Oh BROTHER....!
(phone rings @ 7pm -peak period and we were going nuts)
Me: (pleasantly despite I am on the verge of bursting) Good evening, Sozai Restaurant. How can I help you?
Customer - Her: I'll like to order some take-away.
Me: Sure. What would you like?
Her: I'll like a spicy maki salmon, a california maki prawn, a wafu salad, and an edamame.
Me: Sure. Anything else?
Her: Nope.
Me: Can I please get your name and contact number? (A standard procedure for take-away)
Her: It's XXX and 04---------
Me: Thank you. It's about 30 minutes wait now.
Her: WHAT?!!!?!!??? 30 minutes???!!! Can't you do it quickly? I've only ordered a few items.
Me: Sorry, but we cannot do it any sooner because we are really busy at the moment and there are lots of takeaways too.
Her: BUT I HAVE ONLY ORDERED A FEW ITEMS???
Me: Yeah... but still...
Her: Can't you do it in 5 minutes????
Me: (annoyed but not showing - who the f*** do you think we are??? super-chefs? Or we have super-power stoves?) I am sorry, but there really are heaps of orders now. We can only try, but I will say it is a half hour wait.
Her: Nonono... I am coming in 5 minutes, and I don't like to wait. It's just sushi and wafu salad! How about 10 minutes???
Me: (OMG just go f*** yourself la!!!) Sorry, there is a queue here and it will not be fair to other customers if your order gets put through first (UNLESS you want 'em RAW and you go cook 'em yourself!)
Her: But but... 30 minutes is too long.
Me: (well, that's YOUR problem! Other people were fine!) I am sorry, but unfortunately this is peak hour, and this is the waiting time for now.
Her: (starts her oh-too-often bullshit) But I am a regular customer here and they usually do it.......
Me: Nope, we never give exceptions.
Her: (VERY reluctantly) Oh alright. Just make sure it gets done ASAP.
Me: See you after half an hour (hangs up straight after)
OMG.... Please.... Ringing up in a restaurant right in the middle of the peak dinner hour means you are obliged to WAIT certain amount of times. Who do you think you are??? VVVVIP??? Did you think I am THAT easy????
********************************************************************************
(phone rings @ some time during dinner shift)
Me: Good evening, Sozai Restaurant. How can I help you?
Him: Oh good! You are open!
Me: Yes, we sure are!
Him: OK, let me look at the menu.
Me: ..... Sure.
Him: OK, I am just trying to click open the PDF file on your website, so waiting for it to load.
Me: ...... Um... Do you not already know what to order?
Him: NO! I am just going to look at the menu. It's not opening yet.
Me: Ok... Can you please call back later when you have decided what you'd like?
Him: Nonono... stay on the line! It's opened now.
Me: (annoyed) What would you like?
Him: (ponders) Now can you tell me, what is the agedashi tofu like...?
Me: (HUH?!) It's deep fried tofu with a soup base.
Him: Oh I see... then what is the Nasuden like...?
Me: (YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME! ) Erm... it's grilled half eggplant with miso paste and sesame sprinkles on it.
Him: Sounds delicious! Now, what is the spicy maki like? Is it really spicy???
Me: (OMG) ...explains...
Him: OIC! Then what about the sashimi???
Me: (WTF!!!!) ....explains...
Him: The teriyaki dish... that comes with vegetables, do they?
Me: YEA.....AHHH... (isn't it stated CLEARLY on the menu it comes with veges???)
Him: Sukiyaki.... that porter house beef... What is it like?
Me: .......................................
Him: Now tell me, how big is the sushi and sahimi platter? Is it enough for 3 people?
Me: (WTH... How am I supposed to know how much you guys eat and how hungry you are) It depends on the size you order..... explains.....
Him: Sorry, say that again... how many sushis' on the main for two plate?
Me: (faints)...... continues to explain......
Nearly explained half the menu to him and keep hearing the other line going off and my colleagues darting looks at me...
And finally... He has DECIDED WHAT HE WANTED!
Please...... Before ordering a take out, can't you at least FIRST OPEN UP THE MENU, GET IT READY, then study for a fair bit, before calling and asking all those questions??? DIDN'T YOU KNOW YOU WERE HOGGING THE LINE???!! Why can't people use their brains? Hey, I am a service staff, sure, but I do not just provide YOU, and only YOU service!
********************************************************************************
(customer comes in @ peak dinner hour)
Regular customer, a European husband and wife, no booking, marches in during peak hour as if they owned the place, without asking went to take that empty seat I have set aside for a reservation.
Husband: We sit at that table... (points to a table for FOUR! And I cannot determine if that was a statement, or a question)
Me: Sorry, but that table has been reserved for a customer.
Husband: Then that table (points to another table for two)
Me: That table has been taken too.
H: (slightly annoyed) Then where do WE sit?
Me: Do you have a reservation (even though I already knew)
H: No. We don't book.
Me: Yeah, but we are very booked out tonight.
H: BUt we will be real quick!
Me: (looks at time) It's 7.30pm. Do you think you can finish by 8pm?
H: (stumbles) Half an hour!
Me: .... (precisely I can't give you a table! I have a few bookings to fulfill still!) If you can give me 15 minutes, I think I will have a table. I will put you next in line, OK?
H: WAIT?! No way... (looks at his wife, who shooks her head in disapproval)
Me: I am sorry, sir. At this very moment, I do not have a table for you. But if you can give me 10-15minutes, I will have a table (trying to buy time)
H and W: (discuss in their language)
Then miraculously, as if some customers heard me, they started requesting to pay and left shortly after. Knowing I still have bookings, I have no choice but in the end to tell these really irritating customers, nicely: "You may take a seat at the back section, the customer has just left".
Gosh... Your majesties.... We were so booked out, and I was trying my best to find some place for you, but I need time! Can't you wait???
These customers, after getting their seats and what they've ordered, wanted extra ginger and spicy mayonnaise. The service staff attending to them did not get a chance to get it for them, and they marched straight to me, holding out 2 soy sauce plates, demanding his stuff.... Gosh.... They are regulars, and they ALWAYS want extra ginger and spicy mayonnaise, but look at us.... we were trying our very best to get everything running smoothly...
I plead to the customers, you and I alike.... Try to understand service staff, especially when the place is jam packed and you can obviously tell that they are trying their best. Of course, there are many places where you can obviously tell when they are just being plain lazy and unfriendly, and those are exceptions. It is not an easy job, though it seems like an easy-to-understand kind of job. I cannot stand it when customers do not respect you at all just because they think "Customers are always right", and use this 'right' to abuse us all they can. However, in return, we cannot use the same attitude back because that would've been very unprofessional of us...
Many grouches yet to be posted, but I guess I will just leave it. A consolation is: at least many people here do not use the term "waitress" as much as Asian countries do. They use 'service staff' which is much more polite and standard. That's why I never wanted to work as a 'waitress' in Singapore because people tend to look down on you thinking that it is a 'dirty' (not in the obscene sense, but in the hygiene sense), and you get paid so low just because of that.
Either way, grouches have to be faced and swallowed. Until I come back from my trip, I will have to look for a job full-on, and eventually quit this job if I get something. Sozai is taking a toll of me... I hope I have not hurt my back from all those stenuous lunch shifts! However, I am just looking now, and not really applying for jobs. One reason is because I intend to make sure that what I am applying for is what I want to do; and not what I go get just because I need a job. Guess I will make-do for anything now, Sozai, or not, now until I get a good break and come back recharged.
Me: (pleasantly despite I am on the verge of bursting) Good evening, Sozai Restaurant. How can I help you?
Customer - Her: I'll like to order some take-away.
Me: Sure. What would you like?
Her: I'll like a spicy maki salmon, a california maki prawn, a wafu salad, and an edamame.
Me: Sure. Anything else?
Her: Nope.
Me: Can I please get your name and contact number? (A standard procedure for take-away)
Her: It's XXX and 04---------
Me: Thank you. It's about 30 minutes wait now.
Her: WHAT?!!!?!!??? 30 minutes???!!! Can't you do it quickly? I've only ordered a few items.
Me: Sorry, but we cannot do it any sooner because we are really busy at the moment and there are lots of takeaways too.
Her: BUT I HAVE ONLY ORDERED A FEW ITEMS???
Me: Yeah... but still...
Her: Can't you do it in 5 minutes????
Me: (annoyed but not showing - who the f*** do you think we are??? super-chefs? Or we have super-power stoves?) I am sorry, but there really are heaps of orders now. We can only try, but I will say it is a half hour wait.
Her: Nonono... I am coming in 5 minutes, and I don't like to wait. It's just sushi and wafu salad! How about 10 minutes???
Me: (OMG just go f*** yourself la!!!) Sorry, there is a queue here and it will not be fair to other customers if your order gets put through first (UNLESS you want 'em RAW and you go cook 'em yourself!)
Her: But but... 30 minutes is too long.
Me: (well, that's YOUR problem! Other people were fine!) I am sorry, but unfortunately this is peak hour, and this is the waiting time for now.
Her: (starts her oh-too-often bullshit) But I am a regular customer here and they usually do it.......
Me: Nope, we never give exceptions.
Her: (VERY reluctantly) Oh alright. Just make sure it gets done ASAP.
Me: See you after half an hour (hangs up straight after)
OMG.... Please.... Ringing up in a restaurant right in the middle of the peak dinner hour means you are obliged to WAIT certain amount of times. Who do you think you are??? VVVVIP??? Did you think I am THAT easy????
********************************************************************************
(phone rings @ some time during dinner shift)
Me: Good evening, Sozai Restaurant. How can I help you?
Him: Oh good! You are open!
Me: Yes, we sure are!
Him: OK, let me look at the menu.
Me: ..... Sure.
Him: OK, I am just trying to click open the PDF file on your website, so waiting for it to load.
Me: ...... Um... Do you not already know what to order?
Him: NO! I am just going to look at the menu. It's not opening yet.
Me: Ok... Can you please call back later when you have decided what you'd like?
Him: Nonono... stay on the line! It's opened now.
Me: (annoyed) What would you like?
Him: (ponders) Now can you tell me, what is the agedashi tofu like...?
Me: (HUH?!) It's deep fried tofu with a soup base.
Him: Oh I see... then what is the Nasuden like...?
Me: (YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME! ) Erm... it's grilled half eggplant with miso paste and sesame sprinkles on it.
Him: Sounds delicious! Now, what is the spicy maki like? Is it really spicy???
Me: (OMG) ...explains...
Him: OIC! Then what about the sashimi???
Me: (WTF!!!!) ....explains...
Him: The teriyaki dish... that comes with vegetables, do they?
Me: YEA.....AHHH... (isn't it stated CLEARLY on the menu it comes with veges???)
Him: Sukiyaki.... that porter house beef... What is it like?
Me: .......................................
Him: Now tell me, how big is the sushi and sahimi platter? Is it enough for 3 people?
Me: (WTH... How am I supposed to know how much you guys eat and how hungry you are) It depends on the size you order..... explains.....
Him: Sorry, say that again... how many sushis' on the main for two plate?
Me: (faints)...... continues to explain......
Nearly explained half the menu to him and keep hearing the other line going off and my colleagues darting looks at me...
And finally... He has DECIDED WHAT HE WANTED!
Please...... Before ordering a take out, can't you at least FIRST OPEN UP THE MENU, GET IT READY, then study for a fair bit, before calling and asking all those questions??? DIDN'T YOU KNOW YOU WERE HOGGING THE LINE???!! Why can't people use their brains? Hey, I am a service staff, sure, but I do not just provide YOU, and only YOU service!
********************************************************************************
(customer comes in @ peak dinner hour)
Regular customer, a European husband and wife, no booking, marches in during peak hour as if they owned the place, without asking went to take that empty seat I have set aside for a reservation.
Husband: We sit at that table... (points to a table for FOUR! And I cannot determine if that was a statement, or a question)
Me: Sorry, but that table has been reserved for a customer.
Husband: Then that table (points to another table for two)
Me: That table has been taken too.
H: (slightly annoyed) Then where do WE sit?
Me: Do you have a reservation (even though I already knew)
H: No. We don't book.
Me: Yeah, but we are very booked out tonight.
H: BUt we will be real quick!
Me: (looks at time) It's 7.30pm. Do you think you can finish by 8pm?
H: (stumbles) Half an hour!
Me: .... (precisely I can't give you a table! I have a few bookings to fulfill still!) If you can give me 15 minutes, I think I will have a table. I will put you next in line, OK?
H: WAIT?! No way... (looks at his wife, who shooks her head in disapproval)
Me: I am sorry, sir. At this very moment, I do not have a table for you. But if you can give me 10-15minutes, I will have a table (trying to buy time)
H and W: (discuss in their language)
Then miraculously, as if some customers heard me, they started requesting to pay and left shortly after. Knowing I still have bookings, I have no choice but in the end to tell these really irritating customers, nicely: "You may take a seat at the back section, the customer has just left".
Gosh... Your majesties.... We were so booked out, and I was trying my best to find some place for you, but I need time! Can't you wait???
These customers, after getting their seats and what they've ordered, wanted extra ginger and spicy mayonnaise. The service staff attending to them did not get a chance to get it for them, and they marched straight to me, holding out 2 soy sauce plates, demanding his stuff.... Gosh.... They are regulars, and they ALWAYS want extra ginger and spicy mayonnaise, but look at us.... we were trying our very best to get everything running smoothly...
I plead to the customers, you and I alike.... Try to understand service staff, especially when the place is jam packed and you can obviously tell that they are trying their best. Of course, there are many places where you can obviously tell when they are just being plain lazy and unfriendly, and those are exceptions. It is not an easy job, though it seems like an easy-to-understand kind of job. I cannot stand it when customers do not respect you at all just because they think "Customers are always right", and use this 'right' to abuse us all they can. However, in return, we cannot use the same attitude back because that would've been very unprofessional of us...
Many grouches yet to be posted, but I guess I will just leave it. A consolation is: at least many people here do not use the term "waitress" as much as Asian countries do. They use 'service staff' which is much more polite and standard. That's why I never wanted to work as a 'waitress' in Singapore because people tend to look down on you thinking that it is a 'dirty' (not in the obscene sense, but in the hygiene sense), and you get paid so low just because of that.
Either way, grouches have to be faced and swallowed. Until I come back from my trip, I will have to look for a job full-on, and eventually quit this job if I get something. Sozai is taking a toll of me... I hope I have not hurt my back from all those stenuous lunch shifts! However, I am just looking now, and not really applying for jobs. One reason is because I intend to make sure that what I am applying for is what I want to do; and not what I go get just because I need a job. Guess I will make-do for anything now, Sozai, or not, now until I get a good break and come back recharged.
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