Should I have paid for a drink I sent back?

[Anonymous]

I have to admit, I’m a still feeling salty after an experience I had last night. I was at a nice cocktail bar and I ordered a drink from their menu that was a mulled red wine with some other add-ins. The server came back after taking our order and said they didn’t have that, but they had a “similar drink that’s also a mulled red wine, served warm”. So I said sure.

When they brought me the drink, I thought it was a mistake. It honestly tasted like hot water with some bitter spices dashed on top. I still don’t know what it was actually made of, because it was a light blue color. When the server came back to check on us, I asked again what was in it, and was given a vague answer. I apologized and said I didn’t care for it, and ordered something else.

We ordered a couple more rounds, the bill came and the drink was still on there. I paid for it, but am I wrong in thinking this is poor customer service? I didn’t just order something I didn’t like (which would be my fault) - something was suggested to me that was in no way similar to what I had originally asked for.

[Anonymous]

Unless you explicitly said that you didn’t want the drink when it wasn’t what you expected, I wouldn’t expect the restaurant to automatically take it off the check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you explicitly said that you didn’t want the drink when it wasn’t what you expected, I wouldn’t expect the restaurant to automatically take it off the check.

Oh I did. He came back to check in, and I said I’m sorry I really don’t care for this, and he took the almost-full glass, and asked if I wanted something else instead.

[Anonymous]

Of course that should have been taken off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you explicitly said that you didn’t want the drink when it wasn’t what you expected, I wouldn’t expect the restaurant to automatically take it off the check.

Oh I did. He came back to check in, and I said I’m sorry I really don’t care for this, and he took the almost-full glass, and asked if I wanted something else instead.

Then you should have spoken up.

[Anonymous]

You should have said something then instead of stewing about it overnight.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think I would care about this but I definitely can’t imagine dwelling on it like this. Move on, be free.

[Anonymous]

I would have lowered my tip accordingly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should have said something then instead of stewing about it overnight.

You’re right. I just truly hate complaining and a part of me felt like, well I agreed to try it so that’s on me.

[Anonymous]

I would have asked them to take it off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have said something then instead of stewing about it overnight.

You’re right. I just truly hate complaining and a part of me felt like, well I agreed to try it so that’s on me.

I think your mistake was in saying you didn’t like it. That wasn’t the problem; the problem was that it was not the similar drink the waiter described. You fell into the trap that lots of women do: you owned the problem (I don’t like it) instead of placing the blame where it actually lay (this drink is not the mulled wine you said it was). Don’t own other people’s mistakes.

[Anonymous]

I would view it as an oversight that they didn't take it off, and then ask for it to be taken off.

[Anonymous]

We usually tell the manager to take it off. They forget or are too busy. It's ok to ask again if you see it on your check when it comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would view it as an oversight that they didn't take it off, and then ask for it to be taken off.

This is a far, far better option than:

- stewing about it the next day;
- assuming the server had nefarious intent;
- lowering the tip;
- any of the other absurd suggestions that have been/will be posted here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should have said something then instead of stewing about it overnight.

You’re right. I just truly hate complaining and a part of me felt like, well I agreed to try it so that’s on me.

Then the fact that you paid for it, and your subsequent upset, are entirely on you. GMAFB.