Tips to ensure great service
By ohsoamberx
Well I have been thinking about my last post and starting thinking about reasons as to why people wouldn't get great service. And there are a lot of times people do things that end up annoying servers and they don't even realize it. I am not saying that the customers are wrong in what they are doing, and really servers shouldn't get annoyed because they signed up to serve the public but hey it happens every day.
So here is a list of things that I feel irritate alot of servers, which cause them to get bad service, which then results in low tips for the servers.
1. Being rude to the server because you are in a bad mood. - everyone has bad days, but at least be a little civil to your server for the most part they didn't cause your bad mood.
2. as the server is introducing themselves and suggesting drinks, you cut them off. - most of the time restaurants require servers to say all of this stuff, so just politely listen so that they can do what their bosses want and then you can deny any of what they suggested.
3. you tell your sever that you are ready to order, then you take 5 minutes to decide while the server is just standing there. - you usually aren't their only table so just wait to order until you are ready.. it is okay to take a few minutes.
4. you order a specialty non-alcoholic drink that has free refills and you suck the first one down before the server even leaves the table. - usually these drinks are made at the bar and take longer to get... so order a water with it and be patient if your refills take a bit longer to get.
5. you are in a big party and then complain when the food takes longer to come out- more often than not you have one server, so it takes longer to take the order and takes longer to get the salads and stuff out.. and then the food takes longer because instead of only having to prepare 2-4 dishes the kitchen has to prepare 8 or more meals to go out all at once. it takes a bit longer just like it would take you long to cook for 8 family members compared to you and one other.
6. you feel like something you need is more important that what the other table is talking to your server about so you call out excuse me until your server addresses you - if a server is taking an order at another table and you rudely interrupt it is extremely disrespectful and annoying.
7. you take forever to put your card or money in the book to pay, but one you do you get an attitude and rush your server to cash you out - if you are in a hurry just pay it right away or ask for the check and boxes early so as soon as you are done eating you can leave on your own terms.
8. you came in for lunch and sat in the servers section for 4 hours just talking yet you still only tipped 3 dollars- that table could of been turned over 3-4 more times so you are actually costing the server money at least tip higher than you would have just for the inconvenience.
9. you are in a large group and got gratuity added so you get mad - normally gratuity is added to ensure that the server gets a fair tip. it is usually only 15-18% added on. If you feel that your server did a great job you can always tip more.
10. ordering lunch items when it clearly says it is only say Monday through Friday until 3pm. - of course we have to let you get the bottomless bowl of soup and salad at dinner if you insist, because it is all about making the customers happy... but when it is busy and you keep getting refills it is hard to keep up with it, and also there isnt a dinner price for it so you still only pay the lunch price. just at least be considerate that we went out of our way to allow you to order something that clearly states lunch only and tip a little better.
well those are just some ideas that I thought of. I may add more as I think of them. Comments are welcome!!!
Comments
I do agree that gratuity can be a pain. It does help when people don't seem like they are going to tip. I do agree that there are servers out there that since they know they will get the tip anyways that they do not care about being a great server. Like when my family all goes out to dinner, there have been times that we weren't getting refills and our salads and things took forever to come out. I always try my best to provide people with excellent service, because that is how I am. When I have a job whether it was working at subway or serving, I always try to do the best that I can. I try to always make sure to tell people that there is an 18% gratuity on the bill. There have been times I got 70$ tips off of parties because they decided to tip me an extra 30 dollars since I did a really good job. But for an fyi if you feel that a server didn't do a good job I think you are allowed to ask a manager to take the gratuity off of the check. It happened at my work before to this girl, I am not sure exactly what happened but the managers took it off since they complained about it.
Only a few people take the time to think a bout their servers. Most often these people who do have a great heart.
You're right, servers have to juggle lots of things at a time. But they are still required to serve you at the top of their game. It's no easy business and making it easier for them will surely be appreciated. You've shared great tips here I just hope people will be kind enough to follow.
Thank you! I wanted to write from a servers perspective because you can always experience the guest perspective first hand! But there are many people out there who have never served or never knew any one who was a server. So I wanted to get some messages out there without coming across as complaining!
That is a great suggestion... I don't usually need it, but I don't care for having an instant gratuity added, which is funny because when I waitressed, we did the same thing. My main reason for not liking it even when we waitressed was because sometimes people dont tip more because they already had the tip on their. But, it is definately a hard job and I am glad someone is speaking out for what it is like for the servers!
Thank you!
barbergirl28 12 months ago
That is a good list. The only thing I dont' agree with in the service industry is adding the tip to a bigger table. Not that I don't think the server has the right to a tip, but because now it is mandatory. What makes me mad is because usually when the tip is tabbed on is when I get worse service. Sometimes it seems as if they are okay slacking because it is a guarantee. Granted not every server is like this. I think what annoys me the most is because we might be sitting at a big table, but the bills are calculated separately. Therefore, I may be paying just for my family and still getting the tip added on. If I wasn't sitting with my friends I would have had the option. Sometimes when they do that, I refuse to tip anymore because of it. However, I will tip more if they are exceptional. Maybe it stems from my experiences, maybe it is because I work in the service industry and I see I make more with greater effort. Who knows. That is just something that frustrates me about the service industry.