Bar owners...it's called the Buy Back..look into
Subject: Bar owners...it's called the "Buy Back"..look into
Just for griping's sake - Franklin Park, Saturday night - Valentine's day - I'm there 2 hours - had 5 pints - not one buyback?!?For shame sirs, for shame. The bartenders were pleasant enough but they were very much kids tending bar for money, rather than "bartenders" if you know what I mean.
Listen up kids - there's an ancient code of conduct betw. drinkers and bartenders - I pay up, I tip, I behave myself - you buy me a round after my 3rd drink (some true heroes will buy back after 2 drinks). Four drinks at the most before I get one on the house. Five is unforgivable. And no, I shouldn't have to ask.
It's a lovely space and its convenient as hell, but managers/owners, school your bartenders.
Comments
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Are you a chick?
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I feel the same way about them. They're young, which pisses me off because they just don't have that good bartender vibe down, like a more mature bartender. I think they put them there because they're "hot"- put in quotes ON PURPOSE.
However, I went there with my old roomie who's a regular there (every night), and with him, was treated VERY differently as far as buy-backs.
If they don't know you know you, you get nothing. And that's just not right. -
Cool The Kid wrote: Are you a chick?
Todo hombre.
What would a woman be doing in a bar? -
Whatchuwant wrote: If they don't know you know you, you get nothing. And that's just not right.
Exactly, why would anyone wanna be a regular if they're not treated well right out of the gate? -
In other news, a business is allowed to charge you for goods in order to turn a profit and stay in business.
Stop your overprivileged entitlement rubbish and pay for your drinks. -
In other news, a business that wants to stay in business should buy you back a drink.
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It's the entitlement aspect of the whole thing I don't like.
The OP comes across as someone who was probably being an ass after his fifth pint and didn't deserve any special attention from the staff. My apologies if you weren't but don't go around demanding free stuff. If you get a free drink in the future be grateful, don't gloat, don't be cheap. -
Been noticing this a lot more - maybe it's some ill-guided theory that, because we're in a recession and a lot of people are likely tipping less, it's not worth giving buy-backs. Which is just silly, as you're turning down the idea that someone will turn into a regular, who'll see you right with future tips etc.
Like the OP said, it's frustrating when you hang on and order that fifth drink in the hope that - at last! - this must be the one, and then get charged as usual. I've lost count of the number of new bars we've tried since Christmas and will likely never go back to again 'cos of this. -
BoogieKnight wrote:
You have to earn it. Why would you want to belong to a club if it let everybody in?
Exactly, why would anyone wanna be a regular if they're not treated well right out of the gate? -
No, see- the bartenders there don't realize one fundamental fact- it's not their bar! They don't pay for the liquor- why the fuck would you NOT want to give it away so they could get better tips? Duh. No one who has any bar sensibility should be expected to pay for EVERY drink...gimme a break.
This has nothing to do with the downturn in the economy- this is a basic tentant in bartender philosophy. IF YOU WANT A FOLLOWING- then hook people up. It doesn't cost the bartender anything and they get the benefits. Bar owners accept this as a part of doing business.
Don't tell me that they measure the bottles compared to the receipts at the end of the night. It's a lie- no one bothers.
Sorry- FP bartenders suck when it comes to buy backs- its the truth. -
Umm, I was also there on Sat night and was very nicely taken care of. At which bar did you sit? The bartender that was in the back bar is amazing. Did you take the time to talk to him? I'm betting that if you had, he would have "taken care of you" as well.
I didn't ask for anything either, I just took the time to talk to the guy. Jeeze. -
This article sums up my feelings
http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/ask-your-bartender-buybacks/ -
sir_eccles wrote: This article sums up my feelings
Well, many of the comments after the article are the opposite of how you feel. You cannot compare booze in and of itself to everything else. It's a norm that when going to a bar, you will buy more than one drink. You don't go to a restaurant and try to get a free dinner- you're only purchasing one per person. Now that I think about it, if you DID order say, 3-4 entrees person, a not-insane business owner would probably comp one of them!
http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/ask-your-bartender-buybacks/
It's called- buying in bulk. Believe me- everybody wins.
PS- notice how the guy writing the...ahem, "article"...is writing a blog instead of POURING DRINKS!?!! -
Oh yeah, WYW is completely on the ball here. I talk to my bartenders )given if they want to talk to me) I buy shit loads of drinks. I don't expect a buy back but often I get one (not at FP that is) or I get increasingly stronger poured drinks that make it so much more awesome.
I'm used to old man bars, with career bartenders. Not stupid hipsters trying get by bartending cause they look cool or whatever the fuck they are thinking. By backs are a staple. It's good business. -
Subject: Re: Bar owners...it's called the "Buy Back"..look
BoogieKnight wrote: Just for griping's sake - Franklin Park, Saturday night - Valentine's day - I'm there 2 hours - had 5 pints - not one buyback?!?
For shame sirs, for shame. The bartenders were pleasant enough but they were very much kids tending bar for money, rather than "bartenders" if you know what I mean.
Listen up kids - there's an ancient code of conduct betw. drinkers and bartenders - I pay up, I tip, I behave myself - you buy me a round after my 3rd drink (some true heroes will buy back after 2 drinks). Four drinks at the most before I get one on the house. Five is unforgivable. And no, I shouldn't have to ask.
It's a lovely space and its convenient as hell, but managers/owners, school your bartenders.
I've never had a problem with buy backs. Were you rude or just a shitty tipper. Not sure if your a sucky tippler, but judging by you post you were probably rude. -
I've not been to this joint, and I trust that you guys are all good to your servers, but my bartender friends all say the same thing: if you're not getting buy-backs you're probably not tipping well-enough. Their words, not mine. A dollar per drink is what everyone tips. It doesn't say, Hey, I'm looking to be a regular here. But if you tip better, you'll get that buy-back sooner. (Unless they're dicks and/or have a computerized register and have to account for every single drink.) You'll be the tipping the same amount overall, but look better in their eyes.
Here's something that has worked for me: whenever I go to a bar for the first time, one that I end up liking--or meet the new bartender at a fave watering hole-- I over-tip that one time. The next time they always remember me. I give them normal tips going forward but the groundwork has been laid for above average treatment. Has yet to fail me. -
Whatchuwant wrote: Don't tell me that they measure the bottles compared to the receipts at the end of the night. It's a lie- no one bothers.
I know for a fact that a 5th Ave bar that shall remain nameless requires their staff to log all buy-backs. (How widespread is this? I dunno.) They can still give 'em out, but it makes the bartenders more selective about it. Which is where good tipping comes in. -
I've never "expected" buy backs but am more pleasantly surprised when I get one. I find that newer places don't do them as often as the older, divey bars. Maybe this is due to the new computer systems installed like MK suggested?
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MichaelKeys wrote: Here's something that has worked for me: whenever I go to a bar for the first time, one that I end up liking--or meet the new bartender at a fave watering hole-- I over-tip that one time. The next time they always remember me. I give them normal tips going forward but the groundwork has been laid for above average treatment. Has yet to fail me.
Yup, having been a bartender not so long ago, this is a good approach - when you're empty (or approaching empty), they'll make it over to you faster, you'll get better pours and more frequent buy-backs. Toss in a little extra every couple rounds. -
i rarely order enough anywhere to be in buy-back range (which is fine with me). but i have it on good authority from friends who do that there is one bartender who does buy-backs at FP and a whole bunch who don't.
i would think owners would mind buy-backs less than they'd mind giving away just about any other product on earth because alcohol lowers inhibitions. giving a customer a drink now and then raises the total number of drinks he will pay for more than giving away a free bagel does. (although, come to think of it, that grumpy blog post totally ignores the fact that plenty of coffee, bagel, sandwich, etc., shops do have formal loyalty programs in the form of "buy 10 get one free" cards and the like....) -
sweet tea wrote: i would think owners would mind buy-backs less than they'd mind giving away just about any other product on earth because alcohol lowers inhibitions. giving a customer a drink now and then raises the total number of drinks he will pay for more than giving away a free bagel does. (although, come to think of it, that grumpy blog post totally ignores the fact that plenty of coffee, bagel, sandwich, etc., shops do have formal loyalty programs in the form of "buy 10 get one free" cards and the like....)
Buy backs--when permitted by the owner--are, for the most part, at the discretion of bartenders. I doubt an owner is going to complain that his staff is not giving out enough buy backs. I can't tell you how many times I've asked a bartender friend how he or she did after a busy night and have them respond with "The bar did great, but I didn't make any money." Which is why bartenders use buy backs as a way to reward good tippers.
Wasn't that blog from Portland, OR? It may be a different dynamic out there. -
sure. but complaining about not giving out enough isn't the same as complaining about giving out any at all.
it is true that i hear a lot more about buybacks here than i ever did in chicago. and i hung out with some pretty serious drinkers there. the only place i remember comping was this fabulous (read: revolting) dive bar, and that was because the grumpy bartendress there felt kinship for one of our number who waited tables at the less fabulous but equally revolting place across the street. -
sweet tea wrote: it is true that i hear a lot more about buybacks here than i ever did in chicago.
I imagine that in cities where bartenders are on salary, buy backs are not as common as they are here. Or tipping: if you leave a dollar or two per drink in those places they look at you as if you're Warren Buffett or something. Or a New Yorker.
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MichaelKeys wrote: I doubt an owner is going to complain that his staff is not giving out enough buy backs.
Actually, Mark, owner at 200 5th, did make a point of telling me that I should be giving out buy-backs a little more frequently (when I worked there a million years ago).MichaelKeys wrote: I imagine that in cities where bartenders are on salary, buy backs are not as common as they are here.
I will say this - buy-backs are much more formal here, there's an higher expectation of them. -
Subject: Re: Bar owners...it's called the "Buy Back"..look
joseph11 wrote: Not sure if your a sucky tippler, but judging by you post you were probably rude.
He had five pints - that qualifies as an excellent tippler in my book. -
Subject: Re: Bar owners...it's called the "Buy Back"..look
joseph11 wrote: [quote=BoogieKnight]Just for griping's sake - Franklin Park, Saturday night - Valentine's day - I'm there 2 hours - had 5 pints - not one buyback?!?
For shame sirs, for shame. The bartenders were pleasant enough but they were very much kids tending bar for money, rather than "bartenders" if you know what I mean.
Listen up kids - there's an ancient code of conduct betw. drinkers and bartenders - I pay up, I tip, I behave myself - you buy me a round after my 3rd drink (some true heroes will buy back after 2 drinks). Four drinks at the most before I get one on the house. Five is unforgivable. And no, I shouldn't have to ask.
It's a lovely space and its convenient as hell, but managers/owners, school your bartenders.
I've never had a problem with buy backs. Were you rude or just a shitty tipper. Not sure if your a sucky tippler, but judging by you post you were probably rude.
What in jayzus in my posts suggests rudeness - dickiness or non-tipping. I'm an old man who loves bars - never cause a ruckus , I'm friendly and quiet. $1 tip per $6 beer.
FP wasn't swamped that night, bartender came right over whenever I bellied up to bar, I always tipped.
Some people just enjoy thinking/assuming the worst about everybody - that shit must be exhausting.
i was in the newer extension of the bar.
ITA - bar is not a restaurant, although as someone posted if you order a bunch of entrees and wine and behave yourself, it's not crazy to think that a cool restaurant will throw in a free dessert.
Expecting buybacks when they're offered in many other bars places is not being an entitled ass. -
WhyFi wrote: [quote=MichaelKeys]I doubt an owner is going to complain that his staff is not giving out enough buy backs.
Actually, Mark, owner at 200 5th, did make a point of telling me that I should be giving out buy-backs a little more frequently (when I worked there a million years ago).MichaelKeys wrote: I imagine that in cities where bartenders are on salary, buy backs are not as common as they are here.
I will say this - buy-backs are much more formal here, there's an higher expectation of them.
Maybe it was long enough ago that you remember NYC trying to make a regulation about NO buybacks. It was sometime before 2003, but I don't remember the details. I do remember my coworkers going insane. -
sir_eccles wrote: It's the entitlement aspect of the whole thing I don't like.
The OP comes across as someone who was probably being an ass after his fifth pint and didn't deserve any special attention from the staff. My apologies if you weren't but don't go around demanding free stuff. If you get a free drink in the future be grateful, don't gloat, don't be cheap.
Something damn rude and disingenuous about calling somebody an "Ass" and then offfering a provisional apology for the name calling in practically the same breath.Dom Irrera on Eraser Phrases
You know those Italian eraser phrases? “That guy is a lowlife scummy little fat rat weasel bastard… I don’t mean that in a bad way.” Yeah, in the best possible way you can mean that. -
pitu wrote: Maybe it was long enough ago that you remember NYC trying to make a regulation about NO buybacks. It was sometime before 2003, but I don't remember the details. I do remember my coworkers going insane.
Doesn't ring a bell; it was 2003 that I was bartending there. -
I would suggest coming back to the older section. I'm there a couple times a week, the service is great and if you can pick me out of the I'll even provide free entertaining conversation - which is how I wind up getting buy backs in the first place.
Well, that and I always, always tip, comes from working in the service industry as a kid.
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