Friday, April 03, 2009

5 Type of Restaurant Customers

I've been working part time in a Japanese Restaurant for quite some time now, and every single week I work, I pay close attention to each and every customer. I came up with 5 types of customers that I have experienced and encountered. There is the the good tipper, the worse tipper, ones with no respect, the talkative ones, and the quiet ones. I find it really interesting...

1.) The Good Tipper: The good tipper is usually the customers who gives amazingly great tips despite if we gave them good or bad customer service. What I notice is that usually good tippers are the respectful ones whereas bad tippers are unrespectful. Most customers who tips over 25% are usually the ones who have a huge amount of money, or maybe they feel that we gave them an excellent customer service that we absolutely deserve that good amount of tip. Some customers just have a habit of following the "rule" and tip accordingly to the total amount they spent. Most customers though, tip according to how good or bad the customer service they get. This one, is very reasonable and a rule that I personally follow when it comes to tipping. I believe that giving a good tip all depends if I get a good customer service or not. Not all customers are people friendly though. Let's go on to the worse tippers.

2.) The Worse Tippers: Now, you can see that I titled this as the "worse" tippers, a.k.a greedy tippers, not the bad tippers. I've never really dealt with bad tippers, but I've dealt and encountered many times with worse tippers. They probably mean the same thing to most of you, but worse tippers in my eyes are the ones who first, don't tip accordingly to the percentage, and second, though we gave them a superb customer service, they still manage to give us "worse" tips. It's so simple! If you can't or are not able to give a good tip, then you probably shouldn't be eating out! I notice that most Chinese people are the ones who gives horrible tips. Mostly, OLD chinese people. Dont get offended now. I'm part Chinese, and its not like I've experienced this the first time, but many many times, I've seen old Chinese people giving horrible tips. It's really rude! I work in a restaurant part time, and I absolutely believe that we, the waitress/hostess are the ones who makes the customers dining experience worth coming. We are the ones who set the mood and that great sense of ambiance that allows them to keep coming back. But above all , we are the ones who makes sure that we give the best customer service to each and every customer who walks in the restaurant. Now hear me on this, not all waitresses/hostesses feels this sense of need when it comes to customer service. Some simply work by the hour and only for the money. I personally though, believe that giving a great customer service is truly and highly important because when I walk in a restaurant, I myself would want to recieve an excellent customer service. So my point is, some customers just doesn't understand how hard we work to give them a goood customer service, and yet, they give us bullcrap. Yes, I've experienced those customers many many times, and I dislike them with a passion! Some customers just doesn't have any manner or sympathy. Some are just plain rude and selfish.

3.) Unrespectful Ones: This type of customers are the ones who I absolutely can not stand! I can say that majority of customers who has no respect are the ones who are worse tippers, but I notice that not all unrespectful customers are worse tippers. Unrespectful customers are those who walks in the restaurant, and as we greet, they frown, and some just can't give us a smile. Unrespectful customers are also those who constantly bugs the hostess when is their time to sit, and keeps asking 3-5 minutes. I really can't take these customers. Does it hurt to wait? If you don't want to wait for the respected time given to you, then you might as well leave! Instead of begging and asking every 3-5 minutes, you should wait patiently like the other 20+ people who are waiting. They're not complaining, so should u! Complaining doesn't get you to sit anytime soon, so please have some manners! Another type of unrespectful customer are the ones who barge in the restaurant and sits themselves down without greeting, smiling, or waiting for their seats. These particular type of customer is probably by far the ones that I truly hate! What are you? The Queen of England?

4.) Talkative Ones: The talkative type of customers are the ones who constantly talk non-stop before they eat, in the middle of their meal, and after they finish their meal FOR HOURS. One of the most annoying things about talkative customers is that even though their food is sitting right in front of their eyes, they keep on talking without touching a speck of their food. The restaurant that I work in is quite small, on weekends especially, is the busiest days of the week. When we get one of these annoying talkative customers on the weekend, it pisses the heck out of me! Do they not see the line? Goodness, dig in your food already! Talk while you eat! Can you not multitask? These talkative types of customers I realize is usually a party of either two or three people. Sometimes, I would see a couple who has not seen each other for a long time and starts to cuddle and make out throughout the dinner! There are kids you know! Plus, if you want to smooch and makeout, please do it on your own timing. It sure is very disturbing to see couples all over eachother in a restaurant environment.

5.) Ones with No Mouth: "Is everything ok?", the customer: *nods*. "Can I get you anything else?", the customer: *shakes head*. Hellloooo? ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK? These customers are the ones who does not like to be disturbed when eating. I've experienced a lot of these customers every week. It's a good thing, but on the other hand it gets pretty annoying. The good thing is that they leave once they finish eating. The bad thing is I cant differentiate a "yes" nod, and "no" nod. It seems as if they can't and are not able to speak english! Everyone in this Planet Earth knows how to say YES or NO, correct? I wonder if it's so hard to just reply a simple word. Some customers just doesn't like to be bothered and questioned when eating. Or maybe they're too concentrated on their food? I dont know. They frustrate me.

Which type of customer are you? ;)

4 comments:

anonymous said...

I think i'm #1, but ill be #5, if i have food in my mouth. Out of good manners I would never talk to anyone with my mouth full, so of course I would just nod at you or smile or something.

REGIEレジ said...

that was me by the way lol

Unknown said...

yeah, i think youre number #1. I remembered that time you gave me a 15$ tip and it went straight to you know who's pocket. haha....

REGIEレジ said...

I hope it went to kat's pocket ;) ;) haha jk