Waiter Jedi Mind Trick

Maybe I'm just getting grumpier with age, but I have noticed a worsening trend in the last few years. "Was everything just wonderful?" -or- "How was your dinner? Awesome?" (seriously, this is verbatim and accompanied with a huge smile and nodding head). To a lesser extent, I have even heard managers ask similarly worded questions.

Are some restaurants actually training their waitstaff to use this tactic? I certainly hope not.

Perhaps I am just getting too worked up over semantics, but it just seems that these loaded questions are presumptuous and not very professional. If they truly wanted my opinion, they wouldn't word the inquiry this way.

Thoughts?

But that's just it - it's not about you, your meal, if you are happy. It's about distracting someone long enough to get a good tip. (Heavy sigh) It seems more and more people are being asked to accept the superficial and mediocre in place of quality or craftsmanship. Those exceptions to the rule (and I think we have many here in town) will always get my $.
Or maybe I'm just getting old and grumpy.

[Robin Garr]

I've noticed it sometimes, but I try not to be grumpy. I do not always succeed in this, but I suspect it might be more of a generational thing than a conscious scam.

Marketing 101. And yes, companies are training their people to do that.

It's smart business.

I've noticed it sometimes, but I try not to be grumpy.

It's hard not get grumpy as you get older

I hate it as well.

Reminds me of the guy with the flair in Office Space.

Not unlike "no problem." I utterly hate that phrase, and I am an admitted grumpy old man. When I thank a server for bringing me my beverage, for example, the response is usually "no problem." Like they're doing me a favour. Well, why should it be a problem?...It's kinda your job. "You're welcome" might be more appropriate.

And no, my meal wasn't "awesome." It might've been quite pleasant and enjoyable...right up to the point where you asked me how "awesome" it was.

Marketing 101. And yes, companies are training their people to do that.

It's smart business.

Hmmmm....people don't like it, it's alienating , it assume diners are mindless sheep, so I vote "no", it's not smart business.

Marketing 101. And yes, companies are training their people to do that.

It's smart business.

Hmmmm....people don't like it, it's alienating , it assume diners are mindless sheep, so I vote "no", it's not smart business.

Hear, hear. There is nothing "smart" about it at all.

Not exactly the same thing, but a few years ago at a new restaurant in town with a very confusing menu my server said "I think you should try..." or "I'd like you to get..." or "I think you'll love this" etc.
I finally told him that I really didn't care what he thought, I just wanted some clarification about the menu.
And I can be really grumpy if pushed.

I'm sure a bunch of us that have worked in the business (or with the public in general) have seen an absolute parade of ninnies that are highly suggestable or, in some sad cases, merely dim. BUT to obviously assume the person in front of you is that is simply rude.

I stopped by a kid's lemonade stand this weekend. A quarter a cup. I gave her a dollar. The five-year old asked, "Would you like your change?"

I think she has a future as a server in one of our local establishments.

(FYI, I let her keep the change. )

No wonder our local restaurants are having a hard time finding servers. Y'all are hard to please.

I think it may be a paradigm shift of a sort. For a while there diners just wanted a mass amount, cheap. Buffets and all-you-can-eats reigned. I think we're paying closer attention to what we're getting for our money. I also think we're willing to pay more to get better.

I saw an ad for Rally's that offered 4 items for $3. ( choice of 3 different sandwiches, apple pie, drink, fries.) honestly I'd be worried about what it was all made of. How can they make a profit, pay help, pay utilities?

Sorry. Kinda veered off topic.

No wonder our local restaurants are having a hard time finding servers. Y'all are hard to please.

+1 I am amazed that this petty stuff really bothers you enough to post about.