If he’s doing that to you while you’re mostly sober, what’s he doing to the people who are too drunk to notice?
Not only that, but imagine what he might be stealing from the restaurant. Bartenders with questionable ethics are poison.
Is it possible that he misinterpreted a gesture from you? Maybe you nodded at him and he thought that meant “keep the change?” If not, then yeah, that’s a douche move.
Same here.
A couple of times bartenders have “forgotten” to bring my change. I ask for it and if I think the mistake was not honest then that guy doesn’t get a tip anymore.
I’ve been lurking a long time here and decided to finally make the plunge because I used to be in the service industry working pretty much everything, but especially bartending.
The guy was probably did it on purpose knowing you wouldnt ask for it back. Why? Cause he knew you were waiting for food and only there for that one beer. It sucks, and he’s probably one of those guys that doesn’t make his tips on personality and repeat business, but more of the pushy salesman type bartenders.
To the several other people that replied in a snarky ‘why should I tip’ kind of tone. It’s how the United States works guys. Service industry people make 2 something an hour and to insure prompt attention at places that serve lots of people alcohol, pulling a tab several hundred times a nite usually deserves your buck.
In my experience, ‘assuming’ the tip usually works and is practiced by people who either are generally unlikable or when you kinda know you arent getting a tip. think 19 year old with a stellar fake ID
Then he needs to frikkin’ GET a personality. There’s a bartender at the local Chili’s whom I consider MY bartender, he is that attentive and “on” all the time. Remembered “my” drink the second time I went there and works like a freaking slave, no lie. In return I tip HANDSOMELY and get props in return. I usually order an (ahem) “Adios Motherfucker” which is essentially a Long Island but perhaps maybe stronger? He once made me one that was a pint glass of pure alcohol with a splash of sweet&sour on the top, then tried to hook me up with a co-worker half my age, lolol.
Next time I go I’m gonna talk to the management about how awesome he is.
The bartender should know better than to do this. The tip isn’t up to him he knows that.
I was a bartender for a couple of years. I don’t think anyone else in that restaurant except him of course would mind if you told him “Do you mind if I decide how much of a tip you get ? give me back my change.”
This is something I would definitely speak to the manager about.
I usually give big tips, around 15-20% but if the bartender/waiter assumes a tip, or includes the tip on the bill or whatever, i just dont leave a tip at all.
If he had been taking money out of the cash register at the end of his shift would you excuse that also?
That’s why I think it’s important to inform the manager of his behaviour.
If he has no problem in taking money from customers. Safe to say he has no problem taking money from the business. It depends on the system they have set up at the restaurant of course. But where I used to work if someone only ordered a coffee or pop at the bar, these items where all the same price and that bill could be used multiple times for customers, and they would be non the wiser that the restaurant served 10 coffees that day but the register only shows one. The bartender pocketing the rest.
FTR, I never did this but saw the potential exploit in the system.
About 15 years ago I went into a bar with my sister and ordered a couple beers. The bartender brought the beers and said “Six dollars”. I handed him a twenty dollar bill as said “Take eight”, meaning take a $2 tip. He comes back and hands me $6. I said “Hey, I gave you a twenty”, and he says “Well, you said to take eight.” I came thisfuckingclose to jumping over the bar and giving him a free karate lesson. I told him to give me the correct change with a growl and a look that made him know I meant business. He brought back the correct change and I didn’t tip him a cent.
Now don’t anybody tell me about semantics and miscommunication. That’s BS. He knew damn well what I meant. Just a smartass college kid trying to get over on the old guy is what it was.
FTR - I have also been a bartender and NEVER assumed a tip. Even if money was left on the rail I waited till the customer left before I touched it.
Bars are one of the easiest places to cheat - both from an employee theft standpoint and from an owner fraud standpoint. Lots of cash changing hands, and in a cash transaction, you just don’t even ring up the drink, just pocket the cash. Or pour your friends or regulars free drinks for tips. Inventory is hard to control.