How do you deal with people who get served before you in a bar when they know you were there before them?

Question

I had this last night, and told the young girl i was here before you, and she just shrugged her shoulders and said were you.

I said i think i was and gave her and her boyfriend a dirty look.

What would you of done?

Answer 1

I really don't let things like that ar*se me all that much. If nothing else, it is sometimes hard to know who was first when a pub is busy.
Also, if I arrive round the same time as someone else, I usually smile and gesture that they may be served first. Often the smile is returned and I wind up being first.
Maybe most of us are too much in a hurry these days.
--That Cheeky Lad

Answer 2

Having worked as a barman for three years, I know how to work the bar properly and would have noticed you were first to begin with. If I wasn't sure, I would have asked who was next. Normally the choice can be defined to two people who are waiting, so the one who let the other in front would be next. If the bar staff are crap, simply go drink elsewhere where you matter. When working, it is usually fairly clear to see which party in a dispute was telling the truth, the bad ones next time would be made to wait longer next time as a punishment to see how they like it..

As a customer, I would have given that girl a dirty look, and if she was insincere in her answer when questioned, I would tell her exactly what I thought of her rudeness. It may help her in the future to take more care for her own safety...

Answer 3

Having been in the trade quite a while, I think common courtesy usually goes out the window for most people when alchohol is around. But had the bartender(s) been alert & doing their job properly you would not have been in that situation, as working behind a bar is not just about pulling pints.

As regards to what happened it's probably best to let people move on with their drinks, much better than wearing said drink or worse still being glassed.

Answer 4

Probably the best way to deal with this is to make sure you have good 'presence' at the bar so the bar tender notices you when you arrive. Rather than getting het up about others, because it can just ruin your night out. Lean over the bar, catch the barman/woman's eye and tell then that you were there first if someone looks like they will get served in the wrong order.

Answer 5

Maybe what they ordered is a very common drink which everyone else is having, hence the bartender makes it in bulk and serves all who have ordered it at once. Makes it more efficient for the bar i guess. So if what you ordered was something special, you might just have to wait! Anyways, this sort of thing always happens, so just chill! That's what you were there for!

Answer 6

It is the bar staff who are ignorant for LETTING this happen. Quite a lot of them are guilty of this, they will serve the faces they know first.

It is a sign of poor bartending, and I usually just go and drink elsewhere.

In my day, a barman would make a POINT of serving a person who had just walked in off the street, before some "regular" who had been propping up the bar for hours. That is how they did business then.

Nowadays it's a free for all, if you do not get good service just go elsewhere, it's your money.

Answer 7

When the bar person comes to serve me I usually say that I want the drink at last years prices..coz that's how long I've been waiting! Then smile! They remember you and serve you quicker next time round

Answer 8

Unless you want to risk a broken nose or worse, it's best not to push the issue too much. But I would decrease the bartender's tip accordingly.

Answer 9

I would have just waited til the bartender got to me. It is not fair but it is not worth getting upset over. If someone is in such a rush I just let them go.

Answer 10

I usually just wave the largest note I have under their noses. I'm often the person who is regarded as the queue jumper, sorry about that!! Try it, it does work, honest.xx