okay, so i've been working part time as a waiter for a few years now (full time student) at a fairly nice/up-scale dine-in thai restaurant. over the years, i've noticed the customers that come RIGHT before closing are indians, and not just regulars, but the majority of the indian customers we serve. To any waiter, customers right before closing is the last thing they want to hear.

anyways, not ONLY do these costomers repeatedly come a few minutes before closing, they stay 45 minutes past closing. WHY so late!??! so im really curious, is this a religious behavior? ethnic? what the hell!? AND generally only tip 10%(if not less).

moreover, these indians are typically strict vegetarians, so each of the dish is custom prepared with about 50 changes.
AND, they show no respect towards the waiting staff, treating us like damn servants. I understand our position is to serve, but that does not give them the right to disrespect us.

Initially, i thought maybe this only happened at the restaurant i work at, but after talking to many other people working in the service industry, i found it to be very consistent. any current or previous servers experience this?

anyways, what can i do right? im just venting and bitching because i just got off work when my shift should have ended about an hour ago. rather than blindly stereotyping indians, i'd really like an answer that explains this behavior. anyone?

 

btw, im trying to offend anyone. just damn curious.

 

Some indians at work. Talk about tight with there money. When ever a birthday party or something comes up we all bring something or chip in for catering. The indians would not bring anything and on the chip ins would put up 2 bucks or less and want change back. Could eat, wow never thought people so little could pack away do much.
This may be abnormal, don't know. Only know about 10.

 

yeah.. i understand some people maybe be tight with their money due to the way they were brought up, where they're from etc. but that still doesnt explain the late eatings (i guess it explains the tipping) .

 

Not sure, I'm indian and we usually eat around 6-8. (at home)

When we're going out to eat it usually takes so long to get out that were at a restaurant at like 9 lol.

 

Some cultures eat later than others. I don't specifically know about India, but I know many places in SA and Europe don't typically eat until 9 or so. If you walk into a restaurant at 7 you'll be the only one there.

 

I have been working in the service industry (and is still currently my career) for more than half my life. I know the mannerisms of almost every nationality, race, creed, etc etc. I can pinpoint people with surgical precision.

Now, as this is a very heated topic with the potential to upset/offend many members, I won't go into specific detail about anyone/anything.

The only thing I will tell you is regarding the latecomers. If you see it's the same race/people coming in, there must be something in your area which employs/schools a certain type of people, and it happens to be that they get out at approximately the same time you are about to close.

If you have specific questions that are work related, and will not blatantly offend anyone, I will do my best to answer them for you.

Edit...

I will go into detail regarding the Indian culture and tipping as I don't think it's offensive, but rather informative. I recently had a discussion with both my barback and my bartender (they are both from Bangladesh) regarding this issue. We have come to a rather simple, but deeply rooted conclusion. Indians are "fresh" immigrants. Granted, some of our Indian friends/members were born here, but as a people, they are generally fresh to the US, not like Italians, Irish, etc. Anywho, Indians, again, as a people, grew up poor. India is one of the most poverty stricken nations on the planet.

Now, many were able to come here and make a better life, often times, a fantastic life. However, the memory of growing up poor will never leave a person's mind. A person always remembers where they came from (unless you are a rap star ) Subconsciously, people have a hard time handing over money. This doesn't apply only to Indians. Even Russel Peters said "Our job is to keep all our pennies." This is rooted in a mentality that money is earned, and not given.

The above point can also be proven as the problem you are describing rarely happens to someone who is Indian, but was born/raised their entire lives here. They don't usually have the poor upbringing and will tip like any other American.

Please keep this thread civil people.

 

great response, great reference to russel peters

 

Also remember, the Indian culture was one of the first that began using serVANTS (from the times of Asoka and Dhamma.) I've actually heard some of my Indian customer ask "Where is my servant." It's not personal, it's cultural.

 

btw only americans tip. most other countries do not.