The Ugly Love Affair with Coupons

http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2011/11/waiters_hate_coupons.php


In our struggling economy, I completely understand the desire to save a buck. However, when an overzealous customer is overcome by the coupon craze, things can get ugly.

The blog entry, Five Reasons Your Server Hates Coupons, highlights five of the major reasons a waiter or waitress begins to fret when presented with that ugly square of paper. Low tips are often a result of a reduced bill (or a cheap customer), and expired or limited offers can often anger the customer. Reason number three on the list, "Using Multiple Coupons", is an example of what happens when an obsessively frugal guest has gone coupon-crazy.

While serving a table of four last week, I was presented with a 20 percent off coupon at the start of the meal. When the foursome had concluded their dinner, I removed the 20 percent and presented them with the check. They filled it with their money and handed it back. I walked away to the register and opened it-only to find some cash and a $25 off Dining Deal coupon.

A strict rule at my restaurant is no combined offers-one type of coupon per table. This message is presented clearly on each coupon. Each offer also instructs the customer to present the coupon to the server upon being seated-so that I may instruct of them of any limitations beforehand.

I begrudgingly headed back to the table to begin my dreaded "I'm sorry, but you can't do this" speech. They were at first understanding-they asked for the 20 percent off coupon back, and said they would use the $25 Dining Deal instead.

I returned once again to the register, re-discounted the check to its new amount of $62, and began to count the cash stuffed into the black vinyl check-holder. There was only two 20-dollar bills and a 10-dollar bill. Wait...what?

A third time I return to the table, now visibly frustrated. I opened the folder on the table.

"I'm sorry sir, but your check is $62, and there is only $50 here."

Before the man who had paid me could even respond, the two middle-aged women at the table began to snap.

"No no, there is plenty of money there."

I tried to explain that I had taken off the $25, and that the balance was $62. I showed them the $50 cash.

The miscommunication continued for another minute, all of us growing angrier until we quarreling like children, shouting at one another in the middle of the restaurant.

"I didn't pocket your $20," I rudely retorted at one point.

Finally: "THERE'S TWO OF THESE," cried one of the women, unfolding the $25 Dining Deal to reveal a second coupon underneath. My face must have been scarlet-red at this point.

"BUT YOU CAN ONLY USE ONE!"

At this point they asked to speak with the manager, who only echoed my instruction. I have learned that if there is one thing customers despise, it's to find out the ugly truth-they are not always right.

"We come here all the time, and the owner always lets me use more than one of these," one of the women remarked after the chip was knocked from her shoulder. Another popular tactic used by disenfranchised guests-name-dropping the owner without even knowing his name. He is just the ambiguous "owner".

The customers then insisted I split their check, so each couple could use a coupon. I obliged, without permission from management. I informed the table that I had not been authorized to do that for them, and if they attempted to do it another time, they might be told no.

"Oh, we will not be back," one woman shot cattily.

What a loss.

If servers only made mininum wage, you'd have to eat at home

http://ifyoucantaffordtotip.com/?p=178&fb_ref=widget

Most people, especially those that are self-considered to be "highly-educated", believe they are entitled to only the best. The finer things in life often include a luxurious dinner at a restaurant every now and again. This experience is only as enjoyable as the hard-working man or woman accomdating your every whim.

Arrogant individuals such as Travis, that believe serving is an easy job and that wait staff are entitled to no more than minimum wage, are living in a false reality. A tip-even a 20 percent one-is not excessive when you are being catered to by someone that is catering to about four or five other groups of individuals simulataneously. We do not merely "bring food" to YOU, Travis, for $20 an hour. We bring food, bring drinks, listen to complaints patiently and feign concern expertly, bring extra this and that, write orders, print checks, swipe credit cards, get change, clean up after you, wrap your leftovers, and try our very best to do it all with a smile. However, when waiting on the inconsiderate and self-entitled, the smile doesn't come easy. Your potential server deserves a 20 percent tip for accomplishing that feat alone.

Take them to Chuck E. Cheese Instead

I don't hate children, but for the most part, they do not belong in restaurants.

Restaurants are a dangerous place for children. They are full of slick surfaces, sharp edges, and frazzled servers darting about carrying heavy armloads of scalding hot food. If your little bundle of joy refuses to remain seated and scurries in front of me while I am balancing three heavy ceramic plates of food, it could spell disaster.

If I have to stop and wait for the child to move out of my way, I will be forced to endure first degree burns on my fingers to prevent myself from pitching forward and covering you, your child, and the rest of your family in someone else's dinner. You're welcome.

In addition to being so hyper that they cannot sit still, children nowadays often have trouble keeping quiet. If you haven't yet noticed, restaurants are places people go to enjoy a lovely meal in a peaceful atmosphere. Most customers' idea of ambiance is not listening to your child's high-pitched squeals and screams, nor your constant and increasingly frustrated pleading for him or her to just shut up already.

I recently was working a very slow Monday night shift at a tiny Italian restaurant. A woman I have waited on before came in with her horribly behaved baby and her boyfriend shortly before closing. This was only my second or third table of the night, so I was beyond disgusted and ready to go home.

It was pasta night, which means $9.99 for unlimited pasta. She and her boyfriend ordered their first dishes of pasta after making several fussy demands, and ate them quickly. They then ordered second helpings.

It was nearing ten o'clock, closing time and later than I usually stay, especially on a Monday evening. Her toddler was squirming in his high chair, screaming at the top of his lungs. Exhausted and losing patience, I went to sit in the pizzeria in the front of the restaurant. I heard a crash.

The child had thrown a glass to the floor and it had shattered everywhere. I fetched a broom and dustpan and began sweeping up the broken glass, as the mother's boyfriend chastised her for being an awful mother and not disciplining the "f-ing brat" effectively. Normally I would be appalled at a customer speaking to his girlfriend in front of me in that manner, but in this circumstance I silently cheered him on.

I cleared away the plates from their second course soon after and dropped their check. I thought that after what had happened they would be embarrassed, or at least empathetic, and pay their bill and leave. Instead, they made themselves at home. It was after ten, and the cashier had to go to their table and request that they pay because they had to close the register. They paid and continued to sit, the boyfriend leaned back comfortably in his seat sipping a beer, and the wild child out of his high chair and rolling around on the floor.

I asked my manager to please clean the table once they left so I could go home, collected my four dollar tip and left. I wish I could have asked them on what planet they thought it was acceptable to behave this way in a restaurant where they spent only $20, tipped me a measly $4, destroyed property and destroyed the peace.

I know children are a product of their environment, and if you cannot control them, leave them at home. It is not the obligation of your server to clean up after your child when it hurls a glass across the dining room or rips its food to shreds and sprinkles it all over the floor.

I have enough on my mind during a busy dinner shift- I shouldnt have to worry about stepping on swarms of young children or spilling hot soup on their heads. They are your children and your responsibility. Keep them seated or keep them at home.

Most of all, no staff or patrons should have to listen to your ill-behaved spawn have a temper tantrum. Stop eating, get up and take the child outside.

What's that? You don't want your meal ruined? Neither does anyone else.