Bad waitress tricks

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

I would have left her the $5 and left. She asked for it.
-L.

-L. said:

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

I would have left her the $5 and left. She asked for it.
-L.

My sentiments too.

jim

"D.Currie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay,
I needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back
with a five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change."
Grrr. Five bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a
spectacular waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this
place often, and we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more
than 20 percent and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a
little too dumb to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but
the other half of me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the
choice between the $5 and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more annoyed
than when a server has come back with just big bills. The smart ones will
usually break at least one of the bills down so you've got a ten, a five,
and singles instead of a twenty, but sometimes they just come back with
the change in whatever form is easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked
someone to make change and had them say there was none.

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave
a tip.

In this case, DH went to the cash register and got change. Didn't seem to
be a shortage there. Next time we go there, I'll make sure I've got the
right change for tipping.

You are too kind. A tip is supposed to reflect the overall service. With the
waitress either ignoring your request or intentionally jerking you around in
hopes of a larger tip, you would have been 110% justified in leaving the
smallish tip. If behaving like she did does not have any consequences, why
will she ever stop?

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths page at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

"D.Currie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay,
I needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back
with a five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change."
Grrr. Five bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a
spectacular waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this
place often, and we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more
than 20 percent and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a
little too dumb to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but
the other half of me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the
choice between the $5 and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more annoyed
than when a server has come back with just big bills. The smart ones will
usually break at least one of the bills down so you've got a ten, a five,
and singles instead of a twenty, but sometimes they just come back with
the change in whatever form is easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked
someone to make change and had them say there was none.

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave
a tip.

In this case, DH went to the cash register and got change. Didn't seem to
be a shortage there. Next time we go there, I'll make sure I've got the
right change for tipping.

--
Donna

How old was the waitress? I find lately that when you're dealing with anyone
under maybe 35-ish, you have to spell everything out as if you were giving
arts & crafts instructions to kindergarten kids. Remember how politicians
ranted about problems with our education system throughout the 1990s? We're
living with the product of the failed system. A generation of idiots.

"Doug Kanter" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"D.Currie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to
pay, I needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She
came back with a five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry,
no change." Grrr. Five bucks was less than 15 percent, but even
though she wasn't a spectacular waitress, I didn't want to leave that
little. We go to this place often, and we've had this waitress
before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent and that bugged me.
Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb to understand
that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of me was
thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more
annoyed than when a server has come back with just big bills. The
smart ones will usually break at least one of the bills down so
you've got a ten, a five, and singles instead of a twenty, but
sometimes they just come back with the change in whatever form is
easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked someone to make change and
had them say there was none.

Donna

Donna,

In that instance after paying and getting back the change, I would have
handed her the $5 directly and say "Thank you but talk to the chef, the
food tasted metallic."

Psychologically let it be a matter she can wrongfully take out on the
chef after you leave. No hard feelings between you and the waitress.

Imho,

Andy

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more annoyed than
when a server has come back with just big bills. The smart ones will usually
break at least one of the bills down so you've got a ten, a five, and
singles instead of a twenty, but sometimes they just come back with the
change in whatever form is easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked
someone to make change and had them say there was none.

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave a
tip.

In this case, DH went to the cash register and got change. Didn't seem to be
a shortage there. Next time we go there, I'll make sure I've got the right
change for tipping.

If I was told there was no change available, and then found out there
*was* change available, I wouldn't leave anything. Lying does not
constitute good service.

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

sarah bennett said:

If I was told there was no change available, and then found out there
*was* change available, I wouldn't leave anything.

* * Ding! Ding! Ding! * *

We haaave a winner!

nb

sarah bennett said:

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more annoyed than
when a server has come back with just big bills. The smart ones will usually
break at least one of the bills down so you've got a ten, a five, and
singles instead of a twenty, but sometimes they just come back with the
change in whatever form is easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked
someone to make change and had them say there was none.

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave a
tip.

In this case, DH went to the cash register and got change. Didn't seem to be
a shortage there. Next time we go there, I'll make sure I've got the right
change for tipping.

If I was told there was no change available, and then found out there
*was* change available, I wouldn't leave anything. Lying does not
constitute good service.

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

In this situation, I'd have given her the 5. Any good waiter/waitress
knows to have change on hand.
OTH, I waited on table for a short time many years ago, at a Marie
Callendars. Service was a big thing there and we were NOT ALLOWED to
bring back a 10 and 5 ones unless specifically asked. It was considered
trolling for a tip. Never understood the policy myself, but that was
how it was.

salgud said:

sarah bennett said:

D.Currie wrote:

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave a
tip.

In this case, DH went to the cash register and got change. Didn't seem to be
a shortage there. Next time we go there, I'll make sure I've got the right
change for tipping.

If I was told there was no change available, and then found out there
*was* change available, I wouldn't leave anything. Lying does not
constitute good service.

Quoted message said:

In this situation, I'd have given her the 5. Any good waiter/waitress
knows to have change on hand.
OTH, I waited on table for a short time many years ago, at a Marie
Callendars. Service was a big thing there and we were NOT ALLOWED to
bring back a 10 and 5 ones unless specifically asked. It was considered
trolling for a tip. Never understood the policy myself, but that was
how it was.

Yeah, but if a customer asks for change, lying to them about it not
being available won't get you a tip, either.

--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

email:
anisaerah at s b c global.net

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more annoyed than
when a server has come back with just big bills. The smart ones will usually
break at least one of the bills down so you've got a ten, a five, and
singles instead of a twenty, but sometimes they just come back with the
change in whatever form is easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked
someone to make change and had them say there was none.

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave a
tip.

[censored]. In no way whatsoever is it the responsibility of the
waitperson to make change (you think it's a friggin' bank), it's always
ultimately the patron's responsibility to have their own change when
they go out to eat. You got some effin nerve, you self-centered
hooray-for-me [censored]. You mean you didn't have a couple of singles to
add to that fin... you obnoxious piece of dirt. It's a restaurant, NOT
a bank, you imbecile.

Sheldon

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Let me get this straight. You specifically asked her for change. A $5 would not
have been a full 15% but $10 would have been too much. You should have just
left the $5.

notbob said:

sarah bennett said:

If I was told there was no change available, and then found out there
*was* change available, I wouldn't leave anything.

* * Ding! Ding! Ding! * *

We haaave a winner!

You're the winner, the LOW IQ of the WEEK!

It's a restaurant, not a bank... that's a waitperson, not a teller...
you uncouth [censored].

It's not a restaurant's responsibility to give change in any specific
denomination.

Yoose all going out to eat, yoose all too stupid to have a few singles
in yer pocket... what morons. Imbeciles think the waitperson should
cut your food and spoon feed you too... MOMMA'S BOY! Notbob, [censored]...
what you are is NOT-A-MAN

Sheldon

Andy said:

In that instance after paying and getting back the change, I would have
handed her the $5 directly and say "Thank you but talk to the chef, the
food tasted metallic."

Psychologically let it be a matter she can wrongfully take out on the
chef after you leave. No hard feelings between you and the waitress.

I don't get it. You want her to hand it directly to the waitress and then
deflect the blame for the low tip on the cook. If you are going to be direct
with the waitress, be direct..... "I would have left more but I asked you
to bring me change and you didn't. I am not getting sucked in to leaving a
larger tip because you didn't offer the service I had specifically
requested."

sarah bennett said:

If I was told there was no change available, and then found out there
*was* change available, I wouldn't leave anything. Lying does not
constitute good service.

If I was told there was no change I would have known that it was a lie. Wait staff
always have pockets full of change.

Sheldon said:

It's a restaurant, not a bank...

[snip childish gibberish]

Hitting the Genesee a little early, aren't we.

If you want to reward someone for deceiving you, knock yourself out.
Momma notbob never raised such a foolish child.

nb

Quoted message said:

[censored]. In no way whatsoever is it the responsibility of the
waitperson to make change (you think it's a friggin' bank), it's
always ultimately the patron's responsibility to have their own change
when they go out to eat. You got some effin nerve, you self-centered
hooray-for-me [censored]. You mean you didn't have a couple of singles to
add to that fin... you obnoxious piece of dirt. It's a restaurant,
NOT a bank, you imbecile.

Sheldon

OMG, I find myself agreeing with Sheldon.

Allow me to throw a few ideas out from 20 years of restaurant experience:

1. I have never met a server who deliberately played games with their
tips - "gee - I bet they'll give me the big bill!" However, I have met
many new, poorly trained, and yes, "dim" servers, who didn't understand
the point. What if everyone got their paycheck deducted for making
mistakes?

2. Training is now non-existent - it is now almost entirely "on the job".
This isn't a problem with an experienced server, but restaurants often
hire many who have never had experience with not only serving, but with
customer service. (Often, cooks with only moderate english skills will be
asked to wait tables.) Years ago, servers received menu instruction, bar
instruction, and customer and cash / handing procedures. For two reasons,
this has been condensed to as little as 2 days of training and 2
"follows." Reason 1: restaurants don't wish to pay more than they have
to, and Reason 2: if you tell someone today they would have to work for
minimum wage for up to three weeks, they would laugh and leave.

3. Many places have standing policies against letting servers get change
for anything less than a $20 - period - even if you get three $100s in a
row. You are expected to get it from another server rather than "bother"
the bartender, manager, or cashier. I always thought this was asinine but
the penalties could be as stiff as a write-up or as bothersome as having
to do extra / or the worst closing duty. I even worked one place where
the servers lost a table rotation if they asked for change more than
once.

4. Sheldon is right. Restaurants are not a bank. If you only have big
bills, ask the bar or cashier first. (Though as a former bartender, I
have been given a $400 bank and STILL been cleaned out in a matter of
hours.)

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Sheldon" <[email hidden]> wrote:
(snip)

Quoted message said:

[censored]. In no way whatsoever is it the responsibility of the
waitperson to make change (you think it's a friggin' bank), it's always
ultimately the patron's responsibility to have their own change when
they go out to eat.

(outrage and vulgarity snipped for decency "-)

Quoted message said:

Sheldon

Oh, calm down! LOL!
We usually pay with plastic and put the tip on the card. Problem solved.
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com> Updated 3-16-06, Sam I Am! Hamantaschen and
Peanut Butter cookies for Grandpa; Church Review #9, Musgovian Soup.
"If it's not worth doing to excess, it's not worth doing at all."

"notbob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hitting the Genesee a little early, aren't we.

Please...it's too early in the day (or even the year) to mention that
god-awful beer.

Sheldon said:

D.Currie said:

We went out to dinner tonight to a local place. When it came time to pay, I
needed the waitress to make change so I could tip her. She came back with a
five and a ten, and muttered something about "sorry, no change." Grrr. Five
bucks was less than 15 percent, but even though she wasn't a spectacular
waitress, I didn't want to leave that little. We go to this place often, and
we've had this waitress before. But the full $10 was more than 20 percent
and that bugged me. Half of me was thinking she was just a little too dumb
to understand that I needed the singles for the tip, but the other half of
me was thinking that she was pushing me to make the choice between the $5
and the $10 and figuring she'd get the better tip.

Considering I specifically asked her to make change, I was more annoyed than
when a server has come back with just big bills. The smart ones will usually
break at least one of the bills down so you've got a ten, a five, and
singles instead of a twenty, but sometimes they just come back with the
change in whatever form is easiest. But I don't think I've ever asked
someone to make change and had them say there was none.

I did some waitressing when I was a teenager, and one of the things I
learned early was that you made sure the customer had good change to leave a
tip.

[censored]. In no way whatsoever is it the responsibility of the
waitperson to make change (you think it's a friggin' bank), it's always
ultimately the patron's responsibility to have their own change when
they go out to eat. You got some effin nerve, you self-centered
hooray-for-me [censored]. You mean you didn't have a couple of singles to
add to that fin... you obnoxious piece of dirt. It's a restaurant, NOT
a bank, you imbecile.

Sheldon

Nice talk. You kiss your mother (or boyfriend) with that mouth?
It's not a bank, true, but as a functioning business establishment
they'd better have change at all times if they want to stay in business.
Being able to change money is inherent to running that type of venue.
Otherwise all patrons would have to pay with either credit cards,
checks, or exact change in cash for their meal...not gonna happen.
Sounds to me like the waitress lied, and she'd either get zilch from me,
or maybe the five, if I'm feeling magnanimous.
andrew