Went out to breakfast this morning. That’s typically not an expense I’m willing to incur during this here recession, but I wanted to get out of the house. Plus, I didn’t want to wash dishes.
Went to one of my favorite spots. Hadn’t been there in a while. Apparently, they like it that way. I don’t think I’ll be going back.
Here’s how to lose my business in three easy steps.
1. Don’t refill my coffee. A waiter or waitress has one thing to keep track of at breakfast — coffee. If the cup’s low, fill it up. If it’s half-full and it’s been a while, warm it up. This isn’t complex. Coffee’s the most heat-dependent thing you can serve other than eggs, and eggs don’t get refills. Stay on your coffee grind.
When I have to ask someone to refill my cup, and not once all meal am I asked if I need more coffee, you’re slippin’. The tip will reflect it.
2. Lukewarm breakfast. Coffee’s the big thing that must stay warm, but all breakfast food needs to start hot, right? Not just warm, but muy caliente. That’s especially true when you can’t depend on the coffee to give you a hand with thermoregulation.
3. Card me for no good reason. Time to pay for the food. I put my debit card in the little tray with the receipt. The card comes back, as do two copies of the receipt. Next thing I know, the waitress is tapping me on the shoulder, asking me to take off my headphones and requesting that I show ID.
I know this isn’t standard operating procedure here. I’ve never been carded before. Further, if a place just cards people, they card you before they charge you. What kind of sense does it make to ask someone for ID after the money has been drawn? It makes none. That’s a good Samaritan making sure that someone wasn’t getting stolen from.
And making sure I’m not a thief.
Won’t name the place because I didn’t speak with the manager. It would be unfair to put them all the way out there without allowing them the opportunity to respond.
But if I’m paying $9.61 for a waffle, bacon, eggs and coffee in a recession, folks need to act like they want my money. I know damn well they aren’t in a position to act like they don’t need my money. They need it more than I need their breakfast, I know that much. Customer service needs to be Job Numero Uno, baby. Make me smile. Make me happy I came. Give me what I can’t get at home.
But you’re gonna ask me for ID on a transaction so small that some places wouldn’t even ask for a signature? Give me a break.
11 thoughts on “Someone lost my business this morning”
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Poor customer service just makes you want to get up and leave.
Bo, you’re so cute I can’t believe they gave you a hard time. At any rate, I worked in the banking industry for many years and can tell you that it’s standard practice not to ask for id on debit card transactions under $10. That can go up to $20-25 in some establishments. You probably looked too detached sitting there with your headphones and completely disinterested in your surroundings. Or, it could have been flat-out racism. Let me know which it is, and I’ll be on the first thing smokin’!
Maybe he/she took the headphones as a signal to leave you alone. Either way, on a $9.61 check, I doubt they cared enough about that $2-3 tip to make too much of an effort. You’re still right, though.
bo thats messed up but how you gonna walk out with out talkin to mgmt.? that’ll keep you from going out solo cause no good woman would’ve allowed that. trust and believe
I hope it wasn’t Brigs in the Park… ’cause Imma boycott wherever it is and let them know why!!!! Can’t treat my Bo that way!
not brig’s. my waitress there is absolutely fantastic.
You know, it could be that there’s a vast, intricate waiter information and screening network that includes pizza delivery guys. If so, I feel for you.
Ok -so whats the etiquette here? Service was poor to mediocre and you left with an attitude
do you tip at all? or is the standard “tip” a requirement?
you’d never have this problem if you’d simply gotten your big breakfast on at mickey d’s. you’d have to bring your own eggo, tho.
@Ricky: That’s the problem with the tip-based system. It leaves the customer in a bad spot when they’ve not done anything incorrect. Definitely would rather 10-15% was automatically included at all restaurants and I could choose to add more.
@Bo: Same thing just happened to my Vietnamese spot. Place went from having your food out in less than 15 minutes from sitting down to one guy running out a single plate at a time. Even left 2-3 tables dirty (not bussed) for the entirety of our visit while he was scrambling.
Reggie White would not be impressed.
That’s a real good way for me to walk out without leavin a tip…or maybe a quarter just to piss you off.