Things your waiter won't tell you

[BookstoreEscapee]

I started browsing the slideshows linked from the story in the "Readers Digest Article" thread...

Things your waiter won't tell you

More things your waiter won't tell you

Restaurant stereotypes

Things and more things your bartender won't tell you.

Who knew hot tea was such a pain in the ass?

[TelephoneAngel]

19. Trust your waitress. Say something like “Hey, it’s our first time in. We want you to create an experience for us. Here’s our budget.” Your server will go crazy for you.

Yeah coz waiters don't have other customers so they can take all the time in the world trying to put together a meal for people who can't read the menu and prices.

[TelephoneAngel]

Studies indicate that waiters can boost their tips by:
• lightly touching the customer
• crouching next to the table
• introducing themselves by name
• and—believe it or not—drawing a smiley face on the check

Other than introducing themselves by name, if my waiter does any of the other things, I don't go back, way too creepy.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Studies indicate that waiters can boost their tips by:
• lightly touching the customer
• crouching next to the table
• introducing themselves by name
• and—believe it or not—drawing a smiley face on the check

Other than introducing themselves by name, if my waiter does any of the other things, I don't go back, way too creepy.

The only one I find creepy would be touching me. If they crouch down they're at my level and it's easier to hear what they're saying, especially if it is crowded and noisy. I feel more confident that they will hear me correctly as well. I've seen plenty of smiley faces on checks but I can't say they inspire me to tip more than I was planning to in the first place (I'm a pretty decent tipper most of the time, anyway - you have to be really bad to get less than 15-20%, and I tend to round up as well).

[Sliceanddice]

We want you to enjoy yourself while you’re there eating, but when it’s over, you should go. Do you stay in the movie theater after the credits? No.

yes yes i would alot of movies have surprises after the credits.

also the last one on the more things - bartenders?

they would tell you about the cab thing

[Jack]

FYI, they didn't explain the touching thing very well. You don't need to do the Creeper's Shoulder Touch or go hugging the customers or whatever, just a light, incidental brush of the hands when handing over the ticket. I think the idea is that physical contact, even if not consciously noticed or given any importance, can cause empathy or attraction of some sort, such that the customer might feel inclined to tip better because they got the impression that the server was amiable somehow.

[Lady Legira]

3. If you have a European accent, you are a horrible tipper. Accent = 10 percent. Always.

My late husband always tipped at least 20%. Don't think we've ever had bad service in the US.