| Author | Message | ||
     greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 1976 Registered: 5-2001 |
So, my biggest problem with going out for breakfast on weekend mornings is that I cannot enjoy my beverage of choice the way I want to... served hot, with my food. We will go to the Mapleleaf or the Ritz in Livingston & I make due with anemic decaf. Saturday morning, I said "screw it". I made my triple decaf espresso with soy milk, put it in a travel mug & off we went to the Mapleleaf before we ventured out on all of our errands. We settled in and ordered $13 worth of breakfast for two people. The manager/owner came over and told me that, for future reference, they don't allow outside coffee. I told him that he didn't sell what I was drinking, or I would have been happy to purchase it with the rest of my food. He said, no matter: no outside drinks. I thought that this was really anal. He was not going to get the additional 95 cents from me, because I'm no longer going to buy something I don't like. More likely, he would have not gotten the $13 plus tip, since we could have just as well made breakfast at home. Now- I used to manage a restaurant years ago. Occasionally, at lunch time, a group would come in and one person would have brought their lunch. I would never bother them. Why? I'd rather let one person not purchase and get the money from the 3 who were with him. And, I had a lot of regulars who appreciated the fact that they could bring their own soda if they preferred something we did not carry. I always thought that a little bending and customer service went a long way towards earning loyalty. I know I make a point of patronizing places that make me feel welcome and accomodate my not-unrealistic desires. Does the owner also tell parents that they cannot bring a pre-prepared bottle in for their infants? So, I know the Mapleleaf will survive without me, and I am not even saying I will boycott. But, in terms of good will, what do you think? | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 362 Registered: 9-2003 |
VERY Anal! Somehow I've managed to avoid getting caught with my travel mug of Irish Breakfast tea -but now that the owner/manager is on to people like you and me, I'll have to be a bit more subversive... deep pockets and very long straw! | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 4593 Registered: 5-2001 |
Maybe they should charge a corkage fee like a BYOB restaurant? | ||
| blackcat Citizen Username: Blackcat Post Number: 158 Registered: 6-2001 |
There are those who have taken advantage of the situation which probably caused the management to institute the policy. I've had people buy one small cookie for their child and proceed to eat smelly onion laden sandwiches, which were purchased elsewhere, in my shop. Is that ok? Or the person who did not buy a coffee at my shop come in, not offer to make a purchase and ask for more milk or sugar for their outside coffee? When the employee asked for $ for the extra coffee condiments, the person got all nasty as if we should give it away because its there. Not every situation is the same but there are people that do not think they are doing anything wrong but it is rude. | ||
| cjc Citizen Username: Cjc Post Number: 866 Registered: 8-2003 |
Greenetree -- likewise, would you make the same allowance at your restaurant/bar that carried feeble brands of scotch, and allowed someone to bring in his own particular 15 year old single malt? It could get unwieldy if people take the same approach for various beverages, salad dressing, etc. Corkage/consumption fees -- I don't know. Did you charge those lunchers for the soda they brought in? | ||
| Crazyguggenheim Citizen Username: Crazyguggenheim Post Number: 516 Registered: 2-2002  |
Call me crazy, but I think the MapleLeaf should just make better brew. Call me crazy | ||
| shh Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 924 Registered: 5-2001 |
Baaaad coffee is one reason we barely eat breakfast out anymore. When we do, I generally drink coffee at home and then just drink water with breakfast. I'm sick of the dishwater coffee served everywhere. Even with dessert, I barely even bother with the coffee anymore. | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 1977 Registered: 5-2001 |
CJC - no, I didn't. I had a lot of return customers who appreciated me letting their friends slide. I wasn't going to get their lunch money, anyway, but I might have lost the business of others. Also, if I have an issue with the quality of liquor, I will not go to a bar, if my main purpose for going out is to have a drink. I liken your analogy to taking my own coffee to Starbucks; wouldn't happen, although, ironically, they allow you to bring in your own mug of whatever. I was going to the Mapleleaf for the purpose of paying $6 for a couple of eggs, etc. Somehow, I don't think he lost money on my meal, but he did lose good will. I have no trouble paying corkage if I am going to a restaurant where I do not like the wine list, or if we want to open a special bottle when celebrating an occassion. I totally understand Blackcat's point & perhaps it is hard to separate the people who take advantage from those who don't. But, how often does it really happen? I once had an argument at a NYC salad bar because I bought a couple slices of tomato & lettuce to put on my homemade sandwich, which I was taking back to my office to eat. I asked for a plastic knife to cut the tomatos & was told that I didn't spend enough on the salad. I guess I missed the sign that said "minimum purchase required in order to receive utensils". While I thought that the salad bar incident was ridiculous, I could accept a small minimum purchase per person who is old enough to not need a highchair($2.00???) at places like the Mapleleaf. That makes more sense to me than alienating a customer who is otherwise ordering a full meal. | ||
| thegoodsgt Citizen Username: Thegoodsgt Post Number: 376 Registered: 2-2002 |
I'm all for enforcing laws, rules, and policies (anyone want to discuss the 2000 election process?), but I wonder, for any given restaurant, what percentage of customers bring in their own food and take advantage of the restaurant? Is it as high as 50 percent? How about 10 percent? I'd guess it's probably 1-2 percent. I think a little flexibility and accomodation is a good thing. | ||
| aquaman Citizen Username: Aquaman Post Number: 172 Registered: 8-2001 |
First off, what a complete mis-application of the word anal. The manager was not "anal." I think you were wrong to bring in an "outside" beverage, and I think you were wrong to call him "anal". I even think you're wrong to make this an issue here on this board. You obviously are not an infant, so why the comparison? All this fuss over being busted over a 95 cent cup of joe? I'd recommend for future good will, that you keep your personal embarrassments to yourself, and not try to transfer some kind of social behavioral blame to the kind merchant trying to make meagre coffee profits in a high rent district. So, I know the Mapleleaf will survive without me, - yes it will and I am not even saying I will boycott. You would even consider this as boycott-worthy???? But, in terms of good will, what do you think? Now you know what I think. Aquaman >> Aquaman #4, that was laying it on a little heavy, wasn't it? >>>> Well, Aquaman #2, Greenetree solicited advice. Sometimes you get what you ask for. >> True. I think I would have advised that next time, she should quietly explain that the coffee is a specially medicated prescription coffee blend for whooping cough sufferers. Called "Java-scrip". "You don't want me whoop coughing up in here, now do you?" >>>> Aquaman #2, that's so dumb it might work. >> Then order a Strawberry Wine. >>>> What's a Strawberry Wine? >> "Wah Wah Wah Somebody stole my car! I wanna free meal" | ||
| themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 484 Registered: 12-2001 |
Sounds like a very yuppie problem to me. I find it depressing that people can't experience things as they are, and instead tote their whole snail shell of taste and identity around with them. Hey - it's a jersey diner, a real one. Guess what? It's got jersey diner coffee. | ||
| Boozy the Clown Citizen Username: Boozy Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2003 |
Corkage fees are illegal in NJ. | ||
| vor Citizen Username: Vor Post Number: 166 Registered: 9-2003 |
Is that true about the corkage fee? | ||
| stefano Citizen Username: Stefano Post Number: 400 Registered: 2-2002  |
The problem is: where does it end? If they don't serve chocolate truffle cheesecake, can you bring your own? Why one and not the other? ps. I always sneak my espresso in and sip it from a flask in the restroom | ||
| TomR Citizen Username: Tomr Post Number: 101 Registered: 6-2001 |
Boozy, I'm interested in the source for the corkage fee proscription. Where is it? TomR. | ||
| luv2cruise Citizen Username: Luv2cruise Post Number: 154 Registered: 12-2002 |
I think they should start charging parents a hefty clean up fee after their kids throw cereal and whatever else is in their tiny little hands all over the floor. One has to wait forever for a booth because the waitresses have to clean up after these kids since the parents (not all) obviously don't. There my 2 cents. Aquaman...are you one of those parents???? There's nothing like being on the ocean! | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 365 Registered: 9-2003 |
Guys.... we're talking about morning caffine here... not asking for milk & sugar to put into the homebrew, not food, not cheesecake... just some nice - filtered water, brewed to perfection caffine. There's a difference (at least IMHO)... and I don't think the manager should have made a big deal about it. | ||
| extuscan Citizen Username: Extuscan Post Number: 260 Registered: 6-2001 |
I think this is a problem that the yuppies brought with them when they moved to Maplewood. Don't be stupid, you don't bring your own coffee to a coffee shop. Its just absurd to think that you could do that. This isn't the town pool here, its a business. You can't bring your own food. I long for the days when your only Mapleleaf wish was that the waitress didn't get ashes in your meal (they'd sure smoke when taking your order)... and your only other wish was that those coffee cups were washed after each use. They always weren't... you should have the color of lipstick lip imprints on my mothers coffee cup. We kept coming back though. John | ||
| redY67 Citizen Username: Redy67 Post Number: 226 Registered: 2-2003 |
luv-- If the parents are nice, they should leave a bigger tip, or better yet, side tip the busser for doing so much work. | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 2059 Registered: 1-2003  |
Maybe the truth is in the middle. As for why we whine so much here on MOL, I suppose it's because we can. Tom Reingold the prissy-pants There is nothing |
