YATT: waiter tried to screw us with bill

[madoka]

Went out with a large group to a restaurant that gives out free kids' meals with purchase of entrees. My kids decided they would rather eat my chicken pot pie than their turkey. So we swapped. When I got the bill, I noticed that we were charged for two of the kids' meals. Apparently the waiter felt we were "cheating" the system because he saw me eating the kids' meals. So without any warning, he decided to charge us for what should have been free. I felt pretty ticked off and wanted to take the charges off on his tip. Spouse argued with me and felt I we shouldn't do that.

Did he deserve the full tip?

 

[Rakehellion]

Maybe you should have talked to the water about this instead of complaining on the internet.

 

[madoka]

Maybe you should have talked to the water about this instead of complaining on the internet.

I did. The manager agreed to remove the charges. But I got into a subsequent argument with spouse over this and need validation from others.

 

[Rakehellion]

Yeah, there's the argument that you shouldn't tip poorly for poor service blah blah blah but that's exactly what I do. No tip.

 

[OverVolt]

Waiter is a fucking busy body.

No tip.

 

[Paladin3]

I did. The manager agreed to remove the charges. But I got into a subsequent argument with spouse over this and need validation from others.

As tempting as it is to share your "outrage" with others, it would have been better to quietly and politely mentioned it to the manager and not made it such an issue. Your wife should never have known there was an problem with the bill.

Carrying "outrage" around with you is self-defeating. If anything, you should be saying you got great service at that restaurant. When you noticed a mistake on the bill the manager quickly corrected it and all was good.

 

[twinrider1]

Zero tip. And glaring hairy eyeball while exiting.

So who won the argument. Did you tip?

 

[rudeguy]

Went out with a large group to a restaurant that gives out free kids' meals with purchase of entrees. My kids decided they would rather eat my chicken pot pie than their turkey. So we swapped. When I got the bill, I noticed that we were charged for two of the kids' meals. Apparently the waiter felt we were "cheating" the system because he saw me eating the kids' meals. So without any warning, he decided to charge us for what should have been free. I felt pretty ticked off and wanted to take the charges off on his tip. Spouse argued with me and felt I we shouldn't do that.

Did he deserve the full tip?

OH yea...give him the full tip! Every inch of it!!!

Normally I flame people on YATTs but I 100% agree with you on this one. I overtip every single time. If I'm overcharged I usually will never notice it let alone say something. But intentionally dicking with my bill because you have some complex going on? Eat a cock.

 

[IronWing]

Seeking external validation concerning the content of an argument with one's spouse is not an ideal approach to marital bliss.

 

[OverVolt]

As tempting as it is to share your "outrage" with others, it would have been better to quietly and politely mentioned it to the manager and not made it such an issue. Your wife should never have known there was an problem with the bill.

Carrying "outrage" around with you is self-defeating. If anything, you should be saying you got great service at that restaurant. When you noticed a mistake on the bill the manager quickly corrected it and all was good.

I would have never gone back to that restaurant. Its the way the waiter intentionally fiddled with the bill for something as asinine as switching meals with your kids. The manager would really have had to profusely apologize. Two things are going on either #1 they hire bad waiters or #2 the culture of that restaurant has the waiters trying to keep people from "cheating the kids menu"

Both things warrant never eating there again.

I think from your wife's perspective she is upset you made a scene with a big group? Maybe the way that you handled it made it look like you were the prick instead.

 

[waffleironhead]

You were paying full price for an adult meal. Doesn't matter who ate it.
No tip for waiter.

 

[slayer202]

You were paying full price for an adult meal. Doesn't matter who ate it.
No tip for waiter.

yup

 

[zerocool84]

No tip? But but but he brought you food and drinks!!!



What the typical ATOT reason is to tip. Sorry but he doesn't deserve a tip.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I say no tip here. You ordered something for yourself, so it's not like you were bringing kids in to get free food for yourself. If you hadn't ordered anything I might think differently.

 

[purbeast0]

maybe the waiter genuinely forgot to mark it as the "free kids" meal in the POS system? you didn't even mention it to the waiter, you went straight to the manager?

wow talk about making a big stink about nothing.

 

[PokerGuy]

No tip. You paid for the meals you were supposed to pay for. Whether you eat them or share them with someone else or feed them to your dog is up to you. What an idiot waiter, I don't think I'd go eat there again anytime soon either, you don't want want to know what would end up in your food.

 

[madoka]

maybe the waiter genuinely forgot to mark it as the "free kids" meal in the POS system? you didn't even mention it to the waiter, you went straight to the manager?

wow talk about making a big stink about nothing.

The waiter brought us the bill and left. Another waitress was clearing the tables when I noticed the problem. I thought it was in error and she went to find out what happened. After a while she came back and told us why we were billed for those two kids' meals. At that point, I asked to talk to the waiter, but the manager showed up instead.

The manager reaffirmed that we were properly billed because I ate the kids' meals. I pointed out that there was nothing stating that the kids had to eat their meals. She said it was an unwritten policy, but she relented. She took the charges off, but warned us not to do it again.

So who won the argument. Did you tip?

I told the wife that I refused to tip. She left $20.

 

[SlitheryDee]

She took the charges off, but warned us not to do it again.

That would piss me off too. Why the hell are they digging in on this point of nonsense?

Don't do it again? Don't worry there won't be an opportunity for me to do it again.

 

[ctbaars]

^ Agreed.
< {former waiter}
Half tip. You have no monetary loss, but it is rude.
I understand why the restaurant has this policy. Should be in clear writing.
Trust me. The waiter hates the "free kid meal deal" {for more reasons than tip money} and having to enforce the policy.

 

[bearxor]

If the waiter decided to remove the tip on their own, no tip.

If the waiter removed the tip at behest of the management, tip.

Whenever something happens at a restaurant that is just SO BAD that I know I will never go there again, I refuse to allow them to discount the bill. I tell them that they need to go ahead and charge me the regular price because it will be the last time you're able to charge me anything.

 

[soulcougher73]

Waiter is dumb and should be left no tip and beaten in parking lot later. Doesn't matter who are what meal.

 

[tcsenter]

It's not like a buffet cheater, where you are allowing someone else to partake who did not pay for the buffet. The server was def in the wrong.

 

[ctbaars]

It's not like a buffet cheater, where you are allowing someone else to partake who did not pay for the buffet. The server was def in the wrong.

That is is not exactly true. The server loses no matter what.

 

[Belegost]

The waiter brought us the bill and left. Another waitress was clearing the tables when I noticed the problem. I thought it was in error and she went to find out what happened. After a while she came back and told us why we were billed for those two kids' meals. At that point, I asked to talk to the waiter, but the manager showed up instead.

The manager reaffirmed that we were properly billed because I ate the kids' meals. I pointed out that there was nothing stating that the kids had to eat their meals. She said it was an unwritten policy, but she relented. She took the charges off, but warned us not to do it again.

I told the wife that I refused to tip. She left $20.

If the manager said that was policy, then the waiter was just following the rules. Why punish them for doing their job according to the rules management set?

Your argument is properly with the management, it seems like you got that part corrected. The only further meaningful actions would be to refuse to patronize the business under that management, and provide negative feedback on review sites.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Not only should he get no tip, but he should be told point blank why he's getting no tip. That way he'll know it's because of his own actions and not because you're a tightwad.