The Buzzers at Restaurants

[smartestnumber5]

GF and I went to Olive Garden last night. There was a 25 minute wait so they gave us the usual buzzer thing. It was very crowded inside so we headed outside. GF asked if while we were waiting we could go look for the building she'll be working in which was within a couple of miles of the Olive Garden.

The idea of driving away with the buzzer made me nervous. (I often feel a little uncomfortable about stuff like this. Once I got very nervous because while we were waiting in line at the checkout GF started eating a candy bar or something. She could see I was nervous and was like "What? I'm going to keep the wrapper so that they can ring it up and we'll pay for it." I was still nervous until we got out of the store. )

Would you go for a ride a few miles away with the buzzer? Or would you feel like that's not allowed?

(P.S. Our buzzer started playing very loud and annoying music once we got 1/2 mile to a mile away so we had to turn around anyway just to escape the music. )

 

[scanne]

Nope, wouldn't do it either. I would be afraid of de-activating it.

 

[escape]

I've done this several times...and the restaurant folks knew about it. No big deal.

 

[cardaway]

I don't drive away, but I like that some of the popular and busy restaurants at the mall give them out allowing you to go all over the mall.

 

[freckles and boo]

I have always been told not to leave the immediate area. Besides, if you don't show up when they buzz you, don't you stand the chance of losing your place in the pecking order? If they buzz you and it takes ten minutes to show up that kind of defeats the purpose.

As for the candy bar, I totally know what you mean. I see people feeding their children from open packages at the grocery store nearly every trip. My poor kids hear "No, we can't eat it if it isn't paid for!"

 

[azgal81]

Generally those make noise when you go out of the range area so I haven't gotten very far with the buzzer before!

 

[sweet angel]

I didn't know you COULD leave with the buzzer. We've always been told "don't go too far" or we'd be out of range.

 

[escape]

I didn't know you COULD leave with the buzzer. We've always been told "don't go too far" or we'd be out of range.

I guess I should clarify my previous post.

If I'm told the wait will be around 45 minutes to an hour, I might go run a few errands that would take 30 minutes or less. If I go out of range, the buzzer will not work. However, I've never had one make any loud noises when I do go out of range. Usually, when I return, I ask the host/hostess if I've been buzzed. If I had, they usually just seat me at the next available table. I've never had a problem doing this. Maybe I've been lucky.

 

[monkeyboy]

I have a vast collection

I walk up and say "HEY this was given to me an hour ago and still NOTHING!!!!!"

I get a seat right away

 

[lyzziesmom]

I'd be afraid it wouldn't work and I would miss my table. It seems like they always tell you longer than the actual wait time, so I usually just stick around. I did have one bad experience at Old Chicago where they buzzed the wrong buzzer and didn't check that the party's name matched, and I waited FOREVER, then when I asked if I missed it or something they said, "Oh you've already been seated." Um... no I haven't, I'm right here asking you! Then they put me back at the end of the list. I was hungry and an idiot, so we still waited - big BIG mistake.

As to the other issue, I often let my kids eat something in the grocery store. We always pay for it, so I don't see what the problem is. I have however seen people let their kids eat something and then throw the wrapper away. Nice lesson for the kids.