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azrqs0
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TalesFromRetail
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"So what DO you have in my size?"
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Something I hear way too often in my line of work.
For context- I'm the assistant manager of a small shoe franchise that carries four different brands of shoes next to other assorted clothing and accessory items. Our shop itself isn't very big, but despite that we carry a variety of around 800-900 different models, including all the leftover ones from past seasons we put on sale in our downstairs area. I get that it doesn't appear as much, since we only put single shoes out on display so that customers have to come to the staff and request their size.
But for the love of god.
If I had a dollar for every time a customer got annoyed with me for being out of stock on a pair they wanted and said "Well then, just bring me everything you DO have in my size!" I'd be able to pay off my debt and live happily ever after. But alas. It isn't even common to tip retail worker in Germany, let alone give them anything but an eyeroll or humph in response when we tell our treasured customers to have a nice day.
I digress. On one particular day I had my typical stressed grandparent dragging their dismissive grandchild in with them, asking for something in the kids size. Usually we ask if they at least have a preference in color, style or at least a brand, since even the kid models range up to a variety of 150. The kid was having none of it though and just wanted this to be over with, so the grandparent gave me the "Just bring everything you have in x and y size." Especially with kids nothing unusual, they're often between sizes and almost each brand fits differently.
In my head I'm already calculating the amount of boxes that this will amount to and my well practiced customer service smile cracks for a split second before gaining my composure and assuring them that it'd be no problem. Over the years I've learned that it's easier to operate on spite and give them what they want, rather than trying to explain that it'd be ridiculous to leave them with 50+ boxes they could never navigate through anyway.
So I return shortly after releasing steam in the storage, carrying my first tower of shoe boxes over to them when I see the grandparents face drop.
"That'd be all the z brand ones, I'll be right back with the rest." I announce cheerful as can be and already turn on my heels, when I hear the grandparent mutter that this is ridiculous, all they wanted were a completely different brand that we don't even carry, mind you, in the color black. Hearing that I stop in my tracks and turn back to them with a more strained smile to inform them that I'm really sorry, but our store won't have what they're looking for.
Grandparent was not amused, accused me of bad customer service and dragged the now wailing grandkid back outside to take their business elsewhere.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/azrqs0/so_what_do_you_have_in_my_size/
| 67 | 6 | 1,552,299,427 | 7 |
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amyt21
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TalesFromRetail
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The Tale of the Black Fanny Pack
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You guys know the drill. Mobile Formatting and all that.
I work at a department store, and today, I was standing in front of my register(as I am required to do between customers). One of the employees from our apparel department(right across from the registers) came up to me and unwrapped a black fanny pack from a hoodie that someone was trying to steal and pulls out a black tube. She asked me what it was, and me, not knowing what it was, tried to take a better look at it. Then my coworker pulled out a little pink bag with a white powder in it. I feel like I don’t have to explain what it was. From there, my coworker tells the store manager and she tells her to put it in a plastic grocery bag and throw it away.
But that is not the end of the story. About 45 minutes later, I go get a bottle of water I left outside with the guys pushing carts. On my way back, this guy enters the building. He looked very ratty, long black beard with white tips, wearing a hat that said “No F****s Given” (I’m not censoring that. It’s what the hat said). He asks me if anyone had seen a black fanny pack.
I swear I probably looked like I had seen a ghost. I was kind of scared for a brief moment. I didn’t know what to do in the situation, so I pointed at the store manager and said “there’s a guy over there in a [store color] shirt in the front of the store. He should know where it is.” I couldn’t hear too much from my register, but I could tell my store manager was trying to kick him out, and the guy exits out our main exit.
And I thought that was it, until 30 minutes later, I hear from our pharmacy entrance on “GET THE HELL OUT OR I WILL CALL THE COPS!”. Everyone by the registers turned their heads to see the perp by the other entrance with my store manager right in front of him. The perp left, and I haven’t heard anything about it since.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/amyt21/the_tale_of_the_black_fanny_pack/
| 79 | 7 | 1,549,260,563 | 7 |
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ad5wg2
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TalesFromRetail
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It never pays to be and angry teen.
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Tldr at the end.
Episode 3 in my tales from the cobbler shop.
It was a very quiet day. I was sat around bored when at my counter appears a angsty teen. Complete with high vis orange trainers and badly fitting shirt.
He drops a tatty looking watch on my counter. And asks for a battery change. I take a look. It's an armani exchange watch. Got a spec of rust on the central stem that the hands anchor to. And a cheap strap that doesn't quite fit the watch.
I agree to work on its after pointing out all the flaws and slip in to my watch station chair. (i point out anything wrong with the watch cosmetically. As a way of preventing myself from being blamed for damage that they haven't noticed on the watch before I work on it.)
2 mins pass. When I got it open the first thing I noticed is that's its a fake market stall watch. (really cheep movement is a dead give away) the kind u buy for a fiver. I changed the battery and put it in my tester. "beep beep beep". Yup ticking away fine. So i set the time and hand it back to him.
Angsty teen =At
Me =me
Me. Seems to be working fine
(Takes money and hands receipt.)
At. Cheers bruv.
Me. You no its fake right.?
At. Yeah I guessed I just bought it off a homeless guy round the corner.
Me. Fair enough. The battery is guaranteed for two years. So if it stops come back with the receipt and we will change it again free.
At. Alright mate. See ya.
Angsty teen walks off seemingly happy.
20 mins pass.
Angsty teen comes storming up to my counter. Effing and blinding like a sailor. His exact wording is very nsfw so Ile give u the edited version.
At. Oi you This Battery is rubbish. Its already stopped.
Me. (best calming professional tone.) OK sir that's not an issue it's probably just some corrosion on the contacts or maybe a duff battery we do get them every now and then that's why we give guarentees.
Angsty teen grunts at me and hands me the watch. I go in to full deep inspection moad and thoroughly check everything. Battery is fine. Contacts are fine. Watch is setting off my tester so it's trying to tick. Decide to do a tick test. (I set the time to midday and watch it for 1 min to make sure the hands arnt jamming.
It ticks along fine until the second had hits 4 ish. Then it jams on absolutely nothing. Then I realised. The rusted anchor stem is jamming the hands up. So a battery won't help this it needs major internal work to fix properly (not worth it as it would cost more than value of the watch.
At this point I realise I have 2 choices. I can refund him and take out my battery despite it not being the issue. But that's only for nice and polite people. Option 2 is a bit of malicious compliance and reserved for people like angsty teen.
I stand back up and hand him the watch explaining that the battery is completely fine and the issue is with the rust on the hands of the watch. This is something you will have to go to a watch repair specialist for (I even recommend a local one) though a repair like this will likely cost upwards of 50 pounds.
Angsty teen hits the roof. (Swear words removed common decency.)
At. I want my money back the watch doesn't work.
Me. I'm sorry but the guarentee is for the battery not the watch. The battery is working fine. Ive diagnosed the issue and even recommended a place to get the work done. There really isn't anything more I can do.
At. Just taken ur battery back and give me my money back.
Me. I'm sorry there is nothing more i can do for you. If the battery was the problem I'd be happy to replace it for you. But as replacing the battery again won't fix the issue there really isn't anything I can do.
Angsty teen Clicks that I'm not giving him a refund. I can see the pain of that lost 6 pounds (plus whatever he paid the homeless guy) brewing in to a world class teen age temper tantrum. At this point I notice a new customer behind angsty teen. And decide to apologise to her and begin serving her. As this is a clear sign to angsty teen that our conversation is over. This seems to tip him over the edge. Something snaps and he storms off knocking over my A board sign and screaming that I'm a not very nice person and he will be back with his brother later and they will get his money back one way or another.
I simply smile and say. "have a nice day, to you to Sir."
This tickled the new customer who promptly burst out laughing. Having only seen the temper tantrum and my response to it. I have her a quick Tldr of what happened and carried on with my day as normal.
He never did come back.
Tldr. Angry teen buys a broken watch from a hobo. I change the battery in it. Turns out the watch needs major repairs angry teen is very rude to me so gets no refund as battery isnt the issue.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/ad5wg2/it_never_pays_to_be_and_angry_teen/
| 86 | 12 | 1,546,784,127 | 7 |
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a9nrrs
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TalesFromRetail
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The candyman.
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Mobile format apologies.
"I'm here after my scheduled time to leave and would like to leave" act ii.
A long explanation cut short I told my line of customers I would help with order pickups and that other transactions can be done at any other register.
Was helping order with pickups and then an elderly man was next in line, we will call him the Candyman.
The Candyman didn't listen once when I told the customers I would not help with anything other than an order pick-up. And again when someone new came to my line and I reiterated myself saying, Other transactions can be done elsewhere and I was an hour past my scheduled time to clock out and leave.
He was returning a jewelry item, our store policy is that jewelry items whether it's big ticket or cheap fashion MUST be returned at the jewelry counter.
I explain that policy. CM- Candyman. LS-me
CM-"Well I don't see that written anywhere! It's just a cheap thing why not? No it's not written on your wall there that you can't return it! YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT HERE. My wife is in the car she's waiting for me."
LS- "I'm sorry sir it's just the policy, if we take back the cheaper ones people might argue for us to take back the big ticket ones. The store doesn't want that to happen so that's why the policy is the way it is."
CM- "Well you need to call your manager or something. I'm not leaving until you return it here, I'm not walking all the way up there to have to wait for service!"
*Called the manager on for the night who said they didn't care and just to return it so long as it matched the picture and was around $150 or less. Just explain that all jewelry returns in the future must go to the proper counter*
So I explain that as a courtesy I can do it this once, and that in the future all jewelry returns must go to the jewelry counter.
Process the transaction, hand him the receipt thinking he'll scurry off to his wife who's waiting in the car apparently.
He hangs around for a second, smug smile on his face as the last customer is shoving merchandise onto my counter.
CM:"You seem like you've had a long day, here I'll give you a tip."
He reached into his pockets and tosses a caramel hard-candy which slides across the counter and falls to the floor.
I felt like it was such a petty thing to do I wanted to share.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/a9nrrs/the_candyman/
| 211 | 22 | 1,545,822,749 | 7 |
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9vh3re
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TalesFromRetail
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"I want the Owner's Booth."
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Been reading all the great stories on here and decided I'd chime in with one of my own, one of the worst guys I've dealt with. Not a huge explosion of rage or anything, but it stuck with me and still irritates me to this day just thinking about it.
I used to work in a casino's in-house showroom, selling show tickets and all that stuff. The layout at the time was tables (with chairs) and booths, both of which sat four people comfortably. There was one double-size booth, dead center in the theater, and instead of the usual markings like B2 and D21 and what have you, it didn't have a marking.
That's because it was the owner's booth. Owner as in the owner of the entire casino.
The rules were simple. All booths are open for sale with two exceptions. Save the handicap-accessible seating for people who need it and request it specifically (wheelchairs, crutches, elderly, etc), and do not sell the owner's booth. Ever. Never ever. We were literally incapable of selling it- seats in our system (not Ticketmaster at the time) were coded, and the owner's booth was coded so that only our manager and director could sell it. Most of the time, the owner would call them personally to say "hey, my friend [X] is coming to the show tonight, give them my booth", so it was completely out of the hands of us front line guys. Easy, right?
One day I was doing my thing selling tickets, and about 10 feet behind me my manager was speaking to the director. Probably logistics for an upcoming show, I dunno, it's been years. This guy comes up, slicked-back hair, five-o-clock shadow, sunglasses in his t-shirt collar, looking like he spends his life on the beach, that kind of guy. He asks about a show and I start to point out the closest available seats that I can find (standard practice), when he points to the big booth in the middle.
> **Customer:** Can I get that one?
> **Freestylekneepad:** I'm sorry, that's the owner's booth. I can't sell that to anyone.
> **C:** Well, why not? I can afford it, however much it costs.
> **F:** I'm not allowed to sell it to anyone. Sorry about that.
At this point the guy gets out his wallet and drops a hundred dollar bill on the counter. This actually wasn't that uncommon (usually it was like ten bucks though). Some people still thought it was the kind of showroom where you could slip a tip to the ticket guy for better seats. Not here, and definitely not the owner's booth.
> **C:** That's for you, *and* I'll still pay for the booth. Come on, man, do me a solid.
> **F:** I'm sorry, sir, but I just can't sell the owner's booth to anyone. I'm not able to or allowed to.
The guy's getting pretty frustrated at this point, and is starting to look at me like I'm in his way. Granted, both my boss and my boss' boss were right there, but even if they weren't, I still wouldn't have given it to him for anything.
> **C:** Look, can you get me your manager?
I agree and turn right around to the two higher-ups right behind me to ask for help. Now, they've been carrying on their conversation during this exchange, but they've heard the whole thing. I take a step to the left so my manager can get to my computer and talk to this guy.
> **Manager:** Hi, how can I help you today?
> **C:** Yeah, I was trying to get this booth for [show].
> **M:** Oh, I'm sorry, sir, that's the owner's booth. We don't sell that to anyone.
> **C:** Look, the cost isn't a problem, if that's what you're saying.
> **M:** That's not what I'm saying, sir. It's the owner's booth, so only the owner or people he gives the booth to get to sit there. We can't sell it to anyone for any reason.
The guy is clearly irritated at this point, and I noticed he's kept glancing at me, standing off to the side and watching the whole conversation. Eventually he leans in close and talks a little more quietly (I can still hear every word). He gestures in my direction.
> **C:** Look, man, can you just do me a solid? I'm trying to show him what having money is like.
So, uh, yeah. About a thousand things flew threw my head in that moment, most of them curse words. I didn't say shit, though, and my boss refused again and again until the guy eventually gave up and left. When he left my boss looked at me and the director (who was equally surprised) and we all kind of shared a "can you believe the guy said that" look before they headed to the back.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/9vh3re/i_want_the_owners_booth/
| 214 | 26 | 1,541,735,039 | 7 |
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9v4adm
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TalesFromRetail
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Grown man has the patience of a toddler and throws a hissy fit
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Obligatory apology for formatting, I'm on mobile. So I work at a liquor store/redemption center, meaning people can bring in their returnable bottles and cans and get their 5 cent deposits back. To give you a little context for the story, if someone comes in with a large number of the same type of cans, we can just pour them into their respective bins until the bins are full. Then we can just hit a button on the machine rather than counting each can individually.
So earlier today, I was finishing up with one customer and about to move on to the next when Toddler Man, or TM, enters the store. The woman in front of him, we'll call her Nice Lady or NL, kindly says to him that he could go in front of her since he had fewer returnables than she did, and he starts trying to hand me his items. However I had already started counting some of NL's, so I told him he could set his cans down and put his glass over in the glass area.
TM immediately whines like a 4 year old (literally made an "uuuuuugh" sound) and asks what I had started counting of NL's, to which I reply that I had already counted her glass and put the number in the machine. NL tells me he can go ahead of her, but I explain to her that, since all of her cans were the same, I could just pour them and be done very quickly.
TM apparently did not like this answer. Without a word he picked up his bag of cans, stormed over to the door and slammed it open, kicked over our outside trash bin, got into his car and floored it, and peeled out into the street.
30 seconds after he threw his tantrum I was done counting NL's cans. He also left his glass bottles, which I took as a nice 50 cent tip
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/9v4adm/grown_man_has_the_patience_of_a_toddler_and/
| 653 | 29 | 1,541,630,806 | 7 |
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99jpr9
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TalesFromRetail
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Returns sliced my hand open.
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Today i had a customer return a packagae of arrow heads, normally never a big deal. But said customer had left this package of very sharp arrowheads **opened** in the bag. Now i didnt know the package was open, and that one of the arrow heads had come loose, but these things are razor sharp on 3 sides with a nasty point.
Now i had a line building, so i was doing returns just a bit quicker than usual. I reached into the bag, grabbed the first unopened packages of arrowheads, 2 of em, reached in a 2nd time and grabbed the last package, ran my fingers over a very sharp edge, and reflexively jerked my arm back out of the bag. When i jerked my arm out of the bag, the arrowhead that was sticking out of the package jabbed my palm, and slit my palm open, it cut from middle of my palm, to tip of my middle finger.
So im sitting here looking at my hand in shock, when the customer says
>If you werent in such a rush, your hand wouldnt be cut open right now would it
Customer behind him took my defense and started bad mouthing him in every way. Meanwhile my hand is bleeding profusely all over the counter. Coworker comes over, sees my hand, radios my manager and back we go, leaving like 15 customers waiting in line.
I got a bad survey for being such a "shit associate", and also a few kind parting words from the guy who returned the arrowheads.
Called me an idiot for his mistake, said i got what i deserved for being in such a rush, and then blamed me for the other customers basically shit talking him out of the store. Also said i would be hearing from his lawyer for "spreading a biological hazard on everything"
Typing this up while im looking at the 28 stitches in my hand. Its been a great day :(
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/99jpr9/returns_sliced_my_hand_open/
| 909 | 75 | 1,534,992,820 | 7 |
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4d23ep
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TalesFromRetail
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A Lesson in Self-Worth from My 8-Year Old Customer
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I work part-time as a cashier at a grocery store. I enjoy my job because I get to meet so many different people and learn about cooking and food, subjects I know very little about.
That said, you guys know what the pay is like. Happiness doesn't pay the rent.
Yesterday, I checked my bank account and saw that I have to make $148 stretch another week til payday. I turn 29 next week and this is my life.
My customers ask me if I'm in school, which is a fair question, but I got both a college degree and a trade school certification 7 years ago. I'm embarrassed that my peers are climbing the ladder at their companies and I'm sacking groceries wearing an oversized polo shirt.
Yesterday was a tough day and I felt really depressed when I clocked in.
But a French woman and her wonderful daughter turned it all around.
A mom and her 8 year old daughter approached my counter with an overflowing cart and the mom pulled out a collection of huge re-usable bags.
Mom stationed herself next to me behind the counter ready to bag her groceries and the little girl said "I want to scan!" and reached into the cart and started scanning bar codes like a pro.
My first thought was "Oh no! She's going to mess something up!" but my coworker and I both helped her by handing her items with bar codes and passed them to her mother who filled up her bags and we had a little assembly line going. It was fun!
When we got to the fruits and vegetables that must be weighed, I took over because I thought she couldn't do it, but then I remembered that she was born into a world with iPhones and this wouldn't be hard for her.
So I invited her back around and showed her how to find the PLU numbers and type them in and she just had the time of her life standing on her tip toes ringing up produce.
Finally, she rang up the last item and I showed her how to tear the receipt which she proudly handed to her mom across the counter.
An older man was next in line and I was afraid he would complain about the extra wait time. Instead he said:
>"That was fun! You know what that mom was teaching her daughter? She was teaching her that ALL work is honorable, no matter what it is."
Sometimes I need to be reminded too.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/4d23ep/a_lesson_in_selfworth_from_my_8year_old_customer/
| 3,276 | 69 | 1,459,613,602 | 7 |
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1verf9
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TalesFromRetail
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Davida versus Golitha
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Long time poster, first time reader. Wait, what?
So this just happened to me about 3 hours ago, and I'm still shaking slightly over it. After attending to a few errands downtown, I decided to stop in to my favorite hole-in-the-wall deli for a bit of a nosh (Polish sausage with BBQ'd pulled pork, cheddar cheese, and bacon on a Dave's Killer Bread Roll, so double-plus good) As this is a place in downtown, near a University and major shopping area, on a weekday, and rather small, it can be kinda packed. Most customers do what I planned to do, order their food then go sit in the park across the street and enjoy the trees while mowing down on some flame-broiled goodness.
Ahead of me in line was a mother and her young son, who is 6 years old. Mom is...rather large. Not fat, but definitely bearing some Nordic blood. One look at her and the first thought through your mind is, "her name is Helga." Then she starts talking, and you change your mind to "Bertha." She was yakking into her phone, and the shrill tone and aggressive speech said that she most likely wasn't a pleasant person to know. Her son was being your standard 6-year-old, looking at the cooler of drinks and asking mom if he could have one. She was ignoring him. We'll call mom Really Bad Person, RBP.
Then the kid "went too far." By that I mean he grabbed a bottle out of the cooler, turned to RBP, and tugged on her sleeve to ask if he could have it. And that's when RBP stopped being merely an abrasive person and become the scum of the earth.
She slapped her son on the side of the head. Hard. Right over his ear.
The kid dropped to the ground, holding his head, I couldn't tell if he was too shocked to cry or if there was an actual medical reason, but he was silent. As was suddenly the entire deli.
Now, if you've read my posts and comments, you know I'm a criminal justice major and not someone who stays out of bad situations. I jump in. But no, not this time, I was beaten to the punch by the girl behind the counter.
She was not a big person. Maybe 5'2" at the best, and about as big around as your standard issue teriyaki stick. Fully outfitted in Portland Counter Culture uniform, with facial piercings, multi-colored and multi-length hair, unheard of band t-shirt, visible tattoos, hipster glasses, you should have already painted a good mental picture by now. But what you aren't seeing is the look of unadulterated rage on her face, or the way she vaulted the stomach-high counter, clearing the register AND the stand of potato chips, and verbally tear into this woman with pure, glorious, righteous indignation. We'll call her Intrepid Little Cashier Girl, ILCG.
I can't repeat what ILCG said, because it was a torrent of invectives and recrimination that was actually kind of hard to follow. One bit I do remember is "neolithic troglodyte," which I nearly applauded. The mother tried to argue back, but it wasn't going to happen. ILCG was holding her at bay like an angry squirrel. No, I take that back, that's too humorous of an image. This was more like a Tasmanian Devil. No, a Honey Badger. She was Honey Badgering RBP like there was no tomorrow. I have seen some pretty good chewing outs in my life, had a few directed at me, and given out a few, but NOTHING compares to what I heard and saw. Blinding in intensity and more colorful than a rainbow, it was...words fail me. Truly incredible.
Now, during this time, one of the other patrons had apparently had the wherewithal to call 911. This is downtown, there are cops everywhere, and we're only about 10 blocks from the central police building. It was very soon after this started that two large and intimidating PPB officers walked through the door. **"THAT BITCH JUST PUNCHED HER SON** ***IN MY STORE!!"*** ILCG bellowed, pointing the finger of accusation in RBP's face from about 2 inches away. The two officers pull both ILCG and RBP outside, followed quickly by a couple of paramedics coming in to start checking on the boy. He's responding to them, but they are definitely concerned about him. He gets wheeled out on a gurney, which is not a sight that anyone ever wants to see. I'm raging internally at RBP at this point. Poor little guy, no child deserves that.
Moments later another, newer cop walks in, and asks if anyone saw what just happened. EVERYONE raises their hand, and the looks on people's faces said "fry that bitch." To the officer's credit, he took it in stride, and started handing out statement forms and asking for ID. And yes, I filled one out myself. I still haven't been able to order my lunch, but that's unimportant.
Then ILCG walks back in to the deli, to a rousing, standing ovation with cheers, whistles, and war whoops. There weren't that many people in there, probably 25-30 max, but damn if we didn't make some noise for her. She turned a very bright shade of red, smiling awkwardly as she headed back behind the counter, amid hugs, handshakes, high fives, and back slaps. It was actually rather touching. The manager and both cooks were at the counter this entire time, and they had big smiles on their faces as well. Several people called out to the manager that she deserves a raise/paid vacation/free beer/etc, which just made the manager smile bigger. He gave her a very big hug and whispered something in her ear that I didn't hear, but made her smile that much bigger. Then, in true hardworking retail ethos, she walks back up to the register, and calls the next person up to take their order. When it was my turn, I tripled my bill as a tip, because fuck if she didn't deserve it. And the sausage tasted as wonderful as ever.
TL;DR - **Honey Badger** ˈhə-nē ˈba-jər - verb: to verbally tear another person a new one.
EDIT: I can spell good
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1verf9/davida_versus_golitha/
| 888 | 83 | 1,389,920,997 | 7 |
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2um2mg
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TalesFromRetail
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The new registers are not Carlie compatible...
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For the longest time we had registers that were just this side of mechanical, they were so old one of them took a snatch and runner out just by existing. Then we got new ones...new computerized registers, bright lights and laser printed receipts. Man we moved uptown....then the training began.
For the most part it was straight forward, punch the button for the sub, punch the extras, meal deal button for meal deals, and then accept payment. It was all working great, we tending to give people breaks by letting them work the register. For most people it was fine, but this one girl kept having issues.
Matter of fact the issues were so bad, I came in off shift to try to figure out what she was doing wrong. It was just this one girl, Carlie, great worker, but she would have constant trouble with the new registers. So here I was, watching the shift work while keeping an eye on Carlie on the register.
> Carlie: Durn it, it did it again.
I looked up and the screen was black. I frowned, and before I got up there she had rebooted the register by flicking the power bar switch. Not the best thing, but it seemed to fix the issue. I go back to reading a magazine and watching her out of the corner of my eye.
> Carlie: It did it again, stupid thing.
> Me: Wait, let me see something before you reset it.
She steps to the side and I feel that the little PC is running, the printer light is on, the card reader is at ready. I check the power cord and the monitor cable, thinking it might be a lose cable.
> Carlie: Oh, there it came back on, let me ring this customer up.
I step out of the way, she rings the customer up, and bid them a goodnight as they leave with their sandwiches.
> Carlie: I don't know what it is, it doesn't seem to do it to anyone else.
She turns to ring up the next customer and I see what is causing the trouble.
The customer, who didn't reach over the counter very far, offers the money for the subs. Carlie leans forward and goes up on her tip toes to get the money, and the screen goes black.
> Carlie: Durn it did it again.
Then I bust out laughing, uncontrollable almost to tears laughing. When I finally catch my breath, the customer is staring at me like she thinks I'm crazy. Carlie is staring as well, but she knows I'm crazy.
> Carlie: What's so funny?
I reach out and push the monitor power button on the bottom right corner of the screen.
> Carlie: Oh, that's a quick fix, here's your change ma'am.
The customer smiles, and starts to leave, then turns back.
> Customer: What's so funny? I gotta ask?
> Me: Carlie here has been having trouble with the new register, it's basically a computer with a touch screen monitor.
The customer nods, Carlie looks between both of us.
> Me: Well, Carlie, bless her heart, is not of a grand stature, some would call her short.
**OOF** I get a smallish fist to the short ribs.
> Me: Well, when you reach out to give her the money, she leaned forward and went up on her tippy toes to get the cash from your hand. And then the screen went black on her again.
> Carlie: yeah, you going someplace with this?
I laugh again.
> Me: When she leaned forward and went up on her tip toes, her bosom pressed into the power button for the monitor.
> Carlie: For reals?
She then leaned forward, went to her tip toes and squealed in delight when the monitor went off.
The customer laughed and waved goodbye, and I went to grab my coat. Once I was on the far side of the counter, I turned and said:
> Me: Guess Carlie's boobs are not PC compatible.
I ducked to dodge the rag she tossed at me.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2um2mg/the_new_registers_are_not_carlie_compatible/
| 843 | 52 | 1,422,946,319 | 7 |
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1dycgv
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TalesFromRetail
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There is a certain freedom on your last day...
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As mentioned before, the store I've been working at is bankrupt and liquidating. I was hoping to close the store, but, even though there's less than a week left (by my estimates), the chief liquidator told me as I came in for my shift that yesterday would be my last day.
There's a certain freedom that comes when you know it's your last day. These are the three stories I have to tell:
**1. That's inappropriate** A jolly lady, a regular who is a couple of years younger than me, came in looking for new bedding. So I show her what's left of regular stock (nothing that matches anything else) and the stuff that the liquidators brought in (from god knows where). I tell her that the sheet sets are 250 thread count, but they seem to be a good quality thread.
"Oh, I don't know," she says, "I don't usually buy less than 400 tc".
"Thread Count is only half the story though, it's also quality of thread. Bedsheets are like men, you have to cop a feel before you buy them".
She starts laughing as the old lady behind me (who I didn't know was there) starts complaining that "that was inappropriate". Jolly gal told the old lady that it WAS appropriate, and she's going to take me home cuz she had such a good laugh. It was an offer I declined.
The old lady told the chief liquidator what I said and he nodded sagely and declared "Yes, that's exactly right."
**2. Thank you, please come again.** Since the bankruptcy sale signs went up we've had 'new' regulars. These folks are in the store every day or two, they must know the stock better than I do by now. I figure they're scoping out what they want, hoping the discount increases again, so for the most part, I ignore them.
But this irate shopper, for a week has been complaining to all the staff that there's nothing left in the store worth having. It's been explained to her at least 12 times that the store is closing and everything is being sold. Yesterday, she decided to complain to me.
"There is nothing left in this store. You can't run a store this way. When are you getting new stuff!?"
I lean in close as if I'm sharing a secret "We have to get rid of all of this first, then lots of things need to be changed. It isn't worth coming again until June 1st. Make sure you come back June 1st."
"Really?"
"Oh yes, you'll be surprised to see what's here on June 1st"
She continues to wander around then as she's leaving calls out to me "I'll see you June 1st!" which meant I had to explain to my co-workers and the chief liquidator what I had done. They told me I'm an asshole, but I'm their kind of asshole.
**3. You're Fired** We close at 6. At five to six we send everyone to the till. We block the aisles so people can't go to the back of the store and waste our time, but it didn't work with the Hellion family, Granny, Ma, and the two little hellions (about 9 and 7 years old). This is a family that has been wandering the store for an hour. The nine year old nearly tipped over an empty shelving unit onto another unit of breakable stuff and Ma doesn't care and gets irate with me when I tell him to stop.
They are pushing past the polite staff, ignoring the entreaties to go to the front (they avoid me, big, mean looking guy that I am, but they're doing end runs). So I go to the chief liquidator and tell him he'll need to fire me in just a couple of minutes. ?? is his response.
It's now 5 after 6 and I go back to ma and grandma hellion and I quietly say "Ladies, it is five after six and the liquidator doesn't pay overtime. If you aren't done shopping, come back tomorrow. If you are done, go and pay for your shit and get out. If you keep wasting my time, I will go into the back room, grab my vial of holy water, and spray your children until they disappear in an unholy smoke.
They ran to the chief liquidator screeching about how awful I was...he doesn't let them build up steam, he looks at me and says "You're fired. Ladies, you need to check out now".
There is freedom on your last day...
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1dycgv/there_is_a_certain_freedom_on_your_last_day/
| 764 | 100 | 1,368,044,505 | 7 |
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top
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4e271x
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TalesFromRetail
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"Yeah I Can Give a Description: Sketchy, And Holding a Hammer"
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So I work at a paintball retail store (weird, I know). The store is located in a pretty shady part of town. Located nearby is a homeless shelter that attracts all kinds of down and out people.
 
One evening I was looking out the shop window contemplating the meaning of life. Out of nowhere this skinny man appears outside at a payphone about 15 meters from the shop window. He's looking around, pacing back and fourth, just being generally sketchy. He pulls a hammer out of a blue bag he had been carrying and staring at the money drawer of the pay phone. My first reaction was to go out and ask him what's going on but logic got the better part of me and I decided to lock the door.
 
I picked up the phone and dialed 911. He saw me on the phone and immediately grabbed his wares, tipped over a bunch of newspaper stands and sprinted away. I gave the police operator a brief description of the man. About an hour later I got a call from a police officer basically saying "Yeah, he had existing charges for assault and robbery with a weapon so good job".
 
Crazy eh? Just another day in sketchville
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/4e271x/yeah_i_can_give_a_description_sketchy_and_holding/
| 737 | 45 | 1,460,223,757 | 7 |
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top
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5cugp9
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TalesFromRetail
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It's 24/7 emergency service. This is not an emergency, sir.
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So as stated in previous stories, we advertise 24/7 emergency service. This is stuff like keys locked in cars/houses, lost keys, stuff like that.
So yesterday morning I wake up to my phone ringing at 2am.
> Me: "Locksmith"
> Guy: "Yeah how much are your keys"
At this point I'm just guessing he lost his car keys, because why the heck would you be calling me at 2am if you didn't
> Me: "What kind of keys? What do they go to?"
> Guy: "My house"
> Me: "Oh, so you lost them then?"
> Guy: "No I just need a couple copies made, I'm at your shop now"
At this point I'm just really flipping annoyed because it's obviously not an emergency
> Me: "Well normally they're $1.50, and if you come back Monday morning I'll be able to make them for you"
> Guy: "Can't you come now?"
> Me: "It's 2 in the morning"
> Guy: "But your sign says 24/7 service"
> Me: "Yes it does, but that's emergency service, and this doesn't sound like an emergency. Things like making keys can wait until office hours"
> Guy: "But I need keys now"
> Me: "Then in that case, I'll be happy to come down, but I'll have to give you an emergency service charge of $60 on top of the keys"
> Guy: "That's stupid, I'm not paying you that"
> Me: "Goodnight then" *click*
Some people, man
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/5cugp9/its_247_emergency_service_this_is_not_an/
| 4,344 | 178 | 1,479,102,580 | 7 |
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relevance
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2bbt4f
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TalesFromRetail
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Making customers laugh
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I worked at a retail store a while back, and our computer messed up a lot. It would accidentally scan an item ~2,000 times, and we usually don't notice because the "total" on the computer is in the corner, and tiny.
So I scan away, and the customers usually notice that their total has gone up by $20,000. These are some of my favorite things I told customers when they noticed before I did.
"Would you like to pay in cash?"
"Actually, these jeans are on sale. They used to be $40,000, so you're getting a deal here."
"Wow, thanks for leaving such a generous tip!"
"There's an extra tax now, so we can pay for our Playstation in the break room."
"I'm gonna need that in exact change..."
"Aw, man! I was trying to embezzle."
"What did you do?!?"
"Since you spent more than $50, I'll give you $10 off."
"I hope you don't try to refund that."
"Yay! I've made my quota for the month and now I don't have to come in any more!"
Amazingly, I've never had a customer take any of my jokes badly.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2bbt4f/making_customers_laugh/
| 158 | 9 | 1,405,974,160 | 7 |
generous tip
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relevance
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cc5f7y
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TalesFromYourServer
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Coworkers saved my night tonight
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Tonight I had a 4 table section (normal for our restaurant). During our rush they took all of my tables and put them together for a party of 11. Sure, no problem, let’s get them sat and get them outta here. Turns out it was a group of teenagers (no problem serving them - I don’t normally dread them like my coworkers) but tonight I really needed to make some money and I knew they weren’t gonna be the money table for me.
Turns out only half of their party was there... so they sat in my section, all 4 tables pushed together, for an hour waiting for their party. I stood around and helped run food because there wasn’t anything else I could do ... fast forward to them paying. 13 separate checks (more people kept showing up), a $300 bill between all of them... they left me a total of $13.
My coworkers instantly knew they weren’t gonna tip... and that doesn’t even make me too mad... but you took up my whole section the entire night which means I had no chance to make any other money after you screwed me. The shift leader of the night went around and did a collection for me from the other servers without me realizing... she came over and handed me $40 and said it was from all of them. I’ve only been working at this place for 3 months and don’t have any super close relationships with anyone yet, just pretty casual. I went out back and cried for a while before I went back inside because I truly couldn’t believe they would do something like that for me. They came over and let me know that we’re family here and we take care of each other.
Damn. I’m still in disbelief. I just moved to this city by myself and have been having a bad few weeks and these people doing that for me was something I’ll never forget. I still made shit money after having to tip out based on my sales but my coworkers doing that for me really saved the overall night I had mentally
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/cc5f7y/coworkers_saved_my_night_tonight/
| 2,596 | 104 | 1,562,901,277 | 6 |
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11302ti
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TalesFromYourServer
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Tipping When I Shouldn't
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Ha click bait post title!
So I'll be spending five days at an all inclusive place in the Bahamas next week (Don't hate me please.) All of the literature and the web site state very specifically all gratuities are included and imply don't even think about tipping. That does not sit right with me. Even if the staff is fairly compensated (and I doubt that, may not be the US but it's still on earth) having been raised by a server and to tip like a mobster I get a shiver if I don't. So two questions for y'all. If you've worked in similar situations that would be great.
1. Should I tip the same as in a non-exclusive? For me that would be 3-4 bucks daily to the room staff, 2 or so for drinks, and 10-20 for dinner. I kinda know the answer to this one ("yes.")
2. What's the best way to get this foldin money to a staffer? Fold it and hide it under a plate or a glass? I expect some will be reluctant but hopefully not. The last thing I would like to see is someone get caught and get any type of flack.
Props in advance to the people who'll be taking care of me. But props don't pay the rent!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/11302ti/tipping_when_i_shouldnt/
| 0 | 9 | 1,676,473,492 | 6 |
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new
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127g6ay
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TalesFromYourServer
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"I'm cutting you off"
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EDIT: Why are we talking about tips? I never brought up tips but y'all keep bringing it up. Tips have nothing to do with this story.
EDIT #2: These guys weren't there very long. Two hours max. I'm not sure why people are assuming that they were there all day. So, six drinks in the span of two hours without any food or water would get everyone fucked up.
Maybe it's the wording of "lunch server"? Lunch is served from 11am until 5pm.
This'll be short.
I inherited a two top from the lunch server when dinner service started at 530. Two European dudes. They had only been drinking and the lunch server said that they were drunk and the guy in seat one asked if she'd go home with him. (She's a lesbian but it's cute that you think you have a chance.)
I check their bill and they've already racked up $200 with just cocktails. They started drinking doubles, so there were a lot of drinks on the bill. My restaurant makes us order two drinks, modify DOUBLE on one and DON'T MAKE on the other, for each double. Your $15 cocktail is now $30. Good job.
I check on them, introduce myself, and see if they need anything else. Their doubles are half full. They ask for a dinner menu and I drop it off.
A few minutes later, I see them asking one of my bussers a question. I head over and the guy in seat one asks me about one of our menu items. We list which farms supplied us with certain items on the menu and he thought the name was hilarious. Whatever.
Then he asked for another round. I told them that they'd need to drink some water before I serve them again. They denied that, saying that they were Danish and Danes don't drink water. Fine. I explained that they already had six drinks each, which they also denied. I showed them the bill, explaining how we charge for doubles. They denied ever having doubles even though they were drinking out of pints. Our standard pours are never in pints.
I found a manager and explained what happened. They told them what I told them, and they were upset that we were kicking them out. We never kicked them out. Just told them to order some water and maybe bread.
They left $213 on a $215 bill.
Thanks, assholes. Thankfully I'm not responsible for the two dollars.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/127g6ay/im_cutting_you_off/
| 1,475 | 373 | 1,680,256,178 | 6 |
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relevance
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ptiili
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TalesFromYourServer
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life hack. just order when you get to the restaurant
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At 12 noon, get a call for a big to go order around 200 dollars for 10 entrees+extra sides. Right at the end they say they want it ready at 1630. A bit obnoxious having rung it in as they ordered, but whatever, we can suspend the order til the appropriate time. Around 1400 they call back, now they want to dine in and they provide a cc# to pay for the lot. My shift ends at 4 but I want this tip so I'm sticking around.
1545 I send the order and ask kitchen to time it all ready at 1630. At 1600 a man arrives and indicates he is the first to arrive of this group, he asks for a table of eight next to an outlet. No problem dude. 1625 and the food is just about ready. I go ask still alone man when everyone else will arrive. This is the time he decides to inform me they are at least 40 minutes out.
I let my manager know and she calls the lady who made the initial order and asks if they want us to box up the food or if the want to pay for another round of meals, because we did exactly what they asked for and they never told us they would end up being an hour late, so there is no way we will remake 200 dollars worth of food for free. Box it up.
Okay.
No problem.
I spend the next twenty minutes transferring hot food from plates to boxes I set all the hot food in the hot window and salads in the fridge. Manager then informs me lady had said to do whatever works best for us and that she had given attitude about it. Well if thats how you want to play it, I'll set your three large bags on the table I set up for you 90 minutes ago to sit at room temp while you get here.
The group finally arrives at 1730, grabs their bags, and files out to the patio where they spread out over three tables, one of which would have accommodated all of them comfortably.
I'm not sure how they thought this would all play out, but if anyone out there thinks they've cracked the restaurant code, you haven't. Just order when you get here and let us serve you normally.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ptiili/life_hack_just_order_when_you_get_to_the/
| 2,425 | 213 | 1,632,353,243 | 6 |
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relevance
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aaivxt
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TalesFromYourServer
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Gross customers get told off by Golden Girls
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What started off as a gross story tonight ended with a “faith-in-humanity” conclusion.
I occasionally pick up shifts at a diner in my college town. It’s 24/7 so I’ll usually be an extra set of hands at least once or twice a month.
Unfortunately the diner is right near a frat house and a big athletic practice space, so inappropriate behavior towards the waitstaff is nothing uncommon.
The management knows who their clientele is, so all the waitresses are college gals and the uniform is skimpy at best.
Our general directive is to be “fun” meaning, receptive to flirtation, and to get a manager only if we feel physically threatened.
So after a long night of ogling and innuendoes from customers, I’m down to just my last three tables. A guy wolfing down a burger alone with headphones on, a table of frat boys (not a speculation, they were wearing their Greek letters), and a table of old women who evidently hadn’t seen each other in a while and were talking up a storm.
So I’m taking drink orders from the old lady table, they order their food along with their drinks because “It’s so late. We have to get to bed and it’s a friday so you’re probably due for a a party somewhere, or better yet, sleeping in! We don’t want to keep you.” And despite not wanting to keep me, two told a long story to me about when they waitressed in college.
The frat table spends five full minutes debating drink orders while I stand there asking if they need a minute and being ordered to stand by the table and wait.
Finally they ask me a question about the menu, but hold it way at the other end of their table, hoping I’d lean over the table to look at the menu in my cleavage shirt.
But this, dropping things on the floor, and all other manor of taking advantage of the skimpy uniforms, are nothing new. So I just walked to the other end of the table to see, much to their disappointment.
They were already pretty drunk when they came in, I debated serving them at all, but true to the restaurant’s culture they’re lax about that sort of thing so I didn’t make a big deal.
One of them asked for a lap dance. I laughed it off. They made a grab at my ass as I left to get the drinks, but it was so late and I was so exhausted, I just dodged them and ignored it.
I return with the drinks. The ringleader of the group asks if he can take a picture with me. I laugh it off, but also firmly decline. They insisted. I basically thought “Ok, this is weird, but a picture is probably harmless and *I just want to go home*.”
So I stand a comfortable distance from the ringleader while his friend snaps a picture. That’s when he puts his arm around me and not at all subtly rests it on my boob. I pushed away from him and quickly said I needed to get another order from the kitchen, planning to go clue my manager into what was going on.
They follow up with the line as old as time “take more pictures or *no tip for you.*”
It is at this point one of the old women stands up at her table. “Hey! We saw the whole thing and you better stop it right now.” Another chimed in with “Don’t serve then anymore. We’ll tip you double. Don’t bother with these jokers.” Another old lady looked at that old lady and said “Jokers? More like scumbags.” The frat boys shot off a comment about how the women needed to mind their own business.
That’s when one got right up and marched over to their table and another followed so they started old school lecturing the boys good cop bad cop style.
The bad cop grandma was going on about respecting women and respecting themselves and respecting people in the service industry and telling them she was disappointed in their conduct and her middle school grandson behaves himself more civilly. The good cop grandma was saying “I just don’t want you boys to accidentally get yourselves in trouble, because times are changing and what you’re doing isn’t acceptable, she could even press charges. You need to look out for yourself and be more conscientious of where you are and what’s appropriate, because one of these days a lady won’t bother with the law she’ll just pepper spray you directly in the face.”
I was trying to decide whether to laugh or cry. I was so tired and so entertained it felt like a strange dream.
When they’d spoke their piece, the frat boys had been lectured into submission. One tried deliberately dropping something as I was clearing their plates but the old ladies were clocking their every move, even though they’d already finished their meals. One called out “Don’t you do it! Don’t you pick that up.” The frat boys left immediately after, not only not leaving a tip, but coming up $2.00 short on their bill. They were already gone by the time I noticed.
I thanked the old ladies again and again and offered them free desserts. They graciously declined and started to leave, then one of the women took me aside put her hands on my shoulder and gave me a pep talk about standing up for myself and “not taking any guff from these scum bags.” And how times have changed for the better since she was waitressing and knowing when to say enough is enough, in the most reassuring grandmotherly way.
I’m so grateful for those women speaking up on my behalf, and I won’t be taking any shifts at this hellhole anymore.
*Tl;dr Gross frat boys sexually harassed me at the end of my shift. Sweet old ladies jumped in as my defense. I’m not taking any shifts at this place anymore.*
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/aaivxt/gross_customers_get_told_off_by_golden_girls/
| 3,730 | 202 | 1,546,065,242 | 6 |
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relevance
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lefotv
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TalesFromYourServer
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To the Door Dasher that verbally abused my hosts tonight...
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Fuck you dude. Seriously.
Background: We are a privately owned tap room and grille in an upscale area of a west coast state and this thing called covid has rocked our world. We have to deal with a negligent owner that breaks all public health and safety rules and has come in to the restaurant knowingly being covid positive without a mask, infecting several employees. We worked with a skeleton crew after the first lockdown and an even more skeleton crew during the second lockdown over the holidays. Finding our footings as far as providing full patio service (75 person capacity thanks to our ample patio space) with one GM, two shift managers, 3 strong servers, and a support staff full of high schoolers has been difficult enough.
Not to mention the transitions back and forth and back and forth between full service and semi service. Adjusting to take out, door dash, uber eats, curbside pickup, online orders for large parties, with or without full service has been a headache for everyone.
Sometimes the bartender takes care of app orders when we’re running with a tight crew. On busier nights when we have support staff we pass off the app and to go order to our hosts. The bar is a 20 foot walk from our host stand.
So when you came in during the 6:00pm dinner rush of a Friday night to pick up your personal door dash order, which was ready and waiting, and you decided to cause a scene when you were confused as to whether the host or the bartender was in charge of handing you your order (because, ya know, you used an app that charged both you and the restaurant to order your burger and salad instead of calling us directly for a pickup), and you screamed for 5 minutes at the two 17 year old girls that are in charge of seating hundreds people within 3 hours while working with half of the tables they’re used to while dealing with the demands of an owner who requires all of his buddies to have the best tables without reserving them, and you told them that you regret ever tipping them at all (which is BS, you can’t tip on DD orders) just because some days you pick up in the bar and some days you pick up at the host stand, and some days we’re slow enough to greet you immediately and some days you have to wait in a line before one of our very limited staff can attend to you, you’re goddamn right I’m going to hand you your food and 86 you.
We don’t have time for your shit.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/lefotv/to_the_door_dasher_that_verbally_abused_my_hosts/
| 1,975 | 194 | 1,612,673,555 | 6 |
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relevance
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czpsb2
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TalesFromYourServer
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"We didn't tip you because we had to wait for a table"
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This happened a few months ago at a busy beach restaurant I worked at for a few years.
So it's mid-summer, our busiest time of the year, and we're understaffed in FOH and BOH so the manager tells the host to wait a few minutes before seating the next party that comes in. So far, everything is going smoothly, customers are understanding... when this group of 4 comes in, just a family who says they are fine with waiting.
I had one table open in my section and the host had to put them on a very brief wait so the kitchen could catch up. They were sat probably like 10-15 mins later. They acted nice and happy the whole time. I apologized for the wait, yadda yadda.
It comes time to pay and their bill is $87 and like 46 cents. The lady counts out exact change to the penny and tells me, "we didn't tip you because we had to wait for a table even though this table was open". I respond by telling her I have nothing to do with the wait, thanked her for wasting my time and told her to have a great night.
I understand being upset about waiting when there is a table open, but keep in mind, your server has ZERO to do with projected wait times, and we are just out here doing our best to make sure you have a pleasant meal.
Not to mention we still have to tip out on your bill whether you tip or not.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/czpsb2/we_didnt_tip_you_because_we_had_to_wait_for_a/
| 1,816 | 154 | 1,567,626,432 | 6 |
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relevance
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vdxpln
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TalesFromYourServer
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Nightmare Assistant Manager
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I work in a small family-owned restaurant with a remarkably low asshole ratio- but the assistant manager is the turd in the rose garden.
She took a 14 top reservation where she told them it would be fine for them to have FOURTEEN separate checks.
So the day of, I’m the only server on our patio where they’re seated. It’s 14 old men, all dressed identically, who arrive at intervals from 30 minutes early, to 45 minutes late, and trade seats with each new arrival so they can catch up on old times.
I try my best to track them by position point but when they all have black hats with the same logo and red shirts, it’s nearly impossible. In the meantime I have six other tables to take care of on the patio plus a wait list.
When they’re ready to go, I have to scrounge around for 14 check presenters (we’re always short of them and there are six other servers plus two bartenders who need them too), then print out fourteen checks, then distribute them to the 14 old-man clones, upon which pandemonium erupts.
“I had ICED TEA, NOT LEMONADE!”
“THIS ISN’T MY CHECK”
“Miss, you charged me for a cup of chowder but I had a bowl!”
Etc etc.
Ten of them pay with cash, nine of whom expect change, plus four credit cards.
I got a complaint from one of my other patio tables about the ‘poor service’ as I was too busy dealing with trying to make change for all these old farts to even refill a single drink or check on anyone.
Because of the complainant, that bitch of an assistant mgr took away my next two dinner shifts (tips on those nights would add up to around $400) so I can ‘relax and think about how to be a better server.
Of course, she made this call while the nice, reasonable general manager was off for two days, so I had no recourse.
I got docked $400 with no verbal or written warning because of my ‘conduct and unacceptable service levels.’
The next morning, by a wild coincidence, I was offered a job in my career field with a start date of 7 days hence.
Of course I accepted and to make sure my karma was good, I offered to stay on at the restaurant through Father’s Day and July 4th with the provision I would not be able to work lunch shifts M-F.
That stupid bitch put out my schedule with me working 11am on my first day at my new job.
She wants to fire me for not being available and I’m laughing.
I spoke to the GM and said, you know if she fires me for that and my other job fell through I’d be eligible for unemployment, right?
He was so contrite and asked me so kindly to please stay for Father’s Day and the 4th. Both of which they depended on me to work.
Hmmm. Should I?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/vdxpln/nightmare_assistant_manager/
| 717 | 113 | 1,655,418,345 | 6 |
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relevance
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zh2io2
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Supervisor stole tip left for me on credit card
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Basically what it reads. At my restaurant customers go up to the counter to pay for their bill. Whoever is around or on the bar will charge them and then are supposed to put the name of whoever served the table for tips.
I got a $40 tip from a table of two that I chatted with, built a rapport with and gave exceptional service to. I realised she took credit for my tip after the fact as it was given in debit so she put her name on it but it was in the cash register and there was no way for me to prove it afterwards.
I'm fuming. But also she's a supervisor/manager. Makes the schedule/roster for FOH every week and is the one who trained me just a few weeks ago.
She could have also been doing this with other tables of mine.
I talked to the bartender who works right next to the cash register and asked him to put my name on all receipts from my tables but he said she claims that was her table
I know there's nothing I can do but I'm SO MAD. This is also in a country where tips are not expected at all, so leaving a tip is a big deal.
It's hours later and I'm still mad. I don't want to go to bed angry but I'm just so tired of being taken advantage of.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/zh2io2/supervisor_stole_tip_left_for_me_on_credit_card/
| 505 | 94 | 1,670,605,413 | 6 |
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relevance
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8o5on9
|
TalesFromYourServer
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“If the food doesn’t come out fast enough, I’m going to call immigration.”
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Blah blah, first post, let’s get started.
As of right now, I’m still in shock to what happened earlier today at my job. I’ve been working at my current job as a server for almost a year and nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, has shocked me to what this 2 top said about our cooks. Usually, we have 4 cooks, but two of them are currently on vacation. At my restaurant, we have indoor and outdoor seating, and since today was a beautiful day, we were slammed all day long.
This happened during the late morning breakfast rush.
As I was accommodating my tables I had at the time, this 2 top was seated at my section. I gave them a few minutes to look over the menu, and after I finished checking my other tables, I approached them and greeted them. Everything was going well, or so, I thought. They ordered drinks first, and I went to grab them their drinks. I return to their table with their beverages and they were ready to order. After they finished ordering their food, I told them, “Just to let you know, the cooks are very busy right now with the amount of orders coming from both indoors and outdoors. Once I place your order, your food will take at least 25-30 minutes to come out. Is that alright with you two?” They were disgruntled, but agreed. Three minutes go by and I finished placing their order, and I get signaled by the man of the 2 top. Since our restaurant is an open kitchen, you get the opportunity to see the cooks in action. The man takes a quick glance at the cooks and tell me “If our food doesn’t come out fast enough, I’m going to call immigration.”
I. AM. SHOOK.
(By the way, our cooks are of Latino background and you can assume they are illegal. That is not the case.)
The man’s wife also nods in agreement. I give them a big malicious stare down, but not in single word I made. I left the scene visibly angry and went to check up on my other tables. Thirteen minutes go by and my manager is on the floor after finishing up his work. I asked to speak with him in private. Once he understood all the details, he didn’t hesitate. My manager went to the 2 top and called them out. This is how it went:
“Excuse me. I would like to let you know that I am the manager of this restaurant and I just got word from your server that you two made an offensive comment about our cooks. I do not tolerate unacceptable behavior, and your comment really offended our cooks that are preparing YOUR food. Our cooks are legal immigrants and dehumanizing them will not make you a better person. Even if they were illegal, immigrants come into this country to seek a better life for themselves or for his or her family. Immigrants come and do the jobs that majority of the American population won’t do, and yet, your petty comment shows how disrespectful you are to all walks of life. You are free to leave if you would like, and you won’t be charged for your drinks. But just remember, you live and pride yourself on stolen land.”
They got destroyed. After my manager left, they did not leave. The conversation they were once having was now null. They didn’t make a single word and stared at the table in shame. Their food came out ~10 minutes after their tear down, and I set their food on the table. They were given no service after that from me. They finish there food 12 minutes later and I give them their bill.
The bill came out at $34.50. They left a $7 tip and I’m still surprised they even left a tip. They won’t be returning to the restaurant again, but I hope they learned a lesson not to dehumanize people based on where they come from.
TLDR; 2 top comes during hectic late morning breakfast rush. They see our cooks are Latinos and judge them as illegal immigrants. They threaten to call ICE if their food doesn’t come out in a timely manner. Manager utterly destroys them, leaving them speechless for the rest of their meal.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8o5on9/if_the_food_doesnt_come_out_fast_enough_im_going/
| 782 | 127 | 1,527,994,113 | 6 |
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relevance
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14h9myy
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TalesFromYourServer
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20 people, 4 hours, 25€ bill, 50c tip
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For reference, I work at a brew pub and there's no table service, people come to the bar themselves and I give them their beer/water/sandwich. No more, no less lol.
We had a big table reservation, 20 people on an extremely hot day, we had to carry out three extra tables and benches at 35°C/95°F. But still we were hopeful, cause big groups usually tip better. They came, asking for pitchers. We don't have pitchers. They never told us they wanted them or asked during the reservation process if we had them. They were miffed. Their plan was to get a liter of beer and divide it into their own PLASTIC SHOT CUPS to have a "beer tasting". That's not how you taste beer. Whatever, we gave them half full 2L growlers and charge them for 1L each and let them do their (stupid) thing.
THEY STAYED FOR ALMOST 4 HOURS AND GOT 4L OF BEER. A huge table! The person paid their 25€ bill and gave 50c tip. Oh my god! AND THEN! She came back 20 minutes after paying and wanted a receipt. WHAT! We have to look for her stupid little 25€ receipt between like 20 more orders that took place since then and print out this stupid little paper. Thank god my "manager" had the good sense of yelling at her a little that she wasted our time for over 3 hours already and these 5 minutes of searching for her bill is the stupidest thing he's ever heard.
Pretty sure we won't be seeing these customers anymore considering she looked very unhappy after being spoken to like that, but we won't miss them.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/14h9myy/20_people_4_hours_25_bill_50c_tip/
| 62 | 19 | 1,687,554,028 | 6 |
service charge
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hot
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14d5t14
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Sent back almost every single plate and refused to pay auto grat.
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Edited: update in the replies below
I just got off my shift and it was literally the worst. To start off I’m a very patient person and I was try to stay calm and never break my “server” smile but I really just wanted to breakdown and cry today. I had a table of 7, who really wanted to sit in a table of four, that’s cool as long as they feel comfortable I don’t mind. At the beginning they tell me they want separate checks, cool but I let them know that each check will still have auto grat. And they don’t seem to happy and claim to only have four people at their (packed) table. Should’ve taken that as the first sign that this was gonna be bad.
Whatever Ok so I come to take food orders and almost everything was altered, which is a pain but I’m an easy going person (however kitchen is another story). I end up repeating the entire order and make sure everything is good. And i stay near the kitchen so I can deliver the food to make sure nothing goes wrong. We set down the plate and make sure everything looks good, they tell me yes and they begin to eat. I leave and return after a couple of minutes to see how it’s going. Now the first plate to be sent back so my mistake I’ll man up to that, asked her if she need it to be remade and obviously no extra charge, she said yes. Before anything I went to my boss told them I had a bad feeling but just wanted to give her a heads up that something might happen. Now after that, every other person claimed just something wasn’t right about the food, ok cool I’ll take one plate off, next person says something I’ll take that off and now another person says something sure no worries I got it covered. Finally her remade food is out, and she was like still not right and orders something completely different, fine ok. Someone else half way through their food decided they don’t like it and wants something different, fine I’ll get it change. At this point we had over $135 food off their original bill.
I was going crazy at this point told my manager and they were very understanding that this table was just not having it. Told me that if I need something to just called them over and they will handle the rest. As I’m waiting for the last to remade food to come out, the host comes up to asked me if they checked out already, I said no why and she tells me they are walking out one by one. At this point I tell my manager and run with the last foods. My manager gets there and starts cleaning up their table and bring over their food (I put one of them into togo boxes and the other one they didn’t want anymore) and said “are we all done and ready for the check?”. The last person in the table says yes I am.
Ok finally I’m thinking it was I could just cash them out and go home. I tell her the about the 5 item they had on their check and auto grat. She doesn’t remember where these plates even came from, luckily memory is great and I tell her exactly where it came from. And finally she decided that she didn’t wanna pay the auto grat. My manager was there and explained that, this was something done for all tables of 6+ and it was on the menu and done to ensure the server get tipped for their work done on big tables. She then said no that the food was terrible but yes that my service was great. My manager continued with she would be leaving me “the great server” with no money if she wanted no auto grat. And she stayed quiet. Anyways I’m the end I didn’t care if I got tipped or not, I just wanted to close out the bill and make sure something was paid for ,and my manager thought the same so they took off auto grat. And only paid for her five items and left.
I still said have a good night and she told me “you as well” like none of that happened. I apologized to my manager about what happened and they told me it wasn’t my fault but it always feels like it is me. In the end I was glad my shift was over and I could go home. In my one and a half small years of serving I just hope that never happens again.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/14d5t14/sent_back_almost_every_single_plate_and_refused/
| 199 | 31 | 1,687,153,527 | 6 |
service charge
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hot
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xtkmp1
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Pulled a 180 on me
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I don’t know that anyone will see this but I need to vent.
Cocktail serving tonight, I had a four top of two young couples. Super chill, very nice, wasn’t too worried about them. They ask to close out. Awesome.
One couple drank a bit more than the others so it was like a $30 tab and a $75 tab. I run the cards and take back the receipts, wish them a good night, great. One couple leaves.
I’m at the service well grabbing drinks to run to another table and the woman comes up to me SCREAMING that I’m trying to scam her. I’m not usually shaken by upset guests but the way she went from being so kind to yelling in my face made me shake. Turns out she had grabbed the itemized receipt for the other couple’s (cheaper) tab. I didn’t notice and had run her card on the tab that was actually her and her partners.
I apologized and explained to her what happened but she just kept yelling saying that she felt swindled. We went back and forth a few times with me trying to apologize and explain that although it was a different itemized she and her partner did in fact order and consume $75 worth of cocktails. She just kept saying “yeah and I’m going to pay for it but you’re trying to swindle me”.
Ultimately there really wasn’t a resolution, I got tired of going in circles with her and went to take care of my other guests. She didn’t tip (which is fine, one tab won’t make or break me) but I just keep thinking about the way she blew up on me. Like you saw the receipt, so either you for some reason think the only nationally recognized bar in town charges only $30 for 7 cocktails OR you knew you had been given the wrong itemized and thought you would get away with just not paying your actual, more expensive tab? And like what kind of scam do you think I’m pulling exactly, charging you menu price for exactly the things that you ordered?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/xtkmp1/pulled_a_180_on_me/
| 56 | 9 | 1,664,703,716 | 6 |
service charge
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hot
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8o010y
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
12 top tick tock
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Still real mad so I'm gonna break this shut down in bullet points so I don't go on an epic rant:
• 12 top tried to book for 7pm Saturday, accepted 6pm instead to accommodate other bookings
• Called them 3 times and left a voicemail to confirm booking and numbers, they never picked up
• 6pm Saturday rolls around, still no confirmation and no one is here. The happy birthday balloons they asked for are looking lonely.
• 6.30pm arrives and one solitary dude arrives, tells us he's early for the "7 o'clock booking for 12 people". My heart starts to sink.
• 7.10pm arrives and there are 7 people at the table of 12 - except it's not longer a table of 12 it's 8 but they were waiting for *us* to call *them* so they could tell us that. I confirm their mobile number and ask why they didn't pick up. "Oh I don't answer numbers I don't recognise" bitch what the fuck now
• Also 7.10pm. The original booker tells me she told everyone the reservation was for 7pm "because that time worked best for me and I didn't want to come at 6pm" fuck you lady
• 7.34pm I'm starting the feel the burn. It's still only 7 people. Mister number 8 can fuck off if he ever decides to arrive. I asked about dietery requirements and was assured all was good. Cue a massive fit from 2 women who are apparently pregnant and didn't know that cured meat is not the same as cooked meat. *bitch I asked you*
• 8pm - a full two hours after the original booking and an hour after their imaginary booking, 3 more people turn up. They want to eat. They want to sit down. They throw a huge shit fit when they realise we gave the extra seats away because they were no shows. They leave threatening bad reviews and the original 7 give us the stink eye
• 9pm. Secret weapon time. My boss knows I'm a twat. He let's me loose on rude tables. I have his full approval. Because we're a small restaurant (seats around 40) we have a service charge on tables of 8 or more. I slap it on their bill because fuck them. They immediately argue a 20$ charge on a +500$ bill. I tell them tough shit because they booked for 12 and if they'd bothered to pick up the phone, answer the phone or even turn up on time we'd have been able to amend their booking. Service charge non refundable. Pay the fuck up.
• 9.12pm they leave - service charge paid. They threatened to complain and I gave them a business card and asked them to spell our name right online. It was a super hollow victory but it was worth it.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8o010y/12_top_tick_tock/
| 881 | 46 | 1,527,940,010 | 6 |
service charge
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top
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8oy1jx
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Screamed at over 40 cents.
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FTP, short time lurker. I work in a cafe as a barista, so I hope my post is allowed. Though I'm not strictly a server, a large part of my job is customer service, and the post is about a service interaction.
I frequently do opens in the cafe. At least twice a week, I'm at work by 5am making coffee. I recognise many of the early regulars. This story is about the second time I ever met a customer that swears he comes in every morning, although none of the other open crew say they know who I'm talking about. I wish I was exaggerating the amount of swearing incoming.
Some background: we have three differents points to order, and all orders appear on a screen for baristas to make. An order for two large iced lattes popped up, but was placed at a different order point, so I hadn't yet seen the guy. To preface: iced lattes in our store are made only with ice, sugar syrup, espresso and milk. That's it. You can add whipped cream for 40c AUD, and you are certainly welcome to do so.
I call them out when they're ready, instantly recognising the man walking up to get them as the guy who screamed at and belittled me for not putting whipped cream on his iced latte a few weeks prior. He does not seem to be in a better mood. My manager has been standing next to me helping me with a coffee rush.
'Here you go! Enjoy your day :) '
Customer: 'Yeah, I wanted those with whipped cream.'
I wonder if I've read the order wrong, and mistakenly not added whipped cream because I know that he knows it costs money to add whipped cream.
Me: 'Oh, sorry. Let me double check your order for you. ... I'm sorry, but you haven't been charged for the whipped cream. Did you ask for it?'
I'm literally bending down to open up the milk fridge and pull out the whipped cream to give it to him for free if the order was put through wrong, when he begins an almost identical tirade as last time.
Customer: 'No, I didn't. I want fucking whipped cream, I come in here every fucking day. It's fucking 40 cents of whipped cream. Fucking 40 cents.'
[MFW](https://media1.giphy.com/media/l3q2K5jinAlChoCLS/200w.gif) Well, no free whipped cream for you.
Me: 'I understand. I'd be happy to put the whipped cream on, but it will be 80 cents.'
Customer: 'You put it on the other bloody drinks. Fucking 40 cents. (He is referring to iced chocolates and iced mochas.) I come in here every day. Here!
*throws a 5 dollar note at me*
That's enough whipped cream for the fucking week. Keep the fucking change.'
My manager, looking as confused as I was the first time this man lost his shit over two and a half swirls of whipped cream, puts the whipped cream on the drinks while I head over to the register.
Me: 'I just want to let you know for next time that since the iced lattes don't come automatically with whipped cream, if you'd like it on there, you can ask for it while you order.'
Customer: 'Yeah, I fucking know! *I come in here every day*. Fucking 40 cents.'
He grabs his whipped creamified drinks so roughly that he spills a bunch of the iced latte all over the bench and storms out. My manager and I stare at him until he's out the door.
Me, in enraged demon voice, followed by unintelligible grumbling: **If you come in here every day then you should know by now to order it with whipped cream, and the money is clearly not an issue since you just refused $4.20 in change.**
The thing that bugs me most is that if he was nice about, I would just give him the free whipped cream since his drink is around $5AUD and the loss of the whipped cream wouldn't outweigh the profit from the iced latte. But he chooses to be an entitled dick about it, so I will continue to charge him the 40 cents per iced latte if he ever does show up again.
Edit: To his credit, I guess I was screamed at over 80 cents.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8oy1jx/screamed_at_over_40_cents/
| 611 | 81 | 1,528,262,486 | 6 |
service charge
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top
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zo1s6o
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TalesFromYourServer
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Table tried to walk out and this idiot left her purse
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My roommate was bartending and absolutely slammed so she had her server (edit: there were two) take a table of 30 inside. The server had a table outside of 8, young adults and their parents. In the middle of the server being busy with the 30 top, the outside table took it as their chance to run out on their 500 dollar tab.
However; the girl whose birthday it was LEFT HER PURSE AT THE TABLE. So the cops were called. And when the cop talked to the girl he told her they were going to run her cards for the bill— and of course they were declined. So the cop then told her she had ten minutes to get back to the restaurant and pay the bill or she would be going to jail on her birthday.
My roommate had to come home before she found out if she showed up but I will keep you guys updated on this girls instant karma.
Edit: I’m flying today so it may be Sunday when I get an update!! IM DYING TO KNOW TOO GUYS— IM SORRY.
EDIT: so again the cops kept calling the girl and she kept saying she was on her way. (they ran the cards in front of her.) So finally the cop was like- I’m going to arrest you because you cannot pay. So this girl just stuck out her arms and was like “I’ll go to jail.” The cops were like you’d really rather go to jail than pay the tab? And she said “yes, arrest me” and then they asked her how she got there and her boyfriend was outside. The cops pull the man from the car and make him pay instead and he ends up paying but tips the server 75 dollars. -.-
Edit edit: this is for anyone that runs a restaurant/bar— autograt any table that runs out IMMEDIATELY. Please for your staff!!
Third and final edit: don’t let your POS significant other ever let you take the fall and send your ass to jail. Especially on your birthday.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/zo1s6o/table_tried_to_walk_out_and_this_idiot_left_her/
| 4,110 | 395 | 1,671,265,535 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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relevance
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q7c129
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TalesFromYourServer
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Why is it so difficult for people to understand patio seating?
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Our restaurant opened a makeshift patio for the pandemic and it's the biggest source of frustration at my job. So many folks who comes in to order takeout from us, only to walk outside and eat on our tables.
I get it, the weather is nice and they want to enjoy their food. But we have signs and tell customers that the outside patio are full serviced and for dine ins only. Most people understand and pack up and leave when we ask. But sometimes we get difficult people who likes to argue. Last night I had to argue with a group of guys and their wife and baby:
"We just got food why can't we sit here"
Do you always get food from restaurants for take outs and start eating there?
"We paid for our food"
Yes you got takeouts, this is for dine ins
"We're not dining inside we outside"
The tables outside are the very same as inside. Same rules, same policies, same service.
"Lemme see your policy"
Sir you don't work here
And it went back and forth. Mind you I gave them three different chances to change their order from takeout to dine in. I explained to them that the tables outside won't be available to them. And they nodded their head saying yes they want takeout all three times.
The thing that got me was during the entire time of me arguing with them telling they can't eat their takeout there, one of them opened ANOTHER box in my face and started eating that too. I then told them they gotta pack it up or I'm calling the cops for trespassing.
Dude then asked if he gets some fries then it's cool right. I told him that's not how it works. People can't order $100 in takeouts and then sit down and get a side of fries for $5 to sit there. So I told them I'm refusing them service. They had to go, and I called police.
Also frustrating was when the cops came, they asked me to just get him some fries. I had to pull the cops to the side and explain to THEM that it's not fair to my server. If they get some fries, what's the tip gonna be? $0.50 cents? Then we gotta clean everything else up?
Took them 20 minutes and more talking to police to finally left, but they finished their food anyways so I'm still mad about it.
If any one reading and made it this far, would you suggest anything to help the situation?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/q7c129/why_is_it_so_difficult_for_people_to_understand/
| 3,016 | 510 | 1,634,134,327 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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relevance
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uaz0sd
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Was handed my first Allergy Cards...
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It's a 6-top family, they had a reservation so this was a pre-planned outing. I do my greeting and they hand me these cards. Life threatening allergies!!! Soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, dairy, eggs, gluten, barley, oats, peas, probably 3 more I'm forgetting. Keep in mind this is 7:30pm on Easter Sunday and they didn't think to make any prior arrangements. They just showed up and handed me these cards.
They're interested in the mussels. I check, and the sauce has dairy...we cannot substitute (well maybe we could with some notice...or if it wasn't Easter dinner time at a hopping restaurant ffs). Ok, how about the carne pizza with a gluten free crust for an appetizer? Awesome, only 5 ingredients for me to track down. I'll be right back. Except table 93 just got sat since under normal circumstances this 6-top would have drinks and orders in by now. I greet 93, grab their drinks, and see that 602 is done eating. I clear their plates, print their check, and then go try to find the box of frozen GF pizza crusts so I can read the ingredients. May contain eggs, oof. I head back to the table to let them know. "Oh that's ok, as long as it doesn't have eggs in it". Now my Spidey Sense is tingling. That's not how life-threatening allergies work. Contamination is a huge issue and the "may contain" warning on the label is for exactly these circumstances.
Oh well, now I have to look for the packaging on the pepperoni and the sausage. But first, 93 needs to order and needs bread, and 602 has their credit card in the book and has propped it up for me to see. And table 92 just got sat. I take care of all of them and then start digging in the coolers for meat packaging. 10 minutes of digging, and I am pretty sure the packaging is all gone, I can't find any ingredients at all. I head back to let them know. They have now been sitting for 45 minutes, ordered only water1. I pass 92 off to someone else and tell the hostess to leave me alone until this nightmare table is gone.
Sorry guys, I cannot confirm a single ingredient in the pepperoni or sausage. "Oh that's ok we'll be fine. You can put that in." What. The. Fuck. At this point I'm sort of done with this charade and giving them options so I say "as far as entrees go, I happen to be allergic to soy myself, and I can tell you there's one thing I can eat here, the Bolognese with no cream added". They all just looked at me and one by one said that would be fine. They tipped $50 on $200 so there's that.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/uaz0sd/was_handed_my_first_allergy_cards/
| 3,490 | 282 | 1,650,819,373 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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relevance
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dlxaaj
|
TalesFromYourServer
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How can I get servers to stop treating me poorly when I dine alone?
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I've had an issue lately where when I dine alone at a fine-dining place for a special occasion, servers can't read the room that I'm one person or they immediately discard me because I'm not tipping $500.
In one situation, a server just asked me what I wanted and then went to a four top next to me and did a full run down of the difference between the meat preparations and specialties without being asked.
Another instance had a server trying to push a bottle, a 22 oz. steak and two sides on me like I was the diner in Meaning of Life or something.
I understand there's a point where you're hustling for your job or things you have to say from management but both times it made me feel like I don't deserve to be there. I didn't say anything but I felt like I should have.
What are your thoughts on this?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/dlxaaj/how_can_i_get_servers_to_stop_treating_me_poorly/
| 3,716 | 528 | 1,571,826,360 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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relevance
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1gm6z9q
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Not wanting to be cut early
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I’m a host and my restaurant (like most restaurants) will cut people early when it slows down. My question is: if I’m scheduled until 2pm for example and the manager tells me to leave at 1pm, do I have to leave or can I ask to stay until my scheduled end time? Just wondering because the extra 1hr + can sometimes make a big difference in tips. It just seems like if my schedule says that my shift ends at 2pm that I would be entitled to stay my whole scheduled hours.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gm6z9q/not_wanting_to_be_cut_early/
| 38 | 22 | 1,731,029,493 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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hot
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ej464r
|
TalesFromYourServer
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So I banned a regular on NYE
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First time making my own post here, but I have a few good stories and thought I would share, starting with the most recent.
Some background: I work at a BBQ restaurant/bar. I was a server for just over 3 years and have now been the Assistant Manager for 10 months on top of that, although I still cover server shifts fairly often.
The whole time I have worked here, we have had an elderly couple that comes in 3-4 times a week and causes minor problems. They were actually banned for a while by the previous AM but the husband managed to talk my GM into letting them come back. The man, who we'll call Stan, is actually okay. We have no issues with him. But her...oh my God. She is loud. She is rude. She berates poor Stan constantly for anything and everything. And the SMELL. Urk. I don't think she has regularly bathed in decades. It is akin to raw sewage, or week-old mayonnaise left in the sun. We have to wait 10-15 minutes after she leaves to clear her table so that the smell can dissipate. Her hair is matted and gross. She will only allow ONE of our servers to take her table, and when that server isn't there, the MOD has to serve her or she throws a fit. And she apparently refuses to wear a bra, so consequently her...chest...sags past her navel. She looks like she should be down by the train tracks shouting gibberish and throwing cats at people. These details have led us to coin several nicknames for her that seem mean-spirited but are well deserved, like "Old Stinky" and "LT" (long t\*ts.) She is an all-around disgusting person. Even her son has told her so (Stan says his son won't come around anymore because of her.) I want to feel sorry for her, but I see how she behaves and how she treats Stan (they've been married over 50 YEARS, the poor guy), and really, some people bring their problems upon themselves.
So over the past few months I have warned her several times to keep the noise down, or I will ask her to leave. Don't yell insults at your husband. Don't loudly complain about your sex life or lack thereof. Etc, etc...no one in the restaurant wants to hear it. Stan, for his part, gets up from the table and walks away when she starts making a scene, which has a couple times resulted in her getting up and stumping around the restaurant chasing him and spouting nastiness (this was actually the first warning.) And once when I warned her, she said something to the effect of "Sorry, I didn't realize you had other customers here," to which I replied "regardless if there are other customers or not, our restaurant is not an arena for your marital disputes. Keep it down."
I like to think I'm a nice person, so I really didn't want to escalate it from there. She always manages to come in just shy of doing something I could justify outright banning her for. Then, Christmas Eve, it happened. We were closing early at 3 when Stan and LT rose from their table. LT went to the bathroom and was in there for 30-40 minutes while Stan waited awkwardly at the bar, then shuffled out without saying anything. Our last table of the day, still sitting, complained about the loudness and unpleasantness of both her voice and odor. But it didn't stop there, oh no.
After closing, our server went to the restroom, then came running back out looking shocked and horrified. Turned out that LT had dropped a big liquidy deuce in there, and mostly missed the toilet. Unholy CRAP. It seriously looked like she hovered her cheeks over the toilet, then shifted slightly to the side, and went off like something out of South Park. It was all over the toilet, wall, and corner. Additionally, the toilet was now clogged. Sometimes they say not to judge a person by who they are on the outside, but who they are inside; well I can now confirm that this woman somehow smells even WORSE on the inside.
I legitimately almost quit right there. I have some money saved and don't really NEED this job, so I could have. But, dangit, I like my co-workers, and after our horrified server fled the building, it was either my GM, who is one of the kindest women I've ever met (she's nice to the point that it sometimes causes issues, actually, but that's a detail for other stories,) our Host, who is my GM's 16 year old son, or yours truly. So, that's right, I got to spend 30-40 minutes of my Christmas Eve scrubbing shit off the walls and floor with bleach water and unclogging the toilet. To clarify, my boss didn't make me or even ask me to; I did it out out of my own good will toward her. It's not the first time I've had to clean shit and I suspect it won't be the last, although this one was particularly vile. I might have mild to severe PTSD from this event, but I digress.
Fast Forward to New Years Eve. Stan and LT hadn't been back since, and my hopes were up; any normal person would be too mortified to ever show their face here again. And maybe she was, because Stan came in by himself. He dined in and I took his table because I planned to have the Talk with him (you know the one; the "sorry sir but your wife shit all over the floor" Talk,) and he ordered a to-go to take home for her. So when I brought out the to-go order, I actually sat down across from him and told him his wife would no longer be welcome. I hedged at first and just said it was a result of complaints from customers and employees. However, I told him that HE is still welcome and can order to-go for her. He was actually very understanding ("this isn't the first time this has happened" etc,) but as I stood up, he warned me that this "wouldn't go over well with her" and that I "might get an angry phone call" from her.
So I sat right back down and told him. "Well, if you must know, my breaking point is actually that she defecated all over the floor of the bathroom on Christmas Eve then left without saying anything. I had to stay late and clean it up. Obviously, this upsets me, but it's also a health issue, and we just cannot have it here." His response? "Da\*\*it I've been telling her she needs to wear diapers."
He then paid, left, and funnily enough gave me the largest tip he ever has ($4 instead of $2.) And now I get to enjoy my time here in 2020 LT free. So this year's off to a great start.
​
Edit: Thanks for the gildings! I think this is my first ever actual post as I've only ever commented before; it is also the first time I've been gilded, I'm pretty sure. I'm really glad people enjoyed the story. I'm trying to think of more stories that I can make as entertaining as this one but this had the advantage of being so recent. So, I might post more, and I'll definitely make an update if I hear from LT again.
And to answer some concerns real quick. I want to drive home again that nothing, not even subtle economic influences, compelled me to clean the mess. I was in a Christmas mood that even this couldn't spoil, and, seriously, it sucks and it's gross as hell but I had big gloves and plenty of expendable towels and bleach water. I'm not scared of getting my hands dirty so long as I have reasonable protection and a way to clean myself afterwards. My boss also allowed me a copious amount of free drinks. I may have overplayed the aftermath for comedic effect by likening it to PTSD, because it doesn't actually bother me so much. I've had to do it before as a manager at other places. This is the first place I've worked that would not only allow me to ban a customer as regular as her, but actually encourage me to do so (my GM was done with LT's shit \[heh\], just as much as I was.) I still mostly like working where I do, for the record.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ej464r/so_i_banned_a_regular_on_nye/
| 3,499 | 159 | 1,577,998,670 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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top
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bgcghb
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TalesFromYourServer
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You know that was a server's tip, right?
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So a few days ago, I encountered the worst kind of customer - the kind that sits at a dirty table and steals the cash tip left over from the previous table.
It's in the middle of dinner shift for our busiest day of the week, where we pretty much just turn and burn all night long. My buddy, we'll call him Steve, closes out a table, who leaves him a cash tip on the table. A new 2 top is ushered towards the dirty table, where they are told to hold on for just a second while we finish bussing it. Of course, they don't listen, and sit down.
Before they were directed over to the table, I'm made aware that it's gonna be mine, so I do what I can to bus it and get it ready since I have hands. At this point, I've seen Steve's tip on the table before we finished bussing it, and know that it was on the table at one point.
The table sits, and I greet them, at which point I see cash on the table again. Not sure if it's Steve's tip or their money, since I didn't complete bussing the table, I don't say anything.
I get them drinks, take their order, put it in, done. The cash has gone off the table at some point during this time.
Steve comes up and asks me, "Hey man, did you see a cash tip on table X? 'Gina' said there was a tip when she finished bussing it."
I tell him yes, I saw money on the table, but I'm not sure if it was his tip. I offer to go ask the table if they saw cash on the table. So I do, and I'm very clear to ask them if it was ON the table when they sat down. No response. I ask again, and the girl shares a look with the guy, before she answers yes, there was money on the table. The guy looks at me, realizes that I'm not going anywhere until he gives me the money, and reluctantly pulls out a five. He pauses, seems to think, and then pulls out another dollar bill, before finally saying, "yeah, there was six dollars."
It takes me a second to realize that this dude isn't moving slowly because he's stoned or something, but that he was hoping I would walk away and let him steal the fucking tip.
I just tell him, "You know that was a server's tip, right?" before giving Steve his tip and telling one of the MODs about it. Everyone is appalled, and, thank the restaurant gods, management decides to cancel their food order and throw them out.
The guy tries to get into the face of the manager who handled the situation and talks a lot of shit and claims he found it on the ground, culminating in him demanding we cancel their order. Which, of course, the manager laughs at, telling him we already have, and to get the fuck out.
EDIT: To answer the very valid question of why we didn't take the cash tip off the table - most of our servers prefer to pick up cash off the table themselves here. CC tips no one cares who grabs it, but cash tips the servers will generally get themselves. Strange, I know, but that's how it is here.
TL;DR asshole steals a server's tip, denies it to management when confronted, and is told to get the fuck out.
EDIT: Aw shucks, thanks for the gold! You guys are the best. I love this subreddit.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/bgcghb/you_know_that_was_a_servers_tip_right/
| 3,451 | 145 | 1,555,996,507 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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top
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aqwgjl
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TalesFromYourServer
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Valentine's Day almost broke me.
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Hey guys, I just need to rant for a couple minutes. I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day.
I work at an Unnamed Country Chain, and last night we were packed. No issue, mostly a lot of two tops and single older gentlemen.
I got triple sat halfway through my shift, all 5 member families. A little stressful, but no issue, and I really feel like I've hit it off with all of them. I bring out biscuits in advance, wipe up all the drinks that the kids spill, and refill things every ten or so minutes as the drinks get drained. All the food comes out in time, everyone tells me everything is fine and delicious.
I get a little excited, because all these tickets are at least 60 dollars and I think I hit it off with them enough and was attentive enough to make a good tip.
I bring out boxes, to go drinks, and bags for everyone and watch as they get up to pay at the retail. No cash on the table but that's fine, big families here normally tip on credit, so after I finish clearing and wiping down the tables, I run to check my tips.
None. Of. Them. Tipped.
I think maybe they just haven't paid yet, so I check to see if I have any open checks.
Not a single one.
I go tell my manager, and after my shift I go to pickup tips at the retail, and I ask him if the families complained about my service or anything that would validate them not tipping. He said no, and they all said I gave great service, but one of them shook his head when asked if he wanted to leave a tip because "your food is so expensive here haha".
Anyways, I'm just frustrated. If you wanna be cheap please stay home.
(side note- our food really isn't expensive here. If you know the restaurant, you know our prices.)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/aqwgjl/valentines_day_almost_broke_me/
| 3,426 | 449 | 1,550,236,607 | 6 |
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top
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67fzno
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TalesFromYourServer
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You never know who you're serving.
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I'm long since gone from the serving industry, but I did my time. About 3 years ago, I had this lovely family that game in every Tuesday for wing night. A mother, father, their son, and daughter and her husband. They were the loveliest people, and continued to be my regulars for the entirety of my stint at that bar (4 years).
They were the type of people who remembered your birthday, bought me Christmas presents, and brought in enough cake for all the servers if they were celebrating something. Just the best kind of people. I always assumed that they were well off, as they spent about $100 a week and tipped a generous portion of that. Honestly, they could have tipped me nothing and I wouldn't have cared because I just genuinely enjoyed having them around.
We kept loose contact after I left, a text here and there for birthdays and holidays, and I have the daughter as a friend on Facebook.
Jump to 3 weeks ago, I've now been restaurant free for just over a year, and Im looking for a full time position in my studied field. I came across an ad on Facebook; the name of the company sounded really familiar, and then it clicked. It was them! Their family company! So I messaged the daughter and said "Hey, I see you guys are hiring for x position, let me know if you'd be interested in seeing my resume!" Sure enough, within the next 24 hours I had an interview, and the job was mine!
Moral of the story, you never know who you're serving, maybe even your future employer!
Edit: Thanks so much for all of the positive vibes, you fabulous people! For those asking, it's a full time office position (my studies field is accounting). Even though I'm out of the serving game, I still creep around here because I love your guys' stories, and honestly...when 6am rolls around every day, I do miss it a little.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/67fzno/you_never_know_who_youre_serving/
| 3,072 | 82 | 1,493,120,534 | 6 |
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top
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amzfcv
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TalesFromYourServer
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Girl is forced to pay for her own birthday dinner.
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Never in my life have I experienced anything like this before as a waitress. I’ll try to keep this as short as possible.
So, I had a three top come in last night. The hostess gave me the chit (telling me how many people, what table, special occasion(s), preferences, allergies, etc) I see they’re celebrating a birthday and go greet the table.
There are 2 girls sitting there.
Me: “Are we celebrating a birthday this evening?”
Birthday girl (A): “Yes, I’m turning 18.”
The other girl (B) nods, demands a Strawberry Daiquiri, “with alcohol.”
I congratulate A and ask B for her ID.
B: “Really? How old do you think I am? I’m probably older than you.”
Me: “I have to ask anyone that looks under 30 for their ID. It’s a company policy.”
B: “This is ridiculous.” Regardless, she hesitantly gives me her ID. Turns out she’s 19...
Me: “I’m sorry, I can’t serve you alcohol but I can bring you a Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri.”
B: “Fine, I want it to be extra sweet with extra fruit.”
I could already tell this was going to be a nightmare...
B-day girl seemed cool but uncomfortable. I ask her if she wants anything to drink. “No”.
I then ask if they’re waiting for someone else.. “yes.”
By the time I get back to the table with V Strawberry Daiquiri extra sweet with extra fruit and bread, it’s still A & B who are chatting and ignore my presence. I ask if I can get them anything while they’re waiting... nope.
I go to the host stand, bored, and there’s a lady freaking out. She left her purse at the restaurant the previous night and “needed it back immediately”.
Our hostess is amazing - an overall genuinely kind person, and purse lady was giving her a really hard time. So I tell Purse lady that I’ll get a manager.. My manager comes and promptly finds the purse and delivers it safely to crazy monster lady.
The hostess then tells me this is my third guest at birthday table. So I shit myself, put on a smile, and escort her to the table. The girls have finished the bread (an entire loaf) and B has finished her drink. I ask her if she’d like another
B: “Yeah..”
I ask purse lady (C) if she’d like a drink. She said no but wanted more bread.
“COMING RIGHT UP!!!!”
I bring the bread, ask if they’d like any appetizers.. they order BBQ Shrimp and Calamari and C wants a coke. I bring the coke followed by the apps.
I check to make sure they are happy with the apps AND this is where things really turn south.
C: “Our calamari is cold and the shrimp is undercooked.”
I apologize, remove the dishes and C asks for MORE bread. Sure thing!!! I take the appetizers back to the kitchen, ask a coworker to bring them some bread and tell my manager and the chef about the appetizers. Chef eats a piece of shrimp and says it’s fine. My manger tried one and she agreed. BTW the BBQ Shrimp comes with 6 shrimp. When I brought it back, there were 4 left and the Calamari was half eaten. My manager asks if this is the table with the purse lady. I say yes.... she says, “Ok I’ll go talk to them.”
I waited in the kitchen. She comes back super flustered. I ask her what happened, she says C asked for bread and never got it.. and that the appetizers were “disgusting”.
So manager comps them. I apologize again to the table and their food arrives shortly after. I help drop it off, come back to check and C complains about all of their sides: fries, creamed spinach, and lobster Mac and cheese (which they had all eaten various portions of).
My manager comps all of it.
At this point I’ve had it with this table I just wanted them to leave...
Comes time for DESSERTS!
B says it’s her birthday too in which C reprimands her... I really couldn’t handle this anymore I’d had quite enough.
I give all of them free birthday cheesecakes 2, for A and B with “Happy Birthday” written in chocolate on each with a candle... also bring C a birthday sized cheesecake but no decoration.. it wasn’t her birthday. I don’t think it was anyone’s birthday.... Each of these cheesecakes are the size of a small pie.. approximately 6” x 6”. And they demolish all of them.
I ask if they’d like anything else, nope.
So I bring them the check.
C: “Can you put me and B on one check and A on a separate check.”
Me: “Absolutely.” But I walked away in disbelief.
It gets worse.
C made A pay for her own meal, and to add, they were trashing her in the end, B saying “she’s a spoiled brat and needs to learn how to support herself now that she’s a grown up”.... and mentioned something about her “being stupid.”
Unfortunately they said a lot more than that... Not directly to me, but certainly loud enough for me to hear as well as my other two tables who were just as mortified as me and A.
I don’t blame A for not tipping me.
But C tipped me $10 on $160.. this was after my manager comped all of their apps, sides and desserts.
I cannot believe they made birthday girl pay for her own meal. Maybe they all lied about it being her birthday... idc..
I was more than happy to see them leave, to say the least. I felt horrible for b-day girl and hope she enjoyed the rest of her evening... even if it wasn’t her birthday.. No one deserves to be treated that way. Ever.
Edit: A was there when C&B were talking shit about her...
TBH I wish there was something more I could have done...
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/amzfcv/girl_is_forced_to_pay_for_her_own_birthday_dinner/
| 3,002 | 241 | 1,549,265,976 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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top
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9krgj1
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TalesFromYourServer
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The time my super awesome busser found the guy that dined and dashed on me.
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So I worked at this fairly popular bar and grill that had this huge patio so it was really popular with the drinking crowd. So this guy comes in acts like a total douche the whole time. After eating and drinking his tab is like $65. I drop the tab off and he asks for a water to go. I head back to get it for him and he straight up **runs** away. Like full on sprints down the road laughing the whole time. I'm just standing there like WTF!??? I go back tell the manager who comps it off for me and I'm pissed but it's no big deal. Well an hour or two later my busser (out of nowhere) drags the guy who ditched up to me and makes him pay *and tip me*. He tells me he went to the gas station down the road to buy cigarettes and this douche was in there buying beer! He recognized him as the guy who stiffed me so he grabbed him and drug him back to the restaurant and made him pay up! The guy who stiffed us just seemed relieved that we weren't calling the cops and got out of there real fast after paying up. Now idk if what the busser did was legal (probably not) but he got me my money and a really great story. Be nice to your bussers and they'll go the extra mile for you!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9krgj1/the_time_my_super_awesome_busser_found_the_guy/
| 2,961 | 108 | 1,538,493,144 | 6 |
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top
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iv83iq
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TalesFromYourServer
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Trucker made me cry
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My first waitressing gig. I was there for about two weeks at this point, back in 2012. Working third shift in this little family owned truck stop restaurant in the midwest. Cinnamon rolls homemade the size of your head... Actual tasty food. We got not only truckers, but tons of locals.
So... It was late. I remember talking to this trucker who came in and sat at a booth. He had a soda or tea, and ordered a reuben and fries. We chattered, he was nothing but kind.
At the end when I handed him his check, it was $12.87. I will never forget the total. I swiped his card, he signed the slip and handed me it and said God Bless, complimented me, and said he knew I needed it more, and left. I was confused, until I looked at the receipt. $100 tip.
I fucking cried my heart out. What he didn't know was that I was struggling to scrape together money so my boyfriend at the time could start his new job as a RV mechanic. I needed that money to get him tools so we would be able to afford an apartment and not sleep in his truck. And that $100 changed all of that for us
Yes, ex was a douche. Yes it all fell apart years ago and he isn't in my life. But frequently i remember that trucker. I never saw him again. I never got to thank him for what he did for me. He gave me... A new type of hope for humanity. He showed me there were still caring people in the world.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/iv83iq/trucker_made_me_cry/
| 2,930 | 73 | 1,600,442,555 | 6 |
restaurant tip
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top
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ahnhd1
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TalesFromYourServer
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Dick waiter stealing tips
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On mobile and tl;dr at the bottom, this is kinda long so sorry if it's a bit boring but this guys really took the Michael.
Some backgroind I work for a catering agency which sends me to different places when they need extra staff so half the time I'm just washing dishes in the back but occasionally I'm waiting on or bussing tables.
This happened just before Christmas where I was at a really lovely cafe in a garden centre bussing tables. At this place the customers got their drinks and paid for their meals at the counter so all I had to do was being out their food and take away empty plates. Most people didn't tip which was fine because I never usually get tips anyway but it was a good pick me up when someone would leave some change on their tables for me.
So the first day I was working on my own to begin with but we weren't too busy. There was a woman sitting on her own reading (she'd been there since before I arrived and all she had a few empty coffee cups so I went over, made a bit of small talk and she asked me to to get her another coffee. I know the customers are supposed to get drinks themselves but there weren't many customers so I got it for her and she was very polite and cheerful to me the whole time.
About an hour goes by and a waiter (DW= dick waiter) turns up (he isn't agency so he actually works for the cafe) he doesn't talk to me so I keep bussing tables. I notice that the cheerful lady has put a £5 note and several £1 coins on the table but she's still drinking her coffee so I keep working. I go over to one of the 4 tops and notice her leaving and I make a note to go to her table before putting my empty plates in the kitchen. Just as I'm finishing with the 4 top, DW goes over to the table, swipes the tip, leaves the dirty cup on the table and walks off!!!!!!
Now I hadnt had any tips that big for a while and I know it wasn't a huge amount but im pretty sure the customer left that for me. The waiter didn't talk to me at all after that and I had another 3 days of working there. I noticed that he kept doing this a lot when customers would leave change on the tables for me and I know I missed out on at least another £15 over the three days.
On the last day I had been bussing a party of about 15 people for a 10yos birthday and they'd been very nice and I talked with a few of them and said happy birthday to the little girl. When they were leaving I was busy and DW goes over and starts bussing before they've even left the table. One of the women from the party comes over to me while I'm carrying some trays and says "I just wanted to make sure you got this" and handed me £3. This is actually a decent tip for this particular cafe and it made my whole week better to know that someone would be nice enough to come over and make sure I got a tip.
Anyway fuck people who steal tips from other servers, I know I'm agency staff but I still earned it and there's no reason to be a dick
Tl;dr: bussing tables at christmas for an agency and the dick waiter likes to steal tips when he thinks nobody's looking.
Edit: I should have worded it better, DW is really just a busser (so DB instead I guess) like me as there's only 2 servers, who were lovely women, working there and they would only show up in the front if they were taking food to the tables, seeing as they don't have to take a check at the end of the meal. I say waiter because he had a little apron and he actually worked there (as opposed to agency)
Sorry for all the confusion and I'm pretty sure the tip was meant for me seeing as DB hadn't been to the table/customer at all before he swiped the tip
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ahnhd1/dick_waiter_stealing_tips/
| 602 | 38 | 1,547,915,182 | 6 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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nl9pol
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TalesFromYourServer
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Woman receives 7 dollars in the exchange of the respect of her children and everybody in her vicinity
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I work at a sushi restaurant. I actually do like my job, I like to joke around with customers and talk about food.
Woman comes in with what I assume I her three kids. Everything is going well! They get the food relatively quickly, they're happy, I'm checking in every now and then, refilling drinks, etc. Until the end.
One of the rolls they ordered was "too sour." They had already eaten half the roll; She wanted a refund. There is only one proper response in this situation.
"Oh, ok." And remember you tried something and you didn't like it. These things happen.
Restaurants do things differently. There have been plenty of times where I don't like the way that a restaurant has made a dish I liked. But I wasn't going to make a fuss. I don't have to eat the food, but people worked hard to make sure I got it in the first place.
She does not hit me with the "oh, ok." She's complaining that she's been coming here for 20 years (the place has been open much shorter than that) and that she KNOWS her sushi, and we did it wrong. This is all within earshot of the sushi chefs, who are damn good at their job. A little biased because I work there, of course, but the sushi is pretty damn good. She keeps GOING. I keep saying we can't refund it, you already ate it. I'm your waiter! This shit ain't up to me. She decides she's going to go for a smoke, and then come back.
One of her kids apologized to me. Kid clearly looked embarrassed. I said not to worry and to not think poorly of your mom.
The manager that day is one of my friends from college, and the reason I have the job in the first place. It's been nice to have the income during the pandemic. I feel terrible sending my friend over, but we both know what we're in for. She doesn't want them mistreating me either. My friend also had a rough, rough day on Monday (where I was not present) with a new hire that wasn't trying to do her job and was making it harder for everybody else. She needed to blow off some steam (we had both agreed to take a shot of liquor after we finish work, neither of us drive to work) and I felt like something was going to happen. But nothing happened - after a few more minutes of this woman being extra nasty to her, she just gave up and cancelled the $7 roll, and told her to keep in mind not to order it if she ever comes back.
This is a $7 roll on a $130 check. The single most minor part of the meal (everything else was $13 or more) and she HAD to give us a hard time. This woman failed to pick her battles. She had to take a stand, on one leg, against two strangers who were just following rules and making sense (you can't eat your fucking food and then ask for a refund.) I can't stop her from dying on this hill.
She pays in cash. They get up to leave. And she gives me a piece of her mind. "You shouldn't be so RUDE" etc. etc. Old ass Karen having to let me know. But then her kid, her shitty fucking kid, not the one who apologized to me earlier, looked at me and said "suck my dick."
I'm walking by them and holding an empty takeout container. I throw it into the ground hard and walk away. I can't yell at a mom in front of her kids, it just doesn't feel right. I'd feel awful if that was my mom, even if my mom was in the wrong.
I'm having a panic attack now - breathing heavy, tears rolling down my face. I have trouble handing words like that, even from strangers, and even when I'm definitely in the right. I'm walking around the basement for five minutes, thinking it's safe to return.
So I surface. My friend is HEATED. I think it's at me at first, and I wouldn't blame her. I threw something and ran away, and I was really embarrassed about it. Face wet from tears and feeling awful.
She wasn't. She was pissed at the customer, and she chased her out. I feel bad that happened with the kids there, but she stood up for me, and I felt really good about it. Even though I was apologizing and very embarrassed at my behavior, my friend standing up from me when I was upset touched my heart. I've blown up at people before. Everybody has, but i don't think I've gotten that kind of support before. I've just apologized for being angry even when I felt like I was right.
There was a table of four young women right next to the problem table, but the other waitress took over for me because I was shaken up, still crying a little, breathing heavy. This gave me angry hiccups, which just made me cry and breathe heavier.
When that table left, they left a good tip. I made sure to apologize - that wasn't on the restaurant, that's on me. I shouldn't be childish and throw shit no matter what. But all I heard from one of them was "no, you were right, she was a bitch." and I felt a little better.
TL;DR: Woman dies on incredibly stupid hill in front of her kids, and I don't think anybody feels good about it. Also my friend is awesome.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/nl9pol/woman_receives_7_dollars_in_the_exchange_of_the/
| 1,994 | 175 | 1,622,008,793 | 6 |
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relevance
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m97dhi
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TalesFromYourServer
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“Our life is in your hands.”
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Kennebunk, Maine. Fancy, fine dining setting. Early dinner shift. Four top reservation comes in, two older married couples in their 50s. They get a beautiful table by a window, watching the beautiful sunset. Place is still empty, piano just starting up, sort of a calm lovely scene. While they’re being seated, one man is intent on the wine list and wants to order before I’ve left the table after my first greeting. So bam, picks out a decent $80 cab for the table and I signal to to my back waiter to switch out glassware while I head down into the cellar for the bottle. I come up and go through the pouring, tasting and then serve each guest. As soon as I put the bottle down the man takes it and empties it among the four glasses. So each of them has a red wine glass that is super full and everyone at the table is clearly not amused. I watch as the man chugs his glass in a desperate series of gulps. His wife is saying his name quietly while the other couple just sit awkwardly with their fifty gallon wine glasses trying to sip them without spilling.
So I come back to see if they are ready to order. Everyone is, but the man wants to start with another bottle. I sort of agree, noting everyone’s glass is full but his. Everyone orders food and he mentions the second bottle and I ask if we should wait for the food or bring it straight away. The wife suddenly blurts, “Robert you’re an alcoholic.” The man immediately gets red in the face and doubles down on the order. “We’ll take the second bottle now.” Then the other woman looks up at me and says “He drove us here. If you serve him he will be putting our lives at risk.” Then the other man just says flatly “our lives are in your hands.” At this point Robert the alcoholic is about to blow a gasket, his face is purple and he’s sputtering. I just pick up the wine list and channel my best black jack dealer and say “I apologize but I am not serving anymore alcohol at this table.” Robert slams his butter knife into the table making a ruckus but his wife kind of calms him down.
They ate three courses. Totally silent the entire time. They didn’t say a word to each other or anyone. It was like stepping into the family dinner of an abusive home. The tension was unbelievable. In the end, they let Bob the alcoholic pay and he tipped me zero on $400.
But hey, I saved their lives.
EDIT: no, the sun does not dip into the ocean in Maine. I grew up there but lived out west long enough to get mixed up in my descriptions. We still have nice sunsets however.
EDIT: thank you for the awards!
NOTE TO PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WINE POURS: Pouring over a couple ounces in a glass at a table will get you a talking to at most fine dining places. I would even argue that the “6oz pour” that some of you say is “normal” is actually ridiculous even at your local Applebee’s. 4-5oz, maybe.
Quartering out a bottle of wine on the first pour at a table, leaving an empty bottle, is absolutely not part of good service.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/m97dhi/our_life_is_in_your_hands/
| 1,486 | 157 | 1,616,248,019 | 6 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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bn7gk8
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TalesFromYourServer
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Waiter returns $424K check after getting stiffed and then turns down her appology tip.
| null |
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/bn7gk8/waiter_returns_424k_check_after_getting_stiffed/
| 49 | 10 | 1,557,544,610 | 6 |
waiter tip
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k6myej
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TalesFromYourServer
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Schooling the Manager
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I have a story for you all. It happened to me over 20+ years ago, so I might be a tad fuzzy on the details. Also, I apologize if it's too long, but I need to make sure all the pertinent facts are included. So, here we go. TL/DR at the bottom.
Background: I used to work for a national pizza restaurant franchise as a server, back during a time when we were called waiters and waitresses. I started as a waitress at one location, and in my over 2 year stint with the company I moved up to Head Waitress and was training as a shift supervisor when I was transferred to a new location. 3 months after my transfer we ended up with a new Store Manager.
Pizza restaurant franchise (like most) serves beer and wine by the glass/pitcher, and has a liquor license. I live in the South, in a part of the US that is sometimes called the Bible Belt, and some of our alcohol laws are stricter than the rest of the country. I should also tell you that at the time, I was friends with a few ALE (Alcohol Law Enforcement) officers, and because of those friendships, I knew the alcohol laws in my state backward and forward. This is important. On with the story.
This particular pizza franchise prided themselves on customer service, sometimes to the detriment of their employees. This franchise, at the time (at least in our county), would also tend to bend and break the laws concerning alcohol if it meant fewer customer complaints to Corporate. Some of the Manager's bonuses were tied into how few customer complaints they had. The wait staff usually got caught in the middle in these situations.
About 2 months before we got new Manager(Mang), my state imposed the new law, and STIFF penalties, in regards to purchasing ‘open’ alcohol (alcohol not sold in a sealed container). The law changed from requiring ID for anyone that looked to be under the age of 40, to requiring ID for ANYONE wishing to purchase open alcohol, REGARDLESS of age. It also forbade us from selling open alcohol if anyone at the table was under 21. Penalties for not enforcing this law? $50,000 fine to the business, $5000 fine to the individual seller/server. Seller/server could face jail time of up to 1 year, and business AUTOMATICALLY lost liquor license for 5 years for first offence. ALE would go in undercover to restaurants and bars with a liquor license to test to see if businesses were enforcing this new law.
Since we served beer on tap, and wine by the glass, we had to enforce this new law, as Head Waitress, I made sure all of our wait staff knew of it, and the penalties for not enforcing it. I also followed it, to the letter, carding each and every person that came into our restaurant wanting to purchase beer or wine with their food.
This new law didn't sit well with customers, and when wait staff started refusing alcohol to people in their 50's and 60's because they didn't have their ID with them, customers started to complain, first to the Manager, then to Corporate. Corporate and managers sided with the customers, throwing wait staff under the bus. I don’t know if Corporate understood the new liquor law in our state, but if they did, they chose to ignore it. It got so bad many of the wait staff stopped enforcing the law, because management didn't back us up. I however, still enforced the law, because I knew what it meant if I didn’t. My manager didn’t like that very much, and was a constant thorn in my side because of it. I lost my Shift Supervisor training, then my hours were cut because I wouldn't back down. Then the manager started sending me home if I received 3 complaints in a single night. Because I enforced this new law, I would get more than 3 usually in the first 2 hours of my shift, even after I explained that this was a new state law. I was losing tips, and losing hours, but I refused to back down. It all came to a head one really busy Saturday Night.
Mang= Manager, Me= yours truly, Cupid= Customers, DoSs= Dark Stranger
It was about 8:30 that night, and we were slammed. Turn around on tables was less than 2 minutes. A group of 4 had just been seated in my section, a group of 40+ in age, and I walked over to greet them.
Me - "Hi, my name is Ladiestorm, and I'll be your waitress this evening." I saw they already had menus. "If you like I can go ahead and take your drink order while you look over the menu."
Cupid1 - "what beer do you have on draft?"
Me - "We have (list of beer choices), we also have (House Chardonnay and House Zinfandel) if anyone is interested."
Cupid2 - "Wanna get a pitcher of (lite beer)?"
Cupid4- "I'd like to get a glass of (House Chardonnay), please."
Customers 1 and 3 agree to share a pitcher of (lite beer)
Me - "Excellent! I can get that for you, I just need to see everyone's ID, please."
Cupid(s) - "What?!?, You've got to be kidding! We're obviously over 40! Are you blind? Or just stupid?"
I gave the group my best sympathetic smile. "I know, it does seem ridiculous, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's a new law, passed about a month ago. We're now required to ask for ID for anyone wanting to purchase alcohol, regardless of age."
Cupid3 - "But I didn't bring my ID with me. I've never had an issue before. Surely you can make an exception! It's my birthday. We came to celebrate."
Me - "I'm so very sorry, ma'am, but I could get a $5000 fine and a year in jail if I get caught breaking this new law. I'm afraid it's just not worth the risk, no matter how stupid the law is. So, if you can't produce your ID, I'm afraid I just can't serve you the alcohol."
Cupid2- "Wow, are you serious? Cupid3, here are my keys, go get your purse out of the trunk."
Cupid3 mumbles about how ridiculous this all is, as she grabs the keys and heads for the door. A few minutes later she comes back in, all 4 of them show me ID's and I get their drink order. I bring back their beer and wine, and see my manager talking to the 4 of them. I know what's coming next, but I square my shoulders, increase my smile, and head to the table.
Me - " Here you go, a pitcher of (Lite beer) with three mugs, and a glass of (House Chardonnay) for the Lady. Have you had time to decide what you'd like to order, or would you care for another few minutes?"
Mang - "Actually, I need your help for a few minutes. Other Waitress is going to take over this table for a bit. Can you come with me, please?"
Me - "Sure." I turned to the group. "I hope you lady and gentlemen have a good evening! And Happy Birthday, by the way." I smiled and followed my manager to the back, when he exploded.
Mang - " Damn it, Ladiestorm, how many times do I have to tell you this!!! You are being ridiculous with carding for every one that orders a beer! I had to comp half their meal just to keep them from calling Corporate!! That's the second time tonight! I've cut your hours, I've even suspended you! Do I need to fire your ass to get my point across? I've already lost my bonus because of complaints about you! What's it going to take?!?"
Me - " Are you, or Corporate going to pay my $5000 fine, or keep me out of jail if I get busted? How much business will you have if you lose your Liquor License? You and Corporate would throw me under the bus to CYA. Well, I can't afford a $5000 fine, and I'm not going to jail for a year so you can get a bonus that you don't share with us, anyway. So, either fire me, or let me get back to my job."
Mang - "I'm tired of your attitude. This is your last shift as Head Waitress. If I get one more complaint about you carding people that don't need to be carded, you are gone. Do I make myself clear?"
Me - " I want it in writing. That you are demoting me because of customer complaints for refusing alcohol to anyone that doesn't have ID. Now, are you sending me home? Or can I get back to my customers?"
Mang- "just get out of my sight and do your job. You'll have your write up before you leave tonight."
Fast forward to 3 hours later. It's slowing down enough that we can start to do our pre-close clean up. There’s one other waitress and she leaves at midnight. I had 2 tables that are lingering over coffee, when DoSs is seated in my section. This guy had Bad Boy written all over him. Somewhere between 55 -65, dressed in biker's leathers, dark graying hair and beard, with a motorcycle helmet sitting on the table beside him. He was intimidating, so I screw on a friendly smile and walked over.
Me - "Good Evening, I'm Ladiestorm, and I'm your server tonight. If you wish, I can get your drink order while you look at the menu."
DoSs - " I got a friend joining me in a few minutes. We already know what we want, I don't need the menu.
I chuckled a bit. " No nonsense customers that know what they want. I like it! What can I get for you then?"
DoSs -A Supreme Pan Pizza, order of bread sticks, a pitcher of (beer) and two mugs."
Me - " Yes, sir. I'll need to see both of your ID's. If you will show me yours now, I will go ahead and get your pitcher and mug, and once your friend shows me his, I'll bring out his mug. Do you want the breadsticks to come out first, or both together?"
DoSs - "Why do you need to see our ID's? Half my hair is gray, and my friend's got even more gray than me. We're obviously old enough to drink."
I just sighed. "I understand, sir, I really do. Unfortunately, a new law passed 2 months ago requiring us to card anyone purchasing open alcohol, regardless of age."
DoSs - "I ain't heard of this new law. What if I ain't got my ID?"
Me- "Then I'm afraid I can't serve you the beer. I'm really very sorry. But I have to see your, and your friend's ID if you want a pitcher."
DoSs - "Listen here, girl. I been old enough to drink since before you were born! It's obvious I'm over 21. Are you trying to be disrespectful?"
Me - "Sir, I mean no disrespect, I really don't. But it's the law, and I can get into a lot of trouble if I break it. I'm sorry, but I just can't risk it."
DoSs - "So that's your final word. If I, and my friend, don't show you our ID, you ain't going to serve us?"
Me - "If I can't see your ID's, I can't serve you the beer. I'm sorry.”
DoSs - "I demand you go get your manager, and you bring him here. I want to speak to him, or her, immediately!"
Me - "Of course, sir. I'll go get him." I turned to walk away, and a second man about the same age, walked over and sat down with the guy. I hear from behind me, "I want to see you both back here, you got that?"
So, I went and got my manager, told him I had customers demanding to speak with both of us. He took one look at my face, and smiled.
Mang - "This will be your third complaint of the night. This is your last night. Just remember, you were warned."
So, I showed my manager to DoSs' table, where a second man is now sitting, about the same age.
Mang - "I understand you wish to speak with me? What seems to be the problem, Sir?"
DoSs - "This waitress carded me for beer! Do I look like I'm under 21 or even under 40 to you?"
My manager smiled, and I could see the gleam of anticipation in his eyes. "No, Sir, of course you look like you are more than old enough to buy alcohol. I understand your frustration, I've actually had numerous complaints about this waitress. I promise, I will handle the situation."
DoSs and friend whip out pretty shiny badges, each stamped with ALE. Manager's smile faded.
DoSs - "I wanted to compliment you on such a well -trained and determined wait staff. I just tried to purchase an open pitcher of alcohol in your establishment, without showing my ID. This young lady is very knowledgeable about the new alcohol laws, and she politely enforced it, no matter how much I pushed. I'm sure you are all aware of the new law, and it's penalties?"
Mang - "I.. uhm.. well -"
DoSs - I'll be this young lady knows, don't you?" DoSs looks to me with a smile.
Me - "For the business, $50,000 fine and loss of liquor license for 5 years, on the first offence. $500,000 and permanent loss of liquor license for repeat offence. For the individual - $5000 fine and up to 1 year in jail for first offence, $10,000 fine and up to 5 years in jail for repeat offence."
Mang - "Wait. We could lose our liquor license for 5 years on a first offence? No warning?"
DoSs - "Not can, will. Automatically, no warning. As manager, you would also receive that $5000 fine and up to 1 year in jail, since it's your responsibility to ensure your employees are enforcing the law."
Mang - " I don't think our Corporate knows this new law. I've never heard nothing about it." Manager's eyes glanced my way as he said it.
DoSs - "It passed 3 months ago. Enforcement started 2 months ago. It's your job to keep up with new laws. And Corporate will know after tonight. ALE hit 5 of your locations tonight. So far, you are the only location that didn't lose their liquor license. Good job, young lady, sorry for being rude."
Me - "It's okay. Uhm... did you still want your order?"
ALE2 - "Actually, yes. Everything but the beer. We're still on duty. Can I just get a sweet tea instead?
DoSs - "And I'll take a Coke, please."
Me - "Coming right up, gentlemen!" I had the biggest sh\*t eating grin on my face as I walked back to get their drinks, and put in their order.
Needless to say, I didn't get fired, demoted, or written up, that night, and after a call to Corporate, I was able to continue my training for Shift Supervisor.
I found out later, from my ALE friends, that (Company) pizza chain restaurants in our county had been under surveillance for a month prior to the undercover agents coming to our stores. Our location was 1 of the first 5 that ALE investigated. My location was the only one that passed.
Mang was fired 4 months later on an unrelated incident. Incidentally, the state repealed that law a year later, due to constituent backlash, but by then I had moved on to something else.
​
​
Manager demoted and threatened to fire employee for enforcing state alcohol laws, then gets schooled when employee saves liquor license in an ALE sting.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/k6myej/schooling_the_manager/
| 1,156 | 94 | 1,607,095,679 | 6 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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2yip4g
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TalesFromYourServer
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A waiter receives a $25,000 tip to pay for his dental surgery
| null |
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/2yip4g/a_waiter_receives_a_25000_tip_to_pay_for_his/
| 83 | 7 | 1,425,957,055 | 6 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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1eiuvsg
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TalesFromYourServer
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ideally, kids go on the inside of the booth (burn story)
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While serving in a Tex-Mex restaurant during the dinner rush, I had a family of four (parents and two small children) sitting in a booth. One of the kids (5+/-yo) was sitting on the outside while his mother was next to the wall. Big mistake ... big ... HUGE. Among other things, I brought out a heavy sizzling smoking hot black skillet of fajitas. As I'm about to set it down, the inattentive parent's curious child decided to reach up and grab the wood platter/base of the fajitas and pull it down directly towards him. I had a tray in my other hand with sides and condiments. Without really thinking, I made the split decision to pull the fajitas back up towards me with the only leverage I had available ... by putting my thumb firmly in the burning hot skillet. I got the fajitas on the table and just set the tray down as well. Looked at the dad with a panicked and painful face and said "I'll be back in a minute." My thumb very quickly had a big swollen area of white burned skin the side of a $0.25 quarter. It was actually a bit numb after the initial burning pain. 2nd/3rd degree burn ... whatever; it sucked. I had it bandaged for a couple weeks after that. I probably got a decent tip but nothing outstanding. It certainly wasn't worth it. Before they left, I did politely tell the parents that it's preferred to put the kids on the inside of the booth against the wall to keep them from getting into any issues with waiters, other patrons, etc. They fully agreed and promised to be more aware in the future.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1eiuvsg/ideally_kids_go_on_the_inside_of_the_booth_burn/
| 398 | 21 | 1,722,660,525 | 6 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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12kervz
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TalesFromYourServer
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I want to quit my job early
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I have been working in fine dining for the last five years and have been working at my current job for seven months. At our job, as with most fine dining restaurants, there is a hierarchy of roles with a tip value assigned to that role. Captain being the highest, followed by Jr Captain, Back Waiter, Host, Kitchen Staff, Porter etc.
I recently told my employer that I needed to move part time temporarily while I figure out balancing my Thyroid and birth control medication, as I have been experiencing side effects- mainly fatigue and exhaustion. I anticipated moving part time for about a month and have provided documentation of any doctors visits that required time off as needed.
Last week, my employer informed me that I would be demoted from Captain to Jr Captain (ultimately making less money in the tip pool) because I switched to part time. This would mean that I'm making about $50 less a day. I was the only front of house employee that worked full time, and was upset that this wasn't communicated when I initially discussed reducing my hours.
Obviously upset about this, I put in my two week notice. I sent an email asking if we can part amicably, as I have accepted a new job- after not receiving a schedule. They sent a schedule within an hour and have reduced my three day a week schedule to two days. The day that they are busiest, and the day that no one is able to work except myself.
It's clear that they are just using me for the time being, and after being wronged with the tip pool situation, I have no interest in continuing with this company.
I'm wondering- Is it the wrong to move forward and not finishing out my final four shifts? I would use my next week to travel to New York to see my father-in-law that recently had surgery.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/12kervz/i_want_to_quit_my_job_early/
| 18 | 9 | 1,681,367,465 | 6 |
waiter tip
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hot
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ws9ohl
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TalesFromYourServer
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How long should you wait for service?
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I have been to 6 countries from June to August (North & South America as well as Europe in case any comments about tipping & service come up). I feel like servers all over the world are stretched thin but especially in touristy areas with Europe being open without covid restrictions for the first time in 2 years.
Lately I’ve had issues with friends & family about when to leave a restaurant. My rule is 20 min and if no one comes by then I leave. Some people I go out with want to leave asap which I just think is entitled to expect service asap but then others say we should stay until our server comes and it’s rude/entitled. If I see servers on their phones or gathered in a corner socializing then I’ll leave after about 15-20 min. But if the place is packed and there’s only 2 servers I’m more understanding and willing to wait. I think I’ve gotten up and left about 4 restaurants this summer bc the servers were just chilling and ignoring our table.
One place we didn’t even sit and the waiter came over and asked us what we wanted to drink like give us a second buddy and he got all offended. Whenever guests came into the resort I worked at I’d come over and say welcome I’ll give you a minute to look over our menu and be back for your drink order. I’d take that time to upsell or promote our drink specials but I would never just walk up and say hi what do you want to drink when the people literally just sat down. This place was a fancier wine bar so it’s not like it was a chain where you just blurt out a soda. You really need a few minutes to pick the perfect glass of wine.
I feel like I’ve seen people in all these countries just leave restaurants over the wait times. I just wanted to see what is reasonable in this day and age? Like I said I don’t expect asap but in 20 min you have the time to at least greet and drop off a menu.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ws9ohl/how_long_should_you_wait_for_service/
| 16 | 20 | 1,660,901,885 | 6 |
waiter tip
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hot
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t82ebh
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Got a $0, a gift card, and possibly alcohol poisoning on a $2500 bill.
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Happened a while back. This real estate firm/company had a party at our restaurant and rented out the patio. My managers wanted everything to go smoothly and asked me, the head waiter and another waiter to take on the 50 people. I thought, "We're going to make some money!" As it turns out, we didn't. The managers thought the company would tip, the company thought the tip was included in the bill... Neither were correct.
My managers felt HORRIBLE and gave us a gift card... To the restaurant I worked at. I ended up spending the gift card ($50) and another $100 on alcohol at the bar, berating my managers and customers alike. My friend thought a joint would help me mellow out, but it did not. I went to another bar and kept calling everyone "Mayonnaise."
Luckily/unfortunately, they thought it was funny, so on my off days they'd call me in to drink (at a huge discount) and roast everyone so people would stay and drink. I don't drink anymore, but my liver hurts just thinking about it.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/t82ebh/got_a_0_a_gift_card_and_possibly_alcohol/
| 498 | 44 | 1,646,584,223 | 6 |
waiter tip
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hot
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qe5k30
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
No not this table
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A few years ago I worked at a big Mexican restaurant, not a major chain, a minor one (had like 5locations in the city).
This night I was hosting. It was a mad house, busy as heck. 150+ covers and a line out the door. I was running around like a maniac clearing tables, seating, and taking to go orders.
So I get a table wiped down (with the help of the waiter), and got the next group; a big family of 5. By now they probably had waited a good 20mins.
"Follow me, right this way..."
"Oh heck no! We ain't settn' there!" Said big mama.
I'm a bit stunned. I look around, like this is the ONLY table available.
"Ok, sorry, if you want to wait another twenty minutes for another table..."
"Heck no this is BS, I don't want to wait."
"Well, here's your table" I said again, and placed the menus down. By now I had to pickup the phone and take a to go order.
They were super pissed, made a huge mess, and didn't tip the waiter (who was one of the better ones there), and told him, "If your host wasn't so rude they would have tipped better." (It was a $100+ bill)
I admit I was tired and a bit frantic but how was I so rude? Because I didn't sit you down in the preferred section? Because I didn't greet them with bright flowery (bs) language? And if I was so rude why stiff the waiter too?
Btw the Waiter was pissed at me after but we talked about it and we became better colleagues.
TL;DR
I sat a family at the wrong table in a packed restaurant. They acted like total pricks and blamed me.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/qe5k30/no_not_this_table/
| 378 | 40 | 1,634,998,162 | 6 |
waiter tip
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hot
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q0yf2r
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Told a customer to “shove a tip up his ass” this afternoon.
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So I had these super smug arrogant douchebags as a table for lunch. Both reeked of daddy’s money and made every effort to be difficult. They tipped me $3 on a $50+ order which was completely uncalled for. I grabbed my book before they left and noticed the injustice. I wanted to badly follow them into the parking lot and call them out. I then noticed that the dude who paid left his credit card.
I immediately ran out to the parking lot to present him his forgotten debit card. He was thankful. I then proceeded to tell him that he should “shove this tip up your ass.” He said “what?”and I repeated verbatim. I then crumpled his receipt and threw it in the garbage when I re-entered the restaurant. I hope that before he left our parking lot that he googled “why did my waiter tell me to shove my tip up my ass” before he drove home.
Do we wonder why the restaurant industry is struggling? My last day is Saturday.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/q0yf2r/told_a_customer_to_shove_a_tip_up_his_ass_this/
| 61 | 14 | 1,633,322,234 | 6 |
waiter tip
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hot
|
duau64
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The incredible service that is the Japanese service industry
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I'm an american who's been in Japan close to 2 decades. Even now, there are times where I'm blown away by how spectacular the Japanese service industry is. First thing to know, there is no such thing as tipping in Japan. most of the employees are making minimum wage (about 760 JPY an hour where I live).
Outside of no tipping, restaurant customs in Japan are quite different. After being seated, the waiter will not come back to the table until they are called. Most restaurants have a paging system that you push and alerts the server. Where there is no paging system, the customer just calls out, "Sumimasen!" (Excuse me) and someone will come when they are able. No coy games of trying to catch eyes, or being interrupted mid conversation for the customer and the server doesn't have to make repetitive trips to an indecisive table or worry about water refills or really interact unless requested. It's a very pleasant experience.
The following tale goes above and beyond anything I've ever heard of. Last night, my wife and 3 of her friends went out to eat. One of her friends is 7 month pregnant with twins. Unfortunately, none of them had the foresight to make reservations anywhere. They took a train to the downtown area and walked into a close by place. Being Saturday night at dinner time, the place was packed. It went like that for an hour or so. They wanted to stay near the station and eventually wound back up at the first place. It was still full, but out of desperation one of them went in and asked if they knew of anywhere that might have an open table. The guy they asked said he actually did, but it was a bit away and didn't think it would be okay for a pregnant woman to walk that far. He asked for them to give him 5 minutes so that he could clean out his car. He went and got someone to cover his tables while he cleaned his car then drove my wife and her friends 10 minutes away to eat at a completely different restaurant and then went back to work.
When my wife told me this story, I was floored beyond words. I've always been at awe of Japan's service, but this was above and beyond anything that I've ever heard and couldn't even imagine it happening in another country.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/duau64/the_incredible_service_that_is_the_japanese/
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4n5vbf
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TalesFromYourServer
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Gathered a collection of stories from an AskReddit thread last year about the craziest requests that restaurant employees ever got from a customer
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"I heard this story from my dad. He was in an Asian restaurant, happily eating his meal, when a woman and several children entered. They sat down, and the woman ordered something for herself, a large bowl of white rice, and a can of orange soda for each kid.
When the drinks and rice arrived, she opened each can and poured the soda into the rice. The kids ate every bite."
"I work at a japanese restaurant and someone requested a "pizza" roll."
"I used to work at a D'Angelo sandwich shop. A regular who came in two or three times a week for lunch would ask for a grill scraping sandwich.
Basically, scrape all the burned crud and crap stuck to the grill into a pile, throw on three slices of American cheese, and scoop it into a sandwich.
That's all he ordered every time and never ordered a drink or chips. We'd just give it to him for free."
"I had a lady tell me it was impossible to make the dish too spicy. When I told the cooks they took it as a personal challenge.
I don't remember what they put in it, but I do know that someone ran to a grocery store for another ingredient. It was literally the spiciest thing I have ever smelled. Just being an arms length away from it for 30 seconds while I delivered it had me coughing and treats steaming down my face. Guests at nearby tables complained about the smell; just so much capsaicin in the air that people 15 feet away were uncomfortable.
But....
She ate everything. She ate every single bite and then scraped up the remaining sauce and ate that too."
"I once had a guy place his order, and then say "And give me one of those spaghetti appetizers."
I had been working there for a couple months, and we had no pasta dishes whatsoever on the menu. I politely tried to clarify this, but he wasn't having it. He just kept getting more irate. He insisted that he eats here all the time, and he always gets the spaghetti appetizer.
Eventually, he gets up from his table, storms over to another one, and points at what he wants on another diner's table. He was pointing at their cole slaw. And yes, as far as he was concerned, I was still the asshole for not knowing what he was talking about."
"Used to be a waiter/barman/front of house for a wedding venue. Hammered guest asks for lager. Hands me their tables centrepiece. The customer is always right."
"I worked at as a server at a ritzy country club on cape cod and this women once brought in a paint chip and told me she wanted her cosmopolitan to be the exact same color as her pink paint chip"
"As a waiter at a coastal restaurant, we occasionally had dolphins come in the harbor right to where people would eat. These two old ladies came in and before they placed their orders, demanded I release the dolphins for their amusement. It took a good 10 seconds of silence before I realized they were serious. I passed this request onto my manager and then continued to eat free jumbo shrimp."
"A lady orders in the drive thru lane an iced venti vanilla latte with 22 sweet n lows.
Me: 22 sweet n lows, like two two??
Customer: sigh yes 22 sweet n lows.
Me: OK, please pull up.
Now at the drive thru we put the extra milk and sugar in the drinks for the customers, when in a cafe they would add it on their own. So, the person working the bar looks at me like for real this lady wants 22 packs of sweet n low in her latte? That's what she said so that's what we made her.
They lady pulls up and pays for her drink. I hand it over and tell her to have a nice day. She stops and says "oh, can I get those sweet n lows now?" I just looked at her and said that they were already in her drink, boy was she pissed!!
She wanted us to hand her 22 packs of sweet n low in the drive thru so that she could take them home."
"Not a waiter, but I work at Panera.
A couple weeks ago a man came to our drive-thru to order a bread bowl of broccoli cheddar soup to go, not out of the ordinary. He then pulled up to the window and said "That's my dog's favorite soup." Everyone near the window laughed because it was obviously a joke, but then he unwrapped the bread bowl and tossed it in the backseat, saying "Here, Maxie!" He put the cup of soup on the floor. Of the backseat, gave us a $3 tip (We don't normally get tips), and drove off."
"Once I saw a guy at Wendy's ordering 12 hamburgers, without cheese, sauce, tomato/lettuce, or bun. The cashier asked why he needs 12 beef patties, he said he's having a birthday party for his dog, and there will be 12 dogs there."
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/4n5vbf/gathered_a_collection_of_stories_from_an/
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8yzjxo
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TalesFromYourServer
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The Time A Toddler in a Tantrum Saved My Night or Just Another Reason I Kinda Love This Stupid Job
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*I posted a true story a few days ago and a few people seemed to like it. So here's another. I do have a some more on tap but I figure I'll gauge with each post. I don't want to overstay my welcome.*
**The Time a Toddler in a Tantrum Saved My Night** or **Just Another Reason I Kinda Love This Stupid Job**
I was not having a good shift.
I had forgotten to order an appetizer for one table and completely forgot about an entree for another. The floor manager asked if I was okay.
“Yes,” I answered.
Then he told me to calm down.
I said, “Okay.”
There was another four hours and forty-five minutes until the restaurant closed. I had tables arriving in ten minute intervals. I had to get to work. But I was distracted. No matter what I focused on, I could not shake the feeling I knew the guy at table 35 from somewhere.
The food for my tables was starting to come out from the kitchen, offering a brief escape from the feeling of unplaced recognition for a few minutes. But I kept sneaking glances of the guy whenever I walked past. A well-to-do professional around my age, 32 years old, the guy wore khakis and a polo as did an older gentleman at the table, presumably the guy’s dad. The five top also included an older woman in a cardigan (probably the mother), a younger woman in a peasant blouse, and a two year old (maybe a little younger) in a high chair.
After an annoyingly lengthy career in the service industry, I recognized the configuration. Proud grandparents treating the young family to a sumptuous Tex-Mex dinner.
That’s when it clicked.
The khaki/polo combination should have been a dead giveaway. It’s the same dress code that men of St. John’s Prepatory School wore in their formative years and tended to wear at leisure in their adult lives.
As an undistinguished graduated of St. John’s, I also had a closet full of bland khakis and polo shirts. Just not now because I was in uniform working for tips. To the guy at table 35, the guy I sat next to during high school graduation, I was just another waiter. I certainly was not the same honor student that graduated one spot head of the guy at table 35 to clinch a coveted spot in the top ten of the graduating class of 2008.
I got another table and greeted my customers with practiced cheer. I got their drinks and took their order while watching the happy family from the corner of his eye. They had gotten the family platter of mixed fajitas. So did the table ordering from me now.
I stood near the expo line, waiting for “my” food to appear. The fajitas were on the grill, all I could do was watch, hoping my three tables would suddenly become needy. They didn’t. They drank their drinks with measure and ate their complimentary chips and salsa judiciously. They were stubbornly good tables at the wrong moment.
So all I could do was watch. Watch the happy family break bread. Watch a former classmate enjoy the fruit of his professional and personal success.
All I could do was watch the scene and feel like shit.
I had gone to college. I’d had a few chances to fulfill my lifelong dream of being a writer. Forbes, ABC News, Tedium, the novel that Amazon helped promote. I still publish, at least a story a month. The pay was just enough to pay one good bar tab with a little left over for drunken doner kebaps. And the internet bill.
Still, it hadn’t panned out as a career. My few attempts to get established in a career were about as effective. I hated the regularity of office culture and the tedium of working as a marketing copywriter. When I finally decided to give it up two years ago to return to restaurants, I was also annoyed to find that I was making about $10,000 more a year as a waiter than as a sellout writer.
I could feel the entirety of my being shrinking. The typical savory smells of the Mexican restaurant became more reminiscent of shit with each inhale. And then the questions started.
“Why can’t I be happy with a normal job? A steady one that pays and even has benefits,” I asked himself, staring at a spot of blank gray concrete near the guy’s table. “If I had just learned to code or gotten a project management certificate, I could have a house by now. Or at least good credit.”
“Andrew!” a voice from the kitchen shouted. “Table 52 is up!”
I grabbed the food from the window and put the 30 pound load onto a tray and balanced it on my left shoulder, forgoing the tray stand because it wasted too much time and required a third hand to operate effectively.
“Is there *anything* else I can get for you?” I asked earnestly after placing the food on the table. “Extra cheese or guacamole?”
“Oh no, thank you,” a customer said, briefly looking up from his sizzling plate of fajitas make eye contact with his waiter. “I think we have more than enough on our plate for now!” The table shared a laugh as they dug into their food, I returned to my perch near the expo line and the thoughts I couldn’t outwork.
It would probably be another ten minutes or so before my third table’s food would be ready. No one else seemed to be seeking my attention. Still, I grabbed a water pitcher to refill glasses on tables that weren’t mine, a rare act of kindness in a hectic Mexican restaurant on a Friday night. My coworkers were frantic running to keep pace with demanding customers demanding more things.
“This steak took 35 minutes!” one customer at the bar shouted, surrounded by a motley collection of empty margarita glasses, half rimmed with salt. “I want to speak to a manager! I expect this will be free.”
I was thankful I didn’t have to deal with that asshole but, at the moment, I would have preferred it. A busy waiter doesn’t have time to consider the other decisions they should have made in life.
I swiped my mag card at a terminal bringing up a map of the floor and checked the estimated time of delivery for my next table’s food. Eight minutes. The kitchen is starting to get backed up. Good news! Now I had something to tell a table. Maybe they would want an extra round of drinks or a quick appetizer when informed their food would be delayed.
“Oh that’s okay!” the customer said when I delivered the ‘bad’ news. “We’re just catching up. A few minutes isn’t that big of a deal. But thank you for telling us! You’re a good server.”
I smiled and said thank you but walked away wishing I wasn’t. I wished I was a good lawyer or corporate executive or cop or something dignified. I wished I was a better writer. I wished the guy at table 35 away. I wished for anything that might take away the feeling I had wasted too much time on the wrong things.
That’s when it happened.
A slowly building shriek emanated from table 35, like a tornado siren on the plains. The restaurant quieted just in time for attention to gather on the two-year old in the beginnings of a spectacular temper tantrum. His parents attempts to quiet him down only seemed to exacerbate the problem.
“Tyler,” my old classmate said in a soothing voice, practiced the way I smiled at work. “Tyler, could you please calm down, buddy.”
“BLAWWWWWWWHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” the two-year old shouted in response, leaping from his high chair as his parents struggled to push him down. Then, in a move worthy of Houdini, the child managed to sneak his diaper out of the tiny khakis he had been dressed in. His pants, now around his ankles, seemed to be little hindrance to his animated movements as he stood in the high chair, pants around his ankles, his dirty diaper tossed onto the table’s fajitas.
“Ty,” his mother cooed silently as the grandmother rolled her eyes at the incompetence of her daughter-in-law. “Ty, can we calm down?”
The kid quieted for a second, half of which was spent recharging his lungs for a truly epic scream, something that would have inspired the Greeks to create the myth of the Harpy. As the kid screamed, someone called my name called from the kitchen.
“We got 42 out a little quicker, take it!” the kitchen manager shouted, motioning to the food. “Hey, what's going going on out there?”
“A kid’s pitching one hell of a fit,” I explained. The kitchen manager responded a with a ‘yeah no shit’ shrug and began plating the next round of food. I loaded up the tray and hoisted it on my left shoulder. I took a few steps then stopped, turning around to get the kitchen manager’s attention. “There’s one thing I can tell you. You couldn't pay me enough money to trade places with that guy.”
We laughed as I walked away to deliver my customers’ food.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8yzjxo/the_time_a_toddler_in_a_tantrum_saved_my_night_or/
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kw67e7
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TalesFromYourServer
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What petty action helped you give someone a ‘serve’ of their own medicine?
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To start off, this was a few years ago as Bar Manager at a 5 Star Hotel Bar in Sydney, Australia. We were located in the CBD area and were patronised by mostly Politicians and Lawyer types. Also I’m on mobile so please forgive the formatting.
It’s a quiet day, a group of three walks in, directly after a rush. One male, pushing 50 and two younger woman in their 20’s.
We have a sign that asks, please wait to be seated, but of course being so important he brushes past the section waiter and sits at a table laden with dishes from a High Tea we had just hosted for 8 guests.
Snaps his fingers at his waiter to ‘clean this up’ and bring some menus. The waiter flags me down to help clean the table as there was a lot of things to clear of various sizes and shapes of course, not to mention the 3 tier stands which are a one per hand scenario.
His two guests kept saying thank you and asking if we wanted them to shift to a smaller table. The man interjected and said not to worry as we had mostly emptied out by this point. Although there were other small table configurations ready to go, including a booth by the window. I asked if they wanted a window table at all and the fellow goes: Why, so we can fucking look at the street we work on all day? I said of course sir, we won’t be a moment making the table ready. I got the vibe the ladies were a bit uncomfortable at this point.
While we are sorting this out, he starts asking me about the wine selection. After asking a few questions regarding his preferences, I ran down a few suitable options for him. At this point he looks over at his lovely guests and says “oh what a surprise, he knows his wine”. After dealing with assholes like this all my life, I’m pretty much Teflon. So I made a joke and said “only cause I drink so much wine” to cut the tension and allow his to save some face.
The wine comes out, he makes a big show of the tasting, using the limited vocabulary he knows to impress his guests. They then order entrees (him - French onion soup and the ladies- seared tuna Niçoise salads and a main each. When I’m doing the quality checks on the entrees he decides to complain on behalf of his guests. The seared tuna on the Niçoise salad looks raw in the middle. I tried to explain to him the preparation method but he said it should be cooked through. I offered the ladies to try something else but they both declined. Saying they were enjoying the salads.
He mentioned he was just giving feedback and was going to pay for it anyway as he didn’t need anything for free. But just mention it to the Chefs for next time. I of course said I would pass it on and we would take them off the check as I eye rolled my way all the way back to the kitchen. Ya know, to pretend I was going to tell our Chefs how to sear tuna.
Now, for my pettiness. He flags me down to finalise the check. I drop off his bill containing two bottles of Kiwi Sauv Blanc(fairly cheap in Australia) , One entree and three mains. The bill is maybe $200AUD.
I pick up a mobile eftpos terminal and go over to the table to collect the check. I can see he has specifically written $0.00 In the tip column.
He brings out the corporate card, company name, his name etc. Now if ever a card declines the terminals give us an error code such as wrong account, wrong pin, insufficient funds etc. if it’s ever the later, I try to make sure I say it, without saying it. Such as “do you want to try another card for instance. Cause otherwise it’s awkward as hell.
He was chatting up the ladies when I loudly said, IM SORRY SIR, YOUR CARD HAS INSUFFICIENT FUNDS”. This stopped the converstion and he fumbled around and said oh “some name in accounts hasn’t paid my Bill for the month. I’ll get that sorted. Just take my personal card”. By this point his tone had changed and he was being a bit softer with me.
I swipe his personal card, Thank you Server Gods for this delicious moment... I interrupt him again, a little quieter this time. I’m sorry sir, this card has insufficient funds also.
At this point, both of the ladies offered to pay the bill over his protests. Even negotiating paying half each. He would have none of it. He made us all wait, while he jumped onto his banking app, to transfer the required amount to his personal card. The ladies were giving each other looks. The ladies took that time to thank us for the service and the meal. The man looked absolutely defeated by this point. Through some misplaced shame he decided to shake my hand as they left to say thank you. Like being nice all of a sudden would make everyone else forget he was a jerk.
It was small. It was petty. But it felt like victory to me.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/kw67e7/what_petty_action_helped_you_give_someone_a_serve/
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13nz7d5
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TalesFromYourServer
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Ways to increase tips as a male server?
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Okay so I (25m) have been in the industry since I was 17. I’ve been a dishwasher, a line cook, a supervisor chef, a bar back, a bus boy, and a server. As we all know it isn’t a secret that girls get better tips.
I’d like to paint a picture because it’s obvious this isn’t true in every case. I work on a street that’s just a strip of bars for college kids in a big city. This isn’t some high end restaurant, or a place you bring your whole family to. This is a bar where young adults come to get drunk and socialize. By day it’s a pretty normal restaurant and by night we are essentially a small club.
Needless to say the female servers and bartenders are always getting hit on. And by playing it cool and going tit for tat they always seem to get bigger tips. Old guys randomly tip them 100$ bills etc. all the time.
I’m not mad about this or anything. But I do my best to mingle and be personable. Get people to like me and all that. Every now and again there’s a group of girls that flirt with me and tip me well but nowhere close to the scale my female co-workers fall on.
Is there any tips or tricks that have worked for you guys to get better tips? Any places I should put more focus into that might help my wallet?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/13nz7d5/ways_to_increase_tips_as_a_male_server/
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aetjdg
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TalesFromYourServer
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Tipping culture is not made by the servers.
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I swear I am so sick of seeing obvious non-servers on this site try and defend not tipping by saying the culture needs to change. SERVERS DON'T MAKE THE RULES. Our bosses do. So if you feel strongly about not paying our wages with tips then 1. Don't go out to eat or 2. Take it up with the big guys. But not tipping because you disagree with the system is unacceptable.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/aetjdg/tipping_culture_is_not_made_by_the_servers/
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85u4w0
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TalesFromYourServer
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A server accused me of stealing his tips yesterday.
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I've been working part time as a busser for a popular local restaurant for the past few months. We have a server, Barbie, who always complains about her workload. She always needs to ask other people for help, and she clearly hasn't studied the menu at all this season. She freaks out if she has more than three tables at a time, yet claiming she has been working in restaurants her whole life.
I was in a shitty mood yesterday because i injured myself at my other job and i was the only busser on, so maybe I'm being a little sensitive. Barbie comes up to me randomly and asks me if I've seen the tips on table 11. I tell her no, I've been doing my sidework in dish. So she goes back to 11 and starts slamming the dirty plates, throwing used cloth napkins, digging into the booth seats. Then she comes back up to me and says that she's going to report me to management for stealing her tips.
I got to management first and explained the situation. I think they know I wouldn't steal tips. I stopped bussing her tables for the rest of the day and I don't plan to bus her section anymore. She can't accuse me of stealing tips if I don't touch her tables, right?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/85u4w0/a_server_accused_me_of_stealing_his_tips_yesterday/
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11vu1wi
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TalesFromYourServer
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Stop spoiling extra tables with free stuff that's not supposed to be free.
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My apologies in advance, I just need to rant about my coworkers. Some coworkers where I work are driving me absolutely insane over this.
Where I work, is mostly local based. Meaning most of our customers are repeat customers. Well a couple of the servers, and all of the bartenders are giving away things for free, and then when I end up getting that customer, it turns into a whole argument.
For example, only a couple of our desserts come with ice cream, but you can add it for $1. Yes, just $1 to make your dessert 10x better. It even says it in the menu. I had a couple a few days ago that were almost yelling at me, because when they got their bill, it charged them an extra dollar.
Customer: Why does it say $1 for ice cream here?
Me: That dessert doesn't come with ice cream, so it's $1 to add.
Customer: But Joe gives it to us for free. That means it's free.
Me: No ma'am, it even says it right....*points at menu* here.
Customers: BUT JOE GIVES IT TO US FOR FREE.
Me: He's not supposed to, but thanks for letting me know. I'll make sure management is aware.
Customer: 😮😯😲
This happens constantly. And it's always my tip that suffers because I follow the rules. Another big problem is mods. Certain days of the week, where we are serving special dishes and it is chaotically busy, we aren't allowed to modify dishes. Says it in the menu too. But then again, they say "Well this person did it for me!" And now once again, I am the bad guy, and my tip suffers. Because the last thing I want is my kitchen angry at me.
You are only hurting your coworkers by giving away stuff for free, doing things you shouldn't, and your hurting your own check. Stop it.
Rant over. Thank you all for coming.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/11vu1wi/stop_spoiling_extra_tables_with_free_stuff_thats/
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1gzned6
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TalesFromYourServer
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Language Barriers at Restaurants. Any helpful phrases To Better Communicate?
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The place where I work has no bilingual people working there but I wish we would hire at least one person who knew Spanish. Instead we mostly hire teenagers and hillbillies, but I dont see why considering that the language barrier is a frequent occurrence that I can count on happening every couple of days. Now, personally I dont understand why someone from lets say France would go to Japan and not know ANY Japanese, but I like to think of my work place as a cool vibe, a break from the very real world outside, so I work with them the best I can. Usually they point at the menu, and with some gestures I can figure out what they want. However sometimes it's more challenging, and it's becoming an issue where nonenglish speakers will sit down with their families, and not tip me. At times it seems they assume I will assume that no one tips in their homelands but I know better. This started bothering me so much that I started learning some Spanish, just a few phrases, related to my performance as a server. Just to ease the pressure off them and to make them feel a little more comfortable. I fear that I come off as cold and difficult to them, if you don't speak my language, you may find my strong personality a little scary. So a nice couple came in, the language barrier become apparent, but we did ok. I give them their food, their drinks, but this time I start dropping a cute amount of Spanish just to show them that they are welcomed. "tu bebes?" if their drink was running low, or "necissito mas?" if I wanted to know if they wanted anything else. They smiled at me, seemed to appreciate it, which is always a good sign. They got up to leave, paid for their food, as usual they head for the door without tipping me. However, I guess they liked me, because they stopped, ,caught me, and gave me a few 5 dollars. A resounding success.
Long story short, I'm really guessing how to use the Spanish language here, but would appreciate any helpful phrases or cultural context to help me better communicate with nonenglish speakers.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gzned6/language_barriers_at_restaurants_any_helpful/
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hot
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1gmvxly
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TalesFromYourServer
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veterans day hell is coming…
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i recently transferred to another applebees from my hometown since i moved to a different city and just remembered a few days ago that Veterans Day is coming up... although you are getting a free/fully discounted meal please tip your servers!!!! i got hired as a server but since im a little less experienced on ththe server side and can't handle such a demanding day their having me host on veterans day and hosting is just as hectic on veterans day and we have to be tipped out by the servers🥲 just please be nice to your servers they're going through a lot, their other tables are entitled and acting like cunts, the cooks in the back are overwhelmed and probably are going to quit on the spot while making your food. leave atleast $5, we appreciate your services and happy early veterans! 🫶🏽
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gmvxly/veterans_day_hell_is_coming/
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hot
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1g0wi9n
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TalesFromYourServer
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A look inside my mind this past Saturday (as a solo host/busser handling 147 covers)
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4:00 - I am so bored. No one is coming in.
5:00 - Alright not so bad, a few people for a Saturday, starting off good. What do you mean you didn't draft the sections manager? (I had to set them up on the fly because the manager was slammed with people at the bar. The servers ended up not knowing what their section was until somewhere around 7:30)
6:00 - AAAAAAAAAA STOP COMING IN AAAAAA
7:00 AAAAAAAAAAAA STOP GETTING UP THERE'S TOO MANY TABLES TO CLEAN AAAAAAA
8:00 - AAAAAA- okay, calming down.
9:00 - I don't care what the manager says I deserve to sit for 5 minutes
10:00 - FREEEEEEEEE (plus a free cookie)
The next day - hehehehehehe $50 Tip-out (a lot for a host at my workplace)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1g0wi9n/a_look_inside_my_mind_this_past_saturday_as_a/
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hot
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uuqwhe
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TalesFromYourServer
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Dumped plate of food on customer.. his reaction was unexpected!
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When I was 16 I started waitressing at a pretty nice steak and seafood place. Parents had kicked me out so I really needed the money because I was paying my way through Private school and renting a room.
My 1st day was on a Friday night so it was super busy. A couple was placed in my section,I took their order , got their drinks .Then I returned with the food , I placed hers down 1snd someone bumped me and I dumped his entire meal on his lap. He had got a fish plater that includes white beans and slaw so it was bad. I immediately started apologizing, trying to clean what I could, reorder his food and apologize even more. At some point I cried, lol
The wife teased him about it, he kept reassuring me it was ok. Turns out they were regulars every Friday night, even after I dumped his food , they left me a 20 tip ! This was in 1988 ( alot back then ). After that every time they come in they would ask to be sat in my section. They introduced me to their adult children, grandkids and friends and had them to ask for me. On my 17th Birthday they brought me a gift, it was a beautiful gold bracelet ( I still have today at 49 )
They kind of restored my faith in humanity and I still think about the lessons they taught me I didn't even realize until I was older.
Just wanted to tell you servers that good people are out there that make the job worthwhile !!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/uuqwhe/dumped_plate_of_food_on_customer_his_reaction_was/
| 4,079 | 101 | 1,653,151,366 | 6 |
server tip
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top
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wga330
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TalesFromYourServer
|
So far I love American tourists
|
I (21f UK) recently got a job as a server/bartender in a local pub. With it being summer out town has started getting a lot of tourists and I've noticed a lot more Americans than in previous years. And honestly, you're all great. Everyone that I've served has been exceptionally nice and instantly lifted my mood. One even came over and said "I guess you guys don't tip here but I'm giving you this anyway" and gave me a fiver.
Just wanted to say sorry to any American in the UK who's getting the piss taken out of them. You're lovely
Edit: so this got loads more attention than I expected so just wanted to clarify a few things
1: I know not all Americans are this lovely. Like how not all people from any country are good people. This post was more to show appreciation and to share that the American tourist stereotype isn't always true.
2: The tipping culture is a very American thing. In the UK and most other countries servers/bartenders are paid a living wage but tips are still appreciated even if rare.
3: No I don't only like them because I got a tip. It was one couple who gave it out of the 10 or so tourists that came in. I only mentioned it because I really like how they recognised our cultural difference but still gave one as a kind gesture.
All in all, you Americans s get a bad rep but please don't let that scare you away from visiting other countries. Just be respectful and prepared to learn and you'll be welcome. Thanks x
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/wga330/so_far_i_love_american_tourists/
| 3,120 | 216 | 1,659,641,676 | 6 |
server tip
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top
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avnink
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Some people...
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It was about a week ago in a Saturday night bar rush at the 24 diner chain I serve at. Since everyone except myself was apparently too sick to work, I was the only one on the floor, and my dining room was a mess because it was bad timing on top of bad timing. For every check I cashed out, two more tables came in. It was one of those nights.
I've been a server for a few years at this place so I know the drill and can usually handle all of this stress. But that night was bad because of some issues at home that were on my mind too. As I'm about 12 steps behind and running out of places to seat theses new customers, an acquaintance from high school came in and wanted a milkshake (which is the last thing I needed added onto my list).
I told him it might be a few minutes, but he said he was a server so he understood and told me to take my time. So amidst my rush to catch up I hardly noticed he had started to bus all of my tables. Probably about 14-15 in all. All had to do was wipe them down he even brought me all of my tips. I almost wanted to cry tears of joy.
He asked me if there was anything else I needed. I told him no and I thanked him so much with his milkshake I was finally able to get to. He asked me what I owed him for the shake and I told him;
"Absolutely nothing".
And he was humble enough to actually refuse the shake on me. I told him it was the very least I could do for doing me such a huge solid. I then handed him another few dollars and told him his next one was on me.
Fast forward an hour and the rush is done, but tables are still kind of trickling in, but I'm keeping up now. Another former server of the same restaurant comes in to get some food. And while she waits she rolls almost an entire tray of silverware for me. Again I was astonished.
Some people.
Some people just get what it means to just be a decent human being. Thes people owe me nothing yet they did so much for me that night by doing so little and wanting nothing extra in return.
I hope I was able to get across to them how much they really impacted my night in such a positive manner. I'm usually a Negative Nancy but that night these two servers restored my faith in humanity a little bit. So thank you two and everyone else out there who does even the smallest things for your fellow restaurant co-workers. Because some days, for some people, it's the little things that mean the most.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/avnink/some_people/
| 2,698 | 51 | 1,551,332,858 | 6 |
server tip
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top
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1fbmisw
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
A guest argued with me for 30 minutes over 15 cents
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I don’t know about you guys, but it genuinely feels like the general public just gets more and more insane every day.
Some context- My restaurant doesn’t break bills for us so we have to bring our own bank everyday to make change for tables. Now normally I carry a change bag with me with actual coins to make change but I was out and just didn’t have time to find some coins to take with me.
Anywho, this guest (middle aged woman) sat down with her husband and they were very nice, everything went great and then it was time for the check. I drop the check, she gives me $40 in cash, her check was $35.85. I don’t have any coins so I go and make her change, and I bring her back $5 dollars, and explain that I didn’t have any coins so I just rounded her change UP to the next dollar giving her an extra 85 cents. She gave me this blank look for a good 20 seconds and I ask if everything is okay, and she says “so you’re just going to keep my change?” Again, I explain that I’m actually giving her MORE change than she’s entitled to because I did not have any coins for exact change, and I even show her the math that I’m GIVING her an EXTRA 85 cents and she still doesn’t understand. She starts to get frustrated with me and says that I’m ripping her off and I’m stealing her 15 cents of change, so at this point I’m like f*ck this I’ll just ask anyone I can find for 15 cents to end this interaction, but THEN, when I try to take the dollar back she doesn’t understand why I’m “taking” her change. I explain if she wants the 15 cents she needs to give me the dollar so I can get the correct amount for her, she starts yelling that I’m trying to steal from her, my manager comes over to talk to her and she reluctantly gives my manager the dollar, I bring her the 15 cents and she says she WILL be leaving a review about how we steal and she “might even make a police report because this is ridiculous”. Okay lady, while you’re at it you MIGHT want to make an appointment with a math tutor as well because holy f*ck.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fbmisw/a_guest_argued_with_me_for_30_minutes_over_15/
| 1,683 | 225 | 1,725,758,953 | 6 |
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relevance
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78pgqw
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TalesFromYourServer
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Her 15 month old baby was "humiliating her!!"
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A few weeks ago I was waiting on a couple that looked to be early 30's and their baby. I have 2 daughters of my own, a 10 year old and a 9 month old, so I have personally been through the whole "baby screaming in a restaurant" thing before. Now I don't know if it's because I've worked in service for years or if it's just because I'm not an inconsiderate asshole, but when my daughter starts to fuss or get a little unruly one of us will scoop her up and take her outside or for a little walk so we don't disturb the other guests.
This woman, however, never got the memo on how rude it is to let your baby scream at the top of its lungs while other people are trying to enjoy a meal. They started out ok, very friendly and I commented on how beautiful their daughter was and asked how old she was, the mother answered that she was 15 months old. The mother was the only one that spoke the entire time, she ordered for her husband and he barely made eye contact with me.
Before they had even ordered dinner the baby was starting to get restless. I asked if she would like me to bring some crackers or something and the mother politely declined and let me know they needed a little more time to look at the menu. Ok, no problem, I went to a 6 top I had and started taking their order. I was talking to my other table for maybe 3 minutes when I hear the baby start to scream, not just fuss, scream. I turn around expecting one of them to be trying to contain the meltdown, but nope, they were both looking at their phones. I've gotten 3 orders down in my 6 top and all of the sudden I hear " Amanda! Stop screaming right now! You're embarrassing me!! You are humiliating me!!"
This lady was screaming at her one year old louder than the baby was crying. I was embarrassed for her but only because of the spectacle she was causing herself. I finished my 6 tops order and stopped by the table to see if they wanted to order or to at least let me get something for their baby. The woman then yells her and her husbands order over the babies cries.
At this point I just want them to leave, they are irritating my other guests and have no consideration for anyone but themselves, not even their baby. I bring the babies food out early without being asked just to see if it would help at all and sure enough she started eating and the screaming stopped. When I bring the check the woman pays while her husband packs up the baby, she tells me what a good job I did and they leave. She left me a whopping zero dollars on their $50 tab. Lady, your baby didn't humiliate you, you humiliated yourself, you are a trash person.
Edit: I think I fixed the block of text
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/78pgqw/her_15_month_old_baby_was_humiliating_her/
| 1,183 | 75 | 1,508,954,450 | 6 |
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relevance
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160dlj3
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TalesFromYourServer
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Serious question: Would you do this job for $15/hr and tipping was optional?
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I was a server in my younger years and not sure I’d trade my ability to make tips for a higher base, but interested to know your thoughts!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/160dlj3/serious_question_would_you_do_this_job_for_15hr/
| 70 | 129 | 1,692,909,813 | 6 |
15%
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relevance
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139gqmf
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TalesFromYourServer
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Splitting checks is absurd.
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Rant. I understand 4 people splitting a check. Maybe, MAYBE 6. But 10+? (5 de Mayo in a Caucasian neighborhood which meant PACKED) I had a an 11 top today (nicest college kids) that almost made me walk out. One check 11 different ways. Not evenly. By item. The food wasn’t the problem. Seat 1 wanted a sangria ($1+) margarita with chamoy ($1+). Then she got two more without chamoy with a different flavor, one on the rocks with no flavor with salt and make it *spicy*. Repeat this with 11 people. I bring ONE check… can you split this for us? *Eyes wide open*
M: “I absolutely can hun, it’s just going to take me a while… and I mean a while. I’m talking at LEAST 15/20 minutes.”
1: “Why so long?”
M: “I have 24 other people that need drinks. That need food. That need refills. You all had different up charges to your drinks and if I screw one dollar up I won’t be here tomorrow.”
6:”…That’s okay.”
I go and do everything else I need to do. While panicking in my head that I need a $300 check split 11 ways. I kid you not it took me at least 30 min to get it to them. I agree, it’s a while, but I did warn them. They called the first hostess 10 ish minutes later after I left their table talking about “We’re ready for our checks we haven’t seen him in 30 min!?!?!” They call my manager 5 min later “Hey Jorge this tables is asking for their checks and they said it pretty… you know.” I explain to her and she’s a sweetheart she understands. Second hostess comes up to me a lil later “Hey Jorge the 11 top is MAD.” At this point I didn’t care I just accepted that they were gonna have to wait and they can eat dick cuz I did warn them and cuz auto gray (yay). Wtv, I had to neglect some of my other tables and it just wasn’t my best but I couldn’t do anything… I seriously couldn’t. Don’t do this please. I know we live in the mideival times and wish things like cash app and Venmo existed, but figure it out before going out to eat.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/139gqmf/splitting_checks_is_absurd/
| 1,239 | 488 | 1,683,361,280 | 6 |
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relevance
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opu4u0
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TalesFromYourServer
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BuT NoOnE WaNtS To WoRk AnYmOrE
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Is anyone else tired of hearing this? Every time I hear a customer say something along those lines I correct them by saying this: “We had plenty of workers in the kitchen pre-covid, before they realized they were being exploited for their hard work with little pay. They are leaving because they can make $15 an hour or more WITH BENEFITS at literally anywhere else. I don’t know a single person in this industry now who is living off of unemployment. They have found better jobs. Until restaurant owners see that relinquishing one of their multiple Tesla’s to keep good workers will benefit them, they will continue to lose every single one of us.”
Usually people are shocked, but then they agree. Those that don’t can kick rocks. Let them close their businesses. Let them rot.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/opu4u0/but_noone_wants_to_work_anymore/
| 2,481 | 361 | 1,627,011,808 | 6 |
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relevance
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1fsikad
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Tip Line or Total?
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I have a tab tonight that was $15. They wrote on one of the lines for $3, but wrote their total as $28. $3 is reasonable and great, but I can also see them accidentally forgetting a 1 and leaving a bigger tip as it’s been really slow. Idk what I should record…
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fsikad/tip_line_or_total/
| 7 | 18 | 1,727,654,812 | 6 |
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hot
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1fbgzm9
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The Grifter Bros
|
A story on another sub reminded me of this one.
I served in a city that headquartered a large pharmaceutical company. This company would hire salespeople who were young and attractive---Like, when you saw a big-top full of gorgeous 20-somethings, you knew they were people in training for that company.
These groups of trainees would come in in groups of 15-30, usually all separate checks. Surely a hassle, but they usually were a pleasure to serve and tipped well. One night, one of these 30-top groups came in and told me, "Don't worry about separate checks, we'll just split it evenly at the end."
At that moment, I was standing across from 2 dudes who, upon hearing that, turned to each other and quietly discussed that they should order the most expensive items on the menu...And they sure did.
BUT
Before the check even came, the 2 dudes left. Just drifted out of the restaurant, screwing over their CO-WORKERS at their NEW JOB. And yeah, I made it clear to the hosts exactly why their divide-by-30 math wasn't working. Because fuck those freeloaders.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fbgzm9/the_grifter_bros/
| 250 | 12 | 1,725,742,552 | 6 |
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hot
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1e6cznl
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
is this excessive side work?
|
i just started (about a month and a half ago) at a fine dining restaurant. not super white glove fine dining, but definitely the best restaurant in the town. i feel like we’ve been doing excessive side work.
we get there at 3:30, opening duties include sweeping and mopping the entire dining room, sweeping and mopping the back hallway, cleaning the bathrooms including the toilets, making tea/setting up server station, filling water bottles and pitchers, filling ice, sani buckets, folding linens, setting up the patio and sweeping the front. we do preshift at 4:15 and
polishing silverware, wine glasses, and pint glasses throughout the night. as well as running food, drinks, bussing and resetting tables.
we also are responsible for lining to go boxes, stamping to go bags, cutting lemons, deli-ing up mustard and ketchup.
closing side work is more polishing, sweeping and mopping again, breaking down server stations (burning ice, cleaning tea machine), taking out recycling, restocking plates etc, taking out the dirty linens, and probably some more stuff that i’m forgetting.
for context, i was there from 3:30-10:30 last night, took tables from probably 6-9 while the rest of the time was spent on side work and made like $160 after tip out.
does this seem reasonable or excessive?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e6cznl/is_this_excessive_side_work/
| 5 | 20 | 1,721,313,363 | 6 |
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hot
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1e3olv5
|
TalesFromYourServer
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My thoughts exactly
|
Closing bartender (1am bar) and I had a group of regulars who are great people but also tend to stay past close...doesn't bother me most nights because they tip VERY well but tonight I got lobbed a joke right over the plate and had to take it. This was about 1:15 and they were talking about shows and one of them says Have you heard of the Netflix show "I Think You Should Leave?" I just looked at them and said..."My thoughts exactly." Good laughs all around and then they left so I could close.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e3olv5/my_thoughts_exactly/
| 112 | 6 | 1,721,027,689 | 6 |
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hot
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1e3gz32
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Guppy man
|
So for some background, I worked at this mom and pop pizza place when I was 16 for about a year. One day this older guy who looked to be late 40’s early 50’s came in. I was at the register with my coworker (16F) and he went to the window that looked into the kitchen, put his face against it, and said “wow I look like a guppy”. The guys making the pizza gave me a ‘wtf’ look and I just shrugged and asked the man if i could help him. He turns to me and my coworker and asks us how old we were. Since we were minors we told him we were both 16, hoping that whatever weird comments he was about to make would remain inside thoughts. However of course that didn’t happen. He then asked us if we were old enough to vote (which makes no sense because he already knew our ages). We said no once again and he says “well if you were about 30 years older I’d chase the both of you around here naked. You’re too close to my granddaughters age right now” My coworker was shocked and just kinda stood there uncomfortably but I awkwardly laughed it off and asked what he needed. Once he got his food he left the both of us a $15 tip so ig I can’t complain too much. However I did have to make a trip to the walk-in after he left (iykyk)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e3gz32/guppy_man/
| 9 | 6 | 1,721,001,990 | 6 |
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hot
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9zrcuz
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Wasn’t on the job, but had the pleasure of helping a fellow server by calling out her customers
|
My boyfriend (26) and I (20) were out to eat a few months ago when I noticed one of the servers in the super busy section next to me just got seated with a 4 top of ~13-15 year old girls who were a few feet away from us. She gave them a polite greeting and brought them over some waters- she’d back back in a minute to take their drink orders. Maybe 3 minutes go by? And I see one of the little brats rudely waving in the air at the server who was busy. The server said I’ll be over in just a minute and put a finger up to gesture like one minute. The four girls then proceed to talk shit on the server and say she was RUDE. I couldn’t believe it!!! When the server came back to take orders they had attitude and were so disrespectful. After their server left their table, I interjected into their conversation. I said “Just so you girls know, I watched everything that just happened and I overheard what you ladies said about that server. She was NOT rude at all actually, but the four of you were.” Those girls looked like deer in headlights after I said that. One sheepishly apologized to me and they all shut the fuck up really quick.
And what do you know. Those girls turned out to know ALL of their manners for the rest of the dinner! I think they said please and thank you more than I did!
Not sure if they ended up tipping or not, (you know how kids are) but we did leave an extra $20 on the table for the server after they left for having to put up with that unnecessary bs when she was doing her job just fine.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9zrcuz/wasnt_on_the_job_but_had_the_pleasure_of_helping/
| 2,581 | 93 | 1,543,002,150 | 6 |
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top
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1e17qrr
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Google isn’t giving me an answer
|
A customer today tipped me $50 on a $15 check. I believe on accident. If he comes in tomorrow and asks for it back. Am I obligated to give it back or legally am I able to keep it? I’m only asking cause I shared it with a friend.
Update: they didn’t come back in but my manger thought it was on accident because he never got more than $5 from them before. I guess I’m just better than him.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e17qrr/google_isnt_giving_me_an_answer/
| 0 | 8 | 1,720,755,297 | 6 |
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new
|
u8of6f
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
A waitress puked over table 20. They're not mad
|
Okay, so this story isn't really about what happened itself, more about the context leading up to it.
In the bar I worked at as a bartender previous to the one where I work now, drinking a lot was normal. This was truly a bar, people came in to get hammered regularly, and on friday and sunday night we had a DJ too. Now, this bar has its own brewery in the cellar. They brew three kinds of beer, one of which is probably the best I've ever had. So they have their own beer, and given that this plays out in germany, they need their own Schnaps (licquor) too.
This was outsourced, but there were three kinds of licquor branded as specifically this bar's. And to sell more of these, there was a special shift for the busy evenings, in addition to FOH, bartenders, service etc. This shift was the monk. The monk's job was to sell as much licquor as possible. That was their whole job. They had a little basket with 4 bottles (the three aforementioned, and a horrible sweet abomination). They would go from table to table and ask if people wanted a shot or four. That was their whole job.
Now, this job was in high demand, and getting a shift as a monk was given out by management as a treat. This had two reasons. One, you bought the alcohol from the bar for a certain amount of money, and if you sold its content for profits, that went to you as tip. I've personally made over 300€ in tips in a single night, which in germany is insane. Secondly, what's a good way to sell more shots? Join in on the drinking. We had explicit permission to let people buy us as many shots as we could handle. At the end of a shift, a monk was usually blackout drunk.
You can probably see where this is going. If a young female waitress got the shift as monk, and she had tables of young men in the mood to party, it was a regular thing that those tables actively tried to make the monk drunk. 'We'll take another round for us 9, but only if you join us!'
And on that fateful night, table 20 succeeded. They got the monk so drunk, she eventually threw up on their table. Luckily, they found this ravishingly hilarious, and I bet they made her a lot of money that night.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/u8of6f/a_waitress_puked_over_table_20_theyre_not_mad/
| 1,530 | 79 | 1,650,549,897 | 6 |
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relevance
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x8fr48
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Just cried at work because of a costumer…. I’m so embarrassed 😭 and i’m in the Parking lot STILL sobbing after 20 mins HELP
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I actually actually right outside of my workplace and I’ve been off 20 mins ago but I’m still crying 😭
what happened was: I was the only one in the cafe and it was kinda busy. A dude ordered a smoothie. Which I was trying my best to keep up with orders because we were short on staff and my manager stepped out for a bit so I tried my best to get everything done but it was so busy and his drink ended up taking ~15 mins to finally get to. When I finally got him his smoothie, he took it and threw it away in the trash and yelled at me demanding a refund in front of another costumer because the service was “so damn slow” while pointing his finger at my face. And I just kept saying sorry cuz I didn’t know what else to do at that point, (I also have social anxiety) and I was not used to people being angry at me like that. But I ended up giving him his refund in cash apologetically which he snatched out of my hand rolled his eyes and walked away. Now at that point, I was in pure shock cuz I still didn’t really process what happened, but when the costumer I was helping said “I’m sorry you have to put up with people like that he was so rude” and gave me a dollar in the tip jar, all of a sudden I couldn’t stop crying it’s like one act of sympathy broke the dam. And it literally flowed and it wouldn’t stop I said sorry to the old lady for crying and just turned around to let her walk away but I just actually couldn’t stop for some reason cuz all the emotions after the shock was gone and it was just pure mental breakdown from not only that situation but just life in general now. I didn’t know what to do because my manager was at the store and I had to serve people during my mental breakdown AND WITH MY SWOLLEN ASS TEARY EYES. I ended up actually getting through the shift without sobbing and qt that point, The tear dam was about to break LOOSE. RIGHT Awhen my manager came back, he asked me what happened and I excused myself to go To my car for a bit- andddd now I’m sitting in my car writing this reddit post while sobbing uncontrollably and also being embarrassed to have cried…
costumer service is brutall brooo he literally treated me like actual scum of the earth for not getting his smoothie out earlier than I could. Like dude I’m just a cafe worker who is being paid minimum wage (11.50) an hour. And I get it that he was upset because it came out slow but I really don’t think it was necessary to do those extra things like throw the smoothie away and degrade me like that…
but yeah now that I finished writing this post, I’ve now been sitting in this parking lot for 40 mins! Finally stopped crying tho! 🥳🎉
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/x8fr48/just_cried_at_work_because_of_a_costumer_im_so/
| 479 | 93 | 1,662,582,920 | 6 |
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relevance
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zy8ro8
|
TalesFromYourServer
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I caused a ruckus...Owner took Xmas card
|
Hi.
I go to a local lunch spot a few times a week and I am waited on by the same young woman every time I eat there. She is always very polite, and she knows I have limited time so she lets me leave cash on the table for my bill rather than stand in line at the register. I always leave her the change (probably about 6 dollars on a 14 dollar tab.
Last week I dropped off a Christmas Card for her, and I tucked 100 dollar bill in the card thanking her for her service throughout the year. She wasn't there, so I left the sealed card with the owner.
Yesterday I went for lunch and my favorite waitress was there. Soon as she saw me she smiled and thanked for my Christmas card, and the 20 dollars I gave her.
I was sort of shook. I said, "I left you 100 dollars."
That's when she told me the owner has opened her card and since all tips are shared by the staff he gave everyone a share.
When I found this out I was fucking floored. This meant the guy had opened a sealed card that I delivered. He took the 100 dollars out, and put 20 dollars back into her card.
As I was leaving I saw the guy coming out of the back and I asked him to speak with me. He came over and I told him I didn't appreciate him opening something private that I had left for the waitress and that he either owed me 80 dollars, or her.
He started explaining that all tips are shared, but I cut his ass off. You do NOT open a sealed card with someone else's name on it. If I had known that was going to happen I would never have left it with the owner. He told me he knew there was probably money in it and he wanted to be fair to everyone who worked for him...so I asked a guy behind the counter, "Did you get 20 dollars from this guy?" The dude didn't answer, but when the owner looked away the dude shook his head very quickly.
I yelled back into the kitchen, "Hey...did any of you get 20 dollars from this guy last week?"
Lots of confused looks.
The owner tried to 'comp' my tuna sandwich, then got angry at me for causing a scene. He threatened to call the cops and told me to never return to his diner again. I left, but I told the waitress I would be back around today (noon) to give her the 80 dollars. She insisted that she didn't want it, but I'm making sure she gets it.
I have to ask...is there anything I can do here? I feel like he literally stole from one of his employees.
​
UPDATE: Thank you for the feedback. I won't leave a shit review just because there are people who work there, and the food is good.
I met my waitress at lunch across the street and tried to give her 80 dollars but she told me the owner gave it back to her before she finished her shift. What a great person. She wouldn't take it even after I said she could have it.
To the poster who said I should never have given the card to someone other than the waitress...you're spot on, mate. Lesson learned.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/zy8ro8/i_caused_a_ruckusowner_took_xmas_card/
| 3,506 | 274 | 1,672,329,598 | 6 |
20%
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relevance
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1fcrah8
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Guest came back to restaurant with an unexpected gift!
|
Sunday, I had a family of 4. Kids were young 6 and 4. The 6 year old showed me that she had lost both of her front teeth. We chatted for a minute or 2. Super nice family. When Mom was eating her salad, I noticed the kids were stealing her croutons, so I brought them both their own ramekins of croutons. Family finished meal, paid, tipped fine and left. 20 minutes later, Mom and the 6 year old came back with a gift bag FOR ME!! Mom explained that she works for Sephora and the bag was filled with skincare items. I was so grateful; I actually started to cry. There are so many difficult guests and just this one made my day. If I ever have them again, I swear, I'm buying their food.
Oh, and the manager was standing right there when they gave me the gift.
The good people are still out there guys.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fcrah8/guest_came_back_to_restaurant_with_an_unexpected/
| 3,820 | 69 | 1,725,893,442 | 6 |
20%
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relevance
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1iosm9b
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Be careful with hotheads. Customer still hates me for giving him too much change 8 years ago
|
So…I’m around 30 (female) and when I was going through a really rough time at home, I found a diner nearby that I could go drink coffee and chat with the old folks when I needed to escape. I got along very well with the owner— he reminded me of my Italian grandfather that passed away.
At the time, the diner was just a safe environment that meant the world to me. I made friends with many of the customers that sit at the counter, including a 90 year old Korean War vet, a high school guidance counselor, a retired professional boxer, plenty of Vietnam vets and a state trooper. I got to hear so many stories and make so many friendships that I still have today.
Over the course of a few months, things got bad enough that I left home with my little brother, no place to go and needed a job that I could have cash immediately so I could afford to keep us in a local hotel.
I begged the old man to hire me, it took a couple weeks because I didnt want him (or anyone) to know how desperately I needed that job (not just for the cash but with everything going on I just wanted to be somewhere I felt safe). He hired me and I learned the menu and computers within 2 days, I got along with even the most prickly of staff and most importantly the customers loved me already.
I was working my first really crazy busy shift around Valentine’s Day, only my second time working on the counter and having an additional 6 booths to take care of. I was smiling ear to ear, making quick jokes with regulars, keeping my order tickets organized and no one’s food sat for more than 20 seconds….frankly….. I was overwhelmed at the time. Overwhelmed as fuck. I was only smiling so I wouldn’t cry. Didn’t stop smiling, never slammed anything, never gave attitude. Nothing.
I saw the state trooper come in and I actually sighed in relief because this is my friend! I sat with him on so many busy days before I ever worked there. We talked about work and our families and cars and politics. This was my friend. He knew I was new, so maybe I just assumed he’d be more understanding (especially since we’d both saw how chaotic and tense it can get in there.)
I made a quick joke as he sat down, got his drink order, he told me his order straight away (which I already knew), and told me he was in a rush.
I grabbed his drink, put in his order, brought it to him the second it was in the window. He had 3/4 of his coffee mug full, but was annoyed I hadn’t topped off his coffee within 4 minutes to keep it super hot. Because he was in a rush. I said something like “I’m sorry Dave, I’m doing my best, honestly I’m a little overwhelmed!” And laughed and poured his coffee, then got back to running food and taking orders etc.
He waved me down to pay his check and it was $11.82. He gave me a $20. I gave him $9 back to save myself time from counting change.
He got ripshit. “I WANT MY CHANGE BACK.” “What? Wait do you need quarters for the meter for work ‘cause your change was supposed to be $8.18, I could change one of the dollars for the quarters if you want!”
“NO I WANT MY PROPER CHANGE.”
“Ok that’s fine! I’ll need one of those dollars back though—I was trying to round up for you.”
He was legitimately angry and balling up his fists. Kept saying “you can’t rip me off” and I kept saying “Dave I wasn’t ripping you off I gave you more change than you were supposed to get so I could save myself some time. We sit together all the time. Are you joking?”
Wouldn’t speak another word to me. I didn’t fight with him on the extra dollar and I just gave him the extra 18¢. He sent a nasty letter to my boss calling me a thief (ridiculously offensive to me—I’d rather be called a c word) and didn’t come in for YEARS. He somehow got the impression that I moved away and he started coming in again. I was on vacation and had a new schedule. I worked a fill in the other day and he was there. Wouldn’t speak to me. Wouldn’t look at me. Little man jumped into his big ass lifted pickup truck and burnt so much rubber leaving that you could smell it in the restaurant. Got the plate. Called it in to report it since he almost hit someone in the parking lot. My cars tires were missing all of the things that screw on to the tires to keep the air in when I left.
Turns out…. Dumbass Dave was arrested for DV, lost his badge and his firearm, has no contact with his kids anymore. Not sure if I caused this or if I saved the public from a much worse reaction during a traffic stop. I feel terrible for his family but boy am I glad he can’t legally carry a weapon anymore. My message to anyone else serving: don’t fight over the small stuff, speak softly and carry a big stick 😳🫡🫠
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1iosm9b/be_careful_with_hotheads_customer_still_hates_me/
| 767 | 30 | 1,739,478,316 | 6 |
20%
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hot
|
1gn65w6
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Society chose being an asshole, let's be assholes
|
Long time industry person here, obv not crazy about the results this week. But in a way it does feel freeing and give permission to be an asshole. I went out after work for a little and someone next to me ordered scotch and a bunch of drinks then just scribbled on the receipt with no tip. I started hearing that music from me myself and Irene and grabbed the receipt and got the dude and said he forgot to tip and gave him back the receipt. He scribbled down what looked like $20 on his $100+ check and said here you go. It felt....good. We're clearly entering a new age of bedlam and antisocial behavior but it doesn't have to just go one way. It's pretty nice to just stop caring and be an asshole yourself
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gn65w6/society_chose_being_an_asshole_lets_be_assholes/
| 730 | 84 | 1,731,143,159 | 6 |
20%
|
hot
|
1gkdcoh
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
What’s a customer you’ll never forget? (Negative and positive)
|
My negative: one time I had a family come in already in a bad mood. I was super sweet offered them refills but gave them space. Guy ate his entire meal but wife didn’t touch hers and I made a few attempts to ask for feedback and I sent a manager over in a kind non pushy way. I get my tip receipt back and see a fat 0 on it and it says “bad food worse service.” Sloppy handwriting so I ask him what it says and he tells me and then he pushes me with his hands and leaves. Then his wife comes up to me and hands me $20 and says sorry my husband is such an a hole. I cried after that because I felt bad for the wife and the whole experience.
Positive: a group of older people at the end of my shift being tipsy and funny and an older lady telling me I’m pretty and gives me a big hug. Left me $50
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gkdcoh/whats_a_customer_youll_never_forget_negative_and/
| 434 | 132 | 1,730,830,736 | 6 |
20%
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hot
|
dq3o8u
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The Summer I was Fed by The Mafia
|
This was a few years back, but I only recently started diving into Reddit so bear with me.. I was 20 with $10 in my bank account. All my money was going to school bills and I was working 2 jobs. One as a bartender at a nice hotel and another as a server at an Italian restaurant/pizza joint. I hadn't had a meal that wasn't a single McDonalds dollar menu item in a week. (McChickens have gotten me through some tough times...)
Anyways, a customer ordered spaghetti fra diavalo. He asked me if it was spicy. I told him YES. Our chef loved spicy and would always serve his fra diavalo a little spicier than people expected. I informed the man of this and he was all about it. I deliver the food. He takes one bite, and says "too spicy. send it back. I want normal sauce." I don't have time to argue with him so I grab the plate and head towards the kitchen. I feel eyes on my back as my supervisor is following me to make sure the food is disposed of. Thank god for the full trash bag. I set the food down on a counter, take the trash out, wash my hands, and by the time I am back, my supervisor is busy helping the line. I quickly dump the food into a to-go box and hide it. I recovered it later and yes it was definitely spicy, but it was also the first meal with REAL ingredients I'd had in a while.
After that, I put a clean trash bag next to the exit and would do this same process every time someone sent their food back. Usually 3-5 meals a week. I was eating like a king. Then one day the owner was in and caught me red handed. Looked me up and down, smiled, and didn't say a word. I felt ashamed. I felt that sinking, embarrassing stomach twist that could only come from being caught stealing food to feed oneself.
I worked the rest of my shift and he did not mention it. On my way out the door, without saying anything, I was handed a full large vegetable and chicken pizza. FRESH out of the oven. I mean piping hot. I looked at the owner and he said simply, "Quit eating the garbage food."
Grilled chicken and vegatables on a pizza was never and never would be my FIRST choice... but I understood why he gave me that pizza after the first slice. I hadn't had vegetables in weeks. My body was worn and I was seriously lacking vitamins that 20 year old me did not even notice until after. I have since gained a new taste and appreciation for onions and peppers.
Every closing shift I worked, he would hand me a free pizza. If he wasn't there that night, the counter guy (his brother) would hand me a free pizza. And during the few lunch shifts I would cover, I would leave with a chicken parm sandwich a fries. The guy took care of me. Seriously helped me get out of credit card debt and back on my feet, but NEVER made me feel bad about it. He quietly fed me for a 3-4 month period without any questions or hesitations.
With the school year approaching, I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep both of my jobs and elected to keep the bar tending one since it would interfere less with my class schedule. When I told the owner I was having to quit, he told me I would always have a place to work at one of his restaurants. I'll never forget what he said, "You got them big Italian balls kid. You are a survivor. You don't break. Come back anytime and I will have a job for you."
I still go and visit him from time to time, but shortly after I left, his brother was arrested for bribing an immigration officer and the whole place was investigated for money laundering. Nothing came of it besides his brother doing a quick stint in prison and the whole town finding out that there were some very close ties to the mafia... But hey, that's New Jersey for ya.
Edit: Just cleaned up some grammar/spelling
TLDR: Was caught taking rejected food home, Italian boss fed me for the rest of the summer.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/dq3o8u/the_summer_i_was_fed_by_the_mafia/
| 4,645 | 180 | 1,572,611,953 | 6 |
20%
|
top
|
2al2q0
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I had a couple of really quiet, kinda' awkward teenage kids on what I'm guessing was a first date.
|
They both were were shy, you could tell there was a bit of nervousness. She didn't want to order, let him order for her. They had to be at least 14 or 15. They were my last table of the night in a restaurant that was dying out from a rush, so I was preoccupied with cleaning and getting the fuck out. Kept up with refills, the order was correct, and they were still a bit... awkward weird? Either way, the bill came out to be like $25. Kid asks me to break a 20, 10 and 2 5s.
I'm thinking, shit, that ain't bad, Kids get up and leave, and there is a crisp $10 bill on the table. Teens get a bad rap for being shit tippers, but I feel like the combination of disposable income + possibility of big brother or sisters working at restaurants helps out a lot. Plus, they're not as uptight as regular tables most of the time.
Pretty sure the guy paid to do the "impress her with a big tip" thing. If you're reading this kiddo, hope your night went well! And thanks!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/2al2q0/i_had_a_couple_of_really_quiet_kinda_awkward/
| 158 | 21 | 1,405,261,634 | 6 |
bad tipper
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relevance
|
9kae7s
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The first time I’ve ever cried at work over a table
|
I don’t know how long I want to make this or how much detail I’m going to get into. I want to preface this though by saying one of my strongest traits is how patient and kind I am. I’m always given the needy, difficult tables because I’m genuinely a positive, empathetic person that tries to understand where others are coming from. I never cop an attitude and always kill with kindness.
We just started to get insanely busy and I get this 8 top. They’re extremely rude to me. All asking for things at once. Asking in extremely unpleasant tones for no reason, barking orders and questions, changing their minds. One lady orders a drink and I have no idea what she was asking for. It was some bizarre combination of syllables I could not understand. I truly felt bad and grab the drink menu to try to have her point it out. She is laughing hysterically, calling me ridiculous, everyone laughing at me. Finally realize she wanted the house PG but HORRIBLY mispronounced it. Out of my sickening kindness I say “I must have mispronounced it this whole time”.
The host said she overheard one saying that they were going to call me over for no reason and fuck with me so one could put it on their snap chat story. Eventually after twenty minutes drink orders are established. Send the alcohol to the busy ass bartender, and make the pops and water myself and bring them over, knowing their drink ticket won’t be addressed for another five minutes or so. They begin to yell about how the rest want their drinks. I explain the bartender has to make them first and they’ll have them out as soon as they can.
Ordering food is even more of a nightmare. Bitching about the price, purposely trying to confuse me, changing their minds, asking for oddly specific mods. One of them states they’re “starving” and asks how long it’ll take it. I say we’re busy and the kitchen will have it out as soon as they can, and it’ll be ready when it’s ready. They gasp, becoming extremely offended, LITERALLY LAUGHING AND CLAPPING AND LOSING THEIR MINDS when I give zero attitude.
There were 8 of them, many ordered multiple things in separate rounds (I get the round of orders in, come back some decide they want more). So OF COURSE when the first round comes out, they’re absolutely appalled that everything isn’t in front of every single person, including things ordered five minutes before I brought out the first round. “WHERES MY FRIES, I CANT EAT WINGS WITHOUT FRIES, DID I NOT TELL YOU I WANTED CHIPS AND GAUC TOO FIVE MINUTES AGO”. The entire time I’m still smiling. Tell them to enjoy and ask if they need anything else. I don’t know why I’m so hilarious to them but they again began laughing their asses off, shaking to heir heads, one of them muttering: “is she foreal”.
Mind you this whole time, I’m missing out on all kinds of tables during the rush since they take so much attention away. The bartender took two tables in my section for me that would have been mine he said were absolutely wonderful and great tippers. At this point I lose it in the kitchen and start crying. Cooks are extremely sweet and calm me down.
Come time for bills and I am so done for the night. I’ve been there since 3 and lost two and a half hours worth of money. After bitching for twenty minutes about how they think they were overcharged and I walk them through every item on the bill, they sign their receipts, some THROW them at me. 200 dollar bill. 2.5 hours. 3 dollars from one of the guests with the smallest bill who seemed somewhat embarrassed and was the only polite one.
I’m still exhausted
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9kae7s/the_first_time_ive_ever_cried_at_work_over_a_table/
| 78 | 19 | 1,538,344,463 | 6 |
bad tipper
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relevance
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mmjfsn
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Loud table
|
I had a table last Saturday, party of 6, in their late 20s probably. Super cool but super obnoxious. If they were a bar side table it would of been totally fine. But they sat in the dining room. From the get go, they were so loud. It’s toward the end of the night so it was slow and wasn’t that big of a deal, and my other tables around them didn’t complain. But I felt bad for them, our whole dining room was pretty much open at this point but one other table was super close to them. Without them complaining, I still went to them and apologized about the noise. They hadn’t ordered yet so I told them I could easily move them into a quieter part of the dining room. They graciously declined. Time went by and the other table was drinking pretty heavily and was getting louder and louder, despite me mentioning to them nicely that they are in our dining room and to keep it down a bit and to chill with the profanity. (The obnoxious table was super understanding and weren’t mad I mentioned it to them but it didn’t really work, they were drinking and you know how that goes...) The table close to them ordered but hadn’t got there food yet, so me still feeling bad, mentioned to them again that we have space open and we can move you before they get their food. They still declined graciously and were fine with it, surprisingly to me with how obnoxious they were. So nothing really changed, and then the smaller table close to them paid, and when I went to pick up the $120 check, they left a total of $200 so an $80 tip. I’m not sure if it was because I was so concerned about their experience and wished for them a nice quiet dinner, or they were just traditionally really good tippers, but I feel I should put them on here and thank them because as we all know, other tables would of reemed our asses off on how “disrespectful and obnoxious” the party was being.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/mmjfsn/loud_table/
| 30 | 4 | 1,617,854,024 | 6 |
bad tipper
|
hot
|
6druxv
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Some people aren't that bad
|
I recently quit my job as a hostess but I still want to post a bit of the stories I remember.
This isn't bad at all. Some customers can be crabby and crappy but they're not all that bad. A party of 6 girls comes in has a reservation for 9pm, but its 8:30
Me: Sorry miss, right now we need to seat our 8:30s first but if any of them cancel we can seat you guys a bit early.
Girl: Are you sure its for 9:00? I'm sure we made it for now.
Me: I have it in the book for 9pm miss. I'm really sorry but it won't take too long.
Girl: Fine but can you make it quick. Were trying to celebrate *insert friend's name* birthday.
It took us until like 8:50ish but we managed to sit them down. During the time waiting they were grumbling out "God it can't be that hard to sit us" and "Geez they're slow". I just ignore
Me: Well sorry for the wait guys but your tables ready! You guys can sit and I'll be back with the menus.
Same girl: Geez just hurry up.
Me: Ok your server will be with you guys shortly. Enjoy and happy birthday *insert friend name*!
I was a bit annoyed how rude they were but actually they really weren't bad. As soon as the server comes and the food gets going, they turn into the sweetest and nicest girls ever. They sing for their friend and are just having a great time, I more or less forget they were ever rude. At the end of the night they spent more than $300 and 3 of them like $16 each. Not bad at all.
As coworker and bussers are picking up the table, I start inputting tips into the system.
Coworker: Hey one of these doesn't have the signature.
Me: Ehh its fine they prolly just didn't notice. Theyre still outside you can go ask for the signature if you want.
So coworker goes outside. I'm facing the window so I'm kinda just glancing over to see while putting in tips. The girls kinda laugh and girl runs over to sign. They all just had great smiles and weren't bothered at all. Coworker walks back in with a smile.
Coworker: Hey they left another $16! I thought they just split and half would leave the tip
Me: Haha go tell server
We call over the server and he's surprised for the tip. He said they were teens so he wasn't really expecting something from them. Tbh, my fault for assuming they would be mean and shitty tippers.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/6druxv/some_people_arent_that_bad/
| 10 | 4 | 1,495,943,307 | 6 |
bad tipper
|
hot
|
1vp4b8
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"Don't worry, I'm a good tipper."
|
I know we've all had that guy, but I really just need to rant. Apologies in advance for the length!
I work in a full service fast and casual that specializes in breakfast. This happened midway through the morning rush on Sunday. I've been there less than an hour, no bad signs for the day. Then I'm sat a party of three that immediately waves me over and demands waters with lemon. Shrug it off, that's par for the course. I bring their waters and start to take their orders.
They want to add cheese and onions to all of their eggs and hash browns. I let them know it's going to be an up charge. He tells me they were in yesterday, and the girl 'didn't charge' for any of that.
Bullshit. If it came from the kitchen, someone paid for it. Our cooks take no shit from any server. Then he drops the bomb:
"Don't worry, I'm a good tipper."
Alright bro. That's fine, I'd still bust ass to make you happy even if I was sure you were going to stiff me. That's my job.
However, don't you dare try to come in to my restaurant and get me to give you things for free for a good tip.
I don't care if the girl didn't charge you yesterday. She's New and intimidated by pushy jackoffs like you. Upon investigation, they bullied her into putting a discount on the check because their food 'took too long.'
Ready for the kicker? $45 tab, and they sent food back after eating half of it because they 'didn't like it' ... Fine. Manager said just take it off the tab and cut losses. In the end, they left me $6 and the guy acted like it was the best tip I'd see all day when he got up to personally hand it to me.
People like this are why burnout happens in restaurants. It wasn't even the tip. It was the whole song and dance the entire meal.
Thoughts on how to handle the 'Will Tip for Freebies' crowd?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1vp4b8/dont_worry_im_a_good_tipper/
| 31 | 25 | 1,390,248,459 | 6 |
bad tipper
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top
|
a9rqhw
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
You don't want to leave me a tip, but you want to leave me your number? Good luck with that
|
I'm early 20s and a quite older guy (easily twice my age) came up to me after I had cashed him out (paid for a $23.50 meal with $25 and told me to keep the change) and asked what my name was and then introduced himself and said he'd like to leave me his number. Me, being busy, just gave him a pen and piece of paper and said to leave it on the table, because it's easier than just saying no.
Needless to say, I threw it away with the rest of the trash, because 1. you're absolutely not my type, and 2. even if you were my type, you're a shitty tipper, which immediately makes you unattractive.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/a9rqhw/you_dont_want_to_leave_me_a_tip_but_you_want_to/
| 1,141 | 167 | 1,545,854,056 | 6 |
good tipper
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relevance
|
6ymq1h
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
4 top left me 45¢ on a $100 bill, and forgets their phone...
|
... But is too embarrassed to ask for it back. I think. Isn't karma funny like that?
~~~ The Story ~~~
I had a table of 4 mid-twenties kids get seated in my booth. I dropped their drinks, took their order asap, and spent time recommending menu options and explaining sides (which you could have just read off the the menu because it's all listed there, but I digress.)
I bring their fries out first, even though I didn't need to as it wasn't their app. They chow down. Refill drinks multiple times, offer extra condiments, etc. Food comes out. The one dude who got our baked cheesy mac wants the top to be more brown, even though it's cooked all the way through and bubbling.
I inform him that I can have the chef pop it back in the oven but it could very easily burn (and end up being remade, especially if chef feels like being a vindictive jerk tonight), his choice. He opts to keep it. Everyone says the food is good. I get them boxes to take the last of it to go.
Check time comes. As I'm dropping the $94.35 check I realize the bill is a bit too low because I forgot to ring up a drink they ordered halfway through the meal. Shit! The guy is pulling out exactly $95 but no biggie, they're not set yet. I let them know I think I made an error and I need to reprint the bill, apologize, bring the new one back less than 15 seconds later. $99.45.
They reshuffle their bills, exchange some cash between them, and leave exactly $100. I come to collect it and remove the last of their plates, and they all shuffle out of the booth in a hurry, not a one making eye contact with me, heads down.
... 'Kay. Not surprised, we get a lot of non-tippers here. It's always annoying to do the best you can and get stiffed on a high bill, and tip out on those sales anyway, but what can you do? I tossed the last of their mess into the bus bin, and what do I find but an old flip style cellphone on the booth seat? Lol. This should be fun!
I'm expecting them to come back ASAP, they always do, but I can't leave anything out by a window seat because things get stolen faster than you can blink. The phone goes in expo 10 feet away.
I do a few more things around my section, and as I'm walking back I see a figure in a dark hoodie with their head down duck in the doors, head towards my section, and stop at the booth. So I stuff the last of my toast in my mouth, sigh, round the corner... And they're gone?
I'm pretty sure it was one of them, since they beelined for the booth and I didn't recognize them as one of the usual panhandlers. I *was* a little surprised they didn't wait a few seconds or ask myself/my coworker though.
I guess they were too embarrassed about the 45 cent tip. That flip phone is still in expo.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/6ymq1h/4_top_left_me_45_on_a_100_bill_and_forgets_their/
| 1,031 | 215 | 1,504,785,326 | 6 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
j1uvle
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Gift Card Tipper!
|
On Saturday afternoon a Batchelor party show up at my establishment. One of jag offs in the group orders a round of drinks , his bill came to.$43. As he's signing his recipe he hands me a $10 gift card for a restaurant he runs/owns in the quad cities "80miles away" I say thanks and then I notice big fat 0 in the tip line! What kind of jack wagon that runs a restaurant thinks this is ok? I am so going to troll his establishment!!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/j1uvle/gift_card_tipper/
| 1,188 | 83 | 1,601,366,011 | 6 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
ahlyl1
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The $1 Regulars
|
Hey, everyone. Back again to tell another story on the opposite side of the spectrum.
Backstory: I worked at "Wooden Container of Saltines" for about 6 months. I was good at my job and recognized the regulars. Especially the $1 tippers.
This is more of a story of who these people are and how they treated us.
She was the one that always got a cold root beer in a frosted mug. Chicken and dumplings with macaroni (on the side, in a bowl) and green beans (on the side, in a bowl) with biscuits and 2, only 2, blackberry jellies.
Her husband always got black coffee. Sometimes they'd both get tea and ask for an extra cup of ice to split. He'd look at me, look at the menu, then just say, "Same as hers but all on the same plate."
They'd try to clean up a little, wouldn't hang around for too long. Never came in while it was busy and we're never actually rude.
They would always leave $1 sitting on the table. Just $1. We didn't mind cause they were so quiet.
Y'all have any nice $1 tippers? Or any regulars that ordered the same thing all the time?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ahlyl1/the_1_regulars/
| 518 | 110 | 1,547,903,537 | 6 |
good tipper
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relevance
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68oe57
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TalesFromYourServer
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Our Expensive Margaritas
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I work at a craft cocktail place with a fuckton of whiskeys and bourbons on offer. We make all of our cocktails with fruit juice, including our margaritas. No. We do not have frozen margaritas. We do not have "other flavors." We have lime margaritas, and if you want some weird shit like sugar on the rim, I'm going to have to go into the kitchen, get a boat of sugar, and bring it out to the bar AND ask them nicely to make it for you.
So when you and your asshat friends decide that a good "payback" for our $9 margaritas is to not tip me? Yeah. You're going to have a hard time drinking during out late night bar service, because the bartenders know what you look like AND they know you're shit tippers.
It was a small victory, but a much-needed one.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/68oe57/our_expensive_margaritas/
| 192 | 31 | 1,493,669,388 | 6 |
good tipper
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relevance
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zkrtrp
|
TalesFromYourServer
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My opinion
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I’ve heard a lot about this lately. I’ve worked as a cook for a couple years in the past I’ve seen it all. The nice thing to do if you are going to sit your ass down in An establishment and get served by someone (assuming the service is good) is to leave them a tip. These people with the dirty attitude of leaving no tip are so entitled in my opinion “I don’t have to” TRUE you don’t have to but it reflects a lot about your character. If you let your server know in advance you can’t afford to tip I respect that a lot more. I don’t care if they get equal pay to cooks. They run around with multiple tables communicating with cooks to get their tables orders exactly right to provide the best service possible. It’s just a slap in the face to leave your server nothing (IMO) if they treated you very well. You can easily get takeout if you can’t afford to tip. But on the flip side I don’t like seeing servers complain about every non-tipper because I know damn well *at least where I’m from• 5/6 tables they get a great tip on so at that point the sever is being greedy. You’re still walking away with a great amount of cash. Personally I don’t go out to eat much because I don’t want to tip. But when I do, I tip based on quality of service
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/zkrtrp/my_opinion/
| 6 | 8 | 1,670,924,657 | 6 |
good tipper
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relevance
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ouydg5
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Vodka shots, no Tequilla shots on a Sunday morning.
|
One time when I was working at an Italian restaurant/brewery in Laguna beach, CA. one of my Sunday morning regulars came in. He had long hair and a beard and spoke with a thick Russian accent. He was from Russia or bosnia or some shit like that. Super cool guy and a great tipper. As I said, he would come every Sunday morning and have espresso and read his international newspaper. There was a news stand on PCH and Ocean ave. where he would get it and then come and sit on the patio and do his Sunday ritual.
I worked on Friday and Saturday nights for the good payouts. The place was always packed so I did well. The deal was I would work opening on Sunday morning to get those coveted shifts. My good friend and his wife owned the place so I could pretty much get away with anything, or so I thought.
So my Russian friend came in, newspaper tucked under his arm on Sunday morning. He was all smiles and really excited. He told me he would be joined by a friend of his who is an actor. I say"cool" and. I am happy for him becuase he seemed so excited. I was checking on him and my other 3 tables and after About 20 minutes later this HUGE blonde mountain of a man comes onto the patio. My Russian friend stands up, they hug and laugh and he sits down. I walk over and my Russian friend introduces me to his friend. I dont really recognize him but he kinda looks familiar. Anyhow, I bring out a round of our craft beer and they proceed to drink pretty heavily. I can see they are having a good time and enjoying each others company.
As I head out to check on them again, the blonde guy asks for Vodka. I say, "Im sorry, all we serve here is beer and wine." At that time we didn't have a full liquor license. My russian friend looks at me, smiles and says," maybe you can help us out? Maybe Vodka?" He slips me a $100.00 bill and winks. I looked over my shoulder and eveything was mellow with my tables and the head chef/manager was in the back. I went to the bar and told the bartender that I had to run a quick errand and will be right back.
In a flash I was at the grocery store across the street buying Tequllia. I prefer it over Vodka, so I was choosing what we were drinking. I rushed back to the restaurant and hid the bottle in my apron, got three glasses went back to the table and did shots on the patio with my Russian friend and his actor buddy. They asked why no Vodka and I said, "sorry abou that, I forgot you asked for Vodka." If I was putting my ass on the line, I was gonna go down drinking what I like. After 4 shots a piece and a few beers, it didn't matter.
We were all pretty happyand buzzed, with the exception of Luigi, the head Chef/Sunday manager. I loved the guy, he was a real Italian hard ass, but, I was young and he was really old school. Fucker was like 85 working there. He was a very accomplished chef before there were celebrity chefs. Cooked for princes and royalty, no lie. He couldn't get a job anywhere else because he was so damn old. He even had a 35 years old wife and a 5 year old. Fuckin Luigi! He just smoked his cigarettes, scowled at me and didn't say shit.
Finally after them getting nice and drunk they got up to leave. I gave them their bill, tried to give him the change from the booze purchase, but, he said keep it and tipped me another $100.00. They got up.and left heading for the irish pub 3 doors down. It finally hit me who he was, the blonde actor. I laughed, cleared the table and thought I was in the clear.
As I was in the kitchen nice and buzzed waiting to take out an order, Luigi was there on the phone talking loud and fast in Italian. He put the phone down and said that "chonnie want to speak to you."
I sobered up real quick. It was my friend the owner. I took the phone. "Hello?" Jonnie or "chonnie" as Luigi would say ,screamed at me for a good five minutes talking about losing his license, fines, breaking the law, etc.... I just let him go to town on me until he was outta breath.
When I finally replied my only response was" Jon, what could I do? It was the guy who shocked Rambo on the metal bed frame. He wanted booze, he is the customer, so, I had to accomodate." "He shocked RAMBO!" He wasn't having it. Long story a little longer, I was taken off of Sunday morning opening shift.
I know its not a customer horror story but its one where we do whatever it takes to make the customer happy. At least I gotta sleep in on Sundays after that Saturday night shift, so I guess it kinda worked out
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ouydg5/vodka_shots_no_tequilla_shots_on_a_sunday_morning/
| 26 | 7 | 1,627,695,697 | 6 |
good tipper
|
hot
|
opvn91
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Epic Rant about my day
|
For context purposes, I work at a privately owned (non-chain) restaurant with two separate floors. It’s my first time working in the industry, and I’ve been here for 2 years now. I’ve found in that time that I absolutely LOVE my work, but recently found that I HATE my job.
Recently we’ve been having the issue of being “low” on staff, like most places these days. But what I really mean by “low” is that we have a large, but extremely untrained body of staff. For example I’d estimate out of the 30-40 some people we have, 3 maybe 4 of them know how and are experienced enough to open the entire FOH in the mornings with little to no help (god forbid we schedule anymore than 1 server to open even on the weekends).
I’m a big proponent of understanding the entire picture, knowing how to open, close, bus, host, food run, and barback can give you valuable skills and knowledge that can help you be a better server. Our management, unfortunately, is not.
Well, last night my manager comes up to me while I’m bartending, and says something to the effect of
M: “Would you like to bartend tomorrow night? We didn’t schedule anyone.”
Me: “Hmm, let me think about it. I open in the morning so that would be a long shift (13-14 hours).”
He gives me a few hours to get back to him. Cool.
In that time, I go over multiple scenarios where we could ask this person or that person to move around, maybe we could get somebody to open for me, etc.
The problem? The three of us that open FOH are already scheduled to work, or asked off. There’s one woman who opens that works 11-9, but the decision is made (mostly out of spite) that essentially “she’s gonna be too moody.” No joke.
His decision? “Well, we don’t need a bartender, they’ll be fine.”
Me: 😳 “Uhh…ok?”
Keep in mind this man just told me last week how crazy busy thursdays have been lately.
This morning, feeling generous, I offer: “Hey, if you let me out at 8 and just divvy up the bartender’s closing duties, I’ll bartend for you at night and work 8-8.”
By “closing duties” I essentially mean mopping, running glassware through, and turning everything off. It’s not much, but you’re basically the last person out and excuse me for not wanting to be FILO on a volunteer basis.
I think that’s a pretty generous offer, no?
Not good enough.
M: “If you’re not gonna close, than you might as well just go home. That’s the entire point.”
…so…what happens the other 5 hours of that shift? Are bartenders useless to you? Do you not value my work? More importantly, do you not value the quality of your bar service on an exceptionally busy night? Is my offer to work 12 hours to fix the mistake you made, not good enough?
Like I said, I love the work I do. I love bartending, I love serving guests. I could work a 16 hour shift and go home with a shit eating smile on my face. It’s not the fact they wanted me to close that bothers me.
It’s that offering to help out by pulling an 8-8 wasn’t good enough for them, and the disturbing lack of any care at all.
Meanwhile we’re losing 9 servers to college in the fall, and I am 1 of 2/3 bartenders.
And this is how you wanna treat us?
——
TL;DR Manager pissed me off today by turning down my offer to work a 12 hour 8-8 because they wanted me to open the entire FOH and close the bar, and that any compromise to that means I “might as well just go home.” I’m not pissed because they wanted me to work a couple extra hours, I’m pissed my manager (1) cares less about quality of service than I do and (2) doesn’t appreciate my offer as a newish bartender to pull a 12 hour shift in order to fix THEIR scheduling error. In the end I worked it anyway, closed because fuck you, and fucking rocked that shit with great tippers all night.
P.S. I ended up speaking with the closing manager when they came in. They weren’t even informed of the issue, or that I had offered to bartend until 8.
Go to the GM/owner you say? I would…if this manager in question weren’t their sugar baby.
Ultimately, after asking my 11-9 coworkers if they wanted a bartender, and getting the approval of the closing manager, I bartended after my opening shift, and after getting an extremely generous tip from my very first patron, decided to just work the 8-10.
P.P.S There’s obviously more to my frustration than this single incident, but it’s just too much to fit into this post. To get the gist of it: there’s conflicts of interest all through management and there’s no appreciation shown to employees…ever, full stop. Some of who (I will admit I am not in this category, I know my limits, and I don’t think it’s healthy) have been working 50-60 hour work weeks through some of the worst financially and mentally trying times in recent fucking history.
And yes, I AM searching for a new job. Starting immediately.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/opvn91/epic_rant_about_my_day/
| 22 | 11 | 1,627,017,713 | 6 |
good tipper
|
hot
|
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