Service industry query

[RagingRandy]

My wife and I were out at a decent buffet style restaurant in Niagara Falls over the weekend. We had not decided what we wanted to drink, when the waiter asked, as we were headed to the line. So, I told him to just get us some ice water and after we got our first plate I would let him know what we wanted. He responded by saying if we wanted water we needed to pay for it. The only water they had was bottled water. I told him that this is the first restaurant I had ever been in that had refused me water. I also told him I thought that if this was not an illegal practice that it was a poor business practice. I was pissed at this point. We sit down with our first plate of food and I call the hostess over and ask her what the deal was, thinking that the server was just trying to jack up his take. She confirmed this was the restaurant policy. Then, an older guy, I think he was the owner, comes over and asks if everything was OK. I gave him the same earful. He tells me he can not afford to give out free water.

I used to work in restaurants when I was younger and was told by someone that a restaurant can not refuse or demand payment for tap\ice water. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

Any thoughts?


EDIT: This is the place.... http://www.almacsbuffet.com/home.htm

[GYMBRAT]

don't know but f**k me is that f**king gay!!!!...last time I'd be going there, plus it would be in the local news paper!

[Talo]

^^ Agree . A nice small write up would do them some good.

[daande]

I think they can refuse to give you water. You can refuse to serve anyone at a restaurant or store if you want to want to so why couldn't you refuse giving away free water?

[#8]

lol @ he cant afford to hand out free tap water

Such a huge expense tap water is....

[cheesesteak]

I think they can only refuse to give you water if you don't buy anything else. Like just being a bum and hanging around.

I hear that buffet's usually make most of their money off beverage orders so that's probably why they won't give you free tap water.

[Born2Juice4Ever]

Ok,

As many of you may or may not know, I am in the restaurant industry--more so the restaurant aspect.

It has become the norm at many places, mainly mid to high end locations to ONLY have or offer bottle water to their clients. Many places will go as far as purchasing and selling FIJI bottles....Evian..Naya.and other top brands.

Randi depending on the venue bro. Local pubs, or eatery will still offer tap water and will probably always will--since the clientèle will probably not yield bottle water investments.

Bottom line: Restaurants have the right to change their service and or dynamics at any given time.
Sure WE and YOU as consumers are the ones who pay the bills at the end of the day...what can I tell you, our demographics are changing.


Please please please remember that servers, LIKE US, we are humans, and servers deal with multilevel clientelle....always tip the 15% of the bill ladies and gents :) its how they make their money


B2J

[O-Train]

If that ever happened to me I would/will walk out without ordering. Regardless of the occasion. Bottled water is garbage and I would never pay for it at a restaurant.

And B2J why should we feel obligated to tip 15%? Why should I reward someone if they do a shitty job? It's like society is taking pity on a group of people because it's been decided to pay them less. In a lot of places they don't tip bartenders for cracking open a beer, I mean really why should you? Pay them minimum wage, or if it's a nicer place, pay them more. It's a shit job, that requires no education. I find it so annoying to be served bad/overpriced food by a terrible server and then feel obligated to tip them. If they do a good job, yeah sure give them a little extra. It's not like I tip the guy at Future Shop for not helping me pick out a T.V...They don't make commision by not helping people.

Service should be rewarded based on service, not some status quo bullshit.

[gsxr750]

I would have told the guy to shove the water!! That's pretty lame of them

I would have filled one of their soup bowls with tap water in the washroom and lapped it up like a dog for everyone to see mo****as!!

[Born2Juice4Ever]

Yes I understand you and I am also on your sides fellas.

The restaurant industry is a luxury NOT a need. NOBODY can force you, or will ever force to you step foot into a venue, specially one that you may dislike.

The profit margin in the industry is VERY tight I explain with a simple example:

A hot dog that is priced at 5.00 PER SAY

2.00 portion cost
3.00 rent, supplies, taxes, equipment, bills, labour, AND AT THE END IS PROFIT--probably around a 2.5 percent of the over all menu selling price.

What does that mean? that despite the "high" prices most of you may or may not be able to see on menus, the bottom line is, most places barely survive on the sales.
SURE there is tremendous profit to be made, but it is not easy.

When it comes to servers? Yes there are good ones and there are bad ones.
I will put this into perspective: Gov employees, WE know that there are hundreds out there, that do not PULL THEIR WEIGHT, yet WE as consumers, WE pay for their HIGH wages, WE pay for their childcare, we pay for their dental.....with the good, there are bad.

The restaurant industry is not filled with alpha material, there are excellent servers and bad servers...take it as is guys.
With all that comes a very low hourly wage associated, where TIPS from clients are what make the job worth while.
I know of servers that make in excess of 200 dollars on an 8 hour shift---but those are career, and WELL educated servers, while I know others that may make 50 bucks----yes a substantial differential.--you get what you pay for.

For the most part servers Do try, and they try hard, BELIEVE ME I know....

You think that by writing to a newspaper to expose a negative review on a venue that you are going to help the economy>? I believe in freedom of speech, but only when a truthful developing idea can be channeled. FOR NOW< I personally OPPOSE the negative write up, based on the water situation.
I hate to say this, but I will: IF YOU do not like the rules of a certain location, then simply go somewhere else. Sure the venue will appreciate the business, but not a business that risks a negative feedback to a newspaper. A newspaper review can damage a business on a grand scale, thus affecting the economic downslope.

P>S> I just looked at the website and venue architectural design...it seems nice, and with a friendly setting. I could not see the reason WHY they would not simply offer ice and water to their clients....but if their pockets can afford to loose a percentage of clients, then good for them.


B2J

[Ritch]

I would have filled one of their soup bowls with tap water in the washroom and lapped it up like a dog for everyone to see mo****as!!

:laugh

[waderow]

I do not tip if the service sucks.

[_Ragnar_]

I tip 10 % auto, more if the service is good. never scrimp on a tip cuse the foods bad. thats not the servers fault

[waderow]

I tip 10 % auto, more if the service is good. never scrimp on a tip cuse the foods bad. thats not the servers fault

if the food is shitty I expect the server to do something about it,a s I will mention it nicely. If they do nothing.... reduced tip

[tex]

i think someone should go crap in the urinal at the buffet...and maybe leave them an upperdeck or go high diving in the stall......