Good service vs. Attractive servers

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Yeah there are obviously places that hire based on looks first, but I can't say it necessarily correlates to bad service. I've had good and bad service at a variety of places from a variety of faces. Good looking people can be good at their jobs too...

Based on my own personal experience, I'm more likely to get poor service at a place that hires with an extremely strong emphasis on looks.

And it makes sense if you think about it. If employers continue to hire from a scarce resource (extremely attractive, young women), eventually you are going to have to sacrifice in other areas (service abilities) in order to fulfill your requirement, because everyone wants them and not everyone can have them.

[btimbit]

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Based on my own personal experience, I'm more likely to get poor service at a place that hires with an extremely strong emphasis on looks.

And it makes sense if you think about it. If employers continue to hire from a scarce resource (extremely attractive, young women), eventually you are going to have to sacrifice in other areas (service abilities) in order to fulfill your requirement, because everyone wants them and not everyone can have them.

Do you live in Calgary? Attractive young women aren't a scarce resource here. This thread actually makes me feel sad for attractive females as it seems some people have preconceived notions that if a female is hot that she's not going to be very good at what she does.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Do you live in Calgary? Attractive young women aren't a scarce resource here. This thread actually makes me feel sad for attractive females as it seems some people have preconceived notions that if a female is hot that she's not going to be very good at what she does.

Oh cut the drama EE. I'm sorry you feel sad. You're a pretty smart guy and you know quite well that most people aren't going to be served thinking that because of this thread they are going to think attractive servers are bad at their job.

As I mentioned before, this is based off my experience and I don't think I'm alone in this either.

Yes, I do live in Calgary. I'd rather not derail this, but since you asked, Calgary is a pretty unattractive city overall, for the most part, a bunch of 6's and 7's who think they are a 10.

In Calgary, service in my opinion is pretty bad overall, especially when compared to other places around the world (which is also somewhat to be expected, when a server in the US might make 2.50 an hour + tips, yet we pay a much high base wage for servers and they expect a similar percentage), so the average server in the US is typically more concerned about their own financial health than the one here is.

But yes EE, when you restrict your hiring to 5% of the city that meets your criteria, and there is a great deal of competition trying to pluck from the same pool of people, then yes, the quality of candidate that comes from that pool diminishes.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I've found that the most attractive servers are usually the best for service as well; particularly at the type of places being discussed (Joeys, Earls etc.)

The less attractive ones seem to get jealous they're not getting the same attention, and their service level goes down in bitterness.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

But yes EE, when you restrict your hiring to 5% of the city that meets your criteria, and there is a great deal of competition trying to pluck from the same pool of people, then yes, the quality of candidate that comes from that pool diminishes.

We are talking about servers not rocket scientists here. While it can be a demanding job it's certainly not a job that most competent people can't do well. Even if you restrict your hiring to 5% of the population you can still find competent people to serve food.

As for Calgary being an unattractive city I feel you need to travel to some US cities and even some Canadian ones. Calgary may not be Montreal or Salt Lake City but I've seen much, much worse.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Based on my own personal experience, I'm more likely to get poor service at a place that hires with an extremely strong emphasis on looks.

And it makes sense if you think about it. If employers continue to hire from a scarce resource (extremely attractive, young women), eventually you are going to have to sacrifice in other areas (service abilities) in order to fulfill your requirement, because everyone wants them and not everyone can have them.

I don't know that attractive young women are scarce (in the words of Barney Stinson: "New women turn 18 everyday"). I think if that is your experience, it could more attributed to the fact that people who are trying to get by purely on looks, generally aren't the smartest of people. But for every one of those, there's a girl who's making her way through school and just cashing in on her natural gifts as she goes.

I really don't think the correlation is that huge. It could also be that generally these people work for large chain restaurants where service isn't exactly top priority regardless.

[Table 5]

Ugly or not, I'm still trying to find the place in Calgary that has good service period (although sounds like there's a shining light at a Dennys). Definitely not one of Calgary's strengths.

[Sliver]

Personally, I love bad service. I hate tipping, but usually tip between 15% and 20%. Occasionally, though, you get that awesome meal where the service is so terrible that a $0 tip becomes perfectly reasonable. My perfect meal would be served by a hot chick with terrible customer service skills.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Ugly or not, I'm still trying to find the place in Calgary that has good service period (although sounds like there's a shining light at a Dennys). Definitely not one of Calgary's strengths.

True. Calgary has horrible service period.

[burn_this_city]

The service is crap everywhere, people who expect the server to be their slave will be disappointed more often than not.

[btimbit]

The amount of people claiming service is crap everywhere has me curious. What's your definition of good or bad service, with examples? I can only think of a handful of times where I've had really bad service.

[troutman]

Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder. - troutman

[Maritime Q-Scout]

There are a few corner stones to good service.

Arrive at the table promptly with menus and take our drink order.

Return with drinks, ask of we're ready or need more time with the menus.

Return to take order if applicable when you notice our menus are down.

Keep tabs on the kitchen to ensure our meals are made promptly and don't get lost in the shuffle. If there's a problem let us know.

Bring food promptly (and all the table's food unless there was an outlying issue, for example one person came late and ordered late).

Keep checking on drinks (this should be done when there is about two sips left in the glass).

See how our food is slightly after we start eating.

When we're finishing up take our plates. Ask of we want dessert or more drinks.

Bring bill promptly when asked.

Be available to take payment when we're ready (or have someone ready).

Get the bill right.

[SHOGUN]

Too many people putting hot girls on a pedestal.... I tip for good service thank you very much.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

There are a few corner stones to good service.

Don't forget "she really likes me and is interested in my wisdom".

[_Q_]

If you think service in Calgary is bad, try going to Europe. Not one single waiter/waitress knows what they're doing over there and many of them will actually try to go out of their way to rip you off.

Service in Calgary is generally good. Sure, you'll get the odd crappy server, but for the most part, I usually get what I would deem adequate to good service. I think most people just heard that Calgary has "bad" service and they just blindly echo that sentiment.

In the end though, food quality and prompt arrival is way way WAY more important to me than service quality. As long as the wait staff is not noticeably making my dining experience bad, I don't really care how friendly/chatty/attentive they are.

[Daradon]

Yeah, I kinda get the feeling the people who complain the service is bad in Calgary are the same people who complain the drivers are idiots in Calgary.

Are there idiots? Of course, every city has them. Are there servers who are awful or don't care about their jobs. Again, of course.

But relatively, comparing drivers (and traffic in general) and service Calgary probably sits pretty well. The tip system, keeps the average server conscious of the quality of their work. A lot of places don't use the tip system and it can be really bad. That said, there are other cultures where service is almost engrained, and there is a lot of pride in work too, so even without a tip system, it can be outstanding. So it goes both ways. But to says it's bad here, ehhhh...

It's just one of those topics people love to bitch and whine about. Not just here, but everywhere.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

There are a few corner stones to good service.

Arrive at the table promptly with menus and take our drink order.

Return with drinks, ask of we're ready or need more time with the menus.

Return to take order if applicable when you notice our menus are down.

Keep tabs on the kitchen to ensure our meals are made promptly and don't get lost in the shuffle. If there's a problem let us know.

Bring food promptly (and all the table's food unless there was an outlying issue, for example one person came late and ordered late).

Keep checking on drinks (this should be done when there is about two sips left in the glass).

See how our food is slightly after we start eating.

When we're finishing up take our plates. Ask of we want dessert or more drinks.

Bring bill promptly when asked.

Be available to take payment when we're ready (or have someone ready).

Get the bill right.

Definitely the basics, which I've ever only had wrong a few times.

So what is(or isn't) happening for some people to claim that service in Calgary is awful? Or any particular examples of bad service that have made you go "that was awful"?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by btimbit

So what is(or isn't) happening for some people to claim that service in Calgary is awful? Or any particular examples of bad service that have made you go "that was awful"?

Well, if you read the comments on Urban Spoon, Calgary must be full of royalty, as there is no pleasing these people.