Bad Regulars
From the mouth of our district manager: "90% of our customers are repeat customers"
and then he went on some rant about how if you treat a customer well, they will come back. This assumes the latter is possible as well right?
We have certain regulars that come by that no waiter wants to take. We will lie to newbies and tell them that they tip well just so we dont have to deal with them. Either they tip badly, treat you badly, or are just evil people. You probably dont think that we remember you, oh but we do. If you go to a restaurant more than twice a month, the staff probably remembers you.
Every other day we get this couple that come in for "food". The lady gets an ice tea and the guy gets either a large bud light draft with a lime or a sam adams. Their bill comes to just under $10 or $12, depending on the beers and happy hour and what not. They will always leave exactly $1.50 or $1.75. They will sit for over and hour, complain about the weirdest things, then tip you badly and leave. I heard of one time when they were angry that wings werent free (it wasnt happy hour or anything) and demanded that it be free because they were such good customers. My manager explained that they dont order enough to be considered good customers. Somehow, they still come in and a semi-regular basis.
Moral: Sometimes youll see a waiter look at you funny then someone else waits on you. Is it a sign that you are a bad customer and you have been pawned onto someone else? Maybe. We do serve many people but you would be suprised how easy it is to remember people.
and then he went on some rant about how if you treat a customer well, they will come back. This assumes the latter is possible as well right?
We have certain regulars that come by that no waiter wants to take. We will lie to newbies and tell them that they tip well just so we dont have to deal with them. Either they tip badly, treat you badly, or are just evil people. You probably dont think that we remember you, oh but we do. If you go to a restaurant more than twice a month, the staff probably remembers you.
Every other day we get this couple that come in for "food". The lady gets an ice tea and the guy gets either a large bud light draft with a lime or a sam adams. Their bill comes to just under $10 or $12, depending on the beers and happy hour and what not. They will always leave exactly $1.50 or $1.75. They will sit for over and hour, complain about the weirdest things, then tip you badly and leave. I heard of one time when they were angry that wings werent free (it wasnt happy hour or anything) and demanded that it be free because they were such good customers. My manager explained that they dont order enough to be considered good customers. Somehow, they still come in and a semi-regular basis.
Moral: Sometimes youll see a waiter look at you funny then someone else waits on you. Is it a sign that you are a bad customer and you have been pawned onto someone else? Maybe. We do serve many people but you would be suprised how easy it is to remember people.
posted by Peppers waiter at 7:39 AM
2 Comments:
That's true. I work in a hospital emergency room and I only remember the assholes. If you act normal, wait patiently and don't make a big disruption there is nothing to remember about you.
Having said that, the customers you describe leave 15-17.5% every time. Is that so bad? It sounds more like you just don't like their personalities but they aren't there to entertain you. I'd just give them the drinks and get out of conversation range as quick as possible if I were you.
I dont mind the people that are normal and leave 15%. I mind the people that are asses and leave 15%. It isnt as simple as just giving them what they want and get out of their way. They own you and some people use that to their advantage. Ive had people complain about the most trivial things. Some people demand you get them certain things at certain times and do it some odd ass way.
I cant not deal with someone. I always have to go back to the table and converse with them regardless if I want to or not. Im trying to make a pleasant expirience for my customers but that doesnt mean I have to make myself miserable in the process. I want to have fun too.
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