• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Waitress poured hot soup on me, restaurant did absolutely nothing

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Neece

Member
HvySky said:
It's just soup. It's not like it scalded the OP or left them with horrible burns. They said themselves it was no big deal and didn't want to make a fuss. I don't necessarily think "whining" is the right word, but can you really be upset about not getting free stuff after you yourself insisted it was no biggie?

I don't think people are trying to force a thread backfire here. In my experience, comps are usually given out to calm down upset customers and keep them coming back if it feels like their experience was beyond redemption. OP sounds like they were a pretty chill customer and didn't make a big deal out of it, so it's weird to then be upset afterward that they didn't get anything out of it.
Click to expand...

Meh, in my experience, waiters and managers usually go out of their way to compensate you somehow when something like this happens. They offer a free dessert or extra food on the side, or when the bill comes cross out the item that they messed up, or something. I don't feel like a customer should have to complain to get offered something as a gesture. At least at good restaurants that care about customer satisfaction.

And on another note, I'm also weary of complaining in restaurants. Makes me feel like I'm being an inconvenience or as if I've done something wrong. I know it's not the case, and if I do complain, I try 100% to be super nice about it, but I've read too many accounts of people that used to work as restaurants saying how annoyed they get at customers complaining. Oh you said you didn't want onions in your salad? And you couldn't just move it to the side and instead complained to me when you see I'm busy with several tables? well how about I put some special sauce in it...

Obviously not all waiters would think like that but I know people that do that worked in in restaurants, and yeah, I try my best in all circumstances to not complain to the people preparing my food behind a wall.

I really respect and tip extra to the food establishments that make mistakes and compensate you on their own without having to be complained to.
 
F

Fat4all

Banned
Two Words said:
I'm pretty confident that management knew. The place was small, a lot of employees were around, and she didn't quietly apologize. She was pretty loud about it and was quickly racing back and forth around the restaurant to try and clean it up.
Click to expand...

It's possible management wasn't present, then.
 
S

Snarky(HEART)

Banned
Even if he had a huge smile on his face and was laughing it off and sucked the managers dick because he was so pleased with getting soup spilled on him it's still very weird that the restaurant didn't offer to do a single thing
 
T

TheOfficeMut

Unconfirmed Member
jtb said:
I'm very puzzled by how people are treating this as some complex moral question. Service industry = pamper your customers who are paying over the odds for your product.



I don't really see why the ownership of the soup matters. If it was his soup, they'd just bring out another bowl. Most places would still comp it regardless. Or offer vouchers or dry cleaning or whatever.
Click to expand...

Because I was under the impression from the start that he paid for a soup that he didn't eat but was instead spilled on him.
 
T

Trace

Banned
IMO I'd ban you from the store for being in that seat where hot soup was falling. Now how can they serve that to anyone?

Only half sarcastic, I hate working retail, most customers are horrible
 
C

Cocaloch

Member
Dash_Riprock said:
I love how suddenly everyone is now an expert in Customer Service and how to run a successful restaurant.

Never change, GAF!
Click to expand...

You know many many people work or have worked in the restaurant business right? Additionally, many of those would have worked front of the house. This isn't esoteric stuff here.
 
T

Two Words

Member
TheOfficeMut said:
Of course it plays a role. If it was your own that spilled on you that you didn't eat yet got charged for, of course you'd want it comped. But because it wasn't, an apology sufficed (assuming it wasn't excessive and just a tad bit and not the entire thing); however to instill good will a manager should have gone above and beyond to turn a shitty situation into a better one.
Click to expand...

I mean....if I ordered the soup and they spilled it on me and didn't give me a new bowl of soup AND still charged me for the soup, then yes. But......I don't think anybody could possibly interpret my story to go that way.


In my view, a different waitress spilling an unrelated bowl of hot soup on me is no different than my own waitress spilling my own bowl of hot soup on me and then replacing it with a new bowl of soup. At the end of the day, the issue is getting hot soup spilled on you, not who did it or who the soup was for.
 
M

M.J. Doja

Banned
You complain to management and ask for something taken off your check if they don't offer it.

Slap the daylights out of the waitress after she apologizes.

Fight the first person who intervenes.

That is how you should have handled this.
 
T

TheOfficeMut

Unconfirmed Member
Two Words said:
I mean....if I ordered the soup and they spilled it on me and didn't give me a new bowl of soup AND still charged me for the soup, then yes. But......I don't think anybody could possibly interpret my story to go that way.


In my view, a different waitress spilling an unrelated bowl of hot soup on me is no different than my own waitress spilling my own bowl of hot soup on me and then replacing it with a new bowl of soup. At the end of the day, the issue is getting hot soup spilled on you, not who did it or who the soup was for.
Click to expand...

No shit. I was simply confused and thought you paid for a soup spilled on you. That's it.
 
L

LookAtMeGo

Member
sinkfla87 said:
I work for Hilton and I've had guests stay at my particular hotel that remind me a lot of you and this thread, or rather vice versa. For example:

Guest returns after a long day of vacationing with family to see that housekeeping fucked up and didn't put new towels in their room.

Guest calls me to inform me of this. They are actually quite pleasant and understanding about the issue but regardless, I apologize and offer them new towels and ask if there's anything else I can do for them.

They thank me and say that it's okay, don't worry about anything other than bringing new towels. I told them I'd still inform the housekeeping manager about this mistake, and if they want they can talk to MGMT themselves tomorrow. They decline this as well and never do.

They check out. A week later, a negative review shows up on trip advisor mentioning the towels and about 5 other small problems they never bothered to inform anyone of. The review reads like it was written by a totally different person as the person I dealt with was so friendly and understanding.
Click to expand...
Heh. I know how that is. I work for Fairmont. Thats why they train our employees to "go above and beyond" like sending chocolates to their rooms or comping their meal and having the chef come out and do some fancy shit for them or something if shit goes south. If they say "its fine" or whatever, we are told not to take that as an answer and pamper them until the cows come home. They even put pictures of guests with their names up in the staff area so you will know the names of some higher paying guest to call them by name and stuff.

I guess spending $1000+ per night for a room, people expect a certain level of service.
 
S

sinkfla87

Member
Two Words said:
I don't think I'm anything like those guests. I wouldn't care about something so small like that. I wouldn't have been impacted in any real way having to call for clean towels. And I don't have the intention of leaving a yelp review.
Click to expand...

I will say this: If I was the server then I probably would have told MGMT or I probably would have offered a free appetizer, whatever. But if it was like a 3 second event, and you straight up played it cool and said don't worry about it then in my mind I wouldn't think your experience was a negative one. I would think you're an easy going, friendly person that dismissed the accident the minute it occurred and everything is cool. In the future when stuff like this happens, don't expect people to read your mind or behave in a manner that the you see as appropriate. Don't be a dick but let them know how you feel. Maybe management doesn't let them offer stuff without either the server paying themselves or managerial approval?
 
J

jtb

Banned
Anyways, if you want something from MGMT, don't be polite about it next time. You're the one with soup spilled on you. You're the party who's been aggrieved.

(Also the whole generational divide thing makes no sense in this thread - I assure you, the old people who can afford to buy a new set of clothes are far grumpier and pushier about asking for refunds than the millennials in these types of situation)

LookAtMeGo said:
I guess spending $1000+ per night for a room, people expect a certain level of service.
Click to expand...

This too. The service you can expect varies wildly depending on the amount of money on the table.
 
P

Ponn

Banned
Dash_Riprock said:
I love how suddenly everyone is now an expert in Customer Service and how to run a successful restaurant.

Never change, GAF!
Click to expand...

I'm not an expert, restaurants are different but I was actually the manager at a restaurant for 4 years after high school. While the individual running of a restaurant may be different the general rules of make sure the customer is happy and satisfied is a base pillar of the service industry and isn't really debatable if you want to be successful.
 
B

BreezyLimbo

Banned
I have a similar story

I was eating at Chilis, and I had some chips and salsa. Which are awesome. I usually ask for a bag and a tub of sauce to go. So I'm at the restaurant, and I tell the waitress "Hey can I get a bag of chips to go with some sauce?" And she's like sure. At this point I pay and leave positive feedback and a tip, and she brings me a bag and an empty tub. To fill up the half eating chips and salsa. And I'm like, 'Uhm, can I get a bag to go? These chips are done.' So she goes back, and brings me a plastic bag.

At this point I'm embarrassed as all hell and I leave without my chips. It was pretty bad service. Should I have deserved some free chips? I felt I needed to share this because me and OP went through a similar thing of being embarrassed by the wait staff.
 
T

TheOfficeMut

Unconfirmed Member
BreezyLimbo said:
I have a similar story

I was eating at Chilis, and I had some chips and salsa. Which are awesome. I usually ask for a bag and a tub of sauce to go. So I'm at the restaurant, and I tell the waitress "Hey can I get a bag of chips to go with some sauce?" And she's like sure. At this point I pay and leave positive feedback and a tip, and she brings me a bag and an empty tub. To fill up the half eating chips and salsa. And I'm like, 'Uhm, can I get a bag to go? These chips are done.' So she goes back, and brings me a plastic bag.

At this point I'm embarrassed as all hell and I leave without my chips. It was pretty bad service. Should I have deserved some free chips? I felt I needed to share this because me and OP went through a similar thing of being embarrassed by the wait staff.
Click to expand...

This is making me laugh way too hard
 
F

Fat4all

Banned
BreezyLimbo said:
I have a similar story

I was eating at Chilis, and I had some chips and salsa. Which are awesome. I usually ask for a bag and a tub of sauce to go. So I'm at the restaurant, and I tell the waitress "Hey can I get a bag of chips to go with some sauce?" And she's like sure. At this point I pay and leave positive feedback and a tip, and she brings me a bag and an empty tub. To fill up the half eating chips and salsa. And I'm like, 'Uhm, can I get a bag to go? These chips are done.' So she goes back, and brings me a plastic bag.

At this point I'm embarrassed as all hell and I leave without my chips. It was pretty bad service. Should I have deserved some free chips? I felt I needed to share this because me and OP went through a similar thing of being embarrassed by the wait staff.
Click to expand...

I find being straight forward with your request end up being much less embarrassing. Like, I've asked a waiter straight up for extra bread to bring home with me with my leftovers and if that's OK.

I'd rather be told immediately 'yes' or 'no'

LookAtMeGo said:
I worked at a property that had cabins that were $10,000 per night and people would stay there for weeks.
Click to expand...

I'd stink up that cabin sommit fierce
 
F

Forearms

Member
BreezyLimbo said:
I have a similar story

I was eating at Chilis, and I had some chips and salsa. Which are awesome. I usually ask for a bag and a tub of sauce to go. So I'm at the restaurant, and I tell the waitress "Hey can I get a bag of chips to go with some sauce?" And she's like sure. At this point I pay and leave positive feedback and a tip, and she brings me a bag and an empty tub. To fill up the half eating chips and salsa. And I'm like, 'Uhm, can I get a bag to go? These chips are done.' So she goes back, and brings me a plastic bag.

At this point I'm embarrassed as all hell and I leave without my chips. It was pretty bad service. Should I have deserved some free chips? I felt I needed to share this because me and OP went through a similar thing of being embarrassed by the wait staff.
Click to expand...

LOL
 
O

Onemic

Member
lol at being considered a whiny baby for having food split on you and being expected to tip like everything went swimmingly.

Id say OP fucked up when he didnt say anything about it till after the fact tho.
 
K

Kieli

Member
kaname-san said:
They won't do anything unless you complain
Click to expand...

I didn't complain and got comp'd. Guess what I did? Went to the restaurant a couple more times and recommend my friends to go as well.

Good customer service gets good word of mouth.

Edit: I'm not saying every restaurant does this. I'm saying restaurants should do this for the customers in these situations, especially when the customer is very reasonable about it (not yelling and screaming at the waiters/waitresses).
 
B

BreezyLimbo

Banned
Fat4all said:
I find being straight forward with your request end up being much less embarrassing. Like, I've asked a waiter straight up for extra bread to bring home with me with my leftovers and if that's OK.

I'd rather be told immediately 'yes' or 'no'
Click to expand...

I did! I was 'Can I get some chips to go' and I guess she didn't hear the extra part and at that point I was like 'fuck' when she brought the empty bag. So then I was like 'No I mean can I get a bag, these chips on the table are pretty much done'.
 
H

HvySky

Member
BreezyLimbo said:
I have a similar story

I was eating at Chilis, and I had some chips and salsa. Which are awesome. I usually ask for a bag and a tub of sauce to go. So I'm at the restaurant, and I tell the waitress "Hey can I get a bag of chips to go with some sauce?" And she's like sure. At this point I pay and leave positive feedback and a tip, and she brings me a bag and an empty tub. To fill up the half eating chips and salsa. And I'm like, 'Uhm, can I get a bag to go? These chips are done.' So she goes back, and brings me a plastic bag.

At this point I'm embarrassed as all hell and I leave without my chips. It was pretty bad service. Should I have deserved some free chips? I felt I needed to share this because me and OP went through a similar thing of being embarrassed by the wait staff.
Click to expand...

Thread was worth it for this. Thank you.
 
T

Two Words

Member
KillLaCam said:
You should have acted like it actually hurt if you wanted something from this lol
Click to expand...

I mean, it did hurt at the time. It was pretty hot. It thankfully didn't leave any significant burn though. Right now it feels slightly tender. Kinda like when use a new shower and get scalded by the water being way hotter than you expected and end up with red marks.
 
O

Ondor

Banned
Two Words said:
I ordered a different meal. That is the meal I am talking about. Other people are talking about a soup I never ordered or said I ordered.
Click to expand...
The OP wasn't clear to me and I'm sure it's unclear to others as well. Might be worthwhile to edit the OP to get more meaningful opinions on the discussion.

Cocaloch said:
I mean obviously that statement can run into problems, but so far in this case it seems to be right. People that have worked or are working in the service industry seem to be overwhelmingly taking his side here. At least insofar as to what common practice is.
Click to expand...
Ponn said:
Well, if you ran a restaurant where you were spilling hot soup on customers and thought an apology was sufficient and even added a tip onto the bill I don't see you staying in business too long with that kind of shitty customer service. Its been proven people are generally more apt to talk about or give their opinions on bad customer service experiences to others than good ones. In a service industry you try your hardest to make sure your customer happy and if you fucked up you bend over backwards for them to correct the mistake. Spilling hot soup on a customer? That would be a mortifying situation for a manager. That is also why i'm thinking the waitress never told the manager and tried to keep this quiet to avoid getting reprimanded.
Click to expand...
I understand what standard practice in the industry is. OP wanted people who worked in the service industry and opinions from others who have had similar experiences. Regardless of restaurant manuals on customer service, OP should not have expected anything because it reeks of entitlement and it doesn't hurt the customer to be forgiving and have some sympathy. The service industry sucks and a little kindness goes a long way.
 
D

Dominator

Member
Man, the amount of anger and hostility thrown at OP is baffling to me. I'm reading some of these posts and just do not understand where it is coming from.

OP, they should have comped you. Any self respecting manager/restaurant would try to make it up to the customer. Even if silent, its common knowledge that the silent people are the ones who will make the biggest fuss after leaving the establishment, whether thats telling other people what happened, going to YELP, or yes, even making a GAF thread.

Not that that is the wrong thing to do, you're free to do whatever. The fact of the matter is that they should try to make it right. You go to a restaurant to be serviced, an apology is not enough. I know waiters are human and mistakes happen, thats obvious, but then its time for the manager/owner to take over and rectify it.
 
P

PlayALLtheGames

Banned
A lot of places would comp but it doesn't sound like the management knew. You said you'e "sure" they did but why? Because employees saw? They're not going to run to management and obviously neither will the waitress.
 
D

disappeared

Banned
Two Words said:
I mean, it did hurt at the time. It was pretty hot. It thankfully didn't leave any significant burn though. Right now it feels slightly tender. Kinda like when use a new shower and get scalded by the water being way hotter than you expected and end up with red marks.
Click to expand...

1. Call the restaurant.

2. Ask for the manager.

3. Read your post to the manager.
 
N

Nephtis

Member
The restaurant I went to once wanted to comp my order because i ordered a medium rare steak and I got a well done order. And all I did is let the waitress know about it and I specifically ask they don't comp it, just to make them aware, but they insisted.


Imagine what would happen if soup was spilled on me!

I'm your case OP, it depends on what you wanted. If you chose not to make a big deal that's fine, but I wouldn't have given her a tip. Still would have paid for the food though. Not much that can be done on either side especially if you weren't injured. Had it been a 2nd degree burn or something though.....
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Prozac made me go nuts (triggered a manic episode) and the resulting explosions ruined my relationship
0
1
Puscifer replied
Is One Piece really peak fiction? Sell me on it.
2
55
4K
NecrosaroIII replied
Hot Take: Video games talk too damn much.
Opinion 2 3
124
4K
DonkeyPunchJr replied
What work is out there if you don't like blue collar or white collar?
40
2K
Werewolf Jones replied
Looking at what happened with Mixer, what are the odds that Microsoft is stil pouring money into stuff that's not really profitable to them (at best)?
2 3
101
5K
Astray replied
Top Bottom