Grumpy bartender in the SFO United Club
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Scotland
Programs: not a lot
Posts: 1,774
Grumpy bartender in the SFO United Club
Got a couple of glasses of Bud Lite when I went in.
Went back up for another couple a bit later. Don't think it was possible for her to slam them onto the bar any harder to be honest.
Wonder what will happen in round 3 later.
I imagine her attitude is because I didn't leave a tip.
Went back up for another couple a bit later. Don't think it was possible for her to slam them onto the bar any harder to be honest.
Wonder what will happen in round 3 later.
I imagine her attitude is because I didn't leave a tip.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
huh usually the lady working the RCC bar is quite nice, I've chatted with her many times.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Bay Area, CA
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#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,923
Got a couple of glasses of Bud Lite when I went in.
Went back up for another couple a bit later. Don't think it was possible for her to slam them onto the bar any harder to be honest.
Wonder what will happen in round 3 later.
I imagine her attitude is because I didn't leave a tip.
Went back up for another couple a bit later. Don't think it was possible for her to slam them onto the bar any harder to be honest.
Wonder what will happen in round 3 later.
I imagine her attitude is because I didn't leave a tip.
#5
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,355
Seriously. No tip? You get what you pay for.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 311
Well, I normally wait until I am finished with my session at the bar before I tip. This is natural to me - I don't leave tips in a paying bar until I pay the bill, and then I leave the entire tip. I am normally quite generous with my tipping. I worked my way through college waiting tables and I understand that these folks bust their behinds to serve us in most cases. But this doesn't make tipping a prereq to good service.
I've seen that type of attitude a few times - no immediate tip = bad attitude and slow service. I firmly reject the philosophy that the client is obligated to provide financial gratification to a bartender and on her schedule -- or else deserves lousy treatment. Remember, it is called a "gratuity" - which is inherently optional. If there is to be a penalty for exercising this choice, then it is more properly called a bill, not a tip. Not to mention the fact that FAs serve w/o tipping and it's not a problem.
It seems to me that this is a decent test of whether or not the barkeep in fact deserves a tip. On the rare occasions that I've received rotten service b/c I do not immediately whip-out cash to reward the server, my very generous tips shrink fast (or even disappear altogether on a couple of occasions when the attitude was really egregious).
What do folks think - is it my attitude that is off?
#7
#9
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#10
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAH
Programs: *AG, Choice Privileges Elite Diamond, SPG Gold, La Quinta Returns Gold, Wyndham Rewards Gold
Posts: 466
Maybe she attended the Gordon Ramsay School of Bartending?
#11
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,824
Regarding not leaving the tip until the end, sure, I can understand that, but if someone's looking like they're having a really bad day, why not surprise them at the end? If you really think they were grumpy because they weren't immediately tipped, tip them anyway at the end and maybe they'll rethink things, maybe feel badly about pre-judging you and do better in the future.
In almost everything we do we have a choice between making the world a bit better place for others, or worse. There aren't that many things that justify making things worse.
In almost everything we do we have a choice between making the world a bit better place for others, or worse. There aren't that many things that justify making things worse.
Last edited by l etoile; Oct 5, 2012 at 7:48 am Reason: Comments on title no longer relevant
#12
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CLE
Programs: UA,WN,AA,DL, B6
Posts: 4,163
I always tip after each drink and I give 1 buck and every club I use, CLE,EWR,ORD,IAH on a regular basis they appreciate my dollar for each drink and thank me, and refills come quick. Not tipping after your drink you are aksing for trouble.
#13
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
I'm uncomfortable tipping when the tips aren't shared with the cleaning staff, who are clearly working harder even if they're not central casting for "our kind of people". But perhaps I'm wrong. Does anyone know for certain that the bar staff are making the least in the room otherwise?
#14
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Programs: AS 100K, UA MM, AA MM, IC Plat Amb, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 3,146
And people wonder why the tipping culture in the U.S. is so despised.
There's simply no excuse for attitude from a bartender in the UC. Normally I tip after each round, but a bartender who gives poor attitude or service risks getting no tip at all, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
There's simply no excuse for attitude from a bartender in the UC. Normally I tip after each round, but a bartender who gives poor attitude or service risks getting no tip at all, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: Whatever's Cheapest, Accruing Miles, Redeeming for Premium Cabins, Not Chasing Status Unnecessarily
Posts: 2,264
Most nongrumpy bartenders are clairvoyant and know you are a great tipper, so I think you should keep tipping only at the end of your sessions.