to think if you make a complaint about service in a restaurant they should offer you a voucher by way of apology?

[lostindubai]

I recommended a restaurant to a friend for lunch as I'd had some lovely meals there, and unfortunately we ended up being rudely hurried through our meal (waiter even tried to take plates away while friend was still eating!)

I wrote to the restaurant explaining how embarrassed I'd been as it was my recommendation (although accepted the food was lovely, which it was). I got a reply saying thanks for the feedback and the staff would be retrained etc. But no invite back to the restaurant or voucher.

Before this incident I wouldn't have expected that. But now I feel no motivation whatsoever to go back now after our experience and will probably not bother again (lots of other lovely places to eat anyway).

It's a small problem I know, but what do others think? I've never complained to a restaurant before, so wonder if it's usual not to offer some incentive to come back?

I guess this answers my question. Thanks all, I'll know what to do in future.

Thanks Loletta!

actually, I always think it's really odd when vouchers or stuff from a place that's been complained about gets offered - the person is complaining, why do they want more of the stuff?! If anything, money back should be offered.

Silly example I've never forgotten - when I was about 14 I was in McDonalds with some friends and one found a huge piece of what I can only describe as gritty hair in her fries. We went to complain and they offered more fries - er, eeeeew and no! Refund then we're never coming back, thanks!

It was so awful you wrote a letter of complaint. Why do you want some vouchers to go back to somewhere you think was crappola?

You didn't like, it. Don't go back. Or was it good enough to go back to if they take money off

And do you know what? I've just had really really crap service from Virgin Media and they rather sharply sold me a contract to save me money and now we are moving to an area where there is no Virgin but they want to charge me £200 in a cancellation fee.

It's actually OK. I'm thinking of paying it because I never ever want to deal with them again and if I pay it I shall have no compunction at all about telling everyone how dire their standards of service and integrity are.

Ask to speak to a manager and complain immediately.

To those asking why I'd want to go back - they've always been great before and the food is lovely. This was a different (new?) waiter. I'd never seen him before.

You could have just said 'sorry, we're not ready to place our order yet. Give us five more minutes please.' And then not worried any further about it.

I'm British ok! If I'd asked to speak to the manager it would have been obvious I was complaining about him. Too embarrassing. That's why I didn't do that.

Why is it embarrassing?

Embarrassing for him maybe, not for you.

I'm British too and have no problem in complaining about poor service. Politely of course. My years in customer taught me shouters get nowhere.

I'm British too. I'd have asked to speak to the manager and would have made sure he knew I complaining about him.

I'm afraid you need to have the courage of your convictions about these things. Woman up!!

If you weren't prepared to express dissatisfaction at the time because it would have been "embarrassing" you can't really expect recompense later. Either the service was tolerable or it wasn't.

I get flustered in person. I find it much easier to set my thoughts out in writing. But none of that really matters. I handled it wrong. I do hope that waiter got told though!

We used to live almost next door to a lovely Italian cafe. 19 times out of 20 it was fab. It's life. Just get on with it please.

I agree and wouldn't bother returning after this.

I have had the same happen with Kwik Fit (I know!) and Progressive sports as their service was appalling. Got a similar type of sorry and never been back.

too many people on here seem to think you should accept the shoddy service simply because you didn't complain at the time. In fact by complaining later you were giving them a chance to redeem themselves. Many businesses would prefer this than just to lose customers without knowing why.

You got a response and they will address it with staff. A 'voucher' is not Necessary

Ha BeaufortBelle thanks for the first chuckle this thread's given me

Thank you Seen. Too many people don't say anything at all.

Having worked in restaurants for most of by career you are been very very unreasonable.

I worked for one company who gave out a voucher every time anyone complained about anything - it was ridiculous - people would come in and make up complaints just to get free stuff.

Restaurants are businesses - you ate the food at the time without complaint. Why do you expect something for free after?

There's nothing wrong with complaining later if you really just want to let them know about the drop in service but if you wanted some firm of compensation you have to do it at the time.

If you get flustered fair enough but that should reduce with practise. You don't need to be rude/angry/mean you just politely say the service was well below standards, with a head tilt and a raised eyebrow.

You are complaining about the service ( which they said they would address) not the food! You ate that with no complaint, you are coming across as grabby!

what gave you the chuckles op?