To "tired," if you're the owner, change your policies. Charge $1 for hot water and call it done. There will always be cheapskates in this world -- if they aren't bringing their own teabags, they'll be doing something else to eat into your profits. Welcome to the wonderful world of restaurant ownership.

Just a note to all of you who are being so skeptical and critical - if you read my previous posts I was only expressing that I was amazed how many people come into a restaurant, order nothing but hot water, spend no $$$, and sit and chat. I don't charge them, I never mentioned anything about charging them, I don't have any "policies" regarding this....I am only amazed at people's behavior in restaurants. Believe me, this is nothing compared to what I see on a typical day. And by the way, 10 years ownership thank you all very much.

"tired," we're telling you to charge people because you're obviously annoyed by these people, not simply "amazed." It's very common for restaurants to require patrons to spend $$$ in order to sit and chat. By not charging anyone, you DO have a policy -- your policy is to let your patrons sit and chat without ordering a single thing. 10 years in the restaurant biz? I doubt it, or you wouldn't be so "amazed" by what customers will do to save a buck.

This tea drinker hates ordering tea in a restaurant. You never know what you are going to get. On one end of the scale I've been given lukewarm water in a cup with no saucer recently. Gross. On the other end of the scale, In Ireland I've been given a pot of real brewed tea (not a tea bag) with a nice little jug of milk and both granulated and brown sugar (just like my Irish mom use to give us when we didn't feel well). In the US at best you can hope for is a small pot of hot water(that has never had coffee in it) and one tea bag. Have to ask twice for milk usually.

By the way do any other tea drinkers like to drink tea with milk and amaretto ? It really quite nice after dinner. Its my version of coffe and a liquer. Learned this in Toronto.

Why, that([email protected]) do you "doubt" 10 years in the business? Did you ever consider that my restaurant is made up of "locals" that in the winter time (lake resort location)I must make exceptions to? I don't have a problem doing this, everyone knows everyone where we are - and we do try to be hospitable and accomodating to our customers. I myself however, would never dream of doing such a thing, which is why I find it "amazing".

Since it seems that I must defend myself I will explain that I have a group of ladies who sit by the fireplace every second Tuesday of each month and play bridge. Some of them have drinks and lunch, others spend no $$, and simply play bridge with their hot water and tea. I don't understand the need for people on this message board to doubt my profession. Of course I have other stories that make this one pale in comparison, I was simply expressing my opinion.

Nice backpedal.
You call yourself "hospitable and acccomodating," yet your email address says it all: "[email protected]." Yes, I'm sure you just LOVE those little old ladies who play bridge and don't spend a dime.

You've got other restaurant stories? Interesting stories? Do tell. This is getting boring.

Dear "that is life"
why don't you get one - i bet you argue with yourself in the mirror

Tired, you ought to adopt a "glass is half full" mentality about your bridge ladies. #1, these are people who are comfy enough with your establishment to make it their "home" for their bridge meetings. Says a lot about the attractiveness of your place, it should tell you you are doing something right. #2, ever wonder how much word-of-mouth business you get from these ladies? They're obviously old-timers and I'll bet they tell all their friends what a nice place they go to to play bridge. Women talk about this stuff, believe me, I'm one and I do! #3, some of them DO spend money with you, so why beef about the ones who don't? If it was my restaurant I'd be thrilled to have regulars like these.

Tired-

I don't think you are a restaurant owner either.

I think that the successful business person would be more intersted in how they might generate more profts from tea drinkers (better tea, etc).

You didn't seem interested at all in WHY a person might bring their own tea bags.

Companies spend millions on focus groups to get the information that we are providing free..and you didn't even care.

I am going to say this again, just to see If I can get censored faster than the last time: "come to my restaurant, and I will teabag your soup" old ladies included.

Oh man, "that is life", you are cracking me up! I used to have the same problem.

I used to run a deli in Thousand Oaks. These patchouli smellin' hippies would come in and order "just some hot water please". They'd say that in their stupid "victim" voice like they couldn't afford it. Then they'd take out their weird ass "drink of the day" and serve themselves up. You name it: top ramen, nile soups, etc.

Then they'd camp their butts down and take up valuable seats.

No matter what policy you make, people always try to stretch the rules. People are pigs.

That goes for you to: That is life. I can tell you're a heavy breathin fat pig who needs to do more cardio.

I believe you are a restaurant owner. After putting myself through college bartending and waiting tables, I can believe anything. I worked in Hilton Head waiting tables one summer and a guest asked me if our Alaskan Crab Legs were local.

Junebug you have to understand that a restaurant is a business, not a social club. If you want to play cards somewhere and not pay for anything (not to mention occupy/distract waiters who could be serving paying customers) do it at "shady acres retirement home". every seat occupied by a non-paying guest is lost money. Try doing that in Italy, where they will charge you for your seat, which is what they should do at the place you go. They have to pay rent, if want to be there you should contribute to it. To make the argument that you should be there because you can give good word of mouth advertising is a joke, you'll probably tell the rest of your old lady friends that you found a place that will let you sit at their tables for free and attract more non-paying customers.

Joebob, I know what you're saying (btw I laughed at your "teabagging" comment, too funny.) "Tired" said he had a place at a resort area, which is off-season right now. So my point is, unless he has lines of people waiting to get in he's still making money with the bridge ladies who do buy stuff, right? Obviously it would be a dumb business practice to allow the non-payong old ladies to sit there while paying customers are waiting, but it doesn't sound like that's the case. I do disagree with you about word of mouth. I think it's the best form of advertisement for a restaurant. Sure the old ladies might tell people they found a place where they can sit and play bridge without paying, but that alone might attract other people in because they hear the management is "friendly". I've gone to restaurants on a recommendation of good service alone. Anyway I think that "Tired" is doing the right thing by NOT throwing the old gals out into the snow! LOL

Junebug,

thanks for having a sense of humor, most of the comments I make on here are attempts to be informative, however, sometimes I can't resist the opportunity to make jokes or sarcastic comments, you are the first to not take them personally and get all worked up about them. you can come to my restaurant for "teabags on the house" anytime!

Can't believe all the responses to this little post.
But to answer the question way up there somewhere what my neighbor used to fasten her home made tea bags together -- I forgot to tell you. She actually sewed them on her sewing machine!!! She bought coffee filters in a huge quantity at walmart or somewhere and cut them up, filled them with tea, folded them over, and then actually sewed them on three sides. No strings or tags though.

Thanks, Patrick!!! She just cracks me up!

This seems to have degenerated into a rant about whether people who sit in a restaurant and don't pay a certain amount (per hour of sitting?) should be burned at the stake or offered free water.

Not all Italian restaurants charge for seat occupancy, and in any case I'm always struck by the willingness of European restauranteurs to allow one to sit all evening after a meal, compared to the assembly-line cattle-prodding of a lot of American restauranteurs who clearly worry about revenue-per-hour more than ambiance.

As for the bridge-playing ladies, good grief, man, you have a great opportunity to create a new event and also some good will at the same time. Instead of bitchin' about these people (-- have you considered that they might be living on the same $1500/month income my mother's trying to live on, and it's damn hard --), why not institute a "high-tea" on these afternoons, where you could provide a base amount of hot water/tea and a platter of treats, letting the ladies chip in together thereby saving face for the ones with no money. If your restaurant's "high tea" catches on, you've got some off-season revenue.

Take that sour look off your face, quit being so defensive about your job, and start thinking out of your squinty little box. You might make money, gain a reputation as a good guy, and eventually you wouldn't have time to kill on Fodors.

Alot of delis in Los Angeles charge for hot water, I guess they got stung too often by people bringing in their own teabags.
When I was on a Postum kick years ago, I would pay for tea, use the hot water for my Postum. I couldn't enjoy it otherwise if I thought they thought I was trying to cheat them.

I'd like to bring up a little side issue, those tip jars on counters everywhere. I can understand if someone orders a half-decaf-half-half-n-half-half-nonfat-cappuccino, hold the foam, and a server slaves for 10 minutes making it, a tip might be appropriate. But I have ordered tea and been given an empty cup to fill from the thermos of hot water myself and a tea bag, paid $2 for the privilege, and then looked at askance when I didn't drop a tip in the jar. What am I tipping for exactly?