Fined for being a slow eater?

[timesjoke]

I must admit, I was floored by this story:

 

McParking row as slow eaters given heavy fines | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

 

Some stores and restaurants are giving their customers a very limited time to conduct their buisness or be given a fine, how can this be possible?

 

 

Call me old fashoned but I remember a time when a business would do everything possible to attract business, not piss them off but obviously I am behind the times.

 

 

The question of just how long it should take to eat fast food is being answered by the burger giant McDonald's, which is making customers finish within 45 minutes or face a charge of ?125.

 

Many supermarkets and restaurants are handing over the management of their car parks to companies which use number plate recognition cameras to log when people enter and leave.

If they stay too long, the details of the registered keeper of the vehicle are obtained from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and he or she is billed. An elderly Wiltshire couple were recently berated by Tesco after taking too long to do their Christmas shopping at the supermarket.

 

 

 

Just how much more are consumers going to take?

 

 

So they want our money, but only if we spend it fast?

 

 

Does anyone else have issues with this?

[eddo]

We saw a sign at Olive Garden here in town a couple weeks ago asking customers to keep their after dinner time to a minimum. I can see the need, but don't know if I agree with it. If I am going somewhere to eat for a meeting, I had better be allowed to conduct all of my business or I won't return.

 

I buy meals for all that are meeting, and I make sure to tip generously.

[Old Salt]

We saw a sign at Olive Garden here in town a couple weeks ago asking customers to keep their after dinner time to a minimum. I can see the need, but don't know if I agree with it. If I am going somewhere to eat for a meeting, I had better be allowed to conduct all of my business or I won't return.

 

I buy meals for all that are meeting, and I make sure to tip generously.

I can see that if they're busy and have people waiting to be seated. But the manager needs to take into account how much is being spent by someone who is taking their time due to business or a special occasion. After all, look at how many families or groups go out to eat for birthdays, anniversaries, or promotions.

[Old Salt]

I must admit, I was floored by this story:

 

McParking row as slow eaters given heavy fines | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

 

Some stores and restaurants are giving their customers a very limited time to conduct their buisness or be given a fine, how can this be possible?

 

 

Call me old fashoned but I remember a time when a business would do everything possible to attract business, not piss them off but obviously I am behind the times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just how much more are consumers going to take?

 

 

So they want our money, but only if we spend it fast?

 

 

Does anyone else have issues with this?

Gotta keep people moving through the store. Don't give them enough time to find the best deal and they'll spend more money. Course it could backfire and people don't even come into the store, thereby losing sales.

[hugo]

Had a buddy who was banned from a chinese buffet restaurant.

[Old Salt]

Had a buddy who was banned from a chinese buffet restaurant.

For eating too much from the all-you-can-eat buffet?

[ImWithStupid]

For eating too much from the all-you-can-eat buffet?

 

You eat too much! You stay too rong ! Runch is over! You go now!

[snafu]

You eat too much! You stay too rong ! Runch is over! You go now!

 

What rucking wrong with you?

[RegisteredAndEducated]

What a joke. Places that do this will never last. This wont last long. The consumer won't have it.

 

I've been in or around customer service my ENTIRE life. I've never seen crap like what's been mentioned here. Being involved with business and restaurant owners, I'm appalled at this garbage.

[Guest Vortex]

I have to admit im SEVERELY annoyed when people stay longer than they need...but i would never EVER ask them to leave or fine them. Unfortunately for servers these people tend to tip average at best..so it sucks for them because they are losing money...I have , however, asked guests to move and bought them dessert for doing so....and the only reason for doing that is i was counting on that table to push together other tables to accomadate a large party that had been waiting for a table for over an hour and a half (30 minutes loner than we quoted them).

 

They didnt mind because they got a more secluded table, got free dessert, and my 20 people yelling at me all of a sudden got a table....win win

 

But sadly its usually never business people who sit there for a long period of time...its (sorry ladies) always women just sitting around chatting and wanting their water refilled by a server grimicing the entire time because of their 11% tip.....

 

being a manager of a restaurant i still wouldnt advocate some sort of fine for "squatting".....

[snafu]

But it's plain rude for people to squat. I bet they are the loudest whinneres when they can't get a table.

When I was cruising through Canada we stopped a little hole in the wall to get some gas. Every store down the Alcan has gas. Anyway they had like 8 tables and the kitchen in the back. This poor guy is busting his hump trying to get all these orders out by himself. Meanwhile he's constantly looking up to clear a table for us to sit down at. His help called in sick. Two different tables were people obviously squatting over coffee. I really felt sorry for him becuse he had people turn away becuse of no seats. We told him don't worry we'll take it to go. For as fast as he was working he whipped up some good sausage and eggs. We gave him a ten dollar tip.

[Guest Vortex]

oh yea its totaly rude....unfortunately its in the area of my business to bite my lip and smile as if i dont care that they are making everyone else in the lobby wait longer

 

and you are correct...most parties that have to wait for a table and gripe constantly about it (like when i quote them 50-70 minutes and they check back with us every 10 minutes to see how much longer...then when we seat them at 70 minutes they say its appalling)...only then to turn around and sit there not ordering anything 40 minutes after they pay the check....

 

its an irritating fact of life....

[timesjoke]

Okay guys, I have been A "Squatter" a bunch of times, but in places I "squat" I like and do repeat business in.

 

I take business lunches at these places and that will end up with us sitting and talking a long time sometimes, and I take women out to dinner at these places as well.

 

My point is that while it may be a tad irritating to deal with a "squatter" their feeling relaxed at your establishment may mean repeat business and word of mouth advertising, two very good things for a business that would like to stay strong for many years to come and not just flash burn for a short time.

 

 

I understand the desire to service everyone in the fastest, and more efficient time possible, but there is good from these "squatters" as well in the long run.

 

 

Just to let you know, the biggest tip I ever gave was $200 at my local outback. I brought in a party of 15 and was impressed at how good the waitress took care of us and even though she was very busy, she still took the time to be pleasant and keep all our drinks full. I could not have kept such a good attitude with that much going on if I was her.

 

I have been back several times and always ask to be seated at one of her tables.

[hugo]

I don't go to restaurants where I have to wait for a table. That should be the solution for squatters. Go to a restaurant that is thoughtful enough to have enough tables to satisfy customer demand.

[RegisteredAndEducated]

I grew up in the restaurant business. My family has been in the restaurant business since WAY before I was born starting (as far as I know) with a few restaurants that my grandparents owned. I think that we're referring to two different kinds of "squatters" her TJ.

There are the people that bitch and moan about not getting a table fast enough, then sit there for 30 minutes looking at the menu, then bitch and moan about how long it takes to get their food, then eat and pay their bill but sit at the table for another hour drinking the free refills and yapping. They usually get up and leave a tip that reflects their "poor service" and is nowhere near enough to justify all their bitching and wasted server's time.

 

Then there are the people like you just described. They come in with a group of people (usually, sometimes they're alone or they have just one or two people), they don't bitch and moan about the wait, they order drinks or food as soon as they're ready, they don't bitch and moan about how long it takes, and they leave a tip that really reflects the service. Not their cheap ass, skewed perception of what service should be.

[Feckless Wench]

I can understand this sort of mentality at a fast food restaurant, but at a more expensive restaurant it is simply unacceptable to know that your time is limited. Going out to eat is surely supposed to be a relaxing experience, not yet another rush in the day to day drag.