Bad tippers.

[Springs1]

@Enderw24

Springs1,
I’m going to take an unscientific guess and say that over 95% of customers at restaurants don’t care about what seems to anger you so much THAT you’ll PUT in CAPS and STARS and BOLD CAPS STARS to MAKE your POINT.

Why 95%? Because if more than 1 out of every 20 people truly cared about any of the stuff that sends you into a tizzy because of how UNFAIR it is, waiters might do things differently. But they don’t.

Servers aren’t serving the majority, they are serving DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS, so they should be served as such. Everyone is different in this world and should be treated as such.

@Enderw24

If 20% of people who ordered a Coke then got a Sprite on the next go round then waiters would start asking people what drink they wanted when refilling. Most people want exactly what they got before.

But, you aren’t SERVING “MOST” people, you are serving DIFFERENT PEOPLE****! You cannot go by that when you serve. That’s when mistakes happen. Most people share appetizers, but a few times, we ordered 2 separate appetizers and 2 desserts. A waiter once assumed I wanted mine with my meal, because most customers share appetizers. We have shared appetizers before, but not all the time do we. Most people want the check after asking for boxes, which is not always true that everyone does. We have made ROOM for dessert, so to not offer a dessert would be stupid to not increase the check, thus increase the tip amount.

You aren’t serving the same people, therefore, you cannot EVER go by what MOST people want.

@Enderw24

If even 10% of people cared that someone dropped off a side salad on the way to bringing you a drink, then waiters might consider making the longer out of the way trip to serve the farther table first.

It doesn’t matter if they don’t care, it matters to do the RIGHT THING REGARDLESS. Even if no one cares, you do it because it’s the RIGHT THING to do. Even if you do it sometimes, there may be some people that DO care.

They don’t because I think I’m being generous (way way generous) in saying you’re on the outlying 5% of what restaurant customers want or expect. So waiters naturally choose to go with the service that the vast majority of customers will be pleased with and, lo and behold, it works the vast majority of the time. And the times it doesn’t, I think it should be encombant upon the outlier (i.e. YOU) to state what you expect upfront and then let the waiter work around that.

Vast majority means NOTHING when you are serving INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE*, with INDIVIDUAL LIKES AND DISLIKES! NO PERSON IS THE SAME IN THIS WORLD OR SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH AS ANOTHER PERSON!

A waiter should ask every person with a softdrink 1) if he wants a refill and 2) whether he wants the same drink or would like to choose from the menu of options including tea and coffee
Do you have any idea how long that would take? Multiply that question by 40 across the section and your entree isn’t coming out this hour.
A waiter should serve everyone in order, take every order in order, despite the route one has to take through the restaurant to do so. Again, do you know how much this will slow things down?

Not whether he or she wants the same drink. Whether they want a refill and the customer will say “I want a coke instead” if they don’t want a dr. pepper that they orignally ordered.

I would rather things be FAIR, even if they were slower to get seated, they wouldn’t be slower once we’d be seated and served, because we’d get things in the order in which we would have ordered in.

As far as questions go, instead of wasting your time asking us how our day was, just take down our orders, that’s what’s a waste of time that servers have done to us. It doesn’t take very long to ask a few questions to see HOW customers want their service. A matter of not even a minute for all the questions.

You’re throwing a tizzy over being served off the same tray 15 seconds later than the next table over. Seriously? And your proposed solution is to implement policies which slow every server down on every interaction? So instead of waiting 15 seconds in the same pass, you’re waiting 15 minutes while your server is halfway across the room desperately trying to interrupt a conversation to ask if a guy REALLY wants a Coke or if a Mountain Dew would do this time and then going to the other corner of the restaurant to clear away a bowl because he saw that the guy finished his soup 12 seconds before you put down your menu and were ready to order.

I’d rather things done the way I want them and the server won’t know that if they don’t come to ASK if I want a refill, will they? It will be a GUESS, NOT actually KNOWING. You talk about wasting time, that Red Lobster waiter that got me another dr. pepper wasted time getting an unwanted drink, when he could have came to ASK first, so he would have found it he didn’t waste his time getting it. He would have found out I wanted a coke instead.

Think about wasting time getting let’s say 3 refills when the customers just want the check. Think about wasting time then, all because you were too lazy to come to the table to ask questions and find out what the CUSTOMERS want, NOT what YOU DECIDE TO GIVE THEM. It’s NOT UP TO YOU TO SAY WHAT GOES ON THE CUSTOMER’S TABLE!

As far as wanting our hot food first vs. the side salads, it’s all about being FAIR, that we placed our orders first, so the person we are tipping wants US to be FAIR when tipping, right? So, in turn, we want our servers to be fair to us.

What about wasting time getting refills for people that don’t want refills at all even like levdrakon? You talk about wasting time with TALK, think about the TIME IT TAKES TO FILL GLASSES AND DRINKS FOR NOTHING!! Talk about a HUGE TIME WASTER THERE. Then, during that time, if you had to put a new syrup for the soft drink dispenser, think of the time you wasted for customers that didn’t want 3 refills. You are a HYPOCRITE talking about that it takes so much time to ask questions when you are wasting MUCH MORE TIME GETTING UNWANTED REFILLS AT TIMES. HOW STUPID ARE YOU TO RISK WASTING TIME FOR YOU AND OTHER CUSTOMERS LIKE THAT? You could have been at another customer’s table getting something wanted. That would be the SMART THING to do, not risk wasting time.

[Springs1]

@Brown_Eyed_Girl

The one thing nobody has mentioned, although it’s been touched on, is proximity to the kitchen Springs1’s two sets of diners are. If I were serving this diners and I was coming out of the kitchen with a tray of salads for both sets of diners, I would drop off the which was most convenient to get to first. I couldn’t care less which one of them ordered them first. The likelihood they would get their salads within a minute of each other is extremely high. That’s good enough for me and I’m guessing anyone else possessing an ounce of common sense.

There’s nothing wrong with maximizing efficiency as a server. In fact, it’s a very desirable trait.

There is something wrong with being unfair. Do you like when people CUT in front of you in a line when YOU are hungry out of curiosity? Tell me the truth now.

If I were serving this diners and I was coming out of the kitchen with a tray of salads for both sets of diners, I would drop off the which was most convenient to get to first. I couldn’t care less which one of them ordered them first.

Man, you sound so SELFISH and SELF-CENTERED! You don’t care if you would let someone else CUT in front of someone else, HOW NICE!! NOT!!

You would do what was only convenient for YOU. When you are server, you aren’t supposed to just be concerned with yourself, that’s why you are supposed to EARN your tips. You are supposed to care about your customers in order for them to care as much about you, which is YOUR MONEY when it comes tip time. Caring is a 2-way street, not a 1-way street.

[LurkMeister]

Spring1, why do you keep equating the order in which a server does things with being in line? It’s not the same thing at all. On those rare occasions when I go to a fast food restaurant, it’s almost impossible not to have your order taken out of turn, and generally orders are filled in the order they are made. Although, come to think of it, here have been times when I have ordered a burger and a drink and then the person behind me just ordered a drink, so he got his drink BEFORE I got my burger and drink. But I managed to live with the shame and humiliation of being so CRUELLY SNUBBED without railing against the unfairness of the world.

I still find it fascinating, however, that when you go to a restaurant you apparently spend your time watching the server like a hawk to be sure that everything is done FAIRLY and that no one who arrives after you is ever served ANYTHING before you get yours. You must be a scintillating dinner companion.

[Martini_Enfield]

@Springs1

There is something wrong with being unfair. Do you like when people CUT in front of you in a line when YOU are hungry out of curiosity? Tell me the truth now.

Depends what they’ve ordered. If I’ve ordered a steak with wedges and they’ve just ordered some soup, I’m fine with it.

[Waenara]

@Springs1

Man, you sound so SELFISH and SELF-CENTERED! You don’t care if you would let someone else CUT in front of someone else, HOW NICE!! NOT!!

I notice you’ve said about a hundred times that you don’t want people to CUT in front of the LINE!!!111!!one!

But this isn’t McDonalds or something. Situations where you have a waitress and table service do not have lines. There can’t be “cutting” if there isn’t an actual line to cut into. I would have thought that most people would outgrow the “line jumping” concept in restaurants when they move up from fast food or buffets to actual restaurants with waiters and table linens, but apparently not.

Also, there isn’t always a clear-cut chronology of what order different things were ordered in. For example, what if table A orders first, with appetizers and mains to be brought out separately, and Table B orders second, also with appetizers and mains. These aren’t all entered into the computer system immediately, as then they would all be prepared at once. The waiter has to keep an eye on the tables and guess when they’re about halfway done the appetizers, and then enter the mains in the computer. So say Table B eats their appetizers slightly faster, so their mains end up being prepared at the same time as Table A’s. So the waiter goes to the kitchen and the main dishes for A and B are both ready at the same time. Say Table B is right beside the kitchen and Table A is farther away. Which to deliver first? Table A ordered “first”, but both tables were done their appetizers at the same time, and anyone can see that efficiency would dictate that the waitress deliver B’s first, as it’s on the way to Table A and that will save a lot of time. Oh nos!!!

Now imagine that situation for many more tables, juggling greeting new customers, getting drinks and refills, appetizers, mains, desserts, doing various sidework, preparing salads, getting bills ready, etc, etc, etc…

Even if a waitress theoretically agreed with your system, it would be almost impossible to implement, and it would take them ten times as long to get anything done. Then instead of getting your main course 45 seconds “late”, it would be 45 minutes late and congealed to the plate. :rolleyes:

[Enderw24]

I care too. Like, when I’m getting my dick sucked by two prostitutes, and one of them tries to reach for my balls, I say NO. NO you can’t TOUCH my BALLS, Bambi!! Shenandra asked to give me a REACHAROUND FIRST!!! HOW IS THIS NOT FAIR!

Tell me, if Shenandra had asked first and Bambi just went and grabbed without ASKING (and WHY would she NOT ask? Don’t EVER presume to do things NOT specifically ASKED FOR by YOUR CUSTOMERS!) that’s CUTTING in LINE! Would YOU like it if you were a CUM GUZZLING NYMPHO horny for my JIZZ and someone ELSE got there FIRST? You wouldn’t like that would you? That’s not fair! Why don’t YOU try it next time you’re HUNGRY for some COCK and the guy sticks his dick in SOMEONE ELSE’S MOUTH WHEN YOU CLEARLY REQUESTED TO HAVE HIS PURPLE HEADED WARRIOR SHOVED IN YOURS FIRST! Try it next time you’re hungry for a meat SANDWICH and see if you don’t agree! Fair is FAIR!

When I ask for MEAT and someone TOSSES a SALAD instead, THAT’S completely UNFAIR. I don’t care if it was only for 15 SECONDS, it was COMPLETELY out of ORDER and she WON’T be getting a piece of my TIP!!

[lionsaoi]

Enderw24, I think you have mistaken the scenario. The only way this applies is if you AND A FRIEND were both using the prostitutes at the same time. In that instance, you could (REASONABLY SO, I THINK) be upset if Billy got to Shanadra (??) first, when you have specifically called “dibs” or whatever terminology one uses when requesting the first blowjob…I mean, yeah…I’d be upset too.

All in all, your story made me realize that the MEAT versus SALAD issue could be so much worse than Spring1 ever imagined.

And, as a writer, my kudos for connecting this all up for us…brilliant word choice.

[Brown_Eyed_Girl]

@Springs1

There is something wrong with being unfair. Do you like when people CUT in front of you in a line when YOU are hungry out of curiosity? Tell me the truth now.

You are completely out of your mind, lady. Unfair? What are you, eight? Even my ten year old understands the concept that not everything in life goes the way you’d like it too, but you make the best out of it. There’s a saying that goes, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Clearly, that’s lost on you.

I’ll tell you what’s not fair. That while the rest of the world has evolved beyond this self-involved petty crap, people like you still have to make everyday social interactions a real drag. I find it exceptionally hard to believe I’m involved in a conversation with an adult who is whining more about what’s not fair than my teenage son ever did.

I’ll tell you the honest-to-goodness truth. When I dine out in a sit-down restaurant, I am not concerned with hypothetical lines. There are no lines. There’s order of service and efficiency, and sometimes efficiency makes more sense (common sense) than order of service. Believe it! I’m not punching a timeclock in restaurant. I don’t care–nay, I don’t even notice–what service timeline the people at other tables are on. If the service is slow, I’m not as happy, but I don’t make a federal issue over what kind of service everyone else is getting. You know why? Because I don’t take service in a restaurant personal. You know why? Because it’s not personal. Nobody is disrespecting you by refilling your drink without asking. Get over yourself. No server disrespects you half as much as everyone who have been watching you make an ass of yourself in this thread.

The vast majority of diners understand that while they are each unique flowers, there is a certain amount of standardization in service that takes place to make service much more efficient. This is a good thing. If you have special needs, like requiring a drink change mid-meal, this is outside the norm and it’s up to you to make sure your server knows about your special case. I’m not that kind of special, so it wouldn’t be necessary for me to tell the server to treat me like the other 99% of diners without that special need. I don’t need to be treated like an individual to the extent that the server is not allowed to think on their own based on their professional experience. You apparently do. You are outside the norm. Get that through your skull.

Man, you sound so SELFISH and SELF-CENTERED! You don’t care if you would let someone else CUT in front of someone else, HOW NICE!! NOT!!

Wow, coming from you, to the quick. Not! There’s no cutting in sit-down dining, you twit.

You would do what was only convenient for YOU. When you are server, you aren’t supposed to just be concerned with yourself, that’s why you are supposed to EARN your tips. You are supposed to care about your customers in order for them to care as much about you, which is YOUR MONEY when it comes tip time. Caring is a 2-way street, not a 1-way street.

You’re an idiot. An efficient server is efficient not just for her benefit, because it’s hard freakin’ work, but for her customers as well. As has been repeatedly told to you, more efficient service means less wait for customers. Multi-tasking and efficiency of movement and actions are the orders of the day. There is no rigid timeline for service. It’s all very flexible by necessity because priorities are constantly in flux. But you wouldn’t understand that because you can’t step outside your little world where all your needs are met is an orderly manner to the exclusion of outside circumstance.

I can already tell that all this has gone over your head because I managed to make my points without a plethora of EXCITING VISUAL MODIFIERS that are meant to take the place of obnoxious yelling, pounding of fist and stomping of feet. Make no mistake, though, my passion was just as fierce.

[thirdwarning]

@Springs1

When I do see servers doing things in our favor out of order, they get bonus points in their tip, because they did things in the wrong order, but it benefitted me. I cannot control that they did that though.

So taking things out of order is UNFAIR, unless it benefits you. Not only is it UNFAIR, it’s NOT MORAL, unless you benefit from it. You just lost your argument, missy, because you don’t get to complain about things you’re perfectly willing to take advantage of. You just proved yourself to be absolutely self-absorbed and totally devoid of MORAL SENSE and FAIRNESS.

The FAIR thing to do in that circumstance would be to make the server take your hot food back to the kitchen and bring out the other table’s salads or drinks, because anything else would be completely against you own doctrine of FAIRNESS. You wouldn’t want to CUT IN LINE, would you, now, dear?

[Nzinga_Seated]

Shenandra?

[Fenris]

@levdrakon

I couldn’t even guess how many times I’ve eaten out during my life, and also how many times a server has walked up with a really big tray, set it down between our table and someone else’s, and served them first. I honestly don’t remember ever noticing, or even thinking about whether they got theirs first. All I think is “oh goody, food’s here!”

I’m also sure I’ve never noticed we were the one’s served first.

I call it “sport dining.” Customers who don’t seem to even care if they eat. They have a different agenda. They want company. They want someone to be mean to, they want to be really picky and critical; it’s like they use servers for what’s missing in their life. Now I can add this eery waiter fairness watching.

THREE DEMERITS! TOO MUCH punctuation!

And FIVE MORE DEMERITS! You MISSPELLED “eerie”!! This is the WORST crime in the WORLD!! Except making people wait.

[Fenris]

@Hakuna_Matata

Wow. It is the tray—see now I get it. I didn’t realize the tray had such importance. Thanks for clarifying it for me.

No! You DON’T UNDERSTAND!!! It’s the MENU uber alles!

All hail THE MENU!

[Audrey_Levins]

If nothing else, I am forced to admire Springs1’s dedication to this thread. It would’ve died a long time ago without her earnest, sincere, and determined insanity. Her replies make my eyes cross with boredom/irritation, and yet I keep checking back to see if she’s keeping up the single-minded pursuit of ignorance.

Steadfastly she ignores any mockery; steadily she types huge long-winded odes to asshattery.

I take my hat off to her. I am genuinely impressed.

The mind boggles.

[Ichini_Sanshigo]

If anything Springs is a pretty clear illustration of why the tipping system sucks and needs to be retired. .

[I_Am_The_Lorax]

YOU tip EXTRAif the server is unFAIR to other people? ***YOU LAZY, SELFISH, SELF ABSORBED CALLOUS HYPOCRITICAL *** (resisting the urge to say it)

[Missy2U]

@thirdwarning

So taking things out of order is UNFAIR, unless it benefits you. Not only is it UNFAIR, it’s NOT MORAL, unless you benefit from it. You just lost your argument, missy, because you don’t get to complain about things you’re perfectly willing to take advantage of. You just proved yourself to be absolutely self-absorbed and totally devoid of MORAL SENSE and FAIRNESS.

Hey - don’t EVEN drag ME into this - I eat at HOME!

Brown Eyed Girl, well said!!!

[gurujulp]

Oops- doubleposted 'stead of edited…

[gurujulp]

@Springs1

Since she didn’t just take the side salads, she COULD HAVE HANDED THE FOOD OUT IN THE ORDER IN WHICH IT WAS ORDERED, THOUGH! There is NO EXCUSE in this world for that type of behavior from another human being that wants to get paid and is at the whim of customers.

None of this has to do with being center of the universe. This has to do with being fair. If it would have been the opposite situation, I would have HONESTLY HOPED that couple would have received their hot entrees before our side salads if we would have been that couple with the side salads. That’s the right thing to do. When I do see servers doing things in our favor out of order, they get bonus points in their tip, because they did things in the wrong order, but it benefitted me. I cannot control that they did that though.

@thirdwarning

So taking things out of order is UNFAIR, unless it benefits you. Not only is it UNFAIR, it’s NOT MORAL, unless you benefit from it. You just lost your argument, missy, because you don’t get to complain about things you’re perfectly willing to take advantage of. You just proved yourself to be absolutely self-absorbed and totally devoid of MORAL SENSE and FAIRNESS.

The FAIR thing to do in that circumstance would be to make the server take your hot food back to the kitchen and bring out the other table’s salads or drinks, because anything else would be completely against you own doctrine of FAIRNESS. You wouldn’t want to CUT IN LINE, would you, now, dear?

This-

Spring1- Here’s my reaction…

:eek::smack::dubious::o

Ichini Sanshigo If anything Springs is a pretty clear illustration of why the tipping system sucks and needs to be retired.

This too!

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

I would report this thread, but I don’t want to risk messing with it. IT’S GOT EVERYTHING!

[Cuckoorex]

1.) Springs1; not EVERYTHING has to be CAPITALIZED in EVERY POST.

2.) This has to be a joke, right? (looks for the hidden cameras) You’re one of those people that writes the obviously fake scenarios that show up on notalwaysright.com, aren’t you?

3.) If it’s NOT a joke, did it occur to you, in your previously-cited scenario, where you wanted to order everything right away and the server said they’d be “right back,” that maybe they were trying to be “fair” and to enter the order of a table that had been seated prior to your arrival? And if you were in that other table’s place, would you think it would be “fair” that your server, who has just taken your order, would stop for several minutes to take the order of another table that was seated after you prior to entering YOUR order?

4.) Please tell me that you’re a devout religious person, so I can complete my absurd mental image of you.