had been a brutal shift and I was in the "everyone who walks through this door can fuck right off" mode where you just want to close the damn business and cut your losses and go to bed at 8:30 pm- try again tomorrow.
All of the sudden I see one of the homeless guys who lives in the area approach that table, and I instantly got concerned. The kid flagged me over and I was a little bit concerned I'd have to deal with some sort of issue. But the boy told me he wanted to pay for food for the homeless guy. He told him to get whatever he wanted. The man ended up buying a loaded hot dog and a root beer. I rang the hot dog in, told him I wasn't charging him for the root beer, and grabbed him a few to go cups in a drink carrier. While the man waited for his food, he talked with the kids, and they were so sweet. You could tell the man hadn't been treated as a human in a long time. I can't imagine being in that position, where people see you as second class and you go weeks without hearing your own name out loud. The fact that a couple of high school kids were so eager to spend their own money on a man who most of society would walk right past was such a reassurance that there is still good in humanity.
I tried to get my manager to comp it. He wouldn't. So I moved it off the kid's tab and took it myself. I told the kid there was absolutely no way I was letting him pay for it, and to please just keep being a good human being. I talked with the guy and the two kids for probably ten minutes, and all parties involved were incredibly kind and genuine. The boy wasn't doing it for an act; he wasn't doing it to impress the girl. He bought the man food because he saw a man in need of food, and he wanted to make a difference.
They tipped 50%.
I'm scared for the next generation. Social media, technology, the pandemic, so many factors are going to undoubtedly lead to a youth population more self-centered and checked out than ever before. But it's incredibly reassuring to see high schoolers willing to make a difference simply because they want to be the positive change in the world.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gcj0g7/some_kids_are_getting_raised_right/
| 5,076
| 73
| 1,729,942,317
| 12
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tip
|
top
|
c8iz5s
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I’ve never witnessed a father be so inappropriate..
|
Mobile post, forgive.
A few months ago during a busy Saturday night, a family of 6 sits in my section. Mom, dad, and 4 kids.
I give them the scripted greet per the restaurant standards, and immediately get weird responses back to all of my questions.
Me: Have you guys been here before?
Dad; the food here is my spirit animal.
Me: Can I get everyone started with a cherry coke or a flavored lemonade?
Mom: oh damn, you reminded me that I left my lemonade in the van all day.
Dad: why do you have to tell her it’s in the van? Now she knows we’re “van” people.
Oooookay. I have no idea what the hell is up with the dad. Whatever. Get the drink order, walk away. Give the family a few minutes and head back over to grab the orders.
Orders all in, get to the 6th seat and it’s the eldest teenage daughter. She orders a burger, no cheese no tomato. I’m in the middle of asking her what she would like as a side when the dad interrupts.
Dad: are you going to tell the waitress why you don’t want tomatoes on your burger?
Daughter (who looks mortified): please Stop.
Dad: *laughs* fine. I’ll tell her. She doesn’t want tomatoes in her food anymore because she says it makes her va jay jay stank.
I can’t even imagine what my face looked like when that sentence came out of his mouth, but I know it was bad. I looked over at the daughter who was covering her face with her hands, mortified. I just kind of sat there for a minute not sure what to say, looking at my server pad pretending to write something for the order. I finally look up and begin to repeat the tables order back to move on from the possible worst thing I’ve ever heard when the mom decides to chime up.
Mom: Yeah do you know why tomatoes make her coochie stink?
At this point I realize there isn’t an ounce of shame from these asshole parents, tell them flat out I have no idea, and walk away. I interacted with them only to bring refills and drop off food. They stayed for TWO hours in my section. Tipped me 10%.
Now I know what fucking van people are.
TL;DR
Dad comments about the scent of daughters vagina in the middle of a busy restaurant. To a complete stranger.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/c8iz5s/ive_never_witnessed_a_father_be_so_inappropriate/
| 4,312
| 199
| 1,562,123,805
| 12
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top
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v0m9xc
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I think I have my first regular all because I “know how to shut tf up”.
|
Older guy in his 30s comes in and get put in my section. The only words I say during his entire time at the table was “Hello sir, my name is Mace. What can I get you to drink?” Guy proceeds to give me his drink order and food order. He tells me to bring him a box and a to go dessert when I bring his meal along with the check. Neither of us spoke another word during the entire time he was at the table. He camps out for a bit which I didn’t care about. He was reading over a stack of papers just chilling.
I was at the host stand when he leaves. He comes up asks me my name again. He then says “I like you. You actually know when to shut the fuck up. I’ll see you next time, Mace.” So I guess I’ll see if he asks for me next time he comes in. He tipped like 30% too so that was cool.
Everyone who I know and told this story to finds it hilarious because I’m a freaking chatterbox. I go hoarse nearly every month because I just talk and talk and talk.
Edit: I wasn’t going to add an edit since everyone was just joking and having fun but some of you are taking this “older guy in his 30s” personal. I called him that because he’s a guy that’s older than me and happens to be in his 30s. If this guy was 24 I’d call him an older guy in his 20s. Anybody born before February 4, 2003 is older to me, guys.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/v0m9xc/i_think_i_have_my_first_regular_all_because_i/
| 4,170
| 359
| 1,653,864,121
| 12
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tip
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top
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ascqkm
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Fake outrage for free food can have consequences for your servers. I ultimately quit because of a customers lie.
|
I was a newbie. I had hosted for 2 years at this point but I finally got a job as a server at a semi-corporate place. I was so very excited. I loved serving and even the busiest of nights never bothered me. Attention to detail is important to me, and instantly the GM liked me because of how well I did as a rookie. She was notorious for being crazy and strict and no one liked her. But, she liked me.
Up until this night I had absolutely no issues ever. It had only been a couple of weeks but I never had a complaint and any problems that occurred were fixable and from what I could tell all my customers were happy when they left. I even got a few regulars tell me I was the best service they got there. Which really meant the world to me. As time went on I started getting really good shifts. And, I was making good money. I loved the job, and the customers.
Until one lady came in. She was with her parents and two of her children. The parents were extremely nice, and I love kid so I had no issue buddying up with them. She was off from the bringing though. She was maybe in her 30s. She did not look up to me when she ordered her drink. She told her mother to shut up when she was trying to ask me about a deal we had. When I started explaining the deal anyway she snapped again “you can see the deal on the menu, I don’t know what your asking her!” I did not want to upset her anymore, so I point to where it said the deal and the mother nodded.
I bring back the drinks and admittedly I did make a small mistake. She has originally ordered a lemonade but before I walked away she changed her mind to a water. I nodded, but the interaction previously kinda threw me off and I brought her the lemonade by mistake. She was the last drink I put down and Instantly when I reach down to give it to her I realize the mistake. I go to pick it up and apologize but before I can she huffs in disgust “I told you I wanted a water not a lemonade!” She yelled aggressively. I nervously laughed it off and blamed myself, I told her I must have been in autopilot and I would fix this right away. She asks if she will be charged for the lemonade, I have not rung in drinks yet so I assure her that no she will not.
All else is calm and I’m taking care of other tables before their food comes out. Her and her mother ordered burgers. I hand out all the plates and they all begin eating. After a couple minutes I check back and ask how everything is. The daughter is completely silent. The mother looks kind of worried and hesitantly says her burger is over cooked, she wanted medium but it was well done. I profusely apologize and take a look, it was a little more on the brown side. I tell her I will have her another made and I will get my manager. Then the daughter pipes up and says hers is wrong also. I repeat my apologies and tell them the manager will fix the problem (aka take the burgers off the order) while I get them new burgers. The mother insisted I don’t do that, she would just eat her burger there was no issue. To my surprise the daughter says nothing. I ask again is she sure she does not want a new burger, she once again repeats that no neither of them do.
I still go to my manager and explain the situation. She comps the meals and gives them a free desert. I happily tell them this news and the mother seems really thankful. Still, nothing from the daughter.
The mother tips me 20% and all else seems well. The daughter did not look at me for the rest of the meal, but she also didn’t snap or yell at me. She did yell at her children a few times for minor things, rather loudly and aggressively. But, she seemed calmer.
The next day I come onto work I get called into the back by a manager and my GM. They ask me if I know what it’s about. I confusingly say no, I don’t. They stare at me sternly, not believing me. I ask them what happened, and if I did something wrong. I had never seen my GM mad at me about anything before.
“Explain what happened last night with that table with the burgers” she tells me. It took me a couple seconds to remember what she meant. It hadn’t been something that stood out to me because it was a rather minuscule situation. But, I tell her what happened about the burgers being overcooked and me getting a manager to comp them. She then pulls out a paper with a really long paragraph. She hands it to me and tells me to read it out loud.
Basically it was the biggest character assassination I ever knew possible. It was all written by the daughter. She said I was rude, called me a bitch, and said I acted like they were a nuisance and a waste of my time. I talked down on her when I said “excuse me honey” when she spoke. The only time I had said that was to her son when I reached over to hand her her water after the lemonade situation. Not to her, and not condescending. She told them her burger was burnt and she couldn’t eat it. Dispute her finishing it. She told them I rolled my eyes when she complained. And I took 30 minutes to give them a check, which was also not true. All I had to do was get the manager to comp the meals, and her mother was given the check before their meal was completely finished and desert was brought out. She also said I charged her for a lemonade she never ordered. I know I didn’t, but even if I had why wouldn’t she have said something then?
Apparently my GM had called her the next morning and they were on the phone for an hour. And, my GM couldn’t even get a word in because the lady was so angered she was screaming the whole conversation. By this time I was crying, I hate to admit that but I had no defense. I had no proof none of this was true. And, despite all my good reviews they believed her. Maybe not fully, but they said there was no one someone was that mad if I had done nothing wrong. They made me read a paper on their policy of treating customers. They told me I am not allowed to call anyone honey. And, what hurt the most was, they told me they might have overestimated my abilities on handling myself. And, that I would be put back in the smallest 3 table section.
Ultimately my hours dropped. And, the GM no longer liked me. No matter how good I did after that my reputation never recovered. I was forced to find another job. Without them as a reference I had no documentable serving experience, so I had to work my way up and a different place now. I make significantly less money, even a year later, than I would have there. All because she complained and got another free meal. She practically ruined my life over burgers.
Edit: Thank you for the support!!! It’s so encouraging read kind comments and it feels like at least reddit has my back on this situation... lol. I no longer work at this place. And I have never had a situation this bad ever happen to me since. I genuinely love serving and I really do not get overwhelmed or angry about much. This place has other locations that have shut down at a high rate over the last couple years, and that should have been a warning sign before I began working at this location.
EDIT 2: also I kinda realize that I think this was a little bit more of an elaborate scam than I thought at the time. The fact she didn’t speak up in front of her parents makes me believe she wanted to cause a scene after the fact. The mother was pretty insistent that she did not want to get free food and I was actually the one who asked the manager to comp it, the mother never asked me to do that. Makes me think that since the daughter remained quite up until they left means she wanted to take more advantage of the situation behind everyone else’s back.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ascqkm/fake_outrage_for_free_food_can_have_consequences/
| 4,155
| 230
| 1,550,596,517
| 12
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tip
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top
|
120av63
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Auto gratuity tips
|
At the restaurant I work at any party over 8 gets automatic gratuity added and this is stated on the menu as well as on the check where it shows the gratuity charge.
I was serving a large party today where the gratuity was added then they tipped me on top of that. When it came time to cash out my manager asked me if I told them about the auto gratuity to which I said no because it’s listed on the menu and the charge shows on the check. She then told me I could not have the tip they gave me due to it being considered stealing since I did not explicitly tell them so we could not know for sure if they meant to tip me twice and I didn’t get the tip. Is that normal/ allowed?
Edit: This is only my second week there and I had never had an auto grat before so I didn’t know the right way to do it. I’m definitely going to talk with the other servers just in case but also gonna make sure to emphasize the auto grat on any future tables. Thanks for all the insight
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/120av63/auto_gratuity_tips/
| 141
| 91
| 1,679,637,438
| 12
|
gratuity
|
relevance
|
1cbp27o
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Was offered a fine dining server job with no experience?
|
I'll preface by saying: I've worked in restaurants for years, but only ever as a host. I had a summer where I worked as a server but it was for the patio section of a restaurant and I only ever had like 4 tables max at one time. (Also worked as a server and bartender in training during Covid... but it was a casual place, hot mess and I still get stress dreams)
I (25f) recently interviewed at a very fancy Italian fine dining place for a host job. The interview couldn't have gone better, the manager said multiple times that I was his first pick. I followed up a few days later and he said that although the host position had been filled, he wanted to offer me a server position.
(BTW - the manager had misplaced my resume so I had to email it to him on the spot, and then he just glanced at it during the interview.. not sure if he misread anything)
I said yes right away because the servers make a ton of money there, auto gratuity of 20% most tables.. but the menu is STACKED, the wine list is 30+ pages, not to mention everything's in Italian. I have ZERO wine experience. I don't even know how to open a bottle properly. I found an old job listing for the place, and it usually requires SIX YEARS of server experience.. I'm not sure how I was offered this job as I'm definitely underqualified. Running OpenTable and managing to-go orders is much more my speed - making wine pairing suggestions and using a table crumber ?? No idea.
I've been stressing about this for days now to the point where I'm literally losing sleep over it. I have worked in an office environment for over a year so I'm removed from restaurants as it is, and I'm still traumatized by my busiest days as a host. I'm also a musician first and foremost and was looking for a part time job to survive while I practice for upcoming gigs.
So like.. what do I do? I was also offered a different job - longer commute, but less stressful.. should I do the server job anyways for the money? Any advice is appreciated!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1cbp27o/was_offered_a_fine_dining_server_job_with_no/
| 61
| 19
| 1,713,931,708
| 12
|
gratuity
|
hot
|
18qsmsa
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
New job in fine dining
|
I’ve been a head server for about 6 months at a VERY causal sushi restaurant but i recently got hired at a fine dining restaurant and im extremely nervous to start. like i don’t even know how to open a bottle of wine??? when i applied for the job i was applying for food runner bc i just wanted to break into the fine dining world but the interviewer liked me and offered me the server position instead even after i explained to her that i work at a super causal restaurant (possible red flag? i was referred by an employee there so maybe not) the menu for the restaurant is pretty small and they also have a automatic gratuity of 20%. but the wine menu is huge and i can’t even pronounce any of the names, but this is such a huge opportunity for me i’m 19 and have been wanting to move out of the small restaurant i work at for so long. any tips?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/18qsmsa/new_job_in_fine_dining/
| 88
| 25
| 1,703,543,048
| 12
|
gratuity
|
hot
|
14ttgv9
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"Tipping out is WAGE THEFT!"
|
My restaurant is one of those restaurants that has an automatic 20% gratuity added to every check.
Stop reading now if that upsets you because o really don't give a fuck.
We received a 1 star review from a very irate woman whose main argument is that servers should keep 100% of their tips and restaurants should pay their BOH better.
While I don't disagree, I also don't make the rules.
Review didn't mention if she even ate at my restaurant, just that she wouldn't because of our tipping policy.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/14ttgv9/tipping_out_is_wage_theft/
| 26
| 48
| 1,688,789,972
| 12
|
gratuity
|
hot
|
wvrk9a
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
PF Chang's - "Service Fee" on delivery orders - does this make it to the staff?
|
Just reviewing an delivery order from PF Chang's - they tacked on a $30 "Service Fee" - looks to be roughly 10% of the order (before tax, gratuity and fees). Does this (part or all) make it to the staff or is this being pocketed by management?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/wvrk9a/pf_changs_service_fee_on_delivery_orders_does/
| 10
| 10
| 1,661,268,030
| 12
|
gratuity
|
hot
|
ckss4q
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
A little malicious compliance
|
I used to wait tables at an upscale restaurant that was known for the place to have your holiday or office parties. Great money if you got the right group. The menus were pre-set, the wine and liquor was pre-set, and it was all auto-grated at 18%. All of it was in the contract the host signed pre-event. Usually the host would make themselves known fairly early on so you would know who to talk to if there was an issue and who to give the check to at the end of the night.
​
One night, I am splitting a party of 30-40 with another server. This event had top tier food and mid level wine and booze. Very nice. A small group of 5-6 people arrive a bit ahead of schedule. 2 guys and 3-4 women. Not a problem, its actually nicer if they slowly roll in so we can get drinks started. I walk over, introduce myself and the other waiter and ask for drinks. Now this was back in the early 2000's and chads weren't a thing yet, but the 2 guys were the chaddiest chads. If they could have popped their collars in their suits, I'm sure these guys would have found a way.
Superchad1 - "Me and my bro are going to start with a round of Johnny Walker blue, and these ladies are going to have (expensive red wine)"
Superchad2- (turning to the girls) "Once you have Johnny Blue, you just cant drink anything else. It changes you, bro"
Me- "If you like, I can put those on a separate tab, the event contract has Johnny Walker Black, but not blue, and the red wine selection for tonight is (less expensive wine)"
Superchad1 - "This is our event, just get me what I ordered and dont question me again!"
Superchad2- "Who do you think you are? You're just some waiter, we have MBA's. Just get us our drinks!"
​
I walk over to the other waiter and tell him we are in for a hell of a night, but the check should be nice. For those that dont know, Johnny Walker blue is 3-4x the cost of Johnny Black. So one round of drinks for these people is over $100. The whole night goes exactly as we thought. Nothing was good enough, the appetizers were crap, the food was horrible, not enough bread, too many bread plates, drinks were taking too long, why do some people have food and others dont (its 40 people man, it takes a minute to get that much food out). To make it worse, chads and co are all over the place, moving seats and making others move so they can talk to who they want. This makes serving hell because we did everything by seat number.
​
Surprisingly, the most of the table was normal, not entitled people and who knew that waiters are people too. They were impressed by the food, and graciously ordered the drinks that were in the contract. One older gentleman at the other end of the table from the chads apologized for their behavior, saying "they might have fancy degrees and good jobs, but you cant teach class". Loved that guy.
​
Finally, they are winding down and after drinking almost a full bottle of Johnny Blue along with all the other food and drinks they have a VERY hefty check and the other waiter and I are excited to get paid. We start picking up the dessert plates and asking for last drink requests. The nice older guy at the end of the table says to bring him the check. Not wanting any more interaction with the chads than necessary, I bring it to him. I tell him I can take care of it whenever and go about clearing the table. A few minutes later he calls me over
​
Nice guy - "Maybe there was a mistake in ringing up the drinks? There is almost $600 for Johnny blue, when the contract I signed only included Johnny Black. And there are some single glasses of wine that are different from what we agreed upon."
Me - "No mistake sir, that is what was ordered and drank." (He is being awesome, and I feel bad)
Nice guy - "Why did you give the drinks to them when we clearly had a contract?"
Me - "I apologize sir, they told me that this was their party and since I was just a waiter to shut up and do as I was told. So I did. Im sorry, I took them at their word"
​
I point them out and he calls them over. What follows was the singularly greatest ass chewing I have ever been witness to. He goes on about how he was doing something nice but apparently that wasn't enough. About how horrible their behavior was that night and how he is ashamed for them. But my favorite line was how you see a persons true colors in how they treat people that work for them and they had shown theirs. Then he calls me back over.
​
Nice guy - "Apparently I thought this was my party. Guess I was wrong. This is their party and they will be taking care of the check. Oh, and up the gratuity to 25%. You earned it."
​
He turns around and walks off, leaving the chads with the check. All in all it was about 3k. I have never seen 2 grown men look so defeated.
Edit: credit to u/beepolai The boss might have been their father. It makes total sense looking back. Thanks!!
Edit2: This was 10+ years ago, all dialogue is paraphrased from memory. Expect the "it changes you bro". That one I remember clearly
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ckss4q/a_little_malicious_compliance/
| 2,069
| 82
| 1,564,686,479
| 12
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gratuity
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top
|
6lrptf
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"You might want to count again."
|
Large family comes in, 60 minutes later, one of the younger guys whispers that he gets the check. Fine with me. I slip it to him. I then see him counting money under the table. I walk by a minute later and he slips it to me saying he's good. Ok. I head to the back and do a quick count before they leave. My first thought is it's hard to count money in secret, under a table. The bill was $434 with the 18% auto grat applied. I open the book and there's 3 $100s, 2 50s, and a thick stack of 20s. I did a quick spread and there was probably $200+ in $20s....so I'm holding $600ish maybe more. Instantly several things come to mind. First off, maybe he can't count. Perhaps some bills were stuck together? Also, I don't think he looked and saw the grat included. I always tell guests it is, but when someone wants to pay in stealth mode, I don't say a single word what so ever, about anything. It's a secret drop onto the person's thigh or so as I walk by and normally I then just picked it up with a credit card 60 seconds later. So, I went back to the table, slipped him the book and quickly said, "Gratuity IS included and I think you might want to count again." I gave him 2-3 minutes and made another pass. He had the book ready for a hand off once again. He had a smile that almost laughed and said a sincere "THANK YOU!" as I took the book and walked off. I recounted it and this time it was $480.
Thank you very much sir, you rock!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/6lrptf/you_might_want_to_count_again/
| 513
| 32
| 1,499,406,534
| 12
|
gratuity
|
top
|
rf9zz2
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Hey Karen from table 14, I hope you choke on that dollar.
|
Sunday brunch today. 5 top of DLOL's (dear little old ladies). Ticket split 5 ways. Karen is overheard loudly complaining that her side substitution rings up for a single solitary dollar, while wearing a $400 designer jacket. I return to process payment. Karen interrogates me over the dollar charge which I explain is an automatic up charge to cover the food cost of the item. food service being what it is in America I offer to take the ONE DOLLAR off the bill for her. Karen proffers a solution, she'll graciously take the dollar out of my tip and I can take it off after the fact if I want it back. While this is happening I'm being sat an 11 top in a private room. I just hand my manager the stack of cash transactions each in the 10-15 dollar range and ask for her to handle making change, I have no patience left and bigger fish to fry.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/rf9zz2/hey_karen_from_table_14_i_hope_you_choke_on_that/
| 361
| 10
| 1,639,379,953
| 12
|
service charge
|
hot
|
1hji3x3
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I got fired today
|
I work for a chain restaurant, about 500 or so locations nationwide. My manager pulled me aside earlier today and told me that corporate had flagged a few of my checks from the last few weeks, and that I had to provide a statement as to what happened. The restaurant I (used to) work for has prepaid cards, basically the ones that you can use at multiple different restaurants, which you run as credit, so if the tip exceeds the total amount that's on the card, the restaurant gets a chargeback for it. Apparently, a few of my checks that were paid for with the prepaid cards reported tips higher than the total on the card.
One of the checks was for $6.47 (remaining balance after another form of payment) and they tipped up to $50, but wrote $48 and some change in the tip line. I put in $43.53, to equal the $50 total. There was only ever $25 on that prepaid card, but no way for me to know that (I technically *could* have called the card company to find the balance, but I typically trust the customer knows what's on their card).
Another check had a tip that was very clearly $13, but the total line was funky and you really couldn't tell whether it equalled out to a $3 or $13 tip (I put in $13, which wasn't what the customer meant).
I gave my statement, and when my GM came in she had to contact corporate with my statement, and employee relations made the decision to terminate me as the checks "appeared fraudulent". I plan on calling employee relations on Monday so they can tell me to my face that they fired me four days before Christmas because of 50 some dollars they have no definitive proof that I stole (that I *didn't* steal). I think this is the push I needed to leave the service industry for good. I was starting to get burnt out and I wanted to leave soon anyways, just not like this.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hji3x3/i_got_fired_today/
| 773
| 80
| 1,734,812,006
| 12
|
restaurant tip
|
hot
|
up5gi1
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I left my "friends" to walk home after they were rude to our server
|
Always watch how your date tips. Once I went out with a few friends to eat. I agreed to pay if they left the tip so it didn't have to be spilt this dude sets down $1 and the bill was $44 I look at him and asked him "dude what is that?" He said "it's her tip" I was like "dude our bill was $44 and it's been a slow night(it was what would be a dinner rush and there was maybe us a 2 others) give her more then that." He looks at me in disgust "hell no this is how I was taught and it's not my fault she's a waitress and it's been slow" and my other friend freaken agrees! Like wtf! I shove the dollar back at him and said "I don't know how you were raised but I was raised to tip a server cause with out them we wouldn't be getting our food, now take your dollar and go spend it on someone who might want it" I then take out $20 more and put it with the food money and just told the lady to keep the Change. I was so pissed! And then this dude leaves and come back with $20 and told me he went and go my change and told the poor girl she didn't deserve it! She was literally crying! This girl couldn't be more then 16! So I grabbed MY money from him and went back up there and gave it to her and apologized. And I left them at the restaurant for them to thumb it back to their place cause I left them with how horrible they treated that girl! The guy literally had her running around like a chicken with her head cut off cause after she brought one thing he wanted something else! That was the last time I ever went out to eat with them and the last time I ever saw them. He was 21 years old making a 16 year old cry because he wanted to be an ass.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/up5gi1/i_left_my_friends_to_walk_home_after_they_were/
| 2,257
| 153
| 1,652,488,351
| 12
|
waiter tip
|
relevance
|
dh4eby
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
To the table of 25 that tipped me $20
|
Thank you!
I live in Australia where tipping is not required, necessary or even something people think about at most meals. I also work at a family restaurant, so it's not even fancy or anything. If I do get tipped, it's once every 40 tables I look after. If I do get tipped, it's the change in a wallet or a few dollars.
Yesterday a table of 25 were booked and I looked after them. They were pretty chill and nice, and after they paid, left and were standing outside, I was cleaning their table. One of the guys on the table came back in and was like "I forgot to tip you!"
I told him "nah you don't have to" and he gave me $20! I know since this is a mostly American sub, it sounds like a terrible tip, but for someone that lives in Australia, it really made my day!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/dh4eby/to_the_table_of_25_that_tipped_me_20/
| 2,411
| 220
| 1,570,931,996
| 12
|
waiter tip
|
relevance
|
6d4d1m
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
[X-Post from JustNoMIL]MIL in the wild: I'll just put it in my water bottle
|
Buckle up, buckaroos; I have one hell of a story for you today!
The other night I went out to dinner with DH to a small, regional, casual-restaurant chain. We were seated next to a small (7 people) party who were celebrating a child's birthday. It's clear that they've just arrived.
At this table, we have the mother (50s), her husband (40s) (who she is very touchy-feely with), another older man (50s - I'm assuming he's her brother), her 2 daughters (early 20s), and 2 little girls (10 and 12).
Right off the bat, it seems like this is clearly an uncomfortable meal for the adults. MIL will look, pointedly, at one adult and say something, then cock her head and slowly rotate her head towards another person, with her lips pursed in a smirk. She's very obviously pulling the strings and causing drama.
I can't hear what she's saying at this point because it's the tail end of dinner rush, but I do notice that, every so often, after this chain of events is completed, one of the two parties addressed will run to the bathroom, with fists clenched.
All the while, she is constantly touching her husband: hand around the back of his chair, her head on his shoulder, etc. It's pretty gross and he is clearly very uncomfortable about it.
The waitress comes to take their order:
> MIL: I'll have the chicken.
> H: I thought you wanted the steak.
> MIL: Oh no, I'd never order something SO expensive!
This is important. I will come back to it later.
She then goes on to question everyone on their choices, CBF-ing when no one takes her suggestions. At this point, she decides to order a "glass of vodka" and is impressed with the size when it arrives.
This is also important and will be revisited.
Their salads and apps come out around the same time ours do. It's a bit of a wait, but nothing crazy. We did show up near the end of dinner rush (8:15-ish). About 8:50, she flags the waitress down:
> MIL: Are you EVER planning on bringing our food, or do you have ALL new chefs?
> W: I'm sorry for the wait. I'm actually about to grab it for you.
> MIL: We've been here since SEVEN O'CLOCK. (Total horseshit. You arrived right before we did...35 mins ago...at 8:15).
> W: I'm going to get your food now.
> MIL: Yeah. *sarcastically* We'll see.
Two waitresses immediately show up behind her and start serving the family. CBF blooms.
As soon as everyone is served, MIL reaches over her husband's plate and serves herself.
> H: What are you doing?!
> MIL: I just want a little taste.
> H: I TOLD you to order your own steak!
> MIL: It's just a little taste.
> H: You took half my meal!
> MIL: Oh, don't be so melodramatic. You can have my chicken.
> H: I don't want chicken. If I did, I would have ordered it.
> MIL: *Ignores him and takes a bite of his steak, but she's clearly unhappy that she was called out for her behavior*
At this point, the waitress returns to ask how the meal was:
> MIL: This was LITERALLY the WORST steak I have ever SEEN in my LIFE! His too! *Gestures to husband*
> H: It's just fine.
> W: I can replace it. What's the issue with it?
> H: Nothing, it's fine.
> MIL: It TASTES like POT ROAST!
> H: It's really ok.
> W: Are you sure? I'd be happy to take it to the kitchen.
> MIL: For $15 we deserve better than this!
> W: I'm so sorry, I'll replace it. Is there something else you'd like?
> H: Really, it's fine. I have no problem eating this.
> MIL: *Picks up husband's plate and hands it to the waitress* Just take it. We don't need anything else. Actually, another glass of vodka.
So now Husband is left without a meal. MIL has her own chicken and half his steak. She keeps insisting he try her chicken.
Meanwhile, the two little girls are running around a bit, having fun. Birthday excitement. I get it. They're clearly too excited for dessert to do much but nibble their meals.
The waitress returns again to make sure everything else is ok.
> MIL: My chicken was really weird.
> W: I'm so sorry! Is there anything I can do?
> MIL: Take that off the bill too.
> W: Of course. Can I get you a replacement?
> MIL: No, but you can take the kid's meals off the bill too. They barely touched their food. It was terrible! No one enjoyed their meals tonight.
The rest of the table insists to the waitress that their meals were, in fact, quite good.
> MIL: NONE of you finished your food. This was awful!
Again, her family insists there was nothing wrong with their food.
> MIL: *Hurls herself back in her chair and throws her hands up in the air in typical martyr fashion* I guess I'm the only one! *Dramatic sigh*
At this point, the bus boy comes over to help remove plates. He's Hispanic and doesn't say much.
> MIL: You. Where are you from?
> W: He's our busboy. He doesn't like to talk much.
> MIL: He MUST talk to you! You're his co-worker!
> W: No. He's just quiet and private.
> MIL: You! You! HABLO ENGLISH? WHERE. ARE. YOU. FROM?
The bus boy puts his head down and speeds up.
> MIL: *Turns to her husband* He doesn't speak the language. He doesn't speak *turns to the bus boy* EEEEENGLISH.
I turn to my husband. We stare at each other in disbelief. I miss whatever happens next, but I'm pulled out of my stupor once she begins to chant:
> MIL: Make us great! Make us great! Make us great!
Her husband stands up abruptly.
> MIL: Where are you going?
> H: We're leaving now?
> MIL: Who?
> H: I'm taking the girls.
> MIL: You can't just TAKE them?! We're here for <one of the girl's> birthday!
> H: Mom, I'm not doing this.
Record fucking scratch!
This ISN'T her husband she's been fondling all night. This is her SON!
Holy Jocasta, Batman!
Now that her son and grandkids are gone, MIL takes a moment to gather herself before announcing that they will STILL CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY TONIGHT and designates it her younger adult daughter's birthday. The waitress is confused by this but decides to go with the flow.
The other daughter says something at this point, but I miss it.
> MIL: I don't know how you got to be so dysfunctional, but we still care.
> OD: *says something I can't hear*
> MIL: You're like Katy Perry. She kissed a girl and she liked it. She liked the taste of HER cherry chapstick.
The other daughter gets up and heads to the bathroom. A minute later the older man leaves too. They're gone for quite a while and miss (probably intentionally) the singing of the obnoxiously long and loud birthday song by all the waiters.
> MIL: They must all be hiding from me in the bathroom!
> Fake Birthday Daughter: *chuckles awkwardly*
> MIL: *To waiters* NO! You can't go! You waited for everyone to leave! Please! Come back!
The older man and other daughter return.
> MIL: See! They're back! They're back! You HAVE to sing again!
They don't.
The waitress brings the check and MIL starts bragging about all the free food they got.
> MIL: Our ENTIRE bill is ONLY $100 for all 7 of us!
The family ignores her.
> MIL: Wait. Oh my GOD! *Clutches her chest* NINE DOLLARS for ABSOLUT! I've never HEARD of such a thing!
Llamas, I could not help myself. I lost my shit. I threw my head back and cackled, which caught the attention of the older man at the table.
> OM: *to me* Are you enjoying the show?
> Me: Yes. I didn't realize free entertainment came with my meal tonight.
The rest of the table turns to look at me. I'm furiously live-texting this in a group chat with my friends.
> OM: Are you texting this to all your friends now? All about this crazy woman you see?
> Me: Yes I am.
The older man is a bit taken aback. He turns back to MIL:
> OM: She is texting everyone she knows about you.
There's no reason to stop texting now, or even hide the fact that I am, so I don't.
> MIL: I have NEVER seen vodka SO EXPENSIVE in my LIFE! I need a manager!
Long story short (because this is already long AF): MIL was under the impression that it was happy hour...at 8:15pm...in a restaurant, despite no one telling her it was happy hour. The fact that they only brought her a single drink did not give it away. She "assumed" that her 2nd drink would be free. She is also very upset because when she ordered a "glass," they gave her a double. Remember, she did comment earlier on how large her vodka was, so this couldn't have been that much of a surprise.
MIL has the waitress bring over the manager and then the bar manager. Both explain to her that she had no reason to believe that this was happy hour. She is insisting that she should have to pay $6 tops for what is essentially 4 drinks. They refuse to adjust her bill any further (keep in mind, she did get 2 kids meals and 2 adult meals for free already).
After both managers leave, she grabs the waitress again.
> MIL: Where is the ACTUAL restaurant manager?
> W: It's her night off.
> MIL: You better call her and have her come in right now if you want me to figure out your tip.
I'm done with this shit now, so I VERY obviously call over the on-duty manager and I make a big show about how wonderful our waitress is and what a SAINT she has been, dealing with OTHER customers.
Once the manager walks away, MIL starts addressing me:
> MIL: I'm SO SORRY my ANTICS ruined your BIG ROMANTIC night.
My husband and I ignore her, which pisses her off. She repeats this louder and louder until her family shushes her.
She turns back to the table and starts sobbing:
> MIL: All you care about is yourselves *she turns to the older man whom she has had minimal interactions with all night* If you REALLY loved me, you'd get engaged to me.
Gee, I wonder why he hasn't jumped on board yet.
My waitress comes over to our table. I tell her she's doing a great job, chin up, and all that, so I miss some conversation.
Next thing I hear is MIL refusing to tip. Everyone else scrounges together $10 in cash to leave. MIL wants to be the provider, so she agrees to tip $10 if they all put their money away. The agree, but all end up leaving their money when they leave anyway.
MIL grabs the waitress one last time. I only hear the last part of what she says:
> MIL: ...you'll understand when you're older.
> W: I'm 49. I have 4 kids and 10 grandkids. I take care of my deaf granddaughter. How old are you?
Holy hell! This waitress is my new favorite person! I lose my shit again!
Finally, the family stands up to leave and the waitress starts clearing the table.
> MIL: Don't take the vodka! I sure paid enough for it!
> W: I'm sorry. I thought you were leaving.
> MIL: I am. I'm going to take the vodka with me.
> W: What?
> MIL: *Pulls out a Fiji bottle* I'll just put it in my water bottle.
It took 3 servers to convince her this was illegal before she left.
Holy hell.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/6d4d1m/xpost_from_justnomilmil_in_the_wild_ill_just_put/
| 1,205
| 112
| 1,495,653,709
| 12
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waiter tip
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relevance
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rgna99
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I haven't worked in a restaurant in a very long time but there's something I just wanted to say about one of my favorite customers who passed recently.
|
A customer I used to have recently passed and I just wanted to share this story because this man was really good to the staff.
He also asked for very specific modifications on orders which ended up turning out to be so good we actually added two of them to the menu.
The Reuben empanadas and macaroni and cheese chicken wings.
In fact, one time during the summer when he had this one waitress talking about visiting her grandparents. Out of the kindness of his own heart he finagled his way to finding out which Airline she was going to use and when she wanted to fly out. Her tip that day was an airline ticket for Delta Airlines. He thought nothing of it.
I remember one year when I was still in college he saw me doing homework on my laptop in a section of the restaurant that we closed off from 5 till close on a Monday and Tuesday. He asked me what I was doing I said that I had rented a digital book to do homework on because I couldn't afford the actual book. He asked me how I am renting a digital book and I told him that it's not really a file that I can download. I have to sign in into a website and it grants me access for a certain amount of time. I then told him that if I can't get through the whole book by the time my access is over I'm just going to take screenshots of the book pages and hopefully that'll get me through.
The book was $600; because God forbid college textbooks be reasonably priced. The next day he hands two American Express gift cards. One with $500 on it, the other with $200. The only thing he did was look at me and smile and say " go get yourself a proper book"
I remember one day he had this large smile on his face and he ordered about $700 worth of food. He said he was having a celebration at his house because he just found out that he was going to be a grandfather.
I remember one time we had a manager who was stealing tips when he saw tips being on the table and he would redistribute them as he saw fit. The problem was is that the owner always took his word for it and we were never able to take any action because several reasons. Mainly because of the fact that we couldn't prove it because this manager was really slick.
This customer became wise to this and although he didn't necessarily feel it was his place to say anything because he didn't want one of us to get in trouble for something he did he made sure that we got our tips. He did this in a very unusual fashion.
Sometimes he would throw a five on the table just to make it look good. Sometimes he would throw a dollar or two. But he would purposely wait for an opportunity cross the pass right by him and he would slip a $5 bill or $10 bill in our pocket or in our apron out of sight. With wait staff that he was very friendly with, he would act as if we were relatives of his and shake our hand or give us a hug and slip us the money this way. He would always tell us how much he felt bad that our manager was stealing our tips and that there wasn't much we can do. When he would come in and that manager wasn't there he never did anything like that only one that manager wasn't there did he sneak us our proper tip.
I remember one Christmas Eve gave the entire weights that $50 bills. Now, this one particular time he did this out in the open and handed everyone a $50 tip even if only one waiter served him. The manager saw this and demanded that everyone give in the $50.
But that was our little miracle because that particular manager was a creature of habit. And the owner did not have a chance to tell him that he had install the security camera in the dry storage to make sure nobody got in through that way. ( at the time our dry storage was being remodeled so there was a temporary doorway made to be outside for the construction workers) it was in that room that when my co-worker told this manager that you would not hand over the $50 bill that he got caught and he was fired immediately.
After that, my favorite customer stopped being sneaky when giving us our tips because it wasn't necessary anymore.
Rest in peace Joey Gray. You will be missed. Although, I do you think that your caliber of men is not produced enough in this world, I am not sad. I am happy. Because I know may you were once again with your wife.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/rgna99/i_havent_worked_in_a_restaurant_in_a_very_long/
| 545
| 42
| 1,639,532,918
| 12
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waiter tip
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hot
|
pgyi1x
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Scammed by my first ever table
|
So I’ve recently started serving part time after only ever running food and bussing a few years during high school. I work for a restaurant group that has less than 20 but more than 10 restaurants in the metropolitan area of a major city. It was my second day of training and it was the first time I was going to be serving a table all by myself, with my trainer watching from the wings.
A couple get sat in my section, they look pretty normal, not exactly our usual clientele but not unusual either. I take there drink and apps orders no problem. While ringing them in, my manager comes up to me and asks how they’ve been because they had a $150 comp card waiting for them at the host podium when they came in. And we only give those out if they’ve had a bad experience at one of our restaurants. I say everything is fine, they been very nice and nothing unusual at all. She hums and walks away.
I of course think no worries I got this, she’s being paranoid. As they finish the meal, I drop their check and step back to my post to keep an eye out. They take a bit longer than normal to get the money but I just figured that’s because they were paying in cash. After a bit I walk to the table and see the check facing down but no money until I go to grab the check and see the cash tucked and totally hiding underneath. I tell them without looking at what I’m holding that I’d be right back with their change.
As I approach the POS I look at the cash and the bill. The bill came to $79.15 and he handed me four $20 bills. I think “huh, I hope he leaves me something on the table.” So I return and drop off $1 because we round change up and down by the dollar. Then I walk away because I had some other stuff I needed to do. I don’t think much of it.
Until a few minutes later the man storms up to me demanding the rest of his change. I explain that I gave him his change, $1. But he says he gave me a $100 in five $20s and was going to give me $10 of it as a tip. I turn to my trainer who thankfully takes charge of the situation and tells him that he only gave me four $20s. He insists he had five in his pocket and gave me five. My trainer tells him they’ll happily get the manager or he can call the restaurant later to complain.
He yells that he will be complaining and reporting me. I’m standing their in shock. I wonder could he have really given me five bills? I start searching my whole person, my pockets, my waiter wallet, but nope, just four $20s. I go check the floor, the booth they sat in, nothing.
My manager pulls me aside later and says that I have nothing to worry about. None of it was my fault. They’re scammers. She points out how odd it was that they didn’t use the comp card handed to them when the came in, as well as the idea that he wanted me to give him small change for five $20s on a $79.15 bill but not communicating that.
Later I realized that I had paid $1 of my own money for the pleasure to wait on them. It was a hard and fast lesson that people suck and you can’t do much about it. But it is certainly memorable that my first ever table tried to scam me.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/pgyi1x/scammed_by_my_first_ever_table/
| 101
| 13
| 1,630,645,399
| 12
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waiter tip
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hot
|
ebsa56
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Ya'll, I won the lotto tonight.
|
Hey everybody, just some quick background I work in a sports arena as an "Order taker". Basically I'm a waiter, or hot dog man 2.0 if you will. I have seats instead of tables but other than that it's pretty much the same thing. Tonight I have my hockey section. Which means I have wheel chair. It's about half the size of a normal section only having fifty seats or so. This means for the most part I don't make as much money. The money isn't awful but it's usually $75 to $90ish for four hours and my normal sized basketball section makes up for it.
Tonight though... I had this large group come in. I great them say welcome to "arena" give them my name and tell them I'm basically their waiter and listing my actual job title just confuses people. They ask if they can run a tab, no problem I just need a credit card to open the tab and something to get in an order. So they order a round of drinks for everyone mostly consisting of double shot liquor and mixers and a few food items. Already their tab is at $165+ which is often about as high as my big tabs go sometimes, but then they just keep ordering, and ordering, and ORDERING. By the end of the night their tab is more than eight hundred dollars. Keep in mind I was also servicing the rest of the 50 seat section which is like seventy-five percent full. I come when they are ready to closeout and they say they want to pay in cash instead of the card. They hand me ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS and ask "are we good"...
Yup!
&#x200B;
No really are we good?
&#x200B;
No really, yup!
&#x200B;
It's really important to us that we take care of people are you sure we're good.
&#x200B;
Sir, if I were a little less straight I'd be giving you a kiss, you are super douper good.
&#x200B;
Ok you've been really great tonight, thank you so much.
&#x200B;
The best part? In a section where I'm usually doing well to make six hundred in sales, between the rain makers and the rest of my section my sales were so high my supervisors in the kitchen were convinced that it was computer error. They asked me if I really had the 700+ dollars I owed the house. I wish I could have seen the look on my face as I whipped out my load and started counting it on the counter. After tipping out the runners that had been running food and drink to that party all night and the service bartender that made all the drinks I still went home with more than $250 in my wallet. Pretty damn good for a four hour Monday shift. \^\_\^
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ebsa56/yall_i_won_the_lotto_tonight/
| 1,104
| 31
| 1,576,565,194
| 12
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waiter tip
|
top
|
s57ep6
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
acted as server assistant on soft opening, completely bummed server didn't share MASSIVE tips
|
So, I am thrilled to be a part of a new, upscale restaurant opening right now. Management is incredible, most coworkers are true professionals. Food and bar are to-die-for good.
Soft opening happened and because of an overabundance of servers, I volunteered to be a server assistant to about 4 servers and just do whatever my teammates needed, whenever, however they needed it. I'm always great with guests, have never had issues being charming and kind. What I'm getting at is, I tend to be tipped well, with averages typically higher than coworkers. Not bragging, just stating facts because I want people to know that there is NO reason for what happened.
Basically, a table I was SA-ing on left a $1500 tip. Essentially, given it was a friends and family soft opening, they chose to leave waitstaff the cost of the comped meal. A kind gesture. The server I was assisting did not share a single. effing. dollar. NOTHING.
We are all new, but pros, good at our jobs and we all earned it.
How would you feel about this? Part of me is bitter and resentful. Part of me wants to say something.
But the bigger part wants to shake it off and just wait for the opportunity to spread the love when I'm blessed in such a way.
What bums me out more than anything is this: this server started training (prior to open in a classroom type setting), a couple weeks early. I come on, we are friendly, she's having a rough time because payday was a couple weeks back and we are all struggling with the lack of tips. I know her 24 hours and she asked for a loan. I had my phone out and cashapped her money within 30 seconds, no questions asked. She knows that I'm struggling too, I just so happened to have the money to loan at that moment. Don't you think that kind gesture would inspire some sort of kindness when it came to the obscene tip WE are earned? Geez.
I feel petty for being hurt by this whole thing. Am I the asshole?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/s57ep6/acted_as_server_assistant_on_soft_opening/
| 221
| 55
| 1,642,321,841
| 12
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server tip
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relevance
|
1ge4qjd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Idk if they were unhappy or what
|
So I had a 3 top on a particularly busy Saturday. I work in a dreaded corporate chain that shall not be named. We have server assistants who run salads, soups, apps, nonalcoholic Bevs, and entrées. The three top only ordered entrées, so basically their table was empty for about 30 minutes. I did check on them a couple times in between asking if they needed any more drinks, or wanted any more bread, and I even let them know that I checked on their food, and they were nice the whole time saying they weren’t in a rush. The food came, they ate, they asked for a water, I rang it in and the server assistant was taking kind of a long time to bring it out but I was busy doing other things. On one of my last trips to the bar I had to pass the table, I noticed they were still waiting for their water and I was going to ring it in again (servers are discouraged from entering the kitchen) but every single person got up simultaneously. The mother said to the kid “ come on we’re going home”, and I looked at the man and I asked him “would you like to pay?” His family left and then he handed me his card I ran it and he tipped five dollars on a $75 check. I genuinely don’t know what happened, if they were unhappy about the long wait or something they could’ve asked for the manager or at least mentioned something to me, but I’m not sure if they were planning to dine in dash the whole time at that point.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1ge4qjd/idk_if_they_were_unhappy_or_what/
| 40
| 9
| 1,730,128,954
| 12
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server tip
|
hot
|
1fvc6xe
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
What’s the greediest thing you’ve seen a manager/owner do?
|
I understand there is probably a lot I don’t know about managing or owning a restaurant but one thing I’ve noticed from working at different places is how greedy certain people can be.
We have a law where I live that managers can’t take tips. I had a manager that would “hop on bar” to help the other bartender out when it wasn’t even busy and then take half of their tips.
We also had minimum wage go up twice in one month at another restaurant and the owner had to reprint the menus twice that month because they kept upping the prices. I understand they probably pay more now on certain food and drinks too but it feels like you can’t catch a break or save any money when prices follow minimum so quickly.
One of our owners said he didn’t like the look of staff eating their own food and we should order from the restaurant. We asked him to make a staff menu so we didn’t lose a third of our tips just ordering lunch or dinner. He said no. We asked him to give us a staff discount, which he did. 15% which is what taxes are here, so thank god we don’t have to pay taxes on our food now! /s
Anyways, I bet these are nothing compared to what other people have seen. What are your stories?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fvc6xe/whats_the_greediest_thing_youve_seen_a/
| 230
| 100
| 1,727,973,959
| 12
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15%
|
hot
|
16i0n67
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
“Leave her a 20” &proceeds to leave pocket change
|
Hi reddit. This is a cute little story that happened last night at work.
So last night was a rather long and boring shift, mainly due to the lack of business as it was storming pretty badly outside. We even lost power for a little bit. Anyway, I was the closer so, while nearly everyone else got to leave, I had to endure the slow and dragging night. I was literally counting the minutes for my manager to lock the door, when of course a 2-top walks in just moments before my freedom. I sigh but treated them as kindly as I could, maybe a little too kind to hide my annoyance, but they didn’t seem to notice.
Anyway, they’re enjoying their meal whilst I’m cleaning up our kitchen alley, finishing up the silverware, any final touches and the like just to give myself something to do, and the other girl closing with me was up front vacuuming the dining room. I go to drop off boxes and the check, and my coworker follows me back to the drink fountain to tell me they’ll definitely tip me. She tells me that while she was vacuuming, she heard the couple talking about how sweet I was and how the service was great, and the girl insists that her bf “leaves me a 20.” Apparently he agreed to do so.
Naturally, I get a little happy that staying the extra 45 minutes was worth it. I go back out to the table and there’s a little wad of cash folded up in their receipt, and they insist that I keep the change. Without even looking at it I thank them profusely saying thank you so much you guys are wonderful blah blah blah.
I walk back to the kitchen with a little kick in my step and stop to count the money…. 3 dollar tip….. on a $62 tab. THANK YOU SO MUCH GUYSSSS!!!!!!! You shouldn’t havveeeeeeee🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/16i0n67/leave_her_a_20_proceeds_to_leave_pocket_change/
| 412
| 34
| 1,694,643,299
| 12
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20%
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relevance
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1fnyb54
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
What’s the most bonkers tipping belief or habit you’ve heard about?
|
I learned a long time ago that everyone has different beliefs for tipping. Unless the service is bad, there’s not much you can do, universally. Just do the best you can.
However, as with people’s voting records, people can have unpredictable mindsets. For example, there’s that viral post from years ago about the jerk leaving money on the table and subtracting for mistakes.
Here’s mine:
A GM hiring me said in an interview that they start at 20% and subtract based on mistakes. Worth noting, he later embezzled from the company.
My mom said she knew someone who used to hide $100 in the spout of a teapot for the server to find.
Had some regulars at a place that would only tip well if you spent time chatting with them.
What wild beliefs have you heard?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fnyb54/whats_the_most_bonkers_tipping_belief_or_habit/
| 85
| 75
| 1,727,133,334
| 12
|
20%
|
hot
|
1fkml01
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Manager gave my money away?!
|
Okay I really need help. I live in Indiana. I work at a well known pancake house. I have been working here for only 6 weeks and already watched one person quit, and another cuss out the manager and demanded to be sent to another location. There is one manager and one owner for my store, so these women work 7 days a week. But this week my owner is on vacation in Greece which is why this is even happening. Last Sunday I was seated 2 guest, a father and son, whom are regulars at this store. The owner does not give them a bill so they instead always tip whoever their server is a 20$ bill. Well Sunday they were my table, I was attentive, but my manager guarded their table half the time talking their head off so I didn’t get to do much then the basic server scripts. Another server was stopping by and talking to them as well. But once again this was MY table. Well the customer leaves and my manager decided to go take the 20$ bill off my table, go to the drawer and break it for two $10 bills, and gave half to the other server who was there just visiting with the customer (this server was in disbelief and handed me the money back immediately and said that’s not right at all) I confronted her about it and she started yelling at me so our conversation was louder than a normal one. She’s telling me I’m “acting like a 5 year old and if I had common sense I would haven’t said anything until the end of the day and she would have gave me the 10 fucking dollars” in her words. Tells me to leave and don’t come back and didn’t put me on this weeks schedule. The owner of my store hasn’t responded to my text messages asking her to call me… because I shouldn’t lose my job over this but of course. No calls. So Monday I’m calling same store just another location looking for a job, told them everything that happened and they passed this to CEO of all the restaurants, it’s a family owned chain. They said they were watching the cameras and I have heard nothing back from them since. And of course once the higher up get involved the owner of my store was calling the store all day but has YET to answer me. Is there anything I can do about this?!!! The manager who took my money has been trying to “bully” me since I started. Always belittling me, telling me “if u were smart” “if you had common sense” and I swear every other week I’m told to find another job or something. It was so draining. I can’t even believe I put up with it for so long. I’m just a single mom leaving a DV situation and need money to pay mine and my kids rent. Was that attempted theft?! The customer KNEW they was tipping me. They didn’t tell her to do that
Update: I was so focused on this because I do make really really good money there, but my experience helped me secure another job at another popular breakfast restaurant today. I’ve decided to let it go. I am letting my emotions get the best of me and want them to hear my side but I know it’s a waste of breath. It’s a family owned restaurant they don’t GAF!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fkml01/manager_gave_my_money_away/
| 107
| 18
| 1,726,757,057
| 12
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20%
|
hot
|
frns9f
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
My regulars all came to see me today
|
I bartend and manage at 2 restaurants in my small town and both laid off all non salary workers with a group text literal hours before my shift, the day before I was told all managers even hourly would still work at both places so while I was worried about my hours being cut and tips reducing I thought I was going to have some sort of job... but that wasn’t the case and it really screwed me over like I had $20 to my name and no income in site... so I bit the bullet and applied and got a job at sonic and while I’m greatful for the work I’ve been really sad about the loss of wages I was used to and stressed about my bills and I missed my regulars.. even the old creepy ones. Well today the pos screens weren’t working so I had to take orders by hand and ring them up inside (somthing the other carhops couldn’t fathom so I was the sole order taker) one of the first people I saw was my first customer when I moved out here and one of my favorite people who would come in, he’s not a super generous tipper but just the kindest soul so I was so excited to see him once all the orders came out I went back to talk to him and see how he was doing we both exchanged woes and I told him how everything went down and what I was worried about (y’all I was ThisClose to selling my nudes) and he tipped me $2 and I thought that was it and it was enough for me it truly made my day.
Well 2 o’clock comes around and all at once all 18 of our stalls filled up and we were shooketh thinking we were going to get hit bad, suddenly all of the boxes went off and every single stall asked for me to run their order at the beginning I was pretty excited because I hadn’t made more than $3 in tips and I was a little sad about it but this sort of made my day. Y’all this man called all the regulars from my job and told them where I was and what had happened and rallied everyone to come in, so all the orders were just cherry limeades and every single stall tipped my $100 dollars a piece. I went from stressing about how to even eat to having all of my bills covered and money to go grocery shopping finally. Sorry if this is long and hard to read I’m on mobile and just still in awe
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/frns9f/my_regulars_all_came_to_see_me_today/
| 1,459
| 48
| 1,585,561,319
| 12
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bad tipper
|
relevance
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10pv6xr
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I’m Probably gonna get fired haha 😂
|
Now before I get to the story you need some information, as general and ANON as I can so I don’t add gas to my situation. The restaurant I work at has an all you can eat deal going on right now, that’s per person, and can’t be shared amongst the table. As well as my management at my company is so company driven they often side with customers just to keep them silent. So we’ll see what happens.
Tonight I had a couple come in, before I even finish my greeting she’s talking over me, and ignoring my questions as follows:
Me: “Hi guys, welcome i-“
Her: “hi.”
Me: “Can I get you started with a Pepsi product or a (specialty drink we have that before i even finish saying the name she’s cutting me off)”
Her:”Get me a fruit punch.”
Me: “Unfortunately we just have Pepsi products, I don’t have fruit punch”
Her: *Scoffs* “fine a Mountain Dew with a water”
I knew they were gonna be a difficult table from there. When I turned to him to take his order he asks for a drink on the menu, but grunts and says “I want that” pointing generically at a drink’s direction. It’s alcoholic so I ask for his ID and the man hands me his FOLDED CLOSED WALLET. His full wallet, no joke like I’m supposed to find his ID. I say “mind taking it out for me bud.”
He then pulls his ID out. I look at it and hand it back. Because he didn’t use any words only gestures I forgot which drink he asked for and asked to confirm “you want this one not that one right?” And he looks at me like I have 30 heads. And his wife cuts him off and says “the slushee one and make sure it’s extra slushee”.
I agree and say no problem, I’ll be right back and walk away. I get their drinks and return to the table where they proceeded to both order the all you can eat(AYCE) special we have but we’re out of one of the items. I say “I don’t have any —— tonight, would you like to take ———- or ——— and she rudely says “well that’s all I want so how am I gonna be compensated?” And I say word for word “unfortunately just those three items are AYCE, I can get you one of those.”
“No” she cut me off, “I don’t like those”.
They then start having a conversation between themselves while I’m standing there about what to order next. And in the conversation I hear them planing on ordering one AYCE, splitting it, and then getting other appetizers. Now if you do this, we as servers aren’t supposed to allow you to get more food as it’s not a buffet and I have to ring in and bring every plate to you. Sure do servers follow this rule 1000% across the board everywhere? No way. But I follow my rules because my place is big on the rules, inventory and policy. So trying to be polite I say “just so you know guys you can order what ever you want but if you do order the AYCE it can’t be shared or you won’t be able to order more.” She gets huffy and rolls hers eyes.
The wife then try’s to fight it at first by insulting me, and says “ahh I see your not one of the cool ones” meaning I’m not someone whose gonna let them slide by. Now sure, if they had been nice, if they hadn’t had the convo in front of me, and if they treated me with respect I probably may have just said fuck it and let them share. But at this point you told me I wasn’t cool, you were rude and condescending and your tone was argumentative before i had even said hello. I also didn’t want to tell them mid meal that I can’t bring them anymore because my manager saw them sharing. After I then say “no, I’m fine. I’m just letting you know ahead of time” and she then flips her argument to “well how you know we was gonna share” and I said “you just said we’ll split it and I just wanted to let you know how it worked”. They rolled their eyes and went back to looking at the menu. She said then “why can’t you be a cool one?” And i said “sorry it’s just my job on the line and that’s how the promotion works” He tells me they need a minuet and they’ll have a decision in a few. So I said “no problem take your time I’ll be right back”.
I went and got a water for another table and they where gone when I came out of the kitchen. Knowing they walked out, I just said what ever. I knew they were mad at me that I wouldn’t break the rules for them, but I didn’t think there was another issue. She was also very admit about the shrimp being the only thing that she wanted. So I just assumed between not sharing and no shrimp they left.
As they walked out they walked by another exit to the building and the door had opened while I was ringing in an order, which the computer touches this exit door. They where within ear shot when the door opened and I gave a little wave and said “have a great night guys” honestly not having a second thought about it.
5 mins later someone said there was a disgruntled customer on the phone. My manager took the call, and I sort of knew it was her.
My manager came out and told me she was “screaming” on the phone. That I was rude, I “snatched” the ID out of her husbands hand, and threw it back to him. I had an attitude and was very insulting. That I accused them of wanting to share for no reason and that I chased them out of the restaurant (when i waved and said have a great night). Hence why I may get fired. My managers are huge about never “chasing” a customer out. And if i understood why or the full extent of what made her mad I probably wouldn’t have said good night. But, she was so not happy with my manager and I’s handling of the situation she is going to write an email to my store that my area and district managers could see. In the moment it wasn’t a problem, but after I heard her complaints I get it. I’m not saying I was the picture of customer service either. After being cut off a few times I stop the customer service BS, and just reply with yes, no or answers as needed. I understand why she’s mad, though I don’t agree with it i really didn’t even break out of customer service polite. And if I do loose my job because she writes and email it’ll just be so funny to me.
As a server I should have known better that I shouldn’t have said have a good night from the door, it was mostly habit because I try to say it to every table on their way out. So if that is what does make me looks my job, with this CSI then so be it. It will all be weather or not it’s transcribed in her email if i chased her out of the restaurant or not. My managers have a 0 tolerance for that stuff (long history of other servers running after bad tippers and rude customers which in my opinion is something we shouldn’t have a history of but the clients we serve sometimes are absolute awful and I’ve even had the urge to run out and say “what was that bull shit”).
I wish I said something better tho, if I do get fired for it. I’ll keep you updated haha
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/10pv6xr/im_probably_gonna_get_fired_haha/
| 167
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| 1,675,159,018
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bad tipper
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relevance
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t069l6
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TalesFromYourServer
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Called someone out for no tip, I kinda feel bad.
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So I've been working as a server for maybe two months now. I work at a pizza chain that has a lot of carryout and delivery, not too much dine in. I handle the carryouts as well as any dine ins that may come in.
Now I've worked at this place for a while, answering phones and prepping food, now I'm serving three times a week as well. So I don't have much experience serving but I *do* have a lot of customer service skills, I also eat out a lot so I know the basics of what makes a good server.
This couple that came in were older, they drank a lot of tea so I kept them filled up, by a a lot I mean 5+ each. I drink a lot as well so it didn't bother me to go back to refill them every five minutes.
Each time I went to refill their drinks they didn't say anything, did not acknowledge me unless I asked if everything was okay, so I had a feeling they may not be the tipping kind.
Service wise, there wasn't much else I could do besides keeping on top of refills and bringing the food, as it's basically fast food but pizza, but I feel I provided good service, at least for someplace that's not a fancy restaurant.
The man came up to the counter to pay, like in a Waffle House or Denny's, he paid with a card but left no tip. I did not say anything as he could still leave cash on the table, I didn't have a good feeling they would though.
I go up to clean the table as soon as they step away from it, partly to see if they left cash but I was almost done for the night and wanted to get everything done so I could leave.
I looked at the table real quick, see if there is some behind or under something, I saw nothing.
I feel passionate about tipping and also view it as a reflection of the service provided, I never tip less then $5 personally. I lurk here a lot and have seen people mention ways they may "shame" customers for not tipping, including just straight up asking why.
My intention was not to "shame" them, I just get frustrated with non-tippers.
So, I asked; 'Was there something wrong with the service I provided?' Very bold, I'm not typically bold.
They say 'oh no you did great'
I then say 'Oh okay! I didn't see a tip so I wanted to make sure I didn't do anything wrong.'
They then say something along the lines of they left it hidden on the corner or something, then wonder if maybe it fell off the table.
I immediately feel bad, I'm sure I didn't see anything, but maybe it did fall off?
I restated that I just wanted to make sure I provided good service, then thank them and say goodnight. I went to go clean the table then the man came back to give me a 5 and apologized for forgetting to leave it.
It all ended well but it was nerve-wracking for me, I also have the feeling they didn't "forget", they just didn't tip. Overall 5/10 would not do again, too much for my nerves.
Also, because of the kind of place I work, I don't expect much in tips. I just don't understand and get frustrated when someone can't bother to throw me a dollar or two for serving them.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/t069l6/called_someone_out_for_no_tip_i_kinda_feel_bad/
| 67
| 51
| 1,645,692,465
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bad tipper
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relevance
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a3j3aw
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TalesFromYourServer
|
I’m kinda curious... as a non-server, what kind of things tip you off that you are not going to be tipped well? Are you usually right?
|
I used to be a hostess, and I know obviously the typical bad tipper stereotypes, but I’m curious about what other red flags there are, maybe more subtle ones. I don’t eat out a ton (I’m by myself so I tend to do take out, which I always tip for) but I always tip well (unless service is blatantly bad, then the minimum 10-15%)... but I do appreciate servers and like to show that, I also want to be conscious that I don’t do dumb little things to make them think I’m gonna stiff or shaft them.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/a3j3aw/im_kinda_curious_as_a_nonserver_what_kind_of/
| 16
| 58
| 1,544,060,082
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bad tipper
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relevance
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ahdwvs
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TalesFromYourServer
|
Not a server, but thanks for your stories!
|
I've always been a polite guest, don't complain, and tip appropriately. After enjoying this thread, just wanted to let you know, I've tried to be extra mindful of my servers.
I took my friends to a really nice restaurant that's more casual at lunch. Our server was excellent, friendly but not intrusive, and most importantly, kept our beverages filled!
The food was fairly slow arriving, one of my friends said the entree was really dry, but the sides were excellent. Everyone else, including me, thought our entrees were spot on.
When the check arrived, I thought of all you here, and customers complaining about bullshit, and how, you have to split your tips, and some people are bad tippers.
Because of you guys, I left a 45% tip, to make up for the assholes my server might encounter today.
Hope you all make a bundle this weekend, and every table is easy!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ahdwvs/not_a_server_but_thanks_for_your_stories/
| 21
| 3
| 1,547,838,976
| 12
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bad tipper
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hot
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5x8ira
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Not a Server, but I had a Problem
|
Like I said, I'm not a server, but I do have a lot of respect for you guys. I know how much money you make, and my wife and I are good tippers. However, something weird happened the other night.
My wife and I went out for a quick meal, it's a small chain of Italian restaurants in our area, I think there are four of them. The place wasn't crowded and we were seated rather quickly. We got our menus, and started looking it over. Well, no one came to ask us for drinks or bring bread and oil. So we looked at our menus for a while, and after 20 or so minutes a waiter shows up. He didn't introduce himself, ask us what we wanted to drink, he just said "What do you want?" I was taken aback, but asked if we could get some drinks and bread. He said asked what we wanted for drinks, but said there was no bread, I could see other waitstaff bringing bread out to other tables, so we ordered our drinks, and waited, and waited. Finally I got tired, it had to be around 20 minutes, and I asked a waitress if we could get our drinks, and place our order. She said she would take care of it. That's when I noticed our waiter. To set the scene, it's an open kitchen, you can see everything going on in the back, at least as far as I could see. In the kitchen was our waiter, just standing ther withnhisbarms crossed, staring at me. I told my wife what was going on, and she agreed that he was staring at me or us. Our new waitress brought the drinks and bread and took our order. She was really nice. I always try to be friendly to waitstaff, and everyone. She was really nice. The original waiter just stood in the back staring at, not just me, but others. I felt for the waitress that helped us, I could tell she was really busy. Anyway we ate and finished up.
At the end of the dinner, I asked for the check and she brought it. I guess here is where things get different. I was going to leave the tip on my credit card, but I thought better of it. I found $20.00 in my wallet. I walked up to he and handed her the tip. I told her she did a great job and I appreciated it. In case some are wondering, our bill came to around forty dollars. I sat down, and the crossed arm waiter came to get the check, which if I didn't say before, I paid with our waitress. Everything fine.
We walk out and our waiter comes out behind us and asks wherebhis tip is. I said you've got to be kidding, you did absolutely nothing for us, screw you. Next thing I know another guy comes out and asks what the deal is. I tell him what happened. He then tells me that I'm not wanted back there anymore. I was dumbfounded. I don't want to go back. I feel bad for the lady that served us though.
Did I do anything wrong? Like I said I appreciate waitstaff, but when someone does nothing, I don't think they deserve anything.
Thanks for listening. Sorry it was so long. My bad.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/5x8ira/not_a_server_but_i_had_a_problem/
| 45
| 15
| 1,488,517,644
| 12
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bad tipper
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hot
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8x7a4i
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TalesFromYourServer
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Saved by the table!
|
I work in a small, but super popular family owned pizza place. We generally only have 2 maybe 3 servers on the floor to cover 36 tables. With no host, bussers, bartender or expo the servers act as all of these. All of us are seasoned vets, so it’s not generally too much of a problem to handle the insane volume we have. Also relative to know we don’t rotate by section or head count, it’s every other. He gets a table, I get a table, then he gets a table.
This night had been “one of those” nights. Non-stop. It was only me and “Luke” on the floor. He and I worked well together all night, changing kegs, running food, seating tables, etc. Both of us were exhausted, but we had CRUSHED it, and both made good money!
Now Luke has been known in the past for being an ass for no reason. Getting pissy, refusing to do side work, etc when he’s tired. And toward the end of the night, when we slowed down (finally!) that’s how he was being. Fine, whatever I’m used to it at this point and generally just ignore it.
I take what I assume will be my last table of the night, a super polite and nice family of 8. I Greet them and am explaining the menu, specials, etc. in the MIDDLE of taking this family’s order Luke taps me on the shoulder and interrupts:
Luke: “Hey it’s my turn but these guys at table 4 don’t tip, would you take them? You’re a female so you probably have a better chance.”
Me: *obviously embarrassed* Uhm I’m in the middle of taking an order at the moment, but sure. I’ll be with them shortly.”
I apologize to polite family, take their order. They ask if we have any type of “family salads” (we don’t). They order some pizzas and one large salad for the family to split. (only enough salad for about 2 people to split). When their salad came out, because they seemed so nice, and patient, i went into the kitchen and made polite family another REALLY large salad and took it to them so that way everyone could have some. (As a small family restaurant, staff is trusted to use our own discretion). I really only did this because they had been patient, super nice and just seemed like a normal family. I can only imagine trying to feed 8 people at ANY restaurant without it costing a fortune. (kids ages ranged from about 7-17). Their bill came out to be $45. They finish, pay with a credit/debit card, thank me for the wonderful and kind service and begin to leave.
Took care of the non-tippers, didn’t receive a tip but, no big deal, I expected it.
Go back to where the table that polite family had sat at, Luke is already cleaning it. I start helping Luke pile dishes, and look down at the card receipt to see a $40 tip. On a $45 dollar check. My face drops and Luke says with a snotty tone
Luke: “Yeah, real FUCKING HAPPY FOR YA”
Me: “hey now, I’d be happy for you and you’re the one who chose to look at my receipt...”
Luke: “well I guess were just different people now, ARENT WE?”
I rush to the door as the family is leaving and thank them. The mom hugs me and says after watching Luke and maintaining my professionalism, she figured I could use a nice break.
Was one of the nicest things a table has ever said or done. And Luke got what he deserved. After the non-tippers he passed off to me, he ended up with a family of 5 that stayed for an hour after close and left him $5 on a $70. My side work was done so I spent that extra time drinking wine out back.
I don’t hold anything against Luke, but damn did it feel good.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8x7a4i/saved_by_the_table/
| 176
| 7
| 1,531,104,370
| 12
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good tipper
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hot
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n3mw13
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TalesFromYourServer
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Fuck you, Lewis party of 35
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I work at a popular steakhouse chain that does not have a room for large parties. We have two party sections in my restaurant, and each party section has a couple of four-tops and two-tops and two big tables that can accommodate around 16 people, maybe 17 if they squeeze in tight.
We had a party of 35 WALK IN today. They were upset that we couldn't seat them immediately, so instead of telling them to wait for a party section to open up (which would split the party between 2 or 3 servers), my managers sat them at 6 tables around the restaurant with 5 different servers taking care of them. That would have been fine on its own, but this party wanted to be on the same fucking ticket. They were rude, really loud, and kept adding more people throughout their meal. I think they made it up to like 40 people.
The best part: they left *TEN DOLLARS* as a tip on a $600+ check. Tipshare for that bill was definitely more than $10, so the servers basically got stiffed.
I wish I was making this up. People fucking suck.
Edit: I feel I should add that I didn't have to wait on this party. 5 of my coworkers had the misfortune of taking care of them
Edit 2: divide 600 by 40 and you get 15, which is around the price of our average entree + a $3 drink. Our most expensive steak on the menu is $26. We are a pretty casual chain. The bill was also over $600 but I can't remember by how much. The math makes sense to me because we aren't one of the fancier steakhouse chains in America.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/n3mw13/fuck_you_lewis_party_of_35/
| 1,840
| 249
| 1,620,012,532
| 12
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big tip
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relevance
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183bup6
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TalesFromYourServer
|
Mr. Big Shot steals from friends.
|
It was December, and we were hopping every night with loads of group bookings. Mr. Big Shot has booked a table for twelve. He showsup a bit early to give the hostess his list of expectations, then takes his position at the head of the table when the other guests start to show up.
Mr. Big Shot runs the show, selecting bottles for the table from the wine list, ordering the appetizers. Our wait staff always jumped in to help each other with the groups, and that table kept half a dozen servers busy for two hours. I guess they were just a group of friends, because after desserts and coffee, everyone starts passing cash down to Mr. Big Shot. As his friends head out to the coat room, Mr. Big Shot takes this big mitt full of money to the wait station to settle up. Their bill is about $500, but he has more than that in his hand without ever putting in a dime of his own money. (Obviously his friends were all putting in substantial tips) He counts out the amount for the bill, peels off a five-dollar-bill and says, “This is for you,” and puts at least $80 back in his pocket. Then he adjourns to the coat room, where his friends all thank him for arranging such a lovely evening.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/183bup6/mr_big_shot_steals_from_friends/
| 710
| 100
| 1,700,887,801
| 12
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big tip
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hot
|
kklnjf
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
We hosted a small wedding for 10 people two days ago
|
We hosted a small wedding for two of our regular customers and while my managed took care of the big table I was taking care of the smaller ones that came in the door.
Got kinda busy and I was basically by myself because there were new trainees that didn’t know much about anything which I dont blame them. Everyone quit when COVID-19 became a serious threat so it was just me and my manager on the floor.
Did a 10 hour shift and in that 10 hour this guy on a first date started seizing outside on the ground it was so scary and nobody was helping so i had to take my jacket and put it underneath his head so he didn’t hurt himself. ambulance was called and at the end of the night another table ended up tipping with me a $5 dollar Dunkin Donut card. very eventful night.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/kklnjf/we_hosted_a_small_wedding_for_10_people_two_days/
| 1,690
| 79
| 1,609,001,768
| 12
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big tip
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top
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15q5nc5
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
As a customer, what could I have done better?
|
This has been on my mind for a while now, and I’ve always seen great advice in this sub. Using a throwaway as I don’t want it connected to my main if the sucky people in my party happen to see. (Also if you see this, you suck.)
Recently husband and I had a gathering for our baby’s christening, with 13 people (friends on his side, family on mine) booked to join us there and at a small restaurant afterwards. Everyone knew details (including the reservation time) weeks ahead of time and had confirmed they’d be coming. This is a restaurant my husband and I have been regulars at for years, btw.
Most of my husband’s side got to the restaurant early, and the restaurant kindly offered to seat them. I think one person ordered a couple of glasses of wine, but other than that, no one ordered until the rest of us arrived, right on time for our reservation. Then, instead of ordering, one after another, each of my husband’s friends let us know they had other events to get to (separate events, none of them really knew each other). As far as I know, nothing transpired before we arrived , btw. We were both pretty stunned and encourage them to just order stuff, even to go, but no one takes the hint. I almost lost it— the restaurant was expecting a big party (we were paying for everything which everyone knew), and none of them seemed to understand how rude their behavior was. Within minutes our party dwindled to 7.
We both apologized to the waitstaff who mostly seemed super understanding, but we also ordered more starters, drinks and an extra (expensive) entree than we’d intended, and left a 40% tip because we truly want to be able to come back to this place and are so embarrassed by the crap behavior of half our party. I’m wondering— anything else we could have done/could do here? The place wasn’t super busy and almost everyone (except the cantankerous older hostess whom we kind of love for her crankiness) working there took it in stride, but I’d be pissed in their shoes.
Edit: y’all are truly wonderful. Thanks for making me feel better about this. We both felt like losers when this happened and felt terrible for the waitstaff, but these responses have helped!! I wish for wonderful days and generous tips for all of you!💕
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/15q5nc5/as_a_customer_what_could_i_have_done_better/
| 104
| 22
| 1,691,949,697
| 12
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generous tip
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relevance
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13hcknq
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TalesFromYourServer
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A server was amazing, what else could I have done?
|
(First, I want to state I'm not in the food service industry, I'm just looking for ideas...)
My wife and I recently grabbed a bite to eat at a decent mid-price chain steak place. We hit this place on occasion because the food is good and service is always decent. The last two times we had the same server and last time (about two months ago) she was amazing, and this time (yesterday) was even better. She is on top of everything, has an amazing humor and attitude and just made our meal much better. We have tipped her generously both times (around 50%) and this past visit we "complained" to management about how amazing she is. This is pretty normal for us when we have an exchange with someone that just exemplifies service, whether it's food service, retail, etc... We always try to let their manager know what a pleasure it was and how much of an asset they are.
My question, other than this (generous tips and talking to management), what do you recommend we do when someone just stands out?
edit: thanks for the tips everyone! I'll certainly add a review. We were already considering sitting in her section each time we go in the future, assuming she's on that day. A note to corporate is a good idea as well.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/13hcknq/a_server_was_amazing_what_else_could_i_have_done/
| 29
| 6
| 1,684,071,718
| 12
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generous tip
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hot
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1d8v0y
|
TalesFromRetail
|
How to change a kid's life in 20 minutes
|
Some of you may recognize this story, since I posted it before elsewhere, but again this is the perfect sub for it. And it's a happy story. We all like happy stories.
This story starts long ago in the dim ages, when bear and bison swarmed the forest and the prairie. Or about 2004, which ever you prefer. I was working at a sporting goods/automotive store at the time, at the customer service counter. A father and his son, who appeared to be about 11, came in and asked where the camping equipment was. I pointed them towards the two areas that held our camping merch, and was about to go about doing something else boring when the boy piped up, "I'm going on my first Boy Scout campout!"
Now, if you've read my other stories, you'll know that I'm an Eagle Scout. I take this position very seriously, and will do everything in my power to encourage and help young scouts on their trail to Eagle. So I looked over at my boss, a nice lady who hired me because of my outdoor experience in scouting, and asked if I could go help these people personally. She smiled and said yes.
The father was COMPLETELY out of his element with camping gear. By his attitude and behavior I would guess that he had never gotten further out of the city limits than a highway in his life. Everything in the aisle perplexed him, but thankfully his son's troop had given them a list of what equipment they'd need. So for about 20 minutes or so I went through the list with them, point by point, explaining what each thing was, what it did, what version to use, and how Kybo Tape is the scout term for toilet paper. That got quite a bit of laughter.
During this time I also talked with the kid. He was very new to scouting, only having joined a couple months prior. He was enthusiastic about getting to go out into the wilderness and camp and make campfires and fish and all the other activities he'd heard about. I talked about my experiences in scouting, which was all of what he was talking about and so much more. Climbing Mt Hood, going to National Jamboree, touring military bases, rafting down the Deschutes, the kid was very impressed. I kept telling him, "this is only the start, you have no idea how awesome it can get."
So we finally have a cart filled with a small tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, small first aid kit, beginner backpack, rope (you and yer fuckin' rope), shovel, water bottle, etc etc etc. Quite a haul, but I'd done my best to get everything that the kid would need while still keeping things cheap. Well, cheap-ish.
The total was something like a bit over $200. Now, they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but if I could have taken a picture of the dad's face when the total came up, it would be worth a MUCH longer essay. It was a shock/fear/resignation combination that said, "damn, I didn't expect it to be this much. But he's so excited, I can't tell him no, it would break his heart. Maybe if I just eat ramen for the next couple weeks, I can afford this." As dad reached reluctantly for his wallet, I flashed him a smile, looked at my boss, and knocked 20% off the total. "A scout is helpful and kind," I quoted. The father thanked me profusely, as did the son. They left with a spring in their step and smiles on their faces. My boss said, "that was very nice, but don't ever do that again." I replied, "but boss, you do realized that, from now on, they are going to be in here on a regular basis to buy camping equipment, right? I know that kid's look, he's just like me at that age, and he's going to be spending a LOT of dad's money here." She laughed, agreed, and the deed was put out of my mind as other customers approached.
But the story isn't done yet, dear reader! For about a week later, look who comes running through the door, but our little first-time camper, with dad trailing along. This kid very specifically wanted to see ME, because he had pictures and he wanted to show them to me. Awwww, sweet! Sure, let's take a look...hey, I know this camp! I know exactly where you were! So we talked about being at that camp, and taking the hike down the hill to the old camp location, and how the fishing in the lake is, and the deer that just don't care that you are around, and how the chow hall seems to be made mostly of sieves given how drafty it is. We had a brag board up for the hunters who had trophy hunts, so I pinned a couple of the better pictures to the board. This kid beamed with pride, then ran off to use the bathroom.
This is when dad chimed in, and thanked me for a much more personal reason. He and the kid's mom had gone through a fairly nasty divorce, and she had majority custody. Scouting events were one of the few ways that dad could spend extended quality time with his son, and this camping trip had been very good for the both of them. He got a little choked up about it, as did I. I simply told him, "this is what scouting is all about. 'Help other people at all times.' This is just the tip of the iceberg."
Over the next year+, they became regulars of the store. I knew which troop they were with, a large and active one, so they were pretty consistently in need of various consumable camping supplies. More pictures got posted to the brag board. His first summer camp saw him earn four merit badges and the Mile Swim badge. I started to volunteer with his troop as a merit badge counselor, and had a great time.
However, real life gets in the way. School, and a couple of new jobs meant I couldn't devote the time I needed to to help his troop out. We basically drifted apart, and the other things going on in my life made me forget about him and his dad.
Until late in 2010. I get a phone call out of the blue. The voice on the other end is deeper, self confident. "Is Osiris32 there?" "Yeah, that's me, who is this?" It's that young scout from the store, calling me up to invite me to his Eagle Court of Honor. I stood there in my kitchen in mute shock. All those memories of helping him out came flooding back. "You better believe I'll be there. I'll even try to fit into my old uniform."
And so I did. Though I eschewed the shorts and went for pants. This young boy, now turned into a young man, stood tall and proud as they pinned the Eagle Medal to his shirt, recited the Eagle Charge, and gave a short speech thanking people who'd made a difference in his life. He looked right at me as he gave the speech, pointed me out, and said, "this guy right here, he was the first adult to encourage me. His example as an Eagle was what I followed. I cannot thank him enough." Tears flowed.
Following the ceremony, I found his dad. Scouting had made both of them better people. He'd decided that being bitter towards his kid's mom wasn't what a scout leader (oh yeah, he was now an assistant scoutmaster, the bug bites very hard) should be doing. This had allowed their divorce to become more amicable, and they had successfully renegotiated custody some time earlier. He was a happier man, and was so proud of his son I was pretty sure his chest was going to burst. His son, now tall, strong, confident, and an obvious leader, was destined to go places. He would be graduating high school the next spring, and was looking at getting into college for a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. He wanted to live his Oath and Law by being a police officer. My own chest felt like it was going to burst at this point.
I still keep in touch with him. He's now coming up on his 21st birthday, and is readying applications for various police departments around town. I've already told him that I'd gladly be his reference, because he's one of the guys we all want to become a cop, someone with a strong and steadfast sense of duty, honor, integrity, generosity, and kindness of spirit. He'll make a damn fine officer, and I can say that a little part of that, just a little part, is because of my willingness to help him choose tents one day several years ago.
TL;DR - Just read it, it'll do your soul some good.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1d8v0y/how_to_change_a_kids_life_in_20_minutes/
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22lg18
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TalesFromRetail
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"Looks like someone isn't getting a tip today"
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Hello again, TFR! I'm the guy from the small-town convenience store with a tale from an old job I had about 2010-ish as a server at a popular restaurant chain specializing in cheesecakes. This tale happened in the summer around the lunch rush shortly after opening (~11am).
An elderly guy and his wife who looked about 30 years younger than him sat down. I take their order, bring back their drinks & appetizer, etc. All is good. As I am heading to their table again to deliver the main course and ask if they'd like any refills on the lemonades, I am immediately shocked by this man's loud fist slamming. People seated around this guy turned around just to see what the commotion was about. He started at me for a good 20 seconds saying nothing before I piped in.
Me: "Is everything alright, sir?"
Jerk Man: "He'll fuckin' no it ain't, this appetizer was disgusting. My wife and I need a bathroom to vomit. We don't want any of the food, send it back NOW. Give me the check."
His wife thinks this is absolutely hilarious and provides her $0.02.
Wife: **"Looks like someone isn't getting a tip today."**
JM: "Oh yeah, that's a good point, honey."
Before I can even get a word in to apologize and offer to bring over my manager, JM slams his fist down again.
JM: "Listen up. I don't want any of your excuses. Give me my check and send this slop back. I'm writing a very terrible review of this establishment and notifying corporate."
I tell my manager and he stops over anyway. I got out of his way and watched the couple from a distance. This old idiot must have slammed his fist on the table five or six more times, followed by his wife giggling with each slam. Definitely the weirdest group of assholes I served in my three-year stint at the restaurant.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/22lg18/looks_like_someone_isnt_getting_a_tip_today/
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25d8d2
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TalesFromRetail
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I was tipped in gum. Trident Layers, to be exact.
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This happened to me around this time last year, so maybe it was the fantastic weather that made the woman in this story so kind and altruistic.
I worked as a cashier in a grocery store and we have a lot of, "Spend $X and get $Y off!" coupons. I'm in a very rich and privileged neighborhood and when customers fall short of the amount you have to spend they get so mad and usually ask us if we can just put it through. Rich people are some of the cheapest motherf*ckers I know.
Anyways, this woman is at the end of her order and she is about $7 short of the coupon minimum. A coworker helping me bag and I tell her she can run off and go find something else to add to the order. So she runs and gets a few apples and I think another Snapple. Bad luck (or good luck) the items she chose were on sale! She did this 2 more times but was about $1.50 short.
She then said, "This is absolutely ridiculous. " (Coworker and I winced and prepared for a rude comment) "You two, pick out something, I'm done."
We asked what she wanted and she suggest gum but suggested it be expensive to make sure she went over the limit.
So we suggest a pack of Trident Layers and she said, "Okay, pick out 2 flavors you think would be good, I don't care."
She finally gets over the minimum limit and is happy. Me and my coworker finished bagging the woman's groceries and as she's walking away she pauses and turns to us, reaches in her bag and hands us our respective packs of Trident Layers and tells us to have a nice day.
I think I may have made her seem she came off rude but the whole time she was more nonchalant than anything, and then very cheery at the end.
TLDR; I was "tipped" in gum, similar to the iconic Trident Layers commercials.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/25d8d2/i_was_tipped_in_gum_trident_layers_to_be_exact/
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2dqvjb
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TalesFromRetail
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I got a tip!
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Hello All!
Recently, in order to fund graduate school, I took a second job selling booze at a liquor store where I live. It's not my normal go-to for booze and the selection is a little more limited, but it's a fun job for the most part.
The other day, two gentlemen come in looking for something nice to sip to celebrate one of them returning to the United States after the summer. Since my specialty, (in other words, what I drink most), is cognac and whisky, I was able to give them some recommendations and information about different scotch whiskies we have.
They ended up choosing a Glenfiddich based on my recommendation, and as they paid, they actually took out extra money and thanked me for being helpful and informative.
I was speechless, literally, since even at the popular fast food drive in I slaved at for years, I never had a tip over a dollar.
Knowledge, drinking, and a bit of time on Scotchit paid off in a retail job.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2dqvjb/i_got_a_tip/
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cfbc20
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TalesFromRetail
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Lady Gets Mad I’m Not An ATM
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‘Twas a steady day at the car wash. We give people cash back on their credit cards with a purchase so they can leave a tip. However, the lady in question paid with a coupon. She then tried to hand me her card. “Can I have 5 dollars to give the guys?”
“Sorry, ma’am. I can only do that with a purchase.”
“I did pay!”
“Yes, I meant a credit card purchase. Would you like an air freshener? They’re only a dollar.”
“No! I know this works. I’ve done it before with the other girl. She’s really nice.” This brought a little red to my face. I get this comment a lot, and it’s getting old. I can’t help it that my coworker breaks policies not within her power to break. So, I got my boss on the phone, who confirmed what I had told her. I hoped she couldn’t hear him laughing over the speaker. This is her reply: “I’m gonna go out there and tell the guys it was YOUR fault they’re not getting a tip and that you’re HURTING THEM.”
I tried to hide my nervous smile. “Okay. Yeah, it ‘hurts’ me too.” (I also get a share of the tips.)
“Well, good!” And with that she stormed out. I didn’t blink for a good 30 seconds, then burst out laughing.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/cfbc20/lady_gets_mad_im_not_an_atm/
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aghha3
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TalesFromRetail
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A late Xmass story
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So I just was told about this place so I will share my favorite story.
I work at a garden store and we use Xmas to stay open during the winter. We also pride ourselves in excellent customer service... which we fucking well better because we have an average mark up of 75%. I personally really enjoy doing excellent customer service (especially because this family owned business actually means it).
So on with the story.
I was over at the green cut trees. Basically Xmas trees up on racks and hung up for people to pick out and take home. Most of our customers take roughly 5 minutes to pick out a tree if we help them and I would guide them through the process of selecting a tree, conical shape, sparseness vrs fullness, base branch wing span and the ever important height.
This time this lady showed up in the middle of the day by herself (90% of sales are after work and with a group). She takes a good long while (almost 15 mins) to pick out her tree. She is measuring things and walking around it clearly checking everything out without my help. She goes up and down all the trees on the racks, I offered to help her and hold up trees several times but she rejected all help. She finally found one after taking a few measurements waits for me to come over so I can get it off the string (strung to the ceiling so that they can spin it 180 and get a good look at it). I finished up with another customer and I walk over with her and get her tree down.
I hand her the tag off the tree and tell her that I will prep her tree for her, get it a fresh cut and bail it, nail a stand to it, then meet her out front, she can go check out at the registers and swing her car around.
I take her tree off to the side of the building and fire up the chain saw and take the bottom inch off the tree wrap it up in string and wait for her to get through the cashier's lines.
When she comes out she sees the fresh cut on the bottom of the tree and she just stops, dead in her tracks and says "the tree is shorter". She is not mad at me, she is obviously sad because the tree is shorter. She just continues to stand there.
So I ask her what was the matter? and slowly she starts to tear up and she tells me a little story.
She married a guy with a 6 y/o bot 2 years ago and the little boy who had no mother his whole life hated her. Last year the husband got diagnosed with cancer, and he passed away like a month or two before this. She had never patched things up with the son, a now 10 year old, but she knew a real tree was important, AND she had a hot tip from a sleep over that he wanted this bike. He did not think he was going to get it because he had not spotted any boxes big enough for it but she got it and she needed enough height under the tree to fit the bike because Xmas was going to be perfect for this kid who just lost his Dad and this perfect Xmas was going to be the thing to remake their bond as she was his only parent now.
So I told her we could cut branches off the bottom of trees or if she wanted to make a bike shaped hole we could make that happen too.
When I said that she went from like a marble bust that happened to have mist on its eyes to straight up bawling for joy. We went back inside she picked out a whole new tree that was a lot thicker and taller, I cut out three branches that were more or less right on top of one another and she had her bike shaped hole.
Customer called the store after Xmas to let them know that everything had gone perfectly and she and now her son had bonded a lot over Xmas 10 times, she talked to every manager we had and it was not till the owner of the whole franchise was who she talked to that she felt she had called and thanked enough. (I met the owner on my third day and we joked around so yay family business).
I will never forget that lady and her son.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/aghha3/a_late_xmass_story/
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1jk9df
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TalesFromRetail
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I thought this sub could use the boost.
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I work part time at a fairly well-known steak house chain. I was working there waiting tables last night, following a full day's shift at my day job. I wasn't brough on until 5:45, so I come in and hit the ground running. It's the middle of the dinner rush, I'm not sure of my sidework because I haven't had a minute to stop running and check. Suffice to say, it was stressful.
Then I get the table with the mother, her ~15 yr old daughter, and her ~3 year old son. While taking orders, she asks if we accept a coupon code on her phone, and holds it up to show me the words "It's her birthday." Well after getting all the food out, I had the manager comp them a gargantuan chocolate behemoth for dessert. I even went and put candles on it, managed to find a lighter to light them, the whole shebang. The girl loved it.
At the end of the night, the woman had tipped me just over 15%. But the best part of the night came when the 3-4 year old says, in their cute little attempted language, 'Thanks for the noodles and ketchup and cake' then launches himself from the booth and wraps his arms around me in the best hug I've had in months. Made my WEEK!
That there's a tale from retail I hope y'all can appreciate almost as much as I did.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1jk9df/i_thought_this_sub_could_use_the_boost/
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2nh93o
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TalesFromRetail
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How a stranger made my holiday.
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Hey there TFR! It's your friendly neighborhood fingerprint guy, and [helper of the dark lord](http://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2m7ltv/how_i_apparently_gave_aid_to_a_demon_i_wish_i_was/), here with another story. Once again, I know it's not exactly retail but it certainly is customer service, so if this story happens to be out of line, please let me know. It's not as exciting as the previous story, but I think in the grand scheme of things it means more.
A little background: I fingerprint people for such as gun permits, licensing, child services, and so forth. On average I fingerprint about 45 people a day, most of these encounters are short, sweet, and forgettable, this time, however, was not.
The time is 11:00 AM, when I usually get a large group of people due to people trying to get fingerprinted during their lunch break. I am hustling and bustling around, trying to make sure I get everyone in and out within a reasonable amount of time (the stated goal is 5 minutes per person fingerprinted, we are told to aim for 3 minutes). Things are hectic and during the rush, I manage to blow out the elbow on one of my shirt sleeves. It kind of sucks, but I think nothing of it and continue on with my job.
This will become important later.
At sometime after 3, an older gentleman comes in and sits waiting to be fingerprinted. When I finish with the person I am currently fingerprinting, I call him over, and ask if he's there to be fingerprinted. He smiles and says that he is, but he hasn't made an appointment yet.
To explain how our system works, in order to get a person's record on file to attach their fingerprints to them, they must make an appointment. It is just what is required in our state. Usually this isn't an issue as we have a station in the room with me where people can make their appointments, and the process is fairly quick and easy. (Right about 10 minutes or so)
However, I only have so many appointment slots a day, and on this particular day, as the man found out as he was trying to make an appointment, my schedule was full.
I have two options in this case, I can either call my supervisor, spend 30 minutes on hold, and ask them to open up my schedule, which they may or may not decide to do. Or, the person must schedule for another day. I explained this to the man and he chuckled and said that he was more than willing to schedule for the following day, as he was in no rush.
I breathed a sigh of relief because I was in the midst of my busiest hour (from 3-4 is always the busiest here), and it would have been a hassle trying to squeeze him in with everyone else coming in. I explain to him how to make an appointment for the following day, and return to fingerprinting people while he fills out the information.
Things are busy, I forget about him, and life goes on.
The following morning, he was my first appointment. He needed actual fingerprint cards for out of state licensing, and asked me, "So for every license I get out of state, I need to come see you? I only ask because I'm planning to get it in multiple ones."
I explain to him that no, he does not, as I can get him multiple fingerprint cards and he can keep them and send them at his leisure. (Fingerprint cards don't expire terribly quickly) He thanks me, and I end up giving him 10 fingerprint cards complete with my signature and his fingerprints.
As I am handing him his fingerprints he tells me, "You know, you're one of the nicest and most helpful state employees I've ever dealt with."
I laughed and thanked him for the compliment. (He's correct, most of the people I work with can be awful in the customer service department)
He then said, "I noticed you had a hole in your shirt the other day, and you're too nice a guy to be wearing holey shirts." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of money and handed it to me, "Christmas came early this year."
I blinked and stared at the money in my hand. No one has ever offered me money. No one has ever tipped me. And honestly, hardly anyone has ever complimented me on my customer service. Feeling all warm and fuzzy, I went to hand him the money back, explaining, "Sir, thank you but I can't take this I--"
I wanted to explain that it was against state policy to take such a gift.
He stopped me with a raise of his hand and replied, "I don't want it back. I know it's early, but have a nice holiday." Then without another word he rushed out of the room with me stumbling over my "thank yous".
Now I sat back down and stared at the money, and actually counted it. At first, when he handed it to me, I figured that it was a chunk of ones or something, maybe adding up to $10 or $15, but when I actually took the time to look at the money, it was all $20s, totalling $200.
This is the point when I broke down into tears.
You see, prior to getting this job, I was working as a phone salesman in Walmarts on the weekends. $200 was my entire take home for a week. Things were really tight for a few months and I had a lot of trouble managing to pay all my bills, eat, and everything else. Seeing that someone was willing to give me that much, a complete stranger, out of the kindness of their heart. Well, it meant a lot. Even though now I've got a better job and am better at handling my money, that's quite a gift and the man's generosity amazed me.
Thank you kind stranger, wherever you are.
I'm not very good at wrapping up stories, and I'm certainly not good at it when the story just happened to me 30 minutes ago. I guess I'll just say that we talk about a lot of crappy or weird customers on here, sometimes we forget that there are some really incredible people out there too.
Hope you TFRers have a Happy Thanksgiving! I know mine is looking a little brighter. And always remember, as customer service, we do help people, and some of them, the good ones, realize that.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2nh93o/how_a_stranger_made_my_holiday/
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23jdu3
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TalesFromRetail
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"Sorry, Mister. I need those!"
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Long before I decided to 'stab' people for a living, (Think medical, as in phlebotomist. Not Bundy.) I waited tables. This story takes place about 10 years ago, at a restaurant with the same name as a Rolling Stones song.
Please forgive formatting, as I'm mobile.
Anyway, ten or so years ago, I made my living as a waitress/hostess (We rotated the hostess stand. Monday, t'was me, Tuesday, the next victim & so on). This glorious night, I was one of three closers. On a weekday, a waiter/waitress, manager & bartender closed because after a certain hour in our area, it was rare to have a lot of customers after 8 at night & we closed at 9, so, others were normally 'cut' by 8:15.
Did you struggle through that explaination? I hope not.
Back to the matter at hand. My manager, we'll call him Dave, had just sat a table of 3 males, all about 20-25 years old. It was already 8:30, and I had a lot of closing items left on my list, but the guys seemed all right so I had no problems taking one last table. Besides, I survived off tips. I needed those men in ways only a server could need them.
I smile, greet them, & soon find out they're only there to have a few drinks before going home. They've had a bad kinda day at work, & this was the first establishment they ran into. This is all from my super average memory banks.
I'll be playing myself, or me. Guy 1, will be G1 and so on.
Me: Hiya guys! My name is OneLastGlance & I'll be taking care of you this evening!
G1: Hello darlin', we had a rough day added onto an already bad week, so we're only here for some drinks. I know y'all close at 9.
G2: (This guy must've checked out of Braintown, because he just stared and nodded if he was acknowledged.)
G3: Could you just get us a round of whatever lager's on tap? That really should be all, so bring me the check too?
I smile and nod and skip away to the bartender to let her know after she gets me three lagers, she can finish closing the bar down, put the order in, print the check, snag their beers on the way back to their table & while smiling, pass them their rounds, handing G3 the check.
Suddenly, without warning, G2 awakens from his intelligence coma and allows THIS to fall out of his face:
G2: Hey, OneLastGlance was it? Your eyes.
I nodded and in my obvious confusion ran my fingers around my eyes, because, you know, girls + eyeliner + 10 hour shift can and will equal raccoon eyes. (Or our eyeliner will smudge making us look just like a raccoon)
G2: No. No! There's nothing wrong with them. They're.. Beautiful. Would you be insulted if I said I loved them? I wouldn't mind having them in a jar at home. That's how pretty they are.
Me: Sorry, Mister. I need them..
An audible 'thud' came from under the table, and eyeball man jumped a little, letting me know that G1 had kicked him into realizing what he had said. Out. Loud.
G2: Shit! I mean.. They're. Nice. Pretty. Uh. Youhaveniceeyesdoyoutakecashtips?!
G1 & G3 burst into laughter while G2 turned redder than the devils package under a heat lamp. G3 hands me a $50 note and tells me to keep the change, stating his 'idiotic friend here will gladly pay him back for the generous tip I surely deserve for dealing with his lame attempts at a compliment'.
They then stood, pushed their chairs in (That NEVER happens!) and G1 & G3 escort #2 out the door.
I guess what he said finally hit his thought process because he, in an attempt to redeem hisself shouted "I wouldn't really cut your eyes out! I just meant you're cute with pretty eyes!"
Manager Dave's face upon hearing number 2's parting words, could be compared to Munch's "The Scream" painting.
(I sure hope this tale made sense. I'm trying to beat pneumonia & it's just getting worse. I'm sure it's frying my brain, so I apologize in advance if this was written poorly!)
[The Scream](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Scream.jpg)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/23jdu3/sorry_mister_i_need_those/
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21xe6p
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TalesFromRetail
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"Can you accept 'Thank you for being awesome' tips?"
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Hey /r/talesfromretail, I have another story from behind the counter of a gas station convenience store. I've posted here before, but just in case here's a little description of my title and what it means.
I'm a CSR (Short for customer service representative) and that means that I pretty much do anything and everything. I clean, stock, organize, and maintain the interior and exterior of the store while running the cash register. I mainly work the 3rd shift (11pm-7am) and that's unfortunately when most of the weirdos come in. Now on to the story.
It was a normal night running the store, nice and slow as per usual. A customer here and there. I went into the back to make a new mop bucket so I could mop the floors up when I heard the ringer for the door go off. I come out and this older gentleman (about mid 40's) is walking in. I give my drone "Hello!" and proceed to wait behind the register as he grabs stuff off the shelves, and goes to our nachos and starts to cover them in cheese and chili. He finally meanders over to the register and I again greet him. (Me = Me, OG = Older Gentleman).
Me: Hello. Is this going to be everything for you today? **I begin ringing up his items**
OG: Yes, thank you.
I then notice he has ripped the plastic container for our nachos in half, and accidentally tore the plastic where the now cheesy nachos were. I finish ringing him up making small talk about our town and such, and when he is finished running his card I head over and grab one of the white paper plates we have for customers who get our hot dogs and give it to him to put under the nachos.
Me: Here, I noticed you have a little tear there and this will keep the cheese from dripping out.
OG: Oh, thanks you very much.
Me: Well you have a good day sir.
OG: You too!
I think nothing of this as I go back to the back room and dump the dirty mop water, then I hear the ding from the door again and walk back out. I don't see anyone in the store, so I figure they went to the bathroom. I hurriedly go back and finish making the new mop water, then rush back out before they come out of the bathroom.
It's OG who finally emerges from the bathroom, but he's got a small glass bottle sticking out of his right pocket. He walks back up to the counter.
OG: Are you guys allowed to accept "Thank you for being awesome" tips?
Me: **shaking my head** Nope, it's against company policy for us to accept tips or gifts from customers. Something about favoritism.
I should note that it **is** very much against our company policy to accept tips or gifts, so much that accepting a gift or tip is enough for immediate dismissal.
OG: **pulls out the glass bottle and sets it on the counter** Come on, you deserve this.
Me: **turns the bottle around to read the label, which in big letters says "SVEDKA", if you're not aware Svedka is vodka. I crack a smile** Sorry, I wish I could, but if I take this I could actually get fired for it.
OG: Come on, I paid for everything I have and I want you to have this. You deserve it for being awesome.
Me: Sorry, I really can't take this. They would fire me.
OG: Really? Well what if you just found it sitting in that red car(my car) beside the building?
Me: Sorry, I wish I could, but like I said. I would get fired.
OG: Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I'm already drunk, so I figured you could use this.
Me: Well thank you, I appreciate the gesture.
OG: Well with that I will bid you good night **he tips his imaginary hat and walks out the door**
Me: Have a good night sir.
Some people are really awesome, and vodka is my drink of choice. Never have I wanted to accept a gift from a customer as much as that point in time.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/21xe6p/can_you_accept_thank_you_for_being_awesome_tips/
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52omcw
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TalesFromRetail
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Today a customer told me what I'm worth.
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Hey everyone! I work at a regional fast-food chicken chain where we go out to people's cars and take the orders directly, build them ourselves, take payment, etc. Corporate (strangely) is nice enough to let us accept tips from customers without having to split with anyone or report them. I never expect tips from customers because they're just a nice bonus for me since we are paid as non-tipped employees.
Today I had the pleasure of healing a regular who none of us like very much. All he ever orders is a 44 oz tea - all while seemingly trying to find ways to find fault with us. Half the time he demands the lid to be taped down because he says they pop off sometimes. Other times he's yelled at a server for taking the initiative and taping a cup lid for him.
This evening he was driving a different car than usual, and ordered his tea specifying that he should get our "sticker price" discount because he usually has a sticker but this rental car doesn't. (We give happy hour prices on drinks for customers that display one of our store logo stickers on their front windshield). Technically I wasn't supposed to give him the sticker price but honestly I didn't want to have to deal with him so I cheerfully applied the discount and brought out his drink and returned his credit card that he had given me to run at the same time.
After handing him his drink he looked in his wallet and asked if I had any change on me because he would like to "pay you what your work was worth today." Assuming he was going to hand me a larger bill (people usually asked me to change out fives or twenties so that they could give me a buck or two) I let him know that I didn't have any change but that I could definitely run in and change it out at the register for him.
"Okay sure. I want to pay you what you're worth," Says this guy who then hands me a single dollar bill to go change into quarters for him.
After running inside to get quarters for him I managed to receive $0.50 of worth from him.
I agree that $0.50 was a good tip for a $1.07 order but I feel like the comment was completely unnecessary.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/52omcw/today_a_customer_told_me_what_im_worth/
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177b78
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TalesFromRetail
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This happened last night.
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I've been a server for a long time and I have my share of stories. I thought I'd tell this one from last night before I let it fade.
Towards the end of the dinner rush I get a semi-normal 2 top. A guy and girl in their late 30's obviously on a date of some kind. They had sat at the bar while they waited for a table. They drank no drinks at the bar but did order an appetizer. Before it was ready, they were sat in my section. I took the drink order and returned with the app and drinks with no delay. He ordered iced tea and she got a frozen margarita.
She thought the drink was great and wanted me to tell the bartender how good it/he was. I did. He's a long-time co-worker, so he kind of gave me the "yeah yeah" (it's just sauza and mix blended with ice, not a real test of skill).
She ordered with a few different special instructions including three different dressings for her one salad (all on the side). I served them flawlessly, got all the things they needed, refilled his tea 4 or 5 times, and pre-bussed like crazy. They were at my table about 45 minutes. They were nice and pleasant and I had a good feeling about the tip.
I had two other tables around them and had just been sat a 1 top right next to them. As I was heading to greet the lone man, the lady stopped me and asked directions to the nearest QT. I told her it was just around the corner and gave them both the simple directions. They did not understand. I told them again "A left out of the parking lot and a right at the light. Can't miss it." They acted like they got it.
I went to the next table and started talking to the guy. She turns around in her chair and asks for the directions again. I excuse myself from the gentleman and tell her a third or fourth time how to turn the fucking corner to go buy their condoms or cigarettes.
They finally shut up about the QT and ask for the check. The total is $65.72. The guy puts two $50s in the book and says "Just bring me back $30." Like he's doing me a fucking favor. Great. I'm getting $4 on $65. Whatever. Normal poor tippers.
Then the other shoe dropped. The lady said this to me, "Boy that drink really was good. Will you tip the bartender $3 and tell him how good it was."
Are you fucking kidding me!? He gets three dollars for making a drink and I get a dollar and a quarter for giving you top-notch service and directions multiple times?!?!
FUCK. YOU. BITCH.
(I told the bartender this story and told him I wasn't tipping him shit beyond the normal tip-out. He was cool with it.)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/177b78/this_happened_last_night/
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51u2f8
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TalesFromRetail
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"So, what, do you just not like service members here?"
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I got another story, this one is from a few years back.
I used to work as the manager and marketing/web/email specialist at a tiny little boutique that sold trendy but inexpensive clothes for women. It was just my awesome boss (ab), who was the owner, me, and my employee. I loved that job.
I've since commissioned but at the time I was an enlisted side national guard soldier as well. It's not something you would have been able to tell from looking at me tho, as I had to dress trendy for the job, wear makeup, ect. This is important later.
A woman came into the store one day, mid thirties, dressed a little frumpy, and proceeded to walk around and browse. I greeter her, let her know to ask me if she had questions, and went back to working on the email flier I was sending out to customers later that day. She finally came up to my register and laid out a scarf.
L: how much is this.
Me: all scarves are $8.
L: my husband is in the Army.
I made a little humming noise of interest.
L: he's deployed in Afghanistan.
A little random nonsequiter, but I thought maybe she recognized me from a dining out or some other national guard event so I indulged.
M: oh yeah, what providince?
L: Pendleton.
Pendleton is a Marine Corps base on the West Coast, so my confusion must have shown on my face. I was expecting an answer like "Kandahar" or something. I didn't feel like correcting her though, so I opened my mouth to say something like "well I wish him safe travels" when she interrupted me with a huff.
L: look, I don't know why you're questioning me about this, I'm wearing his dogtags right now. So do you give a military discount or something?
We didn't, not really. I could give a 15% discount for whatever reason I choose, and I'd usually use that to knock off a bit if I knew the customer themself is LEO or military, but I didn't normally give it to spouses of SMs. I would have been willing to make an exception this time, but the store wasn't doing well and my boss had all her savings tied up in the business and was stressing about money. Plus, the customer was being a bit rude.
M: I'm sorry ma'am, we don't have a military discount at this store. I might could make an exception if you also serve, but not for spouses. Do you serve as well?
L: of course I don't, who do I look like. Why can't you just support military spouses, we have the hardest job in the army. My husband is deployed. Deployed!
M: I'm sorry. Do you still want the scarf?
L: I want to talk to the manager.
I'm always a little blunt and forthright by nature, which my regulars appreciated, but by now I'd dropped all retail politeness. I reached over and plucked our business card from a tray, dropping it onto my counter.
M: I'm the manager.
L: then I would like to speak to the owner.
M: she's not in today but her name and number are listed on the card above mine. Do you still want the scarf?
She huffs, but takes her wallet out to pay. As I ring up her transaction, she gripes, "So, what, do you just not like service members here or something? What kind of place won't give an army wife a discount. You people must hate the troops or something. My god." And on and on andonandonand...
At this point I was pretty fed up, so I reached down under my counter to my purse, fished around by feel until I had the right card, and then snapped it down right next to the business card.
M, pointing to the business card at my name and title: what's that say?
L: [my name]
M, pointing at the thing next to it--my military ID--: mmm hmm and what's that say
L, studying the ID: ....[my name]
M: hmm. How 'bout that, now?
From there she got really red faced. I handed her receipt and she swiped the business card and stormed out without a word.
I rolled my eyes, knowing I'd catch a little flack for this. I loved my boss like a big sister, but she was the "customer is always right" and I knew I'd get a gentle little lecture about tact and sensitivity when she came in the next morning.
When she came in the next morning, she frowned at me as she tossed her purse on her desk.
AB: did you give someone my cell phone number?
M: I gave her our business card.
AB: *shudders* I need to get those changed. That woman was a bitch, don't let her back in here again.
Ha ha. Roger that, boss.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/51u2f8/so_what_do_you_just_not_like_service_members_here/
| 2,163
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tj69qb
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TalesFromRetail
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Customer Doesn't Want To Take My Generous Discount For A Perfectly Good Item
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This happened just a few days ago and I'm still amazed at the stupidity of this guy. It was a pretty slow day and I was over at self checkout when a guy came up to ring up his stuff. The last item he wanted to get was a paintbrush he had supposedly found on the clearance rack that was missing its cover and had a "dent" in the metal (which I later realized was just part of the design). He asked me what kind of a discount I could give him for it and I told him I'd give him 50% off, which is what we usually take off for damaged items. He decided that wasn't a good enough deal and tried to get me to give it to him for 75% off. Now keep in mind this was a perfectly good $14 brush, bristles all in mint condition, no signs of wear and tear, literally just no cover (which I think he probably just took off and shoved in his pocket)... and he wanted it for $3. I told him 50% was the best I could do and he told me in a huff to take the brush off his bill. After he left, a couple of my coworkers looked at the brush and said they wouldn't have given him any more than 15% off for it, so I was being generous. I can't understand why some people think they can come in a store and haggle for the price they want. That's not how it works around here.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/tj69qb/customer_doesnt_want_to_take_my_generous_discount/
| 92
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2exht4
|
TalesFromRetail
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That b***h is my daughter!
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Lurker, on phone, long time retail slave.
Some background. My father is a CPA who runs a small shop in the front of the office for extra income. He has no employees for the shop other then my sister and me when we were younger.
So I was my birthday and my dad was gong to take me to lunch. As we were getting ready to head out a tax client came by and needed his taxes done "now". I know this won't take more then a hour so, I say no problem I will just run the shop to stay out of the way and we will get lunch after he is done.
Now the fun part
I am in the front reading a book when in walks a customer. I put the book down and ask if I can help with anything. Lady brushes me off so I go back to my novel. When she is done she comes to the front and I start ringing her purchases. She also wants two money orders for $500 each so I ring them in and give her her total. She pulls out a checkbook and asks for a pen, I inform her that money orders are cash only and give her the pen and her total for her items minus the money orders and the fees associated with them.
She looks at me like she just realized I was the shit she stepped in on the way to work, and says "your new here, but the owner lets me write checks for money orders and gives me a 15% discount on all purchases." I say that's fine, she is more then welcome to come back when the owner is working. She instantly loses her shit and starts berating me, my looks, and anything she thinks I might like. I just sat there thinking, no good deed. When she realized I wasn't reacting she started throwing the packets of gum next to to register at me.
So my dad hears the commotion and sticks his head out the door that connects the back offices to the front and sees this women throwing gum at me while I am dodging them, laughing and telling her to calm down. Now when I said my dad is a CPA you probably envisioned a small balding man wearing a bad suit, change that image to a large hairy biker, that loves math, now you have a better idea of what he looks like. He quite calmly asks "my name, is there a problem?". Hearing the owner this woman turns mid throw and says "the only problem here is that this bitch you hired won't do her job!!!"
That is when I got the best present a retail worker could ask for, my dad responds "That bitch is my daughter, and it's her birthday. Get the f**k out of my store and if I ever see you again here or even out on the street I am going to show you exactly how mad I am right now, run!" And she did she dropped every thing is her hands and hightailed it out of the store.
My dad canceled the rest of his appointment which the client readily agreed to, and we went for a wonderful lunch.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2exht4/that_bh_is_my_daughter/
| 2,781
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dhy9ng
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TalesFromRetail
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"But I get it for $20!"
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Backstory: I manage a small vape and CBD store. We are family owned and small-scale. We are not held to a standard about talking back. If people are rude, we are encouraged to tell them off in whatever flavor we choose. This doesn't mean we cuss people out, but if people approach asking for drugs we can tell them to [redacted] right off. Despite this, we strive to be clean and professional.
A lot of our customers are older and use CBD for aches, pains, and other issues. It's a slow day and my tasks today are done so I am twiddling my thumbs and staring at the clock. An older woman enters and begins possibly the most frustrating experience I've had at work in months.
Me: "Hey there, how are ya doing today?"
Lady: "I'm well, I wanted to see the prices on your CBD oils."
Me: "Our CBD oils are in this case here, we have sublingual and vape liquid here. Feel free to ask any questions."
Lady: "How much is this one here?" She is pointing at one of our strongest doses of premium oil, which retails at $190, and we have for $170.
Me: "That bottle is $170, we have the same dose from another brand for $100 as well. We typically price match brands, but we are cheaper than [brand] by $20 on that dosage."
Lady: "That is way too expensive! I get it for $19.99!"
Me: "You are saying you get that [brand] in [dosage] for $19.99?"
Lady: "Yes. Back home in Minnesota!"
Me: "No, you don't. That brand is-"
Lady: "I do!" She laughs a bit manically, "It is the same brand and dose."
Me: "That is 20% of the wholesale cost. If you are getting it at that price it is most likely counterfeit, or synthetic, be careful taking that as it can have serious-"
Lady: "This is robbery. You are a crook!"
Me: "We are a licensed distributor and are cheaper than buying directly from the company. We are under retail."
Lady: "I'm not paying that much, if you price match then match my shop's price and sell it to me for $20!"
Me: "Absolutely not. I didn't say we price match stores. I said we typically price match the brands, and are often cheaper depending on the brand."
Lady: "Just sell it to me for $20!"
Me: "[redacted] no."
The lady huffed and stormed out, while calling me an uninformed [redacted].
This will be a long shift.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/dhy9ng/but_i_get_it_for_20/
| 384
| 26
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1dohzjp
|
TalesFromRetail
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What?
|
Let me set the scene, a young woman still currently working as a cashier at a hardware store that primarily likes a color that is the same name as a fruit, been working for the company for over 5 years.
And on one particular day happens to have a family go through their line, this is a family of a middle-aged gentleman and a middle aged woman with their two children( One boy, one girl. )The girl looks about almost 7 years old and the boy looks about 5-6.
The cashier starts ringing up the items just as usual as they've been trained to do. And the gentleman decided to ask if the wooden trellis that he has that has literally a small chip out of it (Not even an inch) if He could get a discount on it, to appease the gentleman. The cashier offered 10% off because they have a lot more trellis
if the gentleman would like to get a different one instead( because it is a very small chip,) the gentleman tries to haggle and tries to get 30% off, the cashier firm in their decision says 10%, The gentleman made a remark, that he would be able to get that 10% with military discount.
As this is continuing on this entire time, there's another associate just standing there watching because they are waiting to help load the three carts, as the cashier nears towards the end of the cart, and the gentleman tries to chat up the other associate that it's a shame that he can't get more discounts, that he has spent thousands and thousands of dollars that he should get more of a discount.
The cashier then resumes on scanning the rest of the three carts, during this time the little girl will go and decide that she will voice her opinion to her mother quite loudly, and say that the cashier was being rude and being mean because they were not allowing the gentleman to have the discount that they wanted.
Once the cashier was on the second cart, the mother then took the two children out of the store so that they would no longer continue to call the cashier mean, (The cashier has mentioned nothing about the child and the rudeness) the gentleman tried to have it where there was more items for discounts such as a broken bag of soil and two bags of rocks that have two tiny holes, The cashier says that for the soil bag that they could do half off since it is quite a big hole where the bag is almost ripped in half, but they only can do 20% on the bags of rocks. The gentleman again tried to argue for more of a discount, and the cashier had to explain that they could understand the discount of 50% off for the bag of soil because it was ripped open that if they were able to repair the bag with a piece of tape they would be charged at full price, she asked the gentleman if he would like her to get a piece of tape. He said no.
And finally right before the valiant cashier hits the total button. He attempts one more time to get more discounts, instead, the cashier hits the total button and lets them know what the total is. Once the customer after complaining a bit pays the cashier. The cashier Wishes them to have a nice day with a smile on their face. Once the three carts are rolled away, the cashier has a breath to wonder what the f****
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1dohzjp/what/
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crmsm9
|
TalesFromYourServer
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The Time I Received a $2000 Tip.
|
Edit: Typo.
Setting: Miami Beach, FL. late 2009. Seafood Bar and Grill (like a Key West version of a sports bar).
I had this 40 something, sweet as pie, creative and smart regular who would come in with his elderly mother *every* Sunday and ask to be seated with me. We'll call him Jimmy. He was certainly on the spectrum, but a genius in his own right. He was a very talented painter (I'm sure he still is).
Every Sunday, Jimmy would be sitting at my table greeting me with a honest to goodness smile. Between managing tasks for them and other tables, I'd have incredible conversations with Jimmy about the universe and physics. About mathematics and art. I was very happy to have met such a great customer. I could tell he thoroughly enjoyed the company of a server who, one, didn't find him strange and off putting, and two, who could keep up with his favorite topics of conversation. I had just started studying mathematics in college at about this time, and I'm also on the spectrum (but was undiagnosed at the time). I very much looked forward to seeing them each week.
After about a year of this he one day excitedly announced that his sister from NY was coming into town and that he's told her all about me and he can't wait to introduce us. He's convinced I'll love her (and I didn't doubt him).
So, next week comes around and now there are three sitting at my table! I can see this thin, elegant yet earthy woman with GORGEOUS wild curly hair. Jimmy introduces her as Patty.
She's oozing with charisma, and she definitely had a NY attitude--short, to the point, no bs-- but she was, you could instantly tell, very caring. Also intimidatingly smart... not like the dreamy, colorful, wooey science stuff Jimmy and I liked (getting wide eyed and excited to be able to speculate the *implications* of the double slit experiment)(though I'm sure she knew all about that stuff too), but like... Savvy.
Jimmy had been keeping up with my progress in school since around the time I had started. This was between semesters, and he knew that I picked 4 exciting classes for the following semester. More than I had ever put on my plate before. He had asked me about how I felt now that the semester was coming up.
I was fresh 19, no financial aide, no student loans, living on my own, working two serving jobs to pay rent and tuition. I was poor af. Sure, I picked those classes... But, really I was just hoping against hope that I could come up with the $1200 I needed to pay for them. The deadline was fast approaching and I had, just days before this conversation with Jimmy, Patty and their mom, made the decision to drop one, if not two, of the classes so that I could afford the semester.
Smiling and embarrassed, I told him that I'd be dropping a couple of the classes. He gave a frown and an 'aww' and I had to scamper off to go do server stuff.
Between the refills and the food drop offs and the cleanups, we all just continue chit chatting. Patty casually asked how much my 4 class semester was going to run me. I told her, not thinking anything if it. The conversation naturally moved on.
I run off again to serve other tables and I come back to their table towards the end of the meal. Gabbing continues when Patty extends her hand out to me... with a piece of paper. Instinctually, I grab it and... It's a check...
for $2000.
I try and give it back, tears in my eyes, she's not smiling-- but I can tell she's perfectly happy-- and adamantly *refuses* to take it back. NY no BS in full swing. I can tell she's serious. And I just sloppily thank her and run into the kitchen because all of a sudden my knees are Jell-O. I plop on the floor on my butt and sobb. Other staff are running towards me concerned and I can barely tell them that it's not anything bad, that in fact it's incredible, through the crying. Eventually, I gather myself and I gave her a bit better of a thank you, and said goodbye.
I paid for and took all four classes. Passed all of them with a perfect A. I bought a graphing calculator and a laptop too. I'm not a mathematician yet, but I'm working on it. And I'm not rich yet, but the moment I can afford to make this kind of impact on someone else, I will.
Thanks, Patty... <3
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/crmsm9/the_time_i_received_a_2000_tip/
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1e5qus2
|
TalesFromYourServer
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My canned response whenever a customer would bring up that he was going to tip me 'big.'
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We all know that when a customer starts the whole dining experience by bringing up your eventual tip, that the tip will usually SUCK.
One day, a response popped into my head that ended up really working for me many times:
(To the whole table) "Oh, sir, let's not sully this relationship\*\* with talk of money." -In a jovial tone, obvious I'm being silly and half-sarcastic. The table would always laugh. Then I would immediately re-start my spiel, or ask for drink orders, etc.
I just thought I'd bring it up, since this almost always resulted in a better tip than normal for people who talk about "Taking care of you" from the jump.
\*\*I usually used "relationship", but I would use "evening" when the table were creeps, one-tops, couples/fellow women, or on a date.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e5qus2/my_canned_response_whenever_a_customer_would/
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lqqlo7
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Got a boyfriend? No tip for you.
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I work at a pizza chain, I was the closer for the lounge. Mild day, not too crazy.
This table of two guys came in, immediately the one starts hitting on me. Asking for my number everytime I went to get refills for them. I went to my bartender everytime and brought it up. It got so obnoxious and annoying I actually asked one of the other servers (gay, flamboyant, and wasn't working at the time) if I can hand his number to them. Didn't end up doing that because they will get the wrong idea and they know where I work.
Finally getting their bill. He asks once again while hes using the machine to pay.
"Do you have a boyfriend or something?"
"Yeah, I do actually."
"Oh, well if you didn't I'd give you a tip."
Big. Fat. Zero. Tip.
His friend actually made a comment when he said that.
I don't understand. I was clearly not interested before. Def not interested now (Can we ban people who asks their server out then just dont tip?). Also I am working, it's my job to be nice to you, does not mean I am flirting.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/lqqlo7/got_a_boyfriend_no_tip_for_you/
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1jrfiug
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TalesFromYourServer
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Follow up!
|
I thought I'd follow up with you lovely people. Thanks for all your help so far!
I gently confronted my boss about my unpaid training and he agreed to pay me for the 2 days. So far, I've worked Fridays Saturdays and Sundays. I've gotten a handle on the to-go orders - I freaked myself out for nothing. And most people are leaving me tips on them (the called in orders, not those from GrubHub)
The problem now is I'm not making good tips because the traffic just isn't there. The food is amazing. The customers are lovely. Lots of regulars. I've yet to have a table of more than 2 people and yet to have more than 4 tables at a time. It's just dead.
I'm going to stick it out until I find a better restaurant because frankly my family needs any amount of money we can get right now. Maybe soon with the warmer weather there will be more traffic. Wish me luck! Thanks again for your support
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1jrfiug/follow_up/
| 34
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hot
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1hpym62
|
TalesFromYourServer
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What to put on tip line?
|
Asking server preference:
If I’m paying the bill by card, but leaving cash for the tip, should I:
a) write “cash” on tip line?
b) X out tip line?
c) other
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hpym62/what_to_put_on_tip_line/
| 16
| 56
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tip
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hot
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1ht875l
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Clocked out during cash out?
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Owner of my resturant say i need to be clocked out while waiting for our tips and cash out, typically taking about 30 minutes. We do get a shift drink to enjoy, and they say if we are having a drink and waiting, then we need to be clocked out. I say clocking out is the last thing to do after getting cashed out/tips distributed, then walking out the door. What do you guys think?
Edit: if u r not enjoying a shift drink u r expected to clock out and wait until cashout is done, even if u r not getting any cash that night. I guess it's not the biggest deal in the world, just wanted to hear everyone's opinions on this situation. Thanks to all that responded!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1ht875l/clocked_out_during_cash_out/
| 82
| 81
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tip
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hot
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1hs1rbr
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Alone on a 40 Top
|
This was over 20 years ago but I should share so ppl aren’t as dumb as I was.
I worked at Logan’s Roadhouse in Lewisville, Texas.
After only 2 weeks on the floor I was told I was working a party in the “garage” (a room that can be private) with some kind of motorcycle club, like dipshit boomers with harleys.
They said I was alone but each table would only have one tab and I would get help from runners and the bar, which I would happily tip out.
Well I got no help, it went to shit, and everyone was like “I had a ribeye and 4 coors light and my wife over there at that other table had 5 bud lights and a filet”
I repeated what the manager said, that tickets were by table but literally everyone wanted seperate tabs and the manager finally showed up to “help” just closing out what people said they had, which they lied about. And I heard him say “well your server rang it up wrong” implying I should’ve started seperate tabs. 40 people!
He also closed out cash tabs without the cash and I ended up owing more to tip out then I had on hand. I gave the bar all my money and walked off just with my $2.13/hr
I was scheduled a double the next day and just put my phone on silent the next day and got messages like “we’re just checking in you missed your lunch shift just making sure you’re gonna show up for dinner”
They even used my emergency contact from my paperwork and called my mother. That’s not what that’s for.
Anyway I’m old and mean now and they stole my money so I’m bitter but I wish I would’ve stood up for myself
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hs1rbr/alone_on_a_40_top/
| 134
| 5
| 1,735,845,393
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hot
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9r82l9
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Manager threw me under the bus
|
This happened tonight, i work at a "the customer is always right" chain restaurant. It was a REALLY slow day, with most servers ending with 4-5 tables for the whole night. I was excited to have a 6 top come in, my only table, and gave them my full attention. One woman got wine, one got champagne, so i went to the bar to get both. Came back to the table with them and the woman with champagne was very unhappy with what she received. To be fair, this was a $10 beverage, was a very small glass, and STILL only around half full. I went back to the bartender to make sure this was the appropriate fill level, she confirmed, so i went back to the guest. She was very unhappy at the amount she received for her money.
I offered to replace the champagne with a drink that she would rather have, and take it off her ticket. She was grateful, but said it was the principle of it that bugged her, and that they wouldn't be spending any more money here. With this i went to my manager and tried to get him to comp as much of their ticket as possible, because honestly what they got for the price they would be paying was bullshit.
For context, i really like all of managers.. except the one working tonight. He's very new and has made offensive remarks to multiple people, including women wearing "too much make up," etc. So he went to talk to the table, and was stuck there for around 5-10 mins with both women laying into him. Eventually he came back to the computer and comped all of their food, so i took the women their revised tickets. When i arrived at the table, they reassured me that they knew it wasn't my fault, i was simply the messenger, but that my manager had said that it was most likely my fault and i had described the drink incorrectly to her, placing the blame on me. Gladly, the women had stood up for me and told him it absolutely wasn't my fault but rather whoever thought it was acceptable to charge $10 for half a glass. Honestly at this point i felt so shitty about their experience, and it made me
feel so much better that they understood that i had no power in the situation. In the end the left on a good note with me, not so much with the restaurant, and left a VERY reasonable tip. Thank you so much ladies.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9r82l9/manager_threw_me_under_the_bus/
| 6,575
| 274
| 1,540,452,083
| 11
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tip
|
top
|
9wp1dd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Man at bar basically gives server $5000 tip
| null |
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9wp1dd/man_at_bar_basically_gives_server_5000_tip/
| 6,324
| 62
| 1,542,115,637
| 11
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tip
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top
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q5c6ei
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Is anyone else sick of hearing that “no one wants to work”?
|
We had to close our outdoor seating early this year due to staffing issues, and this is what everyone says in response now. It feels insulting. I’m here 40 plus hours a week, working. I make $3 an hour that I see almost none of. I bust my ass almost every day for NO benefits and no guaranteed pay, hoping I can hustle enough per shift to pay my bills every month.
When I joke with these folks and ask if they would really rather be working if they could make more from unemployment, they say “yes, of course, I have too much pride to not work.”
Then why the fuck are you giving me, the one working, a hard time about us being short staffed?! Feel free to apply, I’m suuuuure you could work the patio by yourself.
I love what I do but who the hell would choose this if they didn’t have to??
Edit: to clarify, I make a lot more than 3/hour from tips. I love my job and I make plenty, my point is that it’s tough to hear people act like this is such a flippant problem and then get mad when their food takes long, or not tip and wonder why “no one” wants to serve them. I don’t have a degree or connections, so this really is the only way I can make so much money. The point is it shouldn’t be that way.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/q5c6ei/is_anyone_else_sick_of_hearing_that_no_one_wants/
| 5,424
| 587
| 1,633,885,756
| 11
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tip
|
top
|
145jw6l
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Party of 7, amongst themselves as they look at the bill: “oh don’t leave anything, the tip is included already.” Me, repeatedly: “oh, we only include a gratuity for parties greater than 8, so not you guys.” Complete silence. Guess how much they left?
|
Nothing. I can only think they thought the tax % was the tip, or they were just making some excuse.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/145jw6l/party_of_7_amongst_themselves_as_they_look_at_the/
| 949
| 111
| 1,686,352,288
| 11
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gratuity
|
relevance
|
v6isku
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Gratuity before or after tax?
|
Title. Had a couple from a 10-top stay behind to chew me out over this, despite my letting them know it’s not exactly my choice how it’s applied. They kept insisting that services like tips can’t be taxed and I’m ripping people off.
~~I’m fairly sure tips are part of my income and taxed/subject to tax….right?~~ im dumb this was irrelevant, ignore.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/v6isku/gratuity_before_or_after_tax/
| 78
| 57
| 1,654,564,390
| 11
|
gratuity
|
relevance
|
5pj91l
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Why i wish there was auto gratuity...
|
So this wasn't me but my coworker just told me she had the worse night of her life. She came into work and was put in our party section. The party section has 6 tables but when there's a party they're first to have it and they push the tables together. A lady comes in at 5:30 and says she has a party of 40, so they close my coworkers section. She had 1 table before then and now she waits.... After 30 min about 20 of them are there so they start seating. 6:30 comes by and the party is here. Her and her partner take it together, give them incredible service and told the managers they were beyond perfect. And their tab is close to $500. So one lady says "Nobody tip, I'm gonna treat these girls! *I'll take care of them*" you all know that line.....
After holding their section from 5:30 to 11....
They tipped these girls...
$10
To split....
Absolute bull shit.
I forgot to mention that was their only table all night. They each had 1 before and then spent the rest of their night with the party
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/5pj91l/why_i_wish_there_was_auto_gratuity/
| 152
| 53
| 1,485,115,518
| 11
|
gratuity
|
relevance
|
bfayq2
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
This was a first for me
|
TL/DR in the bottom, just in case this is a bit long.
To start, I am a server of near 15 years (at the same restaurant).
I seat a party of 8, 7 adults and 1 child. Overall their experience was a very standard one: drinks, apps, dinner and dessert. No complaints, and I feel like I'm having a good report with them. Prior to ordering I was informed that 3 separate checks would be in order.
Now to the crazy part.
I set down the 3 separate checks, and take off to another table to take their order. Immediatly after taking the other tables order I get flagged down by the party of 8.
Me: That was quick, anything wrong with your check?
At this point the oldest member of the party speaks up: Is it always policy to add gratuity on parties of 4 or less?
Me: Of course not sir, gratuity is added on parties of 6 or more.
Customer: "Well you added gratuity to all of our checks, and we (pointing to himself and the 3 other members of his check) are a party of 4. They (again pointing, and at this point raising his voice) are a party of 3, and he is a party of 1"
For the first time in a long time I am completely speechless. He thought that breaking up the parties checks meant that they we're no longer a party of 8 people, but rather 3 separate "parties" that happened to share a long table.
Me: "I do apologise for the confusion, but you arrived and ate as a party of 8. Separate checks does not equate to separate parties." (As nicely as I can going full Customer Service voice and smile)
Customer: "But we are 3 different parties, all under 6 people. I demand you take these off! With the service you provided, you don't deserve a damn cent." (Again much louder than his previous speech, and on cent he slammed the table slightly)
Me: "Again I apologize for any confusion, but gratuity is included on parties of 6 or more, and you are a party of 8. How would you like to pay for those checks?"
At this point he realizes he isn't going to get away without leaving a tip, and has made a scene for my whole section. He ninja stars his credit card at me, and I pick up the other 2 checks (they had cards sticking out of them".
They didn't say a word as they left, but u wonder if they tried this trick at other restaurants and got away with it?
TLDR: Split checks on large party, they want gratuity removed because they we're "no longer a large party"
Edit: Just woke up, and wow, thanks everyone for the support! ♥️
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/bfayq2/this_was_a_first_for_me/
| 2,159
| 154
| 1,555,757,250
| 11
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gratuity
|
relevance
|
x5gkb0
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I just need to vent
|
I work in a restaurant semi expensive. It's not fine dining, but it's very nice. Also, in half of the restaurant has private rooms, which is more work. I had a table tonight, in a private room, which I was not technically allowed to add gratuity. I really wanted to, thought about it and decided not to. They had a four course meal, multiple drinks refilled, had everything. Their bill was $220, they left me $6. I can't believe people. I'm never going to second guess myself about gratuity again and my boss would back me up because they know I wouldn't do it without reason.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/x5gkb0/i_just_need_to_vent/
| 125
| 36
| 1,662,275,273
| 11
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gratuity
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hot
|
1bme0f5
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
operation raise server minimum wage
|
i want to share my journal entry. i might’ve been rambling. or going on tangents. i was free-writing about whatever came to mind & i asked questions at the end.
[i’ve been a server for a few years. when non-tippers make the argument “don’t be mad at me for not tipping, be mad at the restaurant for not paying you” i always respond like, “just tip. if they pay us more it means food costs go up and now you have to pay more anyway and you would hate that”. butttt right now im thinking the “why do you work at place that only pays you $2/hr” folks were on to something bc why do we let them pay us $2/hr ??? (ngl, i haven’t done a lot of research yet🫣) but im pretty sure minimum wage has been going up in every other industry but ours. idk yall i kinda feel like we *should* tell them to pay us more. like it’s that simple. if we can actually come to an agreement and group together we could be getting paid better. the only petition i saw to raise servers min wage was on change . org and started in 2017. it has 663 signatures and an 1000 signature goal. it’s been 7 years since the petition started. and it hasn’t reached 1000??
i fear the people are not gonna learn to tip any better. we’ve been telling them to tip us better for forever. it’s so many excuses. no one can afford it. the people are tired of it. tipping culture is dying i fear. and i think thats partly because the quick-service industry have oversaturated it.
what’s inspiring these thoughts is the fact that im trying to get auto gratuity implemented at my restaurant lol. some of the veterans say they’ve asked for it from the manager over the region (or whoever the big owner is supposed to be). apparently he said, “no. it’ll scare away customers,” (if it helps to understand the clientele he’s soo afraid to scare away (🙄), i work at a big chain restaurant. it’s probably on the lowest tier of big name service restaurants). none of us like that answer. i feel like we need to actually come together and get this implemented bc im tired. but i cant do this all by myself. i’m just a girl 🥹. i want to be fighting for change but i also wanna sleep, or do yoga, and go get my hair and nails done— relax! as i should. as of now it’s giving “when you do the whole group project yourself”. i need help. i can’t fight for this on my own. how do i do this?
i wanna lead this movement but i need some leaders with me.
what am i supposed to do to get auto gratuity implemented at my restaurant?
what’s your opinion on servers telling their employers to pay them more?]
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1bme0f5/operation_raise_server_minimum_wage/
| 1
| 11
| 1,711,261,142
| 11
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gratuity
|
new
|
1exf4lb
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Those regulars who get the world and don't take care of the staff?
|
We have one that is the first guest in the building every Thursday for dinner service. He's been coming in since 1992 and was told by a previous owner he would receive a free alcoholic beverage every time. He walks in and goes throughout the building saying "Hi" to everyone. Our current Chef hates him because he is very particular and doesn't get charged for things. "I'll have extra Bolognese sauce on my pasta." No ticket no taco situation where I have to ring it in but then he throws a fit he was charged for extra sauce and the managers remove it. "I'll have a salad with extra salami" same situation. He's luckily in and out in around an hour but he only tips 15%. Every time he gets a new server it's a thing because he generally orders things that are no longer on the menu or items that we only sell at lunch and he comes at dinner so our POS doesn't have the menu item he wants. Anyone else have stories about the regulars you deal with?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1exf4lb/those_regulars_who_get_the_world_and_dont_take/
| 481
| 183
| 1,724,209,828
| 11
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service charge
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relevance
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ktwssj
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
(NAS) Restaurants Charging 18% Service Fee When Ordering Dine-in on App. Managers won’t clarify if this goes directly to servers. What’s the story?
|
So obligatory Not A Server. Several restaurants in my area have no touch ordering for dine-in, where you basically order and pay for your meal on their website. They automatically charge an 18% service fee, then ask if I want to add a tip amount. Now, I am a generous tipper, and try to eat at local places to support the servers, but I don’t want to leave an additional 20% on top of 18%. I tried asking a manager to clarify what the 18% was for, and she acted kind of offended and said something vague about it being a service gratuity during these tough times etc. But, what I want to know is does this add on fee go directly into the server’s pocket, or to the restaurant owner? I’m hoping that maybe one of you know. I just don’t want to be getting ripped off by restaurant owners and stiffing servers by thinking of it as an added in tip. Any advice?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ktwssj/nas_restaurants_charging_18_service_fee_when/
| 16
| 7
| 1,610,218,225
| 11
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service charge
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relevance
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b9db14
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Someone THREW AWAY my table's food.
|
I primarily worked as a bartender when I was in food service, but would sometimes pick up serving shifts if I needed extra hours that week. Incidents like this remind me why I preferred bar over serving.
It was a fairly busy night and I had several tables, but everything was going smoothly so far. I had one couple come in and just order some sodas and an entree a piece. No appetizers or alcohol or any menu substitutuons, so by all means they should have been an easy table and a guaranteed tip. I brought them their drinks and put their order in and went on doing my normal duties for my other guests.
I wasn't in the kitchen when their food came out as I was taking another table's order at the time, but this shouldn't have been an issue as our busser staff was awesome and could take the food to its correct tables with no problems. It was also common for other servers to bring food to someone else's table if they had nothing to do and that table's server was busy.
So I went into the kitchen to check on my orders and saw that this particular couple's ticket was no longer up on the screen, nor was their food waiting to be delivered. "Great!" I thought. "They have their food already!" I went to go check on them to see if everything looked okay and their table was empty. No food. That's weird.
I went and asked the kitchen "Hey, do you remember sending out a personal pizza and a chicken dinner for table X?" The cooks said they had put it up on the line and it had been taken. A busser said they saw server such-and-such take it. I went and found server such-and-such and asked about it, who confirmed that they had, in fact, taken my table's food. BUT. Now here's the fun part: they brought the food to table Y instead of table X. You may be thinking "oh, that's no big deal, server such-and-such can just reread the ticket and bring the food to the correct table."
Nope.
Instead what server such-and-such did was assume IT WAS A WRONG ORDER and that IT WAS MADE BY MISTAKE and THREW. IT. AWAY. Without even asking anyone else if they knew where it went! Or asking me, WHO PUT IN THE ORDER, where it should go! WHO DOES THAT?!?
And I took. Every. Single. Hit. For it.
I had to send in those entrees again, which had to be comped off the ticket, which hurt me. The guests were given a 50% discount by my manager, which hurt me. They had to wait around 40 minutes to even get their food, when it should have taken maybe 15, which hurt me. They ended up not tipping even though their bill was smaller and I did everything I could to make things right for them, and I can't really blame them because I was just as frustrated as they were.
I was livid. Like crying angry tears.
Thank god it was a busy night and I was able to make up for it in tips. Although I still had what was practically a 150% comp on my checkout which sucked.
What I would have given to be on bar that night instead and to be in charge of fulfilling and delivering all of my own orders.
I heard that server such-and-such was fired recently and I can't say I'm that surprised.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/b9db14/someone_threw_away_my_tables_food/
| 1,926
| 76
| 1,554,387,587
| 11
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relevance
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1ergxzb
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Help a Boomer
|
RELAX……… I’m not going nuclear on dumbshit but need advice about tipping. First of all, I worked doing short order, bartender stuff while in college. I have total respect for food service workers and my wife and I are the type if/when there’s a prob we go with the flow. I learned (early) after over 30 yrs in a LE career, shit happens. Majority of time it’s a BOH issue that is usually corrected.
Anyway, I do tip above the 20%, 20 is the min if things are crappy. I don’t like to put a tip on a CC, and I know cash is king, but how far? What I do with a CC charge is I tip the 10% and give 20% cash. So I ask the experts… What is the best for you?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1ergxzb/help_a_boomer/
| 5
| 11
| 1,723,577,602
| 11
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service charge
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hot
|
ya203s
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Ethical Dilemma
|
Before asking the question, I want to set the scene first.
A busy night, but I had been killing it. Greats tips all night from almost every table. Our bartender kept complaining about how much alcohol was being ordered, but we all know drunk people are the best tippers.
Anyways during our dinner rush, I had a four top. All middle age women, the type you expect to have problems from but I'm damn good at dealing with anyone. Only lost it one time in all my years of service jobs.
These ladies, although incredibly needy, appeared to love me. Probably because I got them every request they asked of me, but they were friendly the whole time. Never to the point I dropped the mask, but they definitely believed I liked them.
Now after they leave I picked up the checkbook. It was during a rush and actually wasn't my table, I was covering for someone who was in the weeds. Took me a bit to grab it, but there was something strange.
They had left 15 in the tip line, however the total added up to 25 for the tip.
15 is just a little bit under 20%. About what to expect from one of these tables.
So, my question is what do you do in this situation? They are gone, so asking them anything is impossible. The total they had written was 101, so presumably that's what they expected to spend.
Edit: First two comments and it's already contradictory. Very interesting that there isn't a set way to handle this.
Edit 2: Felt like saying I did take the total in this scenario. Honestly I think they meant to leave me 15, if they hadn't left I would have asked, but they intended to pay 101 so that's what they were charged. Can't complain about an extra 10 bucks!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ya203s/ethical_dilemma/
| 241
| 80
| 1,666,379,629
| 11
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hot
|
s01zvm
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Random Rant
|
I’m new to the service industry as I started working as a waitress a few weeks ago and I need to rant about some of the things that have been bugging me hugely
Firstly, the amount of food that gets wasted?? So many people will order a huge amount of food and just leave half of it untouched and because of covid blah blah blah all we can do is scrape it into the bin. It makes me feel so shit standing in front of some of the kitchen staff who are working a minimum wage job to support their families and parents and siblings and having to scrape an entire plate of food into the bin because people just decided to order a huge meal and eat an eighth of it
Secondly, people are such dicks. The amount of people who treat you like you’re less than them because you’re working as a waitress blows my mind. Last week we had a woman come in with her daughter and a bunch of other kids to celebrate her birthday. Where I work, if we’re hosting an event or party we will set up the tables nicely but require people to bring their own decorations etc ready to be placed on the table. I was the unfortunate soul serving this table and while I’m busy making about 20 milkshakes the mother comes to me with big ass balloons and tells me to blow them up and take them out with the milkshakes. Not my job lady and I’m busy. Between me and the other servers we manage to get all her decorations sorted and taken out with the milkshakes. Catered to these childrens every request and got tipped less than 5%. And she didn’t even get charged the small fee we usually charge to host parties.
Lastly, people changing their minds last minute drives me up the wall. Yesterday a woman ordered a cappuccino with cream. I checked twice that she wanted cream instead of foam and she was adamant that she did. Make the coffee and take it to her when she says no she wanted foam. Took it back and just scooped the cream out with a spoon and filled it with foam. Should I have made her a new one? Yes. Did I feel like doing it in the middle of the lunch rush? No. Another customer had ordered a waffle with a caramel sauce, take it to her and she knocks it over and requests another one. Go back to the kitchen which was already chaotic because again, lunch time rush, request a fresh sauce, take it out to her and she says “oh never mind, I don’t need the sauce anymore. Something else that just has to go in the bin.
People make me f*cking insane
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/s01zvm/random_rant/
| 19
| 7
| 1,641,763,519
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hot
|
n2mty6
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Found out my restaurant has been taking more of our tips than legally allowed
|
Wow. Yesterday was insane. I've worked at this restaurant since their opening last year. I've poured my heart and soul into this place, risked my life during a pandemic, stayed late, picked up support shifts, helped carry the team. I don't even know where to start, but here it goes...
Until yesterday, I worked at a restaurant that opened early 2020 then shut down until reopening sometime in May. Last summer, I was pretty upset about the money I was making. I felt like the work I was doing wasn't worth the paychecks. I went to my manager multiple times about this, but she was always able to calm me down and convince me that everything was correct. I didn't want to risk trying a new restaurant with the pandemic going on, and I liked all my coworkers, so I stayed despite feeling like something was off with the tips.
I should probably explain our tip out process. As servers, we can't close our own shifts. The manager is the only one with access to this. At the end of the shift, the manager clocks you out, you staple your receipts, and you're done. Later, the manager puts the info into a spreadsheet to determine our tip outs to bar (5% of alcohol), server assistant (1.5% total sales), and food runner (1% total sales). This is where I believed our tips were being messed up. I know there was at least one instance where a tip out was taken for support staff that wasn't working. My manager assured me that she goes back every week and checks for mistakes. I'm really easy to handle I guess because I continued to fall for it.
Mid April, my manager gets married at the restaurant. We're all paid the same hourly, but the bartenders kept the tips from the bar. At previous events I've worked, including the one event I'd worked at my restaurant, the tips were all split evenly since the bar is the only place tips could be received. The managers agreed that it was meant to be split but said it was too late to do anything. I'm livid. I worked my ass off for this wedding, and it sucks being taken advantage of by my coworkers. At this point, I'd decided this was the hill I was willing to die on. I was taking a week off starting the weekend after the wedding, so I didn't want to quit immediately, but there's no way I could stay somewhere where a tip pool is stolen by 3 people and the managers' response is just, "oops"
So, I decided to look up the laws. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do about it. I go to my states department of labor website and see that it's illegal to take more than 15% of the total tips. Holy. Shit. The whole year I knew something was off. I felt like I wasn't making what I should. And I was right. I went into work, got the info I needed from my past 3 shifts, and there it was. More than 15% of my tips was going to tip out the bar and support. They're speaking to a lawyer to confirm, because they can't just shell out the money without knowing, but according to my manager's rough estimate, they own us at least 60,000-70,000.
This bitch then has the audacity to try to guilt me about it. Acting like it's somehow my fault they got caught red-handed. Telling me the support staff will lose their jobs. Asking if I think they're overpaid. I guess it never crossed her mind that they could be paid a higher hourly. She's claiming they had no idea and were just following the "industry standard" but I don't buy it. Why does the money always have to come from our pockets?
If you don't know the laws for tipped workers in your state, look them up. All the information I needed was right there, and it was easy to call and confirm. I'm sick of these scummy managers and owners taking advantage of our hard work. It's time for us to take the trash out.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/n2mty6/found_out_my_restaurant_has_been_taking_more_of/
| 2,179
| 160
| 1,619,889,659
| 11
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restaurant tip
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relevance
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lke5es
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Is that normal my manager share cash tips from a jar with us and take 10% out from credit tips? I talked to the owner of the restaurant about this but she referred me back to talk with manager. Thank you
|
I’m working in Michigan.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/lke5es/is_that_normal_my_manager_share_cash_tips_from_a/
| 403
| 113
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| 11
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restaurant tip
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relevance
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1agqoii
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Does your restaurant have automatic tips for groups?
|
My restaurant does automatic 20% for groups of 5 or larger, and a minimum of 75$ per person if the table is 10 people or more. Sometimes we’ll get families or groups that ask for a thousand things and then at the end try to not tip or pretend like the host didn’t explain to them. It’s very satisfying to be honest because you can tell who wants to leave it and who is being forced lol.
edit: sorry for the wording, I meant a 75$ minimum of consumption per person on tables of 10 or more. Essentially making it a min of 750$ = $150 automatic tip of one table. We don’t get those a lot but they’re always nice.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1agqoii/does_your_restaurant_have_automatic_tips_for/
| 67
| 46
| 1,706,834,561
| 11
|
restaurant tip
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relevance
|
1h93ehd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Biggest tip of my life
|
Just received insane tips serving last night, this business owner tipped me 100% on a bill of over 1,000$. I sold quite a few double azul shots and he was buying over 200 shots for the entire restaurant. Definitely the biggest tips I’ve ever received (literally paid my rent.) Curious what others “tip records” are?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1h93ehd/biggest_tip_of_my_life/
| 95
| 19
| 1,733,608,825
| 11
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restaurant tip
|
hot
|
1h647r1
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Is it me or is our new tip-out policy outrageous?
|
So one of the reasons I left my last job was that I was super annoyed with tipping out 15% of my tips to the server assistant who oftentimes barely did their job while I was running my ass off all the time.
I moved to this new job and now we don’t have SA’s, we have hosts who also bus tables and reset them as well as pour water when they first sit down (they don’t even refill waters for us and they will only bust glasses, we are responsible for all plates, silverware, etc.) the policy was 10% of your tips to the hosts, which I was fine with.
Now out of the blue (my manager did not directly inform me, I just heard it from other servers and a whiteboard note) my manager changed the tip out policy to 10% of tips to EACH host. So if he puts on 3 hosts, that’s 30% of our tips, plus we have to tip out the bartender still. Even if it’s slow he always puts on 2 hosts and they mostly stand around doing nothing. And he changed the policy to us having to give them cash daily, even when we haven’t gotten our tips yet.
So far the restaurant has been slow and I know the hosts are making a significant amount more than the servers which makes it feel especially unfair to have to tip them out. Even on the one slightly busy night we’ve had lately, I did the math and the hosts each made about the same as I did I know the hosts have an important job but it feels annoying have to tip out that much when you are pretty much doing 95% of the work for the tables.
Is it me or is this absolutely ridiculous? My manager is not receptive to talk about this or other issues and I know he will not budge. But I would never have agreed to that policy change. I would have already quit but due to the nature of the area I’m in I would lose my housing and have to leave the area completely as well as a couple of benefits and that would really really suck, but I’m also already not paying the bills at the moment.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1h647r1/is_it_me_or_is_our_new_tipout_policy_outrageous/
| 45
| 26
| 1,733,275,766
| 11
|
restaurant tip
|
hot
|
l9pli2
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
bottomless mimosas can go to hell
|
I'm a server at a popular restaurant in a college town. On the weekends, we have 15$ bottomless mimosas. Today it was pretty busy (big brunch crowd) and it felt like almost all of my tables ordered bottomless mimosas. They got at least 10 refills each, and towards the end of my shift when I only had about 3 tables I was still running back and forth frantically trying to keep up with their drinks. The bartenders were pissed at me. We ran out of orange juice and almost ran out of champagne, so I was giving them grapefruit and pineapple juice mimosas. I had one table of girls that had to have had at least 5 bottles of champagne between the 3 of them and they didn't even seem drunk. They ended up camping there and I had to stay an hour and a half past my shift just serving them drinks, and then I got them their checks and said "totally no rush (when a server tells you this they definitely want you to leave), you guys can keep ordering after you pay." 20 minutes later and they still didn't take their cards out. Finally, I just said "Hey do you mind if I check you guys out? My shift was supposed to end an hour and a half ago." They were apologetic about it and I felt bad, but I have homework to do! But I kinda just said fuck it because I got a hunch that they were going to be terrible tippers anyways.
Well they tipped me 20% each, and one tipped me almost 40%, so that was nice (the bill wasn't that big cuz they didn't order much food, but still). That was a nice little surprise though! I came back an hour later to get myself some food and they were STILL there having other servers get them mimosas. So was it worth it? I don't even know.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/l9pli2/bottomless_mimosas_can_go_to_hell/
| 3,402
| 261
| 1,612,137,440
| 11
|
restaurant tip
|
top
|
agng96
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Customers put other customers in place on my behalf.
|
I saw another post here about entitled customers who come in and expect "rush service" ahead of people who were there before them. I haven't been a server in almost three years but that other Redditor's story that I read was eerily similar to mine so I thought I'd share.
I was working a day shift at a pizza restaurant. It wasn't crazy busy but I was the only server, bartender, busser and food runner. Sometimes my manager would jump in and help me.
A very pregnant woman and her mother come in. I sat them and after I gave them my intro spiel they asked if they could order and pay immediately. They also asked if I could bring them boxes for their food because the woman was in the early stages of labour (starting to have contractions or something). They wanted to make sure that they could leave very suddenly during their meal if they had to. I was kinda surprised that they were willing to sit down at a restaurant but it was no problem. They could not have been any nicer and I was very happy to help them (of course).
At the time there were only a few other tables but another party walked in. A grandmother (who I will refer to as DG/demon grandma), her daughter (DD/demon daughter) and her granddaughter came in and I sat them at a booth. Immediately, I could tell that they weren't going to be very easy going or friendly. Not even two seconds in to my welcome spiel, the grandmother interrupted me and started to go on about how they were in a hurry. I asked them if they wanted to order right away but they said they wanted some time to decide.
Before I left their table to give them a few moments, I offered them a booster seat since the granddaughter was small for the booth. When I brought the booster seat over DG and DD looked disgusted and DG said "you expect her to sit on that? Do you have anything else?" I had brought them over our standard black, plastic booster seat. We clean them after every time they are used. Sure, it wasn't fancy but it wasn't like I brought them a dirty tree stump. I said "I'm sorry this is all we have."
They did not respond or acknowledge me and just kept looking down at their menus. I waited for about 10 long awkward seconds and with no response, I took that as a cue to give them more time with the menu. I proceeded to sit the next table that came in. In the middle of my 10 second spiel to the new table, DG came and tapped me on the shoulder while I was talking to the new table and said "come take our order." I'm not even kidding there had been less than two minutes between me leaving their table and greeting this table. I said "okay, I'll be there in just one sec."
I returned back to their table and DG let out a very cold and annoyed "Well, it's about time. Are you finally going to serve us?" I took their order punched in the food and drink orders and then headed to the bar to start making drinks. I brought them their drinks and then went on to run some food and whatnot. There are a lot more details that made them unpleasant but I'll jump to the meat of my story.
A food order came up and it was the pizza for the pregnant woman and her mother. As it so happens the pizza that the pregnant woman and her mother had ordered was the same one as one of the pizzas that DG's table had ordered. When DG saw me running the pizza to the pregnant woman's table she followed me and as I was putting the pizza down she started snapping. "Why are you giving them my pizza?!?! I clearly said that we were in a rush" she barked. I was in shock but I tried to keep my cool and I said "Your order is coming up next, they ordered first." I immediately darted away and went to grab the takeaway box for the pregnant woman.
I had hoped that DG would head back to her table and calm her tits but nope. When I brought the box to the pregnant woman's table, DG followed me. As I was trying to talk to the table DG came up right next to me. She started going off and talking over me saying that supposed to be served first, how she's in a hurry, that I'm a bimbo and I'm terrible at my job. I was super embarrassed and honestly, on the verge of knocking her the fuck out. Right before I was about to snap at her, pregnant woman and her delightful mother came to my rescue.
"Who the fuck do you think you are lady?" said the pregnant woman, "This young lady is doing a fantastic job. You're the only one who is being rude and disruptive to everyone else's lunch" added her mother. They went on to tell DG to go sit down and to stop being so entitled and read her to filth. I was stunned and so was DG. DG huffed and went back to her booth.
I honestly could've burst in to tears. Sure, shitty customers weren't super rare but having other patrons step up to defend me was. After DG left the two women asked me if I was okay and told me to "ignore that miserable person." I thanked them and felt so much better.
By the time DG had gotten back to her booth her pizza was there. My manager had brought it over. After seeing what happened, he finished them up for me so I wouldn't have to go back and deal with DG again. No surprise, DG didn't tip but I was happy to be rid of her.
With my manager's permission, I gave the pregnant woman and her mother each a $10 gift card that we usually give to people when we mess up their order. They made my day. The pregnant woman and her mother ate their pizza and left. Things in the restaurant had gotten busy again so I never had the chance to officially say bye when they did leave.
When things died down, I went and bussed their table. Though they had already tipped me 25% when they paid initially, I saw that they had also left me an extra $20 bill on the table with a note that said "Thanks for everything." :)
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/agng96/customers_put_other_customers_in_place_on_my/
| 3,008
| 90
| 1,547,659,669
| 11
|
restaurant tip
|
top
|
9f0rhv
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I wouldn’t touch your husband with a ten-foot pole, ma’am.
|
Oh, man.
So this one happened a few nights ago. This month has been particularly slow since its back-to-school season and families, which make up most of our clientele, tend to cut cut down on spending and going out this time of year and buying groceries instead. This Friday night was surprisingly slow, though, even for September. My two coworkers serving on each side of me decided to take on a party of 30 together on the banquettes, and in return, they gave me their booths. I’d say I got the better end of the deal for sure.
Anyway now that I’ve set the scene, this couple comes in and is sat in one of my booths. A husband, (we’ll call him H), wife ( obviously W) and two kids. Super, super nice and super patient. The kids are also super well-behaved. They don’t even complain when their appetizer took 20 minutes due to a kitchen error. So, skipping past entrees and moving on to dessert. I ask them if they’d like anything, and H says he wants to take something to go, which usually indicates he already knows what he wants, but I figured I’d do my dessert presentation because, hey, it’s my job (I work at a place that sells over 40 flavors of a particular dessert. You know the one) and we recently came out with four new flavors.
Gingeralee: So it IS pumpkin season, so we do have our two new pumpkin and pumpkin pecan flavors!
H: Ooh, pumpkin pecan?
Gingeralee: Yes, it’s pumpkin flavor with a pecan pie crust. I’m about to change your mind, huh?
H: Haha, yeah, you just might.
I left to take care of my other tables, and once about 3 minutes passed, I came back up to them.
Gingeralee: So, have you two decided on a flavor?
H: Yeah, I think we’re gonna go with the pumpkin pecan!
Gingeralee: Yay! I knew I could change your mind! What were you going to originally get?
H: Honestly, just the plain cheesecake! Haha.
Gingeralee: Don’t worry, you definitely won’t regret this one!
So I go to the bakery to retrieve the cheesecake and bring it back to the table along with their check, which was $78. H hands me 2 $50s and tells me to keep the change. I’m obviously ecstatic as it’s well over a 20% tip and I’m hoping it isn’t some sort of mistake. I thank them, tell them I hope to see them again, close the bill out to cash and consider it to be the best table I had that night.
So fast forward to me doing paperwork at the end of the night. My manager (M) calls me into the office and pulls up my favorite table’s bill.
M: Hey, did something seem kind of off with this table?
Gingeralee: No, not at all. In fact, they left me a pretty generous tip!
My manager proceeds to explain that the wife recently called in and the conversation basically went like this:
Manager: Thank you for calling awesomerestaurant, this is M, how many I help you?
W: Yeah, hi. I had a bit of a problem with the server we had tonight. She wouldn’t stop hitting on my husband.
Manager: How do you mean she was hitting on your husband?
W: She was just hitting on my husband!
Manager: Okay, ma’am, could you maybe give me a specific example as to what you mean?
W: I mean, I don’t know, when he said what dessert he wanted, she said that was her favorite, and she was giggly, and then what was with her saying “I hope to see you again soon?” Like, why would she want to see us again soon? What the hell does she mean by that?
Manager: Ma’am, these all seem like very general statements that we train our servers to say. I don’t think my employee meant anything by it. She was just doing her job.
W: Whatever, bye.
At the time, I didn’t think it was that funny, but my manager thought it was hysterical. I couldn’t understand it, though. How could you be so insecure in a relationship that you think the waitress is hitting on your damn husband who’s not even her type just because she was suggesting a new dessert the restaurant had?
Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9f0rhv/i_wouldnt_touch_your_husband_with_a_tenfoot_pole/
| 2,967
| 262
| 1,536,695,470
| 11
|
restaurant tip
|
top
|
147fxbo
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I had a customer so awful our manager almost cried.
|
So, busy Sunday afternoon. I had just got on, when I get triple sat. No biggie, I was expecting that. First table orders salads, which usually fly out the window. As normal, they do this time too. So as I got drinks for the other two tables, I'm setting down 2 salads for table 1. The lady there complains there isn't enough ranch, so I tell her I can grab some. However, the table next to her (a family of 5) wants to order, and flags me down. I get the order, run back to the kitchen, and grab her a side of ranch. By this time her pizza was already out, amd being run(I have no idea how tbh, usually our kitchen is a glacier, but this afternoon things back there were lightspeed). So I turn back around and ask if everything looks okay. She immediately screams that she doesn't want the salad anymore, as she was supposed to eat it before her meal, and it was unedible without extra ranch. She also yells that the waiter running her food (who had full hands mind you) didn't get her an extra plate. She immediately grabs a slice of pizza, and I shit you not, she, rather than waiting the 30 seconds to get a plate, puts it on her husband's dirty salad plate, then yells at me that it's unacceptable that she has to resort to this to eat her food. She demands a refund for the salad, at which point I get our manager. As I'm trying to get table 3s order, I can hear her screaming at the manager, saying things like "how can you not understand what's wrong with this place", and "I didn't say that the salad was made wrong, I said I never got extra ranch, how do you not know that?". After that fiasco the manager told me to "cash them out and get them the fuck outta there", and told me they made her almost cry. They then tipped 35%.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/147fxbo/i_had_a_customer_so_awful_our_manager_almost_cried/
| 2,396
| 262
| 1,686,547,881
| 11
|
waiter tip
|
relevance
|
197g6si
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
What’s something’s that’s commonly known among servers?
|
For example why is it a common thing that you can be slow for hours but the minute you decide to put in food you get slammed and your food gets cold. Or another common one is if a grown adult orders a strawberry lemonade I know they’re not going to tip well.
Edit: Guys these are stupid generalizations and none of it is 100% truth 😂. I’m tired of defending myself in the comments regarding the strawberry lemonade part. If you know, you know and if you don’t, I don’t care that you order one and tip 50%. I also enjoy them sometimes and never stiff my waiter.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/197g6si/whats_somethings_thats_commonly_known_among/
| 215
| 228
| 1,705,344,048
| 11
|
waiter tip
|
relevance
|
1ops3p
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Why tip a bad waiter/waitress?
|
I am from the UK where it's not necessarily commonplace to tip in restaurants. I live in a fairly affluent area where I usually make a very good amount each week. I have worked in restaurants and bars for about 8 years and always leave a tip when I go to other places (usually 10% but more if exceptional service). This is mainly because I appreciate good service and understand how bad the job can be at times.
If I were to receive bad service, I wouldn't leave a penny (or cent, depending where you are). I recently got back from a trip around America. I completely understand the tipping culture where servers get paid a miniscule amount and rely on their tips. In my opinion if someone is that bad at their job or rude they shouldn't receive the added bonus of a tip. I said from the offset that I wouldn't leave anything if we received bad service (we never did though, so I always tipped).
I keep seeing posts about leaving bad waitresses tips of between 5 and 10%, which I assume are from America, so my question is if the service is that bad, why leave anything at all?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1ops3p/why_tip_a_bad_waiterwaitress/
| 19
| 31
| 1,382,106,206
| 11
|
waiter tip
|
relevance
|
phqxhc
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Not willing to accept being stiffed
|
Background: When I was in college (early 90s), I worked in a tourist area during summers at a burger/sandwich and pizza place. We were very small but turned tables at a good pace. Friday and Saturday were always very busy since we had people who were just getting ready to check out after spending a week and the new arrivals for the next week. All of our tables are for 4 so anything over that requires pulling tables together. There were 9 tables inside, 10 outside.
One night, I get a 6 top (could have been 8, I killed that brain cell) made of couples on vacation together. Burgers, pizza, beers, and sodas. Total is over $100 which was hard to do with our prices. They pay the check and I bring back their change and get ready to bus and turn the table. No tip. I check under all of the baskets and pizza pan. Nothing. They are still making their way to their separate cars so I head out to confront them. One couple is already in their car and head out by the time I reach them.
"Did I do something wrong? I try to be a good waiter so if there is something I did to upset you, I would like to know so I can make it right."
They look dumbfounded. "What do you mean?" I'm not sure if they don't know or are playing dumb.
"If I did something so poorly that you aren't going to leave a tip, can I at least learn from it so I can do better?"
They look at each other then their friends that just pulled out then back to me. It makes me think it was one of those "we'll get dinner, you leave the tip" situations.
"There should have been a tip on the table. We are so sorry."
They start pulling out bills and hand them to me and scurry to their car. I think it was a little over 20% but don't remember the specific amount. I felt vindicated, my boss cringed when I told him over an end-of-shift beer.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/phqxhc/not_willing_to_accept_being_stiffed/
| 1,283
| 85
| 1,630,759,629
| 11
|
waiter tip
|
relevance
|
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