People who leave their house determined to complain about something!

In my years here I have come to believe a small percentage of people go to restaurants with the firm intention of complaining about something either real or made up. I believe most hope to get something comped, and a few possibly have some psychological syndrome, what do you think?

Absolutely correct.  It is a show of power.  I can think of 2 people like this off the top of my head.

 Having been in the restaurant business for 25 plus years, I am all too familiar with this type of person. Sometimes they will show up two or three times a week. They order the same thing over and over and then complain to anyone who will listen about the "lousy service, food, etc...) Honestly, I don't know why they keep showing up. They spend money but is it worth it when they  badmouth your place to other customers?
 
JMHO
 
David O.

I'm working on a list of complaints so that I'll have them at my fingertips in the event I ever make it to Maryland and a place called Chubby's.
 
Let's see... There aren't any beans in my chili, Who the hell put bacon on my burger, It's too damned hot in here, The coffee tastes stale, You don't have Stewart's root beer, Can't anyone here spell catsup properly .................
 
Or, as TJ would say, dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot
 
Mine is a psychological syndrome thingee.

Got a newer one. Am not even leaving the house.
 
Why where you not opened in the 80's-90's when I went thru there alot.
I retired in '99. 
 
Have had one relative and 3 friends stop by. they raved about the place. Not a one
a BBQ person.
 

Curbside Grill


Got a newer one. Am not even leaving the house.

Why where you not opened in the 80's-90's when I went thru there alot.
I retired in '99. 

Have had one relative and 3 friends stop by. they raved about the place. Not a one
a BBQ person.

That's very kind of you to mention this Curbside, makes my day!

I know one of those people.  The first table offered is never taken.  It's too close to the front door, the kitchen, it's noisy or it's chilly.  The food is never to her liking, either.
 
Somehow she never complains about the wine.
 
 I haven't had a meal out with her in about 8 - 10 years!  From my viewpoint it got tiring and embarrasing so I'm always busy when the occasion comes up.

I have to wonder about a restaurant owner who seems to hate people.
Cancel my reservation for pork belly.
 
Cheers, John 

seafarer john


I have to wonder about a restaurant owner who seems to hate people.
Cancel my reservation for pork belly.

Cheers, John 

 Exhibit#1

Chewy, they probably also complain at home to anyone who will listen!
 
 

I had a customer in my deli that bought two rotisserie chickens a week-for about a month she returned one and said it was raw. I felt awful and always replaced her chicken free. Then I started seeing a pattern.So I asked her the last time( she had called) to please bring the chicken back as I wanted to show my employees what they were doing wrong. She didnt, but kept coming back and always bought one chicken.I think I diffused losing a customer, and kept my sales where they should be. My theory is I want to keep a customer as much as I can, especially in this economy.

TJ Jackson


This sounds more like a case of a fellow who didn't like a food item that you clearly do like.

Old expressions like 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' and 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' come to mind here.  Simply stated, the fact that you think it is delicious chili does not mean everyone will agree with you on that point. 

To put you on the other side of this equation for a second, many folks in Cincinnati simply love Cincinnati style chili.  But not long ago, you declared your distaste for this style of chili in no uncertain terms: http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/fb.ashx?m=619825

So since you yourself have made it clear that you don't like a food item that millions of folks love, why would you not in turn understand/accept a fellow simply not liking something that you love?

To answer your question of 'what would I do?' - I would apologize to the fellow, telling him most folks love the stuff, and then offer a replacement item - a side, a soup, a salad, a dessert - something of roughly comparable value.  Who knows, maybe the guy loves the replacement item so much he becomes a regular, or maybe he tells all his friends about excellent treatment by the owner/manager who strove to simply 'make it right' for him, and this in turn brings in new business and good word of mouth.

Sounds to me like your getting your topics mixed up, as I answered what I did with the guy who didn't like the Chili.
If I go somewhere that has Cincinnati Chili on the menu I don't order it, pretty simple, as opposed to ordering it then not eating it. Even if I did order it, I would eat it, fact is I don't care for it like I do Texas Red.

chewingthefat

TJ Jackson


This sounds more like a case of a fellow who didn't like a food item that you clearly do like.

Old expressions like 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' and 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' come to mind here.  Simply stated, the fact that you think it is delicious chili does not mean everyone will agree with you on that point. 

To put you on the other side of this equation for a second, many folks in Cincinnati simply love Cincinnati style chili.  But not long ago, you declared your distaste for this style of chili in no uncertain terms: http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/fb.ashx?m=619825

So since you yourself have made it clear that you don't like a food item that millions of folks love, why would you not in turn understand/accept a fellow simply not liking something that you love?

To answer your question of 'what would I do?' - I would apologize to the fellow, telling him most folks love the stuff, and then offer a replacement item - a side, a soup, a salad, a dessert - something of roughly comparable value.  Who knows, maybe the guy loves the replacement item so much he becomes a regular, or maybe he tells all his friends about excellent treatment by the owner/manager who strove to simply 'make it right' for him, and this in turn brings in new business and good word of mouth.

Sounds to me like your getting your topics mixed up, as I answered what I did with the guy who didn't like the Chili.
If I go somewhere that has Cincinnati Chili on the menu I don't order it, pretty simple, as opposed to ordering it then not eating it. Even if I did order it, I would eat it, fact is I don't care for it like I do Texas Red.

 
chewingthefat, here is a great topic for a new thread!
 
People who leave their house log on to RF determined to complain about something!

What    No Bacon

Okay- my question to chewingthefat is: do you want an answer? Or do you just want people to agree with you? I have responded in kind to your topic(s) posted and never have you responded. Okay, BACON.

Hahahahaha. What joerogo wrote was exactly what I thought when I read your post, TJ.
 
ctf didn't write anything about anyone tasting anything in particular in his restaurant, just a general observation that it sometimes seems like some people just can't be pleased. And he received a number of replies confirming that this is a common occurrence, verifying that this is a topic of general interest, that many members can relate to. Then you turn it into an unfounded assumed specific instance, and relate it to the fact that he wrote a month ago that he doesn't care for Cincinnati style chili... for what it's worth, his entire, unedited post on the matter is, "Cincinnati Chili isn't worth the time it takes to make it, IMHO." Which wasn't worth a mention a month ago, but you certainly remembered that one line written on October 26th, apparently saving it to use at a later date. It's almost as if you're gunning for him, in fact.
 
Not that Tom needs anyone to defend him. I'm just saying what it looks like to this observer, that your post looks like an attack made of veiled innuendo based on an obvious personal dislike.

BAM!!!
 
I think Chewy made that comment just to let him know that his sacred "Cincy Thread" could easily become Pee Wee's Playhouse.  You know, the same kind of BS he brings to other peoples threads.

Your Ice is to cold.
Comp me some ribs.
Water here is crap
Comp me a Brisket
Give me a hamburger today and gladly pay you on Tuesday

TJ Jackson


to JoeRogo:
an interesting position, seeing as how you regularly attack my posts in other threads, and seem to take such joy in doing so.  The Cincinnati thread is not mine, nor is there anything sacred about it.  All I did was start it.  It is the work of many, many folks.

 
TJ, Lighten up.  

annpeeples


Okay- my question to chewingthefat is: do you want an answer? Or do you just want people to agree with you? I have responded in kind to your topic(s) posted and never have you responded. Okay, BACON.

Bacon? why yes, I rather enjoy an occasional slice of bacon, say every 2 minutes!