The Bartender Who Did Not Know Her Job

Overall, I have been impressed with the quality of customer service in Southern California.

Last week, I met a friend to watch the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play the Detroit Tigers at a Sports Bar. Upon sitting, I inquired, “Do you have any specials?” No. “What do you have on draft?” The female bartender responds, “We only have bottles.” Oh, so I ask the next natural question, “What do you have in bottles?” What one would expect here is for her to rattle off their pathetic list of Macro Brewed options or provide me with them in written form.

That didn’t happen.

Her response was, “We have most everything.”

First all, they only carried 10 beers. I have been to places that serve up to 500. So no you don’t have “most everything.” Clearly this bartender is not employed due to her knowledge about drafts. Maybe she is more of a mixologist.

Second of all, she could not be bothered to inform me what my choices, as a paying customer, were. I had to guess. Does she realize she works for tips?

I would understand if the bar was busy but it wasn’t. I would forgive if I was absent-mindedly looking at the selection that was right in front of me but it wasn’t. I would appreciate if I were a frequent customer who asked the question every time I patronized the establishment but guess what…I wasn’t.

I worked as a Café Manager at Barnes and Noble and know how annoying it can be to answer the same question all day long. I think the types of bagels we carried are forever ingrained in my mind. (Plain, Everything, Cinnamon Raisin, Veggie, Sesame Seed, Poppy Seed, and Asiago Cheese). However, I’d answer because they were customers and my job (as in what I got paid to do) was to serve them. Doing anything else would be odd.

Back to the bartender. What does she think her occupation is if not to serve people such as me? She wasn’t wearing a low cut shirt therefore, one can assume, she wasn’t relying on her chest to obtain her tips. She seemed to spend some time flirting with owner or manager. Maybe that is her accountability? I did not stick around to figure it out. I went in to watch the Tigers’ game not to play 20 questions and be annoyed by the bartenders guessing game.

Can anyone tell me what the bartender’s job was? What are your thoughts on how to handle bad customer service? And for those who do or have worked in customer service. What are were your pet peeves? And why do people tolerate bad service?

Take Me Out to the Ball Park

I love going to baseball games. I especially enjoy Detroit Tigers’ games. So I ascended to heaven on Wednesday Night when I attended the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim versus the Detroit Tigers sitting in the Diamond Club which provides a view of the game better than any TV airing. The well-played game included the drama of Johnny Damon being ejected from the game, a come from behind victory and “Fat Ass” Cabrera hitting a HR.

Sitting where I was, decked out in my Tigers’ Hat, I knew it was possible I could make my mom proud and get shown on TV. Therefore, when the Tigers’ scored their first run of the game, I rose to cheer. Said action inspired the wrath a few teenage girls and a hopefully drunk young punk.

I have thick skin and can handle a good ribbing about my team. My sister is a St. Louis Cardinals fan and a good friend cheers for the White Sox. If you want to tell me how the Tigers resemble the Latino Boy Band Menudo fine. “Fat Ass” Cabrera’s mishap with alcohol during the playoffs was beyond dumb. Bullpen issues? Yes. A little trash talking can be fun. These characters crossed the line into what one describes as, “Poor Sportsmanship.” Admittedly, no AJ/Michael Barrett moment; however, I was left suppressed and somewhat scared.

One of my gifts is being charming and chatty. After said incident occurred I went to enjoy a cigarette. On the way out the section monitor says, “You must have enjoyed that inning, your team scored.” To which I responded, “Yes and can you believe these snot nosed teenagers gave me crap about it?” Apparently trash talking is frowned upon in The Diamond Club and cause to be kicked out of the Big A. “No, No I don’t want them to be removed from the stadium.” Upon returning to my seat, the twits are getting a talking to about being respectful. By the section manager. Not their parents who are sitting next to them.

Thinking back to when I was that age, I don’t imagine I had the guts to be that offensive to an adult whom I did not know. I am pretty damn sure my mom and dad would not sit idly by without corrective action.

I retrospect the whole think makes me kinda sad. You know those are the “mean girls.”

Sadly, the interaction with the Big A staff only made matters worse. Apparently these brats did not comprehend the phrase, “or you will be asked to leave.” Problems compounded by the hopefully intoxicated idiot, Big A staff called security about our section.

A few weeks ago, I declared in a Facebook Status Update, “Angles Fans are really cool.” I am amending that to say that Angles Fans in the cheap seats are really cool.

Sitting in the Diamond Club is something everyone should do at least once in a lifetime. If you recall my blog, “Unfill becomes Refill with Ease,” service in this section is distinct. “Refreshment Servers” roam the section taking your orders, which are brought to you by a runner. Every other seat supplies a menu of obtainable offerings and the servers are prepared to take credit cards. However, I suspect that people rarely tip the staff as he thanked me four times (on two different occasions) after I gave him a dollar.

All in all, it was an entertaining game on and off the field. A special shout out to Christine Sifre for taking me!

So, Angles fans…bring it on and defend your kind. Sports fans alike what is your most memorable crowd interaction? And does anyone want to prove me wrong about the fans being cool in the expensive seats?