How many times have you answered "fine"-- when it wasn't?

I got a call yesterday from a friend that gathers with us to eat breakfast on Wednesday morning asking where I have been?  I told him the last time I was there the owners of the business daughter was the waitress and she was very slow, unfriendly,and got the order wrong.  This was the third time this has happen in the business and I told him I would not return there.  He said he felt the same way and he also was not going to return.  He let me know since I left the business has lost many customers due to the waitress but since it was the owners daughter no one has said anything.

This mans daughter is single handily causing the business to fail and the owner does not have a clue.  Sometimes you can not see the forest for the trees in front of you......

I thought of the same thing in restaurants wondering should I tell them that the server that we've had three times has been poor every single time? You really have to weigh those things and is it worth it, should I do it, should I not?

I tend to tell it like it is with a little sugar coating at times (so they don't even see it coming!).   Most of the time I just take it like a man and eat it even though its undercooked or underheated!  But taking my mother out to dinner is a different story as she has it sent back at least 3 times!  

I believe the same way you do you have to be honest but I take care in explaining it to the right person.

Hi,  I always try to tell it like it is.  My parents were in the restaurant business for years and my dad always try to talk to every table and would talk to them, he knew when to back off and knew if something was wrong.  He try to make each customer like they were the only customer he had.

When someone at a restaurant asks that and it wasn't, I will ask them to tell the manager to come over and I'll tell them exactly what the service was like. I had one situation where there was a place that had a two drink minimum. (Comedy Club) When we first got there, the person came up took our drink order and we didn't see them again for 2 hours! Despite wanting to order food and our 2nd drink. We asked other waiters to get ours and they never did come back. When they brought the bill with a charge for the 2nd drink, I blew up! (Doesn't happen often) But, we had a group of 15 of us and we weren't about to pay for 15 drinks that we didn't get! The place closed 2 months later and we were not surprised at all.

Never.............but I don't think the cashier is the person to tell, I always ask to speak to the manager.  Works both ways, I ask to speak to the manager when I get exceptional service too.

Honest, but negative, feedback is important if the one hearing it truly listens and then reacts to it.  It really is an opportunity to understand what your customers don't like and then make necessary changes.  We don't have to be rude, just polite and forthright.

I normally answer fine when someone asks me personally how I am. I don't want to get into anything with someone I don't know. How are you? Fine.

Now service....another story. I will speak up if needed.