No Vinegar! = Free Food

[Chattyaholic]

I'm a waitress and we rarely give refunds. If something is not to a customer's liking we offer to make something different for them.

Now for something like no vinegar for the french fries, it wouldn't even occur to me to give a full refund on the entire check. We also have ketchup and Ranch dressing, use one of those.

As for the first server not letting them know he/she couldn't find any vinegar, if the restaurant was busy and he had many other customers to take care of it could have easily just slipped his mind. I know I forget things occasionally when the restaurant is packed and we are running our butts off.

[kerrisan]

Wow, yeah, that is odd. Maybe they just felt really guilty or something. Seriously - no vinegar? That's FINE. I don't need a free meal, but I sure as heck won't turn one down!

[myswtghst]

Wow, I was amazed reading down the thread just how quickly people jumped at the OP's comments. He was joking at the end, which I caught onto right away.

I do think he makes a good point. They weren't even really complaining, and yet the manager gave them a full refund, which seems excessive, and even a breeding ground for SC's. However, if Legal really was an SC, I doubt he would've waited until the manager got involved to make a scene, so they probably figured he'd actually be grateful and feel spoiled enough to come back.

Also, I think that they did deserve some form of compensation. I understand that mistakes happen, and sometimes people forget, but a customer shouldn't have to ask multiple times for a condiment that should have been available, only to wait until their food gets cold to finally find out that it's probably run out.

[wagegoth]

It does feel weird, like you're getting something for nothing. One day I was stuck waiting at a register for five minutes or so while they were trying to do a return that wasn't going through. I wasn't in a hurry so I just waited patiently.

When I left the manager handed me a small bouquet of carnations (I didn't say a word, just walking out the door) and thanked me for being so patient.

It's as if you're getting rewarded for behaving like a human being.

[myswtghst]

It's as if you're getting rewarded for behaving like a human being.

It's kind of sad, isn't it? I try to always be polite and have decent manners, as I was brought up well, and I hate that more people aren't like that.

On the other hand, I do almost like it when I'm rewarded, even in some small way--just a verbal thank you is enough for me--and it makes me feel like what I'm doing is being noticed, as opposed to all the jerks who get things they don't deserve just for raising a ruckus.