Servers as salespeople……………………

To some extent, we, as servers are all salespeople…….our products are food and drink. We want you to buy wine, cocktails, appetizers, of course your entrees, and follow all that with dessert. I’m going to recommend the items that I like, after all, why would I want to sell you something that tastes like crap? If the chili is a little too thin, or the split pea soup is a little too thick tonight, I’m gonna let you know. However, if you work in a corporate restaurant, they will tell you what they want you to sell, such as a specific wine, because they will not be carrying it anymore, and they want to get rid of it.

There are times when a server will be all excited about a table ordering a $50.00 bottle of wine…..and exclaim to the others, “I just sold a $50.00 bottle of wine!”

“Great! Did you really sell it, or did the table simply order it?”

“They ordered it.”

It’s all good……just getting down to the facts….either way…your bill just got increased by $50.00.

I’m all about selling the food and drink, but corporate has to push it further….they want you to get your customers to go home, hop on their computer, and send in an evaluation, that they call a performance scope.

I don’t know about you, but when I go out to eat, my dining experience pretty much ends when I walk out the door. I really don’t want to be asked to go home and do what would seem like the equivalent of homework, especially when you are told to answer all the questions with the highest mark possible, or it doesn’t count. How ignorant is that? I think the biggest comment I can make, is to return to the restaurant for another meal. Or not.