Comments | bad_service: Bad VDay Service

justmanda in bad_service

Bad VDay Service

Feb 15, 2010 11:32

fluffed-up angry snoot poodle tone, *restaurant, as featured on sf_d, don't call me honey, sans pretentiousness, debate, gram-arrr!, *catering/flowers/wedding

Comments 188

audacian February 15 2010, 16:59:11 UTC

Not that it excuses their behavior, but I think you really should've asked when you called (and even when you saw the "no coupon" limit) whether you could use the gift card on a holiday/big night for restaurants.

girliebacchanal February 15 2010, 17:02:05 UTC

Unless you are French I think it's a little obnoxious to use "sans" so many times in this letter.

cerulean_me February 15 2010, 17:16:13 UTC

I agree. There's nothing wrong with the word "without."

(The comment has been removed)

eleganceroses February 17 2010, 12:20:38 UTC

Uh, comic sans is short for comic sans-serifs. Comic without serifs.

Comic Sans IS Comic Without...?

Thread 90

hotclaws February 15 2010, 17:06:04 UTC

I would have figured paying with a gift card wasn't a good idea on a holiday.

kimerastorm February 15 2010, 17:36:35 UTC

Why not? A gift card is cash already in the resturant's hand, as opposed to cash not yet paid. As for their argument about 'not leaving room for customers who are paying' First the resturant was not full, second a gift card is cash paid for by someone else.

-Last edit on the letter: "several moments" dosent sound quite right.... maybe just "I had to wait for a a steak knife to be brought to the table" or something simmilar.

toodani February 16 2010, 05:28:44 UTC

the only reason your comment isn't 100% right is that not all gift cards are pre-paid cash. Most retail establishments, yes. In restaurants, things called "comp cards" can be sent. For all intents and purposes they resemble a gift card, but what it really is, is the restaurant saying "you're entitled to spent $XX.xx and we'll eat that cost". On the sales books it represents a loss in sales. Also it's usually impossible to leave a tip when paying with a comp card since there's no actual cash value on it that could go to the server. This is why I understood the manager's reasoning that she was not a "paying" customer by using a comp card.

HOWEVER. He never should have said a word of that to the customer. And without being prewarned, the OP had no reason to believe she couldn't use her card on this holiday, not knowing herself that it was a comp card and not a gift card, and the manager should have accepted it. OP absolutely got bad service from the top down.

elliesam February 15 2010, 18:14:19 UTC

Whyever not? It's theirs to use.

Thread 9

dbaxdevilsfan February 15 2010, 17:09:39 UTC

I have never had an issue using a gift card on a holiday. Like you said, it's a form of payment, whether they gave it to you or someone else did. I've heard the "no coupons" line for holidays (they want every penny they can get, so no discounts). Using a gift card is not a discount. Completely ridiculous that they wouldn't take it.

indicinderelly February 15 2010, 19:40:37 UTC

it's a form of payment

Not only that but proof of previous payment. Payment in advance really. No reason not to take it.

megumi_kitten February 15 2010, 17:32:15 UTC

That boggles me...I would think many people might have gift cards from Christmas that they maybe used on Valentine's? Are THEY any less 'worthy'? A gift card is money, just it can only be used at the store it goes with.

That waiter was entirely out of line if you ask me. The whole "Thank you for understanding!" when you obviously DIDN'T would have sent me into serious pissed off territory.