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9nravu
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TalesFromYourServer
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"The floors in your restaurant must be magnetic"
|
I work at a fine dining restaurant that is between two large cities in my area. The clientel at this restaurant is generally business people, families, and people on dates.
A few months ago, I was working on a Saturday night when a couple was sat in my section. Immediately, I noticed that they looked a bit out of place. The husband was wearing a t-shirt and jeans and the wife was sporting a similar outfit. No big deal, looks can often be deceiving.
I give them the normal welcome spiel and dropped off a drink menu. The wife asks me quite a few questions regarding our white wines, and I bring her a sample of my favorite. She said it was good, and then asked for a Miller Lite.
They ordered their food and they seemed nice enough, but they were fairly unresponsive when I tried to chat with them. Again, no big deal. Some people like their space.
At one point, the wife's fork falls and I replace it. They cash out, and tip 15%. Annoying, but whatever.
Cue Monday morning. I walk up to my manager's office, and he asks if I remember a couple that sat at table 24 last Saturday night. I said yes, obviously nervous that they had complained about something that they hadn't told me about.
My manager is literally holding back laughter as he says,
"They called and told me that they couldn't enjoy their dinner because the wife's fork fell to the ground not once, but twice. They said that the floor had to be magnetic, and it's all they've been talking about since."
We both burst out laughing.
Complaining about magnetic floors is the most creative complaint I have ever, and probably will ever, hear.
Edit: 1. No, I wasn't assuming these people were shit because of what they were wearing. We just don't get people in casual clothing often, so they stood out. Many fine-dining restaurants won't seat people in casual clothing, but we don't have a dress code.
2. As a server for 6 years, 20% has been known as the standard tipping amount for quality service, while 15% has become "less than quality service". In fine dining this is more of the standard than in fast-casual dining, at least in my experience serving in both environments, but I never (personally) tip less than 20% to a server regardless of the restaurant unless it was really bad service.
Edit #2: In this restaurant, 18% is suggested gratuity. It says so on the bill. 22% is added to the bill in parties of 20 or more. My last hourly check was $0.20. My car payments, my rent, my tuition, and my general well-being relies on the tips I receive. The same case goes for most all servers in the U.S. Until the tip system changes, 20% is the (general) standard, and it's what keeps servers like myself afloat.
Edit #3: I posted this because I thought that having a complaint about MAGNETIC FLOORS was pretty ridiculous and others would agree. Why is everyone making this entire post a debate!?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9nravu/the_floors_in_your_restaurant_must_be_magnetic/
| 304 | 134 | 1,539,407,078 | 18 |
gratuity
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top
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mvm4t6
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Sometimes it's worth it.
|
Happened around 2 weeks ago, it was a slow Wednesday and this lawyer regular of mine reserved a table for him and 7 of his lawyer buddies for 4 pm.
You see, I like these guys, they tend to show off sometimes (one of them usually arrives in a his Cullinan or the Mulsanne with his chauffeur, other ones brag about their courtroom successes), but mostly they are a respectable bunch and they always leave at least 40% tip. They know and remember me by name and always ask for me specifically.
So I made a pretty good prix fixe menu for them, they completely trust me with ordering for them, ordered a few bottles of Champagne. I let them bring their own scotch (Glenfiddich 26 year old, they even poured me a few drams). Everything was going swimmingly.
They rang up a total bill of around $2000 with %20 service charge added on top of that and tipped me another $400. However they did not plan on leaving just yet. By that time they were real tipsy, smoked some weed (it's legal now, here in NYC) and have decided to stay and continue the fun. It already was closing time, but what the hell, i just let them stay, since I was in charge of the shift. Since i let them stay they became even more friendly and kept tipping me every time I checked on them, Im not talking about $20's, or $50's, only straight up $100's. I kind of let them smoke inside, fuck it, they were the only table there and one of them gave me extra $500 to kind of disregard the fact that they were smoking.
They ended up inviting some girls for champagne, had a grand time and ended up leaving round 1am, drunk, high and in a really good mood.
Only 2 people were working that day, me and my busser. I paid him $1500 and myself, left with $2300 in my pocket. So yeah, it was a very good day. The most that I have ever made in 1 shift.
I guess there is no moral to the story, just wanted to share my pleasant experience with fellow servers.
Cheers! And may all of you have such fruitful shifts on weekly basis.
​
EDIT: Thanks for all of the up votes my guys and gals. It's pretty cool that I have been on reddit for almost 10 years and this is my most popular post of all time. So thank you for awards, kind words, good wishes and just thank you for being you, y fellow servers. I have quite a few stories, since I have been doing this work for half of my life and will gladly share more.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/mvm4t6/sometimes_its_worth_it/
| 2,629 | 163 | 1,619,029,924 | 18 |
service charge
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relevance
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1bsfbsd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
$1/hr server wage
|
I know this topic was addressed about a year ago a length, but I am struggling to find any information on a government website.
A few restaurants in my area have adopted the policy of paying tipped staff $1/hr and adding a 15% service charge to every check. In some cases, because of tip out, the servers tip out around 6% of that to support staff and the server gets the rest.
I am not here to discuss if this is right or wrong, as we all may see this different and it works in some cases and it doesn’t in others, but I was curious if anyone has any links to factual information. The rules/laws employers need to abide by to use this system, where this system may be used, and the repercussions for not following the guidelines that are set, etc.
Any help is appreciated.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1bsfbsd/1hr_server_wage/
| 28 | 59 | 1,711,904,778 | 18 |
service charge
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hot
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13mi99v
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
No tipping at Schwartz Brothers Restaurants? How do servers feel about that?
|
So tonight, we at at Daniel's Broiler, a Schwartz Brothers Restaurant. On the bill, they have a big section at the bottom of the bill that they highlighted that said they charged a 20% service fee that goes to Schwarts Brothers Restaurant and that the servers are paid a good wage and commission on their sales. Or something like that. It also said we could tip our server, but it wasn't necessary.
How do servers feel about this? Do you feel slighted if you don't get tipped? I only gave a $30 tip on a $430 bill, but I don't know if I should feel bad. Marvin was a great server, but tipping 20% on top of the 20% service charge seemed a bit much.
Anyway, my apologies if my tip was offensively low. Please help me to do better next time. Thanks!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/13mi99v/no_tipping_at_schwartz_brothers_restaurants_how/
| 9 | 14 | 1,684,558,186 | 18 |
service charge
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hot
|
10ay8nm
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tip pool distribution
|
I work at a place that tip pools and for a while was making good money. I worked New Year’s Eve and brought in around $700 in tips and service charges(18% on parties 6 and more). I got $190 of that.
I normally wouldn’t bitch about sharing tips but that’s ridiculous.
In my pool shift leads and the bar manager get bigger shares of the tips. The bar manager makes drinks and one of the leads is a bartender so also contributes to the pool. Two of the leads are on the floor but don’t take a section, they basically expo and run or help host.
Is it normal for leads to get more out of the tip pool? There are frequently two (one bartender , one on the floor) working per shift.
Wondering how other places do it before I bitch to my boss.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/10ay8nm/tip_pool_distribution/
| 101 | 51 | 1,673,626,140 | 18 |
service charge
|
hot
|
vjkii5
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I had to clean up throw-up in the bathroom and it was bad
|
Some context to keep in mind: I work at a ramen restaurant and when I walked in for my shift I was notified that we had a reservation for 16 people at 7:30 PM an hour and a half before closing. For the restaurant I work at, we only have one server on the weekdays and two on the weekends, and 75% of the time it's enough. This is a Tuesday night so I'm by myself.
As for the seating of 16 people, I had made two sections with 8 seats each with a gap in between, as serving a long table of 16 is pretty dangerous, especially with ramen as I wouldn't wanna spill anything on the customers. They arrive 15-20 minutes late, and the first thing they do when they arrive is put the two sections together, which already got on my nerve. I take their drink orders, get them their drinks, help some other customers around the place, and then come back to take their order. It took a bit longer than I would've liked to get back to them as Tuesday nights are usually decently busy, but it was fine.
After I take their order and go back to serving other customers, one of them goes into the bathroom, and about 5 minutes later he comes out and tells me, "Hey, I just threw up in the bathroom and it's bad." I stare at him, processing what he just told me, and I responded with, "How bad?" "All over the toilet and floor." In my mind, I just really wanted to drop everything and quit, but instead, I just sighed and told him not to worry about it as I was extremely busy with other customers. I was really hoping it wasn't that bad and he was just exaggerating, but I didn't want to check up on it either. I just went and put a caution sign in front of the bathroom hoping no one would go into it, and at this point, I was absolutely pissed.
I wasn't really able to check up on the bathroom or the table of 16 too much as it was extremely busy and I was busting my ass off. After they finished, I gave them their checks as they all wanted separate which also really ticked me off, having to split their checks 16 times. As they were paying up front, one of them complained to me about how I didn't check up on them enough and asked for a refund in the most disrespectful tone and attitude. I just really wanted to drop-kick this bitch and beat her to a bloody pulp. I told her I'm sorry and that I'm the only server serving 8 other tables besides theirs and there's only so much I can do. She still kept demanding a refund in her nasty tone but I kept refusing and eventually she paid. From the table of 16, I only got 8 dollars in total for tips as we don't have a service charge for bigger groups. (I'd also like to mention that I don't consider myself a bad server. I treat my customers with respect, greet them nicely, and spark up conversations with them. I have a lot of regulars that come in and I have great conversations with them.)
As the customers were dying down and leaving, I had a chance to check on the bathroom. (It's only a one-person bathroom.) As I walked close to the bathroom, I could smell it even without opening the door. I put my hand on the handle, took a deep breath, and opened it. It was probably one of the worst things I've ever smelled. I immediately gagged and held my breath as I took another peek in the bathroom. The throw-up was all over the toilet seat and there was a huge puddle on the floor. There were chunks of disgusting food with a reddish tint to it. I immediately closed the door, walked to the back, and took a breath. In the end, I ended up having to clean it, gagging while doing it and left an hour and 30 minutes later than I should have. Going into work the next day and walking into the bathroom, I could never see it the same again.
​
TL;DR I cleaned up throw-up for an 8-dollar tip for a 16-person reservation, emotional trauma, and a good pump at the gym right after.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/vjkii5/i_had_to_clean_up_throwup_in_the_bathroom_and_it/
| 52 | 16 | 1,656,063,385 | 18 |
service charge
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hot
|
x4ne2d
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Servers: Would you take $1/hr base pay if that meant you could make 3k to 10k or more a year?
|
I have a math question for all who work or have worked as servers. Before I ask this, answer this questions:
How many times have you been stiffed by people who leave 0 or less than 10% tip?
How many times have you taken a discount off a bill, just to get tipped on the discount and not the original amount?
How many of you have had issues with splitting your tips with support staff? What percentage of sales do you pay your bussers and bartenders? If you make 20% tips, are you really leaving with 20% after tip out?
How many of you have had issues with pooling tips with team members who don’t pull their weight?
You don’t have to reply with an answer to those questions. If you’ve been in the industry long enough, you know these things happen and ultimately affect our pay. What if you were given the option to work for $1/hr, but you are guaranteed a 15% of a service charge (which matches your current averages), you don’t have to tip out anyone, and on top of that, any additional tips you receive are 100% yours to keep. What if I had numbers to prove the system? Would you be willing to understand? Or are you focusing on the $1/hr figure?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/x4ne2d/servers_would_you_take_1hr_base_pay_if_that_meant/
| 0 | 79 | 1,662,186,015 | 18 |
service charge
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new
|
elg5pv
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
$20 tip on $12 bill
|
[Image](https://imgur.com/gallery/NuHxnaB)
This lady came in, right after a lunch wave at the end of my shift. Restaurant is empty, and I’m kinda ready to go; but, she has a book, so I figure she’ll probably eat and keep to herself. And that was exactly the case. She ordered one thing, drank a water, and ate quietly while reading. I figured she just wanted to enjoy a peaceful lunch, so I let her have her space, checked in on her and still made her feel welcome. We didn’t really talk, and the interaction was so simple I wouldn’t have been surprised or upset if she just gave me 10-15%. Instead, I open her check after she leaves to tender her tip, and I find that she left me $20.20 and a happy new year. I don’t know if she saw that I was tired or just wanted to do some good. All I know is that I’ll make sure to pass these good vibes on wherever I can, and I hope someone does the same for her. Hopefully she’ll come back, so I can thank her. I hope something like this happens to all of you. Happy New Year, guys.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/elg5pv/20_tip_on_12_bill/
| 2,494 | 92 | 1,578,424,579 | 18 |
15%
|
top
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10p4w26
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
PSA: As of 2021 the 80/20 rule is in effect and probably stricter than you think
|
My manager had never even heard of the rule strangely. I've heard of it before but I realized it was on shaky ground and briefly eliminated during the tail end of the Trump admin. Under the Biden administration the rule has been made final however and is currently codified in the FLSA rules. I spent a lot of time researching the law last night (mainly because my employer started going overboard with excessive side work, multiple lists, lots designed to cover the fact we're short staffed on bussers).
The current rule is anyone who is paid a cash wage below minimum wage (ie tip credit is used on their wage) must spend no less than 80% of their hours (calculated weekly) engaged in tip producing work (for servers: talking to tables, making recommendations, taking orders, running food). Up to 20% may be spent doing work directly supporting the tip producing work, and must be relevant to the job (cleaning your tables, sweeping your tables, rolling silverware, restocking, cutting garnish). Anything outside the scope of your role is not permitted (explicitly defined as cleaning bathrooms for servers, preparing food...washing dishes probably falls under this. Cleaning anything kitchen related).
Additionally, you can't spend more than 30 consecutive minutes doing work in the second category (directly supporting work). This means if you're scheduled to open more than 30 minutes prior to the restaurant being open, you must be paid minimum wage for that time. If you're closing side work takes longer than 30 minutes, you must be paid minimum wage for that time.
State laws could vary if your tipped wage is higher than the federal minimum wage. This applies to federal minimum wage laws. However, for example, in Florida, the cash wage is currently $7.98 (higher than federal minimum wage). Despite this, the FLSA rules still apply due to the language in Floridas minimum wage statute. The Florida statute states the tip credit may be claimed for FLSA eligible workers doing qualifying FLSA tip eligible work. So basically the law still ties itself directly to the FLSA. Check your own states minimum wage/tip credit law wording if your cash wage is higher than the federal minimum wage.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/10p4w26/psa_as_of_2021_the_8020_rule_is_in_effect_and/
| 452 | 142 | 1,675,090,876 | 18 |
20%
|
relevance
|
15kht7m
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Ways to get Foreigners to Tip???
|
Reposting this from r/serverlife:
Work on the strip in Vegas in a non casino restaurant and we get a lot of European and Asian customers.
The bottom of the bill says some stuff about 15-20% customary tip, but inevitably they either don't read it or don't care.
I've begun to bring a highlighter to highlight that portion of every ticket I give out.
Would it be weird and get me in trouble to write out the recommended percentages I am jealously seeing on some of your guys' bills?
Eg; 15% = x
18% = x
20%+ = x+
I know it's tacky af but I literally paid money to serve my last two tables tonight. $3.75 on 107.25 (yes they left me one 50, three 20s and 4 quarters 😂)
And $5 on $145
(8.75 on $252, I tip out 5% so I literally paid $4 to serve them)
I truly believe they are not bad people generally associated with bad tippers, they just don't know. How, besides the highlighter thing would you guys go about it or how do some of you veterans approach similar things?
And is the percentage thing viable? And is my highlighter tactic tacky and gross?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/15kht7m/ways_to_get_foreigners_to_tip/
| 252 | 780 | 1,691,407,157 | 18 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
i2inev
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tipping while black, what can I do?
|
This is just a question for all of you who have gotten bad service from black people (or other minorities).
I was a server for a short period of time, and it wasn’t for me. I worked in a fairly diverse area, so I served a variety of bad tippers (young, old, different colors, etc.).
Since black people have such a bad rep with tipping, what can you do when you actually tip well, but receive bad service at various restaurants? My spouse and I are young (24 and 25), black professionals who like to try new places. We always tip 25-40%, but it seems like our service is pretty terrible up until the server sees that we have tipped well (Ex: “would you like a complementary to-go drink!?”). But by then, we’ve probably been ignored for the entire duration of the meal and there’s nothing to redeem.
And then there’s the catch 22: people assume because I am black, I won’t tip well. As a result, the service we receive suffers. However, since we ARE black, I don’t want to live up to the “stereotype” and I feel like I HAVE to tip 30-40% for BAD service just to avoid being treated like that again.
Not so short story that I’ll always remember:
my husband and I decided to visit our local pancake spot (it’s a chain restaurant, but I won’t mention the name). We were ignored for about 35 minutes (I counted) and I wasn’t too bothered until I saw people who came in after us have a server fetch their drinks and take their orders. We eventually asked a server for help and he sent someone else after some time. We had one refill, our food was cold, it took another 45 minutes for the food to come out and the check took another 20 minutes after our meal was done. We had 3 different servers rotating sending out food, drinks, and check. I personally believe we are pleasant people: we didn’t request any modifications or special meals. Our check was $30 and we tipped $15.
After leaving, the reception was TOTALLY different. Lots of smiles and goodbyes. The manager offered us coupons and drinks. This happens in most lower end places; ironically enough, when we go to higher end restaurants we are treated with respect and we always compensate well, of course (went to a very expensive steak house and tipped $70 on a $190 check).
Can someone explain what I can do to be a better customer or what I can do to receive better treatment? It makes me not want to explore different places and it’s disheartening.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/i2inev/tipping_while_black_what_can_i_do/
| 1,102 | 301 | 1,596,398,575 | 18 |
bad tipper
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relevance
|
3hn9i8
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"you're doing a great job, too bad we are bad tippers."
|
So I work at a Coney Island and I was serving this four top - an elderly woman, and what I am assuming is her son, his wife and their little kid who was probably around 7. The man was a joker from the beginning; the things he would say were kinda weird, but nothing too uncomfortable. Like when I took their drink orders, he said "I will take a Cooooolllaaa". I asked if Pepsi was okay, and he said "what, you don't have coooollllaaaa?" I was confused so I asked him what he meant and he finally said he would just have a Pepsi.
Well, the little kid was crying throughout the entire dinner. The man claimed that he "hit his bean on a door", whatever that meant. Kid seemed to really play up the crying, because when he asked for ice cream and his mom said no his lip started quivering and he started sobbing.
I still felt bad for the kid, though, so I tried being extra nice to him. I would talk directly to him to ask him what he wanted, not his parents, and I tried to make him laugh. While they were waiting for their food I brought him a cup of apple sauce and some crayons and a colouring book, which made him super happy and he stopped crying. The dad said "you're doing a great job and you're so nice, too bad we are bad tippers." I laughed it off and thanked him for the compliment figuring he was joking.
Long story short, nope, he wasn't joking that time. Left me a $2 tip on a $45 order.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/3hn9i8/youre_doing_a_great_job_too_bad_we_are_bad_tippers/
| 73 | 12 | 1,440,024,232 | 18 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
umrwzh
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Question for servers/restaurants. Showing up with only 2 when reservation says 3. Is this a issue?
|
So I won't lie, there's this restaurant I want to go to but for whatever reason when I check their booking/reservation page. It NEVER has any 2 guest slots even months in advance. But when I switch it to 3 guests, then I have multiple dates/times now listed to pick from.
So my question, is it a big deal if I choose 3 then we only show up as 2? I could understand if it was something like 6 to 2 being a big deal or the opposite going from 2 to 6. But what about 3 to 2? I would think it happens often, someone getting sick last minute or something.
EDIT ADDED INFO: If it makes any difference, I'm also planning on buying the most expensive dish they have on the menu $200+. Which is 3-4x more than the majority of their menu and average entree dish $30-50. Way i see it is my meal alone (not even including my dates meal) is essentially paying the same amount when compared to a group of 2 or 3 who all choose the average meals. I'm also by no means a bad tipper, I regularly do 30-35%... but I understand the server at the time doesn't know this and might feel cheated while they serve us.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/umrwzh/question_for_serversrestaurants_showing_up_with/
| 130 | 205 | 1,652,214,458 | 18 |
bad tipper
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relevance
|
15xy4zm
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Has anyone done something like this and felt bad?
|
FWIW obviously from my username I have OCD and this is my lil OCD account, so I am aware that I hyper moralize my actions to an extreme degree sometimes...
Anyways, I work at a communal dining teppanyaki chain restaurant where entrees are very expensive and our tip out is quite high (I think about 8% of teppanyaki sales to the chefs, usually averages out to you owe about 10% of your table sales, you guys know how it works) but the demographic has very bad tippers for whatever reason. I can pretty much expect a couple very bad tips every shift, or to be stiffed. However, bc the food is so expensive, my sales are so high that I do typically make pretty good money. Sometimes you get fucked over lol. I've been working in restaurants for just over 2 years now and do make the most money here.
Tonight I was just having kind of a rough night in general bc of some issues that happened. I was stressed dealing with this table bc of that, and when one of the parties at the table gave me $160 in cash for a $143 bill, I assumed the $17 was the tip (and as we know, not really a good one but). I shouldn't assume and I used to never!!! But at this place you get tired definitely of owing on tables and paying your customers to eat there, and even if u don't know for sure you "hope" it's the tip adsfksh. So as I was dealing with the other issue, that customer had gotten up to find me to get his change back and "only wanted $10 back" and whatnot and I was like oh. lol
So later my very last table was a couple who spent about $99-100. He left me $100 exactly in cash, BUT they'd gotten a \~$12.50 sushi roll comp'd bc they didnt like it, so I had both printed out checks left on the table, the other one being the $87 point whatever it was.
And this is the unethical thing I did, I knew he likely was not planning on tipping at all so when I was counting that I mumbled "oh do you need change..." as I realized they're the very common, mean type who don't want to tip at all lol. And I left w the original amount and didnt bring back change. So he got mad apparently and asked the busser to find me as I was doing sidework, and I went over there and he said he "was going to leave me a little something, if I had brought a bag then he would've just left but he needs a bag". And I ofc apologized said I had asked but he prob didnt hear me, here you go and whatnot.So he left me $10 on $87, which I think made me just over break even/earned $2 or something, whatever.
The point is I know it was unethical of me to do that, though my OCD takes it to an extreme bc I went home to talk about it and then cried talking about it lmao.I just don't normally do shit like that, idk. I will now return to once again always bringing back exact changeFewer people pay in cash here so I sometimes don't change out my little bank so idk
Have to forgive yourself sometimes I guess tho...
Am now thinking about if I have done this kind of thing before, and can't remember, but it's totally possible :/
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/15xy4zm/has_anyone_done_something_like_this_and_felt_bad/
| 4 | 33 | 1,692,688,783 | 18 |
bad tipper
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relevance
|
dt7dya
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
How common is it to not tip/ tip badly?
|
Hello everyone,
I've started a new server job a few days ago and it already happened to me twice that people only left 1 dollar tip on a 60$/30$ bill. I do have a lot of waitressing (not in the US) and customer service experience and I'd say I'm a capable, attentive server.
So apparently it is normal to at least tip 15% in the US and I think most of my bills did but I also noticed a a handful of people tipping very badly. It's only been 4 days though. So my question is how common are bad tippers? And are they more common than I thought or is it my server skills lol
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/dt7dya/how_common_is_it_to_not_tip_tip_badly/
| 10 | 8 | 1,573,173,877 | 18 |
bad tipper
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hot
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235zl7
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Legends do exist!
|
[Imgur](http://i.imgur.com/Hzi4q11) Link
I've worked in the industry for 8 years now; and have only heard about tips like this. I'm starstruck by this and can hardly keep a clear head. Hopefully your faith in humanity/serving will be renewed by this.
I work at a "nicer" establishment next to a college campus, most of the time I leave with 15-25% Being the only server on tonight, I had the pleasure of serving a 23 top. It was a sorority girl's 22rd birthday, and she invited her sisters out for a meal with her fam. (normally this sucks, as they are pretty bad tippers) The mother came in 15 minutes early [for the reso] and told me to keep everything on one tab. Skipping ahead 45 minutes, the girls come in, and every one of them orders top shelf vodka. I have never been ran raw like this, it was a disorganized mess. I did my best, getting refiles and drink orders for new arrivals, but they kept switching seats; ergo the table on the POS was a complete mess. Additionally I had to spend 20 minutes watching YouTube videos on how to cut a cake wedding style... not easy when you're dealing with 2 other tables. Luckily I survived, and 4 bottles of champagne// 3 hours later I was done.
Cheers to the gentlemen that took the tab, if only you could of seen my reaction once I got into the kitchen. It went something along the lines of "oh 50? that ain't bad with no grat... wait a second... Faints"
TL:DR got a $500 tip tonight
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/235zl7/legends_do_exist/
| 165 | 18 | 1,397,635,032 | 18 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
5urnu6
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Expected $5, got $25. 121% - You never know
|
Table looked and acted like the stereotypical bad tippers. Mother and daughter, didn't engage much with me. Their $7 cocktail had too much ice so they sent it back and got waters instead. Mom told me her steak was overcooked (it was) and the replacement steak - which of course takes time to remake - was also overcooked (again it was). I explained the situation to a manager and she immediately went over. We discounted her meal and sent them home with To-Go boxes and fresh rolls. I was nothing but nice and apologetic. Their poor experience was unacceptable and I was sorry. Even though I *thought* they weren't going to tip me, I treated them like VIP guests. I was shocked to open the check presenter and find a $25 tip and "thank you!" written inside.
You never know. I'm glad I didn't do what we can all be inclined to do, which is roll my eyes, complain that they're a pain the ass, and be short or insincere. It doesn't always pay off, but when it does, it feels great!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/5urnu6/expected_5_got_25_121_you_never_know/
| 139 | 8 | 1,487,408,464 | 18 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
1xaxgu
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The craziest/nicest customer ever.
|
For a brief introduction, I'm in my first few months in front of house work, mostly as a busser and increasingly as a bartender, at an upscale bakery and cafe that has a fairly strong breakfast and brunch crowd, especially on the weekends. During this time, I've seen my fair share of rude/demanding/bad tippers/campers/etc., but never have I seen truly crazy. Until this morning.
I punched in at 0900, greeted by the opening server before I could even put on my apron with, "There is the absolute CRAZIEST lady at table two." I glance over through the double doors, and I see a woman who was, at that particular moment, flipping the eggs of her meal around in her hands and staring in wonderment. She had, before I arrived, ordered a cafe-au-lait, took one sip, asked for two extra espresso shots, took another sip, and asked for one more. She then took one more sip and proceeded to not touch it for the remainder of the meal. While waiting for her meal, she made her hands into a kaleidoscope and glanced all around the cafe. The gentleman at table 1 mere feet away had, by this point, asked for the bill and beat a hasty retreat. The three ladies at table 3 were beginning to emit annoyance.
After getting behind the bar and starting to work, the crazy lady at table two finished her meal and brought the dishes back to the bar herself, and asked to give her compliments to the chef. She then went back and placed her barely touched cafe-au-lait/triple-shot-latte on the bar, then handed the server a torn up sugar packet, which she kindly asked for us to be recycled (I took out the recycling out later - it was).
After receiving the bill, she left two $20 bills, and insisted that the server keep the change. She tipped $17 on a $23 bill - that's a whopping 74% tip. I struggled, thankfully successfully, to maintain my composure and professionalism while on the floor, but at least our morning had an interesting start.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1xaxgu/the_craziestnicest_customer_ever/
| 55 | 5 | 1,391,807,499 | 18 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
68n0y1
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
My credit card sends me email fraud alerts when it thinks I've tipped "too much".
|
[Screenshot here](http://imgur.com/rcWZfqh)
Former server here. So many of the threads on TFYS are either about shitty or unexpectedly awesome tips. Here's another perspective on that I thought might be interesting to the sub.
I have a Capital One Venture card. I've gotten several email notifications lately, seemingly when I tip 25% or above, that "I've given an extra generous tip". Well, I haven't really - either I tipped $1/drink at a bar, or I tipped on the pre-discounted total when drinks/apps are cheap during happy hour, or the server did an excellent job and deserved at least 25%.
I'm torn between being glad that my credit card company flags things and watches out for its customers, and being pissed at the negative reinforcement it's giving to cardholders who are just good tippers. It's saying "hey, you left a big tip - we think this is fraud". Especially in the case of a discounted bill, or if a guest used a gift card - I've tipped $25 on what was a $5 credit card charge, because I used a $100 gift card prior to my card being charged. That would *definitely* be flagged with their current filters. If someone gets enough of these emails, are they going to start tipping less because they're getting told they're tipping "too much"? Maybe I'm just too sensitive from years waiting tables, but I can see that happening.
Why would they not flag restaurant transactions that are way out of the ordinary? Like if a cardholder regularly has charges at TGIChilibee's-type places for $40 or so, but then all of a sudden there's a $500 charge at a Morton's or Ruths Chris or something like that. To me, *that's* way more likely to be fraud than someone tipping 25%.
TLDR: Why does my credit card company think leaving a "large" tip (25%+) considered fraud? One more reason for people to be cheap assholes when it comes to tipping.
edit: also interesting to note that this is only on my Capital One card, and not on my Citi card. Maybe a positive vote for C1's account security? I recently switched to using my Capital One card daily because it has better travel rewards and I need to book a flight in the next few months - and got the first notification a few weeks ago. It's also interesting, I don't recall getting these same emails last fall when I was using my C1 card all the time - it only started recently.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/68n0y1/my_credit_card_sends_me_email_fraud_alerts_when/
| 326 | 58 | 1,493,656,431 | 18 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
a7rjzo
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Thieving owner made me cry (dammit, i hate crying!!!) after I worked my ass off for her all day.
|
I just need to vent about this horrible restaurant I just started working at about 2 months ago. So this post will be kinda janky.
I was already unhappy with this place after finding out that 7% of every tip is kept by the house. Illegal, sleazy, bullshit. How does anyone respect them? There are people that have worked there for YEARS. WHY?? Why would anyone PAY THESE SHIESTERS to work at this old shit hole? Whatever, I know I won't be there long. I just grit my teeth and make my money, go home and pretend like the place doesn't exist until I come back and repeat. It's been ok, I've worked in this town for forever and have my own regulars, and people here are good tippers. Sticking it out until after the holidays.
Today though, I walk in to open to find out both of our chefs were in a car accident the night before on the way home from work. Sound the alarms, get anybody that can cook in. Hopefully it won't get busy.
It gets busy immediately, starting with a $150 Togo order that comes in 15 mins before we open, and doesn't stop until 3 o'clock. Our manager is clueless and never at any point holds the door, despite a third string kitchen staff and only 2 servers. We got our asses kicked but everyone (eventually) got their food and got out.
Finally bussing tables so I can take a break before coming back to close, the owner finally has shown up and is staring at me from across the dining room. She beckons me over, and I get ready to give her a run down of the day. She doesn't ask about the crazy lunch shift though. Instead she takes me into the bathroom and pulls me in front of the mirror. She says,
"Would you like it if someone that looks like you do right now was serving you at this restaurant? It is very important to me that my servers look nice. Do better."
She left and I just stood there, jaw to the floor. WTF??? My hair was a mess, granted, because I'd left my hair tie at home and had it tied back with yarn, but I'd kept it neat throughout the rush. I just hadn't bothered fixing it while I bussed and did side work. Otherwise, I just looked like I'd gotten done running in a small circle for 4 hours (I wonder why). Apparently my guests hadn't minded, as I'd made about 25% tips consistently, despite 45 min+ ticket times on a Wednesday LUNCH. IM GOOD AT WHAT I DO AND IM ADORABLE. FUCK OFF LADY.
Anyway, I went out to my car to sob for 5 mins before getting my shit together to finish cleaning up. I looked in the mirror and laughed, because I looked way worse than I did before she'd called me out, after my little meltdown. I finished sweeping looking blotchy as hell but all I could think was fuck it. I'm just here to make my money and leave. If I could afford to quit right now, I would have taken great pleasure in doing so directly with her, but for now just the thought that I can leave after the new year is keeping me going. I'll go "do better" somewhere that doesn't charge me to work there.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/a7rjzo/thieving_owner_made_me_cry_dammit_i_hate_crying/
| 67 | 14 | 1,545,259,888 | 18 |
good tipper
|
hot
|
je8a5c
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Sneak in your own vodka and then don’t want to pay for dinner? Let’s see how this turns out.
|
Hi! Long time lurker, love reading your stories. Sorry about formatting- on mobile.
I’ve worked in a small family owned Italian restaurant for the past three years. I really enjoy my job- we have quite a few regulars and everyone is pretty chill.
There’s these two women who come in and they order virgin Caesar’s and constantly ask for more Clamato. They are notorious to us because they bring in their own vodka and sneak it into their drinks. When indoors was open, they would sit in the back booth because they thought we couldn’t see them.
They always get the same meals- they share a salad, A gets a steak and B gets a seafood pasta.
These two ladies come, and they are just assholes to him.
I warned him that they bring their own drinks and have walked out on us without paying one time. (They were too drunk, but came back and paid).
A gets her steak and had ordered it medium. She had eaten half of it and the other woman had finished her pasta. My coworker came back inside with the half steak and asked me how it was cooked. It was the perfect medium. she insisted that it wasn’t and didn’t want to pay for it.
But my coworker has been in this industry as both a chef and server for the past 30 years- he isn’t taking this bullshit. The owner went outside to talk to them and said “you know, I don’t say anything about you bringing your own drinks lalalalala- your choice is that I’ll pick up your bill but you can’t come back”.
She is so drunk she can’t stand up at this point. Her friend yelled at her saying she was a bitch and left.
Anyways, my boss decides just take the steak off the bill. My coworker prints the bill - $17. But he puts on the POS the full amount of her dinner ~$55. She adds a 20% tip on that (assuming it was the 17 and she’s too drunk to read).
So not only did she pay for her whole meal, we got a generous tip on top of that.
Bye, Karen
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/je8a5c/sneak_in_your_own_vodka_and_then_dont_want_to_pay/
| 59 | 11 | 1,603,134,464 | 18 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
18ocag
|
TalesFromRetail
|
"I wish I had a girlfriend as nice as you": how I earned a $10 tip in retail.
|
This story isn't about a typical pain in the ass customer, but on the other spectrum of things.
I worked at a very popular plus sized women's clothing store for a few years as a supervisor. It was a great job, I had great co-workers and usually great customers, but as the territory comes with specialty retail, you definitely rack up on stories.
I was opening one morning with an associate, it was a quiet day early in the week, so foot traffic was fairly slow. I got a phone call a few minutes after we opened, and it was a man on the other line.
Me: "STORENAME, this is Cassiethesassy, how can I help you?"
Man on Phone: "Oh, hi, yes, um, I have a question..."
Me: "Sure, what can I do for you?"
MOP: "Um, well, I was wondering if I could come in and purchase a, um, dress... for... myself. I was wondering if, um, I could try them on."
*Our store had no set policy on letting men shop in the store for themselves, but we always welcomed any customer, because hey, their money is just as green as anyone elses!*
Me: "Of course, my best advice is to come by this morning or tomorrow morning while we don't have many customers in the store. If there IS another woman using the fitting rooms we will have to ask you to wait until she's finished, but otherwise it's not a problem."
*We had a back room where our fitting rooms were, with 5 smaller ones and a larger handicapped room towards the end of the hall*
I told him my name, and that to ask for me if he'd like to come into the store and shop. He thanked me and our conversation was over.
I didn't think anything of it, as we get phone calls from men who cross dress, but very few acutally come IN to the store to try things on. They usually ordered online, or bought some items and returned the ones that didn't work. Because we were a plus sized store, our clothes were obviously bigger and longer which would fit more men, than having them shop in a clothing store that had smaller sizes. I continued to organize various things as we were very slow in the mornings.
About 30 minutes later an older gentleman with bright white hair, in a large windbreaker and khakis comes strolling in. I greet him as I usually would any customer, and he quietly aproached me.
MOP: "Are you... Cassiethesassy?"
Me: "Yes, I am! Did you call earlier?"
MOP: "Yes, I did... I was hoping you'd help me pick out a dress. I like to wear them around the house."
Me: "Not a problem, was there something certain you had in mind?"
We continued to talk about what he was looking for. He was on a budget, and our full priced merchandise was a bit more pricey than a discount retailer, averaging about $70-100 for a new dress. So, I escorted him to our clearance section and decided he would fit best in a 1X size. He picked out a few that he liked and asked if he could try them on. I obliged as we had no other customers in the store. I unlocked the farthest fitting room (just in case we did get another customer), and as I let him in with the items he said: "Will you stick around and give me your opinion?"
Me: "Sure, just let me know when you're ready."
I let him get settled and when I heard my name I knew he had the first dress on.
He had picked some rather, LOUD patterns (as many plus sized clothing makers insist on making), but as he tried them on I gave him my honest opinion. Between dresses he would drop down to his undergarments in front of me. When I say *undergarments* I mean he had a red, stuffed bra on and matching red panties. Everything was covered, but needless to say, I learned a pretty good poker face that day!
He tried on about 4 different dresses and decided on a green, satiny number with a black swirly pattern across it. As he was changing back into his clothes, he looks at me, hands me a $10 bill and says: **"Wow, I wish I had a girlfriend as nice as you."**
Needless to say, it was a very sweet compliment, but a bit out of the usual for myself.
He paid for the dress, thanked me again and went about his way. Amazing what a little understanding and kindness can do for someone's day, plus, hey! $10!!
**TL;DR: Cross dressing man tipped me $10 for helping him try on dresses during my shift at a woman's plus sized clothing store.**
*Edit: WOW!!! Thank you everyone for your kind, kind words. Your responses have been nothing short of amazing and really brightened my day. Remember to be KIND to each other, whether you're in retail or not.*
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/18ocag/i_wish_i_had_a_girlfriend_as_nice_as_you_how_i/
| 584 | 87 | 1,361,074,378 | 18 |
tip
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relevance
|
1j5v8q
|
TalesFromRetail
|
Table of 28 and no tip!
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Let me start with a little pre-text to this, I am the Bar Manager of a small pub/restaurant in the West Midlands, England.
As you know we don't have tips as a mandatory thing over here, but it is still nice to recieve them.
So here is what happened today.
Table of 28 booked in for this afternoon ;(1pm)
Great, we are quiet at the moment so this is a boost to a poor week.
They started arriving at 1:15pm, and straight from the off a few of them were unbelievably rude to all the staff, making snide comments on personal appearances which weren't said in jest, so straight away I was a bit annoyed, and then all 28 wanted to order food SEPARATELY at the bar! So we have to serve all 28 individually, most making awkward changes to meals.
And when they were seated the staff bent over backwards for them, and most were still being rude.
After they eat they came and ordered desserts separately, each about 10 minutes apart, and then proceeded to complain about the puddings coming out separate!
I felt in a good mood earlier today so I agreed with the woman who booked that I would take 5% off her bill as she had bought a large amount of custom for us.
So the final bill came to £257.65....and she paid on the dot....not a penny tip!
I ended up giving each of my staff £5 each from my own pocket because I'm a nice guy and I appreciate they work hard!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1j5v8q/table_of_28_and_no_tip/
| 100 | 39 | 1,374,938,093 | 18 |
tip
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relevance
|
2bu8pd
|
TalesFromRetail
|
Apparently taking money from tip jars is totally normal.
|
I work at a sandwich shop and today an older guy came in and ordered a sandwich. Whatever. About ten minutes later he comes up to the counter and asks how much chips are. I told him they were $1.30 and then walked to the back real quick while he looked around at the chips. My coworker comes out and the man chooses his chips. $1.30 my coworker tells him. The man pulls thirty cents from his pocket and right in front of my coworker takes $1 casually from the tip jar. As if this jar of money was set out for just random customers to take from. My coworker just took the dollar and sent the guy on his way. I asked him why he didn't do anything and he was just in such shock that the guy would do that so naturally, he didn't know what to do.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2bu8pd/apparently_taking_money_from_tip_jars_is_totally/
| 199 | 23 | 1,406,439,883 | 18 |
tip
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relevance
|
8jdk9g
|
TalesFromRetail
|
"You didn't have to do that.."
|
I used to work at a "bakery" in the mall that mostly sold cookies and cookie-cakes. We only make the cakes by order (although it only has to be 15-30 minutes in advance), and keep all of the completed order forms for about a week in case there are any issues, discrepancies, etc.
One day, I am helping customers as usual, and this nice couple hands me a $50 that they apparently found in front of the cash register. I was pretty stunned that not only a) did someone drop $50, but b) that this couple didn't just snatch it and run.
I took it to the back, and noticed it was triple folded in a strange way; not enough to be done on purpose, but too creased to be from a tri-fold wallet. I remembered one older gentleman who had just payed for a cookie cake about 5 minutes earlier with a card from a money clip, so I went to the completed order box, called the number and got his Wife on the phone (W).
Me: Hi, this is Name from Store, could you ask the gentleman who picked up this cake to come back, we think he left something at the counter.
W: He's still in the mall, I'll go ahead and let him know!
[couple minutes later, gentleman (GM) arrives]
Me: Hello Sir! Have you happened to noticed anything missing?
GM: Well, I got a call from my wife saying I had, so I checked everything, my keys, clip, phone. I'm pretty sure I've lost a $50 bill actually.
I pulled it out of my back pocket, and he is completely dumbfounded.
GM: That's incredible.. You know you didn't have to do that..
Me: [something trying to sound noble, can't quite remember]
He ended up handing me a $10 as a Thank-You, which was my largest tip over the 2 years I spent there. I felt obligated to find the money's rightful owner because of that selfless couple who didn't take it to begin with because I know 100% that I would have snagged it immediately.
EDIT: Woulda snagged it immediately (if I were a customer who just found it like they did). My clock-in is my bond to the customer!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/8jdk9g/you_didnt_have_to_do_that/
| 2,909 | 84 | 1,526,314,692 | 18 |
tip
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relevance
|
47g5rd
|
TalesFromRetail
|
A solo, slammed barista.
|
Hello, TFR..! I work in a coffee shop in an international flying area, so we meet some pretty interesting people.
This story has been grinding my beans since it happened on Sunday night.
A quick relevant detail: My coffee shop is large circular shape, so when I'm making people's orders, especially if they're blended, I've got to face away from the front counter to use the blender (or urns, or coffee grinder, or coffee merch like tshirts, or to grab teas and syrups).
Allons-y!
Picture it: 4:00 PM on a Sunday during the slow months. Usually, this means that the end of a concourse is pretty empty. No one is flying in, no one is flying out; food employees are pretty much just standing around waiting until their port-mandated closing time finally comes around (6:30 P.M.).
Cue my cool boss man leaving an hour early.
Suddenly, mass amounts of people decide all at once that the only non-green-mermaid-coffee shop in the building is the hip place to be. Within a few minutes, I had about 20 separate people in line. I embrace this kind of chaos though, since I had been sitting around twiddling my thumbs for a good hour.
I take a deep breath, put on a sincere smile and began to plow through the long line of jet-lagged people needing their caffeine fix.
The line was whittling down a steady rate; everyone is happy, jokes are being told, witty banter is thrown about, and I'm rushing around the coffee kiosk making smoothies, milkshakes, iced & hot espresso drinks, etc with exceptional finesse. Tips were pouring in (the nice crisp green ones!!); I counted at least $20 just in $1 bills.
I learned later that there were three delayed flights all at the same time down at my end (something that doesn't happen that often). This means that sometimes 3 more flights will be delayed waiting for the first delay to leave. Thus, the rush of people.
2.5 hours Iater (at closing time!), I told my last customer to have a nice flight, then I shut the lights off and rushed around the store pulling in product and closing off the opening where the lines could begin.
I clocked out at 7 and dumped my tip jar on the counter to see how much extra dough I earned that day. Right away, I knew something was wrong. The dollar pile was sparse. My suspicions were confirmed. $8 and some change.
At some point in the breaks between crowds, some jackass reached into my jar when I had my back turned and helped themselves to a handful of dollar bills. I sigh to myself. This is the 4th time this has happened since September. I consider making a tipjar with teeth to trap the next thief.
Ah, retail.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/47g5rd/a_solo_slammed_barista/
| 1,276 | 202 | 1,456,360,239 | 18 |
tip
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relevance
|
92qfak
|
TalesFromRetail
|
See? I can be willful, too.
|
I have worked in winery management for the better part of a decade, and while things can be erratic, busy, horrible, wonderful and downright bizarre, I have never loved anything I have ever done or the people I have had the honor of working with more. That being said...
I am in a VERY conservative State and while this State reaps unbelievable tax dollars and agricultural rewards from our industry, it pulls no punches in the constant ABC (Alcohol Beverage Commission) mystery visits to our location to see if we serve under age.
As a safeguard to this, we had scanners installed that does a simple I.D. scan and displays the age.We implemented this for the first 90 days of employment of our new hires to ensure that proper I.D. training had become drilled in.
So, all the pieces have been set up and here's where it gets interesting...
When you wave a red light over an ID, approximately 30% of the population get nervous,28% will ask a question and 12% get downright paranoid. It's fine, for the most part,you answer the question and they seem okay with it and move on.
However, there are those rare nights when one of the 12% come in with an otherwise laid back party and decide to drill you on the entire functionality of the scanner,and BEFORE you have a chance to explain, refuse to give you their ID.
Cool...no big deal, but, I have always thought I was much funnier than anyone else has and I have 5 other large parties waiting behind you. If you don't give me your ID, I cannot serve you unless you agree to and sign off on an paying my rent and buying my groceries forever. That's my terms and nothing on Earth can deter me from them.
The customer in question....ohhh...I hated him on sight and it looked like the feeling was mutual.
I had already explained to the group of 8 (family reunion, he was in inlaw) that I had to have their ID and would be scanning them to determine age while reassuring them ( and showing them) that the age was all it was giving me.
When I got to him, he didn't have his ID out and simply said "If you can't tell by my grey hair I am over 21, then..."
I proceeded to set out 7 glasses and began my spiel. We made it to the second wine when I heard someone bark "MA'AM!"
I turned to see this guy pointing at me like I owed him something, he told me I "HAd forgotten something."
"No, Sir, I can't serve without an ID. You refused me, so, I refused you."
He took out his ID and flung it across the bar, it landed in the floor.
"And when you come over here and pick that up, I will scan it and serve you."
He did.
His wife tipped me a $20
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/92qfak/see_i_can_be_willful_too/
| 584 | 42 | 1,532,820,172 | 18 |
tip
|
hot
|
2d97lz
|
TalesFromRetail
|
How a lost kitten, a drunk stripper, and a Louisville Slugger come together.
|
The work environment of an upscale gentleman's club seemed to gather some interest so I'm back with another story. This one is more about a coworker than a customer so I hope it is allowed. Unfortunately it requires some back story so bear with me. Typical mobile disclaimer as well, so incoming typos etc.
Our working hours weren't normal by any means. Typically our shift would start between 8-10PM and would end around 5 AM. At the end of the shift, most of us would meet up at a bar around the corner that was open 24 hours, had a mean breakfast burrito, and served alcohol 24/7. Imagine a waffle house with a bar.
Moderation was a thing for cowards. Our bar tabs were always $60+ and the bartenders had a heavy hand. They would hook us up with drinks and we would tip too well in return. We were friends and we drank like we'd never see each other again.
I was young at the time. 18, to be exact. With flowing hair I kept neatly in a pony tail. The strippers (will refer to as girls from here on out) absolutely loved me because of it. They thought I was innocent, but I digress.
About a month into working there, a certain girl we will call Nina took a liking to me and vice versa. She was a Brazilian Goddess. Six feet tall, long flowing hair, and a mean vice for Irish Whiskey. She was, shit, I think 26? I loved every bit of it.
I made her money, she made me money, we drank, we slept together, all without any strings. Sort of.
She was in between apartments, and while she did not stay with me I did have her cat until she found a place that would let her have it.
One day, I come home from work and her cat is gone. Just gone. All doors and windows were closed and locked. My apartment was small so it didn't take long to search everywhere. But the cat was nowhere to be found. To this day I have no idea what happened to that fucking cat.
Naturally telling somebody you lost their cat is a hard thing. The only thing to make it worse is when you have NO idea how it got away.
A week later I work up the courage to tell Nina the bad news. At the bar. After two hours of drinking. She has the drunken reaction you'd expect. Water works, yelling. Swearing. She tells me to go away so I go sit at the other end of the bar and keep to myself, feeling awful about the whole situation.
I take glances in her direction. I see her talking to the bouncer from a neighboring bar and they look my way, with disgust in their eyes. Clearly Nina's reaction had gone from sadness to anger.
I turn to Jack, the bartender and my good friend. I tell him the story. He chuckles, and I ask him for another round.
As he's pouring the whisky, I blink and suddenly I'm on my back, on the deck, and wondering how I got there. Looking from down below, I see jack leap over the bar like a gazelle or a guardian angel with a baseball bat in his hand, chasing Nina out the bar tripping over every table between him and the door as she flipped them on her way out.
As it cools down I ask him what happened. The bouncer Nina was talking to egged her on. He gave her his brass knuckles, and she snuck up behind me. She put me in a choke hold, fuckin sudo slammed me from the stool to the ground, and cocked her arm to, I suspect, fuck me up. I paid my tab, tipped 101%, and went home to collect my self and pass out.
She returns to work before I do but it's not long until we work together again. As you can imagine the tension is heavy. Half the girls are split, some think I'm the devil incarnate and the other half show sympathy as they think Nina over reacted.
A few days later Nina is working a group of customers. Shes putting down Jameson like the world is ending and I just KNOW something is about to happen. They call her name over the intercom saying she's up to go on stage.
As I help her up the stage, she whispers in my ear, "I'm going to fuck you up." I could smell the liquor as she flashed a cunning smile my way.
Halfway through her set, a customer yells, "duck!". I do as commanded, and a foot or two above flies one of Nina's seven inch stiletto. It misses me, crashing into a light fixture on the wall shattering it and sending glass everywhere. The heel was thrown with so much force it bounced off the wall and onto a customer's private booth, knocking over his $500 bottle of Dom Perignon, spilling bubbly all over his lap.
I think I kept my cool. I can't exactly remember. Nina's contract was terminated and she had to pay for the damage and bottle of champagne. When the manager rang her up for the champagne he, a hero to us all, added 15% gratuity for what he stated as " crazy bitch tax".
Edit: after rereading this, I am not even sure if this keeps with the sub's theme of talesfromretail! If the mods agree send me a message and I will take it down. If this is okay, then I will see about posting these stories as they come back to me.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/2d97lz/how_a_lost_kitten_a_drunk_stripper_and_a/
| 231 | 36 | 1,407,780,824 | 18 |
gratuity
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relevance
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5moqog
|
TalesFromRetail
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"You won't give me 15% off? But another store let me do it!!"
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I work at a national retailer in the electronics department. I had just finished up helping a customer when I spy one of my managers talking to a lady at the front counter. Another one of my coworkers had helped her pick out a blu ray player and she returned after another few minutes of shopping to purchase everything at once. With nothing else to do, I stood waiting for another customer to swing by, but listened in on the conversation between this lady (L) and my manager (M).
> L: "I'd like 15% off everything, please."
> M: "I'm afraid I can't do that, ma'am."
I turn around. The lady has a pulled out a paper bag from a national hardware chain's store. The bag had print on it that allowed for 15% off whatever you could fit in the bag.
> L: "What do you mean? (Another, different national retailer known for appliances) let me do the 15% off."
> M: "Ma'am, we are not (national retailer with the bag) nor (appliance retailer)."
> L: "This is ridiculous."
> M: "If the item was 15% off in their ad we could price match their ad. But I can't do everything for 15% off that you have here."
The lady then grumbles and immediately takes off for the front of the store, which I could only assume was to complain to customer service about it.
> Me, to M: *sarcastically* "Oh sure, ma'am, we can give you 15% off of every iPad that you can fit in the bag! But of course!"
TL;DR: Storewide percentages off do not carry over from one retailer to another, strangely.
Edit: formatting
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/5moqog/you_wont_give_me_15_off_but_another_store_let_me/
| 1,087 | 61 | 1,483,845,544 | 18 |
15%
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relevance
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11qqwbv
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TalesFromYourServer
|
Coworker asks tables why the tip was lower than 20%
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Anyone else have a coworker that does this?
She will get her slip and see they tipped less than 20%. She’ll walk up to them as they leave or as they’re still seated and ask “how was the service? Did I do anything wrong?”
It honestly is quite embarrassing. I think you’re better off with just letting it be, as you should know it’s always a hit or miss. Customers don’t need to explain their reasons, imo.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/11qqwbv/coworker_asks_tables_why_the_tip_was_lower_than_20/
| 1,956 | 640 | 1,678,753,012 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
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9u8sbi
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
An Unchristian Tip
|
Had a party of 6 tonight, two were young kids who trashed the table. Bill was north of $300.
No tip. [Just this](https://imgur.com/gallery/RCa1X6i).
Around the holidays sometimes people will leave an extra generous tip, so I was really excited to see a big bill, until I looked at it closer. They didn’t even leave a tip on the card.
Seems pretty unchristian to stiff your minimum wage server working her way through college.
*Edit: To clarify, they left the “$1,000,000” facing up on the table and on the reverse side there was a sermon about entrance to heaven (see link in post for image of flip side.)*
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9u8sbi/an_unchristian_tip/
| 5,563 | 843 | 1,541,377,845 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
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dweyph
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
To the couple who left a $0.76 tip
|
I despise you. Not just for the poor excuse of a tip either.
No, really. You are two of the most disgusting and hypocritical people I have ever met. You may be nice and sweet to my bosses, all smiles when you walk in and are greeted by him, but when speaking to me you treat me worse than garbage in the street.
When paying, typically it’s better to hand me your money rather than tossing it down and sliding it half-assedly at me. When your wife tells me in the most condescending Karen tone she can muster that “I can keep the change” like it’s a blessing and a gift.
When you see the sign that informs customers to use a cup rather than taking the whole bottle to their table, you again, in the most condescending tone ask me “should I take this whole thing?” and get offended when I inform you to use a cup.
But then the nice demeanour returns when you speak once more to my boss, bragging about how you are good people for volunteering at the retirement homes in the area and spreading the good word. When you go on and on about treating everyone with kindness and respect. Disgusting hypocrites.
The cherry on top though was seeing their car had a “be kind” sticker on it.
Keep your .76 cents and buy some common decency.
Sorry for the rant, this was the first time in four years where I saw a clear shift in being treated like garbage.
And to clarify: I have nothing against religion. I have one myself. However, when people come in and preach about their religion and how they’re good people for it, it’s disgusting.
EDIT: I apologise if people think this is about the tip- it’s not. The tip was just adding to the insult of their disgusting and shameful behaviour. The tone she used about keeping the change for myself is what got to me, and I thought that this title sounded nicer than something way longer. Again, I apologise for click bait.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/dweyph/to_the_couple_who_left_a_076_tip/
| 4,620 | 475 | 1,573,761,802 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
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mmw5c0
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
My Uncle Called in a Favor, Then Tipped 12%...
|
This is a long story, but I’ll do my best to sum it up in short fashion. (Sorry for formatting; I’m on mobile.)
My dad’s step-brother and his wife frequently call on me to get them tables at the extremely busy Italian restaurant where I work. These are the two wealthiest people I know. I’m talking a house in the hills, tons of cars; private school, the whole shebang. My restaurant is operated on a no-reservations basis, so every time I save them a table I’m breaking the rules. This time may have been the last.
Uncle’s wife texts me in the afternoon as I’m getting ready for work (for my first ever serving shift! I’m usually a host or busser) and says that they’re bringing the kids in at 6:00 and that I need to save them a table inside. I explain to her that it’s my first night ever of serving, so I’ll save them a table in my section.
6:00 comes around and my night has been GREAT so far! Most of my tables are sweethearts, everything is coming out of the kitchen on time, etc. In walks my entitled family, and they proceed to run me absolutely ragged for 2.5 hours. Their glasses are smudged, their drinks aren’t strong enough, you get the idea. I comp their desserts and coffees because, you know, I’m nice and thought that family should take care of family. I wrap up service, thank them for coming in, and make my escape.
Minutes later, I return to the table to find that they have tipped me 12%. Luckily, my other tables more than made up for that and I had an overall stellar first night of serving. Am I overreacting, or was this a total slap in the face?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/mmw5c0/my_uncle_called_in_a_favor_then_tipped_12/
| 3,600 | 361 | 1,617,901,062 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
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r4zj2s
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Asshole crossed out my tip and wrote a fat 0 after I reminded him to put on a mask
|
Most counties are back on high alert with mask mandates, much to the chagrin of people who thought the pandemic was "over". I live in a coastal town, and this couple from Texas came in and did the whole dramatic, "So I need to wear a mask to walk to the table? But once I sit down, I can take it off for the whole meal? Do you realize how stupid that sounds??"
I don't care. Them's the rules.
It honestly takes so much more effort to put up a fight. These types of people are so emotionally exhausting.
So they sit down, order, and get on with their meal. The bill is dropped off, and the husband gets up to go to the bathroom, sans mask. I didn't need to say anything since they were leaving anyway, but on his walk back to the table I reminded him, "Hey bud, just wear a mask when you're walking through the restaurant." He shot me the most annoyed, dirty glare.
He asked one of the servers if I was receiving any part of his tip. And with that, he scratched out his tip and wrote a fat **0** with a caption, "Ask your bud!"
The kicker? The tip he had crossed out was $3 on $35. Fuck these people.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/r4zj2s/asshole_crossed_out_my_tip_and_wrote_a_fat_0/
| 2,113 | 369 | 1,638,203,324 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
|
b8zc4w
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
if you’re letting your child go out to eat on their own, teach them tipping etiquette
|
this happened right in the middle of dinner rush on saturday night; i saw these two girls walk in and knew right away they couldn’t be older than 12. i saw the host seat them with dinner menus, but quickly go back and switch them both out for kids menus. both ordered off the kids menu, their bill altogether was barely $25, and as you can probably tell by the title, left no tip. the company i work for is corporate owned so frankly if i were to try complaining to a manager or refusing to take the table, they wouldn’t have any of it and we have no policies regarding having to order at least one regular entrée. while it probably shouldn’t bother me as much as it does, i’m a student and barely able to pick up more than one shift a week at this point because of how busy i am. i’m just saying, especially if you’re the one giving them money to pay to eat at a restaurant, tipping is still a part of that.
edit: everyone commenting “maybe restaurants should pay servers enough,” no shit?? maybe if i was actually paid enough i wouldn’t be complaining?? unrelated but i made more in tips this shift than my paycheck that week so??
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/b8zc4w/if_youre_letting_your_child_go_out_to_eat_on/
| 2,333 | 595 | 1,554,304,968 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
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1i87oix
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
When you pick up a bill or enter it into the computer do you calculate what kind of tip the customer gave?
|
When you pick up a bill or enter it into the computer do you calculate what kind of tip the customer gave? E.g. do you eyeball the difference between 15%, 20%, 25%? Or as long as it's not an outlier do you not really know whether the customer gave more or less?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1i87oix/when_you_pick_up_a_bill_or_enter_it_into_the/
| 8 | 13 | 1,737,650,685 | 17 |
tip
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hot
|
1iobuiz
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
High end tips!
|
Does anyone work in very ultra rich areas do ultra rich people tip 20% or more?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1iobuiz/high_end_tips/
| 0 | 6 | 1,739,423,757 | 17 |
tip
|
new
|
9resrf
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"Excuse me, but I didnt order no gratuity!!"
|
This was said to me when the customer saw that we added a 17% gratuity to parties of 6 or more.
I also had a customer tell me that he didnt have to pay his bill because his dad knew Aerosmith. This was at BB Kings in Memphis, and the guy seriously thought that type of name-dropping would get his bill comped. I told him Run DMCs was down the street.
Another customer bought two tshirts in the giftshop while his date was listening to the band and then asked me to bring the shirts over and say they were a gift from the band. Didnt happen.
I lost a $20 bet with a cook that said he could pull a piece of catfish out of the boiling deep-fryer.
These stories are all old (1996-2001), but I just found this sub and thought I would share. Working on Beale street for 66 months was a very unique experience that left me with 100s of memories, not all of them bad ;)
​
​
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9resrf/excuse_me_but_i_didnt_order_no_gratuity/
| 196 | 24 | 1,540,504,883 | 17 |
gratuity
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relevance
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6bsxjr
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Thoughts on automatic gratuity?
|
I serve at a restaurant pool area (good money in the summer) and they started an automatic 18% gratuity. I'm still not sure this is a good idea and have expressed so with management. Has anyone had experience with this? They are able to add more and the tables I talk to and become friends with tend to leave a lot extra anyways, but I feel as though they'd leave the same amount at the end of the day. Or maybe more. The thing is this helps people (not me) who aren't able to keep track of tables or have walkouts because they didn't take down the guests room number or name to call the room if they left before signing.
I just want to open discussion because I think the only people that are super excited about this are he bartenders who don't get screwed by dollar tippers on big drinks.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/6bsxjr/thoughts_on_automatic_gratuity/
| 15 | 37 | 1,495,068,887 | 17 |
gratuity
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relevance
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zasvbu
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Rich family pays for a party of 12 meal, just for a table
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This was so bizarre yet so nice.
This happened when we were only allowed to have outdoor seating, so we didn’t have many huge tables available.
We have only 1 table with 6 chairs, and about 4-5 tables with 4 chairs. We had a family of 12, and according to our policy, we had to sit them separately and they weren’t allowed to move seats. 4 out of the 12 decided to seat at the 6 chair table cause it was a lot bigger (we allow customers to seat wherever they like just as long as they are following policy).
About 30 minutes in, a family of 5 (the rich family) comes in. We tell them that there will be at least a 20 minute wait due to the people having the only 6 chair table and we weren’t allowed to bring tables together.
The rich family was about to leave until the people who sat at the huge table called us over and said they can move at a smaller table. The rich family thanks them and we move their food to another table and sat down the rich family.
They order their food and towards the end of their meal, they asked if they can pay for the table that gave up their seat for them. I said:
“Oh most certainly! However they are actually a party of 12, and their bill is probably over 200 dollars. Are you alright with that?”
He said “psh that’s fine”
He paid for his 50 dollar bill, AND the 200+ dollar bill (plus automatic gratuity). In addition, be tipped both me and my coworker 20 bucks each on top of the gratuity.
He spent about 300 bucks that day.
The party of 12 was shocked and thanked them for their kindness.
It was a good night shift :)
Edit: wow I didn’t know how expensive other places can be LMAO. The party of 12 was a family from what I remember, like 6 adults and 6 kids. I don’t remember the prices nor what they ordered. But I remembered the rich family only ordered 4 sushi plates. Which were 10-12 bucks around that time each.
I do remember the party of 12 ordered both ramens and sushi. The ramens were 11-15 bucks at the time. And the sushi was about 8-14 bucks depending which one you got. I don’t remember if anyone got soft drinks or alcohol. But cocktails were $3.50 and beers were about 8ish bucks I believe. Appetizers were about 7-14 bucks depending what you got!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/zasvbu/rich_family_pays_for_a_party_of_12_meal_just_for/
| 1,606 | 70 | 1,670,004,187 | 17 |
gratuity
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relevance
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d3r4ii
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
How I hate set gratuities! (UK)
|
Hear me out.
I just ate in a restaurant with the name of one of the world's most famous chefs here in the UK. The restaurant is in an event venue and when the bill came there was a 10% set gratuity added.
Now I can hear all you Americans telling me its not that much and why am I complaining. Well...
Firstly here in the UK tipping is pretty much optional as staff all get at least minimum wage which is £8:21 ph if you're over 25 which all the staff appeared to be. But I'm in the industry and I believe in tipping especially for good service. And she was lovely, I dithered about where to sit, changed my mind and made an alteration to the menu when I ordered.
So when my bill came and I saw the set gratuity added I asked "do you get the gratuity?" The response: well, not really. It goes to the venue and then 30% of it comes back to us and gets split between all the staff. So I'll see about 10pence. To our American friends that's like a tip of twelve cents.
So grrrrrrrr set gratuities! And I'm sure many people will look at their bills and see that and actively decide NOT to tip because they think that that will go to the wait staff.
Yes my server friends I did tip. In cash and directly to her.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/d3r4ii/how_i_hate_set_gratuities_uk/
| 17 | 26 | 1,568,389,505 | 17 |
gratuity
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relevance
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p7s2ga
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Automatic gratuity- question
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Many restaurants near me have an automatic 15/18/20% gratuity added to tabs, am I required to tip on top of that or is that good enough? I usually don’t do extra unless it’s amazing service but I don’t want to look like I’m skipping
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/p7s2ga/automatic_gratuity_question/
| 10 | 9 | 1,629,422,207 | 17 |
gratuity
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relevance
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c2724n
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Stiffed on $150 tab
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So, Father's day. I got an 8-top with 3 men, their wives, and young children. They were polite, orders went smoothly and all of their food was dropped correctly. I refilled their drinks, cleared empty plates, etc. Everything was fine and they enjoyed the food. Now time for the check. At our restaurant we can gratuity people 20% for parties 5 or more, or tabs over $60. I do this regularly, especially for big parties. As I was totaling the check, the 3 men came back (we have a very open restaurant layout so a lot of times people come back to the server station without realizing they shouldn't be there) and hovered over me watching me total the check. They were all there because each of them wanted to pay the whole tab, so they were arguing about who would pay. Finally it was decided, and one guy handed me his card. I finished adding up their check and was about to write the gratuity. Another guy showed me the wads of cash in his wallet and said to me, "I'll just leave cash for the tip then. You like cash, right? *Wink* I'll leave some for you on the table." He literally showed me the cash he was going to leave. I said ok, and didn't add the gratuity because it would have gone on the other guy's card and I felt assured that they were leaving cash on the table.
They left a few minutes after and I went to the table immediately to bus and get the cash. There was nothing. And there was a slash through the tip line on the receipt. Should've stuck to my guns, I got bamboozled.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/c2724n/stiffed_on_150_tab/
| 1,580 | 122 | 1,560,888,085 | 17 |
gratuity
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relevance
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xbpavb
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I had my first large party last night
|
Before we begin, I apologize for the formatting. I’m on mobile lol.
I’m fairly new at this job. I’ve been serving now for a little less than a month, but I have previous experience in working with food. I also got a food handling certificate through a college course a few years ago, so they decided to give me the benefit of the doubt. I’ve honestly been doing good so far until last night. Last night was an absolute mess.
Last night I had my first large party. 12 people walked in claiming they had a reservation, which they did. However, it wasn’t like a normal reservation where they’re all there together. For some reason they made two separate reservations under the same name, but at different times of the night. The first reservation was for eight at 7p, and the second was for four at 7:30p. They all (12 of them) showed up for the reservation at 7. Since my section was the only one open I told them I would take it. I thought it was no biggie since the most I had served before was 9 and it shouldn’t be too much harder. I was super wrong.
I couldn’t do anything right with this party- except for like one guy who was actually super chill and understanding. That being said, the rest of the table was full of a bunch of Karens. Almost every person wanted three drinks each. We’re talking like a cocktail, then a fountain drink, and then water for each person. They wanted them out at the same time. They didn’t like how the food was made and complained about that as well, even though they ate every last bite. They also had so many ridiculous demands. Also, they made our bartender cry for being out of pineapple.
I had about five other tables at the time and this party was making it almost impossible to tend to my other tables. In the end I had to ask one of my supervisors to help me with the other tables. They were happy to do so, but I felt bad about it because they were my tables, y’know?
Anyways, about halfway through one of them looked up from their phone and told me to pull up another chair and bring another menu. A 13th person had suddenly decided to join. Halfway through. I spoke to my supervisor to make sure it was okay, but at that point there was nothing we could do except bring the extra chair and menu. The 13th unexpected person showed up 30 minutes later and joined in on the ridiculousness that was last night.
It was like what I had described at the start for the remainder of the night until they left. Just a lot of complaints and ridiculous demands that we couldn’t meet. After a while, my supervisor told the host to stop seating my section because they realized I wouldn’t be able to serve the other tables. While I’m grateful for that, I still feel bad that my coworkers had to pick up the tables that would’ve been mine.
Before I forget, these people wanted the check split into six tickets, so I then had to go around and make sure I had the correct items on the correct tickets. I’m very annoyed at this because when I asked earlier they said it was all on one ticket (I checked twice) and then decided to change their minds after I had brought out the check. They had all racked up a bill of over $300 plus gratuity(so almost $400ish), so I kinda understand. But also, I don’t know what they expected after considering the prices and ordering the amount they did.
After they left I went and cried in the cooler, but shoutout to the super chill dude who gave me a separate $100 tip on his way out.
Note: I would like to add that when we have parties of eight or more we automatically add 18% gratuity to the check. We make it known and they could’ve requested we take it off, but they didn’t. We ended up splitting it between the six tickets because all were under the same reservation and table.
EDIT: I just want to add on a bit. I know it’s been a few days, but I’ve been a bit busy. Anyways, the reason for the bill only being a little over $300 and then closer to $400 with gratuity is because some of the party members had redeemed some points to get a free meal, starter, or dessert. I also want to add that my place of work is able to accommodate up to parties of 30, give or take, with an entire party room that we hold off for that reason. The party room in question, wasn’t being occupied at the time.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/xbpavb/i_had_my_first_large_party_last_night/
| 21 | 6 | 1,662,919,667 | 17 |
gratuity
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hot
|
agbpip
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
25% tips
|
When ever I have a table of 8 or more we are allowed to put on an 18% gratuity. I never do that because my company is weird and we get double taxed on the tip so instead I tell my table that I didn’t add the 25% gratuity.
Me : “And just so you are aware I didn’t put on the 25% gratuity. I don’t like to assume my service!”
Guest : “Oh! Thank you for letting us know! You did great!”
Me : receives 25% tip not a lousy 18%.
Work smarter, not harder my friends.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/agbpip/25_tips/
| 358 | 68 | 1,547,577,794 | 17 |
gratuity
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top
|
18bh1f
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Absolutely worst super racist table of 20 I've had in 6 years of serving. I hugged every co-worker when they left. I'm not even a big hugger.
|
Let me start by saying I usually never rant about tables. Bad tables happen. I've been doing this for six years at the same place and in line to start managing at a high volume casual dining restaurant. I rarely have issues with my tables. I can charm the pants off of preeeeetty much anybody.
But, this. This table.
Last night, party of 20 at 4:30. It was made up of about 7 teenage girls celebrating a 17th birthday and their parents. I make it an absolute point not to judge a table on socioeconomic or racial basis. That just reinforces a terrible tip. We add gratuity on parties of that size, so I'm not worried. I'm sharing the party with a space cadet new server and am in a huge closing section.
Party trickles in. Not a big deal. Had to tell a few guests how much alcoholic drinks were (not listed in our menu.) Gladly checked. Drink ordering took a hot minute because of all the questions. Fine with it. I get it. Finally they all show up at 5:30 and want to order.
Four people tell me their order at once. FOUR. Majority of party didn't even open the menu to read and had a multitude of questions. My favorite:
Guest: "You got potatoes?"
Me: "Yes ma'am. Here is the page with the potatoes."
Guest: "You ain't got no shrimp potatoes?"
Me: "No ma'am. I can add a side of shrimp to anything."
Guest: "So you ain't got no shrimp potatoes?"
Me: ".....no." After taking an incredible amount of complicated and special orders, I Stepford-wife smiled and said, "What do you envision eating? Let me know what you'd like to eat, and I'll figure out how to get the kitchen to make it."
Guest: "How much would that be?"
Me: "I'll have to go run a quote for you, but you'll have to give me a little while." (She wanted a potato with bacon, cheese, alfredo, and fried shrimp on the potato with a side of broccoli. Because, you know, restaurants serve that delicacy all the time.)
Guest: "I'll just get the grilled chicken potato."
NERDS!
I had to repeat soups of the day (listed in the menu) seven times. SEVEN TIMES. It took me about 20-30 minutes to get 20 orders. I'm still unshaken. It's happened to me before. I get it. Some people don't go to restaurants often, and when they do they want what they want.
At this point, I've given up any chance to make any money. I've given away all of my other tables to concentrate on this one. I send space cadet sever to get refills and just take my other tables. She was a speed bump and the table hated her already. I knew she'd crack.
They had extremely complicated separate checks, but I diligently took note. Despite talking over each other, having people on checks on opposite ends of tables, playing musical chairs, and changing their minds on who to pay for, I had it down.
Food comes out. Kitchen did mess up an order and gave a vegetarian teenage girl a turkey burger instead of a garden burger. Our food runner was super new and grabbed the wrong item. She took a bite. She was rightfully upset, I do my due diligence and get a manager. We only had a manager in training who was comp happy. Not only did they comp her food, he comp'd the food *of the girl sitting next to her who had no problem with the food* because her friend was upset about the service. She had the gall to say *I had an attitude*. I was Mary-effin-sunshine despite being abused! She ate her food. All of it.
The only chance I had to make money was in the gratuity. She had the gall to complain about the *service* after I was running my ass off.
After they realized that could happen, the well done rib eye was sent back for being...well done. Shrimp skewers were sent back for being cold. Desserts were purchased on the house. Chowder loaf was sent back for being "sour." She got a free sandwich instead with dessert. Once one of the girls ordered dessert (who had no issue with her food) realized she had to pay for her dessert, she canceled it after it was at the table.
The teenage side of the table started plain abusing me. Every second I heard, "Miss. Miss. Can we get another side of ranch? Today? Please?" I was *running*. Extra sides, extra napkins, chugging drinks. It happens. I'm plenty annoyed by the comps, but life goes on.
I happened to hear one of the teenagers laugh and say, *"Haha, we're making this cracker girl run so hard!"*
That. That's when I lost it.
I sat in the beer cooler, shaking. If you're going to abuse me, you have to pay me. I'd rather take five dollars a head and have them knee me in my hoo-hah. That would have felt better than serving a table whose only purpose was to get free stuff and make my life hell because I'm white.
Their tab was $450. The comps were $150. That's $25 out of my pocket, and my area director (who would be the dude that I have an interview with for management next week) will be asking management why comps were so high.
Checks came out. They saw the gratuity. Complained. Some got the grat off. I got stiffed by a few tabs. One guest had two separate cards decline. I get it. I'm scraping by too. She gave me at attitude like I did something wrong.
Then, after seeing the check totals, they decided to re-separate the checks so they could afford the bills after I perfectly split according to their wishes at the beginning of the meal. It took another 20 minutes.
I had the table for 3 and a half hours during our rush. I made $40 because some didn't want to pay the gratuity.
Moreover, I got written up for the guest complaint. It's our policy to have a written documentation of guest complaints despite if the guests are belligerent or not. (We're a big restaurant with six dining room managers. If a server has multiple complaints, it's probably not the guest.) Usually, managers let it slide if the guests are obviously turds, but we only had over-zealous manager in training.
If my GM doesn't throw it out, I may not be able to get promoted because of a teenage girl who wanted free food. (He will though. Oh, he will.) If not, this girl may have cost me $20,000-$30,000. (Base pay for dining managers dances around 50k.)
Once they left, I hugged EVERYBODY. I'm not a huge fan of hugs. I hugged my line cooks, every server, EVERYONE...even my creepy MIT who screwed me over yet still offers to take me for drinks. I was SO happy that table was out of my life.
Sorry about the length. I don't even care if people read it! I just needed to write it. Lord Jesus I hate working Sundays.
**tl;dr Despite chipper attitude and best service I could offer, stereotypical African American party of 20 laughed and said, "We're running this cracker girl so hard," had over $150 in comps for no reason, most refused to pay gratuity, and a teenager complained about me having an attitude to get free meal and I may not be promoted to management because of it.**
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/18bh1f/absolutely_worst_super_racist_table_of_20_ive_had/
| 343 | 84 | 1,360,603,937 | 17 |
gratuity
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top
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1g7dm3e
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TalesFromYourServer
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Question: 20% service charge
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Went to a place last night. Bill came with 20% service charge. CC slip had space for “additional tip.”
- What did my server expect?
- What did the restaurant expect?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1g7dm3e/question_20_service_charge/
| 41 | 60 | 1,729,357,877 | 17 |
service charge
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relevance
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vaovyz
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TalesFromYourServer
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"Everyone gets ONE!"
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I work at a resort restaurant that serves food to a neighboring poolside bar. Every summer, when the bar opens, I'm scheduled to work as a cocktail server, taking and running orders to customers. Yesterday was my first big day back as a server and I was excited.
This weekend, the resort was hosting a big golf tournament and a large wedding, so the pool was LOADED with people. Imagine a sea of human heads bobbing up and down rather than water, and you can basically imagine what our crowd was like. And these people were THIRSTY. They wanted alcohol and, luckily for them, I was here to make their dreams come true.
The shift was absolute chaos. People were demanding drinks every five minutes and it was difficult to keep up with, especially with the Texas heat boiling everything in sight. Half way through, I come up to a group of gentlemen, who were part of the golf tournament (important for later). I'm taking a few orders from them, when one of their friends, who I'll just call Jeff, cuts in and tells me that he's going to get his credit card and for me to charge all their drinks onto that card. I say okay and as he's exiting the cool, sunscreen-tainted waters of the pool to get his card, I'm talking to his friends and finishing their orders.
A minute later, I hear a loud, piercing whistle echo right above and behind me. Then, I hear a bellowing "HEY!"
One by one, heads in the pool start to turn. Their eyes show an expression or either confusion or curiosity as the source of the whistle, our deer friend Jeff, holds his credit card in the air.
He then says *"EVERYONE GETS ONE ON ME! ONE. DRINK!"*
There's a millisecond of silence before the crowded pool erupts into cheers, victorious whistling, and chanting as Jeff stands there, victorious. You know those scenes in movies where a guy says "drinks are on me?" Well, to be honest, I never once thought I'd be in the middle of such a scenario. I felt like I had stumbled into a crowded concert, not a pool. My poor, introverted little heart was freaking out while my mind was trying to figure out what the heck was going on. As I stand up, Jeff proudly hands me his card, which I take with a fearful and uncertain gaze I kept hidden behind my sunglasses. I retreat to the bar, where my bewildered and unaware co-workers and customers stand questioning what happened. I'm holding Jeff's card, asking what to do, and I'm told to basically do it.
So that's what I did.
I went around the pool, taking orders as normal and keeping the card with me. I stop by this one guy, Gary, who I recognized as one of the men in the group and ask him why Jeff did this and if it was TRULY okay. I honestly thought maybe he was drunk and this was a decision made solely on that and was worried to charge a poor drunk man with hundreds of dollars of drinks. Gary chuckles and said he was definitely serious and explains that it's a special occasion.
Remember how I said these guys were from a golf tournament? Well, Jeff had apparently participated and got a Hole-in-One on one of the courses. If you've never played golf or even know anything about it, this is INSANELY lucky and rare. The odds depend on the kind of hole you're playing on as well as many other conditions, but the average golfer basically has a 12,500/1 chance in getting one. The stars would LITERALLy have to align for a golfer to get a Hole-In-One. I was honestly kind of shocked to learn this and told Gary that I didn't even think it was possible outside of a mini-golf game. He smiles, looks at me, and says "Well, why do you think he's celebrating it?"
I understood immediately, smiled, and got to work.
What was originally chaos became APOCALYPTIC. I, as well as my other co-worker, were constantly flagged down for drinks, even while we were delivering others. We had so many orders for Pina Coladas that we burned through almost four gallons of mix, as well as two bottles of rum (we added alcohol, rather than mix it in the machine). One of our bosses actually sent out a server from the inside to help and the look on his face when he saw the crowd was honestly kind of hilarious. We took almost an hour to take everyone's orders, make them, and deliver them. People were actually pretty patient and found our rushing around to be entertaining. One couple even tipped me a $100 bill in secret because I was going back and forth so often without complaining at all, which they found impressive. They even left a 110% tip on their check as thanks for the service. I made sure to give them the best hugs a stranger could give another stranger.
In the end, Jeff's bill was somewhere around $760, which included a 20% tip we added. I half expected Jeff to be upset in some capacity, but he was actually an awesome guy. He took his massive bill, looked at the total, and just said "Huh, well I expected it to be bigger!" He laughed, signed, and thanked me for the service. He even patted me on the back before he and his group left for the day.
Despite how terrified I was at first, the whole experience was really fun, if I'm being honest. It helped how many people were understanding about it and even patient with us. We're still struggling with understaffing, despite being so far away from the pandemic, and yet, we're working our butts off to make sure service is nearly perfect for our guests. It's hard, but when people are appreciative and reward us for our hard work, it really helps us.
To Jeff, congrats on that Hole-In-One. You deserved it! I hope you remember that moment for the rest of your life and never EVER forget it. And to the rest of you, whether you work in service or not, remember to tip your servers and always keep in mind that a lot of us care about you, not just as customers, but people with needs too. Thanks for reading! :)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/vaovyz/everyone_gets_one/
| 2,078 | 71 | 1,655,049,314 | 17 |
service charge
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relevance
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13vkait
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TalesFromYourServer
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Would you be ok with this?
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I hope this is the right place for this, if not am sorry about that. So this is a question from a customer point of view looking for feedback from server perspective. Back in early March my team at work hit a major milestone and as a thank you to them I took them all out for dinner + drinks. Food was great and service was amazing. At the end of the night when I paid for everything I used my corporate card since this was part of the reward for the work we had done. The total was \~$750 before tip. Per company guidelines I can tip up to 25%.
So the issue is that when I was paying the bill it was really dark and I had a few drinks in me so my eye sight wasn't the best and I ended up forgetting to add the 25% tip to the charge. This was totally by accident but I only recently found out that I did this when I was called in to review this charge with one of the bosses. I feel really bad that I did this and honestly I don't know how this happened since I hadn't had that much to drink but whatever the reason it happened.
It has been 3 months and I couldn't even pick our server out of a line up if I had to but I do know where we went out to. What I am thinking of doing is going in there and explain this story to the host/hostess hopefully they can look up who our server was and I make it right with interest or if they can't (which I assume will be the case) I will then tip everyone who is working that day. So from your pov as servers how would you feel about this? Are these good ideas or would a different approach be better? Oh I should mention that for our expense reports I don't need to provide a itemized receipt so I don't have that anymore. I can't just let this go as I can't stop thinking about this and how bad that poor women must have felt after all that work she put into serving us and then getting nothing. I am actually feeling embarrassed just posting this and I need advice on how to best attempt to fix this mess I made. Thank you for reading.
Update - So for those of you that wanted to know how things went here you go. First off all of you that said they wouldn't have any difficulty remembering me were not wrong and really now that I look back on it it shouldn't be surprise at all. Once they opened up I went inside and asked the hostess if she could help me figure out the name of the women who was our server the last time I was there. After I told her it was March 10th and that we sat outside near all the bonfires they had that night her eyes got all big and said "Oh that was you?" which made my stomach drop to the floor and I could feel my ears turning red (which happens to me when I am embarrassed). I told her that if she meant the one who didn't leave a tip on a 750 dollar bill then yes that was me and I was here to fix that mistake. She then gets this huge smile and says "Oh that was Dana let me go get her!".
Not going to lie I was not expecting to face her at all and at that point all I wanted to do was find a place to hide which being 6'4" and a solid 260 lbs is not an easy trick to pull off. Now the second thing I was wrong about was the moment I saw her I realized that yes I could have picked her out of a police lineup as she has the brightest shade of red hair I have ever seen. Anyways I could tell by the confused look on her face she wasn't told why she was meeting me so I introduced myself and told her I was very sorry for not leaving her a tip for all the hard work she put in serving my group back on that night. While I am not going to make excuses for what I didn't do I did want to make sure she knew that it wasn't what I had intended to do and that I have felt really bad since I figured out what happened and then handed her the envelope I had brought that had a apology letter and the cash that I was giving to her. At this point pretty much everyone that was there was watching us and started to encourage her to open it up right there. Her reaction is something that I will remember for a long while.
Pretty sure I broke my record that I set way back in second grade for the fastest I ever made a girl cry however least this time they were happy tears. She kept thanking me and I kept saying I was sorry then I told them that I needed to go now since I was already past my bedtime (work nights). She asked if she could hug me and I am not one to turn down hugs. So that is how things went from my point of view so I don't know what, if anything, happened after that but when I was leaving I did notice a lot of happy smiling folks so I would like to think I got their day started on a positive note. I wasn't sure if I should mention this or not cause this isn't a brag on my part at all but I decided the best way to handle this was to give her the same amount as the bill so this turned out to be the largest tip I have ever left.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/13vkait/would_you_be_ok_with_this/
| 73 | 26 | 1,685,434,537 | 17 |
service charge
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hot
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15ilu0s
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TalesFromYourServer
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Am I the horrible customer?
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Hope this is allowed here.
I'm a good tipper - 20% rounded up to the nearest dollar - as long as the service is adequate. I don't expect the world.
So tonight I stopped in at a chain bar/restaurant... let's call it Bar Huey. Three bartenders on duty. I sit at the bar, one of the bartenders comes up to me within 2 minutes, asks me what I want to drink, and leaves me a menu. He pours my draft, and walks off.
I am perusing the menu, and stopped here because I had a craving for boneless wings, and they are pretty good here. Great. Boneless wings with Old Bay and a side of blue cheese dressing. Mmmmmm.
So I'm waiting for the bartender to come back. Drinking my beer, waiting. And waiting. And waiting. He walked by me at least 4 times - zero eye contact. I raised my hand a couple of times as he walked by. Nothing.
The other two bartenders ignored me as well. One of them emptied their tip bucket in front of me and counted the money while I sat there with my beer almost gone. Not a word from her.
So my bt finally comes over and is talking to the bt counting the tips. I catch his attention and ask for the check, as there is no way in hell i am ordering food (and another beer) after waiting 25 minutes.
He brings the check. $7.46. I hand him a ten. He asked if I want change. Oh yes.
He brings me back $2. Like the 54 cents doesn't matter. Huh? If he brought back the correct change I would have left it on the bar and thrown another buck on top. But... I pocket the $2 and leave.
He has his 54 cent tip for pouring my beer and ignoring me.
So, am I a horrible customer?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/15ilu0s/am_i_the_horrible_customer/
| 1,605 | 306 | 1,691,209,624 | 17 |
restaurant tip
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relevance
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1hmcc9s
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TalesFromYourServer
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My (Completly Implausible) First Day
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I've been meaning to post this here for ages, and Christmas seems like a good enough time. Consider this my Christmas gift to you. This is kind of a wall of text, but I'm hoping it will at least be entertaining enough that SOMEONE will read it all. If you don't like novellas, don't be a hater: it takes 23 muscles to frown, and only three to click the 'close' button and move on.
I'd like to preface this by saying that this might sound implausible. I've read quite a few stories in here, and not a lot of them featured quite this large a set of interconnected clusterfucks all on the same day. Alas, I have no proof, so unless we can find someone else who worked in a small Mexican (hah) restaurant in Princeton, NJ 38.5 years ago, it's unlikely we'll see any proof. So maybe just sit back and enjoy the ride, okay?
So! Back in the summer of (I believe) 1986, I was a young and somewhat baffled 15-year-old, exploring my first summer as a high school student. Naturally I was eager for my first experience in the working world. I had done some computer stuff for my mother, who owned her own business, but that doesn't count of course because I was paid fairly and was not actively abused. So I got a job as a busboy for a little restaurant in Princeton, off the main street, for $5 an hour (edit: sheesh, not $5 a day!) plus ten percent of the tips. Which might not have been bad, evenings, or even lunches when school was in session, but worked out to be about $5.50 an hour, 10 AM (1 hour for pre-cleaning) to 4 PM. And no, the servers weren't ripping me off... much. We rarely had more than one party at a time except from 12 to 1, and then it was only three or four. In the summer, Princeton is *dead,* and I spent about 75% of my time cleaning the place rather than bussing tables. The servers spent about 75% of their time doing nothing at all, but since they were making $2.15 an hour plus no tips, and the place certainly wasn't bumping their pay up to non-server minimum (which was only $3.35 anyway), I guess it was actually sort of reasonable. If depressing.
Anyway. My boss arranged for me to arrive at 9 AM for a one-hour orientation. Got there at 8:50, went and knocked on the back (customer) door, and nobody answered. Sat down on the steps outside the back door and waited until 9, at which time it occurred to me that maybe one of the other doors was open. Went around to the front and knocked, but nobody answered. Went around to the back again and noticed a kitchen door. When I knocked, it just opened, neither locked nor even fully closed. The lights were off inside, and even with the door open it was very dark, so I only took one step inside in order to call out to someone. But before I got to the 'calling out' ... squish. I stepped on some kind of rubber matting, but it was... wet? Like, an inch of water on top of it. Did they, like, flood the kitchen every morning for cleaning or something? I called out, but nobody answered, but I did think I heard some beeping. Beep. Beep. Beep. What in the world.
Needless to say, I had never heard the warning 'disarm me now' beep of burglar alarm before. I had, however, heard the alarm beep of a burglar alarm before. (Do not ask how, because I will not tell you even though the statute of limitations has well and truly passed. Because you will judge me. Which you're already doing. Stop judging me.) So I poked a little further inside, still calling out, when the warning beeps stopped and the alarm began.
Mmhmm. Great. So I sighed, and turned around and sloshed back out the kitchen door and went and sat down on the stairs by the back door and waited. About ten to fifteen minutes later (9:30, by this point) a police car pulled up, and I (as a nice well-dressed skinny nerdy white kid in Princeton) explained what had happened to them, and they laughed and drove away. Your tax dollars at work, folks.
It was not until ten that the manager showed up. I walked up to the back door with him, as he apologized to me about being late and I apologized to him about setting off the burglar alarm. He seemed amused. That lasted another two or three minutes, until, while he was turning on the lights in the bar and dining room area, I asked him why the kitchen was flooded with water.
While I probably would have traded it for an extra $20 or so at the time, I have to admit that the manager's expression has stayed with me over the years in a way that money never seems to.
We sprinted back to the kitchen, and what to our wondering eyes should appear but a kitchen floor that was under two inches of greasy, disgusting, foul water. The rubber mats were those perforated ones that are an inch thick, and they were still sub-marine. My boss stood there hyperventilating for a few moments, and at that moment one of the kitchen staff opened the kitchen door, stepped inside, and recoiled as if bitten by a rattlesnake, swearing fluently in at least three languages, including, apparently, Klingon.
Okay. So apparently this isn't how they wash the floors. The more you know! My boss called the plumbers, and started filling me in on how to clean the dining area. It was there that I met the other folks on duty for the day shift that day: Jeff, a black dude who was probably the nicest person at the restaurant. (But who, a few weeks later, would tell me that he had two girlfriends and that I would probably never have sex with anyone except the woman I married, starting on my wedding day. When I attended my first bisexuals-only orgy, I thought of Jeff. I am fairly sure he wouldn't have appreciated that, but I did. Hi, Jeff!) Carl, the day bartender, a very, very depressed tee-totaler. The kitchen staff, an impenetrable wall of three Mexican-American men who, I found out later, did indeed speak entirely fluent English. They just didn't speak English *to me.* And, of course, John, my boss, who was actually, somehow, a decent person. A person who really didn't deserve his remarkable run of bad luck, culminating in August with him walking out at the end of his shift into a rainstorm, and walking back in two minutes later, eyes wide and face pale, and wailed, '...a TREE... fell on my NEW CONVERTIBLE'.
Plumbers got there within fifteen minutes (it turns out that it's the slow season for everybody) and started poking around. I periodically took a little break from cleaning to watch their progress (did I mention skinny nerdy white kid?) so I was watching when they climbed out of the crawlspace under the kitchen, chattered with one another for a minute, and then, instead of clearing the drains, proceeded to just drill a bunch of holes in the floor so all the water drained down into the crawlspace. This didn't seem entirely sanitary to me, but I'd learned to my cost that the only adults that really listened to me were my mother and one or two of my teachers, and even them only sometimes, so I shrugged and kept it to myself. Hey, at least it meant we opened up at noon. And got to serve BOTH of the parties that came in for lunch.
After that, there were really only three other things of note that day:
\* We needed to make some tortilla chips,so I was sent over to 'the bin' to pull out some already-cut-up tortillas. Not only were they already cut up, they were even pre-molded! I brought a handful of them to the kitchen guys and tried to communicate the fact that all the available stock had spots of mold on them, via the three words of Spanish I knew plus charades and a smidge of interpretive dance. (In retrospect, this might have been what convinced them to not admit to speaking English to me the entire time I worked there, so that what started as a one-day practical joke went on for three months.) The most impenetrable of the back-house staff, who was six feet three if he was an inch and nearly half as wide, rolled his eyes, took the chips, and threw them in the fryer. I discovered that the mold fries up to little black spots on the chips that customers never noticed. And that there were only two days a week when the chips did not have these little spots. I haven't eaten a lot of tortilla chips since.
\* At about 1 PM, I thought, 'gee, haven't I heard that song before'? Yes. Yes I had. As it turned out, the restaurant had exactly one tape of licensed music that it could legally play. One *eight-track* tape. One *sixty-minute* eight-track tape. I remember it had You're Only Human and Pressure (both by Billy Joel) on it, because I had actually liked those songs, before being scarred for life. I do still remember all the lyrics, even though I have heard neither one since 1986.
\* At about 3:45, fifteen minutes before I got through for the day, was the final indignity. The kitchen door swung both ways (like me, although I hadn't figured that out yet at that point), and just inside the kitchen next to it was the area where we dropped dirty dishes. Happily, it was on the non-door side, so at least we didn't get whacked in the ass by the door every time someone came into the kitchen. And everyone was pretty well practiced in yelling 'gangway' when we were going through the door, so there were no door-related injuries the entire time I worked there, at least during my shifts. Well, I was emptying dishes and I heard the dinner waitress (who had just taken over for Jeff) sing out, "Gangway!" in her cheerful voice. Then, "Behind you!" which, well, she was, so I said, "Okay!" And then "Oops!" and then about half a pot of scalding hot coffee went down my back. I ripped all the buttons off of my button-down shirt, and still ended up with first degree burns down most of my back, with a couple of blistered spots too.
I washed off the shirt and drove home with a soaking wet buttonless button-down draped over my stinging back, having made an awesome $32 (before taxes). My mother listened to my description of my first day of work, minus the interesting curse words I'd learned from the unfortunate kitchen incident, and then said, cheerfully, "Well, you got all the bad stuff out of the way today, so tomorrow should be fine." I got back to work tomorrow, and John told me, "I *really* wasn't expecting to see you again."
I stuck it out for the full three months, and then determined never to work in food service again, and to always overtip, two promises that I have by and large kept faithfully all the way through today.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hmcc9s/my_completly_implausible_first_day/
| 49 | 11 | 1,735,171,665 | 17 |
restaurant tip
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hot
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1gk8bbp
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TalesFromYourServer
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Years later, I still have nightmares about these Sunday shifts...
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I'm pretty happy overall with where I work now, but this is a tale from years ago at my first serving gig.
Two things stand out about the following issue. One, I am surprised how normal we can find stuff at our first jobs, then later when we get experienced, we can see how actually insane they were.
And two, we can see how utterly clueless corporate can be. I will add this place I am taking about did eventually go out of business, and I'm not really surprised.
So during college I worked at a family oriented Italian place. They tried to appeal to the higher end of casual dining, pretty decent food but nothing super special. But we were family friendly. Oh so family friendly.
So corporate decided they wanted us to be THE place everyone in the area thought of when taking their family out to eat. So they implemented the dreaded three word policy.
"Kids eat free."
This is not an unheard of policy but most places I've heard that do this, do it on a slower day, like Tuesday, just to get a little extra pop. No. Our higher ups decided to make it Sunday. All day Sunday.
"But wait!" You might say. "Don't most placed that do that have it with a minimum purchase? Places I've been to have a policy like...'one kids meal per adult meal' "
True. We did have a minimum. For every adult entree purchased, you got FOUR free kids meals.
Guess what ended up happening. You probably know but I'm gonna spell it out.
Our kids meals came with bread, soup or salad, entree, and dessert. Our cheapest adult entrees were $7.
We did become the place people took their families out to eat. Their WHOLE families. Every.....damn....Sunday.
It was completely common, nay, the normal, for full 10, 15, even 20+ tops to come in that were essentially what you would expect to see on a weekday field trip to a Chucky Cheese. We were by far the cheapest place in town.
You would have a ten top where two parents had 8 kids. Parents ordered the cheapest entrees and waters. The whole bill for a ten top would come out to 16 dollars. We had auto grat on parties of 8 or more but so what? That was still less than $3 for a ten top. We would easily work a double on Sunday, have no tables smaller than the occasional 4 top, gets 20%+ tips on every table, and still be clearing like $6 to $9 an hour.
Oh, and Sundays were mandatory.
And fun bonus, we had carpet. So you can imagine the absolute disaster that was the restaurant by Sunday night.
No restaurant in the city was as cheap as we were Sunday. You can't take 10 people out to McDonald's and eat for less than 20, let alone get full course meals for everyone. (Or the kids anyway).
It took corporate a year to finally realize how bad our Sunday numbers actually were. We were essentially operating at a loss. And sure, specials are there to get people in the door but when they know Sundays the only day they get that deal, they only come Sunday.
Corporate also finally noticed how low our numbers were on adult entrees. See, imagine you want to go to a nice(ish) restaurant and so you and your date walk in and you see/hear 75 plus kids, sometimes LITERALLY running around the dining room. I can't tell you how many times I saw a group of adults walk in, look around, and walk back out on Sunday. Plus those that stayed usually had to contend with a wait. And even more would be standing around the lobby, listening to the horrendous noise, then change their minds.
Finally, FINALLY, corporate realized their mistake and changed the policy. To one kids meal per entree.
I worked the Sunday after it happened and my God, what a shitshow.
Now, my general manager at this time was a pretty smart cookie. She made signs saying this for the front door. She told the hostesses to make sure to tell every guest with kids, even if it was more adults than kids, the policy change. And yes. She was going to be enforcing it. No comps because "no one told us" or "but it was cheaper last week".
Customers were having full on fits in the lobby. It was funny, and I'm gonna be honest....kind of sad. I'm not a complete asshole. I'm sure for some of these families, this was the only way they could actually get to go out and have a restaurant experience.
I'm not gonna lie. I thought I was gonna have a blast that day seeing entitled Karens screaming to talk to a manager (and there were some) but I also saw little kids being led out of the lobby crying saying "But mom you said we could have pizza tonight!" 😥
One grown woman literally fell to her knees crying in the lobby. (That was the only one my manager made an exception for, but did tell her it was only gonna be once, and only two per adult. Funny that that small detail stuck with me years later).
I wasn't at the company for much longer. Maybe two or three months. But Sundays quickly became the opposite. They were ghost towns for while. A few of the more reasonably sized families came in, maybe only having to pay for one or two extra kids meals, or splitting them for the younger kids. But we'd already gotten the reputation of a kids place. Even though I quit I still had friends that worked there long after.
They said Sundays stayed dead, but at least they didn't have the sheer amount of cleaning or screaming that had become the normal.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gk8bbp/years_later_i_still_have_nightmares_about_these/
| 136 | 13 | 1,730,817,930 | 17 |
restaurant tip
|
hot
|
469m2a
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I'm not one to be easily offended, but our waiter from last night accused me of short-tipping in front of a client when he was in the wrong.
|
I still have a pretty sour taste in my mouth about this and am curious how other servers from this subreddit would have handled the situation:
Myself and a co-worker took out 3 of our clients to a very nice meal in a very fancy restaurant. The final bill ended up being a few dollars short of $300 before tip. Myself and my co-worker split the bill evenly via 2 credit cards, but I agreed to apply the entire tip to my card only ($60 tip).
I placed my receipt showing which also referenced the total tip first, and placed my co-workers receipt behind it.
All is fine right?
I went to the bathroom, and one of my clients followed me as well. I walked out of the restroom first and was cornered by our waiter who said "we may have a problem here."
At this point my client walked out and witnessed the following exchange:
The waiter then said, "gratuity wasn't included on the bill." I responded, "No I know, you're good" and proceeded to continue walking. He raised his voice a little higher and said, "No, listen I'm not trying to be an asshole here but there's no tip here." I then walked back over to him, flipped through his receipt book and said, "no, here look - the first receipt has $60 written on the tip. 20%... did we do something wrong?"
The waiter then totally disengaged and apologized saying something about him really being an asshole in that situation. I told him no worries, to have a good night and then walked out. My client said "wow, that was interesting end to the evening"
I understand nobody is perfect, but this could have been handled differently right? We were the very last table to leave the restaurant so maybe he was just tired? I dunno but I was completely blind sided by this. I'd normally brush this off better but to have this unfold in front of a key client of mine really made this sting more than it should.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/469m2a/im_not_one_to_be_easily_offended_but_our_waiter/
| 64 | 36 | 1,455,727,970 | 17 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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2sexu5
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Snobby waiter and my large tip and awesome save by the manager
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So I just copied and pasted from an old Yelp review I wrote a few years ago. I was inspired to post this after the 100% tip post. The tip was for $100. I blanked out the name of the restaurant.
My girlfriend and I went last night to celebrate our one year anniversary. I chose to go to ______ based on the positive reviews of the food.
Given it was a Tuesday night, I figured I did not need reservations. We live walking-distance to the restaurant so we just walked right in. The hostess told us that she would be able to get us a table without a reservation and we were seated promptly.
I was surprised to see how crowded it was on a Tuesday night. I was prepared for a great dining experience until our waiter showed up. We were dressed appropriately for the occasion although I didn't go all out. I didn't expect the need to be decked out in a blazer and gold Rolex but maybe that would have made the waiter treat us better.
After we sat down, we had a wine menu in hand from the bar (we waited there for about one minute before being seated). Not once did he ask my girlfriend about wines, nor did he explain the wines. The specials board was brought over to our table and he didn't explain any of the dishes nor did he even give us any recommendations. It was almost as if he was being rushed at our table. No rapport, nothing.
After we order, I noticed the waiter going to the other tables conversing with them, asking how the food is and him talking about what he liked and disliked. Wine recommendations etc. Then I noticed him doing it to another table.
My girlfriend still had her wine menu and was not planning on ordering wine if he didn't ask. She was angry and I told her maybe the waiter was busy. It wasn't until a new couple sat next to us, and the same waiter explains everything from the specials to the wine, with recommendations and politeness/patience we realized he was looking down on us. (It was very blatant. I'm normally a very patient person when it comes to service. I've never complained to a manager about someone on the waitstaff before in any restaurant and his behavior prompted me to do it without hesitation).
My girlfriend and I are Asian, so we look young (we are in our mid twenties). It seemed like the average age of the patrons in the restaurant were in their late 40's to early 50's.
I said something to the manager, and immediately the manager started to serve us and ask us about the wine/describe the food. The manager made it up by giving us complementary dessert (white truffle gelato....that was intense) while making sure the waiter knew we were not happy. If it wasn't for the excellent manager and tasty food making our dining experience better, I would absolutely tell people not to go here.
The prices aren't bad for the quality of ingredients used. You would think the waiter would realize that we were willing to spend money when we were buying some of the most expensive things on the menu, yet he was still indifferent.
Aside from the snobby waiter:
The food was excellent. As mentioned before, the prices are not that bad for the quality of ingredients used. We ordered the black truffle risotto (18 dollars) and the fish Carpaccio with foie gras (18 I think). The lamb with cumin yogurt was a little dry and definitely not to the caliber of the other food we had. The white truffle pasta was to die for, they were generous with the white truffles and the pasta was all infused in truffle oil (85 dollars) and wonderful cream sauce. The white truffle gelato was surprisingly pungent. It was even stronger than the pasta. It also had a white truffle shaving on top. It was definitely the highlight of our dinner.
If it wasn't for our waiter, I'd go back as a regular (especially because we can walk there). Given our belittling experience, the only way I would go back is on a special occasion thanks to the save by the manager. I'd give _______ one last chance, but if we go back and feel like we're looked down upon again, I'd never ever go back. When I dine, I like to eat and am generous.
While I thought about giving our waiter a five dollar tip, I ended up tipping almost 50% and wrote on the check "DO NOT DISCRIMINATE" I hope he realizes that you shouldn't ever judge a book by its cover.. even when the cover is NOT shorts and a t-shirt (that's how I felt how he saw us).
A few days later...
So I checked out my credit card statement and I noticed that the manager decided NOT to charge me for the generous tip I gave to the waiter. This is above and beyond what I expected and am really suprised how the manager went out of his way to make up for our experience.
_______... I'll be coming back. Only because of the awesome manager!
**TLDR: Snobby ass waiter, I still tipped well, manager is a badass, docked his tip.**
**For those asking if the server was just busy, his attitude was pretty obvious that he didn't want to deal with us and apprently the restaurant has a reputation of being "snobby." His section was not busy at all either. **
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/2sexu5/snobby_waiter_and_my_large_tip_and_awesome_save/
| 29 | 22 | 1,421,253,931 | 17 |
waiter tip
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relevance
|
yju83e
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Boss taking our tip outs?
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I work at a restaurant where we have to do 3% of our total sales and 3% of our tips. He is raising the 3% of our total sales to 4% now. However, I would understand the tip outs, but this money goes towards him. We don’t have any bussers or bar staff (we only serve wine, beer, or sake).
Is this okay for him to do? I usually make 90+ after tip out and sometimes I have to give him 50 dollars worth of my work. He doesn’t help out the servers so it wouldn’t be paying him for the work he does.
Update: he wants us to sign a contract now.
Update again: for anyone interested. I am not working this week, but I was sent the picture of the contract he drafted up from my workers. It says that the wage raised to $7.98 an hour and we will receive a credit of $3.02 per hour towards wages based on the tips received (this amount can not exceed the tips I received). Additionally all the tips I receive will go towards a valid tip pooling or tip sharing arrangement to employees who customarily and regularly receive tips. Employees such as individuals who help render personal services, waiters and waitresses, sushi chefs, bus boys and girls, bartenders and hostess. This tip sharing agreement is new in a sense. We don’t have any bussers, bartenders or food runners. So I’m expecting the money will go directly towards the host and sushi chefs (I know the sushi chefs get paid half under the table) and i will obtain money from them as well? We’ve never done this so idk how this will play out (we’ve always given the money directly to our boss) I’ve never received any money from a host, sushi chef or other servers. I also never given them any money. My managers don’t want to answer the questions of where the tips are really going (they tell us to ask our boss) and they say if we don’t sign the contract we will be terminated on the spot. I am not willing to sign so I guess I’ll be finding a new job.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/yju83e/boss_taking_our_tip_outs/
| 100 | 38 | 1,667,359,640 | 17 |
waiter tip
|
hot
|
7o94vs
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Happy Holidays Bah Humbug to you
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I have only commented on this sub as I am a pizza delivery driver by profession. BUT I think the sentiment of this <rant> will be understood by servers as well. I wrote this rant years ago and have posted it on several sites around the internet over those years.
As the major "holiday" season is now past, it is time for my annual holiday rant. I am a pizza delivery driver.
I have had my share, this (and past) holiday season(s), of bah HUMBUG stiffs, joke tips and underwhelmed tips. Yes I have had some good (even great) tips but the usual crop of stiffers and undertippers is STILL there.
What I really hate the most about this time of year is the pitiful and transparent facade some people put on (as in wear when in "public"). By this I mean some people get all "happy and cheerful" to those around them. eg.. co-workers, friends, family, and the poor workers who have to brave the insanity that is the commericalized Xmas season. Unfortuneately it is ONLY a thin venier because as soon as your back is turned or the "holiday season" ends they revert back to their "true" self ie. with no reason "for the cheerful season" why be nice and cheerful to others. and most others around them recognize the thin venier and see it for what, IMO it really is, a LIE for the season.
The ones I HATE the most are the "customers" who, as they are giving me exact change or a "tip" rounded up to the nearest dollar say the following in that sickly sweet and holiday cheery type voice: "Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS/HAPPY New Year. Drive safe/keep warm. OH and THANKS for coming out in such bad weather." (lots of cold weather and snow right now). Making sure to SPECIFICALLY emphasis the MERRY or HAPPY part without (in IMHO) very much meaning behind it. It all seems so "canned" or parroted (just as the poor retail type persons are "required" to say some holiday greeting/parting words). This false platitude just irks me to no end.
The next catageory is the "holiday tipper". Most delivery drivers and servers know this one as well as I do. A few of the usual hard hearted/small hearted Grinch stiffers are "semi-kind hearted" (as in their heart grew maybe 1/2% bigger) during the roughly 5 week period of Thanksgiving/Xmas/New Year. They "consent" to letting a mere dollar or two squeeze past their tightly clenched Scroogie fingers on a $40 order. The remaining 11 months they basically laugh in your face with exact change or a big fat ZERO on the CC tip line. Yes I know the Scrooge is strong but come on!!!!!
I know for a fact that you (the customer) do order on a regular basis. I know your address by heart. I know every detail about the front of your house. Where are you getting the $$$'s to order delivery food 5 DAYS STRAIGHT (and this is on a regular basis)???? Heck I WANT YOUR job and you can have mine.
With the Holiday tipper, they show they DO know about and understand the concept of tipping those whose income depends heavily on tips. What pleasure does it give them to attempt to be slightly "non-Scroogie" during a very short period of time?? Is it some guilty conscience type thing??? Is it some kind of weird "Xmas duty" type thing????
WHY OH WHY is this 5 week period any different than the other 47 weeks in the year?????
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/7o94vs/happy_holidays_bah_humbug_to_you/
| 18 | 4 | 1,515,130,551 | 17 |
bad tipper
|
hot
|
3uc3iw
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I had an epiphany today.
|
Baby got her first misdemeanor. I fucked up recently, and got an OVI. I realize I fucked up; I shouldn't have driven that night. I took somebody's advice and got myself a lawyer. $1500 down, and I have rent coming up. Looking at my consequences, I hurt my squeaky clean record, hurt my cop of a father's record, hurt my wallet, and I'm facing jail time.
This happened a week ago today. I'm down for the count. But I am a bartender. I put a smile on my face and I have let my personality shine more now than ever. I always work hard, and I always let people see my work ethic. Never that personality I claim to not have.
I didn't let my OVI get me down, not in public. I show them me. I take "shots" with them, "On the house"(I take shots of Red Bull mixed with Peach Juice), and Monday-Wednesday, I made what I'd normally make in a week, Wednesday-Sunday.
Personality shines, guys. I only realized this recently because I've been trying to make ends meet, but I had a 20 top of traditional non-tippers come in tonight, and they tipped at least 40% overall, all because I had my good spirits.
Smile. Be genuine. When you're at work, it's a different world. Whatever is going on outside, they have no clue. We're all putting up fronts, but we never let the bad show.
A smile goes a long way. I could blame my amazing Monday-Wednesday on karma, but I know that I left my problems at home. And it made a huge difference.
Sidenote: Some people are just flat out assholes or don't know to tip, and fuck them. If you can spot those people, call them out. Fuck them.
Another sidenote: I used to have a customer come in and tip a dollar on his $50 tab, often. I stopped giving him service as extravagant as the first time because fuck him. One day, he had the nerve to complain about the service he got from the new girl. I called him out, told him service was only bad because he didn't tip us shit, he got mad, left, and never came back. Somebody heard the whole ordeal, gave us $10 on top of his tip, and now is a regular.
So be good. Smile. Be genuine. But some people genuinely suck. Don't deal with them. Don't let any assholes get your spirit down. Make your money, make some regulars, make friends, go home.
Edit: Grammar.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/3uc3iw/i_had_an_epiphany_today/
| 35 | 7 | 1,448,536,145 | 17 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
8vm7jk
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"I'm a really good tipper"
|
I was serving late at night on a Saturday, maybe around 9 or 10. We close at 11 on Saturdays, and a older couple walks in and gets sat at my table. I took their orders, and they seemed friendly enough. She ordered some sort of alcoholic mixed drink, and they wanted a salad as an appetizer so I was able to rush it out to them almost immediately because we were so slow. As I dropped it off, the guy looked surprised that I got it out so fast, and commented that he appreciated the speed and that he tips really well for those that deserve it. Whenever people mention tips I get a little uncomfortable, so I just said "I'll try my best" and made some small talk because it was so slow. He mentioned that his wife was from Brazil and I mentioned that I loved brigadeiro. He really liked that comment.
Later, after I dropped off the entrees, he flags me down and hands me a card. He told me to close the check because he didn't know how to use the ziosks. Then he asked me to give myself a $25 tip. Keep in mind, his bill was maybe 40ish dollars. I felt really bad, it was more than a 50&#37; tip and kept asking him if he was sure and whatnot. He kept insisting. Eventually, the ziosk actually glitched out for some other reason, and he asked me to print the check so that he would know that I actually got paid and thanked me.
He was such a nice guy. He definitely made my night. I just wanted to share something positive that happened to me recently.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8vm7jk/im_a_really_good_tipper/
| 90 | 9 | 1,530,565,152 | 17 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
20fuay
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Worst. Dinner. Ever. Input Please?
|
I've gotta get some input from people in the industry because this whole thing is still bugging me. Please forgive the probable wall of text and any misspellings/grammar issues as I'm on my phone.
Background: my boyfriend and I eat out a LOT, anywhere from 5-12 times per week depending on our schedules. I love cooking but my career is too time demanding right now; we're both big fans of trying out different restaurants/cuisines. He's a successful commodities trader these days but swears he'll never forget the 6 months or so he spent as a server in his teens, so we tip pretty well. Example: if our bill is under $50, he just throws a $50 tip down, regardless of the amount total or the level of service. Over $50, it's anywhere from 50-100+% of the bill. He's a bit old fashioned and he makes more than ten times what I do so in 3 months he's only agreed to let me pay twice. The first time was awesome, ate at a higher end establishment where the bill was just upwards of $180, but since the waiter was awesome, the chef had sent us a complimentary dish at the start of our meal and we were in Celebration Mode, I left our waiter a $200 tip.
What can I say? We both like watching faces light up and the thought we might be making up, in some small way, for shitty tippers.
Incident: the second time I talked him into letting me pay was this week, in celebration of a big deal he'd just made. I picked an upscale steakhouse, figuring I'd leave another big tip, and instead had the worst dining experience of my life.
We've both had waiters/waitresses flirt with us before when dining out together, but this was just on another level. The waitress stood next to me, facing and looking at him, while both of us ordered. Drinks, appetizer and entrees, check ins, not once did she look at me until our conversation at the end. She also touched my boyfriend several times: brushed/squeezed his shoulder with her hand and made some kind of comment on how well built he is (to which he said Please don't touch me), came up behind him and leaned an inch from his ear while asking him if his meal was "succulent" (wtf?! Succulent? REALLY?!), then ran her fingers through his HAIR while asking how he got it so soft. He looked really uncomfortable and said, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't touch me. It's incredibly disrespectful, both to me and to my girlfriend."
This is the first time she looks at me. She laughed and said, "Oh wow, I had no idea you two were *together*. How did *that* happen?" Uh, he'd called me his girlfriend at least twice that I remember, my girlfriend hasn't gotten her drink yet, my girlfriend didn't get her salad.
But still, I get it, as much as it hurt to hear and remember. My guy's a 10, former male model for years. Even on my *best* days with a lot of effort, I'm a 9. It definitely wasn't one of my best days. But still...maybe I'm overreacting but I felt that was really cold. I was just... miserable.
He told her she was not only disrespectful but also rude and that he'd like to speak with her manager. She visibly rolled her eyes and walked off, muttering "whatever" under her breath.
I start panicking because I'm afraid he's going to get her fired and the thought of being the reason someone lost their job, even a rude bitch, just feels like it would be too heavy a weight on my shoulders. He tells me to calm down, the manager just needs to know this server is doing this, etc.
Ten minutes or so roll by, no manager, but the waitress is back and puts the black bill holder directly in front of my boyfriend, saying, "Have a great night sweetheart." I snatch it up, open it, and on the fucking bill where she'd comp'd HIS two drinks, she wrote, "When your ready 2 upgrade call me!" With her phone number and a bunch of hearts. At this point I'm on the verge of tears, while my bf is asking what's so upsetting about the bill. He takes it out of my hands and I watch his face turn red and angry looking it over. I hadn't seen him angry before.
He gets a male waiter walking by's attention and tells him he needs to speak with a manager right now. It probably took thirty seconds for a manager to appear, pretty fast. Bf explains what happened from start to finish, says words like humiliating and terrible and such, and that we won't be leaving a tip or ever returning. I feel sorry for the manager; my Bf is far from yelling but manager is clearly flustered. Keeps apologizing different ways, to him and to me, says everything is comped, we're free to leave whenever and he hopes we'll give them another try. First time in my life I've had a meal comp'd and I hope it never happens again.
I go to the bathroom for a bit because I hate shedding tears in public. On my way back to my table, I run into our waitress, who gets in my face and screams that I'm a fucking bitch for getting her fired. Said some other ugly things well within earshot of other tables staring at us while I'm in shell shock mode, til a guy in a suit (probably another manager) grabs her by her arm and drags her toward the back.
I gather my shit at the table as fast as I can, Bf is asking what's wrong and suddenly first manager is there apologizing again and handing me a hundred dollar gift card. I shook my head, really just wanted to leave, he keeps saying please and sorry this and that til my Bf takes the card for me, thanks him and we leave.
Told my Bf everything when we got to his place, cried a lot, he reassured and comforted a lot, and gave the gift card to his business partner the next day. It's been a few days now but I still feel sick over the whole thing, am definitely depressed, and I guess I just want to know if anyone else has dealt with this level of shitstorm before. I feel like I should've spoken up earlier in the evening but I'm not sure when and what would've been appropriate since I'm pretty non-confrontational. I don't know how guilty I should feel so I just feel a lot. Maybe she was having a horrible day,maybe she just went through a break up and was beyond desperate, I just... I'm not sure what to do with this, I just know I need to put it all in it's place and get on with my life. Bf was upset when he found out I'd still planned on tipping 15%, but I've read about tip out on here and had friends in the industry and didn't want to screw anyone over: 15% is standard for a lot of people but in my mind would have been insult enough considering what she would have gotten if she hadn't been so horrible to me.
So tell me how wrong I am wherever I went wrong, How guilty I should feel, what and how I should've done something, and if you've ever seen anything like this happen before so I can begin to normalize it and get back to feeling good about life in general, please.
Tl;Dr: waitress goes overboard hitting on my boyfriend, gets fired and blames me; what level of guilt should I be at? because I'm at a 10 right now.
Edit (at 3 AM): Holy crap you guys, I just got home and was *not* expecting this amount of responses. I'll send thanks via messages tomorrow - messages instead of replies so I don't almost double the comment count.
To the skeptics: I get it, nothing real exists on the internet - I see kids saying the same thing all the time in other subs for all manner of reasons, from as-legit-as-you-can-get-without-actually-knowing-someone-IRL to totally bizarre. You don't know my BF or I personally, obviously, so in the age of the internet I don't blame you for brushing off anything that doesn't fit into your personal life experiences (so far, anyways), nor do I hold it against you or plan to return your misguided vitriol - the internet can be an ugly enough place as is, don't you think? Until earlier this week when it happened, it didn't fit into my world view or range of experiences, either. For what it's worth, I wish I could brush it off and pretend it didn't happen, too. But I can't, which is why, after a few days of trying to do so, I came here. That said, if you have legitimate questions that won't require me to give identity-revealing information (thus breaking the rules of this sub and reddit at large), and you're capable of phrasing things politely and having a conversation like a mature adult, please feel free to message me and I'll answer your (polite) questions to the best of my ability. :)
I wanted to say thank you here now to everyone who left something positive and worthwhile to read, because I couldn't have fathomed how much solace I'd get from reading your comments. I'll admit I was really hoping to hear some more of you had worked with or dealt with people like this so I could feel less... singled out, ugly, small, or something. That "I'm Not the Only One Who's Gone Through This" solidarity. And some of your comments came pretty close and did indeed make me feel less alone in dealing with this. But I think I got something better than commiseration: Insight. Someone once told me that depression is anger turned inward, and thanks to the helpful comments, I think I'm slowly turning it toward the right direction now. That's gonna make getting over it a lot easier in the long run, and I can't thank you all enough for that.
But I'm gonna try via messages anyway. \^_^
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/20fuay/worst_dinner_ever_input_please/
| 145 | 132 | 1,394,837,114 | 17 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
e5c6ih
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
|
To the woman who tipped me 60% on $100: thank you. You and your husband were absolute sweethearts and I expect you’ll hold the title of “best tipper” in my book for a long time.
To the 10-top of teenage Mormon missionaries who snapped your fingers to get my attention, tipped a combined 9 dollars and ate more soup, salad, and bread than we serve at an average lunch: not a great way to spread the good word.
To the server we lost in a car wreck on the 710 last night: We’ll miss you, buddy. Your absence was felt immediately and it will be for a long time. Hauling plates won’t be the same without you.
Needless to say— it’s been a complicated day.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/e5c6ih/the_good_the_bad_and_the_ugly/
| 88 | 10 | 1,575,350,265 | 17 |
good tipper
|
hot
|
b0nihh
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
After ten years in restaurants I finally received my "Big Tip" from a truly awesome customer
|
TL;DR: Incredibly nice old man gives me over $1200 in mostly silver change over the course of a month because he is just a really generous guy who wanted to share his garage change with his bartender
So I'm (24F) currently a bartender at this really tiny and old fashioned kinda bar and restaurant in a small town, it's one of only 2 bars in town and it's been there since the 70s. I started out dayshift bartending which is where I got to know all the regulars. Retired old men mostly with no shortage of stories or time to dedicate to happy hour.
One old man, H, is just the sweetest. He's well off financially as a retiree and comes in for a few hours almost any dayshift I'm there to sit with the other regulars and play keno and have some beers.
When I first started, H commented on how I didn't seem to like change. Like coin change, I always tried to minimize how much I had to count back by utilizing spare pennies and such. He made it a little joke and would bring me in handfuls of change at first, gold dollars and things like that. Then it escalated to jars of mixed change. $30-$40 at first, then moving over $100. He said he was finally taking the time to clear out all the change that accumulated in his garage workbench and basement over 30 years.
Finally a few weeks ago he gave me a gallon Mason jar full of quarters. It was $660. Never in my 10 years in restaurants has a customer given me an incredibly memorable tip (lots of very good ones over the years of course tho!) and here it was in a very heavy jar. All in all, the change jars ended up around $1200. And everytime he gave me one he said that I just had to buy him a Bud Light and a shot of Courvoiser and the rest was mine to keep (of course I bought him many more 2 dollar beers than that!)
That day H asked if I wondered why he gave me the change and I said yes absolutely, but i wasn't gonna push it and start questioning his generosity. H then launched into the sweetest little monologue about how he was blessed with two sons who are doing so well in life but he'll "never know the joy of walking his daughter down the aisle." He went on to say that if he were to have had a girl he hoped she'd have been a lot like me. H told me he thought I'd put the money to good use on student loans and supporting my new puppy and that's exactly what I've used every cent for.
H is a rare type of customer and human. He's so generous, not just with his bartenders but with everyone. Constantly bringing in treats, buying rounds any chance he can, giving wise and helpful advice in the form of interesting stories. He's a really cool dude and a sharp contrast to his counterpart bar buddy, B, who will bring in overripe store bought tomatoes claiming he grew them in his garden to give to other bar goers and then awkwardly and aggressively hint that they should buy him a drink for his generosity.
Fun aside: When I was bringing home the change my dad asked "Now this guy isn't some sort of creeper, right?" And I explained no he's not like that. I told H what my dad asked and he was just tickled by the word creeper. Sometimes now when he comes to sit at my bar he'll ask "You got a beer for this old creeper?"
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/b0nihh/after_ten_years_in_restaurants_i_finally_received/
| 351 | 17 | 1,552,492,143 | 17 |
big tip
|
relevance
|
1bzmq95
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The Jesus table
|
You know the type. Clean-cut. Beautiful wife and kids. A little too well dressed for a Moroccan restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. It's a Jesus table. Nothing wrong with that. As long as I get a tip and not a Chick tract.
I'm busting my ass this particular Sunday, I'm the lone server at this place known for its 5 course Moroccan meal of tagines and fig deserts with the occasional belly dancer. The kids love the belly dancers, and the dads usually do to. It's like a PG strip club of 5 year olds stuffing bills into the dress of an undulating ladies. And of course, about half of these girls dance downtown as well.
The belly dancer is doing her routine, and I'm rotating 6 different tables through different parts of thr 5 course meal while dressed as an extra in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Jesus table finishes dessert and tips 20% on card. I see the father of this holy family of 5 pull out a crisp $20 dollar bill and brandish it aloft while staring at me, not those bullshit ones with the prayers on them, genuine American fiat.
I approach between running a Bassila and clearing a course to see what's up. He says, "now young man, we have already paid and tipped for your wonderful service, but we would like to offer you this bill for a moment of your time " I can hear Antonio calling for me, my eye twitches, but an extra 20 bucks ain't bad at this spot. "We'd like to say a prayer with you."
I went to catholic school but am not a big practicer. But damn if I didn't grab their hands and lead them through an Out Father faster than a battlefield chaplain. I snatched the twenty and thanked them, and for once, thanked my parents for sending me off to be taught by nuns.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1bzmq95/the_jesus_table/
| 521 | 39 | 1,712,649,941 | 17 |
big tip
|
hot
|
s9weo6
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Stuck dollars and a sweet tip day
|
Simple silly story. We got slammed tonight. Had 34 covers when I got in at 4, and ended up doing like 200+. In the middle of having a 10, 8, 8, 4, 3 I got a lovely couple. I didn't get to give them a ton of attention but basically everything they ate and drank we talked about and they went with what I said.
At the end of their meal the gentleman asked to see a dessert menu. I dropped it, then got double sat, had the remaining 6 of 10 get individual checks, reups on drinks and I definitely left them hanging on dessert. Probably 10 minutes before I got back to check. He said they were good and would just like the check and asked if we took cash. Of course we do. He also asked if he could have a box for the popcorn we give in our bar. I brought them a paper bag full of it and a box for what they had.
Cash was on the table and with a gimmer in his eye proudly said, I don't need any change. I didn't grab it until after they were gone. Counted it. $170 cash for a $158 check. Damn not even 10%. I was like well, I left them hanging on dessert, I feel really bad.
Closing out at 12:30am I count the cash again. Two $50 were stuck together when I first counted. He left $72 on $158 with tax.
Had another 3 on the patio which no one sat on cause it was freezing (we do have heaters but it was like 25 degrees out). They were my escape from the madness inside and I tried to chat with them when I was outside, but I could only get out there so often. They used the bathroom inside a couple times and were like wtf man we saw you running in there, you're busy af! Had some good laughs. They left $52 on $180.
Pulled $520 in tips on $1700 in sales, with the 15-20%ers Either I was on my A game or people were generous as shit today.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/s9weo6/stuck_dollars_and_a_sweet_tip_day/
| 41 | 3 | 1,642,834,070 | 17 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
iuyxk9
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tips in general
|
So I’m in a state where we’re still only allowed to be at 25% capacity. That doesn’t matter however, since no one comes in. But we are slammed with take out all night. So I basically have become a to go order taker and cashier (or expo, we switch every shift and split tips.)
When the pandemic first hit people were very generous, when there was no seating. I mean sometimes we’d make more in tips just doing take out. Nowadays shits just dried up. We still do an amazing take out every night, so I have a job. But I’ll ring in $2000 in sales and the boss will have to cover to make sure we made minimum wage. Everyone knows what you would be making if those sales were dine in. I just want to know how people can order $100 in food and not leave anything? Or even worse, whatever the change is, they’ll round it up to the nearest dollar!
Just wondering if I’m the only one out there going through this?? ✌️
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/iuyxk9/tips_in_general/
| 8 | 15 | 1,600,401,229 | 17 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
hdxrpy
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Are you splitting tips now?
|
As back of house closer for the better half of a busy location pre pandemic - 80% of our guests are return customers - i was making a good living at my store. since the patios in Pennsylvania have been back in the swing of things, i haven’t been able to walk with a dollar, not even cash tips.
right before we opened, the whole front of house staff got together and said, times are tough, we should be happy to be opening again, we agree to split tips. we’ve already established a to-go system as an essential business, so some of us never stopped working, while some of us got unemployment benefits. now when the front all agreed to split tips, we obviously didn’t realize how much demands needed to be met at work to keep our patio, which has actually been a great success, working. one thing i forgot to mention, was the agreement that we would all be working different positions during the week, since the servers now needed to be doing to go, serving, expo, and bussing, just with the new model of business we had to adapted to.
well i’ve been a server every single shift. i was trusted to close 4-5 nights a week, i know i have earned it though. obviously, from the owners perspective, i think i’d want me on the floor, as i have years of experience, when he can trust the kids in high school and college to take orders over the phone, or run bags to cars or bus, because they haven’t died on open doubles on mother’s day ever. in objective comparison, in normal circumstances, that’s why i would be making loads of more more money. i have work ethic, skill and knowledge. so now that Billy the busser is being paid as much as i do, i’m pissed bc in two weeks i cleared 2k in just credit card tips bc of the my section, the rise in price and people have been very generous. i’ve been lucky. but what happens when my paycheck is $1350 for two weeks? after watching another co-worker sit at the phone all week taking orders because she just started serving two months ago? now that they’re making as much as you, and you’re the one earning it, would you quit?
edit: you’ve clocked out with 46+ hours the last three weeks at the end of the week
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/hdxrpy/are_you_splitting_tips_now/
| 4 | 2 | 1,592,850,354 | 17 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
3u57he
|
TalesFromRetail
|
Driver: "Your pallet tipped over. I can't get the track out."
|
Cast of characters:
D: Our driver for that day, now retired and one of the best guys I've ever worked with.
A: An associate and my partner that day for unloading the truck.
Me: Myself.
This story takes place a year ago. I was and still am working at a convenience store in the Midwest. I had only been with the company and this location a few months. I had been trained to unload the trucks that came by every other day with our beverages and dairy. It was in early summer, bright and early in the morning.
It's usually a three man operation, two associates and the driver who sends the items down a track. We had finished our vital tasks before he had arrived at the back of the store. Mainly filling dairy and the back stocks for snacks. The truck arrived at our store and I am ready to begin unloading with my partner. The driver, we'll call him D, hands us the delivery sheet and says to us:
D: I can't get my track out because your grocery pallet has tipped over.
Me: How did that happen?
A: Yeah. How'd that happen?
D: Some little blue four door car cut me off on the highway outside of *insert small town name here* so I had to hit the brakes. I'll have to hand you the contents of the pallet by hand.
Me: Damn. That sucks. Did you get his plates?
D: Yeah. I radioed the cops and they'll take care of it.
Me: Okay. That's great. I don't know why people think it's okay to play chicken with semis.
So he climbed up the stairs to the open door on the side of the trailer. We got into position below him and he handed us the contents of our tipped pallet. This took about 20 minutes for us to load up the carts with our soda, candy and various items. He thanked us as he got the track out and the stand so we could continue as normal. The rest of the unload went by rather uneventfully, we did finish behind schedule by half an hour thanks to the tipped pallet. We did save his bacon that day with our quick actions in helping him get through the pallet.
Fast forward a year later and I'm still talking about this tale to new driver's I encounter while working in the back room as well as guests. It's something I will definitely talk about for years to come in and out of retail.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/3u57he/driver_your_pallet_tipped_over_i_cant_get_the/
| 57 | 19 | 1,448,407,453 | 17 |
tip
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relevance
|
aqxxp1
|
TalesFromRetail
|
Some guy gave me $100 for being a good cashier
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This happened just yesterday (Valentine's Day.) It was a normal day at the grocery store when suddenly a man approached me. I assumed I did something wrong per my anxiety and expecting the worst. So I'm standing there wondering what I did wrong as he whips out 5 $20 bills. I figured maybe I gave him too much change or something. Then he says "You really made my day son. You were the sweetest to me and my wife, and I loved hearing about you and your fiancee's relationship. So here's something special for you two to have a nice night out together for Valentine's Day." Per company policy I did my best to deny the tip but he insisted, so I sat it down on my register. My customers in line were as shocked as I was. Some dude just handed me one hundred dollars. Like that's pretty wild of a situation. I dialed into my phone by my register to the service desk and told them my situation & a whole bunch of people came over. The main woman who supervises me counted the money. "20, 40, 60, 80, 100. Yep, the guy gave him $100." Her jaw might as well had been to the floor at this point. She explains to me that it'll be up at the front desk for 30 days (I'm assuming in case he regrets it & wants it back before then.) It kinda sucks because we couldn't use it for what the man intended (a nice Valentine's Day dinner) but hell I appreciate that he gave me $100! That'll probably go towards part of my bills. Thanks random guy.
Also I've only been working here for like a week so I'd say it's a good sign that I'll end up being a good addition to their team if I literally got $100 from a random customer for being good at my job!
UPDATE: Cashier lead said it's in the system & I will be receiving the tip.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/aqxxp1/some_guy_gave_me_100_for_being_a_good_cashier/
| 1,457 | 108 | 1,550,246,115 | 17 |
tip
|
relevance
|
1oyogs
|
TalesFromRetail
|
Single diners can surprise you
|
It should really be /r/talesfromhospitality, but I thought I'd share anyways. :)
**Background:** About 4 years ago, I was working in a restaurant in a large mall. I had several duties (Hostess, waitress, clearing tables, bartender) for 13 hours a day, every day. Just finished high-school, and decided to spend some time before uni to get some extra cash.
**What happened:** I've been on shift for about 9 hours and the dinner rush was just starting, with all my combined duties, I was exhausted and customers were being..customers. (Snapping their fingers at me to call me over, changing orders last minute, not giving me two shits, letting their kids run around like the tiny fucktrophies they are etc.) Whatever, perks of the job.
In comes in a middle-aged caucasian man who seemed quiet and pleasant enough. I sit him down, and he's never been in our restaurant before, so I recommend dishes, take his order and make small talk. Throughout his entire dinner, he gave me absolutely no trouble and every time I had a moment to spare, I made sure that he had everything he needed, and we actually started talking about his work, why he was in Malaysia, turns out he was from France. So we practiced our french together, and we both had a grand ole time.
The bill came, and unfortunately, I was busy with another table so I couldn't say goodbye to him personally, but I did give him a wave and a smile as he went out. He left a $5 tip on his $40ish meal. This is extremely rare as they don't practice tipping here, and it'll mostly be loose change. Heck, we'd be lucky to even get a dollar on a good day.
Needless to say, I hoped he would come back again one day. And he did. An hour later. I was hostessing at that point and he came up to the little podium (the one with the menus & reservation book) with a bag in hand. It was from Godiva: uber fancy chocolates, and I joked that whoever got that was a super lucky lady.
No joke, he gave me the bag. He just handed it to me and said "This is for you, it's for the amazing service that you gave me and for the nice chats that we had over dinner. It was the most pleasant dinner experience I've had since coming to this country."
It was like someone had pantsed me. My mouth fell open and I turned redder than a ginger in summer. I could barely stammer out a "thank you", but he understood and went on his merry way.
Now, by this point, everyone (my "colleagues" and some diners) was staring at what just happened, and demanded what happened. I "spark-noted" the whole story and just..couldn't stop grinning.
My entire day was made. And the chocolates were DELICIOUS.
TL;DR: Take candy from strangers.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1oyogs/single_diners_can_surprise_you/
| 892 | 120 | 1,382,425,293 | 17 |
tip
|
top
|
cpwisn
|
TalesFromRetail
|
"Give me $15!!!"
|
Hello all, time for another story from the shipping place. Mobile poster, so give me some slack.
Anyway, this happened yesterday, and I'm still reeling from it.
One of the services we offer here in shipping hell is to copy whatever you want, as long as you're fine with it being on standard copy paper, because we haven't been told now to change the settings for different thicknesses of paper. Standard paper? Perfect. Photo paper or cardstock? Try somewhere else.
Our prices aren't that low, but they're not that high either. A single copy is $0.25, multiples up to 30 copies are $0.15 per, and anything over 30 copies is $0.10 per, not including any taxes. This is mildly important.
Now, we have the customer who made me have a mental break in the back room.
She comes in at least once a month, and makes a ton of copies. Like, at least 80 in any visit. As she comes in so often, and makes so many copies, the owner of the store has authorized us to give her the $0.10 cost for any copies she may make at all, even if she's only making one or two. Not just because of the volume that she's typically makes, but also because she has several financial and health problems.
One of these health problems is a brain injury of some kind. And she will not let you forget it. Its brought up in every interaction she has with you, and she always tries to get a price even lower than what we give her, by claiming that she does not have the money to pay more than what she has, but the moment we threaten to call the owner, she magically has enough money that she "forgot about".
As you can likely guess, we keep a pretty close eye on her, if only to make sure that she isn't trying to make off with any extra copies that have not been paid for.
So, the tale begins on a hot summer day. It's 90 degrees out, and I'm slowly baking to death in a store who's air conditioning system is slowly dying a harsh and painful death. So it goes here in the south.
I'm quietly debating with myself if it would be worth it to take a soda from the fridge, or if i can wait out the last hour and a half of my shift and save my money, when the customer comes in. Surprise surprise, she wants to make copies. I'd just refilled the copier with plenty of paper, so I was ready to sit back and assist as needed, until she calls me over to help her.
(C - customer, Me - mental explosion)
Me: "Yes ma'am, what can I help you with today?"
C: "Oh, i need a lot of copies made, I need a single copy of this," she holds up her originals, which are in pretty rough shape, "and I'm going to need to make more copies from that copy."
Not an unusual request, especially since the originals are damaged. It's a lot easier to make a single copy of each, then send the cleaner versions through the feeder than it is to copy them all from the screen.
So, I start making the copies for her, attempting to caution her to not pull any off of the tray until after they're all finished, as it can interfere with the feed as the copies come out, but she still obsessively checks each and every copy that's made, causing several of them to become wrinkled or creased due to her not putting them back on the tray properly. Whatever, not my problem.
Anyway, I make the original copies, and a quick test of the copied copies to make sure that they'll come out alright quality wise.
It's at this point that my day goes from relaxing to insane.
C : "I was here the other day, and the guy that works here said that he would give me the copies because the ones he made were messed up, and the copy machine just kept spitting out the same page over and over instead of making my copies."
Me: "I'm not certain if I would be able to do that. How many copies are we talking about? Because we're charged for every action that the copier makes due to the terms of our lease on it, and paper isn't free."
Its true. You really can lease anything these days.
C: "All the copies that we've made, as well as 7 more copies of it all. He said he wouldn't charge me, because I already paid for it."
Now, we're not talking an easy 10 copies here. I would be able to authorize giving 10 copies for free.
She had 16 originals, and I'd already made 2 copies of each. So at this point, we're 32 copies in. At 10 cents each. And she's talking about making 9 total copies of the 16 originals, for a total of *144* copies. And she wants them all for free.
For those not 100% sure, or not quite able to calculate the tax on that, that's $15.41 of copies. I would be fired if i let someone walk away with that many copies.
Me: "Ma'am, I can't just give you that many copies. Do you have a receipt that shows that you paid, or something in writing that says that this was agreed upon?"
C: "No, but I already paid!"
Me: "Then unfortunately, I can't just give you the copies for free. I can-"
C: "But I already paid!"
Me: "Yes ma'am, I understand that. But unfortunately without proof, I cannot authorize something that large."
C: "Call your manager. I was told by the young man that I could get them!"
Me: "The manager is unavailable, and will not be available for contact until the end of the month."
Only half true, but he's preparing to go out of town, and I didn't want to bother him.
C: "This is appalling, you know, I have a brain injury and can't be expected to keep up with everything, and you are discriminating against me over it, and I will be calling to complain."
She then storms out, taking the copies with her, without a single dollar left behind to cover the cost.
So guess who had to pay $3.50 to cover that cost.
The owner did give me a $5 to reimburse me for it, and as an apology for what happened. And I spoke with the other employee. He never said anything similar to the customer, and both the owner and other employee will be keeping an eye out for her in case she tries anything similar again.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/cpwisn/give_me_15/
| 191 | 21 | 1,565,717,948 | 17 |
service charge
|
hot
|
1iazqa
|
TalesFromRetail
|
The church group.
|
Just getting around to posting this - it actually happened last Sunday.
Sundays are odd days in this area. There's either no business, or everyone's slammed. Last Sunday we were slammed.
The floor manager (quite the jerk sometimes) took a reservation for the pastor of the church he goes to. The reservation is for a group of about 12, I think, and they were to receive a 10% "group" discount and had the party room.
They arrived and were seated and the floor manager (who was scheduled to be waiting on them) gets everyone's drink orders and they order some appetizers. We made the apps right away and sent them out while the floor manager gets the drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
After taking their food order, he assigns a server, I'll call her "Ditzy" to the table, because the group was apparently giving him a hard time.
They ordered enough food for probably 20-25 people. We had it out very quickly, and Ditzy did a good job delivering the food. About 15 minutes later she pops into the kitchen looking flustered.
**Ditzy** "Ugh, that table is being so difficult! I need like 4 different sides because they don't like how theirs look, and they don't understand why I can't give them free samples of most of the menu!!!"
She hurries away with the replacements, while I'm sure nothing was wrong with the order.
Right after they left I popped out into the dining room to find out the whole story.
* They constantly "changed their minds" on soda and kept asking for different flavors. We have 6 syrups: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Lemonade, Dr. Pepper, and Fanta Orange. Its not rocket science.
* They whined about their food. It didn't look fresh, it wasn't what they thought it was, best one yet "it wasn't what I expected it to be". BS. Especially because they ate all of it.
* They asked for more than a 10% discount and asked for "free samples" of nearly every menu item that they didn't order. And not just a small taste for one person. For all 12.
* They asked for "refills" on their food. Not joking. And no, the restaurant doesn't do bottomless fries or endless chips. They honestly wanted a whole other burger, for free. Just because they ate the first one.
Someone (not sure who) caved a bit and gave them their appetizers for free, in addition to the 10% off. Total on the ticket before discounts was about $180. They tipped 4 dollars total and a stack of business cards for their church. A few of them were also trying to get Ditzy to sign up to attend their church.
WTF.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1iazqa/the_church_group/
| 245 | 64 | 1,373,845,942 | 17 |
restaurant tip
|
relevance
|
c2h098
|
TalesFromRetail
|
"If you knock down the price by 20% off, I'll FOR SURE buy this hose!"
|
Another day, another story about a customer and wanting an item for a different price. For those that didn't see my "$115 pump" tale, some background info! I work as a sales associate at my "farm and other departments" retail store, where I work the hardware and farm section. For this story, the other parties involved are my team lead (TL) and discount customer (DC).
This happened yesterday near the end of my shift. It was the first time that I opened my department on my own (and had little idea of opening procedure, thanks manager!). Anyways, by the time I interact with DC, I have neared wits-end with running around, answering calls, and other stuff. My first encounter with DC (and her husband) was over by our lawn &amp; garden section.
DC was ok at first, where she asked me if we had couplers for the larger-sized garden edging. She had already taken a look at what was hanging up, which was just couplers for the smaller version. I told her I'd take a look outside and see if we had any in our garden center (doubtful, but with how unorganized our store is, possible). Ultimately couldn't find it and told her and thought that was the last of her. Nope.
About 10 minutes later as I was walking to the front of the store after selling 2 guys a lawn mower (box and cart in toe), DC had one "final" question for me.
DC: "Do you think we could get a discount on one of your hoses? The hose is all out of the package."
Me: "Yeah, we usually do manager markdowns on those. I'll call my team lead and see what we can do!"
*call over to team lead and explain the situation*
TL: "For markdowns, we usually do 10% off of the price. Is it just out of the packaging?"
Me: "Yeah, that's what the customer said."
TL: "Then yeah, just the 10% is all we can do."
I explain this to DC, but she's was damn adamant about getting a larger price cut as we walked over and showed me the hose. Upon looking at it, it really wasn't that bad. It was one of those flex hoses and all that was wrong was that someone opened the plastic top and maybe 2 feet of hose was on the outside of the packaging.
Me: "Yeah, the 10% is gonna be the usual markdown we're gonna do."
DC: "But can you tell your guy that I'll **for sure** buy this if you give me 20% off??"
Me: "I'm sorry but it sounded like 10% was the final offer."
DC: "Oh give him another call, it doesn't hurt!" (cue my brain being exasperated that it isn't getting through her that 10% is the FINAL word)
Me: *standing awkwardly wanting this to go away* "Hey TL, are you **sure** that 10% is the final discount?"
TL: "Yes, yes 10% is all we can do!"
After conveying this to DC, she shrugged her shoulders and walked away because she didn't want to buy one out of the box that badly (huge eye-roll). Ultimately met up with my team lead and while he wasn't upset at me for asking again (he's a good guy), the first thing out of his mouth upon seeing me was asking about what this lady's problem was.
God, it's great having a higher-up person that doesn't appease childish behavior and can have a good laugh afterwards.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/c2h098/if_you_knock_down_the_price_by_20_off_ill_for/
| 967 | 52 | 1,560,950,398 | 17 |
20%
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relevance
|
9q1hhn
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
A group of customers left me no tip tonight and told me why.
|
I’ve been a server for various points throughout my life since I was 16, and I am 29 now. Usually I would serve or host as a part time job, but currently my only job is being a server.
I had 3 guys come in that looked about my age. When they sat down, I greeted them and then asked them how many shots they were going to be buying tonight. They were fairly loud and seemed in a good mood, and I said that mostly to be funny.
The first couple of guys told me they didn’t want shots, but they would be ordering beers. Then the last guy told me he would need a few shots if I was going to be his server. I chuckled, I thought we were joking and went and got their drinks.
They ordered their food, a few more beers, there weren’t any major issues, and they said it would all be one check tonight.
I went to pick up their credit card receipt, and there was 0 in the tip line. Ok, maybe they’ll leave cash-no big deal. But as I am thanking them for coming in, one of the guys interrupts me.
He tells me that I probably noticed he didn’t tip me. I am honestly kind of embarrassed to be having this conversation, and I was flustered, so I just replied with something like “oh, that’s okay, have a nice night.”
He then proceeded to tell me; “I didn’t really feel like shelling out an extra 20 bucks for you, because no offense, but you could step it up a bit. All the other waitresses in here are very cute and earn their tips, try putting on more make up, or going to a gym. I am just being honest with you, if a guy wanted to f**ck you-he’d tip you better.”
I was so mortified I didn’t even say anything. I could feel my face turning red, while every guy at that table stared at me. Nobody said anything.
I work very hard, and I take so much pride in my work. I try to look nice and put together every night, because it can speak to how much pride you do take in it. I am friendly and outgoing, because I love working with people and I love my job.
I wish I would’ve had something to say back to him, but I just walked away instead. I’ve worked double shifts all week, and closed each night. I’ve been stiffed a couple times almost every day this week- but I don’t take it personal and I try to still always hold my head up-but that really hurt.
Sorry for the wall of text. Needed to get this rant out.
TLDR: dick head didn’t tip me.
EDIT: thank you everyone for saying such lovely things.
FWIW, I don’t think what he said holds any true merit-and I love and accept myself whole heartedly. It was more so the fact he said it at all, his entitlement, and to be reduced to wether or not I am fuckable to determine my worth.
This happened at the tail end of my night. I was the only server on the floor, and the only other female on staff with me tonight was the bartender, who I’ve never really confided in and or gotten along very well with. We’re just coworkers, that’s it.
I also didn’t tell my manager, because my manager is a guy as well. He is mostly friendly-but honestly my manager is creepy too. Lots of unwanted hugs and shoulder touching. Comments and questions asking me if “I have a man, or if I’d ever be willing to be a step mom” (he has 4 kids with his ex wife)
I’ve talked to my manager’s managers about his creep behavior, and it has gotten better-but I still wouldn’t go to him with shit like this. Ever.
Like I said-it’s been a long week. I worked doubles every day, and closed every night. 2 of those nights I was the only server on for hours because so many other servers called out. I’ve been stiffed, and treated like crap-and it broke my heart, finally.
I know I am better than he is, and that I am doing just fine, it’s just exhausting existing as a woman sometimes, and there’s not enough places you get to “just be.”
Thanks for letting me share, and vent.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9q1hhn/a_group_of_customers_left_me_no_tip_tonight_and/
| 9,699 | 776 | 1,540,103,518 | 16 |
tip
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relevance
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w0m08z
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TalesFromYourServer
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Posted about a shitty tip in a different sub and a lot of the comments were awful.
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I got a .24 cent tip from some bratty rich girls that tried a billion samples and held up the line, so I posted a pic of the receipt to show my frustration. What alarmed me was all the comments saying things like I deserve it for having a stupid job, people voicing their refusal to tip service workers, people saying the girls are in the right for not tipping, lots of Europeans bragging about how there is no need to tip in Europe and so they won’t tip here (like really, you can’t even bother to tip in a country that encourages it?!) and most people advocating for tipping a fair amount being downvoted into the Stone Age.
I said my state only pays 2.30 an hour to service industry workers and that I rely on tips and many people said they still wouldn’t tip because it’s not their problem. I’ll link the post in comments so y’all can see what you think.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/w0m08z/posted_about_a_shitty_tip_in_a_different_sub_and/
| 1,192 | 276 | 1,657,993,144 | 16 |
tip
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relevance
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14scbr1
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TalesFromYourServer
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Tipping
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Anyone else notice a shift in the perception of tipping in America, it’s becoming more and more hated and debated that tipping shouldn’t be a thing. I believe all these stupid iPad tip services are to blame, because now people are being asked to tip on things they’ve never had to before and now it’s everywhere. Causing this to change how I’ve been getting tipped as a server for providing an actual service, as opposed to turning an iPad around and fulfilling exact job requirements
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/14scbr1/tipping/
| 604 | 353 | 1,688,656,840 | 16 |
tip
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relevance
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1ke29sh
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Derby Day
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It's Derby Day in Kentucky, which is a huge deal in the service industry here. The week leading up to Derby itself is so packed full of events that it can feel like five mother's days in a row depending on where you work and how close you are to Churchill Downs.
We had a large party come into the restaurant with extra people outside their reservation. Not a huge deal, we push a table over. They proceed to stand and talk in the middle of the restaurant where the table was. Annoying but whatever, we weren't that busy yet. They sit down. One of the women takes off their ridiculous heels that I can not fathom trying to wear to a muddy rain soaked racetrack. She leaves them in the aisle. The server trips over them. Luckily she doesn't fall or drop anything
These mfs had the audacity to laugh at her. We're all furious. The managers asks what the server wants them to do. She says nothing, she doesn't want to affect her tip.
They tipped her less than 10% on a $375 ticket.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1ke29sh/derby_day/
| 61 | 8 | 1,746,303,874 | 16 |
tip
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hot
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1k0vdth
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TalesFromYourServer
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I owe $50 back to a customer
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Monday night I had a table that was very nice and seemed like they were old friends catching up. They sat in my section for basically the entire evening (3+ hours) and their bill came out to $135. One person picked up the check and generously tipped $80 on CC, totaled it out correctly, and signed the merchant copy. They liked me and were there all night so I thought he was just being very gracious, in return I tipped out extra to support staff. Well now 2 days later he’s calling and asking for a $50 refund bc he only meant to leave a $30 tip and not $80. My manager is processing his refund and not that I don’t think she should, I’m just salty ab it. Like cmon man, I get paid at the end of the night so that $80 tip was already in my wallet.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1k0vdth/i_owe_50_back_to_a_customer/
| 442 | 91 | 1,744,837,354 | 16 |
tip
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hot
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1hpwx83
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Is life real? Am I dreaming?
|
Oh God, I’ve never met such a condescending person in my life. And the fact that she’s a mother makes it even worst. Morning rush, this group of 7 south Asians walks in. Mind you, I’m also south Asian. This Asian Karen was so fucking rude, you would think I’m her servant and she’s a queen.
Her son dropped his spoon on the floor when eating his rice, she says “oh honey, leave that there. Tell the server to get it and get you a new one.”
We were slammed and I had another 8 top walked in. I’m bringing out their drinks and she waved at me as I’m walking with five drinks on a tray, “hey! I need to put in another order for my son!”
Brought their dessert out and as I’m walking away, this woman looked at her daughter and said “work hard. Don’t end up like her. This is so sad.”
Entire time she’s grouching, her whole table were just eating their food with their head facing down, like they were afraid of being seen. Her entire table was just filled with her voice. “Hey, you can’t drink cold water when eating hot food. Wait after you’re done eating” and “get your elbow off the table, we are in public.” When I was handing her daughter her food, she grabbed it with both hands and almost bowed while sitting.
Best part? Tipped zero after finding out about 15% gratuity for parties over 6. Walking out she told me “I didn’t leave anything. You added the tip yourself.” She strutted away before I could explain anything. If it wasn’t so busy, I would’ve given her the time of my day goddammit.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1hpwx83/is_life_real_am_i_dreaming/
| 277 | 43 | 1,735,591,281 | 16 |
tip
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hot
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of1x1a
|
TalesFromYourServer
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"It is RIDICULOUS that you charged us for this appetizer" - and how to bamboozle a Karen.
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This one time an eight top split the bill four ways (couples), I did the whole "inform me of any discrepancies" speech and billed them out. 20% all around except one couple, the guy left me less than 10%- but no sweat. I wasn't bothered.
Twenty minutes after I see the cheap tipper's wife on her way back into the restaurant, all geared up for a fight. It was getting quiet at that point, just a couple tables. A great audience for what was about to occur.
She storms in, pulls out the bill and indignantly points out one of the appetizers, says that it was shared and as such her husband should NOT have been charged.
She says "It is ridiculous that we should pay for this!"
I was chilled. I immediately felt a huge wave of pity for the husband who had clearly been drilled in the parking lot for fifteen minutes.
I compose myself carefully, go ALL SMILES and ask, "So you want me to reopen the table, refund the card, then charge the card again for a different amount and process the table again and have us eat the cost of the app?"
Her: "Yes"
Me: "Well, honestly... that's ridiculous. It's a lot of work. But I think I can make this right"
And I pulled out my wallet. I tried to hand it to her.
Me: "Seems to me like we owe you some money. So how much do you want?"
Her: "What are you doing? Can't the restaurant cover it?"
Me: "Sure, but I'm not gonna ask my boss to cover this one. The food was good, right? (She nods) and until I messed up with the bill, service was good? (nods again) ok so it's my mistake, this is between me and you, so let me make it right. How much do you want? Twenty dollars? Forty dollars?"
She starts looking really uncomfortable at mugging me all of a sudden. I fan out my float, it's not a lot. I was 23 and looked it too.
"Go ahead! What was the app, 13 dollars plus tax and tip? Here take twenty for now and you've actually made a few dollars tonight, right? Is that enough? Do you want more? You can have my whole wallet." And I politely try to give her more.
Shellshocked as fuck, she slowly takes the twenty out of my hand and walks out of the restaurant. Head hanging way down.
Sometimes it's very clear what people want and sometimes giving to them makes them see what is really happening- a grown woman is leveraging her bad attitude and emotions to "win one over" on some kid, some business, anything at all.
I would've paid 500$ easily to never see her again, I got a good deal. I still am awestruck she had the gall to take it. Third worst customer of my life.
Good luck to all my fellow servers in here. It's a wild world.
Ps I was working at a small restaurant where my antics were well documented and occasionally appreciated, I wouldn't recommend this method somewhere corporate.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/of1x1a/it_is_ridiculous_that_you_charged_us_for_this/
| 8,783 | 448 | 1,625,598,988 | 16 |
tip
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top
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d1daue
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Tonight might be the night (update)
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Tl,DR: I quit.
Short recap for those who didn't read the original. Scheduled for a party of 135 with just me, and a new server. No auto grat at my place. I have day job, and have been working the restaurant until they hire to recover from a mass quitting due to clueless owner and GM.
Went in a little early to try and talk some sense into owner and GM. I asked for another server, or at least to be allowed to auto grat. Shot down on both.
Party starts to arrive, I introduce myself and newbie to lady in charge. She asks where the other servers for her party are, I explain we are it. She is pissed. I tell her I already voiced concerns, she will have to take it up with GM.
They trickled in pretty slowly, we did a pretty fair job with drink orders. I had preset some dressings to try and make the salads go easier, and preset extra napkins, bread, etc. It went as well as it could go, but it was rough. New server was completely overwhelmed, head lady was rude, and they were not the most understanding party.
It ended up being 1 check, ( thank the restaurant gods). The total was just shy of $5000.00. She left $60.00 total tip. New server is crying in the kitchen, and the vein in my forehead is popping out. $60.00 doesn't even cover the bar tip out, let alone the bus or host tip out.
Heated discussion between myself and the owner ensues, and it is clear she doesn't care I'm at negative money for the night, actually the week now. I tell her that I will not be returning. She switches gears, tries to "reason" with me. I give the new server the 60 bucks, tell the owner I will be calling the labor control board if I don't get paid minimum wage for the week. I tell her and the GM both how I feel about them (fucking incompetent douchebags), and out the door I go with both middle fingers in the air. Feels good.
Edit: Whomever gave me gold, thank you So much for the tip!
Edit: Thank you for the second gold! Also, thank you for the support. Be excellent to each other!
Last Edit: Holy awards, Batman! Thank you!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/d1daue/tonight_might_be_the_night_update/
| 6,293 | 110 | 1,567,960,819 | 16 |
tip
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top
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9yt8jp
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Dear regulars
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Thank you for being the ones to get bad service from me when I’m in the weeds, and still loving me and tipping me 25%.
You the real MVPs.
EDIT: I shouldn’t say bad service...just not the service my regulars deserve <3
EDIT 2: please leave your comments about tipping culture elsewhere. And stop assuming that I ignore them, that’s not what happens they just wait a few extra minutes sometimes. I just want to show my regulars and all regulars around the world some love because they make my days brighter. Happy thanksgiving, I’m thankful for you.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9yt8jp/dear_regulars/
| 4,742 | 180 | 1,542,728,409 | 16 |
tip
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top
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xpa8ad
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I will no longer roll over and take it. I’m snapping back at awful guests.
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This past Sunday morning we were slammed. I had a 12-top that was running me into the ground, a 4, a 3, maybe one other small party, and then my new party of 16.
Party of 12 had received everything. Entrees and refills were down. They’re chillin, no longer the priority.
I greet the 16-top and they want to put in EVERYTHING at once. They’re regulars and tip 30% every time, so I *know* they’re worth any extra effort. The whole order takes maybe 5-10 min max. We have a handheld POS so orders take no time. On my way to the back to grab their drinks I stop by my 12 to ask for refills. Just a water.
Well, I forgot the damn water and of course gathering drinks for 16 took a few minutes so when I return, the woman at my 12-top who asked for the water was FURIOUS. She said I wasn’t moving fast enough and my service was “unacceptable.” This word was the final straw for me. She had been a bitch the whole time, mind you, and even grabbed my attention twice by actually entering the fucking kitchen.
Now, I don’t keep my phone on me at work, I don’t take breaks, and I rarely sit during my 12+ hour days. I work hard and I know it. I wasn’t going to let this comment slide.
I was so calm in this moment and just said “You know, we’re very busy and I’m one person. I have other tables to serve and frankly, accommodating you has been difficult since you decided to change your order four separate times. I’m not taking the fall on your bad experience.”
Fuckin bitch, my dignity is worth more than whatever shitty tip you think I need so badly that I’ll just let you talk to me like an animal.
I dropped checks, offered no boxes, and treated the table like lava until they left.
TL;DR: Bitch called my service unacceptable and I called it like I saw it.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/xpa8ad/i_will_no_longer_roll_over_and_take_it_im/
| 4,509 | 239 | 1,664,265,283 | 16 |
tip
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top
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jowi5a
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Lost one of my regulars
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Tonight I waited on the tiny, 6-person, family funeral party for one of my regulars. I’ve waited on him and his wife every Monday night for at least two years. His wife, Judy is a little strange and VERY particular about her food, but she’s super sweet. Larry was her calm, grounded counterpart. I’ve also waited on their children and grand children multiple times. I’ve heard their stories and worries through the years and they’ve heard mine. They were always invested in my school stuff (I’m a grad student), and have given me cards on holidays. So, basically Judy can drive me a little nuts, but I love her almost like a family member.
In August, Larry started complaining of some health concerns; one month later, we found out he had stage four cancer. Judy called to let us know they would no longer be coming in. Their lack of presence was certainly noticeable as we are a small restaurant and our regulars are an integral piece of our restaurant’s culture/vibe.
Last Wednesday, I heard news that Larry had passed. While expected, this news was hard to swallow. I was asked if I’d come in on my day off to wait on them after the funeral. I’ve had a really busy week, and I knew it would be difficult, but there was no way I wasn’t going to be there.
Tonight was the night and I didn’t know how to prepare myself. I bought a card from Walgreens across the street and struggled to fill it with a comforting message, but what the hell do you say when someone dies while the world is on fire?? The family was in good spirits and spoke about the beautiful service. I gave them the best service I’ve ever given anyone. It seemed like they were having a good time, but it was clear someone was missing.
Our owner made Larry and Judy’s favorite cake and gave it to the family as a gift. Judy was so touched she couldn’t speak. The family thanked me and tipped me $200 on a $250 bill. I broke my COVID rules and gave them each a big hug as they left.
After they were gone, I started working on side work. I cried as I rolled silverware. I’ve worked in the service industry 14 years - I’ve done catering, cafeteria service, fast food, waited tables 5 years, and bartended for 2 - I’ve never cried at work. Until today. I’ve had regulars die on me before, but it’s never felt this significant.
It’s all good though, just another shit on the pile that is 2020. Just needed to write this out, so if anyone is reading, thank you. And remember to appreciate your favorite regulars while they’re still around.
R.I.P. Larry, pouring one out for you tonight.
Edit: Well shit everybody, thank you so much for the outpouring response. The support means everything. I’ve been on Reddit since 2011/12(?) and this has blown up more than anything.
But also, also — don’t spend hard earned tips on awards for this post (if you already own fake internet things, send em my way. I love it.).
But, If you have fresh cash to spend:
For Larry- donate to cancer research or families living with cancer. (? to be real honest, I don’t know what kind of cancer he had and it never felt appropriate to ask, so use your hearts.
For me — donate to any LGBTQ+ or POC organization or group — particularly those grounded in social work/queer studies.
Either way, use your money, your voice, and your vote to speak up for injustices.
Love you all, stay safe out there.
God speed and good tips,
-HF
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/jowi5a/lost_one_of_my_regulars/
| 4,430 | 105 | 1,604,629,389 | 16 |
tip
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top
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bfm8ht
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Cheating regular rotates bringing his wife and girlfriend to the same restaurant
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On mobile, sorry if my formatting is off. Also it has been about a decade so I may be a tad fuzzy on specific details. I worked at a mid range price wise restaurant through college and this is the story of my best tipping regular.
Being in college, my work schedule was really goofy. I ended up with a Wednesday closing shift and a Sunday closing shift. Neither were very good nights and I was usually the only server after 7:30pm ish. Being that it was so slow you definitely remember regulars in an empty restaurant.
Enter Mr. X and his girlfriend who arrived maybe 9:30pm my first Wednesday night( closed at 10pm). Nothing weird or out of the ordinary, just a normal couple.
Fast forward to Sunday day and in comes Mr. X around 9:30pm with a different woman. When surprise surprise it is me again Mr. X makes a rather over the top “And my WIFE will have a margarita on the rocks”. I say nothing, what do I care, I have a job to do, don’t want drama and serve them as normal. I did tell the Sunday manager for giggles what was up. Mr. X was apparently pleased that I played along and tipped me $20 on a $40 check.
The next Wednesday to my shock, he comes back in the girlfriend. I walk over, decide to be a little coy and said something to the effect of “back for your weekly fix of (what he ordered and what she ordered the previous Wednesday)?” She was all delighted that I had remembered their orders (made her feel special and such) and even told my manager that I was so much better than the previous girl who had been Wednesday’s. Almost the same bill and this time he tipped me $50. After they left I told the Wednesday manager what was up. We laughed and she told me he came in every Wednesday with the same woman.
The entire year I had those two shifts, Mr. X came in on Wednesdays with his girlfriend and Sundays with his wife. Every single time tipping me $40-$60 on $40-$50 checks.
I have no idea what happened to Mr. X or his girlfriend or his wife.
Friendly word of advice, cheating is wrong and you are begging to get caught if you bring your wife and girlfriend to the same restaurant as regulars.
Edit: Thank you for all the comments! Thank you to all the servers that understand. I’m hoping maybe it was an open relationship and I just misinterpreted the situation. That would make me feel better. My gut instinct based on his reaction when he saw me again that first time rubbed me the wrong way. It was always an uncomfortable situation from my perspective.
Also a little clarification: I worked for a small restaurant, not a franchise, no HR and we could be fired over nothing. There is no question in my mind had I said something and upset a regular, I would have been fired on the spot by the owner.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/bfm8ht/cheating_regular_rotates_bringing_his_wife_and/
| 4,234 | 177 | 1,555,830,038 | 16 |
tip
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top
|
n46nyc
|
TalesFromYourServer
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My manager’s reason that we don’t have mandatory gratuity on large parties
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1. We have to advertise that on the menu, and it doesn’t look good
2. If a server is not deserving of a 20% tip than they shouldn’t get a 20% tip
My response: “If your servers can’t provide service deserving of a 15-20% tip, doesn’t that reflect on your ability to train them?”
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/n46nyc/my_managers_reason_that_we_dont_have_mandatory/
| 178 | 36 | 1,620,074,288 | 16 |
gratuity
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relevance
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w4ofhb
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Automatically Applied Gratuity
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My sister and I like this restaurant because it has a nice variety of tasty food. It's a somewhat upscale Thai/Chinese place that serves alcohol, has an appetizer, entree, dessert, sushi, and drinks menu. The service can be pretty slow even when we are literally the only ones there. It's a little frustrating waiting for the check for 20 minutes when we've clearly finished eating, but we get around that by asking for the check when we order. Anyway, they have an automatically applied 18% gratuity, which I think is convenient, but they have a note on the bill stating that additional gratuity is appreciated, or something along those lines. Does this mean that the wait staff does not get that automatic gratuity? TY
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/w4ofhb/automatically_applied_gratuity/
| 17 | 22 | 1,658,429,315 | 16 |
gratuity
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relevance
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133i4wz
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Was told tonight by my GM that automatic gratuities on large parties is "illegal"
|
My GM told me tonight it is against the law for restaurants to add an automatic gratuity to any guest check. I have worked in the industry for the past seven years and every place I've been at before this one has added some sort of automatic gratuity to any party over X amount or more. What can I do?
I have also looked into this said law. She had mentioned it's been in law since 2014 that restaurants can be fined $20,000 for automatic gratuities. I have not found any sort of proof whatsoever. I'm in Michigan and work in Detroit if that helps for any sort of actual advice on what to do about this.
I feel it is important to add that we have event spaces and whoever is renting out the space is expected to pay a 21% service fee for said event. Most times guests renting the event space assumes that "service charge" is going towards their server(s) "tip". It does not. Nobody knows where that "service charge" fee for events goes.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/133i4wz/was_told_tonight_by_my_gm_that_automatic/
| 9 | 10 | 1,682,837,672 | 16 |
gratuity
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relevance
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13rmecs
|
TalesFromYourServer
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What are we tipping for exactly?
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Rhetorical question:
It used to be tipping was a gratuity for great service and great food. Last night I ate at a high end Asian restaurant. The service was excellent but the food was below par. My Pad Thai was a gelatinous pile. I did leave the standard 20% tip but wonder what I’m tipping for. I could express my dissatisfaction by leaving a lesser tip but it’s my server who would feel the brunt of that act as well as feel slighted. I don’t mind tipping but it’s ridiculous how this has become obligatory and no longer a gratuity.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/13rmecs/what_are_we_tipping_for_exactly/
| 0 | 60 | 1,685,032,379 | 16 |
gratuity
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new
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1clotak
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Miami servers
|
I was recently visiting Miami and naturally I was eating out quite often. I am talking both Miami Beach, downtown, Brickell, whatever.
So I know they all have like 18 or 20% service charge and that's fine by me, because I realize it's a tourist place and I work as a server as well.
I had a conversation with the servers about service charge and they all basically told me that staff usually gets barely over half of the service charge and that the house keeps the rest.
So let's say staff gets between 11 and 14% instead of the whole 20% service charge (that's what servers told me) because the rest goes to the house. And then servers tip out busboys, foodrunners etc. so it's pretty much nothing left for the server who is dealing with all sorts of idiots.
First of all, as a customer you feel scammed (I knew it's a scam capital but c'mon) because you are paying so much for barely any quality and the waitstaff doesn't get the whole thing and you feel bad and pushed to tip extra on top of the service charge?
On top of that I have heard it's a very common practice that the owners/managers are stealing tips and whole system is kinda shady.
Second, does it really make sense to work as a server in Miami?
Like let's say if you work in a decent place for breakfast/lunch/brunch and in a fine dinning place night time? Is it manageable to do 80-90k a year?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1clotak/miami_servers/
| 5 | 4 | 1,715,016,509 | 16 |
service charge
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hot
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12gknye
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Lost a tip and got a horrible review... because I told customers the bar was closing. The kicker? They didn't even want more drinks!
|
The most irrational/infuriating experience I have come across in my five years as a server.
Thursday night, three of us on shift for the whole restaurant (including bar). We close our kitchen and bar at around 9pm (give or take 15 minutes) but people are free to order desserts and stay as long as they'd like because desserts are just taken from a box and it's rude to kick people out.
We close them at this time because sanitisting the area and doing stock/closing procedures takes AGES. It says on our website and Google that the business closes at this time so people are fully aware.
A table of 6 came in that had booked ahead at around 8pm. My manager then lets me know 5 minutes before that they'll be closing the bar at 9pm, and to go to the tables and ask whether they'd like to make any drinks orders before we do. Very standard procedure. Most tables have almost finished anyway, so they don't mind/give me their last orders, but when I get to this table (their wine bottle was mostly full anyway) they look at me entirely shocked. They ask me if I'm being serious and tell me it's ridiculous.
I apologise and tell them I'm very happy to help them out for the next ten minutes but it's out of my hands. They start telling me we should be serving drinks until our liquor license says so, which "they know" is 11pm.
I leave to get desserts menus for them and when I come back the guy apologises and asks if I'm okay (I heard his daughter tell him that he was being rude). I relax a bit thinking it's over. Big mistake. It's not. They ask me "what if we wanted dessert wine?". I reply that unfortunately, no drinks are available to any table, the bar equipment is sanitising as we speak, our official closing time is 9pm, which they are told on the booking. They tell me it's horrible business practice and they'll leave this in their review. I tell them they are free to do so, there's nothing I can do to change the time we close our services. They then call me a liar, and that they don't want to pay any service charge or leave a tip (I get like 5% of their service charge anyway) because I'm "lying to them". I do NOT get paid enough to LIE TO YOU and put myself through grief!!! I tell my manager they've asked for it to be removed, when she asks why, I explain and instead of speaking to them, she gives them an extra 20% off.
They leave a three paragraph review the next day calling me rude for not being accomodating. The kicker? They mention they didn't even want any more drinks in the first place. They were just offended that they couldn't have any if they had wanted to and that I wouldn't have made an exception for them. The assistant manager had to talk the manager out of calling me into a disciplinary meeting because I was literally just doing my job.
sorry this is so long but I just wanted to rant to people who would understand aha
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/12gknye/lost_a_tip_and_got_a_horrible_review_because_i/
| 106 | 21 | 1,681,049,729 | 16 |
service charge
|
hot
|
t7wfme
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Question from Europeans: how to tip?
|
Hi there!
I'm visiting the USA for the first time, and there's a thing I don't get about tipping. Not the concept of tipping, but the *mechanics*.
Here's what happened: we went to a restaurant, we had good food, our waiter was nice (not used to the "extremely close and friendly" style, but that's just culture shock). When he brought us the bill, I gave him my credit card, he went to process the payment and charged the exact amount the meal cost.
When he came back with the card we asked him "excuse us, we're from Europe, we don't know how tipping works". He explained the concept of "you usually tip between 18 and 22 percent, and this money goes to the waiter". Okay, we wrote the amount corresponding to 20% in the "Tip" section of the bill, and sat there waiting for him to take it. After 10 minutes he came and asked "is anything the matter?" and we said "yeah, aren't you going to charge for the tip?". He explained that we just write the amount, sign, and they charge the credit card that we payed with. We felt a bit stupid, he apologised for making us wait (not really his fault, but well, that made us feel a bit better I guess) and we left.
I've been checking my credit card moves and they haven't charged for the tip. I have two questions: first, is that how tipping works in every restaurant? We don't want to make a fool of ourselves again. And secondly, did we do something wrong? Any idea why I can't see the payment? This was for breakfast, about 20 hours ago.
Thanks for taking the time to read my question! And double thanks if you answer.
Edit: thanks to everyone who answered! After a couple of days, as many of you explained, the amount charged to my card got updated.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/t7wfme/question_from_europeans_how_to_tip/
| 42 | 46 | 1,646,564,139 | 16 |
waiter tip
|
hot
|
hxhksd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I lost a guest's card and they still tipped me over 20%
|
There is still good in the world, guys.
Now, I know that I absolutely didn't deserve this tip. Even though my service during their meal was great, I lost their fucking debit card. Not sure how, it just... disappeared. On the security cameras we see me walking with it to the trash can (which is conveniently out of the shot) and then walking to the bev station without the card.
I must have thrown it away, right?
Wrong. We picked through the trash can- like, we dumped it out and thoroughly combed through all the trash. It wasn't there! We scoured the kitchen floor and the shelves. No luck.
I was freaking the fuck out. I had no idea where this card went and I have no memory of setting it down anywhere or putting it in any of my pockets. We cut our losses and my manager comps this table's meal. The table is incredibly kind and patient, saying that they're in no hurry and even offering to dig through the trash with me. My managers and I dig through the trash again and still no luck.
We tell the table that the card is seriously lost. I apologize profusely. The table requests a check to sign so the can tip me. They tip me $12 on a $37 ticket. I could cry tears of joy- I was prepared to get beat to a pulp for losing this man's debit card. I seriously can't believe how kind some people are!
Bonus: one of our SAs found the card in the one of the crates that holds cups. How in the hell did it end up there? It's possible we'll never find out. The guest had left his phone number, so he'll be able to reunite with his card tomorrow. Happy ending!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/hxhksd/i_lost_a_guests_card_and_they_still_tipped_me/
| 1,534 | 80 | 1,595,655,556 | 16 |
20%
|
relevance
|
qaaoyd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The one time I chased down a table of bad tippers.
|
So I used to work at a family owned restaurant many years ago. It was honestly pretty great. I was a key holder and would open the store in the mornings. My bosses were a wonderful couple that I just dearly loved.
We had one group of 7-8 regular old dudes that came in at LEAST 4-5x a day. They’d stop in for breakfast and lunch and dinner every day and multiple times in between for coffee breaks. One of them had a shop across the street but being mostly retired, none of the jobs was urgent and his buddies would just sort of hang out there. They were fun and would joke around with us and we all loved them madly.
These guys were awesome. They always left a minimum 10% on their food and when they came in for coffee every single one would leave $1. So, I’m getting $7-8 several times a day to just keep their coffee cups full.
One day after one of their coffee breaks I see they left me eight pennies. I grabbed their pennies and ran after them and threw them at their truck. I see them all laughing their asses off.
I go back in and my cashier is laughing and handed me an envelope that they had told her to give me “after I come back in from chasing them down.”
Inside was $8
Yeah, they got me good and teased me mercilessly for weeks afterward. LOL
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/qaaoyd/the_one_time_i_chased_down_a_table_of_bad_tippers/
| 773 | 41 | 1,634,514,542 | 16 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
9qki2u
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Today I only served bad tippers and don't know what I did wrong
|
I'm far from being new to serving and have worked at a ton of restaurants in the last few years, and have not experienced anything like I did today. It was extremely slow today, so it upsets me even more that this happened. Every single table tipped 10% or less. At the end of my shift, I calculated my average tip percentage, and ended up with 6%. It was unbelievable.
To prevent more tables from stiffing me, I went to the restroom many times to check myself in the mirror. I made sure my hair looked neat, checked that my makeup is on point, brushed my teeth, washed my hands so so many times, and made sure my uniform looked neat and tidy. Even after all that I continued to get crappy tips. And by the way, I served everyone how I always do. I wasn't in a bad mood, haven't dealt with a single rude customer today, just a bunch of really nice people who tipped me so damn awful. It was so, so slow, and no one had to wait for me for anything. I greeted them quickly, I took orders quickly, I checked everything was okay more than once, everyone got their refills as quick as possible, and didn't have to wait for their bills.
How could this happen? Has anyone experienced this and found out that there was a reason for this?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9qki2u/today_i_only_served_bad_tippers_and_dont_know/
| 47 | 12 | 1,540,260,217 | 16 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
11ktxyc
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
$1 tip from former regular
|
i used to have this woman and her family come in. she would always get the snow crab legs and some other seafood stuff. she was a little particular and very polite but her husband always tipped well so i didn't mind. well one night she decides to order king crab legs. if you know anything about seafood, you would know that snow crab legs are pretty expensive on their own and at my restaurant king crab legs are about $65 per pound (which is a pretty good price for that type of crab), however they are listed as MP on the menu. this lady is pretty much a seafood pro so i assumed (silly me) that she would know what she was getting into. she orders one or two pounds of king crab legs but i don't really remember. anyway she completely demolishes those crab legs so i drop off the bill.
i watch from a distance while her and the husband open the bill assuming everything would be fine but they were obviously confused about the bill. i go over to check if everything was alright but they were very upset at me. i can tell that they were thinking that i was trying to scam them but i would never do anything like that. it was also offensive that they would think that i would purposely deceive them when we were already pretty familiar with one another. they were being pretty nasty and rude to me too, which was weird because they used to be so polite up until that moment. it felt pretty personal. i grab my manager who i've known for awhile and have a good rep with and i let her handle it. she gives them some sort of discount and they leave. i don't remember if they left a tip that time or not.
i've seen them a few times in the restaurant but it was never my turn to serve them which i was grateful for because i was honestly hurt by the whole thing. but it was so weird each time they came in after that because they always insisted on sitting in my section at the exact same booth. my section is one of the smallest sections in the restaurant so they were taking up real estate. i don't know if it was intentional or not but i ignored it.
its been a few months after that incident so i felt like enough time had passed for us to be cool again. haha... apparently not. they came in right when it started to be busy. the table that they normally sit at was dirty and they were standing around in my section waiting for it to be cleaned (there were other open tables in my section btw). i already had my hands full with other tables, but i wanted to please them and send a positive signal, so i pushed some other stuff back on my metal queue and promptly cleaned their preferred table for them. after that everything seems to be going fine but like i said we were busy so food was taking a bit longer than normal. i didn't pick up any signals of irritation or any kind of upsettedness but i did go over once to assure them that the food was coming. i was keeping a close eye on the kitchen and i was able to deliver their meal right after it was plated. everything was exactly as ordered.
the whole time i'm kissing up to them and lowkey prioritizing them over my other tables because i want to make up for last time. eventually they finish so i drop off the check. husband pays cash and tells me that "its all you". i'm over here like great job me! mission success. LOL. i hand off the cash and bill to my manager and come back after the rush to collect my cash. i open up the checkbook and what do i see? one. dollar.
normally i'm able to brush off bad tips no problem but this time it was personal. i was absolutely furious. for bad tippers who are not regulars or are regulars and leave a bad tip there is the benefit of the doubt. but this lady and her husband know better. so i was just absolutely fuming because they might as well have spit directly in my face. now my managers know to not give that family to me because now me and that lady just have straight up beef. this happened a few days ago and so i'm still pretty sore about it. thank yall for reading! (:
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/11ktxyc/1_tip_from_former_regular/
| 392 | 78 | 1,678,179,005 | 16 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
f2eekc
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Good tippers are a requirement for good boyfriends
|
I was a server for many years (am no longer) so I obviously have really strong feelings about tipping properly and I recently started dating a man who has never been a server or a bartender or anything tip based ever but he is the best tipper I've ever been out with. Literally absolute minimum of 20% usually more like 30% its incredibly hot
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/f2eekc/good_tippers_are_a_requirement_for_good_boyfriends/
| 292 | 84 | 1,581,452,856 | 16 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
17wclhj
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
old people still need to be respectful
|
cried at work today for the first time in a long time. i came up to this two top and greeted myself and took their orders. they ordered 4 entrees, 2 hot teas (which we serve plated with honey and lemon and a tea pot with a spoon), 2 wines, 2 waters with lemon and an appetizer. i advised them that it’s gonna be a lot of food and plates and suggested they moved to a different table but they were adamant that they were fine. we are a scratch kitchen so our average ticket times on a good day are still about 20-25 minutes. their food came out at the 23 minute mark and i brought out their first plate which took up the last bit of space on the table. i asked them if they were sharing all the entrees and offered to grab two side plates to allow them to pick off the plates “family style”. she then requested the plates to be warmed but i told her we don’t have a plate warmer and she goes “is the food at least hot? it did take a while.” i assured her the food just got plated. i returned to the table with their two share plates and two entrees in both of my arms, stacked. they were not making any room and i suggested to add a table and they persistently said no. they PROCEEDED to tell me to take the two hot tea plates away so i told them “yes i just need to set these plates down” one of the women sighs loudly and said “ok HERE” then grabs the plates and i was finally able to put down the entrees and share plates. she passes me the teas and says “mija come here.” SHE THEN GRABS MY ARM AND GOES “you need to serve me good. give me good service. i drove all the way down here from beverly hills to see my sister. i would like to have good service. i’m a good tipper. don’t you want a good tip? i tip very well. i’m doing this for you. don’t get discouraged. i like you. i have a daughter. just give good service and i’ll give you lots of tips ok. see my car right there my dog is waiting for me. i want to enjoy my meal.” i told her i just needed to set the plates down to make space for them. she didn’t care. i bussed the two teas in the back and cried in the bathroom and my manager ended up taking care of them. oh and good tipper? she left 10% after getting princess treatment. usually customers like her don’t bother me but i work two serving jobs and i’ve been burnt out and i have a really big tick about guests putting their hands on me. definitely made me shut down.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/17wclhj/old_people_still_need_to_be_respectful/
| 567 | 109 | 1,700,104,660 | 16 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
1f6tn5a
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
No tip on Chime/cash app cards
|
I honestly don’t think I have ever gotten a full 18% from anyone using a chime/cash app card. I even get excited at the fact they throw me a couple of dollars. As soon as I see someone pull out one of these I instantly know what’s gonna happen.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1f6tn5a/no_tip_on_chimecash_app_cards/
| 17 | 49 | 1,725,237,222 | 16 |
no tip
|
relevance
|
8f64wm
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
What would you consider a generous tip?
|
When I eat out I like to leave a solid tip because I understand that being a server is quite demanding. Usually I leave 20%. What would you consider a very solid tip?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8f64wm/what_would_you_consider_a_generous_tip/
| 7 | 21 | 1,524,776,495 | 16 |
generous tip
|
relevance
|
fkhyzu
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
A tip of the hat to the generous tippers the last few days
|
Work as a host at a restaurant that has a very loyal customer base, mostly a lot of folks from the neighborhood. The last few days have been slow and weird, but I applaud the customers who’ve taken care of our staff. I’ve seen a lot of 25%+ tips, some approaching 50% even on small to-go orders. One fella even tipped the BOH.
Our city just gave the order to shut down dine-ins and we’re not sure if we’re gonna stay open. We were already planning shift cuts with the reduced volume but this may push us to close for a while. It’s gonna be tough either way for a lot of my coworkers, but giving that little extra really does mean a lot to us.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/fkhyzu/a_tip_of_the_hat_to_the_generous_tippers_the_last/
| 13 | 1 | 1,584,498,018 | 16 |
generous tip
|
relevance
|
23l3i0
|
TalesFromRetail
|
It's still a tip, right?
|
So here's a story from my time at Overrated Canadian Coffee Shop that I was reminded of from a previous story today.
When I worked there, I was the only male to work the counter in the general area that encompassed a dozen stores. Seeing the girls get hit on by creepy guys was a daily occurrence, and most of them laughed about it, and so did I eventually.
So this day, it was a hot afternoon in July, and the store was sweltering. Company policy said that we had to keep all the buttons done up, right to the throat. Where it was so hot, our manager gave us permission to waive the policy that day and unbutton the top button of our uniform. I was working the window, taking money and passing out drinks (Seriously. Who the fuck gets coffee in the middle of a heat wave?). One guy comes to the window, gets his coffee and pays with a $5 bill. I pass him his change, about $3, and he tells me to keep it. Puzzled, I tell him how much it is. He says that's fine, and drives off. I shrug my shoulders, put it in the tip jar, and tell the girls. They giggle, and we move on to the next customer.
Over the course of the next 2 hours, he comes through 4 more times, leaving his change each time. After the last time, my supervisor looks at me, laughs, and tells me to unbutton the next button to see if I can get a bigger tip from him, or at least his phone number.
TL; DR: Got hit on by a gay guy that everyone knew was gay except me.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/23l3i0/its_still_a_tip_right/
| 1,240 | 118 | 1,398,084,110 | 16 |
tip
|
relevance
|
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