Tuesday, May 31, 2011

8 things servers hate ...

Since we haven't gotten into a service discussion lately in the blog, let's look at this story, listing eight things diners do that drive servers bats. There are a few things you might not have thought of as being annoying, and can easily stop doing. A few I disagree with, but it's an interesting list.

NOTE: This is always a hot topic. We'll stay civil here, OK? No profanity (or profane words spelled with dollar signs) or criminal accusations or comparing people to maligned groups, etc., etc. (I won't let those post.) Just make your point in calm, convincing language; you can do it!

6 comments:

Ghoul said...

Should have run this story in March. But it is a current story in Myrtle Beach.

Anonymous said...

Well, I linked to that story and read it, and yes, it's been hashed out here many times. There's no doubt it's a very upsetting topic, but I can't get over the way that waitresses will post these rules and snobby guidelines they expect the customer to follow.

Waitresses and waiters should remember that if it were not for the customer, they would not be there. Period. If you want more hourly pay, then it is up to your employer to pay you, NOT the customer. In case you didn't know, your bosses are the ones getting away with highway robbery by not paying you.

Do your jobs, be pleasant to customers, and remember you are there to serve them, not the other way around. Finally, if you don't like the job or the pay, then find another line of work and quit pretending that you have a say in the matter.

We will ask for what we want, when we feel like it, and tip or not when we please. It is not up to you. End of line.

Anonymous said...

Actually Anon 5:56, there is an implied social contract, and we all know it prior to entering the restaurant. If the restaurant owner were to pay servers a full wage, the price of the food would be higher. I frankly wish that were the case, but it isn't, so we have the system we have. It is not acceptable to "tip or not when we please".

Anonymous said...

Yea I don't agree with the "don't split checks rule." If an establishment doesn't want to do it, they can create a policy against it. Otherwise, it's free reign.

DD said...

This old argument again. While it is fair to say that without guests, a server does not have a job, it is also fair to say that without servers, guests would have nowhere to eat. The argument works both ways. Yes, people can make do without restaurants, but the money spent each year on meals outside the home indicates that people choose not to.

To further the concept that Anon 10:55 mentioned above, , there is an unspoken social contract governing all business transactions. Each side has both expectations and responsibilities.

The server who fails in their responsibility to provide for their guest is just as guilty as the guest who fails to show respect for their server.

Anonymous said...

2 points:

1. Yeah, it really does seem like splitting checks should be okay. Generally my friends and I try to let the server know before we place orders if we need separate checks. We leave tip on our own checks, and usually (because several of us have been servers in the past) we also throw in a few extra bucks each as "tip for the table" to make sure the server gets a nice tip after providing good service.

2. Please, please, please DON'T breastfeed at the table!!! That is beyond disgusting. You may think it's a natural, beautiful thing, a spiritual communion between you and your precious offspring. Bully for you. The rest of us, however, are not all as enamored of your offspring or your new mommyhood as you are. Some of us find it genuninely gross to know that someone at the next table might accidentally flash a body part that shouldn't be exposed in public during the middle of dinner! There are pumps so moms can plan ahead if there needs to be a public feeding, and an increasing number of places have private rooms where mom and baby can go when baby is hungry. Either of those options is preferable to public nursing.