Restaurant etiquette from the help?

Question

how come, when you go into a fast-food restaurant, and order one thing, that the person waiting on you will suggest more than that? I went into a restaurant, ordered a hamburger and a shake. the lady suggested that i get fries, too. it didn't cost too much more for the fries, but i didn't want them. why can't they just shut up and take the order like i asked?

Answer 1

Because they're trying to get you to spend more money. I think they're trained for that. I am a waitress, and when someone orders just a sandwich, we're suppose to ask if they would like fries or onion rings, and most of the time they say yes! Then there are times when you bring the sandwich and then they'll ask for fries or whatever. That's just part of life, get used to it! They even do it in stores too. That's when I get annoyed. Like, I'll buy perfume, and then they'll ask me if I need lotion or powder. It's like "NO"... You get harassed no matter where you go!!!

Answer 2

Because it is their only goal in life to insure that you are made happy the very first time around. They only have one opportunity to make that first impression.

Answer 3

they're forced to upsell more products.  if they got everyone to buy fries that cost just a little extra (even if the people didn't really want them), at the end of the day/month/year it all adds up!

unfortunately, where I live they started doing that at grocery stores with special bins of random things at checkout.  it's annoying, i know!

Answer 4

Do you also complain if a waitress offers you dessert and coffee at the end of a regular restaurant meal?  It's called upselling, and every profitable restaurant practices it. Once you're in the store, they try and get you to order as much as they can, because it costs them no more to lure you in...you're already there.

Answer 5

It is part of their job to upsell.  This is a very common practice in most retail environments to increase revenues.  If you've ever ordered from an online catalog, they typically offer you additional items before final checkout. They don't do it to offend you or force anything on you.  You can simply say "no thank you" and they will leave you alone.

Answer 6

they are told to do that or they can lose their jobs.  It's called up selling when they convince you to get something extra.