I wanna be the person that has a problem that any other customer would be upset about, just so that the person helping me doesn’t have to deal with someone getting upset
It’s awkward, but if they learn how to handle the situation, then it’ll save them an awkward situation and a potentially mean customer some day in the future
I was out with my nieces and nephews when they were kids. I took them to Bennigan’s, a chain restaurant in the US like 20 years ago. The waitress had a tray full of waters for us, but tripped and face planted the entire tray on my head. Glass, water everywhere. I wasn’t injured, just a mildly bloody nose and soaking wet. I saw it coming because I was facing her and saw her stumble. There was no avoiding it.
First though was how horrified she was. The entire restaurant went quiet at the noise, and were looking at me, fetching my eyeglasses which had been knocked off my face. By the time I got my glasses back on, the waitress was flailing in deep apologetic panic. She was bracing for some kind of violent retribution, I suspect. But instead I said I was fine, my clothes were all washable, and I was checking on the kids who also got wet.
The manager rushed over, horrified, asking what the hell happened. The waitress was trying to get towels from the bar, already shaking and crying from embarrassment. I helped them both mop up the mess as they apologized over and over.
Because they were human beings. What would me getting mad at them do for anyone? It was clearly not done on purpose and mistakes happen. It was only when I saw pink in my paper towel did I notice the nose bleed. But I also knew the kids were watching. What happened would be an example. I just kept saying it was fine, nobody was really hurt, at it was just water not like a pan of flaming cherries jubilee or something. I laughed it off, the manager and waitress were grateful I was taking it so well, and we got our meal comped.
The kids still talk about it. They are grown now, and I hope I taught them how to handle an accident like that.
I wanna be the person that has a problem that any other customer would be upset about, just so that the person helping me doesn’t have to deal with someone getting upset
I’ve been that person a few times. It’s still awkward as fuck.
It’s awkward, but if they learn how to handle the situation, then it’ll save them an awkward situation and a potentially mean customer some day in the future
I was out with my nieces and nephews when they were kids. I took them to Bennigan’s, a chain restaurant in the US like 20 years ago. The waitress had a tray full of waters for us, but tripped and face planted the entire tray on my head. Glass, water everywhere. I wasn’t injured, just a mildly bloody nose and soaking wet. I saw it coming because I was facing her and saw her stumble. There was no avoiding it.
First though was how horrified she was. The entire restaurant went quiet at the noise, and were looking at me, fetching my eyeglasses which had been knocked off my face. By the time I got my glasses back on, the waitress was flailing in deep apologetic panic. She was bracing for some kind of violent retribution, I suspect. But instead I said I was fine, my clothes were all washable, and I was checking on the kids who also got wet.
The manager rushed over, horrified, asking what the hell happened. The waitress was trying to get towels from the bar, already shaking and crying from embarrassment. I helped them both mop up the mess as they apologized over and over.
Because they were human beings. What would me getting mad at them do for anyone? It was clearly not done on purpose and mistakes happen. It was only when I saw pink in my paper towel did I notice the nose bleed. But I also knew the kids were watching. What happened would be an example. I just kept saying it was fine, nobody was really hurt, at it was just water not like a pan of flaming cherries jubilee or something. I laughed it off, the manager and waitress were grateful I was taking it so well, and we got our meal comped.
The kids still talk about it. They are grown now, and I hope I taught them how to handle an accident like that.