• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

YATT: waiter tried to screw us with bill

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
madoka said:
The waiter brought us the bill and left. Another waitress was clearing the tables when I noticed the problem. I thought it was in error and she went to find out what happened. After a while she came back and told us why we were billed for those two kids' meals. At that point, I asked to talk to the waiter, but the manager showed up instead.

The manager reaffirmed that we were properly billed because I ate the kids' meals. I pointed out that there was nothing stating that the kids had to eat their meals. She said it was an unwritten policy, but she relented. She took the charges off, but warned us not to do it again.

I told the wife that I refused to tip. She left $20.
Click to expand...

This info changes everything. Restaurants that treat customers like freeloaders for taking advantage of the coupons or specials they offer need to go out of business. Their wait staff needs to understand working in such a restaurant will earn them little or no tips.

That restaurant didn't loose a dime when you switched meals with your kids. You can't treat customers like dirt and expect to be rewarded for it.

I don't know what to say about getting into an argument with your wife, but it sounds like you were in a no win situation, so maybe leaving a tip would have been smarter in the long run. Or leave the table to work this out with the manager between just the two of you.

If you really care, you could bring the poor policy decision to the owner's attention, but they are probably the cheap bastard who implemented it in the first place. Maybe if he treated his customers better he wouldn't have to discount his food to get people to eat there.
 
Belegost said:
If the manager said that was policy, then the waiter was just following the rules. Why punish them for doing their job according to the rules management set?
Click to expand...

The server very passive agressively followed the unwritten policy.

According to the OP, nowhere was it written that the children had to eat the free children's meals, and it looks like they ate an entree that the OP was paying for anyway, so it worked out the same.

If I were the server (and I have been one) I would have mentioned the full policy to the OP during the meal (likely when they ordered) not just "snuck" it on the bill without saying a word.

Additionally, I don't believe the OP was saying he wasn't going to tip appropriately if everything went perfect, rather than he was going to deduct the cost of the incorrectly added children's meals from the tip leaving the grand total of the bill the same. They didn't mention the total cost of the bill or the amount of the tip, so we can only guess as to the net impact to the server.

The wife leaving a $20 tip would put the meal cost at $100 or so, and this kind of action from a restaurant charging that much is unacceptable (i.e., not TGI Fridays or something) or the tip was above and beyond and validated ridiculous behavior by the server.
 
Last edited:
Weasel alert, if its a place I eat at regularly, hell will freeze over before I don't leave a tip, but if I don't plan on returning, zip.

Worse than no tip is a discussion with the manager on how the server ruined the meal and your dining experience.
 
No tip and explain to the manager you will never go there again.

You are a customer, not a criminal.

They warned you not to do it again? I would go back there the next day, order one kids meal and one adult meal, call the manager, switch the two plates in front of her eyes, eat the meal, then leave exact change and walk out. As in, bring a kid with you and have them eat the adult meal. Or at least, attempt it.
 
This sounds like a really shitty restaurant. Leave them a bad Yelp review explaining what happened while you're at it. If it's a chain restaurant, you'll probably get a quick apologetic response and some free meal vouchers.
 
GagHalfrunt said:
Not only should he get no tip, but he should be told point blank why he's getting no tip. That way he'll know it's because of his own actions and not because you're a tightwad.
Click to expand...


I object to this. The waiters actions in no way rule out the OP being a tightwad.
 
So if the kid didn't want the kid's meal at that time but wanted to take it home, that would have been OK. But because someone else ate it there, it morphed into a non-free meal? Logic fail IMO.

There was no gaming of the system here. I just don't understand the management policy.

I would have left the same tip I had in mind prior to noticing the bill issue. That's because it wasn't the waiter's idea, it was management who decided that's what they do if an adult dares to eat a free kid's meal. I wouldn't make the waiter suffer for that.
 
Don't tip anyone at all. They get paid exactly what they should for the work that they do. I knew a few people who waited tables and they all put boogers and spit in food whenever they are unhappy.

When waiters can do their job 100% without being nasty towards people they don't like, then they can get an extra dollar or two.
 
amdhunter said:
Don't tip anyone at all. They get paid exactly what they should for the work that they do. I knew a few people who waited tables and they all put boogers and spit in food whenever they are unhappy.

When waiters can do their job 100% without being nasty towards people they don't like, then they can get an extra dollar or two.
Click to expand...

And while you're at it, make sure to always get your steaks well done. Any other temperature for meat is gross... you're going to sick eating that crap!
 
That's the one thing that really bothers me about my daughter. She's 2.5 and sometimes eats the food we give her....other times, she doesn't. She's unpredictable about a lot of meals. Temperature and texture of the food seem to be the biggest factors.

She won't really eat chicken breast or steak, etc....or macaroni and cheese. She loves spaghetti, chicken pot pie, etc.... I'm sure if we went to that restaurant, I could see her going for the pot pie and me be more than willing to swap just so she would eat a good meal.

As for tipping...I'd probably tip the waiter anyhow, but I'd be pissed about having to jump through a hoop like that. Most places totally cut you some slack when you have kids....even more so when you don't leave a huge mess.
 
That was a pretty crappy move indeed - especially the "don't do it again" bit.

Nonetheless, I would have left a tip (provided everything else was OK; food, attention, etc), but, I would not go back in there, because of this fascist behavior.
 
madoka said:
The waiter brought us the bill and left. Another waitress was clearing the tables when I noticed the problem. I thought it was in error and she went to find out what happened. After a while she came back and told us why we were billed for those two kids' meals. At that point, I asked to talk to the waiter, but the manager showed up instead.

The manager reaffirmed that we were properly billed because I ate the kids' meals. I pointed out that there was nothing stating that the kids had to eat their meals. She said it was an unwritten policy, but she relented. She took the charges off, but warned us not to do it again.
Click to expand...

you thought these major details were good to leave out of your original story? starting to think you are fabricating part of the story. if not though, just don't go back to the place and let it be. maybe leave them a bad yelp review.

and the waiter was just following protocol if that was on the bill and the manager said it is policy, not sure why you would give the waiter any less of a tip for doing his job.

whole thing sounds fishy now.
 
Would not have left a tip because the waiter failed to state (s)he was forced to charge the kids meals because of some unwritten policy.
Would have told the manager that I will never grace their restaurant again.

And finally I would write as many possible negative reviews as possible about the restaurant.
 
purbeast0 said:
you thought these major details were good to leave out of your original story? starting to think you are fabricating part of the story. if not though, just don't go back to the place and let it be. maybe leave them a bad yelp review.

and the waiter was just following protocol if that was on the bill and the manager said it is policy, not sure why you would give the waiter any less of a tip for doing his job.

whole thing sounds fishy now.
Click to expand...

You asked for those details and I gave it to you. My god you are small minded.

What's important was I was charged surreptitiously for the kids' meals because of an unwritten (and in IMHO unfair) policy and a narc for a waiter.
 
Puppies04 said:
I object to this. The waiters actions in no way rule out the OP being a tightwad.
Click to expand...

It's true, OP *could* be a tightwad. It's just important to let the waiter know that the lack of tip in this particular instance was not due to the tightwad-icity and was only due to the actions of the waiter. Similarly, I think it's also important that any person that stiffs a waiter because of being a tightwad should let the waiter know that he did nothing wrong.
 
madoka said:
You asked for those details and I gave it to you. My god you are small minded.

What's important was I was charged surreptitiously for the kids' meals because of an unwritten (and in IMHO unfair) policy and a narc for a waiter.
Click to expand...

well nowhere in your "second version" of the story does it mention the original waiter even knowing about the problem you had with the check and that the only one you actually talked to was a secondary waiter, who brought the manager over to you.

but in your OP you say your waiter felt you guys were cheating them and don't even mention talking to the manager at all.

not my fault you tell stories poorly.
 
I would have brought it up with management, like you did.

If this becomes a tipping argument, then it invariably devolves into "You're a cheap bastard. You always tip because these people only make 45 cents per hour."
 
Am I the only one here who tips on the value of the meal prior to deducting the "buy one get one free" (or 50% off or whatever) ??? I figure the waiter/waitress shouldn't suffer a loss because of the restaurant's promotional policy.

That being said, I would have described the incident in a Yelp review, given the appropriate number of stars based on integrating the (lousy) service and the quality of the food, and waited to see if the restaurant responded. I'd be inclined to not patronize them in the future unless there was an appropriately sincere mea culpa.

Art
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top