I’m a bartender at a small pub and grill. I’m used to cheap customers
and not making very much money on tips, but this nearly made me snap.
I was working on a Sunday during a football game. We run specials all
day on drinks including a free shot any time our team scores a touch
down. And a free meal at half time, I mean A LOT of food. Plus at my
bar if you buy 3 drinks your 4th is free. And when people are only
buying $1 mugs that’s an awesome deal. I have an older couple that
come in occasionally. They are very very nice people and I can’t find
it in my heart to be rude to them despite knowing they will never tip
me. But it really pissed me off when they ate a ton of food at 1/2
time, got 4 free shots each, and wouldn’t even leave me a $1 for my
trouble. On top of that I run a pool for each quarter, it’s only a
buck to play and you can win $10. So I put in 2$ and they put in $1
along with the rest of the customers.. and then they end up winning MY
MONEY. Tip money that other customers gave me for my service. They
could have at least given me some back. But no.. they get a fully free
day. And I tip the couple instead.

- Barbie

No matter how long you have worked at your job, or how much experience you may have, there is always going to be that one customer who thinks they know best. I approached a table tonight and they immediately ordered their entrees and dessert at the same time. Why would they order these at the same time one would ask? Because of course I would never give them a chance to order dessert later. The woman ordered a dessert selection we do not nor have ever offered in the past 6 years I have worked for the company. I immediately let her know we did not offer that selection and gave her some other options.  She began to get upset because she was absolutely sure we had her dessert she requested. I again let her know that in fact we did not have it. At this point she said, “I’ll just go get that from the front myself then.” Imagine my delight as I spied on her while she approached our cashier and watched the cashier shake her head no in response to her request. The woman walked back to the table with a sour look on her face and would not make eye contact with me for the rest of the meal. Needless to say she passed on dessert.

http://www.thedayjobber.com/search?q=rednecks

My current table of Rednecks was finishing up, nary a scrap of food left on any of the plates. The father was

lighting up his cigarette, using his baby’s stray shoe as an ashtray. I reminded him

that he was seated in a non-smoking section. He grudgingly obeyed, put
out the butt and pulled out a ridiculously large wallet attached to
his belt via a chain. “How much I owe ya?” he interned as he sifted
through his recently cashed paycheck of hundred dollar bills. “I’ll
bring the bill, sir,” I answered with noted snootiness.

Rednecks always pay in cash, and at dinner with the family on Friday
night, it is always with hundred dollar bills. First of all, they
don’t trust banks. Second, they just got paid and want people to know
they got themselves a fine stack of money. Third, they couldn’t get a
credit card if they wanted to. The bill came out to $98.37. Quick, how
much to you think he left me as a tip? If you chose $1.63, give
yourself a cookie. He tossed the hundred on top of the bill, leaned
back and rubbed his belly. “You’n keep the change.” I smiled daggers
through his dimly lit eyes. “Thank you,” I replied. “Mutherfucker,” I
thought to myself. No sense in getting too upset, though. There was
nothing I could do about it. I knew I was going to get stiffed long
before I delivered the bill. I knew that when they were walking to my
table.

Every server has had one, we all know her, the one bitchy lady who needs something at the most inconvenient times. This lady will ask for a refill when her drink is way more than half full, ask for more bread when her basket is still full, tell you how to do your job and worst of all insist her friends ask for the same things. I like to call these people instigators, everything is going well at a table then suddenly the instigator will find something substandard and complain. The best thing to do in these moments is to rush away from the table in your haste to fulfill her demand before she has the chance to add more tasks. Many of these tasks include, “I need some more ranch” (turns to her friend) “you like ranch, want some too?’” This person seems to have mind control over the table, they decide who needs refills, when they need their food boxed up, how many extra condiments and modifications can be added to an order and worst of all who wants coffee or hot tea. Once you have an instigator at your table, you have two choices, be prepared to run around doing her bidding or avoid the table as much as possible and hope for the best for your tip. I prefer the latter, did you really think you were getting a good tip anyway?