Bad service

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A few weeks ago, I asked a question about getting seated in restaurants, but I don't think we've touched on the issue of restaurant service in general. Is it getting worse where you live? Is it the economy, or is it just a reflection of cultural changes?

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

Answers

It reflects a cultural change... We're far, far less deferential than we were a generation or two ago... No one wants to be "subservient", which is what retail service implies. Egalitarianism has taken on a ruthless edge, and no one wants to yes sir-yes ma'am/be-right-with- you anyone else... And in an economy that allows people to get rich, no one wants to be thought of as someone who wasn't good enough to do well and thus ended up working some service McJob...

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001

I've found that a restaurant will either have good service or good food. It seems that if the food is good then the servers get the attitude that "hey you'll put up with bad service cause you want good food." There are exceptions to this rule but that seems to be the general way it goes for me.

One thing that I HATE to see is when I go out and someone in a service position is trying there best to give exceptional customer service and the customer is being a rude, arrogant, pain in the ass. I see lots of that down here in the south bay. It never pays to belittle someone just because you're a stock option millionaire and they work at Starbucks. If at all possible I like to talk loudly about how rude the previous customer was, only cause I can't smack them. So I always try to be extra pleasant to someone who gives me good service, cause if you take if for granted then they'll probably just stop trying.

It always seems that I go in somewhere and wait for 15 to 20 minutes for a table that was vacant when I first walked in the door. Ummm can I just sit down?

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001


I totally agree. I am a server in a trendy restaraunt and when people talk to me like my sole purpose in life is to kiss their ass and lick their feet, all I wanna do is spit in their food. Not that I ever do, but when you think of being rude to a server, remember the quality and cleanliness on your dinner, is not in your hands, it's in mine. I work hard at my job and don't treat me like garbage because you are in a business suit and I am in an apron, cause buddy.....I will probably not think to highly of you either.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2002

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