Has a waiter or waitress ever scammed you?

Question

I was with a group at a fancy restaurant the other night and all through the meal the waiter was telling us to order the most expensive entrees. He didn't like the fact that for drinks some people just wanted water ("do you want mineral water, sparkling water, or TAP WATER FROM THE FAUCET?"). Some people ordered inexpensive entrees and he came back and said they were unavailable and made them order more expensive ones. But the final straw came with the tip). We left the standard 15% (which was something like $60) and put it in the check holder and left it on the table. After we left at the table, he came running up to me and said "Was something wrong with the service? Because you didn't leave me any tip!" Everybody came back in the restauruant and started to look for the tip but there was no trace of it. The waiter said we'd have to leave him a new tip. Has anyone heard about this happening, how possible is it that he was trying to get 2 tips?

Answer 1

you were taken by a jerk..the restaurant business employees many not so desirable characters..its commonplace due to the lower pay and no need of any education..

Im not being rude, jut stating the facts..I have been a waitress and a bartender in the past and has seen this first hand..
You need to report this to the management and possibly the owner of the restaurant. Restaurants do not like to lose business, and with a waiter like the one you experienced, they could be closed in no time...

Answer 2

Oh, WOW. Either that, or someone actually STOLE your tip $$. Sounds like the waiter was scamming you, though, because it is rare for a waiter to chase people down for NOT leaving a tip.
Once in I-HOP, I waited for my soup, while the entree came and I was finished eating, THEN they finally bring my soup, with apologies. I said, "I no longer want the soup, it is a bit late for that now, so how about a complimentary dessert instead?" The waiter refused! I filled out a complaint form in front of him, and got a phone call from the manager telling me they would give me a free meal if I would please come back. The waiter had made me so mad that I refused to ever set foot in that location again. 'Policy' is often unfair and should be flexible to accomodate mess-ups like that one.

Answer 3

Talk to the manager...This can't be the first time the waiter tried it. The same thing happened to me. We were a large party eating and the only ones there. Stupid as it may seem we gave another tip but only half, we told the waiter, your staff is stealing the tips we left and you can get the other half from them. Also we told that this would be the last time you'll see this party ever again. Couple of days later, the owner call and told us there was a big misunderstanding, and we can get the second tip back. I hope this sheds light to your situation.

Answer 4

Depends. How many people were in your party and did it say anything anywhere on the menu about their gratuity policy? Second, the waiter just sounded rude, contact his manager and the owner and report it. If the waiter scammed you, he is most probably scamming other ppl, too, including his co-workers and the manager if they are supposed to split tips at end of evening. If nothing else, voicing your concerns to the manager may get you a free meal in that establishment, just ask for a DIFFERENT waiiter, and remember, some of those guys make a TON of money in tips.

Answer 5

u shouldnt ever leave that much money on the table.as for that waiter he was wrong in doing what he did anyone could of taken that tip even him but i dont think he did or he wouldnt of came up to you like that then again u never know.Did u tip him again i woulnt of.i have been a waitrss for years and never heard of anyone doing that.next time hand to to him or her

Answer 6

This is the oddest story.... how many entrees did he say were not available....... if more then one there is a problem and you need to speak to the manager... I am sure that a fancy restaurant will not run out of food...

Answer 7

Never had anything like that happen, but I have had restaurants charge more to my card than what I wrote in for the tip. I won't go back to a place that steals from me.

Answer 8

Interesting story.

I'm sure things like this happen from time to time. But for the most part waiters/waitress are hard working people who don't try to scam.

Answer 9

Whoa- You absolutely need to speak to management. As a server, it is my job to suggestive sell and "gently nudge" you to more expensive items, but to say they're all out of them, then to "LOSE" a $60 tip is insane. He needs to be, at the very least reprimanded.

Answer 10

That has happened to me before but It was my first time to the US. So I just agreed and gave the person more money I didn't want any trouble in a different country.