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OK,

So I’m tending bar last night and this old guy comes in and puts 14 dollars on the bar. He orders a beer I take his money and give him his change and all is swell. There is 11 bucks and change sitting in front of him.

This guy has been in before but I wouldn’t call him a regular. Anyway I start talking to him and all is going well. His wife shows up and orders drinks. He orders more. He starts talking to other customers and buys them some drinks. All the while his 11 dollars sitting in front of him remain unchanged.

In 18 years of tending bar I’ve reacted the same way to this every time and never had a problem. I start him a tab. I feel like it is tacky to tell him he doesn’t have enough money on the bar, like he might take it as an accusation or something. We continue bs’ing and he and his wife are having fun.

The time comes for him to leave and I hand him his $21.17 tab with the 11 and change still sitting in front of him.

He is furious with me. Tells me “never do that to me.” I calmly explain that he only had 11 dollars on the bar. He yells “I always have money in my pocket! Now I have to put it on a card!” and pushes his discover card my way. I tell him he is welcome to pay the $21.17 with the money in his pocket. “Just put it on the card!” he says. He throws a five dollar bill at me as a tip. I throw it back and tell him he is a schmuck

Other then the last part I
simply can’t understand what I did wrong?

Should I be responsible for reminding him to put enough cash on the bar for what he orders? I am certain I he probably would have taken that the wrong way as well.

Am I at fault here?

What are some things bartenders have handled incorrectly with you?

Not a bartender, but as a frequent pub patron I don't find anything objectionable in your anecdote.

I've been in bars drinking with several friends, each of whom has a small stack of cash on the counter. When it's time to pay for a round we take turns. If someone is light a few bucks they either dip into their pocket for more ducats or one of the other homies at the bar dips into their stash to pay the difference.

I've also been to bars in the city that don't accept plastic. When I mistakenly plunked a card on the counter, the barkeep told me cash only. I said I hadn't realized that and went to the nearest ATM to grab some bills.

No big deal in either situation.

Sounds to me like you handled everything fine. If the guy is bent outta shape about $21, he has larger issues that you shouldn't concern yourself with.

I really don't think there's a problem with telling him he didn't have enough. Just say "$21" and look at the pile or something.

Munch, I thought you were a pro.


As a former bartender I spotted your mistake right away.


As soon as he put his money on the bar and then started ordering drinks for other people, the first thing you ask him is "Would you like me to take it from outta here (the money on the bar), or would you like me to start you a tab?"

People appreciate you not springing surprise tabs on them- especially if they're not paying attention to if you're pulling that money on the bar (they're DRINKING ALCOHOL remember), and it also kind of gives them a "head slap" back to reality in case they are starting to get out of control with the buying of drinks around the bar. It's not tacky, it's polite and correct to set the parameters up front.


Bartending 101

Right Fred, and that probably would have appeased this guy in this situation.

But as a general rule, I have gotten attitude many times by telling people there isn't enough in there pile. And when there is a group, you never know how they are going to split cost. I am not exxagerating when I say I have NEVER had a problem doing it this way in 18 years.

In my drunkest hour I always kept track of how pating was being handled.

As to why this guy got so pissed off about paying what he owed, I have no idea.

man I need sleep...

That post was horrible!

And who the fuck puits down $14 as a drinking pile? That alone proves this guy is a douche.

Another thing that pisses me off, people who get an attitude about being carded. WTF is that? How can being asked for ID anger anyone for any reason?

But as a general rule, I have gotten attitude many times by telling people there isn't enough in there pile.

Lesson #2: Playing The Game


You ought to know by now that 'catching attitude' is part of the job description. The trick is to create that series of steps and ask them ahead of time "tab or cash on the bar" so that they are as cognizant of what they're showing you money wise as you are. It's part of your job to keep them abreast of that situation- so they can tip you properly and not give you the drunken "I'm outta cash, but I'll get you next time". When they pull that stunt after you've done your due diligence, not it's YOUR TURN to cop the 'tude and give them that all-knowing stink eye. With a sarcastic "Sure dude, I'll look for you next time"

not= now

Nope.

My job is to charge you, and not charge you when the time is right.

Their job is to figure out how they are going to pay for it.

I am almost certain that this guy would have acted like I didn't think he had the money if I would have reminded him that his pile was short.

The pro drinkers know exactly what they owe. I don't even have to tell them that I bought them a drink, they know.

I bought this douche a beer the last time he was in and had to tell him that the beer was from me.

And who the fuck puits down $14 as a drinking pile? That alone proves this guy is a douche.

Some people don't like to put a lot of money out- keeps them from losing too much at one time-just in case. But if they order a round and they don't have enuff on the table and you let them know, eff them if they get mad. It's a business, not a right for them to act stupid. But you have to be upfront about it.

How much does a beer cost at your bar, Munch? just from what you said about the place you work at- I'm guessing $3.75 for a Bud? If that's close, than $14 on the table and he's buying other people beer? You ask him right then 'tab or you got more cash in those deep pockets'?

Another thing that pisses me off, people who get an attitude about being carded. WTF is that? How can being asked for ID anger anyone for any reason?

Because either they are looking for an excuse to bitch, or you weren't polite.

If the case is the former, who cares?

If the case is the latter, trying incorporating into your request that the management watches the tapes to make sure that you card anyone who looks under 30. Then tell them you're sure they are of age, but you could get fired if you don't. Works everytime, even when you do it to old people- which I've done, for various reasons.

Lesson #3: "Be A Better Liar"


A lot of times Munch people are trying to get over on you, or be a dick trying to get you flustered. The trick is to top their story with a better story, and if they try to make you look like the bad guy, come up with a whopper that makes them look worse (especially if they are with friends). You have the final power of who looks good or bad, and whether they get a drink or not. If you don't like how a situation is unfolding, take control. If it means you have to shut one person down in a group because they have no ID, you weigh the cost/benefit of the group staying and tipping you, or them rolling out the door. But it's always YOUR decision, and one you should feel comfortable with.

Anyone who ever puts down any sort of pile of money on a bar is a douchebag that typically drinks in low-class joints where running a tab is frowned upon.


Counteract that and protect yourself in such situatons by going to that pile everytime they want a drink and letting them know when it's short.


I agree with F_B on this one, he is clearly an asshole for getting worked up over spending $24.17 in a bar, but I would have gone to that pile and not even asked him when he or his wife ordered any subsuquent drinks.

Counteract that and protect yourself in such situatons by going to that pile everytime they want a drink and letting them know when it's short.


Correct.

Fed I have been doing this half my life. There is very little that I haven't seen and less that can fluster me at this point.

I tossed the 5 bucks at this guy because he gave me an excuse.

My instincts tell me that he was trying to get free drinks out of me and for him that is now an eternal impossiblity.

I miss last Saturday. I got flashed and asked how happily married I am. It was a great night.

As for the ID thing, yes I play the humble apologetic role and it rarely fails me. I will just never understand how people can consider aan ID check an annoyance.

I agree you are both right when it comes to this guy, his reaction proves that I made a mistake.

At this point I am just trying to figure out what he got worked up over? If you want to only pay cash and don't have it, then don't order it. It is pretty simple really.

At this point I am just trying to figure out what he got worked up over


He was tring to play you Munch, when you didn't take his money from the pile right away or ask him to tab it up front. Oldest game in the book.

"Anyone who ever puts down any sort of pile of money on a bar is a douchebag that typically drinks in low-class joints where running a tab is frowned upon."

What's wrong with "low-class joints," GGB?

Some of the best times I've had watching the Birds/Sixers and tying one on is at dives in NE Philly and Port Richmond.

I just went back and looked at your initial post Munch. Ignore my question about how much a beer costs- I realize that I missed the part about the $14 to $11 for a beer- I don't want Glenn to think that I can't subtract

Well, he got played when I added the $5 tip to his credit card. I truly hope he notices and complains.

Honestly, Julamy, nothing. I will drink anywhere. But as a bartender in Munch's case you need to recognize who/what you are dealing with when someone acts like they are in one.

I just realized another thing Munch. When he said "I always have money in my pocket" what maybe happened is what I said before- he didn't plan on spending the $14 initially, but when his money never disappeared from in front of him, he lost track. And that's why when even though he had money on the bar, you popped a tab that he never asked you to start. And the "money in the pocket" may have meant the money he wanted to tip you in cash, not to pay for the bill.

Does that make sense?

What I'm trying to say is that maybe he wasn't mad that it came to $21.14, but that he had money on the bar, and instead of taking that, you left it there and started him a tab without asking him first. Hence him throwing you a fiver anyways.


I bet that's what happened.


Why would have been avoided had you bought my book.

"WHICH would have been avoided"


Trust me Munch, the book has many less spelling errors

Here's another mistake you made:



"Anyway I start talking to him"

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