One of the most classic bad customers is the person that sits at your bar, eats and drinks everything in front of them, and then when it's time to pay, complains about their meal.
I had an all-timer this weekend.
The Empty Plate Specialist: A Masterclass in Passive Aggression
An older couple came in as soon as the doors opened for business which is when our happy hour starts. This happens to be one of the better happy hours in town. Not only is it seven days a week, but it's an opportunity to try high-end steakhouse meals and cocktails for $20–$30 per person.
When the sat down, they mentioned it was their first time in and they had been wanting to stop by for awhile. Luckily they were pretty much the only ones at the bar, so it was an opportunity to wow them. They were given a full food and cocktail menu breakdown, had a bunch of questions answered, and a few cocktails tailored to their tastes.
As the dishes came out, they were enjoying everything since it was their first time. They seemed to love it.
When it was finally time for them to close out, I offered one final, "So how was your first time?"
They responded with scrunched faces, "You really need to work on your fries."
"Oh I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy them. Next time please let me know earlier and I can get you new fries or maybe something different."
That elicited nothing more than a smug look and a 10% tip.
Want more real-life bad customer stories from behind the bar? Check out the book The Customer's Wrong and grab your copy HERE.
0 comments