Poll: What's In A Name?
You've just been seated at a restaurant, and your server approaches. Do you expect the server to introduce him or herself by name, or do you prefer to keep things on more impersonal terms? Does it depend on how the introduction is delivered?
During my six or so years as a waitress, I gradually came to resent (inwardly, of course) people asking and subsequently using my name for the rest of the evening. Then again, I started to be bothered by a lot of normal customer behavior, which was more the result of me needing to get out of the service industry than anything else.
Cast your vote in the new poll, located in the column to the right. Have a strong opinion? Vote and then leave your thoughts in the comment section. I'll pull from them when the poll results are tallied.
During my six or so years as a waitress, I gradually came to resent (inwardly, of course) people asking and subsequently using my name for the rest of the evening. Then again, I started to be bothered by a lot of normal customer behavior, which was more the result of me needing to get out of the service industry than anything else.
Cast your vote in the new poll, located in the column to the right. Have a strong opinion? Vote and then leave your thoughts in the comment section. I'll pull from them when the poll results are tallied.
Comments
The practice strikes me as (i) something that's mandated by a corporate manual, when it happens at a chain; or (ii) pandering in hopes of a larger tip (How could you stiff your friend out of a big tip?), when not at a chain.
But I feel the same way about retail store fitting rooms. If I'm getting help from someone, I like to know a name.
If you need someone's attention, saying "excuse me, Damian?" vs. saying simply, "excuse me" does no more good expediting a server's attention when hailing them.
If you are one of those worthless servers who does this without a corporate mandate, then please stop. If you are a customer who often forces an awkward introduction on a busy waiter who just wants to make his 20% from you without getting errand requests by name, you will want to cut it out as well.
Michael - I knew I was onto something not wanting to give my name, but wow, a fake name policy is great.
"Hi, I'm Principessa Pamplemousse and I'll be your server this evening."
I mean which is better - "hey you!" or "excuse me, Buffy". :)
I guess those people who don't want to know the names of their servers don't know what they are missing.
I know some of my buddies think they have a chance with waitresses but I worked in the bar business and know all the tricks. So the name means nothing to me other than to be able to obtain service. I have been known at restaurants to getting my own drinks/service if the waiter/waitress isn't attentive. Think about it, the order of things is that we are at the table and have to be served everything by the waiter/waitress. I'd do it myself if I were home.
On a side note, I remember my waitresses who wanted bigger tips would casually place a hand on a man's shoulder who they were serving. THAT made it personal though we had to sometimes remind such inebriated fellows that she had a BF and they normally pointed that BF to be me. I volunteered for such duty as a former college football player. That normally ended any romantic overtures to said waitress.
It does not shock me to read some of the rude comments on this site.
You couldn't pay me enough to wait on the people who post such rude words.
"does she think we will actually be friends?"
"I usually forget right away..''
"..it's from a corporate manual"
"..pandering for a larger tip",
"..will we stay in touch after the meal"
"worthless servers"???
"..it's more or less worthless";
"hoping to be more personal"??
"I didn't come there to make friends.."
This is the future of our world.
Robots waiting on our tables with no personal touch or smiles. No one trusting each other. Maybe I'm reading into this a bit too much, One person's name.
(I'm sure I will here about it.)
If there is a restaurant that I go to regularly, it's comforting to know if "Sam" will be my server again. Or maybe "sam" could get me a better table near the window. Or maybe I'd just like to say Hi to "Sam" again, and thank him for being so nice to my table last week.
Hi, I'm Joe
oops, nobody cares.
oh, and no, I didn't want to be friends with 'you' either.
maybe I'm just pandering for money.
What a shame to read most of these posts.
I'm not a server.