Up for discussion: restaurant FB post about rude customers

[CurlyQ284]

I think there have always been people like this. My first job when I was 15 was an ice cream shop, and after a year they also started selling pizza. This guy would call every Friday, order two pizzas. There was always a problem with one of them so the manager would send another free pizza. The guy was so nasty everryyyyy Friday. After months of this she had enough and they got into it when he called for his Friday order. He said he would take her business elsewhere and this sweet old lady said "GOOD, I HOPE YOU DO! IT COSTS US TOO MUCH TO HAVE YOU AS A CUSTOMER!" and hung up on him. I'd never seen her raise her voice any other time besides this phone call 🤣

I don't think the public shaming is necessary, I would not have done that if it was my restaurant, they can handle that quietly. But I'm also not mad about it 🤷 people like that are the worst.

[wanderingback]

I assume the restaurant posted this for drama/to get sympathy?

I’m only saying that because a restaurant should have a policy for how to deal with rude customers, it’s unfortunately a normal thing. And if they come in 3 times a month they clearly have an opportunity to talk to these people in person if really their true intent is just to tell them to not come back.

[ECB]

If you're a big enough asshole, I'm not going to care too much about being publicly shamed.

BUT - I do agree with the majority, why not just ban them?  Everyone there knows who these people are.  Don't serve them. 

[sunshineandpinot]

Woah. Where is the popcorn?

[cville]

Everyone is an asshole, but I give the restaurant more of a pass because they did something public and the ensuing fallout is amusing. That is, they get a pass only because I'm entertained.

[redheadbaker]

Posts like this make me inwardly cringe, but I wouldn't jump to not supporting the restaurant because of it.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Sept 10, 2024 7:55:05 GMT -5 jennistarr1 said:

This was posted (with a picture of a couple)

The customers in this photo visit the sunshine grille about 3 times a month. They speak nasty to my waitstaff and never tip. They have caused a few of the younger, less experienced girls to cry and want to give up. They complain about anything and everything. Last time it was that they did not get enough cherries in their Manhattan. They blamed the waitress, called her a terrible server and told her she did not deserve a tip. Today, we made sure they got 3 cherries. This was not good enough they complained that the drink was not strong enough and that they get a better price at (different establishment). Their server was Brice who many of you know has been with us on and off for over 10 years. They told her she was the worst server they ever had in their life, and left her 72 cents on a $60 check. I want to out these people. I want them to stop harassing my staff. If anybody has their phone number, I want to personally call them and let them know they are no longer welcomed at the Grille

My thoughts:
On one hand bravo for taking a stand for your employees however the public shaming is pretty damning to me and I'm thinking of not supporting this restaurant

We must live in the same area because this restaurant is one that I've been to and I also saw this Facebook post.  Edited to add: I also wondered why they would keep allowing these folks back in if they treat their staff so bad.  And it's also puzzling why the actual couple keeps returning if they believe the service is so bad.  Maybe because they are miserable people?  I don't know, it seems really dumb all around.

[twilightmv]

I wonder if they expect the couple to bad mouth them around town if they’re banned, so they are going on the offensive with their own side of the story to head that off.
Generally I think it’s unprofessional and I’m team “just ban them”, but I don’t have a lot of sympathy for the couple either. Sounds like they really hurt those waiters, and maybe the restaurant just felt it was important to publicly share how strongly they will defend their staff against mistreatment.

[marie]

I worked at a franchise restaurant in college and are managers were really good with a-hole customers. If they knew we were put through hell and didn’t get a tip, they would go into the open check before closing it out and would comp a meal so when we finalized the credit card receipt for their agreed on payment amount we would still get a tip. It was a franchise thought and not a small family owned business, so it was obviously easier for them to do that.

Customer service sucks, you definitely bend more than you want to, but sounds like this couple should have been cut off from being allowed at that restaurant long before it came to a public post with a picture. Also, sounds like this couple hated every second of their visits there, which means they are miserable people all day long if they continued to go close to weekly.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Sept 10, 2024 15:06:07 GMT -5 marie said:

I worked at a franchise restaurant in college and are managers were really good with a-hole customers. If they knew we were put through hell and didn’t get a tip, they would go into the open check before closing it out and would comp a meal so when we finalized the credit card receipt for their agreed on payment amount we would still get a tip. It was a franchise thought and not a small family owned business, so it was obviously easier for them to do that.

Customer service sucks, you definitely bend more than you want to, but sounds like this couple should have been cut off from being allowed at that restaurant long before it came to a public post with a picture. Also, sounds like this couple hated every second of their visits there, which means they are miserable people all day long if they continued to go close to weekly.

This seems very sketchy.

[lab7979]

I don't like public shaming or taking grievances to the internet. I feel like this is the cowards way out for the manager who has obviously seen this happening in their establishment and seemingly not done anything in the moment to stick up for their employees. Maybe that's not the case but still... I think it's easy for people to make comments online but more effective to do it in person. If you are a regular at this establishment do you now need to be worried about voicing a legit complaint about your service? If you say something and the waitstaff gets offended, do you have to worry about being harassed online? Just doesn't seem like a good business move to me.

[erbear]

Sept 10, 2024 15:11:39 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

Sept 10, 2024 15:06:07 GMT -5 marie said:

I worked at a franchise restaurant in college and are managers were really good with a-hole customers. If they knew we were put through hell and didn’t get a tip, they would go into the open check before closing it out and would comp a meal so when we finalized the credit card receipt for their agreed on payment amount we would still get a tip. It was a franchise thought and not a small family owned business, so it was obviously easier for them to do that.

Customer service sucks, you definitely bend more than you want to, but sounds like this couple should have been cut off from being allowed at that restaurant long before it came to a public post with a picture. Also, sounds like this couple hated every second of their visits there, which means they are miserable people all day long if they continued to go close to weekly.

This seems very sketchy.

I don't think so. The manager isn't taking money from the customer; they are comping part of their meal and that money goes to the server. It hurts only the restaurant, not the customer or the server.

I'm here for the drama. But I hate entitled people so I like to see them get called out.

[marie]

Sept 10, 2024 15:27:14 GMT -5 erbear said:

Sept 10, 2024 15:11:39 GMT -5 donutsmakemegonuts said:

This seems very sketchy.

I don't think so. The manager isn't taking money from the customer; they are comping part of their meal and that money goes to the server. It hurts only the restaurant, not the customer or the server.

I'm here for the drama. But I hate entitled people so I like to see them get called out.

Not sketchy at all… we would comp meals for all kinds of reasons… They were quoted the wrong wait time, food came out cold, hair in food, something was burnt, etc… there were many nights something was comped to fix a wrong.

[mags]

This is management's fault for allowing it. They should be the ones shamed! If all servers refuse to serve them I'm sure it would send a message to the couple and management!

[isabel]

Sept 10, 2024 17:14:51 GMT -5 mags said:

This is management's fault for allowing it. They should be the ones shamed! If all servers refuse to serve them I'm sure it would send a message to the couple and management!

Let’s be clear that it should never be the responsibility of a server (who is possibly young, inexperienced, or very much in need of their job) to refuse service to someone. That is the responsibility of management.

[pugz]

I’m curious about the pic. Did their identity get revealed in the comment section?

[tacokick]

I think if you can’t handling dealing with customers in person when something happens maybe running a business that relies on the public isn’t for you.

Who knows what these people actually did or didn’t do? I don’t think I’d take the word of the owners tbh

Not to mention that many members of the public are unhinged and I wouldn’t want to be responsible if people harassing them goes awry because I was too lazy or scared to handle it myself in person.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

Sept 10, 2024 18:38:42 GMT -5 pugz said:

I’m curious about the pic. Did their identity get revealed in the comment section?

I skimmed the original post and it looks like other locals are saying they "know" them from previous restaurants but no one has said their names that I can see.

[UMaineTeach]

I think it’s extremely tacky and unprofessional of business to do this and the picture and asking the whole wide internet to harass them and put all their information on online is next level disgusting.

Why not just wait until they come in and ban them face to face? Too scared and need to hide behind keyboard warriors? Grow up.


There’s a gym around here who feels the need to post ranting defensive comments to any slight they get wind of. (Never pictures or IDing). It definitely makes me not want to do business with them. To much drama for grown professionals.

[jennistarr1]

Sept 10, 2024 18:38:42 GMT -5 pugz said:

I’m curious about the pic. Did their identity get revealed in the comment section?

Great question...not that I have seen

It looks like the owner posted this on his personal page and then people were saying "make this shareable"...so he did and people were reposting...and then the restaurant page posted it. There are LOTS of comments but so far I haven't seen there name. The picture itself is clear enough that if you knew them its recognizable

Also, most of the comments (again to many to read them ALL) are definitely in support of the restaurant and these people suck. I saw one post that was sorry this happened but this isn't the right way to handle it. Which is what prompted me to post...like I can't be the only one. A complete 180 from the comments here, which has me relieved!!!

[jennistarr1]

donutsmakemegonuts, lets meet up for dinner!!!! I see a few other locals here too

[sonrisa]

Sept 10, 2024 12:18:13 GMT -5 amandakisser said:

Meh. I think if we called out people publicly like this more often, it might change their behavior. …
and potentially stop bad behavior before it starts.
.

Have you seen the past decade on the internet? That isn’t how it has turned out. Everything has escalated and become more combative instead.

[gummybear]

Sept 10, 2024 8:10:09 GMT -5 shauni27 said:

we have a local restaurant that the owner used to do shit like this. Any bad review and he would go on and argue about it. He would post about customers and staff alike complaining about them. It's a shame because the food is pretty good, but we refuse to go on principle now.

H and I get a huge kick out of a local pizza place whose reviews are responded to by the owner in a very spicy way 🤣

[maudefindlay]

gummybear , that I can get behind. Up yours!! Amazing!!

[klee23]

Re: not speaking to the customers in person

From the comments on the post- primarily from the server that was mentioned by name (Brice): it's a smaller restaurant (i.e. not a chain) so they do not have managers, just shift managers. This had been ongoing for months and the younger servers has just talked amongst themselves. When Brice got treated poorly and found out it was an ongoing issue she spoke to the owner because the younger servers were scared to say anything. That was the first the owner heard of it. He in turn posted on Facebook since he was not there to speak with them. It doesn't sound like he has a continuous presence at the restaurant and was afraid he would not be on-site the next time they came in

Not saying I agree or not but just sharing the rationale they spelled out

[definitelyO]

I agree - why would they want to keep going back...

but - my dad was a rude restaurant customer. I hated going out to eat with him. He would barely tip if at all - "I don't tip at McDonald's do I why should I tip here and not my fault they don't pay minimum wage?", etc.. he would be rude to servers, complain about slow service, not hot food, etc.. things that normal people would let slide. we would always apologize for him - and let him know that he should be nicer and go back after he paid the bill to provide a nice tip. He was lonely and grumpy.

At some point he started being a regular at a local chain - someone must have talked with him or he got the most patient waitress ever - he turned around 100% - became a great tipper, he would lean over to tables next to him and share how much he loved the servers and "don't forget how hard they're working, etc..." he would give his 3 favorite servers huge Christmas tips ($500). I have no idea what or who turned him around - but someone other than us called him on it and he changed his tune.

[Aloe Vera]

I agree with everyone that the restaurant owner should have talked to the couple in person letting them know they aren't welcome in his restaurant anymore. This should have happened a long time ago. But, people will trash restaurants on social media/reviews for the most stupid thing. Every time I read 1 star reviews, it's always something stupid like "There was a storm outside so we couldn't use the patio and we came just for the patio! If I could give zero stars, I would!!!!".
Restaurants are starting to fight back.