so the waitress "forgot" to charge my drink

[her34]

on occasion it happens where the waitress hands off the bill, then comes back to say she "forgot" to charge my drink but will just let it slide.

i find this an interesting tactic to get a bigger tip.

1) are they paying for the drink themselves, hoping to get a bigger return on the tip? are they just ripping off the restaurant?

2) any other subtle tactics that wait staff use?

 

[illusion88]

Chances are, they resturaunt is just eating the cost of the drink.

AND DONT SKIMP ON TIP'S DANMIT!

 

[KLin]

I don't know if servers do it, but delivery people instead of giving someone back a 5 in change, they'll give them 5 1 dollar bills and hope for a tip. I did that once in a while myself .

 

[Mrvile]

Just out of curiosity, how old do you have to be to be a waiter in a restaurant like Fridays or Applebees?

 

[imported_LoKe]

I often get a free coffee in the morning. I think the restaurant/diner just covers the cost.

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Just out of curiosity, how old do you have to be to be a waiter in a restaurant like Fridays or Applebees?

as long as you aren't serving alocholic drinks, you have to be leagaly able to work, which I believe is 16 in California. Could be 15. IF you are serving drinks, but not pouring or opening bottels, then you have to be 18. 21 if you are doing either of the thigns mentioned earlier.

 

[Horus]

My gf and I are regulars at a restaurant near my house...we always order the same thing. Garden salad, 2 loaves of homeloaf bread and a pizza. Most of the time, the bread or the drinks don't end up on the tab, because I tip well (20 percent, usually).

 

[ForumMaster]

i don't no. never happened to me. and i always give a standard 15% tip. i won't give extra and i won't give less. in fast food places, i don't think anybody gives tips though...

 

[illusion88]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
i don't no. never happened to me. and i always give a standard 15% tip. i won't give extra and i won't give less. in fast food places, i don't think anybody gives tips though...

you get served at fast food resturaunts

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: illusion88

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Just out of curiosity, how old do you have to be to be a waiter in a restaurant like Fridays or Applebees?

as long as you aren't serving alocholic drinks, you have to be leagaly able to work, which I believe is 16 in California. Could be 15. IF you are serving drinks, but not pouring or opening bottels, then you have to be 18. 21 if you are doing either of the thigns mentioned earlier.

Hmm.

I work at a banquet center in Ohio and I am 16 (min age is 16). Serving alcohol, min age is 19. But the thing is, I've never seen anyone younger than like...25 waitering at the chain restaurants I eat at.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: illusion88

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Just out of curiosity, how old do you have to be to be a waiter in a restaurant like Fridays or Applebees?

as long as you aren't serving alocholic drinks, you have to be leagaly able to work, which I believe is 16 in California. Could be 15. IF you are serving drinks, but not pouring or opening bottels, then you have to be 18. 21 if you are doing either of the thigns mentioned earlier.

depends on the state
ohio you have to be 19 to serve alcohol... not sure if its the same way when it comes to pouring and serving at the bar of a restaurant or not.. don't really know

 

[cherrytwist]

My gf and I are regulars at a restaurant near my house...we always order the same thing. Garden salad, 2 loaves of homeloaf bread and a pizza. Most of the time, the bread or the drinks don't end up on the tab, because I tip well (20 percent, usually).

Either that, or the server is making the drink without ringing it up. Knowing that they'll probably get a better tip.

This happened all the time in restaurants I worked at.

edit: I agree that good service is worth a 20% tip, regardless of the free drinks or not. Consider it a bonus

 

[mugs]

She's not paying for the drink. Tip her well.

 

[miri]

Originally posted by: her34
on occasion it happens where the waitress hands off the bill, then comes back to say she "forgot" to charge my drink but will just let it slide.

i find this an interesting tactic to get a bigger tip.

1) are they paying for the drink themselves, hoping to get a bigger return on the tip? are they just ripping off the restaurant?

2) any other subtle tactics that wait staff use?

you sound pretty cynical, with your attitude why didnt you just tell the manager what the waitress did?

 

[her209]

Maybe it was her way of saying, "I want to ride your like there's no tomorrow."

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: her209
Maybe it was her way of saying, "I want to ride your like there's no tomorrow."

There's your cue.

 

[hypn0tik]

Maybe she honestly forgot and didn't want to go through all that trouble of entering it in again.

 

[miniMUNCH]

When I worked at a bar for while...the owner actually told me to "occassionally give regulars and hip looking guys/gals free drinks because it is good for long term business" and it also got me much bigger tips. The profit on liquor sales at a bar are fantastic (like 100-200% profit per drink... e.g. a whiskey on the rocks someone pays $5-6 for only cost the bar about $ 1-2. So comp'ing drinks is no biggie for the bar, makes the customers feel good and like the bar more... I had customers who I seldom, if ever, made them pay for the drinks or I'd ring it a $10.00 glass of scotch as $4.00 dollar glass, etc. But these folks usually ordered food, brought their friends in for drinks...these friends woulf alter come back themselves with other new people...you get the idea. Occassional free drinks does wonders for "word of mouth" business.

At some point, if I have a realistic opportunity to own a bar I will snatch it up without hesitation.

 

[KarenMarie]

i think it is incredibly tacky for a server to do that.

s/he should just keep her mouth shut about the free drinks. most ppl can pick up the server vibes enough to know if it was intentional (for a better tip) or not. those who cannot, usually wont tip and better for knowing. and if they bring it to the servers attention... they can either wink or make the changes... message sent.

but for a server to tell a guest... "i am stealing from my place of employment".... it is tacky and puts the guest on the spot.

 

[MustangSVT]

Originally posted by: illusion88
Chances are, they resturaunt is just eating the cost of the drink.

AND DONT SKIMP ON TIP'S DANMIT!

that depends on your service.

 

[miniMUNCH]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think it is incredibly tacky for a server to do that.

s/he should just keep her mouth shut about the free drinks. most ppl can pick up the server vibes enough to know if it was intentional (for a better tip) or not. those who cannot, usually wont tip and better for knowing. and if they bring it to the servers attention... they can either wink or make the changes... message sent.

but for a server to tell a guest... "i am stealing from my place of employment".... it is tacky and puts the guest on the spot.

Read my post... comp'ing drinks is often completely encouraged by management. It is understandable that a server would use it to their advantage...most of their pay comes from tips.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: her34
on occasion it happens where the waitress hands off the bill, then comes back to say she "forgot" to charge my drink but will just let it slide.

i find this an interesting tactic to get a bigger tip.

1) are they paying for the drink themselves, hoping to get a bigger return on the tip? are they just ripping off the restaurant?

2) any other subtle tactics that wait staff use?

ripping of the restaurant so you will think they are giving you a deal so you will increase your tip due to special treatment.

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think it is incredibly tacky for a server to do that.

s/he should just keep her mouth shut about the free drinks. most ppl can pick up the server vibes enough to know if it was intentional (for a better tip) or not. those who cannot, usually wont tip and better for knowing. and if they bring it to the servers attention... they can either wink or make the changes... message sent.

but for a server to tell a guest... "i am stealing from my place of employment".... it is tacky and puts the guest on the spot.

Read my post... comp'ing drinks is often completely encouraged by management. It is understandable that a server would use it to their advantage...most of their pay comes from tips.

Comping drinks and 'forgetting' to ring them up are two totally different things.

Most places have a buyback policy. That is cool. It is not the same thing as a server giving away stuff without the knowledge/permission of the management.

 

[Doodoo]

What kind of drinks are we talking about? Soda? Alcohol? If its a soda...it probably costs the restaurant a nickel for a glass...so they don't really care.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: miniMUNCH
The profit on liquor sales at a bar are fantastic (like 100-200% profit per drink... e.g. a whiskey on the rocks someone pays $5-6 for only cost the bar about $ 1-2.

Wayyyyyyyyyyy more than that. Typical markup on "well drinks", I.E., the generic gin that gets added to a gin & tonic or the generic vodka that goes into a screwdriver is often 1000% or even more. A $4 drink could cost the bar less than 40 cents. The markups on premium brands is much less. A bar might charge $4 for a gin & tonic that costs them 40 cents, but only $4.75 for a Beefeaters & Tonic which costs 90 cents to make. They all make a huge profit, but the profit percentage on cheapo stuff is a lot higher than on the decent stuff. Beer and softdrinks are even worse. A keg holds 15 gallons, that's 160 12 oz beers. That costs a bar about $40 or so, figure 25 cents a draft beer or even less that'll sell for $3. That's a 1200% markup and soda is even higher, the serving costs are less than beer and many bars will charge the same for a Coke as they do for a draft Budweiser.