Top 11 Complaints About Restaurant Customers
The Servers Strike Back
by Kat Kinsman and Sarah LeTrent
Just a little while back, we ran an article cataloging customer pet peeves about restaurants, and invited the discussion to carry on into our blog comments. Turns out that folks in the restaurant industry have just as many things to say 'bout the way their beloved customers behave. Read on and get served.
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Make It a Good One, or Not
Quote: "Darn, I was going to make you a bad one!"
"One of the requests that I get is 'make it a good one.' Do you know how many times I have heard that?"
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There IS a Difference Between Merchant and Customer Copy
Quote: "Ever heard of Hooked on Phonics? It obviously didn't work for people who take the receipt that CLEARLY says merchant copy.."
"Some people take both receipts expecting waiters to have ESP. If you take the receipt, how are we supposed to know how much tip you left?"
"If the customer takes both receipts, I give myself the tip I think I deserve – which is nothing less than 20%. They'll learn their lesson soon enough."
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Snap Out of It
Quote: "I'm a waitress, not a freaking dog. I do not respond to snaps, whistles, clicks, or any other non-verbal way of getting my attention."
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I'm Not Your Friend
Quote: "A name is just a gateway drug for prying patrons, who figure that once they're on a first-name basis with you, they're welcome to inquire after your education, age and marital status."
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Don't Steal My Pen
Quote: "Stealing my pens – whether intentional or not -- is something I simply can't find a place in my heart to forgive. It's like stealing a teacher's chalk, you just don't do it."
"I'll admit, a pen is a very insignificant object to most but have you ever heard the phrase 'the straw that broke the camel's back?' Stealing a waiter's pen could very well be that last straw before you face a waiter's wrath. Servers have a lot of pent up anger so I would not push your luck!"
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If You Don't Want Pennies, I Probably Won't Either
Quote: "Do not empty your change purse out as a tip. If you don't want a dollar worth of pennies, chances are, I don't really want them either."
"Last time I checked, this was not a bank and I'm not a bank teller. No, I won't get you $100 worth of tens and fives."
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No Shows
Quote: "Reservations exist for a reason – so the front-of-house and back-of-house can anticipate the turnout and organize our service accordingly. It takes one simple phone call to say you're not coming and it makes the world of the difference."
"Even if you broke your arm and are lying in the hospital bed, that means you still have one good arm to call us and let us know you and your posse aren't coming."
"We turn away other tables because we're booked, and then the party of ten never shows up. How rude! 'Nuff said."
I Will Remember…Trust Me
Quote: "Don't ask me why I'm not writing your order down. I will remember; it's my job too. If I don't, THEN you can reprimand me."
On the Run
Quote: "I can't stand it when people send me back and forth a million times for little things. It's one thing when you forget to ask for something, but it's totally different when you're doing it just for attention. One guy that comes in will take two little sips of coffee and call me over for more every few minutes. He just wants attention. And he does this while I'm bringing food out!"
"When you see your server running around like a headless chicken, economize your requests. If all of you need refills and condiments, then let us know at the same time. It takes much longer to run back and forth five times than it does one."
Recent Comments
lonechic71 11:55:49 PM Oct 17 2009
as a long time restaurant worker, people like ted9255 make me furious. first of all don't question how I get paid if you never have done the job...how would you know if you never worked in a restaurant?! And no one expects you to pick up the slack of the government...we expect you to give us what is due to us! you expect to get paid when you do your job, don't you? and yes we may make $10 off of 5 tables, but sometimes we may only get 1 or 2 tables on a slow day...and after that we have to tip out bussers, bartenders, food runners, and hosts! So if you only tip me 10%, I'm lucky if I wind up with 5%. Not to mention, many times customers hold things against us that is out of our hands...so many people have given me crummy tips because their food to too long, or we were out of something, or I had to charge them for something they expected to be cheaper or free. If I ignore you or give you an attitude, don't tip me well...I don't deserve it, but I also expect that if everything that I'
mousewhite 02:47:24 PM Oct 17 2009
Naturally bar tenders don't like to be asked about the drinks they prepare. But do you know how many know how to make a proper Manhatten? Not enough Vermouth, no Bitters and made with Bourbon. Horrible!
grlwreslr 02:27:57 AM Oct 06 2009
i am a server at a chain restaurant. I have been serving for 11 years, which has put me though college, taken care of my bills, my mothers bills as well as she is sick with cancer. I also have a 3 year old little boy and I am a single mom. I recieve no state assistance because they say I make to much money. Lol. Which is crazy because I make $2.23 an hour plus tips. I work witha few girls whoa re driving brand new cars have kids and a husband and get state help and I dont. Things i hate most about people is when u ask them if they need a few more minutes to decide on their meals and they respond with ,"no, I am ready," and i am still standing there while they read the whole menu. Or all servers love it when ******** come in to our job and orde wate with ten lemons and use evey sugar packet on ure table. Or people that bring there kids in and leave the worse mess u ever seen in your life and leave a 2 dollar tip, or some college kids using the excuse that they are college kids and c
blueeyedsong 01:43:29 AM Sep 23 2009
"education" somehow gives you the right to assume people in lower positions are less intelligent and deserving of anything than you, oh supreme being. I guess you don't learn humility in school. I guess you learn that when you get laid off from your high paying job because you worked there the longest, get paid the most, and they can't afford you and you're out of a job and receiving unemployment until that runs out and you have to find any kind of job you can. I hope it's in customer service so you get treated with the same condescending attitude that you put out. That's how you learn humility, I suppose. What goes around comes around.
blueeyedsong 01:42:09 AM Sep 23 2009
Most servers, at least where I serve, are serving to work their way through school. So for condescending people who write things on these message boards like "if you don't want to rely on tips for an income, get an education or find another job" is ignorant and proves that you are the ones who need an education. Even if there are people who don't and/or will not have a college degree and are working in the restaurant industry, wouldn't you prefer that to them being on welfare or other public assistance and getting YOUR money anyway? At least this way they are providing you with a service to get your money instead of going to their local government agency and apply to get tax dollars. Obviously, you don't know servers situation as a general whole, and especially not on an individual basis. So to assume servers aren't educated or intelligent or working towards something better shows ignorance on your part, not theirs. You're the type of people I personally hate serving because your "educ
ted9255 10:49:13 AM Aug 17 2009
nicolesbunny88 - you are just encouraging them to do a shitty job! To the waiters complaining about their low wages - how many tables do you wait on in one hour? Let's say you wait on 5 tables and each leaves just two dollars - your hourly wage just went up to $10 plus what you are paid - that doesn't seem so bad to me. As for to the complaints that you pay taxes over and above your stated wage - I need someone to explain that to me and if true - organized and get the pandering ****** in Congress to change the law - don't expect me to pick up the tab because you allow injustice!
loucxl 09:39:12 PM Aug 16 2009
In my job ( Limo Driver) I involved with a lot of customers from countries other that than the USA. Although our tipsincluded in their charges many americans will tips for good service and the extras we peform, suchas luggage handling , on time service, knowing ahead of time there destination, and know the areaif they change their mind on the final destination, such as resturants etc. However if it is a routinetrip they usually don't tip. I tip the same way,,good or extra service, good tip. fair service tip, fair tip\poor service, small or no tip. Let the resturants pay their help,,,, Not the customers......
nicolesbunny88 11:02:58 PM Jul 25 2009
i tip 20% whether the service was good or bad,sometimes people have bad days and god knows a 2.00 tip would just make it worse.who knows your good tip could tip the scales for the next customers they have :D
carolephx 04:36:30 PM Jun 23 2009
When you go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is because you want to be served. You do not want to make yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, you want to be waited on hand and foot. This service should be paid for at an appropriate level. If the server is out smoking and straddles over to your table once during the dining event, well server, you get what you deserve, not much! On the other side - The server job has taught me so much about people and what kind of person I never want to be. There are some very rude people with high expectations who simply are looking for a free ride and are too cheap to pay for anything. I have seen parents with their children in Screw the Server (and the Restaurant) Training and yes did you know it's Mom's birthday every time they visit. Another simply orders a side of Guacamole to go with the free chips and salsa and please keep that water glass full. Thank God there are still more people. The gracious, kind and generous! You smile, you a
lasikblue 10:56:35 AM Jun 20 2009
Tips should be based on how good you are, it should not be your salary. Why should i have to pay your wages, I didn't hire you. Why would I give someone a tip if they we're rude or after they brought my meal i was ignored. Why would a bad waitress/waiter get the same tip as a very good one. I also believe that you shouldn't have to split your tips, that's not fair at all.
