A man who works as a “captain” in the Food and Beverage industry, wrote in a Facebook post that contrary to the well-known saying, “in fnb customers are not always right.”
A netizen who went by the name of Desmond Tan explained that when customers insist on keeping on drinking even after the announced cut-off time for last orders at a bar or restaurant, this has consequences for the staff, who have to stay beyond their shift to clean up after and may even end up missing the last train to get home, especially for those who live in the west.
“It doesn’t mean u are paying for the meal means u r the king or queen.. 945pm last order main course 10pm drinks and wines last order.. don’t u people understand that?,” he wrote in an Aug 27 post on the Complaint Singapore Facebook page.
While Mr Tan did not give any specifics as to where he works and when this occurred, it can be gleaned from his post that some customers wanted to continue drinking even after 10:00 pm; and when he said no, they asked to speak to someone higher up.
“I said no to let drinking continue and u bloody people went to ask an assistant manager to allow for drinking to continue…don’t we have to clean up the whole freaking restaurant after you guys leave? Do u know what time is the last bloody train? Those who work in town for fnb staff and stays in the west?”
He added, “Don’t u guys have a conscience at all?… does the staff (have) no home to return to?”
While some customers may not want to go home, restaurant staff need to rest because they still need to show up for work the next day.
He appealed to customers to “Grow a conscience and bloody think of people.”
Just because someone pays to eat at a restaurant does not give them the right to act like they can do whatever they want.
“So what u guys are regulars? So what? I don’t die without your money.. the world stil revolves with or without u people’s money.. I won’t die the next day knowing u don’t come in and patronise.. I have other amazing customers to attend to not all these non conscience people.”
One netizen who commented on Mr Tan’s post said that the restaurant owner and manager should set firm closing times in order to protect the staff, or take care of overtime and transport costs when staff need to stay late.
Mr Tan further explained in the comments that for him, it’s not a money issue but one of respect and of preserving his mental health.
Another chimed in to say that “F&B is a cutthroat business where margins are thin.”
Some commenters were very sympathetic about the situation.
/TISG
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