Waitress

Waitress

waitressproblems

non, CA

Female, 22

Many people at some point in their lives will be a server, and all people interact with servers. I started serving in college to earn some extra cash, and anyone will tell you that your viewpoint on restaurants and waitresses completely changes once you've served yourself. Dealing with customers is not always fun, but for the most part the job is a good time and the money you will make doesn't even compare to other part-time jobs. I've served in all types of restaurants! Ask me anything!

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31 Questions

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Last Answer on May 17, 2012

Best Rated

What types of customers are the worst tippers? When you get stiffed or tipped poorly, do you ever say anything to the customer?

Asked by j.s.d. over 12 years ago

The worst is the young high school students who don't know any better, or the cheap coupon clippers and people who just look for things to complain about to get discounts and refunds. Unfortunately you have to smile and be nice. If you aren't tipped at all, or tipped poorly there is nothing you can really do, but if you are not paid at all for a meal, or not paid enough to cover it you are more than welcome to chase them down and let them know they must have forgotten to pay. That's stealing and therefore illegal. Many people don't realize when this happens the meal comes out of the waitress' pocket directly and not the restaurant. I've had a group of people drinking before with a high bill that snuck out without paying, and even though it was not my fault I had to pay for their entire bill, which basically depleted all the tips I made that night.

Why do servers seem to get so annoyed when people ask to split bills on credit cards? Is it really that much of a hassle?

Asked by Yuri over 12 years ago

Its only annoying when they decide later on they want bills split. usually i ask before just to avoid that mess. but it is a huge pain to try and remember what everyone ate and drank and try to figure out who goes on who's bill etc. I've had a huge party before say they wanted one bill and then decide at the end they all wanted it split, but they had all be up and moving around and drinking all sorts of different things, there was no way i could have figured out how to accurately split the bill. As long as i know before hand its no big deal.

What's the largest tip you ever received? Had you done anything extra special, or was it just a super-generous customer?

Asked by joetownphilly over 12 years ago

Sometimes people are just feeling generous and over-tip, but I would say the best tip I ever received was when I was working at a family owned pizza place, right before I was about to get off work a huge group of people came in directly from a funeral. The party knew the owners of the restaurant and were regular customers. I had to to work my butt off to serve them all on time because the place was about to close and they knew I was the only server on the clock still. Since the group was so big the bill was high and they tipped me 100% (meaning they gave me the whole amount of the bill as a tip) . This is a rare occasion, and I am sure it was partially because they knew the owners and the inconvenience their late arrival caused. Luckily for them this establishment did not add gratuity to large party's. People need to be careful because most places automatically add an 18% gratuity to party's over 6 people. Sometimes people don't notice this on the bill and end up tipping the waitress, which allows her to go home with both the gratuity and the extra tip. It is customary however to tip a little over the 18% added if your party was large or difficult to wait on.

Have you or anyone you've worked with ever spit in the food if the customer is just a total a-hole?

Asked by milynn over 12 years ago

Although there has been times when I want to I would never do that. But pretending I "accidentally" left their food under the heat lamp too long, or intentionally taking a long time to grab a refill, sure!

Have you ever dated customers?

Asked by Thor Jr. over 12 years ago

My fiancé used to come in and eat when I worked before we started dating , but I knew him a little before that. I'm not sure if that counts. I know a lot of waitress' that started dating managers or other workers. That's more common.

Are you ever instructed to push certain menu items when the kitchen's overstocked with them?

Asked by mongo over 12 years ago

absolutely ! WE will even make a special out of something if we have too much. The whole week after st.patricks day was had some sort of special made out of the extra corned beef. Its essential to saving money .

If you see that someone didn't realize gratuity was already on the bill and double tipped, are you obligated to tell the person? Rules aside, DO you tell the person?

Asked by M Z H over 12 years ago

Technically you should, and it is labeled on both the menu and the bill they are presented with, but sometimes people miss it. I always say something, but there are times when people sign the check, leave a tip and leave before you get the opportunity. Many waitress' might not say anything, but if you find you have double tipped later on you can call the restaurant and the waitress is then obligated to refund you (from my experience anyways).