Are you familiar with the term 'Chew and Screw'?
My employers have created a brilliantly democratic means of dealing with customers who pull the ol' dine and dash. At the close of each shift, every employee contributes a dollar to what we refer to as the "D & D Fund." In this way, if I get stiffed, I don't get stiffed. Know what I mean?
Every once in a while, a beer or two may be consumed by an individual who does not 'remember' to follow their last sip with a payment. I do loose out (possibly) on a tip, but I am not responsible for covering said unpaid tab because it is covered by our D & D Fund. Technically, I do pay the bills of walk-out-strangers, but a buck a shift for a couple of weeks has far less of an impact upon my budget than forking out a lump sum. I am happy with our system.
Last night, our system saved me $124.97; the largest F-off I've ever personally dealt with.
A table of six. Upstairs. Drinks, appetizers, entrées; a pitcher of water, and a couple of jokes. All was going well... so I thought, until I climbed the flight and a half to do a 'last check' before bringing the check.
There goes my tip. There goes $125 to the pub.
Have you read what I have to say about Karma? Well, I've not been monetarily reimbursed, but I feel that, tonight, I reimbursed someone else with something of far greater value.
After a long shift, I paid out a table using the wrong table number. What that meant was that a couple, paying by credit card, tallied up a rather small tab, and paid a rather large one; the difference being $22.99. They signed the credit receipt handed, by me, to them; saying nothing. I realized my mistake and returned to the table to explain myself and return $23, which did not belong to me.
Keeping the difference between what was owed and what was paid certainly would have compensated for last night's loss. Money, money, money-wise. And that's about all. I felt good about myself, as a human being, for making the choice that I made, and I hope that I passed on a grain of trust in humanity to my customers tonight. They seemed surprised that I owned up to my error; and despite my initial screw-up, they tipped me really well.
As for the six that walked out, my co-workers and I have determined that in the next life they will be 'Lifers' (i.e., servers who by necessity, not choice, never leave the industry) in horribly cheap, roadside stops. They will not have D & D benefits; they will be stiffed frequently. Petty? Maybe. Cathartic to imagine? Absolutely. But I don't really wish such an existence upon anyone... Wilde has taught me that I should be cautious of such fantasies.
Have you read what I have to say about Karma? Well, I've not been monetarily reimbursed, but I feel that, tonight, I reimbursed someone else with something of far greater value.
After a long shift, I paid out a table using the wrong table number. What that meant was that a couple, paying by credit card, tallied up a rather small tab, and paid a rather large one; the difference being $22.99. They signed the credit receipt handed, by me, to them; saying nothing. I realized my mistake and returned to the table to explain myself and return $23, which did not belong to me.
Keeping the difference between what was owed and what was paid certainly would have compensated for last night's loss. Money, money, money-wise. And that's about all. I felt good about myself, as a human being, for making the choice that I made, and I hope that I passed on a grain of trust in humanity to my customers tonight. They seemed surprised that I owned up to my error; and despite my initial screw-up, they tipped me really well.
As for the six that walked out, my co-workers and I have determined that in the next life they will be 'Lifers' (i.e., servers who by necessity, not choice, never leave the industry) in horribly cheap, roadside stops. They will not have D & D benefits; they will be stiffed frequently. Petty? Maybe. Cathartic to imagine? Absolutely. But I don't really wish such an existence upon anyone... Wilde has taught me that I should be cautious of such fantasies.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
- Oscar Wilde
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