Originally Posted by arc

They are very rarely right, but they are the ones with the money.

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Good points all. Unless I know for sure I'll never go back (e.g., business trip to some odd place), I'll always leave at least a ten percent tip. However, if I leave a ten percent tip, I'm probably not coming back anyway.

On a related note, a client of mine a while back was the head of a very large organization (1,000+ employees), and told an interesting story a while back. Probably 300 of the employees were in the headquarters building, and a new restaurant opened across the street. She went over there with a group of managers, and essentially got ignored. When they finally asked for service, the server was snitty, and so they asked for the manager. The manager came out and said something along the lines of "Get off my back. I'm busy." My client went back and sent a memo out to the entire headquarters that said that there were to be no business lunches held at that restaurant in the future. You never know who you're dealing with.

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Off topic, but back when I was a young buck I made a very bad girlfriend decision. When I met her family, it was like meeting a dysfunctional Addams family on drugs. From top to bottom, there wasn't a single person in that family that wasn't seriously screwed up in one way or the other.

The dad took the cake, though. He literally could not stop talking, ever. If you wanted peace and quiet, you just had to leave. I remember going to their house for Thanksgiving once, and there was a time when it was just me and the dad standing around outside. I kid you not, I stood there for probably close to an hour and never said a single word. The guy didn't stop talking the entire time, and never even tried to ask a question or have any kind of two-way conversation.

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Okay, here's another question. What do you do when you go to a "fast casual" restaurant like Chipotle's or Boston Market or something, and pay by credit card? They've always got that line for a tip, and I feel guilty if I write in a zero, but at the same time I'm not getting any service. I'm just picking up my food to go and I'm even pouring my own drink. I hate that. Half the time I'll put down a zero and feel guilty, and half the time I'll put down a dollar and be ticked off about it.

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

ROFL

Chipolte doesn't do that. If you pay by credit, you don't have to sign it. They just give it to you. The only one of those "fast casual" restuarants that I know do that is Wahoo's Fish Tacos. They have you sign the credit receipt and it has the line for Tips on there. What kills me, is that they actually have a tip pitcher on the counter too. They do have someone bring you your food if you sit in and eat, but if you leave, there's no need for the server. I DO tip at Wahoo's 'cause they do have a server. But, Chipolte- not.

I also have a problem with tipping at Starbuck's, particularly when all I ever really get there is the coffee. I understand someone has to go through all that trouble of whipping up the milk and shit, but still- you want a freakin' tip on a $5.00 cup of frothy caffeine? Phug that....

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

Old people bitch the loudest and for the least problem.

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Did you drive a Le Baron? :hmmm:

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

ROFL

Chipolte doesn't do that. If you pay by credit, you don't have to sign it. They just give it to you. The only one of those "fast casual" restuarants that I know do that is Wahoo's Fish Tacos. They have you sign the credit receipt and it has the line for Tips on there. What kills me, is that they actually have a tip pitcher on the counter too. They do have someone bring you your food if you sit in and eat, but if you leave, there's no need for the server. I DO tip at Wahoo's 'cause they do have a server. But, Chipolte- not.

I also have a problem with tipping at Starbuck's, particularly when all I ever really get there is the coffee. I understand someone has to go through all that trouble of whipping up the milk and shit, but still- you want a freakin' tip on a $5.00 cup of frothy caffeine? Phug that....

Originally Posted by Rain Man

If you're an engineer with the Ohio Department of Transportation, I'm going to be mighty embarrassed.

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Funny story (okay, maybe mildly humorous): When I was 26, I made a jaunt to India for reasons unknown. I was in some hotel restaurant listening to some Indian Band doing a cover of "Yesterday" by the Beatles with a sitar and a drum, and in comes this big ol' tour group that was predominantly senior citizens. One table of them ends up sitting next to me, and they look at the menu, and start grousing, saying, "I can't believe that there's no American food." I'm sitting over there at my table thinking, "You're in India! INDIA! Not Indiana! It's another whole country!"

Originally Posted by SideWinder

I never go to Starbucks.

What the hell do I need any of that other crap for.
Just give me a good cup of coffee, something Starbucks doesn't have.
Their coffee is terrible.

Originally Posted by bunnytrdr

I work at the same place I always have, I bought it from my Boss, thinking cool, I get to be the boss now, WRONG. I traded one boss for hundreds of bosses.

Originally Posted by SideWinder

I never go to Starbucks.

What the hell do I need any of that other crap for.
Just give me a good cup of coffee, something Starbucks doesn't have.
Their coffee is terrible.

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

I don't like Starbucks either, but when I need a caffeine fix, there's usually one right around the corner so it's a matter of convenience than anything. I can't stand to go into those places 'cause everyone is so damn pretentious.

I usually buy a bag of organic coffee to brew at home from Sunrise Market- it is outstanding. I don't know if you have them where you are, but Kaladi Brothers makes some pretty darn good brews as well.