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Not many stories lately, as generally most of my customers are pretty cool, or just lame in the usual boring ways. But there were a couple of them.
The first one is not unusual, but I haven't commented on it much, so I'll tell you about the latest version. Now, for the last year or so, we had been allowing anyone to sit at the bar, regardless of age, no big deal. (Obviously we were still carding anyone who ordered drinks.) With a new GM, it was recently decided to go back to the old policy of 21 or over only at the bar. No underage adults, no teens, and no children. Some of the bartenders were doing this on their own anyway, and management just wanted consistency.
So four people sat down at the end of the bar last week. Three women clearly of age, and a girl who was clearly a teenager. When I very politely informed them that she couldn't sit at the bar, but she was more than welcome to sit at one of the bar tables, they got up and left in a huff. Apparently, where they're from it's perfectly fine for minors and children to sit at the bar. I'd love to know where they're from, because that is not normally the policy in any place I've been in. Sadly, this is a fairly common thing. People get offended when we won't let their teens or even their young children sit at the bar. Ya know what? We don't want your business anyway!
But that is nothing compared to this next one.
Pardon Me, Can You Ask Me A More Ridiculous Favor, Please?
Now, to be fair, the woman in this next one was unfailingly polite and friendly during both of my dealings with her, so I hesitate to label her a true SC. But what happened was so bizarre, I just had to relate it. My first encounter with her was when she was in the bar, at one of the bar tables, having a light snack and a cocktail. Pleasant experience, she paid her tab, tipped well, and left.
About an hour later, my manager tells me that there is a phone call for me. I get on the line, and the following conversation ensues:
ME: "This is Jester speaking. How may I help you?"
HER: "Yes, Jester, this is [Her Name]. I'm the black lady who was in a while ago dining. Do you remember me?"
ME: "Yes ma'am. How may I help you?"
HER: "Well, I'm at [wherever the hell she was at], and I'm afraid my meter is running out, and I was wondering if you could put some money in it."
ME: "Excuse me?!?!?!"
HER: "I hate to bother you, but I was hoping you could just stick some money in my meter, and I'll be over later to square it with you."
ME:
"I'm....sorry. I don't think we do that sort of thing. I mean, I'd have to ask my manager, but I really doubt it."
HER: "I understand, but I'd appreciate it if you could take care of that for me. It's the black Audi."
ME: (realizing she is not asking the business to do that for her, but me) "Well, personally I know I can't get out from behind the bar, as we are busier than we were when you were here."
HER: "Oh, I understand. I was just hoping. Thanks anyway."
As I said, she was unfailingly polite. But she wanted me to put money in her meter so she didn't have to come from wherever she was (it's a small freakin' island, and without her car, she couldn't have been that damn far!), and she'd
pay me back later.
A few problems with this.
1. I don't freakin' know her. Now, if one of my friends was parked near my bar and called me with this favor, if at all possible, I would do it. But this is a woman that has been my customer exactly once. Not even a damn regular. Once.
2. She wanted to me leave my post, exit the business, correctly ascertain which black Audi was hers (there could have been more than one), and put money in her meter, counting on her to come settle with me later.
3. I was almost done with my shift. There wasn't going to be much of a later.
4. People often say, "Oh, I'm a little short of cash, so I don't have a tip right now, but I'll get you back later." Do you know how many people in all my years have actually gotten me later? The number is somewhere between 0 and 2 (not quite sure) out of all the dozens of people who've said that.
So, yeah....freakin' bizarre!
The first one is not unusual, but I haven't commented on it much, so I'll tell you about the latest version. Now, for the last year or so, we had been allowing anyone to sit at the bar, regardless of age, no big deal. (Obviously we were still carding anyone who ordered drinks.) With a new GM, it was recently decided to go back to the old policy of 21 or over only at the bar. No underage adults, no teens, and no children. Some of the bartenders were doing this on their own anyway, and management just wanted consistency.
So four people sat down at the end of the bar last week. Three women clearly of age, and a girl who was clearly a teenager. When I very politely informed them that she couldn't sit at the bar, but she was more than welcome to sit at one of the bar tables, they got up and left in a huff. Apparently, where they're from it's perfectly fine for minors and children to sit at the bar. I'd love to know where they're from, because that is not normally the policy in any place I've been in. Sadly, this is a fairly common thing. People get offended when we won't let their teens or even their young children sit at the bar. Ya know what? We don't want your business anyway!
But that is nothing compared to this next one.
Pardon Me, Can You Ask Me A More Ridiculous Favor, Please?
Now, to be fair, the woman in this next one was unfailingly polite and friendly during both of my dealings with her, so I hesitate to label her a true SC. But what happened was so bizarre, I just had to relate it. My first encounter with her was when she was in the bar, at one of the bar tables, having a light snack and a cocktail. Pleasant experience, she paid her tab, tipped well, and left.
About an hour later, my manager tells me that there is a phone call for me. I get on the line, and the following conversation ensues:
ME: "This is Jester speaking. How may I help you?"
HER: "Yes, Jester, this is [Her Name]. I'm the black lady who was in a while ago dining. Do you remember me?"
ME: "Yes ma'am. How may I help you?"
HER: "Well, I'm at [wherever the hell she was at], and I'm afraid my meter is running out, and I was wondering if you could put some money in it."
ME: "Excuse me?!?!?!"
HER: "I hate to bother you, but I was hoping you could just stick some money in my meter, and I'll be over later to square it with you."
ME:
"I'm....sorry. I don't think we do that sort of thing. I mean, I'd have to ask my manager, but I really doubt it."HER: "I understand, but I'd appreciate it if you could take care of that for me. It's the black Audi."
ME: (realizing she is not asking the business to do that for her, but me) "Well, personally I know I can't get out from behind the bar, as we are busier than we were when you were here."
HER: "Oh, I understand. I was just hoping. Thanks anyway."
As I said, she was unfailingly polite. But she wanted me to put money in her meter so she didn't have to come from wherever she was (it's a small freakin' island, and without her car, she couldn't have been that damn far!), and she'd
pay me back later.
A few problems with this.
1. I don't freakin' know her. Now, if one of my friends was parked near my bar and called me with this favor, if at all possible, I would do it. But this is a woman that has been my customer exactly once. Not even a damn regular. Once.
2. She wanted to me leave my post, exit the business, correctly ascertain which black Audi was hers (there could have been more than one), and put money in her meter, counting on her to come settle with me later.
3. I was almost done with my shift. There wasn't going to be much of a later.
4. People often say, "Oh, I'm a little short of cash, so I don't have a tip right now, but I'll get you back later." Do you know how many people in all my years have actually gotten me later? The number is somewhere between 0 and 2 (not quite sure) out of all the dozens of people who've said that.
So, yeah....freakin' bizarre!
I guess worth a try in her world or something?
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