1. Yes, if I get bad service from ANY sort of service establishment, I will no longer support that establishment, and, should anyone ask, I will be happy to tell them why. That includes doctors, lawyers, Indian chiefs, mechanics, cooks, bagel vendors, hairdressers, sales clerks, and even the wait staff at establishments I normally frequent.
2. That means not telling the customer who returns a bad bottle of wine that it's a chance you take when you buy a bottle or, even worse, that the wine is fine and it's your taste that is inadequate or you just chose the wrong bottle for your dinner.
4. Perhaps, my biggest "justification" here is that I offered up the idea that others might have had different experiences at Saratoga, and I hoped/thought someone would chime in, either to support my experience or to share their more positive one. All I have seen so far is a number of responses, both supportive and contentious which have NOTHING to do with actual experiences at Saratoga.
5. I wonder how this would play out if I indicated that I am a syndicated restaurant reviewer for major publications. Would you say that I was not doing my job properly because I my review may have cost them some business?
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!
Ciao,
Tom
1. I understand that some people will not accept anything less than great customer service, and I too like great customer service. I guess the difference for me is that I will accept great service the majority of the time from the majority of employees. If I have been treated well numerous times (or even once) I will forgive the occasional shortcoming. Some won't forgive even one small problem, but I like to give the business and employee the benefit of assuming this was an aberation rather than the norm. If the behavior is too rude or extreme I obviously would get angry and never forgive. I try to treat people like I like to be treated, with courtesy, respect, and understanding.
I too always try to do my best to take care of my customers, but sometimes I do not do the job they deserve whether it is due to reasons beyond my control or simply a mistake on my part. I will always admit my mistakes, take the blame for things I can't control, and ask for forgiveness. Thankfully most people will understand that occasionally things won't be what they deserve, and they will continue to patronize my business. If the mgr had sincerely apologized you might have never posted your negative response.
2. I apologize for ranting on your review. You obviously have the right to review what you experienced however you want. One thing I would have done differently is to demand to talk to the owner or manager in charge. That employee might have walked to the back, acted like they told the owner that there was an upset customer up front, and walked back out saying he was busy without actually telling the owner anything.. The owner/mgr should know that there was a disatisfied customer . He would then have the opportunity to try and make it up to you. If he did you might have posted a review that said you had a bad experience from a new employee but that the owner was sympathetic and made it up to you. Now you can never be sure the mgr/owner even knew that there was a problem. A new employee isn't going to turn himslef in if he can help it.
4. Sorry I hijacked the purpose of your thread. I guess I am too sensitive to unreasonable expectations and undeserved bad PR from years in the food business. You work so dang hard for so many hours to get slammed for anything that wasn't perfect. Not that we never deserved a bad review, but often times a small thing was turned into give me my meal for free or I will spread bad things about your establishment all over town. I have had people want $75 worth of food free because they found a piece of brown lettuce half the size of a dime in their salad. This of course came after they had finished the salad, their main course, and their dessert.
5. A critic typically picks movies and restaurants that don't appeal to the masses. I usually love a blockbuster movie more than some weird indy movie and I prefer some restaurant chains which are panned critically to some new eclectic dining experience which some critic adores. I think most people expect critics to be brutal since it is maily through shock value that they get people to read their posts (think of Simon Cowell). I think most people take a critic's review with a grain of salt. However the average Joe's opinion carries a huge amount of weight.
I was really not that upset with what you said, so once again I apologize to you. I was mad at the overall attitude from so many here and other places who feel that if you ever have a so so meal, or less than perfect service, that you need to shout it from the rooftop, post it everywhere on the web, and forever refuse to eat there again. It kills me that so many people who work in all sorts of businesses feel that they can expect something that no one (including themselves) can deliver, and that is a perfect product and a perfect experience each and every time someone buys.
Your review might be justified, but whether it is or not there are several people on this site that will now never eat there. That is tough on any business when someone with an ax to grind can post anything they want without having to prove anything bad really occured. Some people tell everyone to stop patronizing a restaurant for little or no reason. In the past people complained to the Better Business Bureau and the business had a chance to answer the complaint and to try and rectify the situation. With the internet anyone can say anything they want whether it is the truth, a half truth, or a total lie.
There are crimes that deserve the death sentence, and there are situations at a restaurant that warrant never eating there again. However jaywalking and a minor service problem at a restaurant both should receive a slap on the wrist, not the harshest possible punishment IMO.
