Restaurant Customers And Comping Meals

An all too common issue with restaurants is when to give out a free meal and when to know you are being taken. Sometimes things don't go right such as a customer sitting there for 30 minutes and then the waitress finds the order is still in her pocket. They should definitely be compensated in some way. Other times though they are just complaining about anything and everything in an effort to get the food for free.

Many customers just want you to take notice of the problem so it doesn't happen again. They may be annoyed but they certainly don't expect a free meal. If you offer it they will be very gracious about accepting it. Those that demand it though are the ones you need to watch out for. They may just feel that is what is deserving but they may have this down to a science as well.

It is less expensive to give them one free meal and have them come back then for them to avoid your restaurant in the future. When you calculate the number of people that they will tell of the negative experience who also don't come it you really are better off paying for their meal.

Someone who intended to pay for their meal but then had a complaint will appreciate you paying for the food. They will more than likely give your restaurant another chance in the future to prove how things should be taken care of. Mishaps do occur and most customers understand that we are all human and make errors. It is how they are corrected that matters.

Some individuals take restaurants for a ride though. They are looking for a free meal and they know that many restaurants offer just that if they complain. They will look to make the most out of it by creating an issue that everyone in the restaurant can see and hear. As a result many managers feel pressured into comping the meal so that all the customers will be happy with the outcome they saw.

People brag online about doing this several times a week at various restaurants. It works best for them in larger cities where they have more selection. They will choose busy times of the day or night too. That way dealing with them is something that the staff wants to do rapidly so they can get back to taking care of their other guests.

It is important to know how your particular restaurant is going to handle such situations. That way you are prepared for them when they occur. This is a type of decision that only those in charge should be allowed to make. That way there is very little room for other staff to get caught in the middle of it. Find out what happened so you can decide if the situation only warrants an apology or a free meal to go along with it.

You will have to decide what lengths you want to go to in order to keep your customers happy. Some of them will really appreciate the gesture while others walked out with exactly what they went it looking for. You definitely want to be fair but at the same time you don't want to be taken advantage of.

About The Author:

Patricia Farnham is a restaurant business veteran. Before you decide to www.restaurantpitfallsandprofits.com/buyrestaurant.htm">buy a restaurant, you might want to read some more of her insights on the restaurant industry on here website.

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