waiter spilled a drink on my 3 yo son....WWYD?

[texasthree]

I have been a waitress and I have spilled an ice tea all over an older gentlemen. I did repeatedly apoligize and I told the whole table dessert was on me. A few of them did order dessert and they left me a tip large enough to cover all of them and still be a great tip. I think he really should have apoligized more but if you had given me the "mommy is mad" comment, I would have given up on your table too. You pretty much told him his tip was going to be bad so what can you expect? If you wouldnt of said that and he was still a crappy waiter I would have complained to the manager before I left.

 

[Jynohn]

If the manager did witness this, then yes, I think he was wrong for not coming over to your table to find out if there was anything he could do to make things better.

As for the waiter, however, he has no authority to comp anything on your meal or to do anything other than what he did...apologize. I have waited tables in the past, and thankfully never spilled a drink on anyone. But I have made my fair share of mistakes, and apologized for them. Thankfully most of my customers were very understanding. But if I did make a mistake, offered an apology and a customer still told me they were mad at me, then you can bet that I would ask someone else to take over the table for me. Frankly, it's not worth the tip to be treated poorly over an honest mistake.

I'm sorry your meal was ruined. I would have been annoyed as well, but unfortunately we're all human and things like that happen all the time. I do agree with you that the manager should have approached your table, but as far as the waiter goes, he made a mistake, apologized, and his apology was not accepted. What else was he expected to do?

 

[VSL]

He could have been more apologetic, but I personally think *you* blew it with "Mommy is mad at you" He was attempting to lighten the situation by asking if he was mad at him... you didnt allow him to do that.

I would'a had another server take over, too.

^^^ITA^^^

 

[PhotobearSam]

Just a reminder...The OP said that the comment of Mommy being mad was made under her breath and that she did not think he heard her...So if he did not hear her, he should not have given up on her table.

 

[lucyblondecat]

I had a waiter spill a tray of drinks on me and another member of our party and not only did they comp the entire bill, they also offered to pay for any dry cleaning charges (which we did not require). I think you were treated very poorly and if it were me I'd still be thinking about it too. As would the people telling you to get over it, more than likely.

 

[mom2boys]

I'd let it go & be thankful it wasn't hot tea.

I am surprsied that the manager didn't at least come over to speak to you about it. That might cause us not to return.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Just a reminder...The OP said that the comment of Mommy being mad was made under her breath and that she did not think he heard her...So if he did not hear her, he should not have given up on her table.

Ummm, nope, no mention iof under the breath:

and then an "is he mad at me?" to which i said " i don't know, but mommy sure is"....

 

[YourMajesty]

I wish some of you guys had been sitting at the table when I spilled a drink on a 15 year old(you would have actually forgiven me). They were finished eating when it happened and I was so embrassed and apologized...but not good enough. The mom snared at me and demanded to the cashier that they comp her sandwhich that she was finshed eating. They gladly took it off while I had to slink around with my head down...I'm sure now her daughter has learned a great lesson on how to handle a mistake(pass the kindness on).
If that had been my three year old I would have asked for my food to go and gone home and put him in some dry clothes. Just think if parents knew they could get a free meal out of every spill they would be helping the waiter spill the drink. Glad no real harm was done...too bad they didn't comp something so that they customers would have felt better about the mistake.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

If the manager did witness this, then yes, I think he was wrong for not coming over to your table to find out if there was anything he could do to make things better.

As for the waiter, however, he has no authority to comp anything on your meal or to do anything other than what he did...apologize. I have waited tables in the past, and thankfully never spilled a drink on anyone. But I have made my fair share of mistakes, and apologized for them. Thankfully most of my customers were very understanding. But if I did make a mistake, offered an apology and a customer still told me they were mad at me, then you can bet that I would ask someone else to take over the table for me. Frankly, it's not worth the tip to be treated poorly over an honest mistake.

I'm sorry your meal was ruined. I would have been annoyed as well, but unfortunately we're all human and things like that happen all the time. I do agree with you that the manager should have approached your table, but as far as the waiter goes, he made a mistake, apologized, and his apology was not accepted. What else was he expected to do?

Exactly. It was an accident, you didn't accept his apology, and frankly you were being sarcastic with your "mommy is mad" remark when he asked if your son was mad at him. He probably felt it wasn't even worth trying to make it right since you were obviously so angry with him. Let it go. It's really a very silly thing to be angry about, especially the next day.

 

[tuckerkeys]

OK, OP here.......yes the mommy being mad part was said at a point where 1. 3yo son was crying...loudly.... and 2. while the waiter was picking up the glass that had fallen to the floor and had 2 other waiters around him who had scurried over to help him.... and it was said by me that only my husband heard and not the waiter..... he wasn't even looking at us when he said i hope he's not mad...anyway....whatever...i AM over it, believe me.....and my son, when you ask him what happened at dinner last night all he says is it was daddys birthday, i had cake! so he isn't traumatized or anything... so we're officially over it! and i'm craving changs chicken already...now! on to worrying about whether or not i can cram 6 people into a WL standard room and make sure we all get free dining ( just kidding just kidding!!! it's really 7....ha ha)

 

[mickeyboat]

OK, OP here.......yes the mommy being mad part was said at a point where 1. 3yo son was crying...loudly.... and 2. while the waiter was picking up the glass that had fallen to the floor and had 2 other waiters around him who had scurried over to help him.... and it was said by me that only my husband heard and not the waiter..... he wasn't even looking at us when he said i hope he's not mad...anyway....whatever...i AM over it, believe me.....and my son, when you ask him what happened at dinner last night all he says is it was daddys birthday, i had cake! so he isn't traumatized or anything... so we're officially over it! and i'm craving changs chicken already...now! on to worrying about whether or not i can cram 6 people into a WL standard room and make sure we all get free dining ( just kidding just kidding!!! it's really 7....ha ha)

Phew - I thought your son was going to need therapy.

Don't forget your refillable mugs from last time, and I'll meet you at the Poly with my crock pot.

Denae

 

[tuckerkeys]

hey mickeyboat, save a pool chair for me & do you think i should wear my crocs?

 

[SeeDisney]

This happened exactly to my friend. A group of us girls went out and the waitress spilled a drink onto my friend's lap. And my other friend insisted the HER meal was to be gratius-sp?

And it was.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

OK, OP here.......yes the mommy being mad part was said at a point where 1. 3yo son was crying...loudly.... and 2. while the waiter was picking up the glass that had fallen to the floor and had 2 other waiters around him who had scurried over to help him.... and it was said by me that only my husband heard and not the waiter..... he wasn't even looking at us when he said i hope he's not mad...anyway....whatever...i AM over it, believe me.....and my son, when you ask him what happened at dinner last night all he says is it was daddys birthday, i had cake! so he isn't traumatized or anything... so we're officially over it! and i'm craving changs chicken already...now! on to worrying about whether or not i can cram 6 people into a WL standard room and make sure we all get free dining ( just kidding just kidding!!! it's really 7....ha ha)

So when the waiter asked about your son, instead of replying you mumbled something under your breath that he couldn't hear?

Even with this twist, he was still correct to hand you off to someone who you might be able to tolerate.

It sound like you are over it now. Yea!

 

[MAKmom]

OP. Email Changs & tell them what happened. You should have been treated better by this business. It was not your friend that spilled Ice tea all over your son Great night out in an expensive restaurant.


The waiter did something wrong not you.

 

[PhotobearSam]

like i said i don't think he heard the mommy is mad comment b/c he was too frazzled after the spill....i think he was embarassed as everyone around us was looking at him. i'm sure he just wanted to crawl into a hole at that point...oh well what's done is done, guess he was too embarassed to deal w/ the situation properly...

Mickeyfan1, I gues it was not under her breath but she did say she did not think he heard it....

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow, this thread just keeps goin' and goin' and goin'!!!

To the OP.
I would be upset as well.
This was a little three year old.
You were left to pick up the pieces.
NOT exactly what you envisioned when you decided to spend $70.00 to go out for a nice meal and be waited on.

In a sit-down restaurant like that, it is all about customer service.
In this case, after the meal was ruined, NO additional service or compensation was offered.

The thing that would have set me off is if the waiter, while not even offering to do anything to make the situation better, fails to adequately address the situation with me as the adult, and the parent. And tries to make nice-nice with my upset little three year old.

I know that at two or three, my little DS would NOT have been eager to be put on the spot and answer a question like that!!! He hated strangers in his face. It is like, leave my poor kid alone.

I am sorry that there are those who have flamed you. I for one remember how hard an evening like that can be out with little-ones. It is already a challenge, and not always relaxing. I can COMPLETELY understand your feelings!

And, you know what, even if I did not quite understand, I would not make judgmental comments. Hey, I was not there in your shoes. And, most importantly, you DO have a right to your feelings.

To bad that there are those who are so quick to jump in and flame you when you were the paying customer and you are not the person who did anything wrong.

NOTE TO ALL PARENTS: Always keep a clean shirt for Jr. in your vehicle!!! A waiter does not have to spill a drink for a kids shirt to get nasty!!!

 

[jbdreamer]

I would have been furious. Thank goodness it wasn't a hot drink. This waitress needs to learn to be more careful. Things should never be served over children. You were generous, I would have left nothing for the tip.

Once at a restaurant when my brother was only 2, the waitress was serving us coffee and she went right over his head to pour a cup! My dad got very upset and let her know that what she did was unacceptable. And yes, we got an apology.

 

[ZuZugal]

I agree. There have been several threads about similar circumstances. I guess no one is allowed to make an honset mistake anymore.

The point is NOT that the waiter made an honest mistake, the point is that the waiter/manager did NOT handle the situation correctly.

To the OP: I have a 3 yr old and also would have been upset. Dining out at a nice place and keeping a small child happy don't always go hand in hand. You were right to expect a decent apology from both the waiter and the management. BUT...with that said...the time to handle this would have been immediately. Don't wait until the next day and continue to think about it. If you handle it right away you'll get immediate results and the only thing to think about the next day is getting the shirt clean!

Also to the OP: just ignore all of those "get over it" nasty comments, because that is all they are: nasty comments.

 

[Sleepy]

I would be upset as well.
This was a little three year old.
You were left to pick up the pieces.

The thing that would have set me off is the waitor, while not even offering to do anything to make the situation better, fails to adequately address the situation with me as the adult, and the parent. And tries to make nice-nice with my upset little three year old.

I know that at two or three, my little DS would NOT have been eager to be put on the spot and answer a question like that!!! He hated strangers in his face. It is like, leave my poor kid alone.

I don't quite understand what you would expect from this situation. First you claim you would be upset being left to pick up the pieces (cleaning and comforting your child) , but yet you say you would not want a waiter to be in your kid's face. It's a no win situation for any waitstaff.