Tipping etiquette...what would you do?

[rtimgray]

By and large, I dislike most condiments on my sandwiches, either because I don't like them at all (like mayo) or I dislike the amount that is put on (ketchup and mustard) on certain sandwiches.

I applaud those of you that can find menu items to eat exactly as they come, and I'm sure it makes life easier for all involved. I've tried eating sandwiches with mayo when there is no other choice (i.e. at a meeting and lunch is brought in, all of the sandwiches have mayo and mustard on them, for some reason), and I will normally take a bite to see if my tastes have changed (it hasn't) then pitch the rest of it. I would much rather be hungry than set in a meeting with an upset belly.

I wish everything was served plain with condiments and garnish on the side, but I am obviously in the minority of the public that feels this way, so I'm stuck relying on the studiousness of my server to carry out my wishes.

I believe what we are discussing here is known as a "first-world" problem! Me: "Boo-hoo, my sandwich (which I'm eating in a comfy, safe restaurant) has mayo on it. And it took too long to get here. And I'm running low on Mountain Dew! Woe is me, whatever shall I do?" as opposed to a person in South America that may not eat anything for days.

Of course, I remember an old show called "Ally McBeal". The titular character was often exasperated with her troubles. A co-worker asked her "Why are your problems such a big deal?" She thought for a moment and replied "Because they're MY PROBLEMS!".

Obviously, condiments are my problem.

Once more, I appreciate all of the comments. They have been most entertaining.

Good luck and take care.

 

[Dftodd]

We occasionally have to give special instructions for food. Wife and mother in law have food allergies.

 

[MossRoad]

I used to go to this one McDonald's near downtown about 5 times per week. Usually two-three breakfasts and two lunches per week. I don't order complicated stuff.
2 breakfast burritos and a sweet tea, lite on the ice.
or with the wife:
2 McChicken sandwiches, two side salads, one large diet Coke, lite on the ice
(we cut up the chicken on the side salads, use the bun top with mayo for croutons and feed the bottom of the bun to the ducks in the park).

At least once per week, for 10+ years, the order would be incorrect! Wrong sandwich. Wrong salad. Wrong drink. Full cup of ice. No fork. No napkins.

1 out of 5 is wrong. For 10 years! I'm fairly confident that they get 20% of all of their orders incorrect or incomplete. 20%!!! Hope that doesn't equate to all restaurants, but I wouldn't be surprised at all.

 

[Egon]

Tens years of McDonald's food!

 

[Bird]

My last unsatisfactory experience was at Jack in the Box. I don't know whether it's a national campaign or just a regional thing, but they've been running the same TV ad (several times during each Texas Rangers baseball game) for their Portobello Mushroom burger. And I fell victim to the ad. Now I like mushrooms so we stopped at Jack in the Box one day and I ordered one of those. It sure didn't look anything like the TV ad. It appeared to have been made some time ago, a bit soggy, wrapped in paper, then pressed. It didn't taste REALLY bad, and I ate it, but knew I'd never buy another one. But when I got home, I noticed the receipt included instructions for a survey, so I thought I'd let them know what I thought. THEIR SURVEY SITE DIDN'T WORK!:laughing:

So I decided to just forget it. But then I finally got tired of seeing that same TV ad over and over, so I went to the regular Jack in the Box website, and sure enough they had a "contact us" feature and I used it to tell them about my experience with their Portobello Mushroom burger, as well as how tired I was of their TV ad.:laughing:

One of their managers phoned me to apologize and mailed me a letter of apology along with 2 gift certificates for "combo meals". We haven't used them yet, but that's certainly more than I expected, and I think all anyone COULD expect.

 

[Threepoint]

I used to go to this one McDonald's near downtown about 5 times per week. Usually two-three breakfasts and two lunches per week. I don't order complicated stuff.
2 breakfast burritos and a sweet tea, lite on the ice.
or with the wife:
2 McChicken sandwiches, two side salads, one large diet Coke, lite on the ice
(we cut up the chicken on the side salads, use the bun top with mayo for croutons and feed the bottom of the bun to the ducks in the park).

At least once per week, for 10+ years, the order would be incorrect! Wrong sandwich. Wrong salad. Wrong drink. Full cup of ice. No fork. No napkins.

1 out of 5 is wrong. For 10 years! I'm fairly confident that they get 20% of all of their orders incorrect or incomplete. 20%!!! Hope that doesn't equate to all restaurants, but I wouldn't be surprised at all.

Maybe they were just messin' with ya. Geez, no sense of humor! :laughing:

 

[TomSeller]

Tens years of McDonald's food!

And 5 times a week. That's 2600 visits. These days some places have an app so you pay and order on your phone, walk in and it is ready on the counter.

 

[MossRoad]

Tens years of McDonald's food!

Oh, more than that! That was just at that one location!!! :licking:

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, more than that! That was just at that one location!!! :licking:

So its like this... for close to 25 years, my wife and I worked about 1 block apart and had the same hours, 8-5. We'd drive in together, drop the kids at their day cares, or schools, I'd drop her off at her job and go to park the car. 2-3 times a week, I'd stop for a breakfast snack between dropping her off and parking the car. We'd eat lunch together 4-5 times per week, pick the kids up and go home. So, 25 years times 48 weeks (we got vacations) times 4.5 lunches per week = 5400 lunches together. Plus the 3000 breakfasts that I had. So, about 8400 meals at fast food restaurants. And that doesn't count the occasional stop with the kids between school and practices/events. So easily over 10,000.

With that said, if you aren't a pig, purchase normal sized sandwiches, skip the fries, get a salad, have a water or tea, don't refill the jumbo drinks on your way out, etc... get moderate, regular exercise, well, you will be just fine.

 

[MossRoad]

Maybe they were just messin' with ya. Geez, no sense of humor! :laughing:

A couple of the older people were there for several years, but, for the most part, the employee turnover pretty high. Never got a chance to get to know too many of them.