Walked a table at dinner last night (2 Viewers)

[Johnny Rock]

Gotta love passive aggressiveness.  

I bet OP is a millennial. 

No way. A millennial likely doesn't even know who Tom Skerritt is. I'm going with 50+.

 

[RUSF18]

Ok... this just happened are our local Pad Thai place....   We order and get food and half way through eating  get a text from son and he wants us to bring him a #45. it's $10.  They deliver his food to go, we get the bill and we are not charged for his.  What should we do?

$10 added to the tip.

 

[Joe T]

Because that's how our economic system works.  You receive goods/services and you pay for them.

No ####### way.

 

[Joe T]

If you get horrible service, don't tip. You should still pay for what you consumed. 

They should pay him for screwing up his night.

 

[Joe T]

If you get bad service, you don't tip. If you leave without paying, that's called stealing. 

What is it called when the restaurant wastes your time and offers no apology?

if they had come by and acknowledged the error or done something to make up for it, I could see paying something.

this is on the restaurant for screwing up. It's not like he had decent service and didn't pay. He had terrible service and didn't pay. It's reasonable.

 

[Politician Spock]

What is it called when the restaurant wastes your time and offers no apology?

Poor service. Despite how much it sucks to experience it, It's not illegal. 

 

[Joe T]

I'm gonna have to side with the OP on this one. Why is everyone so concerned with the restaurant losing out on $5? Why should OP have to waste even more of his time waiting for a bill, asking to speak to a manager etc...?

The restaurant failed here. This is what happens when a business doesn't have its #### together... it loses customers.

 

[Joe T]

I went to a Mexican restaurant a couple of weeks ago. Ordered chicken nachos. It took a while which was fine, but when the food came out the waitress only brought me nachos, no chicken. I pointed this out and the waitress said she would bring me a side of chicken

i said, no thanks, it's not the same. When she brought the bill, it still had the full chicken nachos on there. Needless to say, I deducted the chicken out of the bill. Hope you guys don't think I was stealing.

 

[gianmarco]

Poor service. Despite how much it sucks to experience it, It's not illegal. 

Neither is walking out.

If my lawn guy only mows half my lawn, I'm not paying him half his fee. 

If I rent a tux for a wedding and they don't give me any pants, I'm not paying for the parts of the tux they provided. 

If I order a dozen roses for my wife, and they only deliver 6, I'm not paying for those 6 roses.

If I go to a restaurant and still don't have a meal after spending two hours there, I'm not paying for my salad or my drink if I opt to not waste any more time being hungry there.

I would gladly leave my info and they are welcome to file a police report but we know it wouldn't happen because as a restaurant they haven't held up their end of the bargain and aren't owed for partial service for why I visited them.  And they know that.

We aren't talking about just missing a dessert after eating a meal. It's a salad and drinks. Nothing illegal on their end or the OPs end. At that point, you part ways and call it a day. 

 

[Politician Spock]

Neither is walking out.

If my lawn guy only mows half my lawn, I'm not paying him half his fee. 

If I rent a tux for a wedding and they don't give me any pants, I'm not paying for the parts of the tux they provided. 

If I order a dozen roses for my wife, and they only deliver 6, I'm not paying for those 6 roses.

If I go to a restaurant and still don't have a meal after spending two hours there, I'm not paying for my salad or my drink if I opt to not waste any more time being hungry there.

I would gladly leave my info and they are welcome to file a police report but we know it wouldn't happen because as a restaurant they haven't held up their end of the bargain and aren't owed for partial service for why I visited them.  And they know that.

We aren't talking about just missing a dessert after eating a meal. It's a salad and drinks. Nothing illegal on their end or the OPs end. At that point, you part ways and call it a day. 

Walking out without paying for what you consumed is illegal in most places in the US. Maybe it shouldn't be, but that a discussion for another thread. 

 

[General Malaise]

Speaking as an introvert, this one is extremely easy.  I don't want to make an issue out of my $40 of drinks and salads.  I just want to pull the rip-cord and leave.  I do not want my meal officially comped or have the manager "make it right."  I am just done at this point, and there's nothing to be gained from talking to a higher-up.    

So would you pay for the salads and drinks before leaving?

 

[Binky The Doormat]

No way. A millennial likely doesn't even know who Tom Skerritt is. I'm going with 50+.

Excellent job here Mannix.

 

[Max Power]

Silent follower of this thread for a few days.

I just walked an Uber... How does that compare?   I ordered one that was less than 10 minutes away.  25 minutes later... no Uber, but a cab shows up that can take us, I take the cab. 

I'm new to Uber... I wont be charged right?

 

[loser]

Silent follower of this thread for a few days.

I just walked an Uber... How does that compare?   I ordered one that was less than 10 minutes away.  25 minutes later... no Uber, but a cab shows up that can take us, I take the cab. 

I'm new to Uber... I wont be charged right?

 Yes. I believe a $5 cancellation fee is standard.

 

[avoiding injuries]

Silent follower of this thread for a few days.

I just walked an Uber... How does that compare?   I ordered one that was less than 10 minutes away.  25 minutes later... no Uber, but a cab shows up that can take us, I take the cab. 

I'm new to Uber... I wont be charged right?

There's a way to cancel an Uber. You will have a charge, most likely. 

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Excellent job here Mannix.

Cannon would have have figured it out, as well. 

 

[Ignoramus]

I did this once but had only received drinks (no alcohol) - can't remember if I left any cash or not - but definitely didn't pay for our food order.

Nobody is suggesting he should pay for food not received.

 

[Ignoramus]

He could have waited another 45 for a bill I guess.

Or do some simple addition in his head.  But yeah, your idea seems more logical.

 

[Ignoramus]

1a: Tom Skerritt

1b: CSTU

2: Charles Ponzi

3: Bernie Madoff

Hello, exactly.

 

[Sabertooth]

These were literally the exact words coming out of my mouth. 

Does the OP feel bad or something? Why post this? For affirmation? 

No, you ask for the check for your food and ask to speak to a manager -- then you can quibble about the bill and service. 

Sorry, OP. Not a good move if you didn't pay. I mean, screw them, but that's not how you do it.  

I thought it was pretty alpha.

 

[Reginald Cornsilks]

I will have the spaghetti with a side salad. If the salad comes on top of the spaghetti, I will send it back. 

 

[Johnny Rock]

Excellent job here Mannix.

I prefer Rockford tyvm. 

 

[Jayrok]

I wasn't looking at his neck.  

 

[elguapo07]

If no one saw that you left without paying then it didn't happen. 

 

[Lionsfan011]

I am picturing the Olive Garden as Viper pushed through the double doors. 

You took it...AND BROKE A MAJOR RULE OF ENGAGEMENT. Then you broke another one with that circus stunt walk by. 

 

[The Big Guy]

People have weird perception of time when they are waiting and unless he actually looked at a watch I bet his wait was nowhere near as long as he states. 

I watched a person complaining about the wait on line at the bank swing from 10 up to 15 minutes and she was there for 3 (I actually did look at my watch). I wish I was the type that could have told her to shut up and put her in her place, but I would rather watch the MOP show in process.  

 

[Zegras11]

If no one saw that you left without paying then it didn't happen. 

This is exactly what the waiter is hoping because he didn't turn in the order and was glad they didn't talk to the manager and also explains why he walked past the table twice without looking at them before they left  

 

[Politician Spock]

Silent follower of this thread for a few days.

I just walked an Uber... How does that compare?   I ordered one that was less than 10 minutes away.  25 minutes later... no Uber, but a cab shows up that can take us, I take the cab. 

I'm new to Uber... I wont be charged right?

Depends. If the driver was 10 minutes away when he accepted and 10 minutes later he is still 10 minutes away, then no you won't be charged for cancelling on him. But if he is moving towards you and is now only 5 minutes away after 5 minutes and you cancel, then yes you will be charged. You have five minutes to cancel without being charged. If you cancel after 5 minutes you will be charged, but only if the driver is making his way to you as expected. 

 

[Politician Spock]

I will have the spaghetti with a side salad. If the salad comes on top of the spaghetti, I will send it back. 

You don't have to pay for food you don't eat. 

 

[IvanKaramazov]

So would you pay for the salads and drinks before leaving?

Yes, assuming I have the cash to do so.  

 

[Ignoramus]

What's the end game for the OP? 

Talk to the manager about how bad the service was and possibly get some price reduction on the bill or maybe get the whole thing comped? Sounds to me like he cut out the middle man.

Did the same thing on a DVD player that broke while still under warranty.  The line at the returns desk was really long so I just left the broken one on the shelf and walked out with a replacement.  Cut out the middle man!

 

[Hilts]

You don't have to pay for food you don't eat. 

Order food for others. 

:mansions:

 

[Ignoramus]

I was trying to buy some beer at Walgreens the other night and the cashier was off stocking shelves.  When she saw me at the checkout line she said she'd be right there.  Then the phone rang and she went into the back to answer it and must have been back there 10 minutes.  At one point she made eye contact and raised a finger (as of to say "Just a minute.").  I finally had enough of her trampling all over me and said "Eff this" and walked out with my beers.

What is the maximum I can sue them for since they wasted my time?

 

[Da Guru]

Went to buy some firewood on Christmas Eve day.  The place I go to was closed but they had a couple of tons of wood chopped and piled in the yard.  Just grabbed enough to make a couple of fires that night. Figured with all the business I gave them over the years they would want me to have it.

 

[parasaurolophus]

I was trying to buy some beer at Walgreens the other night and the cashier was off stocking shelves.  When she saw me at the checkout line she said she'd be right there.  Then the phone rang and she went into the back to answer it and must have been back there 10 minutes.  At one point she made eye contact and raised a finger (as of to say "Just a minute.").  I finally had enough of her trampling all over me and said "Eff this" and walked out with my beers.

What is the maximum I can sue them for since they wasted my time?

I dont remember the OP saying he carried anything out.

Better analogy would be if you had a slurpee in hand and had been drinking some. Waited in line a long time and eventually said forget it. Put it down and left.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Speaking as an introvert, this one is extremely easy.  I don't want to make an issue out of my $40 of drinks and salads.  I just want to pull the rip-cord and leave.  I do not want my meal officially comped or have the manager "make it right."  I am just done at this point, and there's nothing to be gained from talking to a higher-up.    

This. And I am a classic introvert. Don't want to ask for directions, don't want to ask for help finding an item at Home Depot. I just want to do it myself. There is no point in my having to speak to a manager. I don't want my bill reduced. I don't want free food. I just want to leave. The experience was not worth any of my money. Sorry if you disagree. Paying my bill would have wasted more of my time, and that puts even more burden on me when the burden is on the restaurant to provide an adequate experience. I feel that I gave them every opportunity to "make things right", and they failed.

I wasn't looking at his neck.  

One of my favorite lines from the movie.

 

[Tom Skerritt]

People have weird perception of time when they are waiting and unless he actually looked at a watch I bet his wait was nowhere near as long as he states. 

I watched a person complaining about the wait on line at the bank swing from 10 up to 15 minutes and she was there for 3 (I actually did look at my watch). I wish I was the type that could have told her to shut up and put her in her place, but I would rather watch the MOP show in process.  

I agree that a lot of people exaggerate counts of things, but I assure you that my times are accurate. If anything, they are under-estimates.

 

[bigbottom]

I agree that a lot of people exaggerate counts of things, but I assure that my times are accurate. If anything, they are under-estimates.

Not really germane to the discussion, but it's an odd thing to give an assurance of accuracy followed immediately by an admission of potential inaccuracy. 

 

[yak651]

I dont remember the OP saying he carried anything out.

Better analogy would be if you had a slurpee in hand and had been drinking some. Waited in line a long time and eventually said forget it. Put it down and left.

If you were the OP it would be an empty slurpee container...

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Not really germane to the discussion, but it's an odd thing to give an assurance of accuracy followed immediately by an admission of potential inaccuracy. 

Mostly accurate then? Would that satisfy you?

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Slinking out the door seems pretty alpha. 

 

[Tom Skerritt]

I dont remember the OP saying he carried anything out.

Better analogy would be if you had a slurpee in hand and had been drinking some. Waited in line a long time and eventually said forget it. Put it down and left.

If you were the OP it would be an empty slurpee container...

I think that this is a fair analogy. Let's assume you are at the counter with your slurpee waiting for the cashier. You are drinking your slurpee because you are thirsty. The cashier is doing anything but coming over to the register to ring you up. You are waiting long enough to finish your slurpee. At some point, you cannot wait any longer. Assume you have no cash. Are you going to just stand there all day and wait?

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

This is what I love about threads like this. This is Page one:

He takes our order... a couple of beers, a couple of sodas, 3 salads, and our entrees. We get the drinks and salads in good time. Great! Wait maybe 30 more minutes and no entrees.

Why would I pay?

So I didn't pay. 

And this is Page Four:

I might need to add . . .  

We we paid maybe $25 plus tip for drinks while waiting for a table.  

 

[avoiding injuries]

I think that this is a fair analogy. Let's assume you are at the counter with your slurpee waiting for the cashier. You are drinking your slurpee because you are thirsty. The cashier is doing anything but coming over to the register to ring you up. You are waiting long enough to finish your slurpee. At some point, you cannot wait any longer. Assume you have no cash. Are you going to just stand there all day and wait?

I'm going to go back and fill up my slurpee cup again. 

 

[Ignoramus]

Not really germane to the discussion, but it's an odd thing to give an assurance of accuracy followed immediately by an admission of potential inaccuracy. 

"I assure you that my times are accurate.  If anything, they are inaccurate."

 

[hunter1]

He could have waited another 45 for a bill I guess.

Thank you!  I was hoping someone wrote this in the first couple pages, so I woudn't have to keep digging.  You did the right thing, TS.  I also waited tables and I am pretty sure they were neither surprised, nor angry.  Probably relieved they wouldn't have to keep explaining themselves.  

 

[BeaverCleaver]

This is what I love about threads like this. This is Page one:

And this is Page Four:

I might need to add . . .  

We we paid maybe $25 plus tip for drinks while waiting for a table.  

The key point is while waiting for his table. He paid for drinks prior to getting seated at the table.

 

[eoMMan]

I think that this is a fair analogy. Let's assume you are at the counter with your slurpee waiting for the cashier. You are drinking your slurpee because you are thirsty. The cashier is doing anything but coming over to the register to ring you up. You are waiting long enough to finish your slurpee. At some point, you cannot wait any longer. Assume you have no cash. Are you going to just stand there all day and wait?

Well, you technically were stealing the slurpee by drinking it.

Yes, you wait and pay. If you have no cash, go to the atm. 7 elevens have ATMs.

 

[General Malaise]

So for the introverts that are uncomfortable talking to the manager of a restaurant to voice your frustration, does that carry over to all walks of life?  If your time is being infringed upon by the airlines, do you also not talk to the customer service rep to see what can be done?  If time is as valuable to you as you say, why would being an introvert prevent you from having a conversation with a person who can potentially change your situation.  Why the hell would anybody wait 45 minutes for nothing to happen when they can spend 1-2 minutes of conversation with the one person who could alter the course of the evening for you?  

I'M MAD AS HELL AND I AM GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!

 

[Ned Ryerson]

This. And I am a classic introvert. Don't want to ask for directions, don't want to ask for help finding an item at Home Depot. I just want to do it myself. There is no point in my having to speak to a manager. I don't want my bill reduced. I don't want free food. I just want to leave. The experience was not worth any of my money. Sorry if you disagree. Paying my bill would have wasted more of my time, and that puts even more burden on me when the burden is on the restaurant to provide an adequate experience. I feel that I gave them every opportunity to "make things right", and they failed.

I know this is unrelated, but it does provide some background regarding a former colleague/current friend of mine.

He is a lawyer and was paid straight % of dollars billed.  He felt as if his time was cut, and was not being paid for all the work he did.  I went out to lunch with him on a Friday, and spoke to him every day.  30 minutes after we returned to the office that day, he BCC'd me on an e-mail to management saying that it was his last day in two weeks.  No warning to the powers that be, other than expressing general displeasure with his arrangement roughly a year prior.

He had saved a lot of money, so he had a cushion, but had no other job to fall back on.  He just said, they should know how to treat me, and I shouldn't have to tell them that, so I'm done.

It boggled everyone's mind at the time, but he said, "Is asking them to treat me better going to make them treat me better?  They should just know that they were not treating me fairly."  

Your paragraph was his explanation to a T, and everyone said the same thing "Why not express your concern?"  And he kept saying, "Well they should just know."  

In retrospect, I think he and the OP were both pathologically introverted.