Jerks who are rude to waiters

[duraaraa 203]

My SIL went out for lunch yesterday and our waitress was so annoying. Every few minutes she would come by and ask if we needed something or ask how we were doing. The manager even came by a couple of times. We just wanted to eat our lunch and have some conversation but it kept being interrupted. We ended up not giving her a good tip

Exactly the problem. The waitress thinks, "The more I check in on them, the better my service will have been, and the better the tip we will get."

I wish they would adopt a call system in the U.S.

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't mind them coming by and asking once in awhile but this was getting crazy.

[DaveE 178]

I don't like to shop at Forever 21, but my girls like it.

However, every time we shop there, they give us the verbal lecture at checkout that they have a corporate no cash refund policy. I was never comfortable with that so I don't go.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Now let's talk about the U.S. I am nice to my waiters and waitresses, but I never leave huge tips. I always leave somewhere between 10 and 20 percent, and I would leave no tip if I didn't feel a cultural obligation to. It has nothing to do with my being cheap -- I spent pretty much all of my money to help poor children in Mongolia, and my views are always to be generous to people. The issue is, a waitress works at a restaurant, and here in California, she will make at least 8 dollars an hour, before tips. Restaurants are already expensive enough, and make enough money, I would imagine. They should pay the people who work for them. I don't see the point in giving money to someone for doing their job unless you employ them -- if I were in a position where I was offered money for doing my job from a customer, I would feel very embarrassed.

I usually give between 15 and 20% depending upon the level of service I/we receive, if I give less than 15%, that means the waiter/waitress was absolutely terrible. I do agree that waiter/waitresses should be paid by the employer, or like some restaurants do, have a set amount of the meal total added to the bill.

I think that a 20% tip is ridiculously high for regular restaurant service, but it's the going rate, so I usually pay it if the service is good. One exception to this would be breakfast service, most breakfast places are fairly inexpensive, and the server will do about the same work as lunch or dinner, so sometimes I'll overtip a good server.

Edited May 3, 2013 by Teddy B

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

I've worked in the retail service industry since I was 16. So, I notice great service and I'm always patient with cashiers, waitresses etc. because I know that their job is demanding. However, I also notice bad service very quickly and I will often comment on it later in an e-mail to the manager. Don't get me wrong, I will also send off an e-mail regarding great service, because I know that often employees aren't commended on it. Surprisingly, I agree with NatureBoy that if someone is rude to a cashier or waitress for no good reason, it can be indicative of their true nature and lordy, I've seen some crazy customers.

[GandD 5,966]

Under/Over cooked steak tends to be the end of the world for some. The complete hatred you get from some customers is really amazing. I used to think, buddy, if this is the worst thing to happen to you today, you're doing pretty good.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Under/Over cooked steak tends to be the end of the world for some. The complete hatred you get from some customers is really amazing. I used to think, buddy, if this is the worst thing to happen to you today, you're doing pretty good.

I find it hard to blame the server for improperly cooked food and try to separate that from his/her quality of service, but the way they handle the situation plays a big role in their tip.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I find it hard to blame the server for improperly cooked food and try to separate that from his/her quality of service, but the way they handle the situation plays a big role in their tip.

You have to make a decision here, based on how lucky you feel. If you send the steak back, you may find your steak with some extra ingredients on it your didn't order. Often, but only if the meal is unpalatable, I just refuse the meal, either walking out, or ordering another beer while my companions finish their meal. I know too many cooks, and what they do when an order is returned to the kitchen. Either way, I leave something for the waitress. It is not her fault the kitchen is incompetent.

[Teddy B 17,252]

You have to make a decision here, based on how lucky you feel. If you send the steak back, you may find your steak with some extra ingredients on it your didn't order. Often, but only if the meal is unpalatable, I just refuse the meal, either walking out, or ordering another beer while my companions finish their meal. I know too many cooks, and what they do when an order is returned to the kitchen. Either way, I leave something for the waitress. It is not her fault the kitchen is incompetent.

I very rarely, send a meal back, I either eat it the way it is, or just eat what I can and drink some beer. Come to think of it, I'm drinking the beer either way. But I hgave been with people that will adjust the servers tip accordingly because their meal wasn't up to snuff. That's not the servers fault.

Edited May 3, 2013 by Teddy B

[duraaraa 203]

I very rarely, send a meal back, I either eat it the way it is, or just eat what I can and drink some beer. Come to think of it, I'm drinking the beer either way. But I hgave been with people that will adjust the servers tip accordingly because their meal wasn't up to snuff. That's not the servers fault.

Although it may not be the server's fault, I can't blame people for doing that. The tips, from what I can tell, get shared around the restaurant in most cases, after all.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Although it may not be the server's fault, I can't blame people for doing that. The tips, from what I can tell, get shared around the restaurant in most cases, after all.

I don't know of any restaurants where the tips get shared with the cook staff. Tips are almost always for servers and bartenders only. Some places give a portion of their tips to the busboys.

Edited May 3, 2013 by Teddy B

[Caryh 5,206]

I hate places that put an automatic tip on the bill. I'll decide what tip the server should get, and I resent having 18% automatically tagged on. I generally don't return to these places as the service is usually poor. I've noticed two conditions that are common with these places that add the tip for you, they're understaffed, and the staff they do have don't care. One place had a waitress that would be missing the the public space for 30 minutes at a time!

I'm a good tipper, give me good service and I'll give a good tip. Give me average service and I'll give an average tip. Give me poor service and I'll give a poor tip. I never give no tip.

As to chatty servers, constantly asking if you need something, they're a complete pain. The good server knows to keep an I out for you and wait for that eye contact that you need something, or they can just walk by and smile without interrupting to let you know they're available if you need any thing.

[Calypso 464]

My SIL went out for lunch yesterday and our waitress was so annoying. Every few minutes she would come by and ask if we needed something or ask how we were doing. The manager even came by a couple of times. We just wanted to eat our lunch and have some conversation but it kept being interrupted. We ended up not giving her a good tip

I feel the same towards waiters who refill my glass of water everytime I drink half of it or when they pour more coffee into my cup without even asking if I want it after I carefully adjusted the sweetener and cream to my taste. I don't get to signal them no immediately especially when I'm enjoying a fine conversation. That would sometimes dampen my dining experience. If I need something from them, I'd ask. Otherwise, I wish they don't just come over and dilute my coffee.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Exactly the problem. The waitress thinks, "The more I check in on them, the better my service will have been, and the better the tip we will get."

The waitress is also interested in getting you in-and-out in as little time as possible. The longer you sit, the less your money/time spend will be. While you sit there chatting sipping on that third refill of your cup of coffee rather than actually consuming, another customer consuming could sit in your place improving the waitress' take for the day. The business is interested in getting you the hell out of there after your dinner, too. So don't be looking for a change of the service model any time soon.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Under/Over cooked steak tends to be the end of the world for some. The complete hatred you get from some customers is really amazing. I used to think, buddy, if this is the worst thing to happen to you today, you're doing pretty good.

And the poor waitress usually has no control over how the food is cooked