Windy Sydney

Time for a rant... sorry, needs to happen.

As I have mentioned before, I have worked with the public for about 15 or so years. Here are just a few things that get on my nerves...


Restaurants...

• When you go out to eat in a restaurant, you shouldn't blame your waiter or waitress for mistakes made by the kitchen staff. Not leaving a tip for the server isn't really proving anything. It's not his/her fault that it happened...
• When you are dining out, remember you *are* are guest in their establishment. Please don't run around (let your kids run around is more like it) stand on chairs, or make a huge mess just because you can. How would you feel if someone did this to your place of business?
• If a restaurant host or hostess takes you to a table that you don't like, don't be rude about it. Just ask nicely. They take you to certain tables because they are trying to make sure all servers get the same chance to make tips.
• Remember that most servers make very, very little per hour and most of their income depends on tips. If you have horrible service it's one thing... but there is nothing stopping you from being generous and saying thank you. "Thank you" goes a long way.
• Waiters and Waitresses are not dumb. If you talk to your server like they are below you, or treat them as if that is the only job they can hack, you are mistaken. Serving is hard work, and 90% of the time, your server is trying to make ends meet.
  
• If you walk out on the bill, it comes from the server's pocket. It's not a funny thing to do, or an adventurous evening for you and your friends. You are taking money out of the pocket of someone who could be a single parent or college student. How would you feel if you went to work and walked out with less money than you walked in with?
• If you are dining with a large group of people, gratuity will more than likely be added to your check automatically. This varies from restaurant to restaurant, and the number of people can also vary... I have seen everything from 6-8 people getting an auto-gratuity.
• If you are paying an automatic gratuity, you can still tip extra if your server did a good job. Keep in mind that keeping a table that large organized is hard work, could you do it?
• If you are rude and nasty to your server, you should remember that they have access to your food. I am not saying that anyone I have ever worked for has done something like spit in your food, but it's just common sense. Don't be mean to the person who has the chance to get even... especially without you knowing about it.
• If you are splitting checks with everyone on the table, or if you are paying for a child that is sitting at a different table, tell the server before you order. If you wait until the last minute, it's going to take some time to fix things on their computer! You are the one who waited to give the info, so getting angry at the person trying to help you won't make matters any better.... or faster. It's not their fault.
• While dining out, remember that pushing tables together without asking first can cause problems for the restaurant. One of the places I worked for was once written by the fire marshal because tables were pushed together and there wasn't a clear path to the exit doors. Also, keep in mind that pushing tables together might mean that you are stealing a table from another server who won't be making any money while you occupy their table.
• If you order a steak or hamburger well-done, don't be surprised that it takes a while for your food to come out. It takes a while to cook! If you go into a place and order before the table next to you, and their food comes out before yours, look at what they are eating! If they are munching on a salad and you are waiting for your fancy-schmancy dinner you should chill the hell out!
• This one seems obvious, but it should be said... if you have food allergies, call the restaurant ahead of time to make sure they have a way to prepare your food so that it doesn't come into contact with the item you are allergic to!
  
• Be understanding. If the place is packed with people, and your server is running around like a chicken with his/her head cut off, you could be a little kinder when realizing you need a refill on your Diet Coke. Most of the time they are doing the best they can.
• Be kind. If you want good service, you should treat the server with respect. If you are rude, they are not going to go out of their way to help you out. It's common sense.

• All rides have wait times. You are in a theme park, the rides are busy, and you are going to have to wait. Getting mad at the employees won't make your line go any faster, and it certainly won't gain you any points if you need their help at all.
• You will need to put the cute little stuffed animals you won at the carnival games somewhere while you ride the rides. Seems pretty straightforward, huh? You would be surprised how many people screamed at me when they couldn't take their 4 foot purple puppy-dog on the rollercoaster. No, I am not kidding.
• If you see a fence, don't go past it. Fences are there for your safety. If you get caught going through a fence that states guests should keep out, you will probably get escorted out by security. Don't be stupid.
• If you are going to see a show, make note of the time the show starts and try to be there 15 minutes early. If the show takes place inside with a dark theater, the employees will more than likely have to ask you to come back to the next show because opening the doors will ruin the effects for everyone else. This isn't the employee's fault. If they tell you they can't let you in the show after it has started, they mean it. They can't. Do you think they want to make people mad at them because it's so much fun? Don't you think their lives would be easier if they could just let you in the show? It would. I speak from experience.
• Don't force your kids to ride something they are afraid of. Most employees refuse to put a child on the ride, even though you want them to. Forcing your kid to do stuff like this is really messed up in my opinion.
• Remember that you are on vacation. Take it easy. Sure, there are lots of things to say and do, but how much fun are you going to have if you are too stressed out about seeing everything? Take it easy and have some fun. Remember that you are making memories for your kids, don't make them bad memories.
• Drink water, and lots of it. Seems like a "duh" thing, but you would be surprised if I could possibly count the times I had to call health services because you were dehydrated. It's going to be hot, you are going to be walking around, and you are going to need to drink water.
• Don't ever ask an employee this question: "Excuse me miss, what time does the three o'clock parade start?" *insert mental picture of me banging my head against the wall.*
• Your kid cannot ride on your lap. No excuse or reason should be good enough. It's not safe, and if your kid got hurt on the ride the park would be liable. Don't give the employees a hard time if you don't get your way. This goes for height as well. If you are not tall enough, you are out of luck. Remember that if your kid was to get hurt, you would have wished that you would have listened to the person operating the ride.
• If you are getting photos taken with a cartoon character mascot, remember that there is someone inside that suit. That person is hotter than hell, thirsty, and sometimes on the verge of passing out. Really. If the person escorting the character tells the crowd that the character has to go, be understanding. If you put yourself in their shoes, you might just understand.
• It's very obvious when people are making up things to get stuff for free. Once, a guy told me that some employee kicked him out of a line at the most popular attraction and he didn't do anything wrong. He wanted to be "compensated" for what happened. We are not going to believe stories like that because it wouldn't happen. If you want something for nothing you are out of luck. Everyone else waited in line, and so can you.
• Get a park map. Again, another "duh" but you would be surprised.
• Don't walk up to an employee with a funny-looking themed outfit and name tag and say, "Do you work here?" No, I just really like this ensemble.
• Food and drink will be expensive. Expect it. Not the employee's fault.
• Obey the rules, they are rules for a reason.

• If you are having trouble with an item that you bought in a store, and you return it, it's not the employee's fault the item was defective. It's a manufacturer problem. Getting angry and rude isn't proving anything except that you are mean and nasty to people that are trying to help you.
• Keep your receipts! Especially if you buy something expensive! Most stores have return policies in which you can still return an item without a receipt, but you will more than likely get store credit. You are not getting store credit because the employee wants to upset you, it's just how it is. They don't make the rules.
• If you go to a self-checkout location be patient with the attendant at the computer station overseeing the whole thing. There is usually 1 attendant per 4 checkout machines. If the store is busy, so are they. They don't like getting yelled at, and they certainly don't enjoy dealing with angry people. If you want them to help you, it won't kill you to be nice.