Best/Worst Private Sector Service Experiences?

FairytaleGirl

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

Im absolutley raging at his complete lack of concern.

Needless to say we left without paying - after he tried to get us to pay for the starter and main!

Any one recieved bad service? Or really really good service? Or anyone work in the public sector with bad customer stories? Spill!!:cool:

Chuck Stone

So it was a public sector restaurant?

Was this 1980's USSR?

admiralofthefleet

you should have 'blown a fuse'

jack presley

You lost me with public sector part. Was it a staff canteen in a hospital or a museum or something?

Bassfish

So you had a bad experience in a restaurant (private sector btw) and decided to turn it in to yet another pointless public sector bashing thread? Wow, fair play!

Pushtrak

Seems the posters are taking a dim view to this thread.

Diego Maradona

OP enlighten us as to how the public sector are at fault here?

Dartz

Handing in a jobbridge form.

"Come back Thursday to hatch Six. That's not my job."

I waited 45 minutes to be told that.

FairytaleGirl

Holy Sh!t.

Please gimme five till I find the chunks you guys just tore out of my thread.

MY mistake - It was just an ordinary resturant - Private sector then? Sheesh.

mattjack

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

Im absolutley raging at his complete lack of concern.

Needless to say we left without paying - after he tried to get us to pay for the starter and main!

Any one recieved bad service? Or really really good service? Or anyone work in the public sector with bad customer stories? Spill!!:cool:

Fairytalegirl.... were these fairy lights that blew ?

Diego Maradona

Brilliant thread, OP by any chance are you blonde?

mattjack

Dartz wrote: »

Handing in a jobbridge form.

"Come back Thursday to hatch Six. That's not my job."

I waited 45 minutes to be told that.

Em.... see post 9.

starbelgrade

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

Holy Sh!t.

Please gimme five till I find the chunks you guys just tore out of my thread.

MY mistake - It was just an ordinary resturant - Private sector then? Sheesh.

Maybe the lightbulb was added to your meal as part of the Choke park Agreement.

FairytaleGirl

Not Blonde, but then I refuse to be insulted by a comment from someone whos username references a player who is known for cheating his way to a win :rolleyes:

I am however, tired. Mistakes are made.

ArtyM

This thread should be about how you could possibly avoid going to prison for the nasty s**t that you did to the manager in retribution for his actions.

Bassfish

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

Holy Sh!t.

Please gimme five till I find the chunks you guys just tore out of my thread.

MY mistake - It was just an ordinary resturant - Private sector then? Sheesh.

Do you actually know what what public sector or private sector means?
Private sector is any business- restaurant, pub, shop etc.
Public sector is any government job- nurses, firemen, politician etc

humbert

Really can't understand why the nice posters here are in on a Saturday night.

Diego Maradona

humbert wrote: »

Really can't understand why the nice posters here are in on a Saturday night.

Washing my hare

Mr Benevolent

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

Im absolutley raging at his complete lack of concern.

Needless to say we left without paying - after he tried to get us to pay for the starter and main!

Any one recieved bad service? Or really really good service? Or anyone work in the public sector with bad customer stories? Spill!!:cool:

Was it an IRA restaurant?

efb

all I heard was durdle urdle urdle, situation...

whats this topic about???

FairytaleGirl

-_- your IRA/Belfast accent jokes would be funny if I was, ye know, from Belfast/In the IRA.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

ottostreet

I wouldn't have been thick at the manager at all. After all, it's not like he purposely made the lightbulb explode. You got an apology from the staff, I wouldn't expect any more. **** happens, noone was hurt.

Shryke

The manager didn't apologize because that would be admitting fault and leave things open for liable action.
It's a sad world but that's a fact. We covered that ground when I worked in a shop before. Saying sorry and taking some responsibility can get you in court.

But after that fact it's bad form that he wasn't nicer. He should have been looking to be kind and placate you, which it seems he tried a little to do by offering you vouchers.

I don't know what has you going on about private/public sector stuff when you're talking about a restaurant but I suppose you maybe didn't know what those things were exactly gong by your OP. We learn from our mistakes, but we get abuse about them too.

Senna

Shryke wrote: »

The manager didn't apologize because that would be admitting fault and leave things open for liable action.

What pencil pushing tool-bag came up with that philosophy?
A simple apology will sort out 90% of problems and the other 10% will happen whether you apologise or not.
Fault is determined by what actually happened.

Capt'n Midnight

Diego Maradona wrote: »

Washing my hare

Laver le Leveret

B.A._Baracus

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

To chime in on your experience tonight op

If glass blew everywhere & If I was a manager I would move you to another table and say 50% off your meal or ... perhaps free meal or something in between. It would be all BS to save face. But would offer at least something on the night. not an 'ahh sure, next time" deal.

But while half of me agrees with the above ..... sadly the other half would be thinking "are they chancers?" too Its a sad fact of the current world we live in. For the record I don't mean your story. But I cant shake the feeling that if I was in a situation ... in this case manager of a restaurant. I would be skeptical of peoples complaints

Kimia

I don't get the private/public sector references

DEFTLEFTHAND

The OP is not even from this country, what are they talking about?

girl in the striped socks

So the manager expected you to finish your meal with broken glass in it? Seriously?
If your gonna lie at least make it believable.

Chinasea

Give me free dis and free dat.
I want compo, it is di a bol icle. I am getting mui solicitor.

De government should make sure that light bulbs don't expire when I am having my chicken balls and chips. It's a DISGRACE.

ceadaoin.

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

Im absolutley raging at his complete lack of concern.

Needless to say we left without paying - after he tried to get us to pay for the starter and main!

Any one recieved bad service? Or really really good service? Or anyone work in the public sector with bad customer stories? Spill!!:cool:

But sometimes these things do just happen. It's not like he would have had any indication that the light bulb was about to blow. It doesn't entitle you to a free dinner and if you had already eaten the starter then you probably should have paid for that

FairytaleGirl

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

So the manager expected you to finish your meal with broken glass in it? Seriously?
If your gonna lie at least make it believable.

He didnt tell us to finish our meal - but he didnt offer a replacement. Pull your stripey socks outta your a*se.

To the other posters with a crappy attitude - in my opinion that was bad service. Im not an as*hole whos out to rip shreds of decent establisments. Im not even the type to complain usually but his couldnt care less attitude baffled me.

It prompted me to post wondering what other types of service people on boards had recieved good or bad - ( which no one has answered) not to have my post doubted/disected and people jumping down my throat.

Lovely bunch here on boards.

girl in the striped socks

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

So the manager expected you to finish your meal with broken glass in it? Seriously?
If your gonna lie at least make it believable.

He didnt tell us to finish our meal - but he didnt offer a replacement. Pull your stripey socks outta your a*se.

To the other posters with a crappy attitude - in my opinion that was bad service. Im not an as*hole whos out to rip shreds of decent establisments. Im not even the type to complain usually but his couldnt care less attitude baffled me.

It prompted me to post wondering what other types of service people on boards had recieved good or bad - ( which no one has answered) not to have my post doubted/disected and people jumping down my throat.

Lovely bunch here on boards.

You're not the type to complain yet most of your posts have been quite aggressive because people weren't falling over themselves to tell you how mean that manager was etc.
Cop to fcuk on.
And if you have an issue with the kind of replies you got in this forum then maybe you should try consumer issues the next time.

hondasam

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

Im absolutley raging at his complete lack of concern.

Needless to say we left without paying - after he tried to get us to pay for the starter and main!

Any one recieved bad service? Or really really good service? Or anyone work in the public sector with bad customer stories? Spill!!:cool:

Did they replace the meals ye were eating at the time? Considering they were now full of glass and dust I would expect they would.
Was the restaurant busy? were there other free tables to move ye too?
If this were me I would be very annoyed as well.
Your title might have got you off to a bad start.

Toby Take a Bow

Senna wrote: »

What pencil pushing tool-bag came up with that philosophy?
A simple apology will sort out 90% of problems and the other 10% will happen whether you apologise or not.
Fault is determined by what actually happened.

Probably the same pencil pushing tool-bag who read a case about how a restaurant got the asses sued off themselves due to someone innocently enough saying sorry.

You're right, it is a sad state of affairs, but every cafe/restaurant I've ever worked in has had this as a stated or unstated policy.

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

The OP is not even from this country, what are they talking about?

FairytaleGirl

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

You're not the type to complain yet most of your posts have been quite aggressive because people weren't falling over themselves to tell you how mean that manager was etc.
Cop to fcuk on.
And if you have an issue with the kind of replies you got in this forum then maybe you should try consumer issues the next time.

Aggressive? Not as 'aggressive' as you flat out calling me a liar.
I havnt once asked or invited anyone to comment on the managers attitude. I have simply told the story, and reiterated why I was annoyed at the service provided. This thread was started out of curiousity as to what other service posters have recieved.

girl in the striped socks

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

girl in the striped socks wrote: »

You're not the type to complain yet most of your posts have been quite aggressive because people weren't falling over themselves to tell you how mean that manager was etc.
Cop to fcuk on.
And if you have an issue with the kind of replies you got in this forum then maybe you should try consumer issues the next time.

Aggressive? Not as 'aggressive' as you flat out calling me a liar.
I havnt once asked or invited anyone to comment on the managers attitude. I have simply told the story, and reiterated why I was annoyed at the service provided. This thread was started out of curiousity as to what other service posters have recieved.

I called you a liar because in this day & age that story is more of a fairy tale than reality. Very apt username btw.
Even the filthiest & most depressing restaurants would have offered you a replacement meal because they are afraid of getting sued or getting the food safety authority on their backs.
Seriously it reads like something out of fawlty towers.

LETHAL LADY

Handbags at dawn easy now.

FairytaleGirl

So you dont believe me, because surely you KNOW this sort of thing wont happen.


Then because of my username on an internet forum you decide that I really do live in a fairytale world, making up stories to post and try and leech sympathy off members.

If you knew my real name was Dee - then surely you must know 'D' must be my favourite letter of the alphabet :rolleyes:

Ridiculous.

TheBody

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

Handbags at dawn easy now.

I think they should sort it out in my bedroom with feather pillows and a bottle of baby oil :pac:

Remmy

Chuck Stone wrote: »

So it was a public sector restaurant?

Was this 1980's USSR?

It's rare that I laugh at a post on boards. Well done.:)

girl in the striped socks

TheBody wrote: »

LETHAL LADY wrote: »

Handbags at dawn easy now.

I think they should sort it out in my bedroom with feather pillows and a bottle of baby oil :pac:

Ha! Just remove all lightbulbs:)

hondasam

Give it a rest girl ffs.

mikemac1

Best: Apple in Holyhill, Cork

Worst: UPC Ireland, good products but pure useless when things go wrong.

daltonmd

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half, and as we were starting our main course - the lightbulb in the fitting above our table blew - showering us and our dinner in glass

One member of staff hurried over to apologise, and after about ten minutes the manager came down, and was, frankly not bothered.
He didnt offer to replace the meals/move us seats or ask if we were ok - Just that 'Sometimes these things happen'.

When I asked what he was going to do he said they would give us a voucher for money off or next visit.

Im absolutley raging at his complete lack of concern.

Needless to say we left without paying - after he tried to get us to pay for the starter and main!

Any one recieved bad service? Or really really good service? Or anyone work in the public sector with bad customer stories? Spill!!:cool:

That is incredible. If anyone has experienced a shattered light bulb then you know that you could be findling splinters of glass for days after.

What he should have done is move you from the table, and not allow anyone else to eat there until a full clean up was done.

Your meal should have been replaced, a drink offered as an apology, not for the lightbuld exploding, but for the inconvenience.

You were right not to pay for the entire meal. You refused to pay because of the poor service you received, not because the bulb exploded.

girl in the striped socks

hondasam wrote: »

Give it a rest girl ffs.

It was a joke.
If the op did get treated like that then she should ring the food safety authority on the restaurant. To be fair they are great to follow up on complaints & ring you back with an update as to what happened they day they visited the premises.

Ms.M

I think the OP is just looking for other peoples' experiences... She's not asking what we would have done in a similar situation.


I once collected a fridge in a friend's car to avoid paying delivery fee.
Fridge didn't work.
Car gone, couldn't bring fridge back.
Powercity would not collect fridge. Insisted I pay a €15 euro delivery fee.
When I said that wasn't fair I was tutted at and told "You just don't want to pay the delivery fee" in a "you're not scheming me, you chancer" tone of voice.
It was extremely frustrating!!!
Eventually brought the fridge back myself and got a refund.
Wish I'd kicked it in first!

Fupping Grasshole

FairytaleGirl wrote: »

I was in a restaurant tonight for a meal with my other half

shar01

Worst service - UPC

Changed from UPC to Sky (too many service disruptions with UPC).

Rang to cancel, they said write in - fair enough.

Although I had appointment with Sky to install dish, I didn't want to write in too early (in case me or Sky had to cancel appointment - I didn't want to be without de oul telly).

Sky set up so I wrote to UPC. Rang them a few days to confirm receipt of letter. They had it. Grand - until I got a bill from UPC covering the period beyond the cancellation. Apparently their accounts section didn't get the letter until six weeks after and that's the date they use for cancellation :mad:

Have had other conversations with people who have not had a good experience with UPC. And didn't RTE/TV3 do an exposé on them?

Best experience - Aer Lingus. Flight was cancelled due to snow. Put up in hotel and rebooked for following day with minimum fuss. Unfortunately there was a further delay over a technical issue. When we finally got going everyone was given €100 voucher off another flight And the cabin crew are always sound.

kincsem

I see the OP is from Derry, N.Ireland.
Will this thread to develop into a battle between the "Derry, six counties" and the "Londonderry, Northern Ireland" groups?