Bad, bad waitress.....

[tiggersmom2]

Let me preface this thread by saying that I always, always leave AT LEAST a 20% tip unless the service is just terrible....and then I always speak with the manager.

I just got back from a week long vacation in Gatlinburg TN and we usually have the most phenomenal waitresses and waiters while dining....but.....not this time.

Here is the story:

My hubby and I took my parents and our kids to our favorite pizza/microbrewery restaurant in Gatlinburg. We ordered two large pizzas, 2 pitchers of beer and cokes for the kids. We had a great time laughing at all the karaoke folks ....and just being together. The bill came and it was 70.32. I gave the waitress 85.00 when she came back to the table and told her "no change". She left with the money and then came back and THREW my money at me and told me there was a "mason jar for muscular dystrophy downstairs and why don't you just throw your change in there?!"

I uhhhhh....pretty much freaked and demanded to see the manager. He came out and listened to the story and asked us if we might have offended her in some other way...***?!! We were sitting there eating, listening to bad karaoke and drinking beer. We were not loud at ALL and were very nice.

I took my damn tip and left....I just can't believe what happened at this freakin restaurant!! NEVER, EVER going back and I have been patronizing this place since it OPENED!!

 

[rt2dz]

For once, I just have nothing to say. That was a good tip.

 

[tiggersmom2]

For once, I just have nothing to say. That was a good tip.

I know....we just can't imagine WHY she was pissed. She seemed to think it wasn't enough since she said "I could throw my change in the mason jar"...... That was bad enough but when the manager wasn't OUTRAGED....well....I was so done.

 

[annegal]

I think she may have mis-understood what you were saying ...we always say "keep the Change" for the tip

 

[Aidensmom]

I bet she tried to figure the math and did it wrong. However, I can't believe anyone would actually have the nerve to complain about the tip in that manner! That is outrageous!

 

[mytwotinks]

Maybe she thought that you really meant no change as in, bring back the bills and keep the coins . Did she seem really stupid at any other point during your service?

 

[Aidensmom]

Maybe she thought that you really meant no change as in, bring back the bills and keep the coins . Did she seem really stupid at any other point during your service?

Ahh, I never would have thought of that. I always say "No change" too, and no one has ever misunderstood me though.

 

[OceanAnnie]

 

[Pixie Tales]

wow, what a bratt!!!

my first thought was, maybe she did the math wrong...
but.. for a manager not to apologise and actually say... that maybe you offended her... that is just wrong...

 

[bosstoboss]

Maybe she thought that you really meant no change as in, bring back the bills and keep the coins . Did she seem really stupid at any other point during your service?

She probably did think this.

 

[chager]

Maybe she thought that you really meant no change as in, bring back the bills and keep the coins . Did she seem really stupid at any other point during your service?

ITA I bet she thought you meant the coins and not dollars. Not sure why though since you gave her an odd amount over. I'm thinking , she wasn't thinking!!

 

[juligrl]

Maybe she thought that you really meant no change as in, bring back the bills and keep the coins . Did she seem really stupid at any other point during your service?

If I was having a "blonde moment" I might have thought that. I think most people I've ever heard say "keep the change" if they want you to keep the change as a tip. Still doesn't excuse her rudeness!

 

[tiggersmom2]

Maybe she thought that you really meant no change as in, bring back the bills and keep the coins . Did she seem really stupid at any other point during your service?

I never thought of that. I have ALWAYS said that and never had any misunderstandings. If the dummy had just kept her mouth shut she would have seen the money on the table when we left.....

 

[mytwotinks]

I never thought of that. I have ALWAYS said that and never had any misunderstandings. If the dummy had just kept her mouth shut she would have seen the money on the table when we left.....

Oh well, her loss. Now go buy yourself something pretty with it!

 

[southernbella]

Been a waitress all my life, suffered through many bad tips (your's was NOT), and I would NEVER say something like that to a customer. If I did, I would expect to be fired on the spot. Plus, the manager sounds like a moron. Sbella

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Wow.

I did the math. That was almost 21%.

The waitress misunderstood something, just not sure what. Maybe she did the math wrong and thought the percentage was less than that. Maybe some of the others are right, that by "no change" that you just wanted the cash back but not the change/coins. Even so, it's like you and some others said about leaving the tip on the table and the odd amount you gave to pay the bill. If you gave her 4 20s and a 5, what would be the point in giving the 5 only to get it back?

Heck, it could be something as crazy as one of the bad karaoke singers you were laughing was at a cousin, sibling, friend, or boyfriend of theirs.

None of that excuses the waitress' attitude.

Definitely doesn't excuse the manager's attitude either! Maybe the waitress and manager are related in some way, thus the defensive attitude from the manager.

If it were me, I'd write a nice detailed letter to the owner (whether or not that's a different person than the manager that was there, but especially if it is different) letting them know about the experience and the crazy attitudes you got, and how they've lost a longtime loyal customer.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Wow.

I did the math. That was almost 21%.

The waitress misunderstood something, just not sure what.

I agree, she must have misunderstood something..... She didn't seem slow or stupid and was friendly from what I recall (she only laid the pizza down and brought the drinks). Maybe "Big Bertha" that was belting out "Redneck Woman" was her cousin.......

 

[lovebuzz]

As a stay at home Mom , who waits tables 2 nights a week, I 'm surprised at the server and the manager. They were both way out of line. I agree and I would write a letter. I think the company would like to know who they have representing them out there.

 

[snowy76]

I don't know if I'd be mad at the manager for what he asked. Maybe after the manager heard the story he couldn't possibly imagine why the server was angry either, so he asked if anything else happened - not meaning to offend, but trying to figure out if anything unusual happened.

Of course, if I was the manager I would have asked the server in order to sort things out!

That's so weird.

 

[MikeS.]

Track down the regional manager or if not a chain find the owner. Let them know what transpired and how lamely the manager handled it. Throwing anything at you is totally inapropriate. That was what, a 20% tip?