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tdear3
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TalesFromYourServer
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When Daddy is the owner
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This happened a couple of weeks ago & I figured this was a decent story to share. I am not currently a server but was in my younger years. My friend who was with me was also a server in her younger years, including as a cocktail waitress at a topless bar so she takes zero bullshit. We are now both middle-aged women.
She came into town and we went to eat brunch/lunch at a cafe near her rental. The place was a smallish cafe with great reviews. We sat outside and were eventually greeted by our young male server (late teens-early 20s). Things started off okay and we got through most of the meal before the big problems started. I say big because already we had inconsistent service from him but it wasn’t enough to complain about or affect tips. It definitely helped that the food was excellent.
So it comes to the end and before I can say something the server dropped a dirty napkin on top of my food and removed my plate without asking me if I was finished. I did not have my silverware in a “finished” position either. Luckily I was pretty much done & was only picking at it, but still I felt a bit irritated. I thought about it & decided that everyone makes mistakes and I really only need to decide whether I’m going to mention what he did (to him) to ensure that he doesn’t do it to future customers.
We request the checks and my companion pays for both bills in cash. The change would have been $8.92, which my friend wanted because she wanted the small bills for future tips & she was planning to switch that cash with a bigger cash tip (wanted to give him a $10 I think) once she got the envelope back. Well, he never brought the change but he hadn’t said goodbye or anything so after 20 minutes my friend gets up to go look for him so she can get her change. My friend was convinced that he had assumed the $ was his (never asked) and so she had it in her mind to set him right, especially after the earlier goofs.
Also important to mention is that we are sitting outside and there are several full tables of mostly elderly regulars. There had been 2 different attempts by visitors to sit at a table to be served but were never helped. One straight up left and the other guy did too, but came back a minute later because he was a regular who wanted his regular order. (I get it, food was so good). My friend returned to the table & the waiter arrived at the table shortly after. My friend inquired after her change, and the server starts sputtering and speaking half-sentences, and just generally uncomfortably fumbling around; at one point he tried to say something about not having the right change but then can’t elaborate; then it was something about bringing her $5 or something like that because reasons and at this point all of the tables are listening and some are participating, trying to get the server to understand the simple request that my friend wants the change that is due to her, period. (And no, no language barrier). The one clear thing he did say was “I didn’t know you wanted it! I didn’t know you wanted your change!” C’mon man.
He then starts lying to counter her criticism (“I was watching out here,”, “it wasn’t 20 minutes”, etc) so she takes the opportunity to point out the elderly regular who started to leave but didn’t. Elderly dude agrees. Rest of porch is now kinda yelling at the waiter because no one is really this obtuse, right? My friend finally has enough of him and as she stood up to go inside to talk to the manager this kid flips out, puffs out his chest, and goes completely aggro like he’s going to fight my friend. “Whaddya gonna do? Huh? Huh? Where are you going? Whatchu gonna do?” as he’s getting into fighting mode (putting thing in his apron so his hands were free, balling his fists up, etc). My friend, who is pretty unflappable, looked at him like he was an idiot and said “I’m going to see the manager, what is wrong with you?” The elderlies are now making loud noises to indicate their shock & disapproval noises (at the waiter), and so he wisely chooses to follow my friend inside.
While she is inside the owner comes outside (male) to address the elderly man who had left but returned. I think it was right about this time that I learned that the owner is the waiter’s dad and manager is probably mom to this horribly-acting kid, and the dad’s weak attempts to excuse his kid’s behavior did not go well with the crowd. (“It’s busy” will never excuse your son trying to fight a middle-aged woman, sorry). Owner ducks back inside once he basically got booed by the elderlies. A woman at another table starts talking to me and mentions she thinks the waiter has ADHD but usually they still enjoy their visits. *I shut that down immediately but now I’m irritated because I’m a former mental health clinician and her blame needed to be corrected and I wasn’t sure I could do it. However, some of his behavior made much more sense to me with that information. EDIT: I’m so sorry I accidentally cut this part of the story out when editing & it sounded terrible. Sorry!
Waiter then comes outside, points at me (who has been nothing but nice and hasn’t even looked at him since the disagreement began because honestly I was trying not to laugh at the absurdity of his attempts at explanation), and issues me a vague threat about “being in big trouble something something police”, to which I just stared hard at him, followed by slowly saying “dude, I haven’t said shit to you. Stop.” He jawed a bit more then went back inside. My friend came out the door with her cash & we left, waiter trailing after her & yelling something ridiculous after us.
Apparently waiter’s mom chewed him a new one inside the store so at least someone has some sense. I’d go back if the kid wasn’t’ there but given dad’s reaction I doubt I’ll have the opportunity. Shame, because the food was damn good.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/tdear3/when_daddy_is_the_owner/
| 885 | 82 | 1,647,199,472 | 9 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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pj59vo
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TalesFromYourServer
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Not a server but asking for servers opinions
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I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this. I had a weird experience and would love the opinion of some servers. I went to happy hour with some co-workers. We ordered appetizers which were paid with the company card. We each paid for our own drinks and told the waiter we would leave extra tips for the drinks because we were not allowed to put tips on the company card. My bill was $6 for a drink and I left a $5 tip. I figured that was enough to cover my drink and my share of the appetizer tip. Everyone else (11 of us) did the same. The waiter picked up my tab and looked at it and made a point of saying "thank you so much" which I thought was a bit strange. I said "sure, no problem, remember I said we would leave extra on the drinks." The next day my husband is looking at our bank account online and says "What is this $506 charge for yesterday?" Turns out the waiter charged my tip as $500 instead of $5. I know that I always total my receipts. It is possible that I forgot to put a period between the 5 and the 2 zeroes. But really?. Did he really think I had left a $500 tip on a $6 drink? At that point I felt bad for the waiter if he had to return the money but we also couldn't afford that. I was tempted to just let him keep it, but my husband did not agree. I also wondered if this was a scam that some waiters use to guilt people into just letting them have the money. I did call the bank and dispute the charge. They said they could not see the receipt. So far the bank has temporarily returned the funds but it has not been resolved yet. What should I have done?
UPDATE: Thank you for all the input from servers and bartenders. I took everyone's advice and called the restaurant. The manager was super nice and apologetic and said she would take care of it right away. She called me back an hour later and said that it turns out I had accidentally entered $500 on a card reader (that shows how my memory is shot because I thought I had written it). So, she and I were both glad that it was not the server who had done it, she said he would have been fired for that. She did, however, agree with me that he should have asked me if I had meant to leave $500. The craziest part is that this was contested a month ago and they hadn't even heard from my bank yet. I'm glad I called and I will certainly pay better attention from now on.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/pj59vo/not_a_server_but_asking_for_servers_opinions/
| 250 | 111 | 1,630,952,769 | 9 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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1e9brb3
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TalesFromYourServer
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How challenging is it to find a place (serving of course) where you make $5000 a month?
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Quick backstory to explain why I’m a bit picky on the pay I’m wanting as a server; $5000 is a lot of money for a waiter:
I’m a teacher. My degree is in pe/health but am having the damnest time finding a good pe job. I’ve been teaching health the past two years and my salary is around $4000-$4500 (net) a month with awesome retirement. The problem is I hate it. I dont actually (italicize) want to teach, I want to teach pe. Being stuck in a classroom as a teacher feels the same way I felt as a student in a classroom. I dont really like kids anyways, but its a reliable job. I also am paying out the ass for student loans and feel semi-obligated to teach. I have the option of coaching a new sport every two months which is a $3000-$5000 stipend each time.
I live in seattle/bellevue area which has some nice restaurants, plus I have three years waiting experience before I was a teacher. I know that isnt shit, but my resume is really strong with a soon to be masters and tons of work experience overall. Money is a huge struggle for me right now because I suck at saving and if I was smart, I teach, then serve at nights. One problem there is I have that option of coaching on top of teaching which is less money than teaching combined with serving nights and/or weekends, but way easier and I’m typically done by 5:30 and have summer/weekends/holidays off. Serving would eliminate that option and I also think I’m too lazy to work two jobs (why do you think I want to teach PE?!)
While I am lazy, I dont slack at work (even though I never want to be there) and I’m a pretty solid waiter and love socializing. I want to branch out my friend groups too and have more opportunities for fun, which serving might offer. Ideally, I only serve (or bartend which is what I really want to do) and get away from these mf kids and make $5000+ a month doing so. Teaching, then serving at night/weekends sounds like suicide watch for me. How challenging is it to find one of these places, and how challenging is it to get shifts at these places where you’re actually getting tables that tip well enough to make $5k+?
I know this question is vague and dependent on so many things. That said, could anyone share their experiences? When I served, it was breakfast places and I’d make $150 on average a day at the original pancake house.
I’d appreciate your feedback. Thanks so much in advance!
Edit: confused by the downvotes. If its for the length of the post and being about my background then i get that, i was just trying to provide context. If its for this being a stupid question, then please provide insight
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e9brb3/how_challenging_is_it_to_find_a_place_serving_of/
| 0 | 51 | 1,721,647,218 | 9 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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119weu3
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TalesFromYourServer
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The tale of 2 servers.
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Having worked both the front and back of the house for years before moving on I feel I can address this situation. My son was in town and we decided to go out to eat. He wanted wings and we went to BWW. Tuesday night and they were not busy. 3/4 of the dining area was closed and we had to sit in the bar. The waiter was slow taking our drink order. He only had 3 tables. wtf. He brought 1 drink then about 5 minutes later the 2nd.....no excuses it was water and tea. When he came back for our order I told him we were going to take advantage of the buy 1 get 1/2 off wing reward. He said he didn't think it was working but he'd check. He disappeared for over 16 minutes, don't call bs. I timed him. Bottom line after 1/2 when he walked past us to another table we left. The guy was stoned. Like he should be eating cheetos on the couch stoned.
We went to a local diner and had the complete opposite experience. The waitress was prompt, attentive yet not over bearing. We didn't have to ask for anything. She had already started closing duties because they would be closing in an hour.
Now the twist. It was Overtip Tuesday. It's a tradition we have. I take a Benjamin, have a meal and if the server is good they keep what is left. Server 1 missed out. server got a $70+ tip on a $27 ticket. Something else I do, if I use rewards/ coupons I include the discount in the tip for the server. Remember not all who use rewards are cheap..
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/119weu3/the_tale_of_2_servers/
| 351 | 44 | 1,677,154,936 | 9 |
waiter tip
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relevance
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1fqv2cm
|
TalesFromYourServer
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First Job as a Waiter/server
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the last job I ever wanted to do was food service again. I've done cashiering, and fast food, but never waited on tables. People look down on their servants, and I don't like the idea of working for tips (you mean I have to depend on the generosity of strangers to pay my rent?) I've turned down many waiting jobs at good restaurants too. However I found myself with a bad professional reputation because I've quit so many jobs (truck stops, factories) that the only place that would hire me was a train wreck Pizza Hut with a labor shortage. I not only work on my tables, but I help the teenagers working there with their tables as well (yes, im too old to work here), and I help out in the kitchen and with the dishes. I must say I do fill the role quite well, and I actually do very well with guests. The problem here is that it's a small town and I make maybe 30$ in tips a night. We had a busy weekend, and I made 80$. This isn't because I only get a few bucks, my tables leave me close to 10 dollars, it's that no one comes in to sit and eat. I've worked in a city downtown before bartending, and on any given weekend I made over 100$ in tips. I think I should quit unless I make a bunch of money this weekend but I don't know if its worth seeking out more waiter jobs, tho it seems to be the only thing I'm good at in the eyes of this economy.
One time a man left me a very generous tip. He ordered two beers and a large pizza. Two days later I saw him on the news. He's going to prison for the rest of his life, and THAT was his final meal as a free man.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fqv2cm/first_job_as_a_waiterserver/
| 6 | 8 | 1,727,462,973 | 9 |
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hot
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1by0tjk
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TalesFromYourServer
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Are head waiters supposed to make more hourly the entire shift?
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The restaurant I work at we have three head waits myself and two others. I’m head wait 4-5 days a week depending, usually 4 tho. Responsibilities that differ from head waits to just server is that head waiters close, make sure all the other servers completed their side work before they can leave, collect their check out, card slips, and check to see if the correct amount of money owed, if cash is owed is turned in. After close we clock out from server then clock back in as headwait, make sure the bar and to-go drawers are correct, then we tip everyone out that gets tips and tip share. Check to see if our cash drop is correct or see why we’re over or under if we’re missing or have extra cash. Log how much cash we’re depositing into the safe and log sales, comps, etc. Finally prepare all documents for the opener the next day like roster, catering orders etc.
The thing is for the whole shift we’re clocked in as just servers where we make tipped minimum wage ($8.99), then at close we clock out then clock in as headwait and get paid regular minimum wage ($12) which usually were only clocked in as head wait for an hour or less.
Other head waits do you get paid a higher hourly rate the entire time you’re working and are you clocked in as head wait the entire time? Or do you only get paid the higher hourly rate after close?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1by0tjk/are_head_waiters_supposed_to_make_more_hourly_the/
| 34 | 48 | 1,712,483,922 | 9 |
waiter tip
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hot
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rtv038
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TalesFromYourServer
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Waiters unite!!!
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New year, new challenges amirite?! Well, I’m sick of the view on tipped workers and am going to be writing my congressman and I hope you do to! We need higher wages than $2.13 an hour. Yes some of us make 15x that amount with tips. But not every one is so lucky especially those who work at chains. It’s too much control the customer has over our wages. So I am proposing:
$15/hr minimum wage regardless of tips. No more tip sharing.
Customers can still tip, of course.
I would love if tips weren’t a thing at all and we could just get paid $30 an hour but that would increase the cost of food too much and would ultimately hurt the restaurant industry. We needs to keep tips around because we should be rewarded for good service.
CALLING ALL WAITERS AND WAITRESSES, MAN THE ORDERS AND WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN. Happy new year!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/rtv038/waiters_unite/
| 58 | 19 | 1,641,078,060 | 9 |
waiter tip
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hot
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qs22cc
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TalesFromYourServer
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Question about $0 paychecks
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I'm about to start my first gig as a waiter. I'm new to all this. So, I've done a bit of reading on the whole taxes thing. I understand that there will be times when I get a $0 paycheck because the taxes taken out exceed the base minimum wage and there's not enough to cover the tips I take home. When this happens will the pay stub show how short I am on taxes owed? Otherwise there's no way to know how much I owe. Let's say I made $700 with tips on a given week and my hourly was $200 but taxes (state and federal) were $250. I'll get a $0 paycheck but will the stub let me know I'm short $50? Hope this makes sense. I want to ask my manager but don't want to come off as too green...
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/qs22cc/question_about_0_paychecks/
| 9 | 15 | 1,636,686,889 | 9 |
waiter tip
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hot
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p0vu4i
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Potential Future in Fine Dining/Questions
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Hello Everyone, When I was 16 I started working at a nice Italian Eatery as a dishwasher. I slowly worked my way up until becoming manager/supervisor at 19 years old and make great money. However, my restaurant is by no means fine dining. I believe I have gained enough experience to move into fine dining. Due to the fact that I do not have a fine dining experience, I am very aware I would need to start as a busser/serving assistant. The place I have my eyes set on would likely not have me serve until I am 21 due to cocktail/alcohol training. I have a fair resume for someone my age. However, being so young, I have a lot of competition. I am an Eagle Scout, have completed over 200 service hours in one year, have restaurant managing experience, plan on renewing/completing alcohol and food handlers license, and will do whatever it takes to earn my spot. Given my background, I figured this would be an appropriate place to ask some questions.
1. One of my concerns was that due to the competitive nature of fine dining establishments, my wish of 25-30 hours would be unrealistic. On the other hand, I'm sure they do not overhire so they can give everyone their requested amount of hours. Is 25-30 a realistic request?
2. I make around \~1700 dollars before taxes a paycheck at my current job and I am well aware that I will be taking a pay cut if I am a server assistant/busser at first. What do server assistants or bussers typically make at high-end restaurants? In Arizona, we are fortunate enough to have a tipped minimum be 9.15, so if you can mention your hourly as well, that would be greatly appreciated.
3. Once becoming a full waiter, what does tip out on a typical night look like?
4. What else can I do to prepare to make myself stand out?
Thank you everyone for taking the time to answer my post.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/p0vu4i/potential_future_in_fine_diningquestions/
| 7 | 8 | 1,628,490,533 | 9 |
waiter tip
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hot
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8xxprd
|
TalesFromYourServer
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The No-No
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*Quick disclaimer: I'm a waiter and writer living in NYC. I briefly entertained the idea of writing a series of short stories based on my time as a waiter. I've decided against that but I still like sharing the stories. Figure this is the best place to do that...*
**The No-No**
We all get bored on the job, from time to time.
Back in the days before we had smart phones, the floor without a rush was a dull place. But you quickly learned to use the dull to your advantage.
I learned to juggle from a bartender that had worked on a cruise ship. I started (attempting) to speak to the BOH in broken spanish. I brought books to read but found that I only got a few seconds to a few minutes, at most, before I'd get in trouble. I needed to find other ways to distract myself.
That's when I came up with the game.
It's simple: only one rule. When you get a table, use as few words as possible. Count the words you use with each table. Just like golf, the lowest score wins. Lowest possible score is ZERO.\*
I've been a waiter off and on for the last, like 13 years, on the job for at least 6 in Texas, NYC, and a few scattered game lodges across the West. I've had more restaurant jobs than most people will have sexual partners, by an order of magnitude.
I've waited on thousands of people, playing this specific game with dozens (it's not something you do ALL the time) in different regions throughout the U.S. Before moving to NYC a year and a half ago, my lowest score was 11. Just 11 words while dealing with a one top that was admittedly sick with something.
I won't waste your time with that story... Instead, I give you The No-No. My attempt to serve a two top without using a single fucking word.
My little section of the Manhattan restaurant scene was heaven compared to what I'd dealt with before. Lunch was pretty much the only time we dealt with regulars, some of them going WAY back, while the rest of the day was tourists and professionals that had grown an affinity for the store's fancier version of a TGIChillibee's. In any case, the price gouging on the menu translated in to damn near $30 to $50 an hour when things were going well. (They wouldn't for long but that's for the Horrific Tale of NYC Dept. of Heath Inspections!)
It's a lunch rush in late September. I've got a two top at table 26, a booth just at the end of the closer's section. The location doesn't matter, I just remember exactly where they were sitting. I'd been in New York for about 6 months at this point, and while I didn't recognize them, I knew what to expect. They continued chatting without glancing at the menus, briefly breaking eye contract from each to eye ball me. They were ready to order and wanted me to know it. They were perfect candidates for the game.
As I approached, I thought of ways to cull words from my opening. Just as I inhaled, thinking I could getaway with simply saying, "Drinks?" The older of the two ladies, the one with the heavily made up eyebrows, commanded: "Two ice teas and an artichoke dip." Then they returned to their conversation.
I nodded, which I'm sure was unnoticed, and placed the order. I asked Rylan (named changed), a bartender that had been at the store for more than eight years, if he knew the table.
"Ugh, yes", he said with a contemptuous eye roll. "Just get them what they want and get them out of here."
"They ordered two ice teas and a spin dip," I said, thinking. "I still haven't said a damn word to them."
Rylan gasped. He knew about the game. "Think you can do it?"
"I'll give it a shot, what else am I supposed to do?"
The rest of my tables, I handled normally. I asked if they were done with their plates, if they wanted refills, if they'd like more free bread. Not table 26. They gave their orders unprompted. And I decide to wait, to delay eye contact, until they sought me out. They never shook a glass or snapped. They never raised a hand... that would have been cheating in my mind. No, I wanted to find them at the moment when they finished a drink, I could point to it and they'd nod.
The growing list of waiters, BOH, and some managers watching me do this thought the table was rather rude. No. Not from my perspective. From behind my apron, it felt like fucking perfection. When this stupid job goes well, it's better than most anything else I've done. And I've run screaming from the restaurant industry. I've looked down on this job, even while working it. I've come back to it, sometimes with hesitation and sometimes with vigor.
I had a full section, some seven tables and probably 15 people to serve, in addition to running my own person No-No. Still, table 26 was the easiest that shift. They dictated EXACTLY what type of salads they wanted, along with their specific modifications. When brushed me away when I presented a desert menu. If they wanted a refill on their ice teas, I simply brought the pitcher to the table. If either wanted a refill, they'd let me. If not, they'd place a hand of their glass. In any case, they never skipped a beat in their own conversation. Something about a will, which I took as a cue to not pay anymore attention. Best to focus on the game.
They finished their meal on a clear table with nothing but melted ice cubes before I dropped the check. It was maybe 1:30 at this point and I was still getting tables. Before I could even turn my back, the woman with the eyebrows dropped a card into the presenter.
Rylan had been watching, an unofficial score keeper though he couldn't keep a perfect watch. He had a bar and tables and money to make. Still, he caught more than I would have though. As I prompted Aloha to run an AMEX, Rylan walked passed carrying a load of dirty plates. "You still haven't said anything?"
"Nope."
"They're *paying*?"
"Yup."
"How you going to do *that*?"
"We'll see."
I really didn't know what I was going to do. There was nothing to say. To this day, I'm not sure if what I went with was creepy or weird (though if you suspect either than you're probably right), but I did what I did.
I dropped the check presenter on the table and clapped my hands. Loudly. Both women looked at me and I held eye with each for about three seconds. Then I brought my still clasped hands in my chest. I kept my right over my heart while putting the other on the table. I looked at each with a slight smile and walked away.
The three or four co-workers that stopped to witness this suppressed laughs. I walked to the back with wide eyes and a grin. I needed three lemonades, two waters, and a club soda, no ice, lemon instead of lime.
When I got back to the floor, the women were leaving, chatting away as they had throughout their meal. I dropped my drinks and started taking whatever orders were ready, all the while giving death stares to anyone that approached that book.
After grabbing the last app order, I bee lined to table 26. They're bill had landed at $48 and change. In the tip line read cleanly, "$10.00".
I looked over at Rylan and shouted, "Twenty percent and I didn't say a word!" None of the customers seemed to notice but Rylan rolled his eyes, then followed with a laugh.
*Okay, so cool, thanks for reading. If you read all of this, thanks. There was no need to but I appreciate it. It's a weird job we work, it's great, and stupid, and overpaid, and underpaid. We can make a moment special for a stranger or contribute to their shitty day. You learn a lot about people when you make your living feeding them.*
\*Footnote 1: I've devised ways for a negative score but the system to implement it sucks... it relies on regulars that know your name and that can, unprompted or without knowledge of the game, recite your script throughout the course of the meal. Anyone that gets a table to do that through desert and the check deserves a Professor Emeritus position at the UH Hotel and Restaurant Management school.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8xxprd/the_nono/
| 228 | 22 | 1,531,295,773 | 9 |
waiter tip
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top
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bmf2iq
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TalesFromYourServer
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He’s not a dog but you are an asshole
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Sorry if the formatting is off I’m on mobile.
I’m a server at a German beer haus, but went on a date night at an upscale restaurant in my city.
There was an 8top next to us that seemed like they were at a business dinner. Now, when I go out to a restaurant, I try to treat the server like a friend rather than someone waiting on me because I know everyone needs that once in a while. Well the asshat at the 8top is talking at the waiter, not too him like a normal human being. This man tells his waiter his food should be “thrown to the dogs”, as if the waiter made it for him. I get not liking your food, I do, but you don’t need to be such a prick when asked about it. Who the hell does that help?
I thought that interaction was bad but what really put me over the edge was him waving obnoxiously at our waiter when he was helping other tables because “he didn’t want his friend drinking by herself”. So obviously instead of waiting 30 seconds for the waiter to pass by he needed to cause a scene. There was a ton of other snarky shit he did throughout the night that compounded my anger to the point I felt like venting it here.
I’m honestly just so disgusted that people think treating any server like shit is okay. Our waiter was kind and attentive all night. I tipped $50 on our $157 bill in hopes that it would make his night better and if I could’ve afforded to tip more I would’ve.
Anyways, if my server from Roy’s reads this I just want to say thank you again and that prick definitely had a shitty combover.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/bmf2iq/hes_not_a_dog_but_you_are_an_asshole/
| 228 | 22 | 1,557,373,431 | 9 |
waiter tip
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top
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1g8a9i7
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TalesFromYourServer
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Managers taking tips from servers
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Hi guys ! So I’ve been serving at this restaurant for a little over 5 months and they have a policy where we tip our managers from our liquor sales (context: we don’t have a bartender so our managers on duty act as our bartenders, even though they are clocked in as managers/receiving manager pay)and it doesn’t sit quite right with me. We don’t have bartenders, so our managers usually end up running the bar, meaning they get manager wages (between $17-$22/hr) and get tipped directly from the bar/bar tables, AND they take a portion of SERVER’S liquor sales out of OUR TIPS (usually between $3-$10) and keep it. I personally wouldn’t have a problem with it if they were just regular bartenders or if the tips were distributed to the hosts (they get nothing lol). But there are nights where some of us only do $300 in sales, and come home with $40, and then we have to give $5 out of that $40 to our manager for liquor sales. I know that they can take tips directly, but I also know that it’s ILLEGAL for managers to participate in a tip share with servers. I need to know if in this context it’s still illegal, or if they’re just greedy for taking money from us on top of the money they already make. Thanks !
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1g8a9i7/managers_taking_tips_from_servers/
| 42 | 33 | 1,729,461,545 | 9 |
server tip
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relevance
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1fy4p2m
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TalesFromYourServer
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was told off on my third day and had to pay for a mistake! emotional help?
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this is a bit of a rant and plea for undrestading/symptahy? I'm ashamed to say I've been crying all day and just need some opinions and support maybe?
so I'm new to serving and was completely honest and upfront with my lack of experience when I applied to this job. it's at a breakfast place that gets insanely busy! I got one day of training, which was me shadowing another inexperienced server who was lost herself. then I got my own tables form the second day on. I did well on my first 2 days and i even got a few good reviews on google where the customers mentioned me by name. today (my third day of having tables), was extra chaotic as we were short staffed and I got more than my usual tables.
there were also difficult tables with allergies, multiple changes and sides that makes punching in tough as I still don't know everything (the training really sucks at this place since they just opened 10 days ago)
so in this chaos, I somehow punched in the order twice. so when they table had paid their order and left, their order got made again. the owner was there and starts berating me, I apologized and he said he would take it out of my tips. I was still apologetic and said I'd be more careful. but this guy does't let up for the rest of the day he is rude and keeps quizzing me on dishes ( we have a ridiculously long breakfast and lunch menu where everything looks the same so its tough to get right)
he also tells me I'm doing everything wrong. we still have people from corporate here as its a franchise and they just opened 10 days ago so I ask them sometimes. a couple comes in and the guy says he has severe allergies so while his wife will order here, he had to bring his own food due to allergies. the corporate people said it was ok, but then when the owner found out he got mad and told me I should have "politely" refused service.
so at this point, I'm flustered and I make another mistake by forgetting their side maple syrup (the pass person should have been there but we didn't have anyone in that position) so another server took their side maple syrup which I don't think was that big a deal. the table wasn't even mad when I checked on them but the owner said they were and again, starts his verbal bullying.
he then sends me home an hour early, made me pay for the $70 dollar mistake even though only their breakfast dishes were made twice not their whole order which included drinks and also pulls me to the side and threatens me; saying how awful I'm doing and that I need to do better or he will fire me. at this point, my brain is off and I just want to cry. all Ido is apologize profusely and tell him I'm doing my best but I'll try harder.
now that I'm home and calmed down a bit, I don't think how he treated me was fair. its their lacking of training and I also don't think I've done badly at all for my third day ever as a server! and since actually over paid for my mistake, he had no reason to go on bullying me! like you got your money, maybe let it go? I learned from my mistake and wont make it again, everyone makes mistakes at first, and this was my first one.
also, apparently its not totally legal to make employees pay for their mistakes. this is on Ontario, Canada. this guy also told me if I'm missing a customer receipt for me end of the day closing, I'd have to pay out of pocket for the order if there is a problem (I asked him because their machine was jammed and ate my receipt!)
TL;DR. lack of proper training, owner berates and bullies me over a mistake that he (illegally?) made me pay for. emotionally drained and not sure if I deserve this treatment? in Ontario, Canada
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fy4p2m/was_told_off_on_my_third_day_and_had_to_pay_for_a/
| 57 | 35 | 1,728,298,144 | 9 |
server tip
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hot
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b65b75
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TalesFromYourServer
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Lady has a bad day and leaves without tipping
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I was fresh out of high school and it was the summer before college. I was in a new town and didn't really know anyone. I got a job at one of the local pizza places. I worked as much as i could because college is expensive. I got paid $3.25/ hr so I mostly relied on tips.
One day during lunch a disgruntled lady had come in and ordered pasta and a drink. I tried making her experience great and cheering her up. When she left, she left me no tip. I was upset and annoyed.
Well I didn't work the next day so I enjoyed my time going on bike rides and playing pokemon go.
I came back to work the following day and when I got there the lady walked back in for lunch. I asked one of my coworkers to take her since I got her last time and she didn't tip. My coworker reluctantly took her table. Well as soon as my coworker got there, she turned back around and started walking towards me. My coworker said she wants me as her server.
Curious and slightly annoyed I walked over to her table to get her drink. She cut me off mid sentence and apologized to me for being rude to me the other day and got a 20 out of her wallet put it on the table and left. Before she left she also told me she came in the day before looking for me and would've come in everyday until she was able to give me the tip she thought I deserved.
Tl;Dr: woman was rude to me throughout her meal and left no tip. Came back the next day, I wasn't at work. Came back the following day, requested me as her server. Orders no food, apologizes to me and hands me a $20.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/b65b75/lady_has_a_bad_day_and_leaves_without_tipping/
| 3,682 | 73 | 1,553,698,095 | 9 |
server tip
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top
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lyy5ya
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TalesFromYourServer
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My campers paid table rent.
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We all have had campers before and that can be especially frustrating on a Friday night where you have a limited amount of tables. However, tonight I was feeling laid back and trying not to walk too much as I have a sprained toe and still had to make server drink tickets (Im bartending but we don't have the bar open because covid). So I have only 3 tables when I usually have 5. I'm not worried because my foot is swollen, this weekend is going to suck regardless.
Out of my three tables, I had two women sit from 6:30 to 9 and I believed they cashed out around 7:15 with a $40 check. I returned their change and new receipt, they tipped well. I'm totally not stressed about it because I don't want to walk on my swollen and sore injured foot and they did tip well. I did offer more water after they cashed out and they said they were fine. I get cut around 9 and start helping my closing bartender.
The busser came over to me and hands me $50. I'm like where is this from? I have two open tables where $50 wouldn't make sense. He told me table # and said they just left. These ladies paid me double to sit at the table and I'm grateful. I could have lost the chance to make money on that table but instead I got extra money that I don't have to tip out on.
Ladies, you know what's up and I appreciate what you did.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/lyy5ya/my_campers_paid_table_rent/
| 3,531 | 165 | 1,615,022,955 | 9 |
server tip
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top
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kqwfkn
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TalesFromYourServer
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A Grubhub driver is now banned from our premises
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I’ll give you one guess as to what you think he did to get banned— if you guessed refused to wear a mask, you’d be correct. I (Host/Server/Expo at a semi-fancy Italian restaurant/pizza place) was running expo on New Year’s Eve. We were incredibly busy. Now, keep in mind, we JUST received a visit from the health department because we had received 3 complaints on the COVID tip line related to mask misuse. Health department came and saw that the calls were bullshit and we were doing things properly, but still. A visit from the health department will kick any restaurant into overdrive, making sure they’re doing things right. This story involves an ass hole Grubhub driver (GH), a newly hired manager (NM)and a bartender (BT). Here’s how this went down:
GH walks in, let’s the bar know he’s there to pick up a Grubhub order, and is kindly instructed to wait by the front door while we finish the order. BT asked him to please wear a mask while he waits (when he walked in, the host wasn’t at the stand to tell him). He says “no, thank you.”
BT: sir, everyone has to wear a mask while in the restaurant, I’m sorry. Please wear a mask and the order will be out shortly.
GH: *ignores bartender and walks to front of restaurant to wait*
BT let’s NM know what’s going on. NM walks up to him, handing him one of the masks we hand out to people
NM: hi sir, if you would please wear a mask while in the restaurant, that would be great
GH: *taking mask and putting it in his pocket” I’m good, thanks
NM: I’m sorry, but it’s not optional. You either need to wear your mask or wait outside while we finish the order
GH: I have a right to my own body and I am exercising that right by choosing not to wear a mask
NM: Sir, again: this is is private property, and just like we require people to wear clothes, we are requiring people to wear masks. If you do not want to wear one, you can wait outside.
GH: I’m not going to do that, but thanks. Now how about you go check on my order?
NM: A server will bring you your order shortly. Now I will tell you one more time— either wear a mask, or go outside. If you can’t do that I’m going to have to call the police.
GH: Why do you have to come over here and be such a prick about it?
At this point, the food is ready, and I hand it to him. On his way out the door, NM calls after him:
NM: don’t bother picking up any other orders at this restaurant. You are not allowed here at any point in the future.
GH just rolls his eyes and leaves. NM promptly goes to the Grubhub app to find the driver’s name, goes through the formal complaint process to report him to Grubhub, and effectively banned him from the premises. I came in for my next shift to find signs all over the host stand/server station saying. “GH NAME PERMANENTLY BANNED FROM PREMISES”
But I got tipped out on $5k of sales so 🤷🏻♀️
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/kqwfkn/a_grubhub_driver_is_now_banned_from_our_premises/
| 2,838 | 212 | 1,609,845,115 | 9 |
server tip
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top
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s1cmbp
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TalesFromYourServer
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Keep the tip!
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My father was never able to pass on paying for a meal at a restaurant, even if he wasn't the host.
He has always been a generous tipper and truly appreciates good service.. $100.00 tips were common.
Unfortunately, as he aged, his math skills with tips became a bit off.
You could NOT question his finances or get your hands on the bill to check. He would have been mortified to find out that he had tipped cruelly by mistake, soooooo........he never found out.
Every event, one of us would leave the table to use the restroom and would speak to the manager and have them advise the server.
If he tips appropriately or even massively OVERTIPS, smile and thank him. He can afford it.
If he tips poorly, smile and thank him. One of us will circle back and cash tip appropriately.
He never knew there was a problem, just as we intended.
Edit: Silver!! Thanks very much!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/s1cmbp/keep_the_tip/
| 2,778 | 92 | 1,641,906,792 | 9 |
server tip
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top
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cia126
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TalesFromYourServer
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To the couple that left $20 on a $15 check.... fucking THANK YOU.
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My very last table of the night was a younger, probably late teens, pair. I definitely judged them at first and didn't expect much, they came in 25min before close and I hadn't had a good day. They ordered quickly, ate quickly, and split the check. Upon clearing the table I saw that BOTH of them had tipped me $10 on their under $10 checks and I nearly cried. It's the little things in serving that can make or break your night, so to those two young people thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving my night a sweet ending. I'm sorry I judged you.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/cia126/to_the_couple_that_left_20_on_a_15_check_fucking/
| 3,748 | 157 | 1,564,182,849 | 9 |
15%
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relevance
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v4wzks
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TalesFromYourServer
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3 top comes in 15 mins before closing. Raves about how great I/we are. Doesn't tip. ASKS FOR A JOB.
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I can't make this shit up.
I *never* call out diners because that'd get me fired (I just come here & bitch about them), but this time I did.
Title summarizes the entire interaction. As he asks me if we're hiring I glance @ the receipt with 0 tip then back to him & repeat this with no subtlety whatsoever @ least 3x.
I tell him, sorry we're "not" hiring.
He looks crushed.
I'm miffed so I call him out:
"Are you interested in the serving industry?"
"Yes!"
"Piece of advice? Don't come to a restaurant & not tip then ask for a job. It just goes against the entire culture & even if you don't agree with it, there's a lot of culture in this industry you'll have to accept if you want to work in it."
"Well, I wouldn't actually want a job like this until the tipping culture changes."
*Blinks rapidly.*
"That's fair, but the culture hasn't changed as of right now."
"I'M SORRY I'M POOR!"
I want to ask why this guy is eating out (& picking our second most expensive item to boot) if he's poor which is another aspect of the culture here (can't afford to tip = don't out or lower your choice to factor in $3!), but I've fought the Good Fight enough with this guy.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/v4wzks/3_top_comes_in_15_mins_before_closing_raves_about/
| 1,701 | 136 | 1,654,373,346 | 9 |
15%
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relevance
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1dlzazm
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TalesFromYourServer
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Ever catch a customer cheating?
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So I have a regular customer. He usually comes in with his wife every Sunday. They’re an older couple, and she told me that they’ve been together for about 15 years. Super sweet couple, totally gave me marriage goals.
Fast forward to a couple weeks ago. I go to greet a couple that had been seated at one of my tables, and there he is with a younger woman. As soon as I get to their table, he says “Hi, we’ve never been here before. It’s our first date! What would you recommend?” So of course I play along and recommend one of our best-selling dishes, one that I know he orders every time he’s here with his wife.
They order their food, and it seems like they’re having a good time. I go to check up on them, see if they need any desserts. He orders the most expensive dessert on our menu to go, so I bring out the dessert and the check.
They finish up and leave. I go to clear their table, and I see a $50 tip with “THANK YOU” written in all caps. Their bill was only $40.
Next Sunday, he’s back in my section with his wife. 😬
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1dlzazm/ever_catch_a_customer_cheating/
| 1,312 | 236 | 1,719,073,153 | 9 |
15%
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relevance
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12z1lul
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TalesFromYourServer
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“I’m a WHITE AMERICAN.”
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This just happened today and has been the talking point of the entire staff for hours. For reference, I work at a casual dining American restaurant.
I’m the only server that’s currently on the floor, and I have about 5 tables when I get sat a 2top. It’s an older couple, I’d say about late 60’s, sitting at one of our booths (table 32). They each order an unsweet tea and a glass of our house Cab. I let them sit for a minute to look over the menus and check up on my other tables. I come back a few minutes later and the man orders our pulled pork platter with no modifications, and she says she’ll do the same. Awesome! I ring in their orders and go about my business.
A few minutes later, the food is ready and I drop it off. She immediately turns her head up in disgust.
Her: “Is that barbecue sauce on the pork??”
Me: “Um…yes? Did you not want sauce on there?”
She informs me that she does not, and I take it back to the kitchen for a remake. Kind of annoying, but whatever, it happens.
A few minutes later, I bring her the pork platter (minus the sauce) and there’s another problem.
“I don’t eat dark meat. Can you get me one with only white meat?”
Now I’m actually annoyed, because I’m deep in the weeds at this point and the next server isn’t on the floor for another 15mins. I still bring it back to the kitchen, and my manager picks only lightly colored pieces by hand to fire for her second remake. Husband has been silently eating his food the entire time.
I bring out her THIRD pork platter, just drop it off and keep going since I have 7 other tables to take care of at this point. I check back in about 5mins later, and she hasn’t touched it.
Me: “Is there something wrong with this one too?”
This is what she says verbatim:
Her: “This is all guts and gizzards. I am a WHITE AMERICAN. We don’t eat stuff like this. Maybe a black person would eat this, but I was brought up to only eat white meat, since I’m a white American.”
I sent my manager over, I couldn’t deal with it anymore. After he spoke to her, she said she doesn’t want to order anything else (but not before making some more racist comments).
All the husband says to me is that they need two boxes and the check. They box up his half eaten platter, her uneaten one, and pay the bill.
They left 15%
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/12z1lul/im_a_white_american/
| 2,450 | 309 | 1,682,470,253 | 9 |
15%
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relevance
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iwohp6
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TalesFromYourServer
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I hate when parents hit on me for their kids
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It's happened a few times now, but today was the most awkward. I was ready to take this table's order, and the dad goes, "So where do you wanna start- the handsome one?" and points to his 20something son.
I respond, "Well, I usually just start at seat 1 [*points at seat 1*] and go around the table."
The dad says, "Oh, okay. Do you have a boyfriend?"
I answer, using my 'nervous and uncomfortable but I can't visibly be weirded out because my income relies on this' laugh, "Haha, yes I do have a boyfriend, but I'm flattered."
The dad looks at his son and says, "Sorry bud, I tried."
Thinking the awkwardness was over, I laugh and ask again, "So what can I get y-"
The dad interjects, "Do you like your boyfriend? Do you want to trade out your boyfriend?"
I respond "Haha... No, I love my boyfriend." I supply more strained and nervous laughter, hoping this man will just let me take their order soon.
The dad persists, "Would you be open to having multiple boyfriends?"
I answer, "Sorry, no, I'm a monogamist." More laughter. Finally, I can take their order.
.
I'm not claiming that was sexual harassment or anything. It was just... odd. Parents hitting on me for their embarrassed kids already makes me uncomfortable, but to keep going like that? How the hell do you think that's funny? And they only left 15% (after complimenting me a bunch). >:(
Edit: I have learned that this is sexual harassment.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/iwohp6/i_hate_when_parents_hit_on_me_for_their_kids/
| 4,491 | 338 | 1,600,643,236 | 9 |
15%
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relevance
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ngcl55
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TalesFromYourServer
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Am I the only one annoyed by people who’ve never worked in the industry swarming to this subreddit every time a post gets popular?
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There will be having a decent conversation and as soon as more than 500 people see it, it gets brigaded by hourly workers screaming about us making a living wage, and any truth from people actually in the industry gets downvoted into oblivion.
I see this happen so much, and it makes it to where actual SERVERS can’t even have a conversation, because six people are screaming “BUT YOU SHOULD GET PAID HOURLY!” I make $30 an hour. I have the intellectual capability to understand that a restaurant would never be able to to realistically pay me that. SHOULD we get paid more than a few dollars an hour? Yes. Would I give up what I make now for a $15 minimum wage? Hell no. The system isn’t perfect, but we do this job for a reason. Then people who have never worked this job, come comment about how tipping shouldn’t be a thing and we should get paid hourly, and then pat themselves on the back for “being on the side of the worker”, never mind any halfway decent server would never ever want that.
But thankfully none of these people ever do anything to actually fight for what they believe. It’s all internet comments and back pats over here.
TL;DR we’re all just screaming our useless comments into the void to make ourselves feel better.
Update: I rest my case lol
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ngcl55/am_i_the_only_one_annoyed_by_people_whove_never/
| 2,092 | 451 | 1,621,447,242 | 9 |
15%
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relevance
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1e8dv8l
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TalesFromYourServer
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Trying to figure out how to bring my table time down.
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Hello I'm kinda new to serving been a busser/dishwasher for about 12 yrs and a server for about 1 yr.
My manger was telling me that my table turn is not where it should be. I need my time to be lower. My table time is at 47 mins. I need that done below 40's. Also my drink sales are at 15% and I need that to be 20% or more. Those 2 are what are low and needs major improvement.
I just don't know how to bring the time down. I'm giving them their tickets at 20 minutes and when I swing by 3-5 mins later they don't have their card or the cash. How do I approach them?
Any advice I do appreciate! Thanks in Advance
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e8dv8l/trying_to_figure_out_how_to_bring_my_table_time/
| 3 | 9 | 1,721,535,188 | 9 |
15%
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hot
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1e656ar
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TalesFromYourServer
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Need to vent…
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Need to vent…
So, I work in a nice restaurant with a patio. We had a guest that had a 7:30pm reservation requesting a patio table by the fountain (a favorite spot for many). We sat one of the “fountain tables” for a 5:00pm reservation. Well, they sat until 8:30pm. The other “fountain table” was sat at 6:00pm and sat after they paid until 8:15. The 7:30 table was unhappy with the fact that these two tables were taken and asked to wait as it looked like both tables were finished and paid. Of course, I gave them a table nearby and told them I would get them a glass of wine while they waited. So they waited for 45 minutes. I apologized letting them know that the one table had been there since 5:00pm and how unprecedented it was for both tables to be taking so long to leave. As soon as 1 of the tables left, we immediately reset the table for them. I also let them know that I needed to get their order by 8:30 as that is what time the kitchen closes. They were unhappy with that information. They moved tables finally. I got their order in and they took their sweet time eating. Keeping myself and kitchen staff on the clock waiting for them (the only table in the restaurant now) to order dessert. Service was smooth and food looked good. They stayed until a little after 10:00pm. We close at 9:00, but not terribly unusual for us to stay later for tables. This was what they left me…
$0.00 on the tip line for a $300 check. A penny in the check presenter. And wrote a note on the cc slip saying “how unprecedented” with little hearts around it. I’m bitter 😡
Edit to add: There were other available tables on the preferred patio and they were seated at one of them with menus. The only 2 “acceptable” tables were occupied and yes, highly preferred tables. It was their choice to stay, go, or wait. They made their choice and I tried to make them comfortable.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1e656ar/need_to_vent/
| 160 | 61 | 1,721,286,254 | 9 |
15%
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hot
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1dxpu4g
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TalesFromYourServer
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Doing a waitresses work as hostess with no tip-out
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Title basically explains it. Has anyone else ever experienced this? Am I crazy for not quitting this job sooner lol ok here goes
Worked at a restaurant as a hostess where we were expected to greet, seat, bring menus, start drinks if the waitress was busy and even take app orders, bring food, do refills on drinks including beer (without being told to, we had to watch the drinks ourselves proactively), pre-bus, and bus the tables after too. there was more but it was a while ago now and I blocked it out literally.
Hosts got paid $10 an hour and had a tip jar (that the owner was secretly taking money out of each shift to tip the BOH $1 per hour worked), but tips never came out to more than $20 on a *good* night. Average was $7-$15 for a 6-7 hr shift.
Servers made $2 something an hour and never left a shift with less than $200. So we were earning $70-90 a shift depending on tips as hostesses while doing all the work of the servers and they’d make double, almost triple what we made and never tipped out.
The way it worked at this place was that hostesses would get server shifts about 2x a week (the shitty slow lunch shifts never any good ones), so I worked as a server as well and the servers would then be hosting for us and when I tell you they would not lift a FINGER. Not even if we had a 10-top table with 3 screaming babies, nothing.
So yeah, I know typically hosts aren’t entitled to tip-out but that’s when they actually are just hosts, and not a co-waitress. Am I wrong for feeling that we should’ve been tipped out some? Servers didn’t tip anyone out at all in this restaurant, not that I know of.
We’d have to ask them more than once to help us at all, whereas we were expected to basically do everything for them pre-emptively without them even asking when *we* were hosting for *them*.
this was an insanely busy pizza restaurant that made literally tens of thousands of $$$ in transactions per night, the owners a piece of shit and loves violating labor laws (and stealing from hosts).
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1dxpu4g/doing_a_waitresses_work_as_hostess_with_no_tipout/
| 9 | 18 | 1,720,383,560 | 9 |
15%
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hot
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1drtgtq
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TalesFromYourServer
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Were the things that my boss did at my old workplace illegal?
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TLDR: I worked at a small family owned boba cafe where the owner took our tips, paid us under the counter daily in cash, and didn't give us breaks. Are these things illegal based on the circumstances?
I love boba/bubble tea, and I've always heard of employees at boba shops getting free drinks on their shift. Naturally, I decided to work at a small local family owned boba shop - not knowing what I was getting myself into. There's quite a few reasons I quit after one month which I will describe here, and looking back on it, a lot of it feels suspicious and illegal but I dont know the law. Let me know your thoughts.
Firstly, and most annoyingly, my boss took our tips. All of them. Most of the tips were digital, as we use an ipad POS system, and accepting a cash tip was risky because the owner took away the tip jar to discourage them, and customers sliding me cash could look like I'm stealing from the register (in the manager's eyes.) Pretty sure taking tips from employees is ILLEGAL, no? When I asked the owner why we dont get to keep them, he says he used to let us have a tip jar, but a customer's kid stole them once so he took it away?? That doesnt even make sense, but ok sure.
Secondly, I'm not even sure if I was considered an EMPLOYEE or just "help". The whole onboarding process was suspicious. I was told to come in for "orientation", which turned out to actually be 4 hours of unpaid work which he called "training". Also, I never received a W-2 form for taxes, which means Im not a real employee technically. But, he asked for a copy of my ID and social security card, and I never was informed what that was for other than "payment purposes".
Which brings me to my next topic. We, which was myself and 2 other non-family "employees", were paid DAILY, IN CASH. Felt kinda under the counter money. Don't get me wrong, being paid daily was nice, but it definitely didn't feel right.
Some additional grievances? We were not allowed to eat or drink any of the stuff that we sold, unless we were shipped "samples". Otherwise, we had to buy food/drinks with a measly 15% discount. And we did NOT get breaks either, these are 6-8 hour shifts by the way. The only food and break we got was a small energy bar purchased in bulk from Costco when it wasnt busy. I lost so much weight in my short time working here.
So yeah, never working for a place like that ever again. I'd like to hear thoughts on this if you read it to the end about the legality of this business, I just know the way they're running it is wack.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1drtgtq/were_the_things_that_my_boss_did_at_my_old/
| 12 | 7 | 1,719,722,019 | 9 |
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hot
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p9s1w7
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TalesFromYourServer
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Hilarious guy pays me to practical joke his friends..
|
So tonight I had an 8 top, 3 couples in their 30s and one of the couples parents. One of the couples had a month old baby with them, but it was just chill the whole time and the new dad had the sickest Kentucky waterfall I've ever seen, it was slicked back/bouffant on top then looked like it was permed in the back down to his shoulders. Kenny Powers would've been jealous.
Anyways, guy sitting across from mullet acts like he's going to the bathroom and pulls me aside. He tells me mullet guy absolutely hates being called buddy, said the more buddies I get out the bigger the tip. I tried to play it cool, and managed to get out 10 buddies to him.. to me it was like the super troopers 'meow' game, "hey buddy, everything okay?" guy was getting visibly irritated and the guy that put me up to it was trying so hard not to lose his shit. At about 5 in I warned my manager I might get punched lol. When he was telling me to say buddy, he handed me his credit card and says "oh here's the kicker.. the girl sitting next to me (not his gf) thinks her tick tock is so great and constantly bragging about how many followers etc etc, so at the end if you can come up and say 'hey guys.. our gm is actually a huge fan of your tick tock and wanted to take care of the bill'", so I did exactly that and this chick's face lit up like the friggin moon thinking she has like celebrity/ free shit everywhere status. Anyways they leave and I still have dudes credit card and run it for the $260 tab, about 15 minutes later he comes back and fills it out with $100 tip
10/10 would do again
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/p9s1w7/hilarious_guy_pays_me_to_practical_joke_his/
| 3,114 | 98 | 1,629,691,439 | 9 |
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a6x9sk
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TalesFromYourServer
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Diary of a Petty Server: On Grizzled Granny and the Grumpettes.
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Dear Diary,
Christmas draws nigh, and with it an endless stream of exciting possibilities. What shall shopping obligations and yearly familial pressure bring into our happy home today? A party of 30 with 15 highchairs and ten birthdays? A gift-cardee who will graciously tip the remaining .80 on the card? Hill people insisting to sit by the windows so the dead deer with a red clown nose doesn't get stolen from the truck?
If we're really fucking lucky, all of it.
I've been working doubles for two weeks straight, flying under the OT radar like a frightened penniless goose. By 10:45 Friday night, I'm frothing at the bit to get off this fucking clock. But of course, the best time to go to a restaurant is right before they close, cause you get the whole place to yourself! So I hear.
Manager comes into the kitchen with three open. She locks eyes with me and says, very seriously, "I'm sorry."
Well, that can't be fucking good. I put on a brave facade and head into the dining room, eyes feasting on the sea of red flags before me.
I'm immediately glared down by an elderly lady who looks like she makes a living out of cracking ankles with a hammer. She's accompanied by a small girl in pigtails (who is busily ripping her coloring menu into shreds) and a lady who I can only assume is the child's mother. The lady turns to look at me as I approach the table with eyes bigger and blacker than a damn ostrich; she's obviously pre-gamed with a round or two down at the old Shoot'N'Snort.
But it's Christmas, and angry, possibly druggy ladies are people too, so I give them a smile and say, "Hello ladies! I'm DabblesinDirewolves and I'll be taking care of you tonight!"
"I bet you're not happy to see us!" the elderly lady says, like she was expecting the furniture and I to dance and sing Be Our Guest. "But if you're fast, we'll be fast too." (A verbal contract she did not uphold.)
I cut the scripting bullshit to get drink orders. Mostly harmless, although the child is convinced we are in possession of strawberry milk, and when I cannot convince her otherwise she responds by shoving her ripped menu into her mouth. Unfortunately, her spitty shreds do not transmute to strawberry milk, so she angrily settles for chocolate.
I try to get through the table quickly and efficiently, but there are pitfalls. Angry Grandma is outraged that the free drink offered with the Kids dinner meals will not be offered to her granddaughter, as she is eating pancakes. "BUT SHE'S EATING THE PANCAKES FOR DINNER! SHE DESERVES A FREE DRINK!" Alas, the overlords do not deem her worthy.
Troubles again, when she decides to order the Daily special....for Wednesday. Oh but that doesn't matter! We have the ingredients in the back, we can just cook it for her! You know, bake the chicken and prep the vegetables and hell, why don't I just drive it to your goddamned house at two in the morning when everything's done?!
I have to get my manager involved in order to convince this batshit lady that we can't make this dish on demand. Now, Manager is a real sweetheart who can find the good in a pit viper, but even her eye is starting to twitch. If I play my cards right I might get a piece of pity cake out of this.
I have to earn it though. Mom has spent most of her time snapping the prongs off the plastic forks, occasionally (ie, frequently) putting in more requests for biscuits and jelly. At this point, the lady has to be at least three parts biscuit two parts heroin. On one trip to check refills the mystery is solved! Mom's jacket pockets are literally bulging with biscuits. I can see them. She sees that I have seen them, so she casually puts her hands in her pockets and askes for more jelly. I can't see that, so God only knows where six tiny packets of blackberry are hiding. Jokes on you lady, the biscuits are complementary, and honestly, probably hard as rocks by now.
By the eighth complaint on the food and setting (from being too hot in the store that she couldn't comfortably wear her jacket, to being so cold that she was indignant we didn't hike outside to get more firewood), I have officially lost my sunny exuberance. By the time I drop off the check and To-Go drinks, I would have happily sliced my fingers and worn lemon gloves if it meant these people would never darken my doorstep again. At this point we've been closed so long THE DISHROOM has finished. The cashier's been sent home. Just me and my manager in this battle for our souls.
Alas, hope makes weary fools of us all. I'm beating feet back to the kitchen when I hear "MA'AM!"
It's the mom. She's holding up her To-Go drink. "This isn't Coke Zero!"
You are absolutely accurate. It never has been. Probably never will be. Excellent observation. Good night!
"No ma'am. It was Diet Coke? That's what all your refills have been."
She insists it was Coke Zero. When I tell her our fountains don't have Coke Zero, she asks if I can get her one out of the breakroom. Look lady, I don't know what fancy Coke Zero breakroom you've been in, but all I can offer you here is Fantas disguised as Sprites.
Poor thing was itching for a Coke Zero (judging by the scratching), but she eventually compromises on a regular Coke. Unfortunately, the nozzle's in the blue water so you're getting Diet and you're gonna fucking like it.
I finally herd them up to the cash stand. I wish them a good night, but I dunno, they probably spent the evening sandpapering their own assholes. Gotta get good and angry before descending on some innocent Chic Fila and demanding Baconators.
I rush to get the last chores done, and as I'm throwing towels in the laundry I meet our night maintenance guy. He's red as a fucking lobster and jibbering. Apparently, a strange lady who never blinked had just barged into the ladies restroom where he was cleaning (an hour after close with the door propped open with a mop bucket, complete with sign) and declared him a pervert before "doing the running man" beside the wet floor sign and disappearing. I can offer nothing but sympathy.
I clock out and go to check my tips. The experience has given me the old no-impending-tip blues, but when I check my tips the amount has increased by almost $15. As the ticket had come to around $30, I find this very generous. I feel it, that old panic flare of "I'VE MISJUDGED YOU!" Maybe this will be a good lesson for me as a server. Maybe grumpy grannies and meth mommies and their strawberry milk shrieking demons can be just as kind and loving as the rest of...
"DabblesinDirewolves, can you come up here?" Oh shit. Surely my new angry but tippy friends aren't upset with me?
The guests are gone, but my manager is standing behind the cash register. She says, "That was fun."
I admit it was rough, but at least I have a nice tip I wasn't expecting!
So my manager tells me a tale.
The elderly lady had asked for one check at the table but now wanted the checks to be split. Manager obliges. Angry lady pays her ticket, does not leave a tip. She disappears with the girl.
At this point Lady Twitchy Tweak has come out of the bathroom after scaring our maintenance man back into the kitchen. Manager has decided to get ahead of the situation. She has the ticket in hand and is standing at the door when the lady first tries to leave. Manager sweet talks her, thanks her for coming in, and gets her over to the cash register to pay.
As the lady pulls out her credit card, my manager goes through the spiel: how was your meal, how was the service, etc. The lady tells her it was good, asks her to thank me for the Coke Zero! and says, "Oh, I need to tip. Round it up to 14!"
Her bill was $13.88. She wanted to round the total to $14. Twelve cents ahead of the game, I guess. My manager instructs her to input her card information and input her tip when the screen prompted. So lady gets to the screen to input tip. For those who aren't familiar, it's a big screen that says, "Input Tip Amount. Hit this button to Skip Tip, hit this button to Send Tip." It's truly not difficult.
Lady asks manager again how much the check was. 13:88. "Okay, so I'm rounding....up....to..................foooorrrteeeeen." Lady pecks out 14.00 into the tip input screen and hits send tip. She is prompted if she is sure. SHE IS SURE. It's all over but the crying (most of it mine.)
My manager, God bless her fucking beautiful soul, would have tried to correct a genuine mistake from a guest...usually. "But hell, the machine asked her twice! How far do you go to save people from themselves?" Sound reasoning, sure as shit good enough for me. I will exchange this hard-won $14 for liquor and also probably strawberry milk. Kid had a point, shit is delicious.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/a6x9sk/diary_of_a_petty_server_on_grizzled_granny_and/
| 2,521 | 105 | 1,545,027,739 | 9 |
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1eheao1
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TalesFromYourServer
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finally hitting my groove!
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so the last time i posted on here was a little over 2 years ago when i had just started serving at an independent living facility. i worked there from june 2022 until may 2024- just shy of my 2 year mark. i finally realized that it just wasn’t worth my time to be there anymore so i cut ties and found a job at an actual restaurant where i could make tips rather than $15/ hour (corporate at my old job had just capped our shifts to a mandatory 3.5 hours- any longer than that we had to stop closing wherever our progress was, clock out and leave). $45 maximum (pre tax) shifts combined with an overpacked schedule that only let each person work 2-3 days/week was not sustainable for a college student, but i digress. so i landed this new job at an italian joint near my house and i had an in that really helped me out- my stepmom programs and implements point of sales equipment and this place is one of her accounts so before i started, she sat me down and showed me how to use the system. my first 5 or so shifts after training were kind of a nightmare, not knowing how to correctly space out my ticket timing for tables, not knowing enough about our bar or our menu, and a lot of questions for the manager and other servers. after that i started to get comfortable but i wasn’t really able to just jump right into the game as soon as i got my first table of the night. up until a few weeks ago, my first table of the shift was the unfortunate one, as i would have to take that time to get myself into the headspace for the rest of the shift and kinda get my feet wet all over again every time. now, i feel incredible about the job i’m doing. triple sat with a 9 top and some others? no big deal. larger parties? i’ll start writing seat numbers on my order pad before i even get to the table. ticket times taking so long i want to walk into the ocean? no biggie, offer a salad or another cocktail and stall. anyways, the whole point of this post is something my manager said to me last night. i was waiting to do my checkout and the other girls that were closing had already left so it was just me. i took that time to sit at the bar and roll silverware. after i finished that, my manager was still sitting at the bar talking with a patron while she waited for the last few bar guests to leave to count the register drawer. i felt like i needed to do something so i just picked up a broom and started sweeping. that’s when she goes “Sar, i love you” me “why” her “because you’re a good worker” me “oh thanks, just felt like i should be doing something”. and that’s when it hit me, im finally starting to get really good at what im doing! all this to say, to anyone just starting out: pay attention to what your coworkers do, do as much side work throughout the night as you can without it affecting your service, and be kind to those around you, and you’ll get there. serving is intimidating when you first start out but once you’re in it, it’s the easiest cash cow you’ll ever find. 🩷
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1eheao1/finally_hitting_my_groove/
| 0 | 1 | 1,722,511,685 | 9 |
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ubt4lk
|
TalesFromYourServer
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“I only have $20”
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Today this lady came in alone and told me she only had $20 and started asking me what to get. We have a big menu with prices that range from $10-30 for an entree. She decided to spend $18.50 and told me i could have the rest for a tip. She also moved tables randomly, cut in front of people walking in, and had me get her a to go cup for her coke(told me to make sure i fill it all the way😂). I just don’t understand why you would be going to a nicer sit down restaurant if you’re truly down to your last $20.
Fortunately, a kind lady overheard her and slipped me $5 so i didn’t miss out on a tip. Good people still exist.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ubt4lk/i_only_have_20/
| 1,926 | 170 | 1,650,914,617 | 9 |
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relevance
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7gn5q6
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TalesFromYourServer
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20 free lemonades coming right up!
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Rewriting this because of formatting issues (sorry!)
TLDR: Group of 20 high schoolers come in for free meal and have $300 bill and no one tips a cent
Last night we had a party of 20 high school volleyball players come in to our TGIChilibee's. Every month or so we give a free meal to the members of a local sports team which includes an app, entree, and dessert.
A coworker and I had to split it because the GM was the MOD and she's anal about how many guests we can serve in a party all by ourselves. Usually we can make some money off a group like this so it's okay
They take up 2 of my tables, 1 of hers. Although we don't take reservations the hosts had to set up their tables pretty early so that we could have a spot for them. Basically an hour and a half early so I missed out on money for those empty tables.
They come in, order, everything is good. All of them wanted different flavored lemonades which is a pain in the ass because they all come from the bar and we had to refill them every 20 seconds. They eat, no complaints at all. Then they all order dessert. After that they just sit there. One of the moms wanted to order to-go, so I promptly get it out to her with the bill for that order. They sit there for 2 and a half hours just talking.
Then they finally leave and all that there's left on the tables are cups because we prebussed the hell out of it trying to get them to leave. We look around and... nothing! No money. Zero tip. I didn't even get a tip on the to-go food. The overall cost was $306 for this team to eat for free and we got nothing.We don't have auto-grat so that just infuriated me more.
Normally when we have these teams come in one of our managers, M, makes them all bring $2 each for a tip. I guess they didn't get the message this time because I just spent 2 and a half hours with these kids taking up my tables and leaving nothing. There were 4 adults in that group and they didn't leave a penny. Not even on the to-go order.
I told her I would never serve a team again if there isn't a guaranteed tip- I do not work for free.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/7gn5q6/20_free_lemonades_coming_right_up/
| 499 | 81 | 1,512,056,374 | 9 |
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relevance
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15cvysk
|
TalesFromYourServer
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I tried to do a nice thing and it blew up in my face…
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So I recently started working at an upscale restaurant/bar and have noticed that the front of the house and back of house do not really get along which is just weird for me it makes things so much more difficult..I’ve been working here a month and half and kept racking my brain on how to get on their good side and show them I appreciate their hard work…I steamrolled the usual cash, weed, cigs, energy drinks you know the typical things but decided on the bright idea of scratch off tickets..so I go to the gas station and buy ten $10 scratch offs and head to work yesterday and pass them out before my shift a couple said thanks, some didn’t care but still took it..about 20 minutes I’m standing with my manager by the host stand and we hear like a loud scream from the back of house..I shit u not one of the cooks scratched off a ticket and hit for 500 with a 10x multiplier bonus( so 5k I guess)…he’s in shock everyone is laughing and congratulating him ..this dude barely says anything goes outside to smoke a cig and never comes back 🤣 basically my manager is blaming me for him quitting now and the other cooks hate me cuz they were short staffed and no one else won on their tickets fml
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/15cvysk/i_tried_to_do_a_nice_thing_and_it_blew_up_in_my/
| 2,895 | 172 | 1,690,646,849 | 9 |
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1gej9z9
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TalesFromYourServer
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Every single cashier at our food hall shopfront provides zero customer service, I wonder why?
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Every single fellow cashier at our shopfront has been shockingly short and disrespectful to the customers that roam through the building. This is evident from the plethora of bad reviews surrounding these employees interactions. Unsurprisingly I have gone from providing some level of customer service to slowly but surely reaching the state of mind as my fellow employees and no longer really smile or go to any lengths to do more than the bare minimum.
It got me wondering to why exactly these employees, and myself, are not motivated at all to provide any positive level of customer service?
Some of the things I would have to say are culprit is our bosses incessant ability to pay us late, it’s gotten to the point now where we’re all in a separate group chat and bet on whether he’ll pay us on time. Our boss talks disrespectfully to us when we do anything to inconvenience him, even if it’s not necessarily anything wrong.
The overall process of sitting around a building full of loud people with screaming kids (tourist heavy place) bothers most of the employees. The steps from taking a ravenous line of people’s orders as the only cashier with only one cook. Is exhausting as you have to juggle assisting customers asking for more stuff after receiving their food already, inputting and sending out delivery orders, preparing trays of food from the kitchen and bringing them out, collecting reusable dish ware, and leaving to the supply room mid rush to grab more stuff results in a overstimulated work environment with never enough time to get anything done in a timely manner.
From my experience the whole style of the food halls layout just creates way too much traffic flowing through it and even if they aren’t ordering from you it’s causing the cashier to always be on edge bc you have no idea if that person staring at ur menu for 10 minutes is actually going to order.
There hasn’t been one cashier that hasn’t been incredibly short and rude to the customers and I used to think they just hated the job but realized after working here for a while that it’s just designed to influence the cashier to not be inclined to provide any reasonable amount of customer service. You’re just flipping a iPad around non stop and never getting a chance to connect with the customer.
All the cashiers are leaving left and right and even the kitchen is extremely toxic here with a couple of cooks who hog 80% of the hours and the remaining 20% are taken by a kid that is constantly disrespected by the main cooks because they think they have some kind of seniority above him and don’t have to do basic tasks like prep the kitchen for his shift so he’s scrambling as he comes in to get ready. He’s no longer here for that reason.
It’s crazy to me that our boss is well aware of the reviews and his actions towards us but just doesn’t give a fuck and keeps paying us late, micromanaging us, and interacting in a highly toxic manner when things don’t go his way. Our place is special in the sense that we have the most negative reviews with customers trashing the cashiers attitudes, it’s almost comical.
It’s sad that it’s gotten to this point but tbh after working the position I’ve devolved to nearly the same persona although I do fake it just enough to avoid mass reports regarding my behavior. Essentially there’s very little reason to go above and beyond to provide anything more than the absolute minimum towards customers and even more reason to allow our frustrations to be seen due to the owners own neglect towards our well being. Time to find another job.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gej9z9/every_single_cashier_at_our_food_hall_shopfront/
| 12 | 11 | 1,730,165,937 | 9 |
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hot
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1fyhdcx
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TalesFromYourServer
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Restaurant Nightmare: My draft letter to the local health department
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I have worked in the restaurant industry for over seven years and I've never seen so many violations and absolute disregard for public safety.
All sauces (mustard, ketchup, truffle aioli, house made jam,etc) anything on a guest's already eaten plate or sauce dish is NOT allowed to go to the dish pit or the garbage. It is to go back to the expo line for owner Barb to "recover" and put back in supply containers. To be served up again to the next guest.
Now this doesn't only stop at sauces. This also is the same process for any garnishes, butter (used or not), bread , open container creamers, waters, sparkling waters, etc. All things that have been on the guests table and touched by all guests throughout their 2 hour dinning experience.
When I attempted to discard the used sauces and butters and food I was redirected to take them to the expo line for Barb to "recover' & "reuse" contaminated food.
This is for every table in the restaurant, there is no exceptions. I personally witnessed owner Barb take a used butter dish with a guest's blood on it say out loud "who's blood is this", then proceed to wipe the blood off the dish and place it back in the armoire outside the kitchen with all the "new" butter for guest's.
I also witnessed the reuse of unwashed guest napkins, Barb stated that "the laundering costs too much so if they are not stained they must be refused and rolled with silverware".
I have worked chains like chilli's and red Robin as well as many private proprietor small owned restaurants and in my near 10 years of restaurants and other hospitality combined I have never seen so many violations committed in a single shift. I am appalled by the complete disregard for public safety and will not be complacent to endangering guests with communicable diseases.
I strongly, strongly encourage a surprise inspection DURING SERVICE. It you go in at 7pm on a Friday or Saturday you will witness for yourself all the used guest dishes covering the expo line being picked off by the owner for "reuse" prior to anything being discarded and taken to the dishpit.
An inspection outside of service hours is not going to show the true extent of the disregard for health and safety standards and the safety of their patrons.
I have now left employment with the restaurant by my choice and on good terms. But, I can stand by and say nothing.
AITH?
Names changed for privacy.
For context the is an upscale long established French restaurant.
So here's the update. •Filed a complaint with the local Health dept. •Filed a complaint with the state labor dept. •Still looking for new work, it's been a hard time. •Met with the owner of said restaurant and went over my concerns and why I'm leaving, also to pick up my check. She didn't seem moved by my concerns and started reasoning and defending. At the end she said she had a lot to think about but was obviously taken back. Followed her back to the restaurant to pickup my check she forgot. The grand total for 6.5 hours @ "18-20*/hr plus tips at a $50-$100 per person on a fully packed Saturday night.......$150 This is not satire
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1fyhdcx/restaurant_nightmare_my_draft_letter_to_the_local/
| 512 | 81 | 1,728,332,011 | 9 |
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hot
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e2igip
|
TalesFromYourServer
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To the woman who tipped me $10 on a $10.02 bill
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You sat at the bar, chatting on your phone most of the time in a really unobnoxious way. Very easy customer during a slow period. Between your calls, you chatted with me some, even asking me if I had kids because you have some referrals for a high-end early learning center you're trying to find people to take (I don't, ha- I'm 20!). When you were talking about your work, I realized we used to work for neighboring branches of our local government! Not trying to pawn my life story off on people, when you curiously and emphatically asked me what made me leave the government, I merely replied it was too stressful.
​
When I brought you your $10.02 check, you brought out a 20 dollar bill and two pennies, telling me to keep the change. I perked up, and asked "Are you sure??"
​
You were sure.
​
I'm serving for the first time, after being a low-tier office lackey for a couple years as my first job. Drama between my department and the public, my department and county administration, and my department and itself didn't blend well with my stress from family issues and night classes. And the promises of finding me a full-time position were going serially unfulfilled. I'm enjoying the work, even if I still make rookie mistakes pretty constantly- Yesterday I almost dropped some chicken legs on a baby. Whoops.
​
I leave work every day now not feeling my hair turn grey, and I'm actually making more money now than I was working for the government because of steady work and generous tippers like you. I made the right decision and I'm happier than ever.
​
Thank you!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/e2igip/to_the_woman_who_tipped_me_10_on_a_1002_bill/
| 3,642 | 42 | 1,574,872,247 | 9 |
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1gsz25o
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TalesFromYourServer
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Servers, what would you think of me as your customer?
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I recently started to frequent a local diner on the weekends. I go by myself, have breakfast and 3 coffees. I typically stay anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours and leave a $5 tip on a $20 order (paid with a credit card).
What are your thoughts on having me as your customer?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1gsz25o/servers_what_would_you_think_of_me_as_your/
| 0 | 14 | 1,731,796,988 | 9 |
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new
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7v0pwp
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TalesFromYourServer
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Bad customer BINGO. (Or, every bad customer trait rolled into one.)
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Get out your r/TalesFromYourServer bingo cards, everyone. This one is a doozy. This one happened a week or two ago. I work at a very popular short order diner.
Party of six walked in, consisting of a young woman (mid 20s), an older woman (mid 40s), and four children (the OLDEST of which couldn't have been older than four, the youngest wasn't even two). As soon as the front door opened, the sound of screaming children could be heard throughout the restaurant. I could see them all trying to separate themselves across two smaller booths, which prompted me to try and help.
> Me: "There are larger booths over that way, so you all can sit together."
> YW (Younger Woman): "No, we want two booths so all the kids can sit at one, and me and her can sit at the other."
So already, I can tell this is going to be a nightmare. I grab them napkins and silverware and begin setting them up, to which YW mentions. "You'll probably want to take away their forks and knives. And the salt, pepper, and condiments." With a strange look and feeling of impending doom, I remove all the silverware and table accessories and proceed to take their order.
> YW: "The youngest one will have a waffle. Can you cut it up for her?"
*If you have "Requesting staff to care for child" on your bingo card, remember to mark it off.*
> Me: "I'm sorry, ma'am. Once the food leaves the kitchen, we can't alter it." (Obvious bullshit excuse.)
> YW: "Oh. Okay."
Meanwhile, as I'm taking the order, the oldest child is jabbing me in the thigh with his finger saying "HEY. HEY. I WANT A SPRITE. I WANT A SPRITE. HEY."
*[Be sure to mark off "Annoying-ass kid" on your bingo cards.]*
> YW: "The two middle kids will split an adult meal."
>Me: "Okay."
> YW: (To older child that hasn't shut up.) "Billy, what do you want to eat?"
> Billy: "I WANT THAT!!"
With a firm hand, Billy jabbed his finger at the menu, pointing to the picture of the steak dinner. Without hesitation, she looked at me and asked "Do you have a kid's steak?"
*[That would be "Dumbass question" on your bingo cards, folks.]*
Uh.. a kid's steak isn't a thing. Nowhere has a kid's steak. It took me a moment to regain my composure from the dumbfounding question.
> Me: "No ma'am, we don't have a kid's steak."
> YW: "Billy, you can't get the steak. Look at the breakfast menu. What do you want?"
> Billy: "I WANT THAT!!!"
Again, he jabbed his finger at the menu, this time towards the steak and egg breakfast. Points for consistency, I guess. Once again, the mother looked at me and said "Can we just add a steak to a kids meal?" Now, technically, we could. You can build your own meal however you want, where I work. But the idea of adding a steak to a kids meal is laughable. The kids meal costs $4, while a side steak would add an extra $8. I told this to her, and she just waved her hand and said "That's fine, whatever."
*[Anyone have "Spineless parent" on their bingo cards? Or "Undisciplined child?"]*
> Me: "Okay, now that I have all the kid's orders, let me repeat it back to you before I take the adult's orders so i can make sure I have everything correct."
> YW: "You can repeat it back to her, not me." (pointing to the older woman.)
The older woman wasn't privy to anything that just happened. She wasn't part of any part of the children's order-taking process. In fact, she hasn't even said two words since she walked in the door with this traveling circus. But unable to refuse, I headed to the older woman in her separate booth, and read off the orders. To no one's surprise, she responded "Sounds fine, I guess." Without giving me a chance to breathe, she then placed her order.
> OW (Older woman): "I want two eggs, scrambled, bowl of grits, side of bacon, and a coke."
Okay, not so bad. Then I moved onto the younger woman, who had apparently just finished making sure her kids were sufficiently stuffed into their booth.
> Me: "And what would you like, ma'am?"
> YW: "Give me the (name of combo that would identify my place of work)."
> Me: "Okay, that comes with two eggs, toast, and a waffle. How do you want your eggs cooked?"
> YW: "I want the white cooked, but not too much. And the yolk needs to be runny. Y'know?"
> Me: "Okay. Over medium."
> YW: "NO, I WANT IT SUNNY SIDE UP."
> Me: "Okay, sunny side up."
> YW: "But not cooked too much."
> Me: "Yep."
> YW: "Just a little bit though."
> Me: "Uh huh."
*[Those of you who had "Superfluously-worded order", you're in luck.]*
> Me: "It also comes with your choice of side meat. That's bacon, ham, or sausage."
> YW: "I can't get all three?"
> Me: "I mean, you can. But it'll cose extra."
> YW: "It will? Jeez... alright, that's fine."
*[And that would be "Customer doesn't realize that more food equals more money."]*
> Me: "Okay, all three meats. Also, it comes with grits or hashbrowns."
> YW: "I want both."
> Me: "That will also be extra."
> YW: "Ugh, really? Fine."
*[I think "Repeated Offense" would be the free space on your card...]*
> Me: "All right, that's everything the meal comes with. Do we want anything else?"
> YW: "Can I also get a side steak?"
SURE, WHY NOT AT THIS POINT.
> Me: "Yep. Do you want something to drink?"
> YW: "I'll have a diet coke. And the kids want four small OJs."
> Billy: "I WANT A SPRITE!!!"
> YW: "Three small OJs and a small Sprite."
That wrapped up the order. Ran it into the kitchen, and called it in PERFECTLY. Need to take a moment to brag here. This crazy, convoluted order, I called in with ZERO mistakes. And the kitchen made it ALL PERFECTLY IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. I brought it all out to the two booths, to which YW responded with "I want to pay right now."
Okay, fine, no problem. I totaled her bill... $77 dollars. At a short order diner. She paid with a $100 bill, and gave me a grand total of a $5 tip.
As if that weren't enough, after she finished dealing out all the food to her kids, she called me over.
> YW: "I want my meal remade. It's cold now."
Well, considering it took you fifteen minutes to get your kids under control to eat, I'm not that surprised that it got cold. I remembered the five dollar tip I was given, and promptly told her "We won't do that. Sorry. Enjoy your meal."
When they left, both booths were a mess, with tons of wasted food. Including TWO ENTIRE STEAKS.
*[If you're still playing, that was "Ungrateful bitch", "Awful tipper", "Insane remade requests", "Messy eaters", and "Wasteful assholes" that need to be marked off your bingo cards.]*
If you've read all the way to this point, then congratulations! You've made it to the end of r/TalesFromYourServer Bingo! Unfortunately, there are no winners when you play. See you next episode. (Also, I appreciate you for taking the time to read the entirety of this saga.)
Edit: Formatting!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/7v0pwp/bad_customer_bingo_or_every_bad_customer_trait/
| 502 | 36 | 1,517,679,341 | 9 |
bad tipper
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relevance
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6zdajz
|
TalesFromYourServer
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Dear $0 tipper
|
I'm sorry I failed you tonight. 20 minutes is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for your check. I wish I could make it up to you but I know you will probably never come back.
I got in the weeds tonight. Hours have just been cut back and we were on a skellitin crew. What we failed to realize was that the impact of Hurricane Irma would cause such influx of people all the way up in the Poconos.
I really did my best tonight. I pushed my body and my mind about as far as I could tonight. I pulled my dishwasher out of the kitchen to help and did what I could to help the bartender who was in the weeds twice as bad. Our cook kicked ass tonight and managed to cook every single dish perfectly, completly on her own. After you and the rest of the customers were gone I scrubbed dishes and cleaned the kitchen with the rest of my team for two full hours. I wish you could understand that we were the only people there to serve that entire dining room. We don't have much staff but we all busted our ass for you tonight.
I wish that you could see us on a better night. You would see that we really do care about our customers and work hard to take good care of them.
In my 12 years of serving this is only the third $0 tip I've ever recieved. Im not gona pretend it doesn't hurt. I went home and cried from the blow to my pride and pure exhaustion.
In the end I know that that every server has nights like this at some point and that I couldn't possibly have worked harder than I did.
I don't want you to worry about me. I'll be just fine without your tip. I walked out of there with $150 tonight and I earned every penny of it.
I'm sorry that I won't be seeing you again. I hope that you have a better experience with the next place you try and that you are very generous with your server.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/6zdajz/dear_0_tipper/
| 212 | 37 | 1,505,105,218 | 9 |
bad tipper
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relevance
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sbtovy
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The $5 tip
|
So to start I'm not saying this is something that always happens but enough to rant about it.
My current job is my first job as a server and I really enjoy it and have a great time most days at work. But, I am in an area where people are known to be not great tippers. While there are definitely exceptions to this, what I've noticed is the $5 tip.
A lot of people seem to tip $5 on their checks. This is great on a $15-30 tab and I appreciate those. But when the bill gets up to $50+ it sucks. I've had $90 tabs and last night I had a $5 tip on a $173 tab. And I feel like I'm a pretty good server too. I get a lot of positive feedback and so I don't feel like I do a bad job.
Anyway that's my rant. Does anyone else experience the $5 tip or something similar?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/sbtovy/the_5_tip/
| 71 | 21 | 1,643,051,139 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
obt8ww
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Dramatic Hotschedules message today
|
A server sent every employee in the restaurant this message today:
"Hey team, I just want to thank you all for the patience you've had with me. After handing a tip back to a guest yesterday because it was just an insulting slap in my face, your General Manager and Director of Operations decided they had to suspend and ultimately terminate me. While I'm appalled by their decision, this is just what the industry does. You all know my track record, you've seen me do my job above and beyond on a daily basis and most of you have witnessed the great rapport I develop with almost every table. It's disappointing that this is their response, but I'm not mad. While this is definitely a blessing in disguise for me, I still want you to have the chance to acknowledge what kind of company you work for and how this industry really works. I'm not looking for any sympathy, but just wanted to say good bye properly. I am hoping I will continue to have relationships with many of you. My number is ___. Reach out anytime."
This guy is one of those naturally grumpy people who's secretly pretty nice, we always got along well. But I did see occasional tips from guests that would have $0 with a comment calling him rude or a bad server — I don't think he really is rude but can see how he might not always be the server guests are in the mood for. I'm not a huge fan of management at the moment since they have been scheduling me so little I barely work there anymore. But on this one I'm inclined to agree with them? I'm a host, not a server, but it doesn't seem acceptable to hand back a bad tip. Like unless it was a huge bill just let it go. Although I don't think he deserved to get fired over it either. He has worked there for years. Just to be nice I responded saying I'm sorry that happened and I hope he finds a job with better tips and more understanding management.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/obt8ww/dramatic_hotschedules_message_today/
| 72 | 20 | 1,625,167,791 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
azgyah
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Notes on receipt?
|
So yesterday my family and I at a restaurant called Yard House, I’m unsure if it is national or regional. We enjoy the place, and go fairly often.
The service is normally very good, but we had a waitress yesterday that went above and beyond. We ordered apps, dinners, and deserts, no alcohol. The main course took a little longer than usual (not the waitress’ fault) to come out, but she kept checking in on us and keeping our drinks refilled and clearing any dishes we had (I’m OCD so I love this, I hate a messy table). I felt this was a lot of individual attention for how busy the place was.
I’m normally a very generous tipper anywhere I go, unless the service is absolutely terrible. So our bill came to $123.15, and I have this weird mental issue that the total has to equal a round number (OCD again). I wanted this lady to know that we appreciated her hard work, so I tipped $76.85 to make the total $200 even.
My question is that I also wrote a note on the receipt. To the side of the total lines, I wrote “Great Job!!”. I’m questioning this decision, and worry that it could have been viewed as patronizing or condescending. Of course she did a great job; she is a professional in a nice establishment. She doesn’t need me to pat her head like a toddler.
So, if someone were to write you such a note, how would you view it? I do not personally know any servers to ask.
Lastly, while I am here, how much of that tip does she actually get to keep for herself?
Thank you for your time.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/azgyah/notes_on_receipt/
| 26 | 28 | 1,552,233,105 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
3hyeld
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
This time it's not gonna happen
|
I work in a restaurant where we get a lot of different clientele from all over the world, tourist based restaurant. It's very rare that I recognize any guests except for the regulars that I adore. Surprising, I never recognize any of the terrible customers that I get... But maybe that's for the best. Well there is this family of 5 that have now come in for the fourth time and they make it really difficult to forget their faces once they leave...
I don't know what it is, but it seems like every time they come in, they are sat in my section. Not a server or any other employee recognizes them but me... So this is how I know I'm the lucky one to get them EVERY TIME!! This family is very snooty, won't look at you as your talking to them, one word answers, huge tab blowers, don't want to pay for their whole bill, and very shitty tippers. Tonight was the last night for this game!
I gave them a very nice greeting like any other guest I have, they ordered, I brought them their food, checked on them a few times, and then they tell me they didn't like their $60 worth of food that they ate all of. Now I knew exactly what they were going to do before they even ordered and I was prepared for it... But tonight, I wasn't going to go out of my way to comp $60 worth of food just out of the kindness of my hart and hope they tip. The last three times they have come in, I have at least comped over $200 worth of food for them and I just cannot enable this kind of behavior anymore. I give them the appropriate amount of time to tell me they don't like their food so that way I can replace it with something else.. EVERY TIME they tell me they are fine until they get their bill and tell me they didn't like their food. This time when they told me they didn't like what they had, I simply asked them why they didn't tell me they didn't like their food during the 3 times I checked on them. No answer. I apologized and recommended something else for them to try during their NEXT visit. So when I brought them the bill, they realized that I didn't comp or void anything off their bill. They call me over, and mind you, this is the first time I have actually gotten a full sentence out of them, as they are asking why they should pay for something they didn't like. I explained to them that it seemed that they did like what they ate because they ATE ALL OF IT! It's against company policy to not charge for something that was completely eaten and claimed for.... Which it is. I also explained to them that during their stay they should have told me they weren't satisfied during the times I checked on them so that way i could have accommodated with something they would be more satisfied with. They paid their tab, the WHOLE tab this time, but also left me a little note about how bad of a server I was and that they will not be coming back. And of course, no tip as usual.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/3hyeld/this_time_its_not_gonna_happen/
| 107 | 23 | 1,440,238,797 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
relevance
|
8pwjpj
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Couponer Hell
|
Background:
About a year ago I was working at a chain Pizza/Craft Beer place. It was Fathers Day Weekend and we had this dumbass BOGO [Buy-One-Get-One] Pizza deal for our rewards card members. It was my first week working the the joint so I was still getting used to the system and whatnot. Also we were mega understaffed.
So I have a full section of about 5-6 Six-Top booths. You have to dine-in to get the BOGO deal which is getting like a 25$ large pizza for free, so we were on like a 45 minute wait. I get an obese, odd, and of course rude lady that comes and sits down by herself. Details are hazy but she cut me off while I was greeting and barked her order out saying she wanted it to-go and she was only sitting here because they wouldn't let her call it in or order it through the to-go stand. I immediately right her off as a tipper. I go into full on dick mode. I tell her that I can't do that and that it has to be served to you before I can box it up for the coupon.
She tries to talk to me a couple times when I stopped by to see if she wanted some water or something while she waited and she starts talk to me about how she's going to ruin her Ex-Boyfriend's current Girlfriend's life by calling her management and telling her that she smokes weed and that they should drug test her. I was already kind of annoyed with this bitch taking up a six-top in my section but now I'm full on blown away. I just walk away while she's mid-sentence because i'm more disgusted at her now than annoyed.
We're packed so it takes forever for it to come out, like 35 minutes at least, and I take my time setting it up to run, which I got yelled at for because we were busy [worth it]. I get to the table and the first thing that comes out of her mouth is, "Where are the boxes?" in a rude ass tone. I tell her,"Sorry ma'am we have to serve it on the table before I can get them for you". I take my time serving it, because the servers have to serve the first slice of our deep dish because it is too hard for the average human being to do. God she was literally like shifting in her seat already and I put it on the plate as slowly as possible, trying to look like i'm just being careful. Again, this weird-ass chick barks a command,"Okay it's down, now go get the boxes."
I respond," Sorry ma'am I have to serve the other pizza as well. It's Policy."
She starts to argue that it doesn't make sense blah blah manager blah blah. But I was already beginning my painstakingly slow and meticulous process of removing the pizza from the pan and cutting off all the little strings with my other serving spatula. She's still droning on but I don't care. I finally get it served and ask if it all looks right, she snaps back yes, so I say I will go get the box for her. I make sure to check on all my other tables before I go to the kitchen. I chuckle to myself about serving both pizzas like that, which we were supposed to serve the first pizza so the second one was a little extra but I wasn't going to get in trouble for it even if she complained. I finally get her the boxes in a reasonable amount of time and tell her I have to take the pizzas in the back to box them up, which is policy but nobody really followed it. She's done, demands to speak to a manager and I leave the boxes and the pizza to go get a manager. I tell the manager in the back a brief summary of what happened. He goes there while i'm running food or, you know, doing my job working for tips. The rest of the shitty shift goes by, and the manager talks to me about it during cash out. She wanted her food comped, of course. He said,"You're already getting one pizza for free with your coupon. It came out up to spec on everything and within their time window, albeit on the longer side due to how busy it was. I did everything I was supposed to and that he would go ahead and run her check and whatnot." [can't remember verbatim]. She payed with like 15 dollars in ones which was all she had and the rest on a card. So I had turned my whole section in the time that it took her to deal with all this shit. I was already in a bad mood from earlier in the day, so maybe I should've just tried to get her out as fast as possible, but I wanted justice. If you're going to say that she might've tipped and that what I did was unfair, I say with that logic the earth might be flat.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8pwjpj/couponer_hell/
| 21 | 7 | 1,528,584,364 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
hot
|
5coidd
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Just one of those good nights
|
So I've posted about my restaurant before. The tipping is a nightmare, but I do have plenty of good nights. (And for whatever reason, I love the place. So I've stuck around.)
The other night was a good night. It started with the easiest table ever. A family of 3. Each only got 1 roll. No one needed refills. No one needed anything. Their bill was $39 and they left me $15. I almost felt bad for taking that money.. I literally did no work. And it just got better and better from there.
But the best of the night? A couple came in and waited for our all you can eat bar. While they were waiting, they noticed my manager and decided to strike up a conversation. The guy very politely let my manager know that last time they were there, they found hair in their food. The guy didn't care much, but he figured that was something the manager should know. My manager told me to comp all of their food (excluding alcohol).
I guess he didn't pass that memo on to them.. I brought the check (it was $6.25. They ordered 1 Blue Moon) and said "hey, I did have to charge you for your Blue Moon. But everything else was on the house, and I hope you had a better experience this time!" They were absolutely shocked. The lady yelled "are you fucking kidding me?" At first I thought they were angry that I had to charge them for the beer.. then I realized they were genuinely shocked that we comped them. (Their bill would have been around $70.) They were super nice and grateful and ended up tipping me $24.
I know it's not a huge deal, but man. We have such shitty tippers. Our restaurant is all about gimmicks and deals and discounts and it brings out the cheap people. I can't tell you how many times I've saved people $80+ on their bill from our insane discounts.. and they tip me $2. This was so refreshing. Especially because it was from a couple that had a negative experience previously.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/5coidd/just_one_of_those_good_nights/
| 45 | 1 | 1,479,013,518 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
4b7dps
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tonight didn't go so well either..
|
Last few shifts (graveyard/bar waitress) tips have been really shitty. It seems like it's me a little or just stingy non regular customers....
Friday night 10pm -5am made $23.
Ugh what a waste of night. Had six tables about. Half didn't tip.....
Saturday night(Last night) made $50...
Ok money out off way here's my what I call customer peeves.
"Why do my chicken strips look like nuggets?" Ugh this was a major bad mood inhibitor. Looong story short. Chicken was precut and day shift cook cut them too small. It is same 5oz weight though. But Que *customer tard face* "I just don't understand. I've always gotten them in bigger pieces. It was a ring around with this moron. He ate the chicken while complaining the whole time and asked me for another chicken strip basket. Uhm ok I ring it up and he looks offended at me. I'm not going to pay that. You didn't give me chicken STRIPS . OH FOR FUCK SAKE. I wanted to scream. I go go yet again back to my manager about whiny customer and he throws them in the fryer after looking for larger strips.....
Served a couple mid 50s dinner to dessert and got tipped nothing....
Served a seven top and the one guy pays for everyone $80 tab (breakfast bs ) and leaves a $3...
Three top young guys. Other waitress tells me that table thinks I'm 'really hot' served them apps, dinner and milkshakes.my tip? $2 on a $50 tab....
Haven't seen my regulars in a few weeks...
Just two weeks ago I was coming home with over $100 a night. Now shit tippers or is it me?
(Also sorry on cell phone.it looks wonky)
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/4b7dps/tonight_didnt_go_so_well_either/
| 36 | 4 | 1,458,478,488 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
1npxus
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I'm not a server, but I'm curious about what other server's say about my situation.
|
A few nights ago some friends and I went to a comedy show. One of my friends was in town and was finally able to come visit us and see some comedy with us.
I bought the tickets ($6 each) and asked my friends to just pay me back with a beer. I had two $4 beers and that was it, I'm not really sure what every one else drank.
The bill came and our server dropped it off to a friend of mine who paid with his card. I was paid up because of the tickets, so I didn't pay much attention to the bill. My friend put it on his card and the server picked it up.
About a minute or two later someone asks us to turn around and smile for a photo. That's never happened to me at this place before, but I figured it was the comedy group's friend taking photos of folks who went to the show. Oh well, didn't make much of it and I moved on.
Another minute or two goes by and the server comes back asking if she did something that deserves such a small tip -- and she mentioned that she has to pay her rent and only has $23 in the bank. It was $46 and I think my friend just rounded up to $50. It was definitely a small, shitty tip. He owned up to it, was very embarrassed and gave her a better tip. While this was happening, the girl who took the photo came up and took some close up photos of my friend apologizing, looking very embarrassed which was kind of odd to me.
It suddenly clicked and I asked, "Is she taking photos because we gave a bad tip?" She (the photographer, not the server) said "Yup" and walked away. The server was still there and I asked if her friend could delete the photos and she said she'll take care of it.
After it all happened, everyone -- especially my friend who paid -- was embarrassed (rightfully so) and we all got up to leave. I went over and asked the server to make sure that she deleted the photos of me and my friends. The photographer quickly grabbed her phone, a cigarette and said "You should really know how much your friends tip," and left. I told the bartender that I thought she was right for confronting my friend about the bad tip, but that her friend crossed the line by taking photos of customers.
"We do it to protect ourselves. So we know not to serve poor tippers the next time they're in."
Is this a thing? Have any one here done this? Or is my impotent rage misplaced?
**TL;DR: My friend left a bad tip, the server confronted the whole group about it while her friend took photos of it all. He gave a better tip, apologized and we had to ask for the server to delete the photos**
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1npxus/im_not_a_server_but_im_curious_about_what_other/
| 22 | 26 | 1,380,890,997 | 9 |
bad tipper
|
top
|
pgw56h
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Moths flew out of Grandpa's wallet.
|
My grandfather (rip) was a church tipper. Although he wasn't mean, he was very cheap.when the family got together at a restaurant, we were typically at least a 10 top. He tipped $5. When I was waiting tables in college, I became aware of this atrocity. I would add to his tip.
One time he caught me and demanded an explanation. I told what we all know ($2.13 base at the time) and his response "they should get a better job". I snapped. "Who exactly would have taken your order, brought your meal, refilled your water, removed your plates smiled at your jokes, for the last hour...while taking care of three other tables? And all for $5??!". It backfired for the family. Every meal after that was cafeteria style.
I still felt redeemed that no other server would have to work so hard for so little for my family.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/pgw56h/moths_flew_out_of_grandpas_wallet/
| 530 | 91 | 1,630,636,000 | 9 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
9h3kt5
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tell your mother, this mother says thank you
|
I work at a well known chain "Italian" restaurant. Today was going as well as any typical Tuesday would go, quite slow. I had a two top come in that were definitely on the older side, not the best tippers for the most part ime, but i like to give every table the benefit of the doubt. I get their drink orders, a couple of sweet teas. When i return, the husband is struggling quite a bit to think of a meal he had here some time a while back. Spent around 10 mins trying to get to the bottom of it, luckily i had no other tables and could work with him until we figured it out.
While working with the husband, his wife goes to the bathroom. As she attempts to return to the table, she takes a wrong turn and can't find her husband for the life of her. At this point I had picked up three other tables, so i had a busser help me and show the woman to her table.
Fast forward, i deliver their food, they're enjoying it, and she once again goes to the bathroom. When i check up on the table, he tells me that she was just released from the hospital, and he wants to get as much food in her as he can while she has the drive to eat.
When I go back to our server station, i notice her walking back to another section, as she had before. This time i decide to intervene and walk her back to her table. She tells me that her head isn't right since her visit to the hospital and she truly appreciates the help.
Fast forward again to me giving them the bill. It ended up being $30 and some change. The husband paid and gave me a $10 tip. He told me that it was a good amount of money to him, but the service i gave to him and his wife was worth it. After that his wife asked me if mother was still around, to which i said she was, and she told me to tell my mother that this mother says thank you for your service.
I don't typically post to reddit in general, and i apologize for any formatting issues, but this honestly brought a tear to my eye in a work place that mostly receives only monetary thanks. If i could say anything, don't judge anyone for not looking like a high tipping type and treat everyone with the same respect you would except for yourself.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/9h3kt5/tell_your_mother_this_mother_says_thank_you/
| 1,456 | 40 | 1,537,348,360 | 9 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
188zwor
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
5 bucks
|
This happened a few months ago on a very busy night. I was absolutely SLAMMED by the point of the night my 3-top turned into a 7-top and managed to find a second table to add to their initial table, in my already full section.
I had so much food to run at this point, so when I noticed this table had added people, I told them I'd be right there. It took a while, maybe 5-10 minutes. Idk. My frazzled ass ran over, and everybody placed their order. One guy, while placing his drink order, handed me 5 bucks. I continued the order, then his friend handed me a 20. Good start!
I bring them their drinks. Dude hands me 5 bucks. I come back with their salads. 5 bucks. Drop off salt and pepper. 5 bucks. I mentioned to the hostess at one point that Everytime I went to this table, he hands me 5 bucks. Went on with my night.
I bring them their food. He hands me 5 bucks. At this point, I finally said something. I asked "Do you just walk around with $5 in your pocket at all times!? How many $5 bills do you have!??"
He just said he's a continuous tipper and handed me 5 bucks. I left it at that and continued my night. His friend came up to me at some point away from the table and told me his health is deteriorating and he wants to use his money to make others smile.
Well, I was the lucky one that got to serve him that night. Eventually, one of the hostesses came up to me and said "I see what you mean about 5 bucks" and flashed me a 5. Apparently she was cleaning tables around mine and he gave her 5 bucks. I high fived her and the night continued.
More and more people came to me to tell me that this guy handed them 5 bucks. If they were working in his vicinity, 5 bucks. He asked me what time it was at one point and I pulled out my phone to check. His friend stopped me and said "You're supposed to say it's tip time." And he handed me 5 bucks!
One coworker, Chad, caught wind of the 5 bucks phenomenon and he walked in his vicinity to see if he'd hand him 5 bucks. He didn't, so we thought "Maybe just the girls get 5 bucks?"
So we sent the new guy out in that vicinity to test that theory. He came back with $20.
Anyways, I cashed the table out. He tipped $30 on their $80 tab. His friend came up to me while I was taking another table's order and handed me a 20.
I ran outside to thank them again. I saw him talking to some coworkers. He asked one what time it is, and she said "Oh ... I know this one! Tip time!" He handed her 10 bucks since he ran out of 5's. He went on about how great of a night he had.
I responded how great of a night WE had. At this point, I was standing at a distance though. I couldn't accept any more money. They had already given me a ridiculous amount. I assured him that he made EVERYBODY'S night, and he is the reason we love what we do.
He told me to remember him. I will. He said to look for him when the band that played that night plays. I do. They've played maybe 4 times since and I haven't seen him.
I hope that guy is doing okay. My favorite part of that day, aside from everybody being overjoyed at work, was the joy in his eyes. He seemed genuinely happy to see our reactions. I aspire to be like him one day. I hope I didn't ramble too much.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/188zwor/5_bucks/
| 472 | 16 | 1,701,508,439 | 9 |
good tipper
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relevance
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a1vdrb
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
She's 100% in the right, and 100% not going to make it here
|
(Midrange local chain) We hired a new hostess. She's really young, cute as a button, bright and personable - perfect hostess material. It's also clear from talking to her that she's lead a sheltered life. She's being trained by a two year vet. Last night, a group of bro-types came in. Semi-regulars. Apparently (I wasn't there) while she's walking them, she hears one of them say, "I know what I'D like to eat," from behind her, and much bro cackling ensues. The girl walks back to the office and completely breaks down. Just sobbing, losing it. She can't go back out there, so humiliated, etc. We have an excellent manager. She goes to the table and tells the guys to knock that stuff off. One guy apologizes. Their waitress gets pissed because they're good tippers, "and the new girl needs to toughen up." I've never waited on them before, but I've seen them in here. It's a sad situation. I'd be surprised if the new girl comes back, and she would be good at the job, but there's no way management is going to eject a five top of regulars over a crude comment.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/a1vdrb/shes_100_in_the_right_and_100_not_going_to_make/
| 78 | 75 | 1,543,604,706 | 9 |
good tipper
|
relevance
|
2rh217
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Why should I tip more for a $100 meal compared to a $40 meal at same restaurant?
|
Hi all - Hope this is in the correct subreddit. I am *NOT* looking to start a war about tipping. I generally have no issues with leaving a gratuity for service workers.
I have a friend that is a server and we were having a discussion and he started to go on a rant about tipping and I said "If I go to your restaurant and order $100 of food, no alcohol, and am in the restaurant for 75 minutes, versus if I go to your restaurant and order $40 of food, no alcohol, and am in the restaurant the same 75 minutes, why would a nominal gratuity for A be $15-$25 whereas for option B it would be $6 - $10? What is the value in the additional gratuity? The cost of the food hasn't caused the server any more or less work or guest interaction, or time?" This just got him all flustered and repeating the if you can't tip, don't go out line. Not exactly where I was going with that, and he knows I'm a decent tipper so he wasn't even really yelling at me, per se.
But he didn't have a good explanation to my question and I figured on Reddit someone must have an explanation that makes good sense beyond just "Because". Looking for a little lesson here. Thanks!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/2rh217/why_should_i_tip_more_for_a_100_meal_compared_to/
| 33 | 108 | 1,420,513,543 | 9 |
good tipper
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relevance
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10pg1ze
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Sunday Brunch, Amiright?
|
Saw a post about breakfast buffet and it brought back memories.
Back in the 90's I worked at a pretty cool tex-mex place that had a Sunday brunch from 11-2. It was actually really good value for the money, but every server absolutely HATED working that shift.
A normal, non-jaded person would think "hey, just seat the people, keep their drinks filled, and pre-bus their plates and it's an easy $5-10 tip, right? RIGHT??" Forehead slap.
These fricking people. First of all, church people are the shittiest tippers. Not every one of them, but on average? Yeah, they suck hairy balls. Sorry if you are a church person who tips well.
They always seemed to start with an 8-top. That turns into a 12-top. That becomes a 20-top. You get the drift. A nebulous head count that doubles and triples in size like an amoeba on steroids.
You'd start at one end of the table and take drink orders; while dropping the drinks before you can even get to the end of the table there'd be a crotch spawn rattling their ice at you. How the hell can a 6-year-old slurp down 20oz in 2 minutes?
The people who show up at 1:45 and when you tell them the buffet is about to be closed down, they say "no problem, we'll be fast!" And then cue hissy fit when they realize that 'close down' means food is removed and goes bye-bye into the nether regions of the kitchen.
Separate fucking checks. Ohmigod. Mom and Dad: "It's the two of us plus the red head and the twins with the suspenders." Meanwhile it's like musical chairs, except instead of one less chair per people, there are 6 extra chairs and people moving every 30 seconds.
Finally, you know how after a tornado hits a small town and all that is left are twisted gnarled trees and concrete pads and detritus strewn all over the ground? Picture the scene after a locust swarm 20-top with 12 kids heads out the door. Check for $200? Lucky if the tip is $10 - and you get to spend 20 minutes cleaning up.
Rant over. So, so glad I'm out of the server life. I can't imagine how painful it must be with today's entitlement.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/10pg1ze/sunday_brunch_amiright/
| 56 | 9 | 1,675,117,472 | 9 |
good tipper
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relevance
|
i2nw4e
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Pandemic Tipping
|
(On mobile so sorry for formatting) I finally got another a job working as a server. I’ve been unemployed forever due to the good ol’ Covid. I’m working my first shift solo, super psyched to make some decent money. Well of course it has to rain and all of our patio seating is closed. I get an okay section but people haven’t been dining out as much without the outdoor seating.
I get two tables in 2 hours. Whatever it happens. One table super generous tipper, on the other hand I had a table two college aged guests. The bill was 37.95 drumroll... I get 38 dollars in cash, in FREAKING SINGLES. I was in awe they seemed overall polite, it was a brutual way to end the night. Seemed pretty cruel to spend the time to count that out and not tip.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/i2nw4e/pandemic_tipping/
| 21 | 10 | 1,596,417,500 | 9 |
good tipper
|
hot
|
7lrq1j
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
It's the most clusterf*ck time of the year.
|
Ah, the holidays!
A time for giving, good vibes, and great times with the family right? People feeling warm winter fuzzy feelings and just wishing good for all mankind...
[LOL NOPE THINK AGAIN!](http://cdn.smosh.com/sites/default/files/ftpuploads/bloguploads/laughing-gifs-jonah-jameson.gif)
*Some back story.* I work at a pretty shwanky cafe. The regulars are, for the majority, really nice people and great tippers. Around Christmas, they are even nicer. We're talking just throwing 5 and 10 dollar bills in the tip jar, maybe bringing us some chocolates. We are spoiled at my job this time of year.
However, there are a few scrooges among us this year.
I'm working with some new hires that are *killing it*. **Wednesday** (because she's always wearing black on black and braids) and I are raking in the tips and swapping out any bills for change when one of our regulars, named **Beibs** (she loves Justin Beiber), comes in.
Very important note. She's high up on the autism scale and in a wheel chair. You have to be blunt with her when you don't have the time to sit and talk or that she needs to move out of the line so other people can order. She is a total sweet heart though and never takes it personally (so long as you're not a dick about it).
**Beibs** rolls up and plops a big box of donuts onto the counter, saying they're for us and the rest of the staff. **Wednesday** and I are over the moon, thanking her, and getting her usual drink ready when a middle aged dude in a big ski jacket gets in line behind her. (This guy will be called **Ski-Douche** or **SD** for short)
**Wednesday** skips ahead to help out **SD** while I'm finishing up the transaction with **Beibs**. It takes maybe a minute and a bit to help her out with the debit machine and guide her out of the line while I make up her drink and **SD's**.
*Fast forward* to **Beibs** getting her drink and exiting the store and **SD** standing in front of me while I finish making his drink.
**SD:** I don't know how you girls can do it...
**Me:** (thinking he's talking about latte art) It's honestly just wiggling your hand back and forth.
**SD:** No no, I mean that last customer.
[Dude...](https://media.giphy.com/media/3ohuAwaX6Q13W78tdS/giphy.gif)
I have stopped *mid pour*. He had a better not...
**SD:** Like, shouldn't people like that have a handler or something?
I can see **Wednesday** from my peripheral stop and just [stare](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/degrassi/images/4/43/Tumblr_m348umVrT21qdrcyyo1_500.gif/revision/latest?cb=20130505182500) at this guy.
Neither of us has replied to him and he just keeps going, not picking up that we're about *done* with this convo.
**SD:** I get that they wanna be like everyone else but they can't expect other people to baby them like you were. Not everyone has the patience for it.
[Okay, I'm done.](https://media.giphy.com/media/kGCuRgmbnO9EI/giphy.gif) Fuck this guy's latte.
I pour the milk just wherever because he doesn't deserve a nice looking fern latte art. I want him gone.
**Me:** [Your latte.](http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/stare.gif)
**SD:** You know what I mean though, right?
Okay, fine. I'll engage. [Imma wreck you.](https://i.imgur.com/LwnAHtN.gif)
**Me:** Can't say that I do. She's one of our best customers and she gave us a full box of doughnuts as a Christmas present.
**Wednesday:** (because she's been listening this whole time, our cafe is tiny) Yeah, great tipper too.
**SD** goes quiet after that comment and just ducks out of the cafe.
**Wednesday:** He mentioned at the register that he didn't believe in tipping. Fuck that guy.
So, Ski-Douche, enjoy your latte. I hope you spill it on your stupid expensive jacket.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/7lrq1j/its_the_most_clusterfck_time_of_the_year/
| 174 | 12 | 1,514,070,668 | 9 |
good tipper
|
top
|
3bygqx
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
"These fries are too short!"
|
I just started serving at a local bar & grill a couple weeks ago, so I'm still getting to know all of the regulars. Most of them I've met so far have been great--we're a small liberal arts college town so we get a lot of students who have worked in food service (so they tip well and are really polite) and professors (who tend to be ridiculously nice and also tip well). It's really only when the locals come in that we experience shitty tippers and ridiculous requests.
Unfortunately, last night I served one of these crazed local families. The table consisted of a younger mom, a dad, and their young son, and upon seeing them sit in my section, my manager said quietly to me, "Good luck with that table, the wife's a nutjob."
So I approached the table, started my introduction, and the wife interrupted me with the classic, "Diet Coke." No eye contact, no acknowledgement that I, a human being, was talking to her, just a dickish scowl that I was beginning to suspect was her permanent expression. So I said sure, got the husband and son's orders, and as I was turning to leave the husband said "Wait! We have a birthday girl here. Do you guys do anything for that?" Well normally, no, because we're a bar and grill not a goddamn TGI Fridays, but I smiled and said, "Oh, happy birthday! I can ask my manager if we can do a dessert or something for you?" Again, no acknowledgement from the wife, the husband nodded, and the kid proceded to eat raw sugar from the sugar caddy. Well then.
After I got their food, the real problems began. Every time I approached their table, they thought of something new they needed that they hadn't thought of when I had checked on them three minutes before. The kid--who hadn't ordered any food--kept demanding rolls and butter, the husband didn't like his gumbo (too spicy--no fucking shit it's spicy, you ordered gumbo!), and they kept demanding more ketchup, mustard, mayo, spicy mayo, etc. Jesus fucking christ. I had only *three* tables total, and I felt like I was slammed because they were so needy.
But the real gem came when I approached their table to fill their drinks for the fifth time, and the husband tells me, "My wife had some complaints about her food." So I turned to her and said, "Oh no! Is there something wrong with your croissant?" The wife huffed, looked at me for the first time, and said, "These fries are too short." I stared at her for a solid five seconds of silence, before saying (in the clearest "are you fucking kidding me" tone of voice I could manage), "What."
Her bitch-face somehow became bitchier and she held up a fry in my face and said, "Look at this! How am I supposed to dip it without getting ketchup on my fingers?" And so, not knowing what else to do, I apologized and said we'd make her a new order of "only the longest fries." I went back to the kitchen to ask them to pick out longer fries for a replacement order for their table, and my manager overheard and started laughing, telling me that this was apparently a regular thing with that woman.
So she got her order of longer fries. She also got her goddamn free icecream sunday. I hope for her birthday she was cured of her RBF.
What did I get? A $3 tip on a $35 tab, an empty sugar caddy, a table covered in various sweeteners and soda spills, and a night of heavy drinking.
Although my coworkers and manager did find the whole thing hilarious, and now we have our first inside joke, so. Not a total loss I guess?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/3bygqx/these_fries_are_too_short/
| 73 | 13 | 1,435,899,068 | 9 |
good tipper
|
top
|
2exenn
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I guess he's not his Dad.
|
I haven't served in years but I will always be a server at heart.
My favorite go-to juicy story is about Jerry (I really don't remember names, but Jerry sounds right.)
I was training at a new spot and they had this stupid training schedule where I had to do kitchen hours, then shadow a server and the 3rd stage was a regular server shadowing me. During training, I did not get to reap benefits of tips (but I was paid normal minimum wage) and on top of all that...it was shared tips (boo! but I loved the people I worked with and it was just part-time)
Anyway, in my last day and last stage of training, I got Jerry (mid 50s) and a young man I'll call Luke (cuz I forgot everyone's names) - Luke was a very handsome early 20s young man that was also a server and the neighboring 'Factory' restaurant. They were regular **big tippers** and all the other servers were telling me to treat them well and give them the best service. I did my shit and made an impression on my buddy Jerry and he tipped me $90!!!!! Which totally sucked cuz, I was still training and got zilch from my awesome service. The most people received from him was $30!
So I'm on cloud 9 and just proved my worthiness to my new co-workers and from that day forward I was Jerry's *all time server*, even though he didn't actually request me but we became more friendly over time and then he did start asking for me.
I never asked what he did, he always paid with AMEX black card so we know he was loaded. Supposedly he was a motivational speaker but I tried googling his name (when I was still working as a server) but nothing ever came up.
So mystery always surrounded about the relationship of Jerry and Luke. I was always just a good server, but not the type to be all in your business asking about your life. I drew the line somewhere, but that didn't mean I don't over hear my customer's conversations. I knew they weren't a father/son duo because they said they don't see each other often and they said they were friends. Weird. Very old man and a very young man being friends - never made sense but I was like, I don't care I'm gettin' good ass tips from them.
Fast forward, Jerry comes in one day with this big ol' Teddy Bear. The huuuuuge kind that's 4 ft tall. He comes straight to me and wants to get a $100 gift card for "Leo that works in the Levi's store, do you know him? He is just so nice and I want to do something for him for his kindness." In my head, I'm thinking, daaaammmnnn, I never got gifts in retail. But OK, here's your giftcard. But I gotta ask:
Me: "Jerry, whats the Teddy Bear for? It's huuuge!"
J: "OH!!! It's for Luke's son! It's his birthday and he's turning 4. You know Luke just met him last year, he didn't know he had a son but he loves him so much! He's a great Dad."
Me: "Awww, that's so sweet! I can't believe Luke has a son, that's just crazy!"
J: "I know, I know! Let me show you pics of him, he's adorable!"
Me: "Ok....sure"
**Me looking on with Jerry as he brings his Iphone out and is swiping pictures.**
J: "It's here somewhere, I just gotta find it."
**Looking straight at his phone as he continues swiping... THEN I SEE IT...SOMETHING I CAN NEVER UN-SEE**
J: "Oh no, not that one" continues swiping nonchalantly.
**My mouth dropped in my head. I just saw a butt shot of Luke in Jerry's phone. It was like Jerry took the photo after unspoken intimacy. To be exact: the photo was taken from a bed point of view of the man going into the bathroom, presumably to clean up.**
I now knew the relationship.
Luke was a gigolo. A well paid one too.
Remember I said Luke was a server at the Factory, I had a friend that was also a server there and this friend had also told me Jerry was a regular there and sometimes he'll leave a separate check, aside from his tip, for Luke in the amounts of $1k. Those servers hated it because he would get the extra tip and then call out for the night if they weren't busy and it pissed them off because other servers would want these shifts and actually work it and not leave early.
And The End. Sorry for the long ass post.
TL;DR: Found out the hard way that my favorite customer was coming in with his favorite gigolo.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/2exenn/i_guess_hes_not_his_dad/
| 62 | 6 | 1,409,327,791 | 9 |
good tipper
|
top
|
1g1qq6e
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Missing Merchant copy/ no tip?
|
Has anyone else noticed an influx of people keeping the merchant copy of their credit card slip to avoid tipping? The customer copy and the original receipt is left in the check presenter no signed merchant receipt with tip information and total. Is this the new “no tip” or are people planning to object to the purchase without the signed receipt?
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1g1qq6e/missing_merchant_copy_no_tip/
| 7 | 35 | 1,728,701,255 | 9 |
no tip
|
relevance
|
1bz0fij
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Advised a table not to get a certain drink. They got the drink.
|
Three middle aged women were seated in my section. Immediately I could tell they would be a lot. I ask them what they’d like to drink, they’re asking me questions about the food, speaking over each other.
Finally we got back to drinks and the one lady asked me what a good drink is/what I like here. I recommended a margarita on the rocks. IMPORTANT NOTE: we receive a lot of complaints about our frozen margaritas, and rightfully so. The frozen mix can be really bitter, so anytime people ask me, I always steer them toward on the rocks. I literally said this to the ladies. They were like “you don’t like frozen?” And I was like not really. They ask me several more questions about flavors, do the margaritas have tequila, etc. They also did the annoying thing where they converse with each other and trap me at the table. I had been double sat during this and was trying to keep my cool.
Finally they ALL ORDER three LARGE FROZEN margaritas AGAINST MY ADVICE. I drop the drinks off, greet my other tables. One of the ladies flags me down with a disgusted look on her face.
“Honey, these are not good” Inside I’m fuming because no shit they aren’t good, I explicitly told them that they tended to be bitter and some people don’t like them. I apologized (when I really wanted to say I told you so) and asked if they wanted a different drink or if they wanted the same drink just on the rocks. One of the ladies was so disgusted she didn’t want anything else (eye roll). The other two ordered something different.
I took their food orders (which were very intricate and detailed) and checked on my other tables. Then I checked back on the ladies and their new drinks. They both made faces and said they were “alright”. I was fuming again. They didn’t mention anything about wanting them removed from the bill though.
They wanted one check, which was a little over $100. The one lady paid and the other lady said she wanted to tip me on HER card. I said we could do that. They said “Thank you so much, you were really nice.” The one lady hands me $3 in cash. After they had left I looked at what the other lady left me on her card. $6. So I made $9 on a $100 check on these annoying ladies. Gotta love it.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1bz0fij/advised_a_table_not_to_get_a_certain_drink_they/
| 1,587 | 179 | 1,712,589,307 | 9 |
no tip
|
relevance
|
7sl1so
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
I refused a tip tonight and it was the best feeling.
|
Three women, I let them know I’ll be right with them and one immediately starts giving me her order. “Ma’am I’ll be back in just a minute.” I grab to go boxes for the table behind them, drop them and get their order. Two order soup, their drinks (custom sodas we mix ourselves with syrups and seltzer) and their meals. I drop their drinks and they were letting me know I could bring their soups “right now” so I walk back to get them. In the 45 seconds it takes me to get a bowl, they send the bus boy back to get their soup. Now I’m pissed. I take their soup, lady one thanks the busboy, ignoring me. I said “I was getting your soup for you but I need you to be reasonably patient.” She informed me I was not to argue with her.
Other than running me back for one thing after another during their meal (including so many different flavored sodas I lost count), they were at least pleasant after that. Until they asked for to go cups for their sodas, which I gave them. They then asked for three more sodas and I told them I’d need to charge them as they still had full cups and I couldn’t justify six sodas for three people. “We just gonna sit right here and drink them.” I just wanted them to leave. I brought three more sodas in house glasses, took their cash and came back with change. “Oh no, baby, you can keep that change. That’s your tip.” $3.46. “No ma’am, but thank you for offering.” Her face. Her face was priceless. No you will not run my ass, take advantage of a refill policy, be nasty and then under-tip me. I do not want your money.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/7sl1so/i_refused_a_tip_tonight_and_it_was_the_best/
| 3,203 | 206 | 1,516,772,309 | 9 |
no tip
|
top
|
fywlz8
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
People are bait-and-switching grocery delivery workers with big tips.
|
New Yorkers are biting the hand that feeds them.
Workers with grocery delivery apps such as Instacart say that customers relying on them for groceries during the coronavirus lockdown are robbing them of a livable wage — by luring them with a big tip, only to decrease or remove the tip altogether after delivery.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/fywlz8/people_are_baitandswitching_grocery_delivery/
| 915 | 257 | 1,586,580,106 | 9 |
big tip
|
relevance
|
p81mlm
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Tales from the Obama crypt..
|
Another thread prompted this memory..
Back in 2008 I was working in a very upmarket restaurant in Brisbane, Australia. Tipping is generally frowned on in Australia, buy it's kinda accepted in the high-end joints. Even then, you'd get the old geezers tipping $2 on a $1,000 bill, just the same as they'd give you a $2 tip for a cup of coffee. This restaurant was special though, because it was a fish restaurant by the river. Lots of men showing off to their dates meant it was the best tipping restaurant in town. By a long way.
Like everywhere else in the world we were fascinated by Barack Obama running for president. I was curious enough to openly ask any American diners we had who they were voting for. Culturally, that's not a big no-no in Australia: we're not too precious about who we vote for. But the American guests were completely shocked that I'd ask, yet too polite not to answer.
Occasionally we'd get a cruise ship in town, full of rich Americans, and I began to notice something strange. Anyone voting for Obama would tip heavily. Anyone voting Republican would stiff the tip (they'd justify it by saying that their tourist guide book had told them tipping wasn't necessary in Australia). It was a clearly discernible pattern. Even stranger, for us, was the lack of transparency for who they'd vote for. Locally you could normally tell at a glance who an Aussie would vote for; with Americans it didn't seem to matter what they were wearing or how they spoke.
Armed with this discovery, for years afterwards I'd ask American tables who they'd voted for. If they were Democrats they'd get good service, if they were Republican I'd ignore them. Hehehe.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/p81mlm/tales_from_the_obama_crypt/
| 1,613 | 350 | 1,629,451,195 | 9 |
big tip
|
relevance
|
15ylfbh
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Customer mad I didn’t serve him with a three year expired ID
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Okay so in my area ABC has been doing stings everywhere and we had one of our other bar locations shut down for a weekend because a server served someone under age a while back. So obviously our location has been cracking down on the ID’ing thing. They even makes us use this “show me ID” app which we tend to get eye rolls whenever we have to pull out our phone and wait for the app to load and go through and scan everyone. But better to play it safe right? Well the other day I had a group of guys come in, and they definitely all looked over 21 but they still looked 30 or under so ID’d them. Again better safe than sorry. All of their ID’s scanned and checked out except one dude’s, that ID was still vertical with the “not 21 until *date*” on it and that literally expired in 2020 and looked like it had been beaten to hell and back. I was like hey I’m sorry I can’t serve you, your ID is expired and then I explained the whole ABC thing. He didn’t give any excuse for the ID really (not that it would’ve mattered anyways). He and his friends just scowled at me and he preceded to order a coke. I honestly felt a little bad because this guy did look like he was over 21. But like wtf no way in hell I can accept that. They racked up a decent 170 dollar tab and had me running around and what not, and they were there for awhile and I tried to do my best to make jokes with them and have fun. But I could tell that they were not very happy with me. His friend paid for the four of them, and when they left I looked at the check and saw a big old fat 0, and a note that said “My friends is old enough to have a drink. NO TIP!!”. I’m sorry what? I explained to you that I could lose my job? That ID had expired 3 YEARS AGO! How in the world did you expect me to accept that? And how in the world has this dude been walking around getting away with an ID that old in the first place, if he’s so confused why I didn’t accept it. I was thinking maybe he lost his ID and is trying to use his old ID or something, but wouldn’t he have at least tried to say something about it? I have no clue but I still can’t wrap my head around the whole situation. Oh well.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/15ylfbh/customer_mad_i_didnt_serve_him_with_a_three_year/
| 732 | 347 | 1,692,744,601 | 9 |
big tip
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relevance
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wj2j8z
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TalesFromYourServer
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I really hate when the wrong person pays
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You know, when the whole table is on your wavelength except that one person and when the check comes they’re the one who grabs it.
Tonight two of our servers had an 11 top. They made the sun rise and fall for these people, gave them everything the asked for over the 2+ hours they were in. Maybe 15 minutes before they closed out another woman joined and made a big show of insisting she pay the bill. Like stood in the middle of the restaurant holding back a guy with a card in his hand while yelling at the server “close it now, close the check now, no, I already payed, close it now”. Now, this woman had not seen what they ordered and was definitely shocked when she went to sign the check and realized she had just dropped $400 on a meal she didn’t eat. Left a big fat 0 on the tip line and marched up to the two servers waving a 20 in their faces saying “this is for you”. Both were appropriately shocked and one just started pointing to the tip line on the receipt.
Worst part is everyone at the table grumbled about her doing it. If anyone else at the table had paid or they split it they would have been roped fairly. But because ms ma’am needed to feel like a big shot they got screwed out off at least $80.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/wj2j8z/i_really_hate_when_the_wrong_person_pays/
| 1,605 | 227 | 1,659,943,559 | 9 |
big tip
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relevance
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mfc3ed
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TalesFromYourServer
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"Am I making your job too difficult, princess?" (Rant)
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So I, M28, during the peak of the busy morning, of the busiest morning (sunday morning's at a breakfast restaurant) told my table that if they wanted to split their check 6 ways, I could do it, but it would take me a minute as I had two other six tops and two two tops (3 of which were due to being triple sat but they wouldnt understand that). The "table captain's"(six top of females) response was, "Are we making your job too difficult, princess?"
Being a proud server of 8 eight years and knowing a (forgive me if you get offended) "karen" when i see one, said "Ill do it, but it will just take me a little while as I cant neglect everyone else because of the time committment closing 6 checks takes. Ill be as fast as i can". I go around, get my drink order for the subsequent triple sit i experienced and finally close out their six checks. I sign the Karen's tip slip, "<3 Princess Pacexmaker".
I proceed to the the six top and over hear and see the Karen stop my manager and complain that i have been holding on to their cards for longer than 15 minutes. She was upset. Cards in hand, my manager knows me to be a good server, sees their cards i am holding and ignores them (props), and I tell them, "it was hardly 15 minutes, obviously you have no idea the process I just went through."
The Karen scribbled out my little note and her friend, on her own tip slip, wrote, "maybe you should try smiling more." And they all tipped me pennies on what accumulated to be about $200 check.
Its Covid and i was wearing a mask, you wouldnt even be able to see my smile if i was, in fact, smiling. And they took my good pen.
Thanks for reading.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/mfc3ed/am_i_making_your_job_too_difficult_princess_rant/
| 2,282 | 172 | 1,616,972,039 | 9 |
big tip
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relevance
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pyc19l
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TalesFromYourServer
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To the table I had today....
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You are class less and your child was embarrassed.
I had a table today that was a couple and the husband was introducing his baby mama to his family. He was military and I guess he's been busy on his time away. The couple also had a brand new baby that they were showing off. Nice folks. They were with the dude's mom, sister and aunt. They ordered a big chicken nacho to start. Which I promptly out in. Mind you, I was captain on a party of twenty five and finishing them up and the host told them they may have a few minute wait at the table. They were cool....at first. Once the food came out the complaints started. I checked on them multiple times in passing and nobody asked for anything. They (of fucking course) asked for waters for the table and also each had a beer or mocktail. Nobody asked for refills or to order another. They didn't have a single auto refill drink but...okay, maybe I wasn't super attentive. Anyway, the mom goes to the front and has a hissy fit and my manager deals with her but she pulls me aside to say that she was watching me and that she knows I did my best with them, even if the food was kinda late behind our party of 25 regulars. She's gonna comp four cheesecake slices and I shouldn't worry about them. I go and drop the discounted check and I heard the bitch aunt say "I'm gonna order cheesecake for us all and get the whole beeel taken curr of". The sister and mom both cringe, visibly and make eye contact with me. I drop the free fifty dollars of Cheesecake and bring the fussy toddler a free milk just to show I care. The aunt states at the check and then violently snatched is. I watch the new baby mama die internally. I can only imagine she's been dealing with this fucking witch for hours or days and is rapidly approaching her limit. She's dressed like a crunchy hippie mom and is super sweet whenever I come back to the table. She isn't a problem and I imagine she's served before. You'll see why. Not five minutes after the forty dollar check is dropped, my manager finds me and we go to a posi to look at ring times and such. She wants to make sure I did my best before she sticks up for me. Everything checks out and she decides it isn't worth the trouble and comps the entire bill. They seem satisfied and leave...finally. On the way out they called me "slow and shiftless" and say I should work somewhere else. I laugh in response because fuck them and wish them a lovely evening. I knew I wasn't gonna get tipped and just start to buss the table once they are out of view. I found a twenty by where the sister was sitting and a crisp fifty in the middle of the table. I'm betting the dude left that. As I finish up I see the baby mama speaking to my manager who gestures toward me and I walk over. She smashes a crumpled hundred into my hand and whispers "I'm so sorry. I know you did your best with them". Not gonna lie, y'all I almost cried. I simply nodded and said thanks so much and that I hoped to see her and the baby again. She thanked me again and walked off.
I am a career bartender and server. I paid real money to get a degree in hospitality and I take pride in my work. Fuck you to every single person who decides to fuck that up just because they can. I imagine the aunt thinks she did something by scoring free food for everyone but all she did was alienate her nephew and sister further.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/pyc19l/to_the_table_i_had_today/
| 2,061 | 157 | 1,632,974,761 | 9 |
big tip
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relevance
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1eozlj8
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TalesFromYourServer
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Sucks to suck.
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Three servers closing last night. Myself and one other server were doing all the closing work while a third was standing around doing nothing. It was the other good server's turn to be sat half an hour before the restaurant closed. An 8 top walked in, and the other good server asked if I could ask the third server to take it so we could finish doing closing work- the third server's closing work. I asked and the third server responded "no, she can take it." You've been complaining the entire night about having to close and you're going to not be willing to help out? Come on, bro. We would bend over backwards for another server and you're just refusing to help at all. I took it because the other good server was not in a position to take tables, and I didn't really expect much of a tip from an eight top who comes in half an hour before close. It was unspoken, but we both knew if she took it we'd be there another hour. None of us wanted it, but I was closing foh so at least I'd be around if they needed anything. No big deal, but his response and lack of willingness to help was really irritating. It's a team. Act like it.
The eight top tipped me $70 on a $160. The server who refused to help got a 2-top five minutes later, he messed up the order and they stiffed him.
Eat it, Dustin. Karma's a bitch.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1eozlj8/sucks_to_suck/
| 1,192 | 35 | 1,723,313,696 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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1cktqrp
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TalesFromYourServer
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Repeat stiffers ruin my night
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So i had this table last summer. three kids four parents two grandparents. a ton of work, the kids are loud messy brats, and the split check three ways. only one who tipped me was the grandparents and they had the lowest check with two people. anyway last night my manager is like hey wanna take a party of ten? it’s not too crazy out there so they’ll be your only table and you’ll be cut after that. i’m like awesome! i come out and immediately recognize them and ask my manager if there is any way at all i can do some sort of auto grat and told her about last time. we don’t have auto grat so no but she said she’ll check on them too and make sure everything is fine whatever. last summer i was a baby server so i was like alright maybe MAYBE it’ll be different this time. i deal with all their stuff and the cooks were balling and the food came out so fast and perfect. i check in on them multiple times so they don’t complain, i stay on top of refills, pre bussing, etc. split check three ways, one $80 one $60 one $30. i got a $6 tip on the $30 one. nothing on the other two
now i know you’re not supposed to do this but i went to clear off the table and told the grandma (the only one there) “hey just letting you know for next time that the tip is not included in the check price, i know other places are different but just so you know” and she was staring at the $80 check with no tip. she said she had no idea until she just saw it and that wasn’t ok and she’ll talk to them about it. i really hope she does, she was the only one who tipped me both times. i tell my manager and i’m like i won’t get fired for doing that will i? she said no even if they complain to corporate you might get a talking to. and now that this time nothing was even wrong and they’re cheap assholes she doesn’t blame me refusing to serve them again and she won’t make me in the future. i will not waste my time and energy for that shit again. like i stayed longer to deal with your big table and i made sure to do well so you’d tip me and nothing. i don’t mind splitting checks but FOR THE LOVE OF PETE TIP!!!
told my dad and he said if he went out with someone who did that he would get so mad and embarrassed. and i would too, like if it was a table of 2 with a $40 check it would be disappointing but a big table and all that work? my coworker had a party of all adults and they were so nice and tipped her $60 on their $300 check. i hate my luck, some people just do not care
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1cktqrp/repeat_stiffers_ruin_my_night/
| 205 | 169 | 1,714,922,726 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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1aobcpd
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TalesFromYourServer
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Paying for a tables check that walks out
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just wondering if anyone knows the rules for having to pay tabs that walk out??
i hope i can post this here, i cant find a reddit group for these questions lol.
i just started a new serving job at a really big sports bar, last night was my first night actually on the floor (no training, just did expo the night before) i had an 8 table section with reservations of 6+ people at each table.
1am came and we ended up getting shut down by the fire marshalls for over capacity. i was in the back printing separate checks for a table while this happened and when i came out, they were gone. they each ordered food in restaurant, food to-go, and rounds of shots and drinks. the total came to $170.
at the end of the night while cashing out i had to bring this to my managers attention and they made me eat it. i paid the $170 tab, plus paying out the restaurant sales - $230, tipping out the bar - $17, and tipping expo - $6.
this left me with a total of $35 i brought home for 5 hours.
is this legal? did i just really mess up and this is normal?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1aobcpd/paying_for_a_tables_check_that_walks_out/
| 259 | 127 | 1,707,667,544 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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18w7cnk
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TalesFromYourServer
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New Year’s Day tip
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So we bitch all the time about how customers tip or don’t tip!! We bitch about people sitting all day then leaving $3 when u could’ve turned that table over 5 or 6 times!! We bitch about a lot and rightfully so!! I still believe that everyone needs a lesson on dining out but today was a good one!! I had the party section which I usually do on busy days which can be good and bad!! When there’s lots of parties it’s very lucrative but when there’s not I only have 3 booths I can work with!! But today is why I continue to do this job!! I waited on 6 really nice folks!! All women, one man!! They had me separate the bills into individual checks which really isn’t a big deal especially if I know before hand!! There was a $100 bill in the middle of the table and I was hoping today was gonna be my day for that big holiday tip! Then the guy says just take this hundred and cover all the bills so I was like oh well it is what it is!! I brought the change back and they gave me a little story about how they go out every New Year’s Day with the intent to make one waitresses day!! By this time I was all smiles cuz I knew something was coming!! They handed me a $500 tip and I was beaming for the rest of the day!! Obviously I don’t expect everyone to tip like this but it felt really nice to be one getting that special tip!! I thanked them profusely and they wanted pictures with me so of course I obliged!! Then said as I walked away, you guys can sit all day!! Thank you that wonderful group of people who made my day!! You have restored my faith in people!! For now! Lmfaoooooo
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/18w7cnk/new_years_day_tip/
| 124 | 15 | 1,704,144,737 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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17p4o8v
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TalesFromYourServer
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Table i wasn’t expecting to tipped me amazing
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So i was working saturday day shift which is usually slammed. i got double sat and was in the weeds so bad it was about five minutes until i could go up and greet my new table. it was a middle aged man and presumably his daughter. they were very nice but their appetizer took forever to come out because it was peak rush and were never staffed well for saturday day shift and had two kids back there. when i brought it out they were like “we’re ready to order” and my heart sunk cause i thought they already ordered. some people order after the appetizer but they were sitting there for so long. i apologized and thanked them for their patience and luckily their entrees came out quickly. i just had a big table leave so i was able to focus on them more. as i dropped off the bill (around $70) i wasn’t expecting much, i know my service was subpar and was beating myself up about it. then i go over to clean the table and pick up the receipt and they tipped me $30!! i wanted to thank him but he already left. it made my day and i didn’t deserve it but it was so kind of them! maybe they pity tipped me cause they could see my entire section was slammed lol. i love nice people
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/17p4o8v/table_i_wasnt_expecting_to_tipped_me_amazing/
| 639 | 59 | 1,699,282,888 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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17isq9j
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TalesFromYourServer
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Didn’t tip me for something the kitchen did…
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Full time college student and I love started serving to pay tuition. All my coworkers are super supportive and helpful. This is my third shift and I was thrown into a Saturday night by myself…I was managing well getting food on time and even making rounds. I think I handled about 10 tables this shift. In comes this middle aged white lady with 4 various aged kids and I do the usual, get drinks, everything. Things are going fine up until I find out mid order from the kitchen that the alfredo sauce is out of stock. If I had known beforehand I would’ve let her know, but this was told to me 10 minutes after the order was on the expo. Politely informed her (“I’m so sorry the kitchen has just informed me we’re out of alfredo, I can provide the menu if you’d like an alternative?”) and she makes a big scene.
…Slammed her hands on the table made a huge sigh that could be heard throughout the restaurant. She acted bitchy to me for the rest of the night for something out of my control. Checking on her and asking if she needed anything else resulted in getting eye rolls and obvious faces of disgust and annoyance. The order consisted of 7 other items that came out in under 15-20 minutes, and when asked I modified their order since they wished for another plate of wings (which also came out at the expected time). The only thing that went wrong with the service was the Alfredo being out of stock. When she gave me the credit card she had her kid monitor me at my screen. Then she acted as if she was going to tip me (90 dollar meal might I add)….then runs out with her kids. Food on floor, trash in drinks, “tip” covered in soda. I was kind the entire time throughout, tried to offer alternatives on the menu, etc.
Edit: typos and weird sentences are fixed.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/17isq9j/didnt_tip_me_for_something_the_kitchen_did/
| 199 | 127 | 1,698,544,600 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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1720vhg
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TalesFromYourServer
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Stolen Money
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I just need to rant about tonight. So I work at a very busy restaurant/bar. Tonight I had a group of about 12. They were great. All tipped well and were very friendly. The table they were sitting at is very awkwardly placed/hard to reach over, so when I saw that one of the guys left a $100 bill to cover his tab, I just waited until they left to go pick it up. Big mistake. It was gone. They were sitting in a semi private area, so I know it was one of them who took it, not a random customer. Such a piss off. I’ve worked at the same bar for almost 3 years and have never had that happen. I guess I learned the hard way to collect cash payments immediately.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1720vhg/stolen_money/
| 96 | 12 | 1,696,665,921 | 9 |
big tip
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hot
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gumys0
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TalesFromYourServer
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Customer tries to pay with expired coupon and brings no other money with him
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Last night during the middle of our rush a man comes in by himself and orders some beer and two sushi rolls. I check on him a couple times while I'm running around trying to keep up with my tables and the onslaught of to go orders.
When things finally calm down some he says he's ready to checkout. I bring him his check and he shows me a Groupon code on his phone for our restaurant. The expiration date in big letters says it expires in June of 2017! I point this out to him and he said he spoke to Groupon who said it is fine to use. I explain to him we can't accept it because the system won't let us because it is expired. He tells me he only has $8 when his bill is $26. I ask him if there's someone he can call to spot him for now or if he wants to run to an ATM and leave his ID with us. He informs me he didn't bring his wallet and all his friends/family are poor.
I tell my manager the situation and he begrudgingly let's it slide. I collect the $8, then he leaves. My manager let me keep the $8 as the tip, but still. How can you go anywhere without your wallet? How did you even get here without driving since you didn't bring your driver's license apparently? It was incredibly frustrating, not to mention insanely naive to not bring any form of payment assuming you can use a coupon that expired 3 years ago.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/gumys0/customer_tries_to_pay_with_expired_coupon_and/
| 1,884 | 143 | 1,591,026,537 | 9 |
big tip
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top
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f3cf58
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TalesFromYourServer
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How much do you think your time is worth?
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I work in a small family style restaurant in small town Texas. Mostly regulars and people traveling through because its off a major highway. Last night I had a family of 6 come in, 2 parents, 3 adult children and 1 teenager. They came in, ordered and received the best service I could offer. It was a pretty dead Wednesday night so I could offer my best. The parents were very jovial and always had something funny to say when I approached them and me being me I always had some smart assed reply that would at least get a chuckle. The end of the meal comes and the dad asks me how much I thought my time was worth. I said something along the lines of "With how needy you people are, I feel like at least 200 dollars." Then I laughed and said "Honestly just whatever you feel is appropriate. Im glad y'all had a nice visit." I then prebus the table and check on my other table. I was putting in an order when the dad walked up to me and said "Your wish is granted." I look inside and see $200 written super big on the tip line. I almost cried and I hugged the parents. They said next time they come in they'll ask for me. Next time a customer asks what you think your time is worth dont be afraid to throw out a high number.
EDIT fixed a grammar and spelling mistake.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/f3cf58/how_much_do_you_think_your_time_is_worth/
| 1,682 | 55 | 1,581,611,079 | 9 |
big tip
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top
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7x1i6f
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TalesFromYourServer
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The time I taught my jerk of a coworker the value of tipping out the host
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Long, long ago, when I was but a wee little hostess, I worked with a total jerk. He was a spoiled rich kid who’s dad made him work part time as a server for spending money while he was in college before moving back home to take over the family peanut farm. Or is it a peanut plantation if it’s really huge? I don’t know. I just know it was big enough and had been in the family long enough that they were rich from farming.
Jerk was the kind of guy who only wanted women seated in his section because men tipped him shit, couldn’t ever work a day shift even on the weekends, and was generally an entitled fuckwad. He could never be bothered to run anyone else’s food, bus a table, or be a team player in any way unless the boss was yelling at him.
He also failed to tip me out on almost every shift. He tipped the other (prettier) hostesses and the ones who flirted with him, but not me. Now in that place, I didn’t just host. I bussed, I ran food, and I made all the desserts as well, so I earned my tipouts and he should have been giving me a minimum of $15 per shift. I went to the owner, who wasn’t able to do much about it since tipping out was a house policy but not legally enforceable. But the owner (bless him) felt bad since I really worked my ass off for the servers there. So he empowered me to take care of things for myself. Thus, he and I hatched a plan.
On Jerk’s next shift, he came in 10 minutes late as usual. He breezed in and expected the next table to be seated in his section like I normally would. But when 4 ladies walked in, I took them to someone else’s section. Next table, more ladies (remember these are his bread and butter guests!) go to another server. Finally, he comes up to find out why I’m skipping him in rotation.
Jerk: Hey, you just sat two tables and you didn’t put either of them in my section. Why are you skipping me?
Me: Oh, I forgot to tell you when you got here, I have a new policy for seating you. Since you never tip me out, I’ve decided I’m not working for you for free anymore. From now on, if you want a table, you’ll have to pre-tip for it.
J: What’s that supposed to mean?! I tip you out all the time! I may have forgotten once or twice but...
M: No, you don’t and I’m sick of it. You tip the other hosts, but not me. NEVER me. So from now on, if you want a table, you’ll tip me $1 up front.
J looks to the owner, who was watching this from the other side of the kitchen and grinning. J begins to protest to him, but Awesome Boss tells him that I have his full support and if J doesn’t want tables, he’s free to leave.
J hands over his first $1 of the night and I seat him a table full of burly guys who I know aren’t going to tip him shit. Normally, he’d trade that table out with a female server for the next table full of women who walked in, but I also made clear to J that HE WAS NO LONGER RUNNING THIS PARTICULAR SHOW and would serve the tables I sat him and stop fucking up my rotation.
The best part of the night though, was when J’s first dessert order came through.
Me: J, do you need me to make this Deception Sundae for you?
J: Duh. That’s your job!
Me: I’ll need $1 then. The pre-tipping policy is for desserts too.
J: What?!?!
Me: If you want me to make desserts for your tables, they’re $1 each as well. Or you can make them yourself, I don’t really mind as long as you clean up when you’re done.
J looks to the owner, who is on the line working sautée and grinning again. J says something about being robbed, but hands over another $1 and I start on the dessert.
I made him prepay EVERY task I did for him that night—bussing and running food included. I ended up taking somewhere around $40 off J and sat him ONLY tables with more men than women, ensuring he walked out with less money than he paid me. Fucker never “forgot” to tip me out again.
Edit to add:
Let me try and answer all of you who are calling the owner out. Owner did talk to the guy repeatedly before this. Followed up with me and knew the problem wasn’t solved. Small place, huge volume, busy season, and we were a really tight knit staff. Couldn’t cut the guy’s shifts because we needed him, liked him despite his shitty work habits, and he was great with guests. State/federal law would also have been on the server’s side had he been formally disciplined/terminated over this. I admit, what I did was vindictive, but it was one shift and he’d shorted me $100’s already. The owner was fully prepared to handle any fallout, but because he knew his crew, he correctly reasoned that it would be minimal.
Sometimes the best solutions aren’t the ones laid down in the employee handbook.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/7x1i6f/the_time_i_taught_my_jerk_of_a_coworker_the_value/
| 1,651 | 128 | 1,518,449,637 | 9 |
big tip
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top
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1cfnxxu
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TalesFromYourServer
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Manager Unfair or am I wrong?
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Ok need some advice, 24F just got back into the serving industry again after 3 years of dealing with my mental health first and I’ve had this job for about almost 6 months. I got the busy section as most of the time I do, our manager wasn’t letting us use hand held tablets because someone didn’t return one the night before. I really didn’t think he was gonna go through with it so when I kept getting sat it was a little difficult because all of us had to use the computers as the tablets send it straight to the kitchen. I had gotten a 23 top. Instead of being understanding my manager expected me to input the orders without the tablet but it was a party that big I think the tablet would have been so much better and this problem wouldn’t have happened. So I messed up a lot of the orders because the tablets are my key to my work performance. It’s just so much easier. Instead of lending me one in the first place he had another server help out. Obviously I knew she was going to end up getting the whole tip. So he finally let me borrow the thing when it was too late. So he yelled at me in front of everyone saying I can’t take the 50s anymore because I kept messing up the orders. I never mess up until he took them away that day. I was so humiliated because it’s not the first time he yells at me like this about my work performance. I do my best to give it my all to get his approval or for him to just comment on how I’m doing. He has worked at other restaurants don’t want to say names but 🦉 🧡 Lol and so I didn’t think that was fair especially feeling all the tension in the restaurant so once I finished putting the dishes in the back I came back, different manager told me that if I wanted to just go home or what I planned on doing because they gave my section to another server instead without even letting me know. I was so mad and embarrassed I just wanted to go home. They had me pay for the food that they didn’t pay for and I still put the tips I had which was only $13 but I only came home with $4. I don’t think it was fair that he was gossiping about me and the mistakes I made even the cooks just said my name and that I’m always fucking up something.
I knew I was going to mess up without that device but now he is denying my trades with other servers that want to trade afternoons with me and I don’t think it’s fair he still has me scheduled 5 days a week and I think I he just took advantage of me and I want to know what I can do before I look stupid bringing it up to him or another manager if I could. I still think he shouldn’t have done that when the day before that I did just fine and the other times before that. Do you think he did it on purpose to make it difficult for me?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1cfnxxu/manager_unfair_or_am_i_wrong/
| 0 | 27 | 1,714,357,291 | 9 |
big tip
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new
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1b0ahy0
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TalesFromYourServer
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Doesn't quite fit, but I just had an *interesting* exchange...
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This was on another sub, talking about tipping a private delivery driver:
[P1] 6d
how big of a tip do you leave on top of the $5?
[P2] 6d
0$. End tipping.
[Me] 2d
How to say you've never worked in the service
industry without saying you've never worked in the
service industry lol
[P2 - literally 2 whole days later] 1h
I'l start tipping servers when they start tipping
me. Entitled fucks running their guilt trip scheme
is getting super fucking old.
I'm sorry, "entitled"?! Servers are hardly even "entitled" to minimum wage! What a real POS.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1b0ahy0/doesnt_quite_fit_but_i_just_had_an_interesting/
| 0 | 7 | 1,708,927,719 | 9 |
big tip
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new
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yf079t
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TalesFromYourServer
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I want an appetizer but I don’t want to pay for an appetizer
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So I had this table the other day that I can’t stop thinking about. For context I’m 26 but I look much younger and I’m also kind of socially awkward - like sometimes it takes me a second to realize someone is joking. It normally works out because I look young so it plays into the whole “young naive girl server” stereotype. It’s a slow Sunday night around 7 PM and I’ve been there since 11 AM and didn’t get home until almost 1:30 on Saturday night so to say I’m sleep deprived is an understatement.
On my way to the kitchen with some dishes I see an older lady get sat at one of my tables and the host puts down three menus at the table. I go ahead and get 3 app plates and some complimentary bread for the table.
Me: Hey my name is philaenopsis, I’ll be your server tonight. Can I get you started off with a drink or appetizer while you wait for the rest of your party to arrive?
Lady: I’ll go ahead and take a water. My son might order some mozzarella sticks when he gets here but I’m not sure (not the actual appetizer because if I said the appetizer it would give away where I work. For the sake of the story the app is mozzarella sticks.)
Me: Awesome, I’ll be right back with your water
The rest of the party arrives, it’s the lady’s husband and their grown son. He looks like he’s probably in his early-mid 30s. I go ahead and get their drink orders and bring them out.
Me: Alright, and were we still thinking about getting an appetizer or we ready to order entrees?
Son: Well I want some mozzarella sticks but I don’t want a whole appetizer. Is there any way for me to get a smaller portion?
Me: Well we do have a burger that comes with mozzarella sticks so there may be a way for me to ring them in as an add on in a smaller portion. Let me go check with my manager.
I’m looking on the POS to see if there’s any option to add on mozz sticks on any of the add on screens. My manager confirms the only way to get mozz sticks is to either get the app or the burger. I go back to the table
Me: I’m so sorry, unfortunately the only way to get mozz sticks is to order the burger or the appetizer.
At this point the son gets really intense, almost seems angry. He starts making aggressive eye contact with me.
Son: Well I don’t want a full appetizer but I’m going to have mozzarella sticks
Me: So you wanted to do the burger then…?
Him: No I don’t want them on a burger, but I’m going to have mozzarella sticks. The mozzarella sticks are the only reason I come here, they’re so good.
Me: so then did you want to order the appetizer? I’m confused.
We go back and forth like this a few times, him insisting he’s going to get mozzarella sticks but doesn’t want the burger or the app. I keep explaining to him those are the only two ways to get mozzarella sticks until he finally gets frustrated and says forget it and he needs a minute with the menu. I go back to the back and tell my manager about the situation, mostly venting about how rude this guy is being to me. She goes and talks to the table, comes back and tells me she’s giving him a few mozzarella sticks on the house but asked that they tip generously since they didn’t get charged. I go back to the table to get their orders, they have a few questions about the menu which I answer. The mom gets a a ceasar salad and dad gets a small sirloin.
Son: If I wanted a cheeseburger with bacon how would you recommend I order it?
Me: well we have two burgers on our menu and the both come with cheese by default and you can add bacon to either. One of the burgers comes with mozz sticks and you said you love the mozz sticks so I’d recommend you get that one.
He rolls his eyes.
Son: no, I’ll just do the regular burger with American and bacon, no onion no lettuce extra pickles and tomato with ketchup and mustard.
Now we’ve just switched over to tablets instead of taking orders in a traditional book. The way our POS is you have to ring in all the mods for an item before you can ring anything else in. He gave me his order pretty quickly and I’m sleep deprived so I ask him to repeat his order. I ring it in and read it back to him to make sure I got it right, at about the same speed as he gave me the order initially. He stares at me for a few seconds.
Son: I’m sorry, I comprehended none of that. I’ve had a really bad day.
I’ve had five hours of sleep and I’ve been double sat what feels like all night by our idiot host but ok dude. Anyway the rest of the visit is uneventful. They camp at my table for a couple of hours which isn’t a huge deal, it’s slow and I’m closing so I have to be there anyway. 30 minutes before close I’m sweeping my section and resetting my other tables. I overhear him talking about how he wants to open a tiki bar and get into the restaurant business and whatnot. I sincerely hope he doesn’t considering he was a huge douchebag to me all night. Ended up tipping $7 on a $35 ticket for the whole table when they sat there all night and he got free mozzarella sticks out of it. Oh well.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/yf079t/i_want_an_appetizer_but_i_dont_want_to_pay_for_an/
| 722 | 104 | 1,666,897,127 | 9 |
generous tip
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relevance
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18qop62
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TalesFromYourServer
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Stop complaining about being under tipped when a lot of you don’t tip out other staff unless you have to
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I worked at a country club for a little over a year as a busser. Because it was a country club the pay structure was a little different than typical restaurants. Servers made $9 + tips and as a busser I made $8. I think in the 60 or so super busy weekends I worked I got tipped from the servers maybe 3 or 4 times. Maybe like 100 bucks total. Busted my ass most nights giving out bread baskets, giving out and refilling waters, and clearing plates and taking them to dishwashers. Sometimes I helped run food. Basically the only think I didn’t do at least part of the time for the servers was take food orders.
Since it was my first job in the restaurant industry I had no idea it was standard to tip out other service staff but there was no policy in place so it just never happened unless someone was feeling particularly generous.
Made me realize that some servers who complain about not being tipped enough are just the other side of the “I’m too cheap to properly pay for the service I receive” coin that I hear servers constantly drone on about. Some of you are the same. You expect to be tipped for standard service but are too cheap to tip out yourself… for services that make your life easier (which is what tipping is for). Sorry for the rant.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/18qop62/stop_complaining_about_being_under_tipped_when_a/
| 305 | 116 | 1,703,530,891 | 9 |
generous tip
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relevance
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5wgz6e
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TalesFromYourServer
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I got a $200 tip last night
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I got a very generous $200 tip last night from this couple. They came in and wanted very specific drinks and got the most expensive entrees. Hey we're super friendly and complimented my service the whole time. They ended up staying a little bit after close. When it came time to close them out the gentleman said "whatever it is, add $200 to that and that's your tip" and I cried a little! They even pulled my manager aside and told him how great I was. I didn't think I was going to make rent this month but now I have some spending money. I'm so happy! I just wanted to share my experience. I've lurked this sub for awhile but never posted. Thanks!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/5wgz6e/i_got_a_200_tip_last_night/
| 1,015 | 68 | 1,488,205,413 | 9 |
generous tip
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relevance
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a84hiv
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TalesFromYourServer
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An Open Letter to the Person Who Got Me Fired Today
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I got fired today. And it's all your fault. Maybe you were drunk or high and just forgot what you did. Maybe you thought it would be a cute prank and didn't know how serious it would be. Maybe you did it on purpose with the intent of ruining someone's life. But no matter what, it was completely and utterly your fault. If you were drunk or high, you \*chose\* to become so. If it was a prank you \*chose\* to pull it. If you did it maliciously, then that was your choice too.
&#x200B;
It was shift change on a busy day, and the server before me transferred your table to me. We didn't talk much, but you seemed decent people from our brief interactions. I dropped off your check, you paid with card, and I returned your receipt. As I took care of other tables you signed the slip and left. I went to pick it up and saw something I very much did not expect - a $100 tip. I was both happy and skeptical. You weren't much older than me. It was unlikely that you had that much money to give me. I noticed you had altered your tip. The tip line looked like something was added to it, and you crossed off the total and wrote a new one. Interesting, I thought, maybe you decided to be generous since it's Christmas. Lots of tables are doing that right now. And while it seemed unlikely someone your age would have that much money, it's not impossible, and I try to never judge people by how they look.
&#x200B;
That night I gave it to my manager with my checkout/server report. She said she would have to send it to someone higher than her since it was such a large tip (your bill was only $24 after all). A few hours later she texted me and told me that the area manager had not approved it and I needed to return the money. Well the phrase "he did not approve it" seemed weird to me. So I texted my Acting GM and asked her to look into it. She agreed.
&#x200B;
Today I got into work and the AGM told me she needed to talk to me. So she took me in the office. She asked me if I knew you, and to tell her what happened. Then she said that while she was in the process of investigating, you called her and said there was an incorrect charge. She showed you the signed ticket and you claimed you didn't write that. You claimed you left $10 not $100. So since you had crossed out the total and wrote a new one, it looked like I did it. She told me that they were going to have to terminate me.
&#x200B;
So now I don't have a job. The best job I've ever had. The highest paying job I've ever had. And just days before Christmas. My first health insurance payment of the year was due in a few days. Now I won't have insurance next year. My payment for my college tuition was due. Now I can't go to school next year. I just had to get a new car because I was in an accident. Now I may not have money to make my car payments either. Your blatant lie cost me everything. I hope you're happy with yourself.
&#x200B;
Maybe you were drunk/high and forgot what tip you wrote, and when you got home genuinely thought you were over charged. If that's the case: screw you. Drinking/Drugs are a choice and your decision cost me everything. Maybe you thought it would be a harmless prank. You thought you'd get your money back, but I could keep my job. If that's the case: screw you. You should never pull a prank like that, because there's always a \*real\* possibility people can get hurt from it. And if you did it on purpose because you thought it would be fun to see some stranger lose everything they have. Well, if that's the case, especially screw you.
&#x200B;
I'm a Christian and we are taught we must forgive anyone that trespasses against us. And so I will try to forgive you. Not just because Christ commands us to, but also because un-forgiveness hurts no one other than the person who holds the un-forgiveness. Me not forgiving you won't hurt you. It won't get my job back. It won't get my money back. It won't get the revenge on you that you deserve. But it will hold me back. It will make me bitter, and prevent me from moving on. So I chose to forgive you. But forgiveness isn't instant. It takes time. I chose to forgive you, but I don't forgive you yet.
&#x200B;
You lost me everything, and you didn't even gain anything by it. I chose to forgive you, but I don't forgive you yet.
Edit: thank you for all the kind messages and PMs! I am still considering contacting a lawyer to see if there's anything I can do. I am an at will employee so even if the customer is found to be at fault, the termination is valid. But at this point I don't know that I want to go back anyway, no one wants to work at a place that takes customers words over yous. If I do speak to a lawyer it will be for at worst - to clear my name. At best- pain and suffering or wrongful termination or whatever the legal phrase is. I really appreciate the helpful advice if you have more recommendations please feel free to let me know!
I think I will call a lawyer. Consultations are free and the worst they can say is "sorry we can't help you". What type of lawyer should I be looking for for this?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/a84hiv/an_open_letter_to_the_person_who_got_me_fired/
| 458 | 90 | 1,545,352,077 | 9 |
generous tip
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relevance
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86ardh
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TalesFromYourServer
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Very happily surprised by these kids.
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I bartend at a sports complex that also has an arcade and bowling lanes. I was working upstairs and had one family who were awesome. They came to the bar and ordered their food from me, and their three kids got their sodas, and it was easy. The thing is, every time these kids came back to the bar to get a refill on their soda, they would tip me a dollar, per refill, on each soda. Every time one of the kids would come up to my bar, they would very politely ask me for another soda, and then politely hand me a dollar. After a few rounds of this, I walked up to their parents, thanked them for their generosity, and after a short conversation, asked them why they were being so generous. The matriarch of the family told me that she was a server for several years while she was working towards her doctorate and that she always shows appreciation for her servers. Before they left, she walked up to my bar, handed me a $100 bill, and thanked me for taking care of her family.
I hope to one day be in a position to show the same appreciation for my fellow bartenders and servers.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/86ardh/very_happily_surprised_by_these_kids/
| 913 | 31 | 1,521,717,932 | 9 |
generous tip
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relevance
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4fhw4f
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TalesFromYourServer
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Got rotten teenage $0 tippers kicked out for stealing my tip
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I used to be a server for 10+ years. I mostly worked at low-end chain/sit-down restaurants (think like Denny's). Therefore, getting stiffed was nothing new and I just learned to deal with it. But getting stiffed while being treated like crap, well that is a different story.
So, I'm working at this restaurant and this teenage boy and girl come in. Already I know I'm not likely to receive a tip, but I always tried keep an open mind because not all teenagers are dicks and some are genuinely tight on funds. The girl gives me complete attitude from the start, asking ridiculous questions to get a laugh from the boy. Everytime I walk away from the table, they whisper and then start laughing loudly while looking my way. Whatever. They constantly need more water, refills, extra this, extra that. Whatever. I get busy with other tables, so I don't notice what they're doing before they leave. I go to clean the table after they leave (we didn't have bussers) and I'd never seen such a mess. They'd dumped all of the ketchup, mustard and syrup all over the table. They then emptied every sugar and sweetener packet over the top and then the wrappers over the top of that. They turned a water glass upside down with water in it. The other water glass was filled with some ketchup, mustard and syrup, but just enough so you could still see one single penny at the very bottom. I looked around, but they were already gone.
Next week rolls around and they come in again. I watch them like a hawk this time and although rude behavior is still at the max, I'm not going to let them make another mess. They repeat this for many weeks after.
A couple of months later, I came in as a customer to eat and have coffee with my mom. I see the teenage couple come in and seat themselves a few tables away at a dirty table. (I'm sure you other servers will know just how rage inducing it is when customers seat themselves when a host/hostess is present and when they choose a dirty table).
My mom and I are getting ready to leave. As a server, I try to tip very generously, so I leave a $10 tip on a $20 bill. As soon as we walk away, I notice the teens scoot on over to the table I had just left. Knowing these two, I just knew it wasn't just for the better table.
I went up to pay at the register and asked the hostess to get the manager. I first asked her if she remembered the rude, messy teenagers I had been complaining about. I then explained to her that they had just moved to the table I had left and that I'd left a $10 tip.
She goes over to the table under the pretense of cleaning it for them and to see what they needed. Lo and behold - no tip anywhere on the table. The manager then tells them that there was a $10 tip on the table and asks where it was. The girl gets a smart-ass grin on her face and tries to deny the whole thing. The manager then points over at me. The girl recognizes me and the smirk vanished instantly from her face. She reaches into her shirt and nonchalantly pulls the $10 from her bra (I'm glad here that it was no longer my money).
The manager then told both of them "to get the hell out" and that if they ever came back, she'd call the cops to have them removed.
They both walked out and would not make eye contact with me the whole time. I so wanted them to try to start something with me, but they knew better.
Tip stealing is the absolute worst. I caught other servers doing it too - that was one thing I could never abide!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/4fhw4f/got_rotten_teenage_0_tippers_kicked_out_for/
| 540 | 40 | 1,461,076,932 | 9 |
generous tip
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relevance
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18k9ixm
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TalesFromYourServer
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The highs and lows of bartending
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I’ve been bartending at this restaurant for about 2 years. Small staff, great food, fantastic wine, great and generous regulars. My other bartender is the bar manager, her palate is incredible and our cocktail program is top notch. Tonight was the good and the bad - thankfully no ugly.
First up is our baller couple. In their late sixties, they always sit at the bar. A very nice, wealthy couple, but not in an ostentatious way. They are absolutely fuck-you-money, but without the fuck-you. They always get a bottle of wine and, and get what we recommend regardless of price. (We have an extensive list, specializing in natural/organic wine from all over the world). They got a delicious bottle of Pinot Gris a lovely meal, and picked up the tab of another industry professional who sat at the bar with us for his birthday (he runs the bev program at another spot, and they had just been there recently). Their tab came to around $286, and they tipped $300. Solid, rad folks who we love to see. They’re the best.
Later, 20 minutes before the kitchen closes, this dude who looks like Stanley Tucci’s little brother sidles up to the bar. Obviously in his 50s, bald, thick rimmed black glasses. I remembered him from the week before - he’d had a couple old fashioneds, sat on his phone, and then bounced.
I greeted him, told him the kitchen was closing soon, and he said “No worries, just having a drink”. I let him sit for a minute or two, then circled back to see what he was feeling. He told me “I was in here last week and I lost my ID. Did you guys find anything?” I looked around my register, my host stand, checked with management (we did have a left ID for a woman named Caroline, so no dice). After telling him that we hadn’t seen it, I then had to follow up and tell him that because he didn’t have his ID on his person, I was legally obligated to refuse him service. He pointed to his face and said - I shit you not - “But look at me!” I had to tell him that, unfortunately it’s not up to me, but if you tell me that you don’t have an ID on you, I can’t serve you.
He then said, “What about a passport?” I jumped at the chance to help him. “Yes! That’s great! Let me see it quickly and I’ll be happy to get you your drink.”
“Oh I don’t have it with me, I was hoping that you’d let it go.”
MY GUY.
I don’t know you from Adam. You think imma risk up to a $10k fine for you to drink a well whiskey?!? NO.
I told him, unfortunately I can’t serve you, and he left. TELL ME THIS WASNT A COP. THIS IS SOME STING LEVEL STUPIDITY, RIGHT??
Anyway, hope everyone here has healthy happy profitable holiday weeks. Here’s to 2024!!
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/18k9ixm/the_highs_and_lows_of_bartending/
| 15 | 2 | 1,702,788,757 | 9 |
generous tip
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hot
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14ojto9
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TalesFromYourServer
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I still returned his wallet intact...
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Used to bartend... Don't have the patience anymore... But if I'm ever out and being looked after well, I tip well - or if in picking up the tab I tell my friends the tip THEY have to leave... (I am notoriously over-generous with the best of friends but if Ive picked up a $200 dinner tab, they leave a $50 tip...)
Anyway...
Had this one Saturday morning working the Sports Bar of the pub I was with for 7 years. Mornings before the football matches kick off we're usually quiet, mainly locals, but the TAB (Sports and Horse/Dog Racing betting agency) was always busy...
Every now and then, you'd get that one stray who would just make everybody's morning a misery. This one particular Saturday, it's a real loudmouth who was apparently the world's greatest gambler and had a voice to match. Rude at the bar, didn't tip, nearly got belted by a few locals... Annoyed me twice, then upset the old girl working the TAB counter, which led to the locals just about chasing him out of the place....
He came back to the bar with his near full beer, gathered himself, and went out to the beer garden.... But left his wallet on the bar.
This thing was George Costanza level. Thick, but loaded with money instead of coupons and receipts.... So I took it and put it behind the bar, next to the credit card terminal...
It sat there for fifteen minutes until a manager spotted it. She was gonna take it to the office, but I said "Oh no - leave it, I know who owns it... He'll be back...."
And five minutes later, he was back...
"Another one" he says as he puts his empty on the bar. No please or thank you...
"No problem. How will you be paying for that?" I said but I hadn't started pouring anything...
"Cash, Smart arse, you know I've got loads of -" - reaches to back pocket and realizes no wallet. Blood drains from his face. Furiously pats other pockets like he was a New Zealander doing a haka...
"Oh, Mate, has anyone handed in a wallet?" He says trembling...
"Nope. Nothing handed in at all". I'm blocking his line of sight to the wallet...
"Oh fuck... Oh fuck... Oh fuck..." He's saying...
"Hey Mate" I said "Nobody handed Anything in. But I lifted it when your stupid ass left it on the bar when the locals were gonna belt you. Now, take it, it's as you left it, and get the fuck out of my bar"
A cheer erupted from the TAB Area... We didn't see him again.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/14ojto9/i_still_returned_his_wallet_intact/
| 38 | 1 | 1,688,289,434 | 9 |
generous tip
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hot
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12hz213
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TalesFromYourServer
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Question about tipping
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Say a customer comes up to pay, and she says she left the tip on the table, which you can see the tip is on the table. But on her card receipt she leaves a $10 tip and totals it up. Do you put the $10 tip on? I know the rule is you’re supposed to go by the total, and she *did* add the tip to the total. But I feel like this is one of those cases where she added a $10 tip bc that’s how much she left on the table, especially since she made it a point to let me *know* that the tip was left on the table. But also, maybe she was feeling extra generous and decided to leave an extra $10 on the card along with what she left on the table.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/12hz213/question_about_tipping/
| 12 | 14 | 1,681,166,351 | 9 |
generous tip
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hot
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ot2qh5
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TalesFromYourServer
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My observations while working as a Host
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Hey all, longtime lurker, first-time poster, just wanted to share some of my observations and stories while working as the Host for semi-upper class restaurant. Let me know if you share some of these experiences. Feedback is greatly appreciated. Buckle up, this is gonna be a bit long.
First, my greatest observation is that people seem to lack the basic ability to call ahead. We're a fairly small yet high-class restaurant with a French-trained Chef, and that's a fairly well known fact in this city. We do allow walk-ins, but only if we have room and staff to accommodate them in-between our reservations, which do usually book most of the restaurant on a typical night. And it just continues to baffle me night after night when people will show up with groups of 8 or more in the middle of a dinner rush with no reservation, get told that we cannot seat them at the moment, and then storm off with the exclamation that they can't find anywhere to eat. What is stopping you from making a 30-second phone call to inquire about whether or not there is room for your party at the restaurant you want to meet at? It saves you time, it saves me time and a headache, everyone wins.
Coming off of that is people's seeming lack of ability to keep time. At least a couple times a night we'll get someone who has a reservation for a set time, and has confirmed that reservation via our computer system, then shows up 20+ minutes late(our policy is to hold the table for 30 minutes, yes I know its extremely generous but we're a fancy restaurant) and doesn't offer any explanation as to why they are so late, or sometimes don't even show up without calling to cancel, making us wait to remove that reservation and almost certainly hurting that server's paycheck. This is especially irking on busy nights when we could have used that table for a walk-in that I otherwise had to turn away, and in the case that they show up, often puts that server into an awkward position where they have multiple tables arriving at the same time whereas otherwise we would have arranged them to arrive a half hour apart. Again, a simple phone call would have easily fixed the situation.
It does get really funny when we have people walk through our servers' door to the patio, which is closer to the tables than the main doors that lead from the patio, and has a sticker on the door which says 'please use other door', a sign next to them that says the same thing, and another sign closer to the stairs that says the same thing. That's three signs all telling them not to use this door, but lo and behold they waltz right in, and immediately look confused as they end up in the middle of a dining room with the host desk their looking for to their right and facing away from them. Their facial expressions make me almost bust out laughing every time.
Finally, time for some stories.
One time I got the opportunity to serve a table as we were short-staffed, a table of two middle-aged women. Towards the end of the meal I walked up to the table and asked 'may I take these plates out of the way for you ma'am?', to which the older of the two looked at me silently, slowly pointed at the other lady, and said in the most deadpan voice i've ever heard: 'that lady is going to he\*\*', before looking back at her companion without answering my question. My brain, fairly new to serving and not good at confrontation, froze, and I simply stuttered out the same question as before, to which the first lady waved her hand dismissively, allowing me to grab the plates and leave.
Another time we were absolutely slammed, the kitchen was backed up and the servers were practically running between tables to keep people happy. I've had to turn a couple people away, but only because the inside was full and nobody wanted to sit out on the patio, as hot as it was. In comes walking in a man and a woman in wedding attire, and lady puts her arms on my desk and says 'we have a bit of an emergency situation here'. I think 'oh, she just wants to seat like 12 people on the patio, not a huge deal'. Come to find out that they had a wedding across the street and had 80 wedding guests waiting around for a caterer that had basically given them the middle finger at the last minute and bailed for little reason. Now for context, this entire night we were almost fully booked with reservations for the dinner shift, and that totaled about 60 guests. And these people wanted us to cook 80 more meals and provide a catering team from a overworked and understaffed team. Yeah. No way that was happening. Both me and my manager explained the situation and they dejectedly left. There was basically no other option for 80 people on a Saturday night in this city. Not that outrageous of a story just one that's stuck with me.
Final story. Another night we were just as slammed, iirc this night we set our current record sales night. This older couple walks in, no reservation, they get a table like normal. Our standard procedure is to inform the servers of walk-ins on the patio as they can't see the patio very well from where the rest of the tables are, and let the servers see it if its an inside walk-in, since we're so small its nearly impossible to miss a walk-in in your section. half an hour later this older couple walks past my desk, and me, not recognizing them, tells them to have a good night like I do to all the guests I assume are leaving. This lady, looking like she's crying, bits back with a 'you too, would have been nice if someone served us', and leaves. Now this baffles me. If no one has served you in like 15 minutes, why wouldn't you call out to a passing server and say as much, instead you chose to sit and say nothing, then leave angrily when no one stops by. But that was our mistake in the first place i'll admit. I go and tell my manager as much, to which she looks at me exasperatedly and says 'OP, you were supposed to tell someone!' and walks off. Now before you get the wrong idea, my manager is an amazing lady and I suspect it was just stress that made her snap. I don't blame her.
So nothing too crazy, again we're a fairly high-class restaurant so most of the nutjobs pass us by, the most interesting things that happen here daily are just people tipping really low(one time a server got a $0 tip off a $400 tap) and the aforementioned people not calling. Minor annoyances really. Just thought maybe some other people would get a kick out of it. Let me know if this post doesn't belong here or if I missed anything. Have a good day!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ot2qh5/my_observations_while_working_as_a_host/
| 12 | 5 | 1,627,446,446 | 9 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
ncld8m
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Captain Pete's: a Tale of Debauchery from Pirate Themed Hell
|
Earlier today, I was reminded of a special time in my life... a time when I waited tables at what was quite possibly the worst restaurant to ever exist.
Captain Pete's was owned by a douchebag of a man named Peter. Peter was the sleaziest mofo I've ever worked for, or even near. Labor laws? Pfffft! Cleanliness? Hah! Safety practices of any kind? Surely you jest! Peter cared not for these things. Peter cared for his boat, creepily named *Daddy's Girl*. He cared for loud Hawaiian shirts, worn with several buttons undone to reveal a manly swath of graying chest hair and several gaudy gold chains. Peter cared for his young female waitstaff, a bit too much... But more than anything, he cared for his shitty restaurant.
Captain Pete's Bar and "Grille" (in quotes because there was no grill, just an old deep fat fryer and a surly cook named Stu with a perpetual cigarillo hanging from his lip) was the kind of tacky neighborhood joint that attracts a healthy bevy of local regulars and college kids hoping we won't card.
The entrance was made to look like a dock for some reason? even though leaving was referred to as "walking the plank". The walls were emblazoned with fake portholes with bad illustrations of desert islands for views, ships' steering wheels, and many caricatures of the owner, dressed as either a pirate or a modern boat captain, always surrounded by bikini clad women whom I doubted existed outside of the imagination of both Peter and the artist.
Once inside the restaurant proper, it split off in two directions: left and down two stairs was the seedy bar area referred to as *The Bilge* (or so proclaimed the very 1980s neon sign that greeted you), right was what was supposed to be a "family friendly restaurant" if your family were as f*cked up as mine were. The restaurant was grimy and dark. There were a few tables below upside down kettles that held the lights for some odd reason. There were more of those godawful porthole paintings, probably done by an acquaintance, or maybe even Peter himself. One wall boasted a sketchy looking fish tank, devoid of anything resembling life, save for the little plastic skeleton pirate holding a treasure chest that flipped open every few minutes with bubbles fed from a tube. In the corner was a ball pit that no one ever cleaned. The greasy looking, faded plastic balls were penned in by a fishnet that looked primed for catching and - possibly breaking - the ankle of any child whose parents cared little enough about their wellbeing to let them play there. The opposite corner held an arcade cabinet featuring a pirate themed game that loudly shouted "Yo ho ho! Shiver me timbers!" every three minutes in a tone that definitely doesn't still haunt my nightmares. In the entire eight months I worked there, we hosted one child's party. It was a disaster.
Back to *The Bilge*.
Peter's pride, joy, and unhealthy drinking habit, it was a time capsule to the 80s - obviously Peter's glory days. Despite the aqua and pink neon everywhere, it was always pretty dark in there. Perhaps because the walls, floor, and ceiling were all painted black. The bar itself was in the center of the room, surrounded by ancient looking stools with faux leather seats and nailhead trim. Glass shelves held dusty bottles of ancient liquor (or maybe just colored water, who knows?) lit from below with - you guessed it! - more neon. Atop the shelves stood a proud and surprisingly detailed, if dusty, model pirate ship. Against the far wall was the only drink station in the restaurant and the doors to the "kitchen" and Peter's office.
We had one bartender, a really cool older guy named Guillermo, and one busser, Guillermo's son, Rohan. Peter often tended bar himself. Peter was often drunk by closing.
Now that I've set the stage, here are some memorable tidbits from my eight month torture.
Earlier today, I told this story: A regular whose name escapes me tipped me a 50 one night. Being the overly cautious worrywart I am, I checked with him multiple times to be sure he really did want to tip me fifty big ones, more than I usually saw any given night. He assured me he did. The next night, he came in with some friends and drank for a bit, taking advantage of our generous (read, watered down) happy hour special punch. I dropped off the check and he handed me a 10, on a much larger tab. When I asked him about it, he told me to put the 50 he'd given me the previous night towards his bill and keep the change for myself. I argued, Peter forced my hand, and I wound up under for the evening. Basically, I paid for the pleasure of waiting on a bunch of tightwad day drinkers. That should have been the end of it, but I was naive and Captain Pete's always had a shift open, unlike the more reputable establishments in town where new servers went on wait lists, or got cut early if there wasn't a need for them.
Being naive as I was, I didn't know that uniforms had to be provided unless they could be reasonably expected to be worn on the street. Thus I shelled out $80 for what amounted to a cheap, tacky (and yet skin tight) Halloween costume, complete with squeaky foam boot toppers and an oversized plastic sword with an order pad glued to it.
My best friend and roommate, Jessi, got me the job. She worked there, too. I was never really sure if she was being helpful or was desperate for company. Maybe a combination of both. We spent hours on slow nights seeing how far away we could throw ice into the empty fish tank from. We also snuck Teletubbies stickers onto some of the desert islands to see if anyone would notice. No, they didn't. And yes, I'm dating myself.
One night, a haggard looking mother came in with two small children. I assumed she needed a bathroom and was utterly shocked when she asked for a table. She ordered chicken (called parrot legs, ew!) for the kids and a captain's platter for herself, then changed her mind when I shook my head at her, indicating the seafood was a poor choice. She settled on an order of mozzarella stick peg legs and a diet coke. She was friendly but seemed really exhausted. I snuck the kids a few quarters from my apron and pointed them to the game, mostly wanting to stop its incessant yo-ho-hoing. She mouthed "thank you" and disappeared into a bodice ripper romance novel. I dropped the food and went to roll silverware. When I returned, they were gone. She left a wad of cash on the table, enough to cover the mostly uneaten food plus a >$20 tip. It was the best tip I ever got at that place. That I was allowed to keep, anyway.
One day, to everyone's great surprise, we had a birthday party. I don't know who they were, but I can't imagine they'd ever seen the inside of Captain Pete's before requesting to use it as a party venue, judging by the way the mother's face fell upon entering. She forced a smile and said "Good thing we bought plenty of balloons!" in the cheeriest voice she could muster. We served pizza rolls, french fries, and fish sticks, an unholy trinity if ever there was one, and an ice cream cake in the shape of a whale, provided by the parents. I do not know if the themeing was deliberate or a sad coincidence, only that the kid cried because we stuck one of the candles in the poor cetacean's eye socket. Dad went to The Bilge. Maybe he *had* seen the inside before. Jessi, Rohan, and I sang *Happy Birthday* three times, in an attempt to stop the kid from crying. They left after opening what seemed to be an entire kindergarten class worth of presents, left a gigantic mess complete with chocolate whale fingerpainting, and no tip. Jessi and I covered our uniforms in abandoned gift bows to see if anyone would notice. They didn't.
Guillermo served as a bouncer as well as a bartender, despite the fact that he was perhaps the least intimidating person I'd ever met. Thankfully his skills were rarely needed in that capacity. He started dating one of my fellow waitresses. One night, he attempted to evict some drunk regular who got handsy with his honey. He wound up getting stabbed. A minor injury, thankfully. Less painful than when the waitress left him for the guy who stabbed him, so he told me one night after showing me the scar.
I was fired for dumping a full tray of drinks on a drunk, handsy regular (not the stabber or the tip thief, a different one. Classy joint, eh?) who grabbed my ass as I walked by. He demanded Peter call the cops and have me arrested for assault. I told him to please do so, as the only working camera in the joint most definitely captured him sexually assaulting a minor. We settled on me being fired somehow? I didn't press charges, but I should have. I should have also kept my shitty uniform, which by that point permanently smelled of stale fry grease and cigarette smoke, despite smoking indoors having been recently banned.
Years later, I went back to my alma mater for an alumni event only to find that the entire area had been plowed completely under and was now an enormous Indian casino. I know there's something there, something perhaps ironic? about building an Indian casino on a cursed ancient pirate burial ground... but nope, I lost it.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/ncld8m/captain_petes_a_tale_of_debauchery_from_pirate/
| 42 | 12 | 1,621,033,315 | 9 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
mhhb6g
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Is it legal for my work to ask for money back because they over payed me?
|
So at my work, all the customers pay at the front, the cashier up there enters all our credit card tips and the servers never see them. The lady working up front gave me a $75 tip instead of the $2 I was meant to get (I noticed i had made good money that night but we were super busy so I just thought ppl were being generous) now the customer called and wants to be refunded, and my work is trying to make me pay back the $75. Im pretty sure i remember hearing that once you’ve left for a shift they aren’t allowed to ask for any tips back. Is that true? I wanted to double check before arguing with my boss.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/mhhb6g/is_it_legal_for_my_work_to_ask_for_money_back/
| 24 | 18 | 1,617,229,425 | 9 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
jw5nce
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
The best tips I’ve ever had in 19 years!
|
Today is our last day for dine in before we go to another shut down. My customers have been very generous today and been showing it with their tips! Someone tipped me $50 on a $37 tab, another gave me $23 tip on a $27 tab. I got $38 tip for an $80 tab as well. Everything else has been either $10 or nothing less than $5 bucks.
Incredible to see the love and support from my community. I know it’s been hard times for everyone but still too tip me big like that means everything to me! I’ve gotten plenty of amazing tips in my life but not all together in one day. Thank you so much to all my customers today. I will never forget this day!
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/jw5nce/the_best_tips_ive_ever_had_in_19_years/
| 110 | 6 | 1,605,660,581 | 9 |
generous tip
|
hot
|
aeqpbu
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
It finally happened - some Karen made me cry.
|
This happened earlier this week. I work for a small mom and pop store with table service and damn good food. We used to be open 6 days a week, but as of this week we are now open 7 days a week. Usually when we make changes to the hours, it takes a while for people to pick up on it and it's generally VERY slow to start, so the owner put me as the solo server, with one cook in the kitchen. We have 12 tables as well as a patio, and our tickets are hand written, we do not have a POS system.
&#x200B;
So we open for lunch and immediately get a 8 top. Ok no problem. I get their drinks and orders and in walks a 10 top. Okay I got this. But then, no, I don't got this, because within 20 minutes my entire store was FULL. There was literally a new ticket coming in to the kitchen every 2 minutes. Soon we go on a wait, and people begin sitting outside. I'm struggling to keep up, get all the drinks out, all the orders in, running food. As people piled in I started warning tables that all the food is cooked to order and this was the first day we were open this day, so we only had one person in front and one in back, people seem understanding. But then I have to start adding up tickets (by hand). Guess who is all separate checks? The 8 top. And also the 10 top. I'm SCREWED. Drinks are going un-refilled, one of my poor outside tables doesn't even have menus yet, food isn't getting run, there's a wait but tables aren't getting bussed. I'm deep deep deep into the jungle, not just the weeds, trying to turn an entire restaurant over at the same time.
&#x200B;
We had called for another server to come in, she was scheduled at 1 and she said she'd come right away, but didn't actually show up until her scheduled start time. Overall the guests were cool because they saw that I was running my ass off and apologizing and thanking people for their understanding like mad. Nobody could have pulled this off, it was NUTS. So I get a good amount of the tables turned over, and I deliver the check to a 2 top of late fifty-year-old Karens who have the same generous apple figure and the same Karen haircut. Separate checks of course. So I go back and separate them, one card and one cash. I bring their payments back and apparently I messed up. I accidentally charged the card for the cash total and vice versa. It happens, it's easy to fix.
&#x200B;
But no. Karen doesn't want me to fix it. My store owner is standing by the card machine, I point him out and again reiterate how easily we can fix it. No. She tells me that when I ran their food, I also gave her the other Karen's food, and I gave the other Karen her food. Whoops, that happens sometimes, I am usually pretty good at remembering who had what. But when I'm solo on a packed store/patio and a wait that all came in at the same damn time, I couldn't even tell you what your whole table ordered. I was flying by the seat of my pants lady. She said it showed that I wasn't paying attention. I start to protest and explain how it was our first day open this day and we thought it'd be slow and I was doing my absolute best to keep up, but nobody would have been able to do it better. Karen informs me that I don't need to explain myself to her. She's run plenty of restaurants, and I simply wasn't.paying.attention. Ok Karen. I apologize again and again, offer again to fix the charge. Nope. She sensed weakness and had the chance to be kind. But she had to tear down the last little shred of whatever it was that was holding me together at that point.
&#x200B;
I have a strong sense of justice and despite my best efforts, I freaking cry when I feel like I've been wronged. I felt tears welling up as I justified myself to her but held them back. The restaurant had emptied out, and my coworker had shown up. My store owner told me I had just done the impossible by running the entire front of house through that shit. But I looked at the mess of tickets, card receipts, and cash at my station and I just lost it. Burst into tears and couldn't stop crying for like 15 minutes, and I'm cry-laughing, my coworkers are shocked/concerned because I didn't want to be crying and I was just overwhelmed by the rush and hurt by a bitchy Karen.
&#x200B;
Any other day I could have laughed off the criticism, knowing I really do try my very best and the store owner knows that. I'm damn good at this job and I actually care. But that day, that Karen saw my weakness. She could have responded with empathy but chose to cut me down and it worked. I'm just glad that she didn't see me cry. And I call bullshit on her having managed restaurants, or she'd have been able to see how hard I was trying and that I was flying solo in a really busy store. Oh, and Karen and Karen tipped me a dollar each on a $30 ticket.
&#x200B;
TLDR: Stressed solo server on a completely full store, Karen senses weakness and destroys server instead of being kind.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/aeqpbu/it_finally_happened_some_karen_made_me_cry/
| 310 | 43 | 1,547,174,190 | 9 |
generous tip
|
top
|
1tj4df
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
This isn't a 'take 500 pennies, give 500 pennies jar'.
|
I work in a travelling hospitality cafe.
So this dude came into my cafe and he was the only customer at the time. He asked for a pop and a bagel and cream cheese, which comes to $5.00. As I was pulling the bagel from the microwave (we don't have toasters XD) he started pulling bills out of my tip jar. I wasn't TOO concerned, because sometimes people are a bit thick and think it's OK to make change out of it for a 5 to give me a $1 tip.
He said "Oh, this one's stuck!" referring to the bill I tape to the side of the tip jar (because hey, it's a tip jar). Then he said "Wow, generous people," after gathering $5 in ones (including the 'stuck' one). He then hands me MY tip jar money to try and pay for his food. I just look at him with my eyebrow up, put my tips back in my jar, and say "You can't pay for your food with my tip money."
Didn't get an "I'm sorry," or anything, he just said "Oh!", whipped out a $20, got his $15 in change, then said to me "Have a Merry Christmas!" and left.
I've had this same thing happen exactly twice before this in my 10 years here. For real, you don't know what a tip jar is? I don't mind NOT getting tips, it's not like I'm serving tables or anything .But damn, that wasjust weird/rude lmao
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1tj4df/this_isnt_a_take_500_pennies_give_500_pennies_jar/
| 279 | 34 | 1,387,809,051 | 9 |
generous tip
|
top
|
8k2cw3
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
finally, some server karma!
|
my shift tonight felt endless and i just got home a bit ago (and shoved a bunch of mozzarella sticks in my face. thanks, kitchen guys). i've been wondering when it would be my turn to get some server karma in exchange for the bullshit i have to deal with all the time, and tonight was the night!
all of my tables were amazing at best and polite at worst. a 5-top of golfer-looking friends come in and drink and drink. they rack up quite a bill, and for a second i'm worried about how much ill owe the bar from this table alone. they tipped very generously, and they were truly a pleasure to serve. very kind, friendly, funny guys! it didn't even feel like working when i checked on them.
a 2-top of young looking guys was another table that pleasantly surprised me. they were pretty standard--just a refill here and there. not difficult at all. when i bring over their bill, one asks how much one of my other table's tab was. this other table was a dad and his son sharing some wings, both got water, their bill was about 17 bucks. this young guy asks me if he can pay for it. i gladly take care of it and they leave a bit before the dad and the son. when i went to tell them their bill was taken care of, the dad was in disbelief. i had to spend three minutes convincing him that yes, i was serious, and i know, that was so nice of that guy! (cue me crying in the alley) he even called me back over to ask me again if i was telling the truth. it meant a lot to him and it made my heart swell.
now this next one was probably my favorite table so far--ever. a young woman and her parents come in, and the parents don't speak very good english. they seemed to be from somewhere in asia. i grab them drinks and give them time to look over the menu. when i take their order, they get a bunch of different things to share, like a few apps, some wings and a burger. they also each tried some beers. they were sooo polite and *happy*! i mean *genuinely happy* about the food. when i brought out their burger, *they clapped and said "yay".* it was fucking awesome. they were taking pictures and videos of their food too. i assume they were on a trip and had never been to our restaurant before, so it was fun to see them so excited. i work at a big chain, so usually people are just like "meh, wings. beer. sports." but this table was just so much fun. i wasn't sure about a tip, since i know that's not really a thing in a lot of countries, but i didn't even care because they were so fun. they surprised me and left 15 bucks and a "thank you!" written on the receipt!
and finally, my last table of the night was a kid who couldn't be much older than me (19), eating alone at like 11pm. he got unlimited wings and i brought him more when he wanted them, got him refills, even fucked up and brought him traditional instead of boneless once. i didn't feel like i was giving him exemplary service, as i was a little busy and because he just seemed to like eating his wings and keeping to himself. i cashed him out, grabbed him a box and said goodnight, and when i went to bus the table he left me a *fifteen dollar tip* on his seventeen dollar tab (again, crying in the alley).
it's so nice to have a good night every once in a while, to interact with the *good* people in the world, and to be gifted a reminder of why i love my job :)
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/8k2cw3/finally_some_server_karma/
| 277 | 11 | 1,526,541,557 | 9 |
generous tip
|
top
|
1rtv70
|
TalesFromYourServer
|
Booth Arrest, or, The Curse of Table 90
|
Table 90 is cursed.
It is an over sized booth in the back corner of the dining room. It usually holds 4-6, maybe 8 if there are children or they don't mind cuddling. And 9/10 parties that sit there are just astoundingly, ridiculously awful. It doesn't help that this particular TGI Chilibees is known for being generous with comps in a low income neighborhood (I have four liquor stores and a pay day loan within a couple blocks of my apartment). Any time a group goes down at 90, we brace ourselves.
Tonight, 90 was all mine. We were slow for a Saturday, but these two young girls go down right before what would end up being our rush. They were waiting for 4 more, so a six. Okay. No problem. I get them drinks, they decide to order an app.
Two more trickle in. Drinks. They inform me there will be a larger group than they thought. They now want immediate seating for 10-15. I knew then there might be trouble, but honestly hoped to get them a proper tables with auto grat and someone else serving them. But no one can pull a table that big out of their ass, so we tell them they will have to wait. Cue bitching.
I just smile and shrug, and then head off to go warn my manager about them. Luckily, tonight my favorite manager is on, and she hears and acknowledges my assertion that they might be trouble.
So it goes on like those tables do. Telling them they can't pull over another table and block the fire exit. They order in waves, more people show up. About 12 total, only the original 6 ordered food. They run me ragged, laugh and scream. At one point one of them piled a bunch of nickels and pennies at the end of the table and repeatedly shouted 'YOU FORGOT YOUR TIP' while joking with their friends 'here's a tip for ya, give us the right fucking table.' They specifically requested corner booth. Called ahead for it.
Well here is the icing on the cake. In the chaos of a dozen teens milling about, two decide to just leave. Two who owed me $25. Luckily, most of them are still there.
I tell my loverly manager, and she tells me to basically just ask them who is paying this tab and that she will back me up. She follows me to the table while I return some change.
Me: ...and here is yours. And where are the two ladies who were sitting right here?
Ringleader: They left.
Me: -big server grin- Okay. That's cool. So who is paying for them?
R : We ain't.
Manager chimes in now, saying that we are in no rush and that if they need to call someone that is fine.
I now have real tables who were being neglected for this ridiculousness, so I go off to handle that. Enough servers at the side station by their table heard thrm talking about walking out that my manager just posts up right next to them while they call the dashing friend, eventually call mommy.
Mommy is pissed she has to drive up there. I get paid, Mommy tipped me $8, which is infinitely more than I expected from that table, and their Booth Arrest ended and they were allowed to leave.
Sorry for the length.
TL; DR : Held some kids for ransom
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromYourServer/comments/1rtv70/booth_arrest_or_the_curse_of_table_90/
| 199 | 18 | 1,385,886,826 | 9 |
generous tip
|
top
|
1gsxgb
|
TalesFromRetail
|
Taco Tipping
|
I had a unique experience with a customer last Tuesday that is worth sharing.
I work at a small retail store that sells batteries and light bulbs. Thankfully I now work almost exclusively in the tech center building custom orders (rebuilding drill packs, rewiring fisher price cars, gluing together suspicious acme products, etc.), so i don't have to deal with many day to day customers anymore.
A woman came in with a battery for some sort of chair lift, i think it may have been a poolside chair to help disabled people in and out of the water. She was wondering how much it would be to replace it, so i opened it up and found that a wire had simply decided to snap in half (seriously, it wasn't near anything that could pinch it or cut it). So i took it and grafted the wire back together. I hand it back to her, who now has a confused look on her face.
me: here you go :)
customer:... well how much is it?
me: no charge, it was just a broken wire.
She thanks me and leaves the store. about twenty minutes later my coworker sees her coming back into the store and jokingly warns me that i must have messed something up. She comes back to the tech center and hands me two bags full of tacos and burritos! There is a del taco across our parking lot. Not the best food ever, but it sure is the best tip I've ever had from that place.
TL:DR fixed wire, got tacos
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1gsxgb/taco_tipping/
| 718 | 50 | 1,371,833,282 | 9 |
tip
|
relevance
|
1v1nki
|
TalesFromRetail
|
The weirdest thing you have been tipped
|
What is the weirdest thing a customer has ever tipped you with. One time I was given a pocket knife. To be honest it is a really nice pocket knife I still use while camping and he was giving them to everyone who worked at (**store redacted**) that day.
|
https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1v1nki/the_weirdest_thing_you_have_been_tipped/
| 47 | 40 | 1,389,553,477 | 9 |
tip
|
relevance
|
1pv5vh
|
TalesFromRetail
|
[Meta] For me and others entering Seasonal retail, any tips?
|
I can remove this if this isn't a good place/acceptable in this sub.
TalesFromRetail is my favorite place to browse. I've learned a lot about being a good customer, but now I'm on the other side of the equation. I'm working retail for the first time in my life, as the first job in my life, during the holidays. Are there any tips, forewarnings, tricks, or general advice you could give me and others who are entering the retail workforce this holiday season?
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1pv5vh/meta_for_me_and_others_entering_seasonal_retail/
| 16 | 25 | 1,383,553,805 | 9 |
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relevance
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d8gpy9
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TalesFromRetail
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“I only have pennies...sorry”
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I’ve worked for a decently sized farm store chain for about 3 years now. This happened back when I was about a month in.
(For reference, my store is small. It only has two registers and, therefore, two tills. I don’t get my own till and I can hop to either when ever I need/want to.)
I was opening with one other manager who was busy stocking feed shelves while I was put on register. About an hour after we opened, an older customer walks in and I can hear the immense amount of coins jingling in her purse. The woman couldn’t have been younger than 60 so I just assumed she was one of those people that liked to carry coins on them. She didn’t seem like she was struggling to carry her purse so I thought nothing of it and welcomed her in.
The lady walks around the store for about 10 minutes (the entire time she’s the only one in the building other than me and my manager) and eventually brings up a couple bones for her dog. I scan them and give her her total: around $10 with tax.
Hearing this she heaves her purse onto the counter and it lands with a hefty thud. I’m startled, she’s unfazed and tips it over to pull out a gallon sized zip-lock bag full of pennies.
“This is all I have...is that okay?”
Internally I’m screaming “Wtf?! NO! There are multiple banks a mile down the road. Why didn’t you trade these in for bills?” Instead I sheepishly told her it was okay and had to count them by hand. She tried to help but I told her to just not and let me take care of it since I didn’t want her to miscount (I didn’t think she would but I didn’t want to get in trouble if she did).
Counting out the total took about 10 minutes and left her bag almost completely empty. She took her bones and receipt and left with a smile. I was still screaming at her mentally.
Her pennies filled up both the penny trays and extra coin trays in both tills, and we still had to put some in the store’s safe cause we had no where else to put them. I got multiple comments about the amount of coins in each till by customers who noticed.
In the three years I’ve been here since then I haven’t seen her again. I’m not exactly sad about that either.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/d8gpy9/i_only_have_penniessorry/
| 144 | 37 | 1,569,290,879 | 9 |
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hot
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1bm3ot
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TalesFromRetail
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I was asked to repost here: Douchebag customer gets put in place
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* This is reposted from /r/pettyrevenge. Sorry I didn't think of you first!
I used to work in a 24 hour fast food joint by a popular club. At about closing time (the clubs) we'd get the overflow of drunks. Most just wanted a greasy snack before they went home, and probably 90% were perfectly civil and hilarious.
However, as many who serve the late night drunk crowd know, there are douchebags that seek to bolster their self esteem and social standing, by harassing easy targets (like fast food workers who have to switch off their verbal self defence mechanisms to provide 'good customer service').
We had a regular who would spend his time hitting on customers and staff (me on one occasion) after what was probably another night of disappointment. He clearly thought he was charming.
We named him 'TLE' (The Lynx Effect - after an advertising slogan for a deodorant named Lynx, which is the Australian branding for Axe Body Spray).
TLE would hang out in the dining room, sometimes with a crowd of friends that he would play to. After being politely told to stop standing on the seats, TLE decides he wants a burger, so he orders some monstrosity loaded with a stupid amount of bacon that he expects kudos for ordering (I give kudos for bacon, not wasted bacon).
When it comes time to pay, TLE opens his wallet and finds only a parking ticket and a condom. He hands the condom across and says, 'You accept these as payment, right?' Cue polite laughter.
Without a beat, my surpressed verbal defences kick in.
'Usually, sir. However, not when they've clearly been in your wallet for so long.'
He was stunned, his mates laughed and my manager at the time had to hide in the backroom lest someone saw her game face drop. After that, some lady (whom he had been clumsily hitting on) asked if I accepted tips.
Petty, but satisfying.
Edit: closing time was the club, not the fast food place.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromRetail/comments/1bm3ot/i_was_asked_to_repost_here_douchebag_customer/
| 917 | 49 | 1,365,022,839 | 9 |
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