Waiting staff and the script they have been given

Propellerhead

I like Eddie Rocketts. Affordable and reasonably tasty food makes it a lunchtime destination for me at least once a week. However, it appears that the floor staff have been told to annoy customers at least twice during their meal.

First off, without fail I am asked if I have seen the new menu yet. As it has been in place since earlier this year I certainly have. I can live with the suggested sale of fries even though I rarely have them. I prefer to pour my own drink, although this is often done in front of me. However, while I am eating the waitress hovers and mid bite I am asked if everything is okay. At that stage, if my meal is half eaten and am chowing enthusiastically through the rest it is fairly obvious that what is being eaten is being enjoyed. On the very rare occasion that anything would be wrong, it would have been politely mentioned. Today, when I got up from my seat, lifted the ticket into my hand and put my coat on, the waitress asked me if I wanted coffee or desert. Obviously not, but presumably the script demanded it to be asked.

I do tip, and I am friendly and never rude. But, wouldn't it be nice if I could be left to mind my own business and choose what I wanted off the menu without the minor pushiness and tip angling?

Donkey Oaty

I was there recently and had a totally different experience.

I wonder if it varies from branch to branch?

Sykk

Eddy Rockets... Affordable? Last time I went in there it was like 20 quid for a disgusting burger and chips..

BK FTW

Haven't been ina while but don't remember anything like that.. Are you exceptionally good looking Op?

Dman001

Why I do hate pushy sales people and staff that almost hover over you while you shop, I think it is good that businesses are training staff to be more helpful and friendly. Something that businesses need in the current climate.

When I see lazy or rude staff in a shop, I think it shows how both the staff and management in the shop appreciate someone's business.

AAAAAAAHHH

I think Mr. Propellerhead here works for Eddie Rocket's and is doing a bit of market research.

easyeason3

Yeah it can be annoying when someone keeps asking you are you ok during a meal but to be honest I don't know how some of the waiters keep sane.
On their feet all day, having to rattle off the same list of shyte to everyone, having to smile at a brat of a child when they really want to smash his face in, dealing with complaints & abuse from customers etc.

My nerves wouldn't be able for it.

AAAAAAAHHH

AAAAAAAHHH wrote: »

I think Mr. Propellerhead here works for Eddie Rocket's and is doing a bit of market research.

Do you actually think that?

Captain Darling

Eddie Rockets, empties your pockets.

OptimashPrime

Propellerhead wrote: »

I like Eddie Rocketts. Affordable and reasonably tasty food makes it a lunchtime destination for me at least once a week. However, it appears that the floor staff have been told to annoy customers at least twice during their meal.

First off, without fail I am asked if I have seen the new menu yet. As it has been in place since earlier this year I certainly have. I can live with the suggested sale of fries even though I rarely have them. I prefer to pour my own drink, although this is often done in front of me. However, while I am eating the waitress hovers and mid bite I am asked if everything is okay. At that stage, if my meal is half eaten and am chowing enthusiastically through the rest it is fairly obvious that what is being eaten is being enjoyed. On the very rare occasion that anything would be wrong, it would have been politely mentioned. Today, when I got up from my seat, lifted the ticket into my hand and put my coat on, the waitress asked me if I wanted coffee or desert. Obviously not, but presumably the script demanded it to be asked.

I do tip, and I am friendly and never rude. But, wouldn't it be nice if I could be left to mind my own business and choose what I wanted off the menu without the minor pushiness and tip angling?

so your complaining that the staff were friendly and attentive?

maybe if she got your order all wrong, slammed your food down and ignored you when you called her you might have been happier?

ive been in some crap restaurants in my time where the staff couldnt give a damn, i understand the feeling of being annoyed whilst dining out sometimes but approaching your table twice to check up on you is hardly over the top

Morlar

AAAAAAAHHH wrote: »

I think Mr. Propellerhead here works for Eddie Rocket's and is doing a bit of market research.

Rockets don't use propellors though.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Jesus Mr.Propellerhead nothing to fly off the handle over!.

rebelmomma

Propellerhead wrote: »

I like Eddie Rocketts. Affordable and reasonably tasty food makes it a lunchtime destination for me at least once a week. However, it appears that the floor staff have been told to annoy customers at least twice during their meal.

First off, without fail I am asked if I have seen the new menu yet. As it has been in place since earlier this year I certainly have. I can live with the suggested sale of fries even though I rarely have them. I prefer to pour my own drink, although this is often done in front of me. However, while I am eating the waitress hovers and mid bite I am asked if everything is okay. At that stage, if my meal is half eaten and am chowing enthusiastically through the rest it is fairly obvious that what is being eaten is being enjoyed. On the very rare occasion that anything would be wrong, it would have been politely mentioned. Today, when I got up from my seat, lifted the ticket into my hand and put my coat on, the waitress asked me if I wanted coffee or desert. Obviously not, but presumably the script demanded it to be asked.

I do tip, and I am friendly and never rude. But, wouldn't it be nice if I could be left to mind my own business and choose what I wanted off the menu without the minor pushiness and tip angling?

Thank you !! I thought I was ****ing paranoid! It is the same here in the two Cork restaurants.. seriously I am so relieved to know it is not just me!

OptimashPrime

rebelmomma wrote: »

Thank you !! I thought I was ****ing paranoid! It is the same here in the two Cork restaurants.. seriously I am so relieved to know it is not just me!

are they that bad though ? i can get over someone approaching me once or twice

girvtheswerve

Its better than all those places where you have to go look for someone to help or pay your bill.

It can be a bit annoying sometimes but its not that big a deal. Id say its a lot more annoying for the staff to have to do it all day every day.

Donkey Oaty

Sykk wrote: »

Eddy Rockets... Affordable? Last time I went in there it was like 20 quid for a disgusting burger and chips..

BK FTW

9.99 for burger, chips and drink when I was there. Burger was good. Chips mediocre.

sentient_6

Propellerhead wrote: »

I like Eddie Rocketts. Affordable and reasonably tasty food......

:eek: can't stand the place. Affordable my hole.

rebelmomma

OptimashPrime wrote: »

are they that bad though ? i can get over someone approaching me once or twice

I have been to the one at the Kinsale Road and the one at Blackpool in Cork. Both times I was badgered by waiting staff hovering as a previous poster said. Both said the same thing. I do agree with a previous poster that it is better than having to go look for someone but seriously it can be a bit of a headwreck especially if you are mid conversation with the person you are with. It can kind of wreck the nice dining experience.

Before anyone posts - i know Eddie Rockets isn't famed for it's dining experience but opportunities for me and hubby to get out are not that often so Eddie Rockets is often where we end up as we don't have to prebook a table.

Plus meal times in my house you are usually interupted by questions from lo's so it is nice to eat without interuption

questionmark?

Affordable food??? For most it isn't. A regular burger is €5.95 FFS
Imagine two adults with three kids went there? Even if everyone only had a burger it would still cost €29.75 :eek:

Somebody needs to tell ER that the celtic tiger has roared off.

Yes i have ate their but not out of choice and only on a handful of occasions. The staff seem to ask everyone the same not just you OP and after i have payed for my overpriced and overcooked rubber burger the staff dont want me to take my change no they expect a tip.

GLaDOS

It's more than likely mangers instructions to be fair, I'm sure they can tell they're pissing you off

phasers

I had the same thing about 3 weeks ago OP, it was no big deal tbh.

Also on the 'affordable' thing before everyone comes in and says the same thing Eddie Rockets have a range of "meals" now, so you can get a burger, chips and a drink for like a tenner or something.

Donkey Oaty

questionmark? wrote: »

Affordable food??? For most it isn't. A regular burger is €5.95 FFS
Imagine two adults with three kids went there? Even if everyone only had a burger it would still cost €29.75 :eek:

2 adult meals and 2 kids meals for 25 Euro - chips and drink included. Not for nothing, but cheaper than you make out.

Let the third one have something when he gets home.

Copper23

Why do these threads always come up... annoying waiter... annoying shop assistant??

Do none of you have jobs? Like do you get the concept? Where you are paid to do as your boss tell you or ya know, they'll get someone else who does...?

The Boss wants them to upsell... all businesses want ways to generate more profit, they get staff to upsell and try to make a good impression.... get over it...

Asking if your meal is ok is just politeness... yeah, the meal is probably grand but there's a chance you want another drink, some ketchup, salt, whatever... how many times ahve you been sitting waiting for a waiter to appear to ask for something like that and they never flippin' appear. At leas its good to know they are making themselves available....

Why do people complain about every last little thing...

CrazyRabbit

Propellerhead wrote: »

I like Eddie Rocketts. Affordable and reasonably tasty food makes it a lunchtime destination for me at least once a week. However, it appears that the floor staff have been told to annoy customers at least twice during their meal.

First off, without fail I am asked if I have seen the new menu yet. As it has been in place since earlier this year I certainly have. I can live with the suggested sale of fries even though I rarely have them. I prefer to pour my own drink, although this is often done in front of me. However, while I am eating the waitress hovers and mid bite I am asked if everything is okay. At that stage, if my meal is half eaten and am chowing enthusiastically through the rest it is fairly obvious that what is being eaten is being enjoyed. On the very rare occasion that anything would be wrong, it would have been politely mentioned. Today, when I got up from my seat, lifted the ticket into my hand and put my coat on, the waitress asked me if I wanted coffee or desert. Obviously not, but presumably the script demanded it to be asked.

I do tip, and I am friendly and never rude. But, wouldn't it be nice if I could be left to mind my own business and choose what I wanted off the menu without the minor pushiness and tip angling?

Didn't you wear your "I'm Fine" T-shirt? If not, then that explains everything.

Generalissimo

I don't mind the "script" in Eddie Rockets; I like the food so can put up with it the couple of times a year that I go in. In general I'm fine with 99.9% of what waiting staff do. I think the only thing that annoys me is blatant tip fishing (like in TGI Friday in Belfast last year when the waiter decided to give me two £5 notes in my £11 change - that was a little too obvious for my liking).

Degag

Propellerhead wrote: »

I like Eddie Rocketts. Affordable and reasonably tasty food makes it a lunchtime destination for me at least once a week. However, it appears that the floor staff have been told to annoy customers at least twice during their meal.

First off, without fail I am asked if I have seen the new menu yet. As it has been in place since earlier this year I certainly have. I can live with the suggested sale of fries even though I rarely have them. I prefer to pour my own drink, although this is often done in front of me. However, while I am eating the waitress hovers and mid bite I am asked if everything is okay. At that stage, if my meal is half eaten and am chowing enthusiastically through the rest it is fairly obvious that what is being eaten is being enjoyed. On the very rare occasion that anything would be wrong, it would have been politely mentioned. Today, when I got up from my seat, lifted the ticket into my hand and put my coat on, the waitress asked me if I wanted coffee or desert. Obviously not, but presumably the script demanded it to be asked.

I do tip, and I am friendly and never rude. But, wouldn't it be nice if I could be left to mind my own business and choose what I wanted off the menu without the minor pushiness and tip angling?

Complaining because a waiter or waitress actually does their job properly???

The mind boggles.

Gummy Panda

Could be worse. Last time I was in Eddie Rockets in Liffey Valley, one of the waitress asked us to hurry up as there was a big queue. We had just received deserts from another waitress. I couldn't believe it.

They're a franchise so I just swore to never go back to that one. Sure why would I when there is Spur next door. Mmmmmm steak!

FruitLover

Degag wrote: »

Complaining because a waiter or waitress actually does their job properly???

They're not doing their job properly if they're irritating the customer and asking questions at silly times (e.g. offering dessert/coffee when the customer already has their coat on and is heading to the register).

Mickeroo

I really like the food in Eddie Rockets but it is anything but affordable.

Pretty_Pistol

I hate Eddie Rockets. The food is shit!

Propellerhead

Degag wrote: »

Complaining because a waiter or waitress actually does their job properly???

The mind boggles.

I'm not blaming the staff. It's fairly obvious that the management think that pestering the customer works. It doesn't.

winston82

Propellerhead wrote: »

I'm not blaming the staff. It's fairly obvious that the management think that pestering the customer works. It doesn't.

There's a difference between pestering and bring attentive/upselling their food and it's clear they were doing their job correctly. And how can you blame the management for trying to increase their sales. This is standard practice accross the board.

I've a feeling if you went into a shoe shop looking to buy shoes and some asked if they could assist you, you would also consider this as being pestered?

Sanjuro

People in jobs like waiting tables are made push products, ensure customer satisfaction and upsell everything, even if they don't want to. It's what managers make you do. If you think it's irritating, OP, you should try it from the other side. Me thinks you're exaggerating when you say they're hovering over you. A quick 'thanks, everything's fine' and they move on. If it bugs you in future, PI is that'a'way

---

>

questionmark?

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

2 adult meals and 2 kids meals for 25 Euro - chips and drink included. Not for nothing, but cheaper than you make out.

Let the third one have something when he gets home.

Ah the poor middle child syndrome

Slunk

One thing that bugs me is, not just eddies but most places, the waiter/ress always comes over just as Ive taken a mouthful of food to ask if everything is ok. This leaves me unable to answer and they usually have walked off by the time Ive chewed my food. Its like they wait til my mouth is full then pounce.

Propellerhead

winston82 wrote: »

There's a difference between pestering and bring attentive/upselling their food and it's clear they were doing their job correctly. And how can you blame the management for trying to increase their sales. This is standard practice accross the board.

I've a feeling if you went into a shoe shop looking to buy shoes and some asked if they could assist you, you would also consider this as being pestered?

I know it's the Daily Mail, but this article explains it very well why pestering pisses people like me off.

MingulayJohnny

Copper23 wrote: »

Why do these threads always come up... annoying waiter... annoying shop assistant??

Do none of you have jobs? Like do you get the concept? Where you are paid to do as your boss tell you or ya know, they'll get someone else who does...?

The Boss wants them to upsell... all businesses want ways to generate more profit, they get staff to upsell and try to make a good impression.... get over it...

Asking if your meal is ok is just politeness... yeah, the meal is probably grand but there's a chance you want another drink, some ketchup, salt, whatever... how many times ahve you been sitting waiting for a waiter to appear to ask for something like that and they never flippin' appear. At leas its good to know they are making themselves available....

Why do people complain about every last little thing...

I think I feel sympathy more so than annoyance with the staff in chain restaurants looking like they're saying something out of obligation rather than necessity or intuition. I don't really eat fast food but I have worked in jobs and do work in a job where I'm obliged to say and do things that don't really make sense. I worked in a filling station when I was younger and was always prompt with serving customer's who needed their cars filled. I could gauge who wanted their car filled for them and who would prefer to do it themselves. The manager decided that this wasn't the way it should be done so I had to badger customers who became visibly annoyed when I approached them esp men. Luckily I got moved to another duty.

In the job I'm in now I'm obliged to ask customer's questions over the phone even if I've already determined that the question doesn't apply. I have to then badger them at the end of the call when human intuiton would suggest that they're happy with the answer and want to hang up. The syntax of the script we have to follow does not 'Flow' it was thought up by some person who doesn't really understand human interaction from what I can gather. The measures some bosses and managers bring in just show their ignorance when it comes to people. It amazes me how some of them actually hold their positions. People don't like being approached by a person who they know is being forced to ask questions like a robot. Being asked if there's anything they want in a personable natural way is completely different.

In terms of bars\restaurants the thing that would annoy me is getting the wrong order despite being crystal clear on what you wanted. It just shows that the person either doesn't care or doesn't listen properly.