Am I the only one here who tips on the value of the meal prior to deducting the "buy one get one free" (or 50% off or whatever) ??? I figure the waiter/waitress shouldn't suffer a loss because of the restaurant's promotional policy
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.
I think what they did was appropriate.
fuck that restaurant. I'd never go there again
That is is not exactly true. The server loses no matter what.
^ 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.
I think what they did was appropriate.
They gave kids a free meal. Your kids did not like the meal. At that point, you either buy them a meal, or force them to eat it. For all you know, the cost of the kids meals you ate could exceed the cost of the meal you paid for, effectively giving you a meal greater than what you paid for in your barter. Yea, it sucks, but the meals are supposed to be free for kids to eat -- and only for kids to eat.
Just think, with the $20 tip your wife left after you were obviously wrong, you could have bought your kids meals they liked, eaten the meal you really wanted, and left a regular tip.
Fuck the waiter. Fuck the restaurant. If the deal is that two paid-for adult entrees come with two free kids entrees (or whatever), why give a fuck about who eats what? There's no additional cost to the restaurant, regardless of any sharing of the meals. The waiter was being a stupid nosy busy-body for even noticing, and the manager was being stupid for backing him/her up and threatening that you should never do it again. I would never go back to such a place.
Nothing anyone says here will help you argue against your wife, though. In fact, telling her you were in the right because of ATOT will probably just piss her off.
Lol you're quite the gullible customer.I think what they did was appropriate.
They gave kids a free meal. Your kids did not like the meal. At that point, you either buy them a meal, or force them to eat it. For all you know, the cost of the kids meals you ate could exceed the cost of the meal you paid for, effectively giving you a meal greater than what you paid for in your barter. Yea, it sucks, but the meals are supposed to be free for kids to eat -- and only for kids to eat.
Just think, with the $20 tip your wife left after you were obviously wrong, you could have bought your kids meals they liked, eaten the meal you really wanted, and left a regular tip.
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?
A little off topic, but ...
This thread is proof that the server loses no matter what {but in the OP case he got a $20.} Free-meal-programs bring in people that don't leave tips, make a mess, require a lot more attention and front-line having to deal with stupid policies like this one. Restaurants want the sale and actually don't care much if the server gets a tip.
Table of eight comes in. two in high chairs, four seated kids and two adults. Four free meals, four the cheapest entree. No problem to me, they meet the deal and the restaurant has a customer. Guess what the table and floor looks like? Guess how much extra time to serve? Guess who ate the meals? I never had a policy like the OP's restaurant to deal with. Oh yeah, guess what my tip was?
Anecdotal? Maybe.
*Every restaurant runs differently on how tips are split or shared and also how labor is split and shared, so my experience is not universal.
** Have more to say but I have to get back to work ...
I agree with OP, though I'd have left a tip of exactly 15%, on the dot, if otherwise the service was good. You still got service - you just also almost got screwed.
To anyone who doesn't understand this, imagine you go to a restaurant with your wife/girlfriend. You order a king cut of prime rib for dinner ($30). Your girlfriend orders a shrimp dinner.($20) When the food comes, you cut your prime rib in half and give half to your girlfriend. Then, she gives you half of her shrimp.
When the bill comes, you see this:
$20, $20, $15, $15. So, instead of $50 total, it's $70 total. Then find out it's because your waiter determined that since you cut the prime rib in half, he should charge you for two petit cuts. And, since the girlfriend split the shrimp dinner in half, you should be charged with two lunch sized orders of shrimp.
This, in essence, is what happened to the OP. There's no way in the world I would return to that restaurant, and I would immediately post a negative Yelp review.
I think what they did was appropriate.
They gave kids a free meal. Your kids did not like the meal. At that point, you either buy them a meal, or force them to eat it. For all you know, the cost of the kids meals you ate could exceed the cost of the meal you paid for, effectively giving you a meal greater than what you paid for in your barter. Yea, it sucks, but the meals are supposed to be free for kids to eat -- and only for kids to eat.
Just think, with the $20 tip your wife left after you were obviously wrong, you could have bought your kids meals they liked, eaten the meal you really wanted, and left a regular tip.