It finally Happened...

[Buford57]

My dad used to leave a penny in similar circumstances. He wanted them to know he hadn't forgotten, and what he thought their "service" was worth.

John

So did I. But that was when a quarter was a GOOD tip.

 

[SmithNut]

What IS strange is a man of your age and discernment going into a Taco Bell.

Wellllll, got to tell you that I never go into Taco Bell, it's easier to sit in my car, order in the drive thru and pay without the inconvenience of taking off my seat belt..

And the extra benefit is that I'm learning a new language.....

 

[NYlakesider]

My dad used to leave a penny in similar circumstances. He wanted them to know he hadn't forgotten, and what he thought their "service" was worth.

John

Had a problem like that years back, that waitress was less than awful. My buddy a rather decent fellow left her a tip of about 5%, I wanted to leaver two cents only!. She got to the table did some quick math and about 15' from us yelled you did not tip me right and what the hell are you people cheapskates or something. About 3/4s of the restaurant could hear her rather loud rant.

My reply was you ought to be thanking us, we way over tipped you as your service and demeanor was awful. Now I have a rather deep carrying voice and at that point she decided to shut up as we were not intimidated and she then skulked back to her table area.

 

[mckenney99]

The last time I went to a McDonald's they were Kiosk order only, but they still would take cash at the counter. It actually worked pretty well and if the order was messed up, it was my fault, I couldn't blame it on the tattooed and fishing lure faced kid at the counter
I DO NOT DO DRIVE THRUs. Locally they never get the orders correct and you don't find out until you have left and I believe they count on that fact as their business model.
Most of the local Wendy's lock the dining room at random times, forcing customers to drive thru only (see abve). The last time I did get into the local Wendys dining room, when I went to place my order at the counter, I was informed that payment was by card only. Thank you, goodbye.
I WILL NOT USE A CREDIT CARD TO PAY FOR FAST FOOD, I refuse. I realize that that is my choice and it is also my choice not to patronize those businesses with that policy.

 

[Truckman]

Prior to whatever gun show I'm attending on any given weekend morning, I walk into the same Whataburger I've visited for the last couple of decades...By the time I get to the front cash register they already have my order rung up and waiting for my credit card...Sometimes if they see my truck in the parking lot when I get there, it will be on a tray by the time I walk in to pay...And yes we all know each other by first name...Maybe I shouldn't be so predictable......Ben

 

[Beemerguy53]

...Back in the day, when I worked with Customers as an employee, I was always informed that I represented my employer in my personal appearance, demeanor, courtesy, service, and manners...

I've worked since I was 12, when I had a newspaper route. I got my first "real" (Social Security-paying) job in 1968, when I was 15. I worked every Saturday, from 8 to 4:30, at the dry cleaner down the street, and made 85 cents per hour, which was Maryland's minimum wage then.

On my first day there, my boss, the owner of the business, explained to me that he didn't pay me that 85 cents...our customers did...and he better never fail to hear me thank them for their patronage.

How times have changed!

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

Add that to the reasons I never eat at fast food joints.

 

[Marine Corps Air]

Yep, I had the same experiences as Beemerguy53 in 1963-1965 bagging groceries and taking them out to the Customer's car!! It was $ .85/hour for "Minimum Wage" back in those days. It went to $1.00/hour before I left for Parris Island in the summer of 1965.

When the grocery store owner's first start they ran the register and bagged the groceries. As sales increased, they hired us to do the work.

BTW-it was extremely rare to get a tip. A sincere "Thank You" was the usual tip!

Bill

 

[sigp220.45]

Remember when the only food you could get delivered to your home was pizza?

Now with Door Dash I can get any restaurant in town to bring anything I want to my house and leave it at my door.

The only time I ever go to a fast food place is if I’m on the road and am going to eat in the car. Then its the drive thru. I can’t imagine why I would ever go inside.

We eat out all the time, but its at a decent places with servers. I can’t remember the last unpleasant dining experience I’ve had.

I’ll have to let the Curmudgeon Express leave the station without me on this run.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

The old rule in restaurants was poor service was reflected in the tip, poor food, talk to the management.
I have no problems with restaurants, even local ones, using computers, makes the bookkeeping and accounting easier for them.
The McDonald's I go to regularly has no drive-in. The manager is Hispanic, he and I are on good terms. seems like most of his staff are Hispanics. I hear them talking Spanish to each other, my orders always come out properly, the place is clean.
I worked part time as a driver and dispatcher at a large limo company, on our paychecks we regularly were reminded "The passenger pays your wages."
In government offices they need a sign "The taxpayer pays your salary."
I recall a TV commercial from the 70s, shows a waiter in a Chinese restaurant taking the customers orders with a small recording device, then replaying it to the chef. When he brings their orders out one woman says
"I didn't order this.", he takes the device out and.....

 

[NFrameFred]

My dad used to leave a penny in similar circumstances. He wanted them to know he hadn't forgotten, and what he thought their "service" was worth.

Many, many years ago I acquired some printed business sized cards from some novelty shop somewhere that had a picture of a penny on them and a message that said, "The tip would have been BIGGER if the service had been BETTER."I had occasion to use them a handful of times and would leave a penny on top of the image on the card. Always got the stink eye from the wife when I did even when she agreed the service was terrible.

My first time card punching paying job in high school was on the server's side of the counter back in the dark ages . . . my employer was a very old fashioned all business no nonsense little lady all of 4' 10" tall. Everyone who worked for her got "the speech" their first day on the job . . .

"You are not here to 'help' the customers, you are here to serve them; you're not here to carry on conversations and visit with your friends when they come in; the customers can choose to spend their money elsewhere and while you work for me you will serve them as quickly, politely, and efficiently as possible; I'm paying you to work, and since there's always something to do here, if you don't have something to do I'll FIND something for you to do!"

She was a tough old bird but fair - she was generous and kind if you did your job but if you didn't - you didn't last very long. She insisted on you knowing how to properly count back change and to never argue or be rude to the customer. But if there was the inevitable problem customer she would step in and take care of it - she didn't allow us to be abused by the customers. You could eat off the floor in her establishment and maintaining that condition while actively conducting the primary business was a big part of the job.

For the rest of my working life I had many more employers/supervisors and the like, good and varying degrees of not so good. But from this end of it I'm grateful for having received a good start from someone like her that backed up what I had been taught at home.

Unfortunately I've been present as a customer and seen young employees cursing and threatening those in charge a time or two. As far as I know there were no repercussions in at least two of those cases because because of the ethnic make up of the parties involved. Things have changed, and not for the better.

The world changes, people don't. But what is and is not acceptable in respect for authority and public behavior continues to deteriorate. More automation is inevitable and as the technology advances human behavior and values seem to suffer. In my opinion everyone should work behind the counter for at least six months or so - it will teach you to be a better customer and a kinder person.

Though the origin is in dispute, someone coined the acronym To Insure Prompt Service for "TIPS". Too many seem to have no concept of that sentiment and look at it as something they're entitled to regardless of how poor the service they provide may be.

Unfortunately more mechanization and automation is inevitable. My vain hope would be that all that time in labor that is saved would be used to instill better values and behaviors in young human beings. Sad thing is, . . . a great number of older people can't teach something they've never learned themselves . . .

 

[K-22]

Butcher Shop

We eat out a lot, probably too much! More and more we find that the way you are supposed to order is from am iPad or your iPhone. I always ask the waitress or waiter fro a real menu - they usually give me "the look" but do bring one. Now the big thing is that at the end of the meal they bring the check on an iPad and you just pay at the table. If you want to pay in cash they give you that look once again.

BTW now all these computerized checks give you a button to push indicating the tip you want to leave. I guess people today can't figure out percentages and need a computer to do it for them. Maybe it's a way for them to try and get a bigger tip.

The BIG pet peeve I have is now everyone expects a tip just for doing their jobs and that they are already being paid for! They now have tip buttons at the fast food places, ice cream parlors, etc. I am a generous tipper (20 - 25%) as long as the service is good, but I won't leave a tip for someone handing me a cup of coffee in a fast food or beverage place.

You ain’t seen nothin yet.
There is a tip jar on the counter at my local butcher shop.
And trust me, these people are not making minimum wage.

 

[GaryS]

IN TEXAS no less.

My experience is that if you really want fast food Mexican, find a Taco Cabana.

That's if you want fast food Mexican. I'm not that much of a Mexican food guy, so my experience is limited. I used to take my son to Taco Bell when he was a kid, but that's at least 25 years back.

Back on topic (sort of). COVID was the excuse for the new way of doing business, but saving money is the real reason. For the places that use kiosks, not for the customers.

With several states raising the minimum wage to $15.00/hour small businesses are finding it hard to stay in business. Taco Bell isn't a small business, but its franchises generally are.

That's why places are moving towards automated everything. That includes some of the cooking as well as the counter staff.

Kiosks don't call in sick, they don't take breaks, they don't give free food to their friends. They just sit there and blink away at customers and take their orders and money.

The mostly over 60 inhabitants of this forum are not the target audience either. The target audience has smart phones, uses QR codes, Apple pay, or something similar.

What IS strange is a man of your age and discernment going into a Taco Bell.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Raise the minimum wage? No problem. A kiosk can take your order, and probably will get it right. Minimum wage people that want it raised, be careful what you ask for.

 

[LVSteve]

That's if you want fast food Mexican. I'm not that much of a Mexican food guy, so my experience is limited. I used to take my son to Taco Bell when he was a kid, but that's at least 25 years back.

Nobody who is into Mexican food goes to Taco Bell.

 

[10mm Shooter]

I refuse to use a kiosk to order food and big time refuse to eat at a Taco Bell. My first and only experience with kiosk ordering was several years ago. There was a nice lady that met me at the door and offered to show me thier new gadget. She walked me throught the entire process, which was very time comsuming for both of us. At the end it was time to pay and she said, "just put your credit card in the slot". Big problem - "I use cash only". 30 minutes of my life that I will never get back...

 

[djohns6]

Responding to Chief38's post #8

Want MY Tip = Give Service

Want MY business = Human Interaction.

I will do computer/online orders with Amazon and Flea Pay.
I will not deal with a computer/kiosk/iPad/iPhone for a burger and fries.
Businesses have their policies and I have mine. They have a chance at the money in my pocket.

I and SHMBO dine occasionally at some favorites.
We tip WELL and the staff knows and remembers us.
The staff remembers our drink order and seating preferences.
Tips are CASH. That way I know who gets the tip.

Bekeart

The only thing I can add to that is NO SELF CHECKOUTS .

 

[6518John]

Remember when the only food you could get delivered to your home was pizza?

Now with Door Dash I can get any restaurant in town to bring anything I want to my house and leave it at my door.

One of my neighbors has an old cur dog, Stinky Joe, that was jumping the fence every evening about human supper time. He was roaming the neighborhood watching for Door Dash deliveries that were dropped off on the porch, the bell rung, and the driver leaving. Stinky Joe was then grabbing the bag, finding a hiding spot and having a feast!

He was finally caught on Ring Camera and brought to justice. His defense was he thought it was a reward for not having chased a skunk that day!

 

[375hh1973]

Went into McDs the other day

Used the kiosk

Picked out what I wanted, swiped my card.

Less than 2 minutes later I was handed my hot fresh order with a large container for my coke.

What an awful experience!!!

 

[Rustyt1953]

Went into McDs the other day

Used the kiosk

Picked out what I wanted, swiped my card.

Less than 2 minutes later I was handed my hot fresh order with a large container for my coke.

What an awful experience!!!

The horror!