When a family skipped out on their $850 bill, I was devastated. But with my manager’s quick thinking and a surprising ally, we turned the situation around.
It all started on a busy Friday night when Mr. Thompson, his wife, and two kids walked in, demanding the best table and constant attention. Despite their rude behavior, I did my best to accommodate them, but they kept complaining.
After their meal, I returned to find they’d left, leaving only a napkin with a note: “Terrible service. The waitress will pay for our tab.”
Panicked, I showed the napkin to my manager, Mr. Caruso, expecting anger. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity for good publicity. A nearby customer, Nadine, overheard and revealed she had filmed their rude behavior. She offered the footage, which Mr. Caruso planned to give to the news.
The next day, the story went viral, and customers flooded in. But then, the Thompsons returned, furious. They demanded we take down the footage, but Mr. Caruso skillfully handled the situation, getting them to pay.
The next day, Mr. Caruso offered me a promotion to assistant manager, praising my patience and professionalism. As I left his office, I wondered if we should’ve called the police, but he reminded me that the situation had turned into a victory for the restaurant, with plenty of support from the community.
In the end, the good guys won.