It was a mistake, but I think they were still wrong?

[Thinkyouare]

I ate at quite a nice, independent restaurant. Service is very good, food excellent, not cheap.

I was eating early evening and the place was empty except for our table, although they had tables set up for parties later.

It was raining hard, a man came in to collect his takeaway, apologised for being early and sat at an empty table to wait.

The staff asked him to leave, they needed the table for customers, he was making it wet.

He left.

Belatedly, they realised he was a customer not a delivery driver, and the manager went into the street to apologise and bring him back in, got him a drink while he waited.

But, it was still poor, even if he had been a delivery driver? The tables didn't start to fill for at least 40 mins, and there were still spaces when I left.

It's changed how I feel about the place, the manager is one of those welcomes you like family, delighted to see you types, but obviously only some people.

What did they say when you spoke up at the time?

YANBU. That’s horrible. I’d also go right off it.

I wouldn't want to sit down on a wet seat at a restaurant.

Really? The customer, a grown man, would have wanted me to speak up for him?

He wasn't intending to eat in. He was waiting for his takeaway.

No he didn't, and when he came back in with the manager, he was telling him how furious he was, but he's not one for complaining, he just wouldn't be back. Which is exactly how I would have responded.

They could wipe it? Which they did anyway.

That's exactly what he did say, "I've come to collect a takeaway, sorry I'm a bit early". They said "yes, you're very early, can you come back, we need the table and you're making it wet".

I suspect the restaurant gets many more delivery customers than it does people collecting their own, and he was wearing a motorbike type leather jacket. The staff member made an incorrect assumption, which they corrected once they realised.

I think it's off, even if he had been a delivery driver though. Who makes someone doing their job wait in the rain, when there's another option?

When he came back, with the manager who'd gone to find him, he said he was furious when he left, but didn't say anything, he just planned to take his business elsewhere, yes.

Most places would happily let you sit there and try and sell you a beer!

the restaurant should have somewhere people can wait for pickups that isn't in the main restaurant.
The man chose to say nothing which is his choice.
The staff don't want to have to keep redoing the tables every time someone comes in and starts dripping over it or fiddling with the stuff.

What haven't I thought through? I think it's very clear.

He'd ordered a takeaway
Was early to collect it
Was asked to wait outside/come back
Manager realised he wasn't a delivery driver buyt an actual customer and went to find him
Manager apologised, customer said he'd been furious, but he's not one to make a fuss, he just wouldn't use them again.

I don't understand why him not saying anything is the issue. Surely being asked to wait in the rain at all is the issue?

If they do takeaways then they really ought to have an area where customers can sit and wait if their order isn't ready when they arrive

I wasn't there so hard to comment on their treatment of the man and whether he was treated unfairly without hearing the exchange but I can understand why it would put him off using the restaurant for a takeaway again

But he didn't know they thought he was a delivery driver. All he knew was that they'd asked him (sodden) to wait outside when he'd told them he was collecting a takeaway.

No I wouldn't go back either.
That's shocking customer service

That's exactly what he did say, "I've come to collect a takeaway, sorry I'm a bit early". They said "yes, you're very early, can you come back, we need the table and you're making it wet" nothing wrong with that if it's a small restaurant. They probably need to provide a chair for waiting or something