The Cheap Bastages Thread

[nicrosato]

Good seeing everyone at Buca de Beppo tonight. Some people we met before, and some new faces.

I was astounded that we came up short when it came time to paying the bill. I know Barb and I owe someone some money, because Kingbaby told me the food worked out to 32.50 a person, and I had 2 beers and Barb had a martini. We only had $70 in cash, so I will make up the difference to whomever as soon as possible.

I heard someone walk behind me, mumble that he only ate salad and toss $10 in front of Kingbaby. This was even before we got the bill.  I thought the deal was we split the bill. That is basically a-shole behavior. If you're either too poor or, worse, too cheap to pay your share, don't show up. I eventually learned that there were 3 guys who pulled this act. The only reason these wankers had a salad to eat was because we ordered the meal family style based on the number of people. So, the rest of us had to make up 22.50 each for the 3  frontal-lobe-challenged bottom-feeders.

 I'd hate to be in a tough situation and depend on one of these miscreants.


Aand, yes, this is how I really feel.

[Zaster]

Good seeing everyone at Buca de Beppo tonight. Some people we met before, and some new faces.

I was astounded that we came up short when it came time to paying the bill. I know Barb and I owe someone some money, because Kingbaby told me the food worked out to 32.50 a person, and I had 2 beers and Barb had a martini. We only had $70 in cash, so I will make up the difference to whomever as soon as possible.

I heard someone walk behind me, mumble that he only ate salad and toss $10 in front of Kingbaby. This was even before we got the bill.  I thought the deal was we split the bill. That is basically a-shole behavior. If you're either too poor or, worse, too cheap to pay your share, don't show up. I eventually learned that there were 3 guys who pulled this act. The only reason these wankers had a salad to eat was because we ordered the meal family style based on the number of people. So, the rest of us had to make up 22.50 each for the 3  frontal-lobe-challenged bottom-feeders.

 I'd hate to be in a tough situation and depend on one of these miscreants.


Aand, yes, this is how I really feel.

Nic,
You really need to learn to speak your mind instead of trying to sugar coat things   
I empathize with Keith for trying to make this a great outing for our group and to encourage new members to participate.
Some of us picked up the slack and I feel I got a good value for my
money being able to spend quality time with people I respect and truly care for.
Hope to do some [moto] soon.

[ducducgooseme]

This thread makes me homesick. 

[nicrosato]

Back in my coaching days, we were fond of spouting cliched aphorisms. One that applies here is "Turn a negative situation into a positive".

The characters involved obviously took advantage. While most of us understood we were sharing a bill for food that had been ordered in bulk, this contingent felt that they were not part of the group. Despite Kingbaby's efforts to minimize cost by ordering family style, I guess they felt the group arrangement didn't apply to them.

So, going forward, spell out the arrangements before any food and drink gets ordered and avoid having someone toss a $10 bill on the table and bolt, leaving people like Keith, Rosemary, Chrystal & Matt to make up the difference.

[DucMouse the Mighty]

and karl and pam and jim for helping with that also...

i know i owe someone some money 

well sad that something like this happened, i felt like they took advantage of our hospitality and separated themselves from the group instead of really joining us....talk about team work 

hate to see what they would be like if one of us was having bike trouble or the unspeackable....."here, heres a wrench, hope that helps" 

[bonfy]

This thread makes me homesick.  

You must have got my pm.    I said the same thing.  Definitely agree with Nic about letting people know beforehand about projected costs so they can decide whether they can afford to participate and then bring enough to cover their part.  I know of one guy for sure who is planning to contact KB to make up the rest of his bill.  Forewarned is the best policy.  That or separate checks which is what I always preached when I was part of the DucNight dinners.  Family-style meal checks are hard to divide though.  Sorry I missed the fun.    

[Scottish]

Wow, Deja' vu all over again. Seems this isn't the first time, I remember some previous embarassment over someone shafting a server? Not cool, perhaps in the future everyone should do seperate checks that way the server knows exactly who the cheap asses are and the honorable don't have to share the distinction with the ignoble. Bummer to hear, makes me glad I was working... and that is also sad.