I feel that many waitstaff persons don't give minorities their best service ???Whats your opinion?

Question

I am a person of color and I feel that many waitstaff persons don't give minorities their best service cause they feel that may not get a good tip from us. I have often felt ignored or at best given the bare minimun of service in restaurants. Often we have to wait a long time for someone to take our order.Once at a Craker Barrell we could hear and see the waiters discussing who "had " to take our table. My mom and I are always well dressed and polite customers and I make a point of over tipping a little so hopefully they will change there view of black customers.
If your a waiter/waitress is my observation correct???
Other people of color please tell me do you experince the same treatment.

Answer 1

I'm white and I used to wait tables. I always gave 100%, but to be completely honest with you, people of color always belittled me, gave me horrible tips or none at all, and tried to get free stuff out of me. This was a regular occurence...I would imagine that you are being poorly attended to bc my experience was not a rare thing?

I don't know how you can change it, other than to be super polite, and at the point where it becomes obvious to you that you are being neglected, be up front about it with your server. Tell you aren't looking for anything free if they offer it, tell them what you expect is good service and nothing less. If that doesn't resolve it, ask that the manager wait on you. And if you find a server you do like, remember that person's name so you can request to be seated in that person's section from now on.

I hope that helps. I can't stand the poor service people get in restaurants nowadays.

P.S.-I am an overtipper as well. But the tip is an expression of gratitude for good service. Keep that in mind the next time you're mistreated.

Answer 2

I am neither a waitress nor a person of color, so you may think that my opinion doesn't count for much....lol..I would though offer advice based more on my experience with human nature than anything else.

If I were you I would definately not leave a nice tip, if I felt that i was being discriminated against in any way, shape or form (and assuming that you cannot leave a nice tip IS discrimination) I would not only leave NO tip, I would make a point of sending a letter to the Manager of the restaurant letting them know exactly how their staff are acting towards their customers. Letters speak volumes...and are far more likely to have a positive effect than a mere conversation would.

It's pure ignorance on the part of the wait staff, so please, don't reward them for it by tipping them well. TIPS is an acronym for To Ensure Prompt Service..and even more so, polite service.

I don't know if you are the type of person that feels comfortable confronting people about this type of thing or not..but it might be helpful to literally ask your waiter/waitress why they are acting in a certain way...just be sure that you do it AFTER you have eaten because terrible things can happen to a persons food in a restaurant kitchen if they make the wait staff mad...

The only thing that will change their view of black customers is an education...and the chances are that some of them will never get one..(those are the ones that will remain waiters and waitresses for the rest of their lives..in places like cracker barrel)..so the best thing to do is realise their ignorance and relish the fact that you are you..not them.

Answer 3

It depends on where you go. I am a white female with many friends and coworkers of color and I have noticed that I am treated very differently when I go out as part of a couple, with a group of family, with a group of friends and alone. I find that places like Denny's, Cracker Barrel or IHOP generally have poor to middling service and that upper end restaurants have better service regardless of my group's racial make up.

I have a cousin who has worked in the food industry for a while and she says there are many myths about people of color not tipping well. She's not found that to be true. What she's found is families with young children don't tip well, teenagers and college students don't tip well or at all, and breakfast and lunch crowds don't tip well--race doesn't even come into play.

So, I guess I'm sorry to have to confirm for you that your experience is correct. You probably have recieved crappy service because of your race at some places. But you do have the power here as a consumer. Let the waiter/waitress know you are disappointed with their service early on so they have the chance to straighten up, if they don't--then do not reward poor service and calmly complain to management on your way out. If it happens more than once at the same location, refuse to patronize the place and let management know why you won't be going in anymore.

Answer 4

Being a waitress/waiter is between the main tricky jobs there are. you're able to be super and undergo in ideas the customer is "consistently" good no matter what. in case you get a waiter that has had a nasty day, first attempt to cheer them up. cause them to snigger, they're going to ignore approximately he asses they merely had to come across. Ask for substitutions like rice extremely of baked potato, etc. yet do it in a well mannered way, if the respond is not any, see if there is yet in a various thank you to get what you like. with the help of then the memory of their undesirable day could be over and you have gotten an remarkable eating place adventure. Oh and circulate away a tip in the event that they have been good, if not get a remark card and fill out what become incorrect. that's what they're there for. (they're for good comments as nicely)

Answer 5

i am a person of color too. i'm the color white. i also have had this experience. i don't know if it's someones color (although it does happen) or if just people who don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. i don't tip a lousy waiter/waitress.

i remember one time, there were three of us, we sat for almost an hour before they realized none of us had drinks. my mom wanted to say something but i wanted to see how long it would take for our waitress to notice. we were the only table she was busing. there was no one else there but us and two others. she came over when we ordered and when she brought our meals and never came back for almost an hour. that's pretty sad. she was the color white too. she was just being lazy. chatting with the other waitresses. i could understand if she were doing dishes or something but she wasn't.

anyway my opinion is yes, sometimes it has to do with color and sometimes its just lousy service.

Answer 6

We still have such ignorance in the world, unfortunately... If anyone is mistreating you for any reason, I really believe that it is because they lack class, if they had it, they would recognize it in all people, regardless of color, nationality, etc... An elegant soul knows no colors, no classes... It just loves and respects all life forms.

The best thing to do in these situations, is to set the example. Stop these false misconceptions which come from stereotypes by initiating the change.

If you are kind to them, they can no longer justify their behavior and must come face to face with their short comings as a humanbeing.

Answer 7

I certainly disagree with you, but then again it depends where do u live. I live in Sydney, Australia. I worked as a waitress (part-time) just to spend my time. We in here dont see people by colour. everyone pretty much is the same. We will b nice to you if you are nice as well and we wont care and wont serve u if u are a snobbish and rude customer. And i, as well, as an asian have been to a lot of different restaurant in Australia and never have problem wit the service.

So i dont think your oveservation is totally correct, but then again, it depends on where u live and how the people are there.

Maybe next time visiting to a restaurant, try to 'own' the restaurant on the minute you walk in. Make sure u are someone who knows wat u should get and u are trully capable paying for it. therefore, they wont mess around wit u

good luck and i hope they'll treat u better soon! :)

Answer 8

I used to be a hostess at a restaurant. There was a white couple and a black couple. I gave a black server the choice about who he wanted to wait on. He chose the white couple. There is a stereo-type in the service industry that blacks do not tip. I don't think its right to stereo-type, but it must have started somewhere. I try to give equal attention to everyone.

Answer 9

I have serve red for many years,. and it has been my experience that college kids do not tip well, had nothing to do with what color you are. you could be green as far as I care,
if you are a good tipper than it is their loss for not paying attention to you, if you are a regular at a place then the wait staff knows what to expect.

Answer 10

You know, I've always observed, being a SINGLE Female - - that it is ME, the SINGLE FEMALE who has to wait -- for everyone ELSE to be served FIRST before me -- and it does NOT matter what color of skin one has -- it is just the fact that I am a Single Female that means that couples who come after me get tables first, they get drink orders first, they get refills faster, and everything else.