Waiting Time at Restaurants

Off Topic
41

Hey little birdy!

I went to Mel’s Diner here in Lafayette on the way home from the heliport this morning. My coffee was being poured AS I sat down and Jeanette, my favorite waitress, asked me, “do ya want your usual, sweetie?” within 30 seconds of my sitting down (as she was pouring me a tall glass of water and setting down my straw and silverware). My scrambled eggs and bacon were served within about 4 min, and my WAFFLE was served about a minute later…

At Mel’s I tip about 25 - 40% (which on a $6.00 meal is only a few dollars)

I believe over tipping is win/win: You make your server’s day, help put additional money into the economy, get faster/better/more attentive (and IMHO more SANITARY) service and usually they comp something once you are a regular (a free drink or desert or whatever).

I have never received shittier service than in countries where tipping is not customary. And why SHOULD they go the extra mile to give me a great experience? They’re getting paid the same either way. (that’s why socialism doesn’t work long term)

Regarding YOUR poor choice of venue (patronizing a spot that is NOTORIOUS for bad service i.e. long wait times) and the subsequent situation, I have to side with you about getting up and not paying for the coffee. A cup of coffee isn’t a $25 steak. It’s one of the most ridiculously over priced items on the menu (as are most beverages). Waiting 15 minutes for coffee is fucking ridiculous. As is waiting an hour for an omelet. I personally would have said something on the way out to the manager. I would take the manager’s response as my basis for a decision on returning or not. If the manager goes out of their way to keep me as a customer, then I’d give them another chance. If they were ambivalent, I’d never return to that restaurant and I’d yelp, twitter, FB and use just about every avenue of media at my disposal to advise people to avoid the place.

No firebombs! A bad reputation will be far more effective in taking away their potential business. LOL

42

[quote]Aggv wrote:

What is the staff’s incentive to give a fuck then?[/quote]

There isn’t and quite frankly most staff don’t. They countinually pull power trips over the cusomers, because they can… There is quite the attitude of, “hey there’s plenty of jobs out there, this business owner is lucky to have someone like me working for them, I should be paid more for what i do.” When quite often they are on a higher hourly rate than the owners of the business.

43

Kids these days…

Back in the day, young people used to work their hands to the bone in factories or on the farm to help feed their families and they were lucky not to die of typhoid or black lung…

Nowadays, some kid doesn’t get served breakfast for an hour and it’s “IS THERE NO GOD!!!”

44

[quote]angry chicken wrote:
Hey little birdy!

I went to Mel’s Diner here in Lafayette on the way home from the heliport this morning. My coffee was being poured AS I sat down and Jeanette, my favorite waitress, asked me, “do ya want your usual, sweetie?” within 30 seconds of my sitting down (as she was pouring me a tall glass of water and setting down my straw and silverware). My scrambled eggs and bacon were served within about 4 min, and my WAFFLE was served about a minute later…

At Mel’s I tip about 25 - 40% (which on a $6.00 meal is only a few dollars)

I believe over tipping is win/win: You make your server’s day, help put additional money into the economy, get faster/better/more attentive (and IMHO more SANITARY) service and usually they comp something once you are a regular (a free drink or desert or whatever).

I have never received shittier service than in countries where tipping is not customary. And why SHOULD they go the extra mile to give me a great experience? They’re getting paid the same either way. (that’s why socialism doesn’t work long term)

Regarding YOUR poor choice of venue (patronizing a spot that is NOTORIOUS for bad service i.e. long wait times) and the subsequent situation, I have to side with you about getting up and not paying for the coffee. A cup of coffee isn’t a $25 steak. It’s one of the most ridiculously over priced items on the menu (as are most beverages). Waiting 15 minutes for coffee is fucking ridiculous. As is waiting an hour for an omelet. I personally would have said something on the way out to the manager. I would take the manager’s response as my basis for a decision on returning or not. If the manager goes out of their way to keep me as a customer, then I’d give them another chance. If they were ambivalent, I’d never return to that restaurant and I’d yelp, twitter, FB and use just about every avenue of media at my disposal to advise people to avoid the place.

No firebombs! A bad reputation will be far more effective in taking away their potential business. LOL
[/quote]

Hey AC

As usual, your comments are right on the mark and no doubt because of your tipping habits your service will be far superior than many of us cheap skates.

However in Australia a typical, normal breakfast in a cafe might set you back $20-$25. For that price you almost expect good quality service. Now i realise the moment you start to expect something you have lost. However it is hard to justify tipping like that. I’ll do it if i really like the place, the service was fantastic or I’m trying to impress a little; because you’re right a little bit of incentive will greatly improve your service. Just like some banter will help too, something I’ve no doubt you excell in.

Without getting to political, the costs in the service industries are high over here because the minimum wage is quite high there by bringing the prices of everything else up with it. People somewhat resent these high costs especially when they visit a country such as yours and see how far your dollar takes you.

45

I am glad I found this thread, because I had a shit experience this past week while in Puerto Rico…

So I sit down at this supposedly nice place, good reviews, etc.

I sit down, order, and 45 minutes later, I had nothing more than a refill for my water.

The waiter made no attempt to tell me my food would be right up, no bread and butter bullshit, nothing at all.

I said fuck it, got up and walked out. On my way out, I pass the waiter, as he was bullshitting with some people by the exit. He did not say a word, did not chase me down, FUCK THAT.

46

Oh and Bird,

Aren’t you thinking about setting up some business in this town?
This is what i ment about small aussie towns being rather clicky and difficult to work with sometimes… The last thing you would want to do is give yourself a bad rep!

47

What town were you in, Bird?

To the Americans, it would probably just confuse a waitress here if you tipped. That kind of culture simply doesn’t exist.

I just returned from a holiday in America, and if I was paying the sort of prices I paid there here, then it might be justified, but when I pay $20 for eggs benedict at a Coffee Club (franchise), there’s no way on earth the teenager behind the counter is getting tips for tapping at a touch screen.

48

[quote]Mr Stern wrote:

[quote]angry chicken wrote:
Hey little birdy!

I went to Mel’s Diner here in Lafayette on the way home from the heliport this morning. My coffee was being poured AS I sat down and Jeanette, my favorite waitress, asked me, “do ya want your usual, sweetie?” within 30 seconds of my sitting down (as she was pouring me a tall glass of water and setting down my straw and silverware). My scrambled eggs and bacon were served within about 4 min, and my WAFFLE was served about a minute later…

At Mel’s I tip about 25 - 40% (which on a $6.00 meal is only a few dollars)

I believe over tipping is win/win: You make your server’s day, help put additional money into the economy, get faster/better/more attentive (and IMHO more SANITARY) service and usually they comp something once you are a regular (a free drink or desert or whatever).

I have never received shittier service than in countries where tipping is not customary. And why SHOULD they go the extra mile to give me a great experience? They’re getting paid the same either way. (that’s why socialism doesn’t work long term)

Regarding YOUR poor choice of venue (patronizing a spot that is NOTORIOUS for bad service i.e. long wait times) and the subsequent situation, I have to side with you about getting up and not paying for the coffee. A cup of coffee isn’t a $25 steak. It’s one of the most ridiculously over priced items on the menu (as are most beverages). Waiting 15 minutes for coffee is fucking ridiculous. As is waiting an hour for an omelet. I personally would have said something on the way out to the manager.

I would take the manager’s response as my basis for a decision on returning or not. If the manager goes out of their way to keep me as a customer, then I’d give them another chance. If they were ambivalent, I’d never return to that restaurant and I’d yelp, twitter, FB and use just about every avenue of media at my disposal to advise people to avoid the place.

No firebombs! A bad reputation will be far more effective in taking away their potential business. LOL
[/quote]

Hey AC

As usual, your comments are right on the mark and no doubt because of your tipping habits your service will be far superior than many of us cheap skates.

However in Australia a typical, normal breakfast in a cafe might set you back $20-$25. For that price you almost expect good quality service. Now i realise the moment you start to expect something you have lost. However it is hard to justify tipping like that. I’ll do it if i really like the place, the service was fantastic or I’m trying to impress a little; because you’re right a little bit of incentive will greatly improve your service. Just like some banter will help too, something I’ve no doubt you excell in.

Without getting to political, the costs in the service industries are high over here because the minimum wage is quite high there by bringing the prices of everything else up with it. People somewhat resent these high costs especially when they visit a country such as yours and see how far your dollar takes you.
[/quote]

You make a very fair argument. I’m not sure I’d be willing to tip 25% on top of paying $25 for an omelet… While I am fairly well off financially and am generous by nature, I’m also very thrifty. I am completely turned off by the thought of paying that much for a simple breakfast. In all honesty, I’d probably go out less and cook more.

49

[quote]MaximusB wrote:
I am glad I found this thread, because I had a shit experience this past week while in Puerto Rico…

So I sit down at this supposedly nice place, good reviews, etc.

I sit down, order, and 45 minutes later, I had nothing more than a refill for my water.

The waiter made no attempt to tell me my food would be right up, no bread and butter bullshit, nothing at all.

I said fuck it, got up and walked out. On my way out, I pass the waiter, as he was bullshitting with some people by the exit. He did not say a word, did not chase me down, FUCK THAT.[/quote]

I’ve had similar experiences in my travels as well.

50

[quote]02Thief wrote:
What town were you in, Bird?

To the Americans, it would probably just confuse a waitress here if you tipped. That kind of culture simply doesn’t exist.

I just returned from a holiday in America, and if I was paying the sort of prices I paid there here, then it might be justified, but when I pay $20 for eggs benedict at a Coffee Club (franchise), there’s no way on earth the teenager behind the counter is getting tips for tapping at a touch screen.[/quote]

I agree with you. Just for clarification, If I’m standing in line at a counter and checking out at a register and taking my food/drink with me to a table, there’s no way I’d leave a tip - all they did was as you said: tap a touch screen POS.

But I always tip if I sit down at a table and a server comes and takes my order and brings me my food and gives me the bill AFTER the meal. That’s a big difference.

The grey area is in some coffee shops where there’s a tip jar by the register but the person behind the counter is making your “venti caramel macciato, three pump, extra hot, light whip”. If they get in the “zone” and make be an awesome concoction, I’ll generally go back up and throw a dollar in the tip jar. But that’s the exception and not the rule.

51

Maybe I should start a campaign for tipping in Australia, although the meal I intended to eat would of cost me 29 dollars australian, including 2 coffees. For 29 dollars I could of cooked many of my own omelettes, which I will be doing from now on in.

Mr Stern; yes this is the town Im considering starting up a business, but I think the major issue would be to find staff that could do a job.

O2Thief; Im in a coastal town in the mid-west. And I can’t believe you ate at coffee club. They probably make their eggs from powder.

tweet

52

Mr. Pink don’t tip.

53

[quote]angry chicken wrote:

[quote]Mr Stern wrote:

[quote]angry chicken wrote:
Hey little birdy!

I went to Mel’s Diner here in Lafayette on the way home from the heliport this morning. My coffee was being poured AS I sat down and Jeanette, my favorite waitress, asked me, “do ya want your usual, sweetie?” within 30 seconds of my sitting down (as she was pouring me a tall glass of water and setting down my straw and silverware). My scrambled eggs and bacon were served within about 4 min, and my WAFFLE was served about a minute later…

At Mel’s I tip about 25 - 40% (which on a $6.00 meal is only a few dollars)

I believe over tipping is win/win: You make your server’s day, help put additional money into the economy, get faster/better/more attentive (and IMHO more SANITARY) service and usually they comp something once you are a regular (a free drink or desert or whatever).

I have never received shittier service than in countries where tipping is not customary. And why SHOULD they go the extra mile to give me a great experience? They’re getting paid the same either way. (that’s why socialism doesn’t work long term)

Regarding YOUR poor choice of venue (patronizing a spot that is NOTORIOUS for bad service i.e. long wait times) and the subsequent situation, I have to side with you about getting up and not paying for the coffee. A cup of coffee isn’t a $25 steak. It’s one of the most ridiculously over priced items on the menu (as are most beverages). Waiting 15 minutes for coffee is fucking ridiculous. As is waiting an hour for an omelet. I personally would have said something on the way out to the manager.

I would take the manager’s response as my basis for a decision on returning or not. If the manager goes out of their way to keep me as a customer, then I’d give them another chance. If they were ambivalent, I’d never return to that restaurant and I’d yelp, twitter, FB and use just about every avenue of media at my disposal to advise people to avoid the place.

No firebombs! A bad reputation will be far more effective in taking away their potential business. LOL
[/quote]

Hey AC

As usual, your comments are right on the mark and no doubt because of your tipping habits your service will be far superior than many of us cheap skates.

However in Australia a typical, normal breakfast in a cafe might set you back $20-$25. For that price you almost expect good quality service. Now i realise the moment you start to expect something you have lost. However it is hard to justify tipping like that. I’ll do it if i really like the place, the service was fantastic or I’m trying to impress a little; because you’re right a little bit of incentive will greatly improve your service. Just like some banter will help too, something I’ve no doubt you excell in.

Without getting to political, the costs in the service industries are high over here because the minimum wage is quite high there by bringing the prices of everything else up with it. People somewhat resent these high costs especially when they visit a country such as yours and see how far your dollar takes you.
[/quote]

You make a very fair argument. I’m not sure I’d be willing to tip 25% on top of paying $25 for an omelet… While I am fairly well off financially and am generous by nature, I’m also very thrifty. I am completely turned off by the thought of paying that much for a simple breakfast. In all honesty, I’d probably go out less and cook more.[/quote]
I think there are a few other factors involved in the Aussie cost than the straight up labor.
I like the current model in America, but the one thing that I do think is better in the Euro model is that the dreck of those going out aren’t subsidized by the tippers there.

If suddenly it magically changed here prices on your six dollar omelet might shoot up to twelve to fifteen or so, but it would be clear there was no tipping so you’re not out a ton more if its typical you buy a six buck breakfast and drop an extra five. Your environment is also better because you drop out all the riffraff.

There are a ton of Americans that have no clue at all on tipping that I’d rather not be out in public with. A few years ago I got an invite to a Radio Station party at Xmas where they rented out the biggest damn bar in the big ten and there were free drinks for 3 hours. I think it let me take four or six guys with me I know it was my two brothers and a couple friends at least.

The vast majority of the people there were straight call in and wins. So we and a few other tables that got it tipped heavily cash with every round of free drinks and we had basically one waitress per each person hell maybe two while the people that had proven they weren’t giving anything had to fight to the bar and be ignored all the time wondering why. This was an extreme situation but dialed down you can see it in any busy restaurant or club.

If you are a known good tipper and good guy you will get preferential service it will be faster, you will get comps, you will get to try new products, etc. If you are solely a nontipper you will probably get ok service queued behind the tippers. If you are some sort of masochist with a complaint about everything who runs the wait staff and always tries to get food free you should dine carefully I’d imagine.

Always amazes me as well when Euros say they get good service in America compared to home because they are always recognized and the industry consensus is they aren’t worth anything beyond baseline service since they don’t tip. So you are getting only a fraction of how people can turn it on if they want too usually.

54

If it takes too long after asking for it again, I’ll just walk away and will take my business elsewhere. Last week at a diner at Dublin airport for ordering some breakfast. Waited 10 minutes after getting the menus, then the waiter started taking orders form three tables of people who came in after us. Asked him is he could take our order and he waved it away with “I’m busy and will take your order in a minute”.

Got back to the table and he went somewhere else, as did I and the missus.