Todays Lesson
ShadowInTheMoon
Everyone, Registered Users Posts: 486
So a little background before i share this lesson that hit home today. I have been a server at a local iHop for the past year or so. I have served tables I loved and ones i would not serve again for a HRM. I have served exceptional people and ones who only cared for them selfs.
That being said today (3/4/14) was International Pancake day, come into any iHop and you get a free short stack (3 pancakes) for free, no purchace necessary. We were packed all day, from the time we opened to the time we closed with many of the servers working over 14 hours. This is where the lesson come in... Be thankful for what you have. I brought out over 600 pancakes, served over 100 tables and I can honestly say %80 of my tables complained about something in one way or another. Either the FREE pancakes were taking too long or the butter was not creamy enough or an entire bottle of syurp was not enough and "we need heated syurp". I could go on and on (dont even get me started on the people who wanted more free stuff).
So if you read this entire rant just take a step back and think about someone else, not everything is about ME ME ME. Not everything needs to be perfect at all times.
That being said today (3/4/14) was International Pancake day, come into any iHop and you get a free short stack (3 pancakes) for free, no purchace necessary. We were packed all day, from the time we opened to the time we closed with many of the servers working over 14 hours. This is where the lesson come in... Be thankful for what you have. I brought out over 600 pancakes, served over 100 tables and I can honestly say %80 of my tables complained about something in one way or another. Either the FREE pancakes were taking too long or the butter was not creamy enough or an entire bottle of syurp was not enough and "we need heated syurp". I could go on and on (dont even get me started on the people who wanted more free stuff).
So if you read this entire rant just take a step back and think about someone else, not everything is about ME ME ME. Not everything needs to be perfect at all times.
Comments
You're bringing up memories of "All you can eat Alaskan King Crab" night at a restaurant I worked at years ago. On that night our customers changed from generous, happy folk to miserable misers. It was so bad that staff member invented and killed-off grandmothers in order to avoid it. The smell of melted butter still sickens me.
We've always tipped well. Me, because I like to, and my wife because she used to do it. The server we have now is the same one we've had for the last 4 years, and we've developed a good working relationship with, as well as a friendship. He comes over to our BBQs. To comedy club events we attend.this weekend we'll be going camping and him and his girlfriend will be going with.
We see him put up with a lot of sh!t. We see him get stiffed on tips at a party of 16. When we arrive, our table is already set for us. Our drinks are there waiting. Our salsa and pico sauces are already there and in huge bowls. I don't even order. He knows what I want and it's brought out after a certain amount of time goes by. Randy makes our evening there. So on behalf of Randy and us, thanks for what you do. Our typical bill there is $30. He'll get 50 from us and and keep the change. Our friends do about the same. Plus more on holidays?
Good service should be rewarded. Southern hospitality doesn't exist in the restaurant industry around Memphis for the most part...we love the few that are good about it.
And you figure on holidays people would be a little more generous but its the oppsite. Christmas and Christmas eve was probally one of the days i make the least amount of money.
Aj
The customers who complain about *free* pancakes are the same type of folks who *expect* a free box of cigars when something goes wrong with their CCOM order......
People like that really just rub me the wrong way.....
Seriously, though... People have always been selfish and rude, but it seems like it's getting worse. Glad you survived the ordeal. Now, how 'bout sending us all a coupon for a free short stack? LOL
But there was this one table 2 adults and 2 kids. They ordered some drinks and 2 sides of fries, so the total came to like $6. About 20 min later i noticed they still had not gotten the pancakes or fries so i asked the cooks about it. Long story short they had lost the ticket but it was pancakes so it took less than 3 min to get everything out.
I went and told the table and explained what happned and they asked if they could get it to go, so i told them sure. (and here is the part that gets me) they asked to talk to a manager (who was in the back cooking) and they complained to the point that they got the drinks and fries for free, and 2 min later all the food in boxes and bags proceded to tell me they were just going to eat at the resturant and "we need more than one cup of ranch".
If its for a purpose that I agree with I will just donate what I can without being apart of the event
If I am able to "go out" I wont even think about it if I cant give 20% over the bill
(mind you I'm not wealthy at all, and coupons/online sales are my friend-I live on an extremely small disability budget with my wife and 2 kids at home-so the go without part happens most lol)
I have all respect for you Servers, I have never been a server, but have been in customer service all my life, between being a contractor (selling myself and my work) and working almost every construction related retail job you can think of, I've seen so many good people I've worked with/known almost always at there worst when getting a "Deal" even people that I had no idea would be like that
I am also a firm believer in the adage "If you're nice to me but rude to the waiter/waitress you're not a nice person." Had a first date two weeks ago that went this way, this woman was just plain nasty to our server who really did a great job. This woman even took the receipt from me, crossed out the tip I put down and wrote something else. Pissed. Me. Off. So rather than cause a scene I "forgot my phone" and went back and apologized to the server, put the correct tip and then some back on the receipt. Dropped the woman off and told her based on her treatment of the server I was entirely uninterested in seeing her again. Worst part? She didn't see anything wrong with her behavior.
It always amazes me when people complain about free stuff.
When I'm out of town, the hotel gives a voucher for breakfast at the diner next to it. Even though the breakfast is free, I leave a tip.
If the service is great, I leave a good tip.
I figure that if they go out of there way for me on a free meal, they earned a good tip.
We stopped at a restaurant in Portland with about 15 of my family. It was hectic and the gal who waited on us was on top of everything. Making sure everything was taken care of, clean and ready.
The bill was considerable and the tip was far more than I would have usually left.
Plus my brother and sons left tips on the table. Hopefully, she was really smiling at the end of her day.
So hopefully, the understanding people will outweigh the jerks.
I recently ordered my favorite breakfast - Chilaquiles with 3 over easy eggs (3rd egg is extra). First time I got two eggs and they were over hard. Didn't say anything but Gina noticed and took the plate. Second plate had three eggs and they were still over hard but on a separate plate. She stood there and waited and saw they were still wrong. I starting eating and I get my eggs finally and it turns out the over-hards were for someone else. I wasn't mad and told her not to worry about it. I'm easy going but she comped me my meal without even telling me. I think she got a 60% tip that day.
Here is the crazy thing! I had this exact conversation with my son last night. Basically, a new 'pita pit' restaurant was opening up and they brought a free platter to the arena as 'samples' for people to try. I explained to my son that the workers were likely learning how to make all the different pita's before they opened, and i bet they just decided to give some of the nicest looking ones away for free to promote the place (along with a coupon for a freebie) and not be wasteful. I suggested that they might not be perfect looking as they were learning to make them just right, but then again you are not paying for them so whatever, they would taste the same.'
He then said 'that's really nice of them.....but how could someone complain about something nice they got for free...they cant do that...that isnt right! '
So after reading this post, I still dont have an answer to that question either.
Just a figment in the minds of folks today in all actuality.
I would have been grateful, just so you know that some still have politeness left over from memories of the distant past.
Ah, what I wouldn't give for the day's of my youth when folks were friendly and doors were left unlocked at night.
With a loaded shotgun by the bed of course, just in case a "fox" got in the "henhouse" so to speak.