When you complain . . .

[swrinfla]

I really wish those who post complaints about a restaurant (or, for that matter, any service provider) would give full details about why they're unhappy. Too often, the postings are, imho, vague as all get out. Little is revealed about what really, really happened!

If you're going to be a nit-picker, you should provide details. This would be fair to the establishment, its staff as well as potential customers.

Many of you know that I am an avid cruiser. I make it a point to tell the cruise lines' "powers that be" what I think of every cruise. Whether negative or positive. In most cases, I go into some considerable detail. It is almost guaranteed that a Customer Relations type will call me personally for expanded details. This gets results; I have seen it happen!

When folks leave a restaurant unhappy because their steak was underdone (or, worse, by me, overdone) and complain to "the world out there" without having addressed their concerns with the establishment's management, it becomes apparent that there'll be no steps taken to improve whatever the situation might have been.

I hope that you'll think about just what and why your complaint is, and temper your posting appropriately!

SWR
:beer3:

[Trish Crocker]

:agree: And it was great meeting you at Crispers!

[jimbo2012]

if you don't tell them they may not realize it or know.

[Bogie Shooter]

I really wish those who post complaints about a restaurant (or, for that matter, any service provider) would give full details about why they're unhappy. Too often, the postings are, imho, vague as all get out. Little is revealed about what really, really happened!

If you're going to be a nit-picker, you should provide details. This would be fair to the establishment, its staff as well as potential customers.

Many of you know that I am an avid cruiser. I make it a point to tell the cruise lines' "powers that be" what I think of every cruise. Whether negative or positive. In most cases, I go into some considerable detail. It is almost guaranteed that a Customer Relations type will call me personally for expanded details. This gets results; I have seen it happen!

When folks leave a restaurant unhappy because their steak was underdone (or, worse, by me, overdone) and complain to "the world out there" without having addressed their concerns with the establishment's management, it becomes apparent that there'll be no steps taken to improve whatever the situation might have been.

I hope that you'll think about just what and why your complaint is, and temper your posting appropriately!

SWR
:beer3:

I agree with you.
As you know I am always asking "what did management say?". To often the op never comes back to explain.

[eweissenbach]

Steve, you are, as always, the voice of reason. I sense that some people post complaints because they are legitimately troubled, but others post out of some vindictive motive. Unfortunately, there is no way to ascertain the motive of the poster, but you are correct that TOTV or any other forum is not the way to get the problem solved, if there is a legitimate one, only management can acheive that.

[bluedog103]

I agree with you.
As you know I am always asking "what did management say?". To often the op never comes back to explain.
Bogie you are right. Complaining here is a way to vent and perhaps extract revenge but speaking to management is necessary to actually resolve the concern. Like OP, we've been on many cruises. One was especially bad and I spoke with management personnel onboard without getting much satisfaction. As soon as I returned home I wrote a detailed letter to Carnival and got an apology, 30% off another cruise, $200 in shipboard credits and several other freebies on our next cruise, which turned out to be the best one ever. It pays to escalate your complaint including dates and names.

[asianthree]

Yep just got off the phone with comcast. Took three calls, first two people were not in the US and both after waiting 30 plus minutes each could not understand my problem that my bill was for $103. more than it should of been. Third phone call I asked what country I was calling and she was from another country (KY) and laughed. Fixed my problem in 30 seconds and gave us three months of movie channels for free for the hour plus it too to not fix the problem

[Bogie Shooter]

Yep just got off the phone with comcast. Took three calls, first two people were not in the US and both after waiting 30 plus minutes each could not understand my problem that my bill was for $103. more than it should of been. Third phone call I asked what country I was calling and she was from another country (KY) and laughed. Fixed my problem in 30 seconds and gave us three months of movie channels for free for the hour plus it too to not fix the problem

Bring them call centers back to the US!

[Villageshooter]

I never contact the management,, it is not my job to try to improve there establishment... If they dont know how to run and operation thats there problem,, now if i get a bad steak or feel like i am not getting what i paid for , i will let the server know and expect the issue to be corrected,, if it is not,, i jsut move on,, and do my complaining with my feet,, I dont come back. Most managers know the problem areas, if they cant figure it out. I am not here to pay my $ to tell them how I think it should be. I will apply for job if have those needs to feel I could do it better. I dont tell FORD how to make cars, I will be darned if I am going to tell Johnny Rockets to get the cigarette butts out of the ice...
I give a place 3 chances,, 3 strikes and ur OUT! for good....

[bluedog103]

I never contact the management,, it is not my job to try to improve there establishment... If they dont know how to run and operation thats there problem,, now if i get a bad steak or feel like i am not getting what i paid for , i will let the server know and expect the issue to be corrected,,

I never, ever send food back to the kitchen. I've worked in restaurants and know first hand what happens to the food of complainers. I will speak with management but anything to remedy the situation has to be done on another visit. Suggestion: Do not, under any circumstance, pi$$ off the person who prepares or serves your food.

[Roaddog53]

I never, ever send food back to the kitchen. I've worked in restaurants and know first hand what happens to the food of complainers. I will speak with management but anything to remedy the situation has to be done on another visit. Suggestion: Do not, under any circumstance, pi$$ off the person who prepares or serves your food.

Too funny! I TOTALLY agree. DO NOT pi$$ off the wait staff or preparer!! It sure wakes you up if you see the movie "Waiting". Although the movie is a raunchy and crude comedy, it also shows what goes on behind the scenes in a typical corporate restaurant. This was a take off of Applebees/Bennigans. After that, I vowed to smile at the wait staff and do my complaining AFTER I ate my meal, unless it was so bad and I didn't plan on eating the rest of it. lol

[CFrance]

I understand the argument to contact the management, but some folks are just not wired that way from a confrontational standpoint. Maybe you are with a group and don't want to make a scene. Maybe you are just not comfortable complaining to mgt., on the spot or later. It may be the right thing to do, but it may not be easy for some people.

In that case, TOTV is a good place to get the word out about poor service or poor-quality food. We know from the landscaping forum, for instance, that professionals monitor these sites. It may be a good way for some to have their concerns heard.

I think TOTV is a powerful tool for evaluating businesses. You can disregard complaints not backed up by the facts of what happened. You can ask what exactly happened if it's not reported. You can learn something from complaints properly substantiated.

[REDCART]

You probably would not stop going to a restaurant if you read one or only an occasional complaint about an establishment on TOTV. However, if you start seeing a consistent stream of complaints here, especially from folks whom you know are reasonable, you might decide to eat elsewhere. No, I'm not going to define "reasonable" or credible.

[Villages PL]

Too funny! I TOTALLY agree. DO NOT pi$$ off the wait staff or preparer!! It sure wakes you up if you see the movie "Waiting". Although the movie is a raunchy and crude comedy, it also shows what goes on behind the scenes in a typical corporate restaurant. This was a take off of Applebees/Bennigans. After that, I vowed to smile at the wait staff and do my complaining AFTER I ate my meal, unless it was so bad and I didn't plan on eating the rest of it. lol

Several years ago, when I still ate meat, I ordered grilled chicken breast at Bob Evans on 466. It was extremely dry, thin and stiff as a board. Well, what made it worse is that I was with someone who was a non-stop talker. I never even said a word about it to my friend because I couldn't get a word in edgewise. I just ate my meal.

When I got home and had time to think about it, I decided to call the restaurant and tell the manager. He was very nice and offered to give me and my friend a free meal. It was a generous offer but to take advantage of it I would have had to tell him before ordering. I therefore assumed he would then notify the wait staff.

I mentioned it to my friend and we decided not to ever go back because: 1) We wondered what they might do to the food and 2) We would feel like freeloaders.

[rp001]

While on a trip to Ft Laud with my girl to see my daughter and grandkids at xmas time last year we had occassion to heat at a cheesecake factory.In the past I've eaten there many times (different store) and loved it..This time was very different and quite unenjoyable...I contacted their franchise through their website upon returning home to the villages...Bottom line the manager called me, and sent a gift certificate for 50 dollars...I told him I would not travel to Orlando to use it and just gave it to the kids..they had a good time on their next outing...So the moral is, if management really cares, it will be demonstrated....

[Villages PL]

Why I stopped complaining to chain restaurants: I once complained to the manager of Perkin's (several years ago). It was something about not having enough healthy choices on the menu. He was quick to tell me that he had nothing to do with what's on the menu. It's all decided at corporate headquarters. So that was that. I don't go there anymore.

Arby's would invite their customers to call a toll-free number to give their opinions or make suggestions. I thought, "wow, this is great." But after several calls, (over a period of about 1 year) I realized they had no intentions of providing healhier choices. I don't go there anymore either. (Arby's was later put up for sale.)

I once called McDonald's headquarters. They were super nice over the phone. The woman who took my call sounded really interested and appreciative of my comments. But years later I don't believe they have made any significant changes in the sodium content of their foods. I believe they once said they would gradually cut the sodium content over a 10 year period. Yes, 10 years to go from super high to just moderately high. Thanks a lot McDonalds! I haven't been there for several years now.

So, I believe there are many reasons for people to be pessimistic about restaurants. Oh, I just remembered, at Bob Evans I also complained that they were vacuming the carpet while we were eating. It was a regular vacume cleaner with a motor. It was the next table over from where we were sitting.

[Bogie Shooter]

Some complaints just don't make any sense.