The customer I hate: You insist that you know everything about the restaurant and you don't need my help. Last time I checked, I'm the one with the computer in front of me that shows what I have available. Meaning, what you think you know about the place is very minimal, and I'm EMPLOYED here to assist you. Also, you think that just because I work in the service industry that I don't deserve any respect, nor am I educated. 1) Just because you're here to impress your client whom you're taking out to eat does not mean you are any better than me. 2) I graduated from UC Berkeley. I'm far more educated that you think. Back the fuck off and let me do my job.
I was working a Friday dinner shift and a man approached my desk. He says, "No reservations, but I would like a table for four please."
I say, "Sure, give me one moment to see if I have anything opening up."
As I'm about to turn away to check on tables he says, "Please don't tell me I have to wait for forty-five minutes."
I walk away and roll my eyes. Umm, excuse me mister. You do realize it's a Friday night. The busiest night of the week to go out to dinner, next to Saturday. We have a DJ here and a private event and you're trying to tell me how to do my job. MAKE A FUCKIN' RESERVATION IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO WAIT! This guy is lucky that I had one table left to seat his party. As I'm walking him back I say, "Next time I recommend that you make a reservation if you want to assure that you have a table without a wait. It's our busiest night of the week and we can't make any promises for walk-ins." The asshole smirks. I should have made him wait for being such a smart ass.
Today, there was a woman who wouldn't even let me finish a sentence. She walked in asking for my manager and insisted that she speak to her. I tried to seat her at a table, but she decided to seat her ass at the bar. My restaurant hosts a buffet, and this woman was ready to pay with me right when she walked in...almost as though she thought she was at Hometown Buffet. Don't get me wrong, the chicken at that place is good. It's just that this woman was straight tacky. My manager made her way out of the kitchen and I pointed out the woman who mentioned her name. My boss had no clue who the woman was! Then, she offered them a table and said something along the lines of, "Feel free to take a seat at this table." The woman interpreted that as "sit at this table, it's free". So, she hustles her way to the buffet and, swear, got a good four plates of food. She kept complimenting my boss and saying that she looked beautiful, this and that. The server who was taking care of that table was like, "that woman thinks she's eating here for free". My boss says, "No, charge her".
Then, the most pretentious man approached my desk. The first thing he says is, "Filipina, right? You're beautiful." Oh please, back off. He starts giving me a business speal as if I have any control of what direction the restaurant takes. I tell him that our managers are unavailable and he continues to talk to me. He keep shooting me unwanted compliments and hands me two of his business cards: one for my boss and one for me. Eww. He asks, "So can I have a tour of the restaurant? I haven't been here since it relocated." So, I walk him through. Everything in this restaurant has a story behind it, so I start to explain to him what they are as we walk from one room to the next. Too bad the guy wasn't even listening to me and was looking at my legs the entire time. I mean, yes, I'm supposed to wear a dress and heels to work every day, but that does not entitle you to encroach into my personal space with your eyes. After I caught on to his glares I started to walk aside him so he would just look at my face. As I show him out of the restaurant he shakes my hand a little too long and gives me the most disgusting look. I say my thanks and start to walk. Right when I turn my back my coworker catches me give an ugly snarl. So, he goes to the man and asks if he needs anymore help. He leaves.
Thank goodness my coworker understood what was happening and stepped in even though it was only to get the guy out of the place as politely as possible. He came up to my desk to ask if I was ok. I nodded. Gentlemen, please. The women who work in this industry don't deserve to be harassed. While there are some women who don't mind the extra attention, there are others who do. And, please, just back-off. I don't appreciate the uninviting stares, and I don't deserve it. Treat me with some respect because that's all I have intended to do for you...until you say or do something beyond your jurisdiction.
I took a look at his business card-- the both of them-- and didn't even bother to show it to my boss. I know she's not interested and I know she doesn't want to do business with a sleezeball like that. It had a picture of him and above it reads, "The Coupon King". Coupon King, please. Go find a coupon to a place that teaches you how to respect women. You need some manners. While you're at it, pass that coupon on to the two previous people I've mentioned above.
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