The Old Bait & Switch

Occasionally, we bartenders end up on the other side of the bar. It's kind of fun because you can take notes on what works and what doesn't. Here's a lesson in what doesn't work...

I have recently been going to a fabulous little pub in an industrial area downtown. It's small, intimate, relaxed and has great patrons. If I didn't already love where I work I would definitely be chatting up the owner about employment. I may do that anyway! ;)

The only negative about it is they do not have gin at the downstairs bar. Seriously. No matter where I hang out in the pub I have to go to the upstairs bar to get my usual Tanqueray & tonic with lime. Oh, well, I'm cool with some extra stair work in my night out. (Now, just FYI, the downstairs bar has a crazy amazing selection of vodkas so it's cool.)

Alright, back to the story... I pop upstairs and order my first drink. It's good. Served perfectly. Nice and smooth with a little bite. Then again, it is a bit difficult to screw up a G&T. I go back downstairs and commence to doing a little partying with my friends. I like to drink gin because it's a bit of a sipping drink. You don't guzzle the stuff. You don't get totally wasted. You don't make decisions that end up being really embarrassing You Tube videos. When I finished my cocktail I headed back upstairs for another round. Here's where it gets interesting...

First off, there's a group of rowdy boys around the bar so I slide myself in between a couple of them. I get the bartender's attention and let her know I'd like another. Now, knowing that very few people order gin in this establishment you would think she'd remember the 1 person who is drinking it. She didn't. (boo! hiss!) I placed my order and then watched her begin making my drink. She started out with original Tanqueray and then (when the bottle ran out) she switched to Tanqueray Rangpur. SAY WHAT?!?! I didn't order that. I don't even like Rangpur. I like natural lime in my cocktail and I like my gin to be free of extras. Here's the kicker, she didn't even tell me she finished it off with the Rangpur! She just set it on the bar in front of me, let me know it was $6.00 and waited for the cash.

When I asked if she added it she looked at me like "Oh, crap. I'm busted." I asked if they were out of Tanqueray and she said they were. She then asked if the Rangpur was okay. I told her I didn't care for it. She said they had Bombay. Now, I know I'm probably going to sound like an Elitist Snob but I don't really care. I like what I like. I'm not going to take whatever gin you've got like I'm some kind of gin lush. I told her thanks but no thanks and walked back downstairs.

I would NEVER serve a customer something they didn't order. If I was low on what they asked for I would find out if the replacement would be fine. I don't know what kind of training this girl had but I would venture a guess that it's little to none. Maybe she thought that since I'm female I wouldn't be tipping her well and it just didn't matter. WRONG! I'm a fabulous tipper since I'm in the industry but she'll never know that because broke a cardinal rule in bartending.

So, word to the wise, fellow bartenders and future bartenders... DO NOT use the old bait & switch. A real customer will know the difference. It's not cool at all.

Serving the masses and getting it right,

007