Am I Cheap Diner?

hibijibis on 07/10/2018 - 23:56

so, went out to a dessert bar with friends and kids. we'd just finished a big dinner.
2 couples and a couple of tiny kids. ordered 2 dishes to share between the 4 adults and no drinks just water (dont mind a drink, but usually drinks dont do much for me so just stick to water and already full from dinner).

waiter looks at us, waiting for us to order drinks and we say uh we're ok for drinks. gives us this look as if we are cheapskates and goes of to submit the order.

so the question is, am i cheapskate and should i order something more that i didnt really want/need to?

Poll Options

  • 11
    you're a cheapskate
  • 6
    i do this too
  • 80
    the waiter has the problem
  • 5
    the waiter has the problem and i'd report him to the manager
Food & Grocery Restaurant

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 08/10/2018 - 00:35
    +13

    You don't have to order more, but you can also not take up 6+ seats for 2 desserts.

    • stirlo on 08/10/2018 - 09:32
      +3

      This, I’m guessing if you had “tiny kids” you also had prams and the like too? I’d probably be a bit annoyed if I accommodated you and then you only purchased a small amount. Especially if the restaurant was small or busy. Next time order takeaway and go to the park with the kids if you don’t want the judgment…

  • John Kimble on 08/10/2018 - 00:50
    +6

    As far as I'm aware, unless specified, there is no minimum order requirements at eating establishments. And as you stated, you were already full from dinner. You'd expect this would be the case for most of their customers if they're a dessert bar?

    Also, why would the waiter even care unless he owns the joint/he's the owner's son or something?

    But yeah, if you're a member of this site, you are likely a cheapskate. Embrace who you are and who cares what people think.

    As an example, just today I went to Bunnings to return a faulty light globe. They didn't have any in stock, but told me a store nearby had plenty, so I just got a refund from the first store and went to buy from the second store. The price had increased by 60 cents, so I explained my situation and asked the second store to give it to me for the initial price I paid. They said they don't normally "price match" (although that wasn't what I was asking for), but since it was under a dollar they would. I'm sure they thought I was being a cheapskate, but who cares?

    • HighAndDry on 08/10/2018 - 11:34

      I agree with you, but the analogy with Bunnings is correct only in that it just means we're all cheapskates here (and there's nothing wrong with that). On top of that though, I think there is (or can be) also an element of consideration - these dessert places, like cafes, etc, are run on fairly razor-thin margins, and usually have very limited capacity (unlike Bunnings). They make money basically only in the few busy periods they have, and lose money to fixed costs during the 90% of all-the-rest-of-the-time, and OP taking up those seats is not just cheap (which is, again, fine), but imo just a little inconsiderate.

      As with all things to do with being considerate though, it's not an obligation, and so I don't think there's an obligation on OP to take that into account, but it does make the waiter's (possible) reaction more justified. Honestly, a lot of dessert places have about seating for maybe just over a dozen people, and if OP's group is taking up a big chunk of that, they're not just being cheap, but preventing other potential customers from being seated.

  • AdamFury on 08/10/2018 - 01:00
    +1

    You're not a cheapskate. I wouldn't be returning there again with that sort of service, however.

    • Scab on 10/10/2018 - 10:26

      Username checks out.

  • kwijybo on 08/10/2018 - 02:59
    +15

    TLDR: A waiter looked at OP.

    Unless the waiter has an incredible non-verbal communicative range that deserves an immediate place as part of the Bold And The Beautiful cast, you should just buy whatever you like and not overanalyse body language.

  • garetz on 08/10/2018 - 05:17
    -2

    Most drinks are full of sugar, you are right to stick to water, that waiter is stupid.

    • John Kimble on 08/10/2018 - 08:34
      +7

      Not sure if that argument holds water (excuse the pun) at a dessert bar. :p

  • holdenmg on 08/10/2018 - 07:16

    Fish swim in water.

  • jjjaar on 08/10/2018 - 08:37
    +2

    No. Never feel pressured to order drinks, regardless of where you are.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2018 - 08:44
    +4

    I think you caught the exact moment he realised he was not getting a tip.

    • Scab on 10/10/2018 - 10:28

      No, that's when he's putting bodily fluids in your food.

  • coin saver on 08/10/2018 - 09:07
    +2

    Wife and i regulary order the meal only at hotels and drink water or go into the pokies and bring back a free coffee.Makes for a cheap feed especially on Schnitzel days $11 with buffet or steak day $13 or if you are using the Entertainment Book.

    • altomic on 08/10/2018 - 09:23
      +2

      Have to save those coins

    • Scab on 10/10/2018 - 10:30

      go into the pokies

      I go to the pokies and play Solitaire on my phone.

  • owli on 08/10/2018 - 10:01
    +4

    The waiter’s outlook is quite different. He too is proud in a way of his skill, but his skill is chiefly in being servile. His work gives him the mentality, not of a workman, but of a snob. He lives perpetually in sight of rich people, stands at their tables, listens to their conversation, sucks up to them with smiles and discreet little jokes. He has the pleasure of spending money by proxy.

    ~ George Orwell , Down and Out in Paris and London

    • altomic on 08/10/2018 - 12:49
      +1

      a brilliant book.

  • tranter on 08/10/2018 - 10:18

    You're not a cheapskate, perfectly fine what you did. What are you supposed to do, order food you don't want and end up wasting it? That is worse.

    You can always stand there and eat so you don't take up so many precious seats, lol.

    Reminds me of the time nearly 20 years ago at an internet cafe in Germany. Policy was you should buy a drink or snack while using the computer. I insisted I wasn't thirsty or hungry and refused to buy. Now looking back that was pretty cheapskate!

  • roundnumbersonly on 08/10/2018 - 13:55
    +1

    Drinks are like extended warranties.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2018 - 16:10

    I don't know if cheapskate is the correct term, more clueless. You went to a dessert establishment, and basically only 2 of the 6 guests ordered anything.

    If you really weren't that hungry, skip dessert. Or order something at the place you had dinner who'd be fine with just serving 2 desserts, as they'd already sold you a bunch more stuff. Or even just grab a cone from somewhere and walk with it.

  • PissLUR on 08/10/2018 - 18:02
    -1

    asians..

  • AlienC on 10/10/2018 - 10:24

    I think you are reading to into this op what you ordered is fine. You don't need to order a dish for everyone at every meal especially after dinner.

    Sometimes less is more.

    You are not a cheapskate lol just smart and efficient.

    Trust me that is a good thing.. So much wastage and surplus stuff these days.

    • Ughhh on 13/10/2018 - 15:04

      You're not thinking in the business' point of view. Every table and chair needs to make money. A family of 6 hogs a table and 6 chairs and only orders 2 dishes, the business is losing potential business from other customers.

      I wouldn't say OP is a complete cheapskate, but rather inconsiderate, naive and disrespectful to the establishment.

      Imagine if you ran a popular cafe and a family of 6 came at 6pm peak time and only ordered 2 main meals to share.

  • nephilim on 10/10/2018 - 10:32

    Welcome to hospitality, 16-25 year old females take everything personal on behalf of the company.
    I have had young girls at KFC look upset at my exploiting of deals using the app, boggles my mind.

    • hibijibis on 13/10/2018 - 14:20

      thanks! management must be telling them something for sure!

  • [Deactivated] on 13/10/2018 - 16:16
    +1

    I would assume that if I was the owner of such an establishment I'd want virtually anyone who spent even only little/few $ at a table to be treated well if only to make them feel good about coming and increasing the chances of them returning and possibly spending more per visit.

  • readeral on 11/12/2018 - 19:13
    +1

    You order two desserts between 4 adults. You leave. You return as a couple to buy two desserts, plus you told 5 friends about how you enjoyed these desserts. Your friends do the same. Win for the long term of the business, as they now have four return customers and 20 potential customers.

    Who cares if you took up a whole table (which you would've done only if there were 3 of you). All of this "but think from the business perspective" only applies to fast food restaurants who will never generate business from word of mouth.

    • Ughhh on 11/12/2018 - 19:23
      -1

      Now op and all his friendz and family eat at the business everyday and spend 40% of their paycheck. 6 months later, now ops earns $500k pa, the business shouldve thought about that!

  • grasstown on 23/12/2018 - 19:54

    you went there to sit somewhere and continue your evening. I would value it higher than 2 desserts. Staff, rent, utilities, etc. I would have ordered drinks too, if not more. You mention the big dinner, but it’s of zero relevance when you can buy tea or drinks that aren’t filling and you ate somewhere else. If I wanted to order 2 deserts, I would stay where I got dinner, or go to a subsidised venue that has pokies.

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