What The.... Seriously?

[hookahmike]

Just playing devil's advocate here

Assuming that this person does plunk down 7-900$ / month (of course we don't know how many months so...) of REPEAT business. He is not even given the courtesy of being told to wrap it up, but just quietly SHOVED OUT OF THE WAY.

Based on this situation as described, I would feel blindsided 1st, then betrayed.

The Simple human courtesy of an up-front explanation would go a long way here. Just feels sorta slimy.

I would make sure that those feelings were conveyed to mgmt, then not come back.

no offense, please understand I am looking at this "from the owners" point of view...
...but, am I the only one missing the fact that this is a $35 tab for 5 hours? Or that he was going to "sit" at the table and wait for his gf to leave!?

/edit - Seems a bunch of others are thinking along the same lines Edited March 23, 2007 by hookahmike

[web250]

That's so much money, why not just buy your own hookah?

But ya, sucks you got kicked out, not really fair.

[azcoyote]

no offense, please understand I am looking at this "from the owners" point of view...
...but, am I the only one missing the fact that this is a $35 tab for 5 hours? Or that he was going to "sit" at the table and wait for his gf to leave!?

I can see and understand both points of view..

sucks to feel shunned by a place that you've been loyal (both by word of mouth and financially) to.

at the same time, the restaurant / hookah lounge business is all about turnover time on tables.

Then they should charge by the clock like a pool hall or cat house. That way no hurt feelings. Being single I often eat restaurant meals alone. They usually try to seat me near the kitchen door even if the place is empty. Why? I typically feel rushed when the wait staff is clearing my dishes before I stop chewing my last bite. Unctuous and frequent inquiries if "everything all right" from hovering servers makes it even worse. None of this enhances my enjoyment of the meal. I rarely return to such establishments. I think a $15 meal plus tip gives me the right to enjoy it in an unhurried, relaxed manner.

[mgcsinc]

Here's where keeping your receipts is a good idea. In your shoes, I'd have a little fun with this, and enter every single time I went there and how much I spent into a spreadsheet and send it to him so he sees exactly what he's losing.

[SAEPhoenix]

Ok, so honestly haven't we all heard the saying that two wrongs don't make a right? The proprietor definately should have said something before just sticking a reserved sign up. On the other hand, in a place of business it usually is impolite if they need the table to sit for hours and hours on a $35 tab. What's more, it is POSSIBLE that he saw you go to pay and assumed you were done. I think for the most part everyone is being too hard on the owner. He should have handled it differently I agree, but even if you are a regular somewhere; at the base of everything the owner is trying to make money- not sit and watch a table be stagnant.

That said this guy should have been giving free bowls every now and again, or offering for a discount at times, that's what keeps your regulars coming and is a simple courtesy to show your thanks for the support of your regulars.

I would say talk to the owner if you already had a relationship with the guy- maybe this is something that can easily be cleared up. Both sides didn't play this one very tactfully.

[Erica]

I think he said he asked his girlfriend.. and the owner said he was kicking him out?

[Johnny_D]

Plus :-

Bar owners don't like having girlfriend/boyfriends hanging around the end of the bar....

IT's not allways conducive to employer-employee relationships.

JD

[Lakemonster]

Who was that big feller comedian? Cant remember his name.

"You been here four hour.....you go NOW!"

[cypherkk]

Welcome to FRESNO,CA customer service. You could drop 3/4 of you're paycheck at a place here in fresno, and they would kick you out as soon as you finished paying, to get other customers in.

Now, I'm not talking about the hookah bar here in fresno, you actually pay before you get your hookah. But, about customer service in general here.

[sambookamax]

Who was that big feller comedian? Cant remember his name.

"You been here four hour.....you go NOW!"

HAHAHA That was FUNNY! I remember him, it was John Pinette

[Blue Midnight]

Hmmm....yeah, this sounds a little weird. My hunch is that it has something to do with your girlfriend working there. I can't imagine ever kicking a regular customer out of my lounge for any reason. Why don't you just talk to the guy and let him know what's up. I don't think you should stop going there over what may (or may not) be a complete misunderstanding without at least giving him a chance to explain. That way you will *know* whether you should feel welcome again, without having to guess. Edited March 24, 2007 by Blue Midnight