Wibu to complain about this waitress?

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Dh thinks I shouldn't have complained, I think I definitely should have, who's right?

Went to a Toby carvery, meal was fine and service by the waitress fine until we finished the meal (they don't do much as its a buffet thing). We then obviously wanted the bill so I tried to get the waitress' attention. When she came near the table I made eye contact twice to try and get her to come over. She smiled and looked away then left. Next time she came near I made eye contact and raised my hand, nothing. I ended up getting up and walking over to her at another table and standing waiting for her to finish with them then asking.

We waited another 10 minutes for her to bring the bill. Dh had the card in his hand, and she had the card machine in hers, but before we could ask to use it she had gone. She just put the bill on the table and walked straight off. I then started the rediculous process of trying to get her attention again, I even stood up and called out excuse me after three or four failed attempts. She completely ignored us. This had been going on for another ten minutes.

Finally I managed to get her attention and asked for the card machine, waited another five or so minutes and she came back with it. Dh didn't want me to say anything, but I seriously couldn't stop myself. I was tired and wanted to go home, not play this rediculous game of catch the waitress.

I said that I had been trying to get her attention for ages, that we had wanted to pay by card and she had the machine etc and that it had taken a rediculous amount of time to get the bill sorted.

Her reply: "Well I do have a lot of other customers to attend to, I didn't see or hear you." No apology, and then she just walked off once the payment had gone through. IMO the only acceptable response to this sort of complaint is surely an apology?? I feel it's her job to be attentive to her customers needs, and she had seen plenty of times that we had finished our meals and would obviously need to sort the bill.

Dh thinks I shouldn't have complained and that it would have been enough to simply not leave her a tip. Obviously I don't agree. Aibu?

[pianodoodle]

Pregnancy has been known to make time go slower and people more annoying.

It took me half an hour to find a loo in town today. I was desperate for a wee and no one was getting out of my way fast enough (on purpose, I daresay) and there was a huge queue.

In reality once I'd been to the loo and checked my watch it was only ten minutes since I'd started looking for one, and actually someone had held a door open for me...and there had really been only two people in the queue.. :)

[usualsuspect]

In fact it makes you look a bit ridiculous pointing out spelling mistakes in such an unkind way.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Malcolm - did I spell disgusting or lose wrong too? I didn't think I used those words.

[usualsuspect]

Ignore the spelling police.

They get on my tits.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Pianodoodle - I did the loo thing today!! I needed to get from one side of the shopping centre to the other to use the loo (for the third blooming time in 2 hours) and as I was walking the baby was bouncing on my bladder. I got stuck behind every group of old biddies or slow walking teens, and was slightly concerned I might wet myself before I got there!! It felt like it took forever!

[LucilleBluth]

Service in this country is shit and this thread proves why, we just accept it and think that the server is doing the customer a favour.

YANBU.

[usualsuspect]

Another sweeping generalisation.

[SaltySeaBird]

I'll go against the tide and say YANBU.

It is a pet peeve of mine when you are left for ages and ages at the end of a meal waiting to pay the bill. Plus when you did mention it, she should have said sorry, even if she was busy she should have apologised for the delay.

It can be a tactic to make the restaurant seem busy. In some holiday spots they know a busy restaurant looks popular and is likely to bring more tourists in so they try and make you linger (especially if you are near the front) until they get somebody else to fill the table. We once waited 45 mins for the bill to come out despite asking several times. I was on the verge of walking!

I doubt the Toby Carvery applies this tactic though!

[Wuxiapian]

Ignore Malcolm, OP, she's a prat.

[CheckpointCharlie]

Leave the Op alone spelling police!!!!!

OP it has obviously pissed you off no end but don't worry about it, she was v rude and out of order. Just don't go there again.

Get your DH to rub your feet right now!

[CheckpointCharlie]

Xpst usual!

[fakebook]

You're being a bit ridiculous.

[Lora1982]

Ive always mums always paid at the till

[lovelychops]

To be honest, I think you hovering at another table where she was serving is a bit rude.
To those who claim 'pet hates' are not getting out as soon as they're given the bill- I'd assume in those scenarios the waiting staff are busy and doing their best. They have no reason to keep you there!

[mystaplerisevil]

i went to the carvery today, as an aside have they started rationing the meat? sure you used to get lots more than today!

our waitress was really nice, they always are at our one. We also pay at the till, it's just easier

[HamsterDam]

im a waitress and i can tell you just because it didn't look busy doesn't mean she wasn't very busy. she might have been having to make drinks desserts and coffees aswel as take orders and deliver food.
its about prioritising and thinking ahead also reading your customers. for me i would have prioritised you for the fact you're very pregnant, same for anyone with kids, get them out asap.
some people are better at that than others.
unless she was sitting down or chatting she was doing her best. doesn't mean she's a shit waitress maybe her manager had messed the rota up or was sitting down playing on his phone in the office instead of helping.

[HamsterDam]

i would have apologised to you op but yabu

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

While i'm here, what is the consensus? I'm of the opinion that it is rude to not leave a tip without an explanation, but dh wouldn't worry about it. A couple of posters have said that's what we should have done in this situation. Is it not rude to do that? My dad taught me from a young age that it'a important to tip and which situations to tip in, so I would feel uncomfortable not leaving one with no explanation as to why. What do you think?

[BeesGoBuzzzzzz]

YABU to get so het up about this, although definitely don't tip if service is rubbish.

But you can spell ridikulus any way you like, the spelling poliss ar a payne in the backsyde and deserv too bee anioyed IMO.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Mysta - the guy carving was really generous with me, saying something about eating for two. It was really sweet :)

Lovelychops - I waited in the walkway a little bit away from the table, not right by it iyswim? I didn't mean to be rude!

[HamsterDam]

i live off tips its not rude not to leave a tip.
abit annoying when the fussy customers you really give first class service to don't but
some people do some don't and i would never tip ifbi didnt think the service was worth it.
im a professional waitress.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Hamster thanks thats good to know!

[lottieandmia]

YANBU - you are right that she should have apologised when you complained. Generally, you should not have had to go to all that trouble to get your bill even if it was Christmas. I've done a lot of waitressing in my teenage years and could see why this would be annoying.

[lovelychops]

Heffa I see what you mean now

As an aside auto correct tries to change your name to Geoff!

[MalcolmTuckersMum]

Yes. Ignore me. I'm a prat. So says someone nobody's ever heard of ............oh, and usual who always takes the opposite view just because she can!

Sorry OP - it's just a particular thing that I cannot stand. I didn't kill you did I? Or send poo? Or call you all the bastards under the sun?