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by: PatriciaFarnham
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Word Count: 531

There are some calls in a restaurant that can be hard for those in charge to make. One of them is when to merit offering to compensate the meal and when you are being taken advantage of. Sometimes the dining experience leaves something to be desired and customers will complain about it.

Many customers just want you to take notice of the problem so it doesn't happen again. They may be annoyed but they certainly don't expect a free meal. If you offer it they will be very gracious about accepting it. Those that demand it though are the ones you need to watch out for. They may just feel that is what is deserving but they may have this down to a science as well.

This can be quite a dilemma to deal with because you don't want to run the customer off for good. Unhappy customers can cost you money as they won't be returning. They can also post information online about the experience as well as tell those they know. It can certainly result in many more people not coming to your restaurant either.

Someone who intended to pay for their meal but then had a complaint will appreciate you paying for the food. They will more than likely give your restaurant another chance in the future to prove how things should be taken care of. Mishaps do occur and most customers understand that we are all human and make errors. It is how they are corrected that matters.

Some individuals take restaurants for a ride though. They are looking for a free meal and they know that many restaurants offer just that if they complain. They will look to make the most out of it by creating an issue that everyone in the restaurant can see and hear. As a result many managers feel pressured into comping the meal so that all the customers will be happy with the outcome they saw.

It doesn't seem practical that people go out for dinner with the intention of getting it paid for, but many do. You only have to search this information online to see how true that is. You will read stories from those who have done it as well as the restaurant owners who are tired of it. This game is hard to prove and it is costing the business money.

Each restaurant should have certain policies in place about such matters. Only the managers or the owner should be allowed to make such a decision. This helps to keep it all in perspective. It also removed the burden of this decision from the shoulders of the staff members. Even when it is busy in the restaurant you need to take the time to evaluate all of the details of the situation.

It can be hard to tell though sometimes what really took place. In such instances the customer should get the benefit of the doubt. It is more important to keep genuine customers happy then it is to worry that a scammer got one over on you. Free meals aren't something your restaurant wants to offer all the time, but they can certainly help to smooth over some types of situations that arise.

About the Author

Patricia Farnham is a restaurant business veteran. Before you decide to http://www.restaurantpitfallsandprofits.com/buyrestaurant.htm">buy a restaurant, you might want to read some more of her insights on the restaurant business on here website.

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