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peanutbutter2
Carpe diem!
Member since 11/10 5287 total posts
Name:
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What do you think of this situation?
A group of girls go out to dinner together. They are all about 25 years old and look that age/younger, so they are obviously not a group of millionaires. The restaurant is not fancy, but not casual either...middle of the road.
They order a bottle of Merlot. The waiter asks what type they would like. There's no wine list on the table. They say that it doesn't matter in a way that show they really don't know much about different types of Merlot (think an "Ummmm," everyone looks around at each other, shrugs shoulders type of "it doesn't matter").
They order a second bottle later.
When the bill comes, they see that the waiter gave them $45 bottles of wine, making the total wine bill $90.
Who is at fault here? The girls for not asking for a wine list/for the prices? Or the waiter for bringing over a pricey bottle? Are both parties at fault in some way?
ETA: I think I should probably add this: We (I'm guessing it's pretty clear that I was in this group) didn't really care about the actual cost. It wasn't out of our budget. We were just surprised. We go to these types of restaurants all the time, and a waiter has never brought us more than a $20/25 bottle before, so we were just a bit surprised.
Message edited 6/10/2012 9:54:54 PM.
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Posted 6/10/12 8:28 PM  |
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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I would say the girls for sure. They should have looked at the wine list first and then if they were unsure they should have asked the waiter for a recommendation on the wine in the price range they could afford.
I do this all the time when I go out to eat or when I go to a wine store and I have always been steered in the right direction and in the price I wanted to pay.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:30 PM |
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WhatNow
Say Cheese!
Member since 1/06 8033 total posts
Name:
A (formerly WhatNow?)
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Girls own fault for not asking about the price. The waiter isn't suppose to worry about what they can and can not afford. Of course he is going to try to go with something more expensive - his tip depends on how much they spend. It could have been way worse than $45 per bottle.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:32 PM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
They definitely should have asked for a wine list. I believe if you don't specify, the waiter will bring you whatever the "house" merlot is, and at a nice place that can definitely be pricey.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:33 PM |
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Mrs213
????????
Member since 2/09 18986 total posts
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Not the waiters fault, nor his job to determine the patrons net worth. I always make sure to check the prices on the wine list...
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:33 PM |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by beachgirl
I would say the girls for sure. They should have looked at the wine list first and then if they were unsure they should have asked the waiter for a recommendation on the wine in the price range they could afford.
Agree. If I'm the waiter and someone says "umm whatever" to me that implies "whatever type or price you have."
Even when my husband goes shopping for dress shirts and they ask him what brand he'll say "I'm not sure, but I dont wear it often so a reasonable price" and then the salesperson will say "is XXX OK?"
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:33 PM |
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JME78
LIF Adult
Member since 11/09 3672 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
If the girls were surprised by the bill its totally their fault for not inquiring before drinking it.
Also 45 dollars is not an outrageous price for a bottle of wine.
Message edited 6/10/2012 8:43:59 PM.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:43 PM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9922 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I would have to say the girls' fault. I would never order a bottle of wine without asking the price. I actually think the waiter let the girls off easy...$45 is towards the low end.
that said I have learned this lesson the hard way. Except for me it was with a 3 1/2 lb lobster   
Message edited 6/10/2012 8:52:15 PM.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:51 PM |
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Sweetlax22
LIF Adult
Member since 5/10 1904 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
$45 is probably mid-priced for the restaurant, probably not the cheapest , but probably not the most expensive. I would say the waiter was fair and it is the groups fault for not checking the price first or asking for the least expensive bottle.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:52 PM |
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I will go against the grain.
In those situations, as I have been in them, the waiter has ALWAYS given me a HOUSE WINE. Not something fancy and certainly not something that high of a cost.
I would be pissed.
It's taking advantage of the consumer.
I mean, I think most people would feel uncomfortable and tacky to agree to a wine suggested by a waiter and then ask, "Umm..by the way..how much is it?"
Can you imagine a guy doing that on a date? It's a reasonable question, just an uncomfortable one.
I'm willing to bet they know this, and therefore, can get away with it.
Usually in these cases, the waiters I have had have confirmed the price before going to get it.
I'm on the side of the girls.
Message edited 6/10/2012 8:57:46 PM.
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| Posted 6/10/12 8:54 PM |
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DiamondGirl
You are my I love you
Member since 7/09 18802 total posts
Name:
DiamondMama
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I see both sides.
Having had it happen to me a long time ago out with a large group and lots of wine later and paying a HUGE bill I now know to always ask for a wine list.
IMO the waiter was totally trying to juice your bill then again you never asked the price so technically he is not wrong.
Stinks, but lesson learned and now it won't happen again 
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:03 PM |
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sameinitials
insert creative comment here
Member since 2/12 1998 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
i don't think $45 for the bottle is necessarily that high for a bottle of wine in a "medium" restaurant, especially when split amount a group of people. i think in this case the fault is solely on the girls; they could have easily asked to look at a wine list without saying "i want the cheapest one" - in that situation, even if it was a date, it would be easy to say, "hm, can i see the options?"
i wonder if the restaurant has a wine list on its website - that would be a quick way to figure out if the waiter was just trying to up his tip!
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:07 PM |
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Little-J-Mommy
I'm a Big Brother
Member since 5/06 8041 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by cncforever
I will go against the grain.
In those situations, as I have been in them, the waiter has ALWAYS given me a HOUSE WINE. Not something fancy and certainly not something that high of a cost.
I would be pissed.
It's taking advantage of the consumer.
I mean, I think most people would feel uncomfortable and tacky to agree to a wine suggested by a waiter and then ask, "Umm..by the way..how much is it?"
Can you imagine a guy doing that on a date? It's a reasonable question, just an uncomfortable one.
I'm willing to bet they know this, and therefore, can get away with it.
Usually in these cases, the waiters I have had have confirmed the price before going to get it.
I'm on the side of the girls.
ITA. I think the waiter took advantage of a bunch of girls whom he knew had no idea about wine or prices of bottles. He totally padded the check. Their fault for not asking, but let's be real here....he definitely took advantage of them.
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:27 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
At some restaurants $45 is on the low end. if he gave the $100 bottle i would think he took advantage, but $45? not really.
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:33 PM |
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nrthshgrl
It goes fast. Pay attention.
Member since 7/05 57538 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by beachgirl
I would say the girls for sure. They should have looked at the wine list first and then if they were unsure they should have asked the waiter for a recommendation on the wine in the price range they could afford.
I agree.
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:40 PM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I would think in a fairly decent restaurant in the city $45 might have been the house wine. That is what I would expect to be brought if I shrugged and said it doesn't matter.
That said, having been a waitress in a higher end restaurant in the past, I think this server was a bit dumb to not tell the girls the price. If they seemed like they had no clue about wine and looked "young" I would probably show them which bottle on the list I was bringing so the price didn't shock them. This would have been strictly so they didn't get mad at me and stiff me for my tip. I had people get angry with me over prices they didn't like once or twice and in return tell me the difference was coming out of my tip  .
Live and learn, in the future if you're unsure, always ask the price.
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:44 PM |
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TimeForBaby2
LIF Infant
Member since 8/11 56 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I think that they got lucky in that situation. $45 a bottle is definitely not bad. It is definitely the girls fault - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a bottle of wine can cost hundreds of dollars. They should have been more careful.
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:49 PM |
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peanutbutter2
Carpe diem!
Member since 11/10 5287 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by TimeForBaby2
I think that they got lucky in that situation. $45 a bottle is definitely not bad. It is definitely the girls fault - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a bottle of wine can cost hundreds of dollars. They should have been more careful.
I can accept it being our fault, and we will obviously ask in the future. I was just surprised based on every other experience we've had in years of going out to dinner together. I don't personally think that, whether we ordered it on purpose or not, $45 is exactly the cheapest bottle of wine on the market.
We're not quite that stupid to be unaware of the fact that bottles of wine can cost hundreds of dollars.
If I'm asked off the top of my head from which specific region of the world I would like my Merlot, no, I can't give an answer off the top of my head when I don't know all of the possibilities. However, I do spend a lot of time at wineries, checking out different wines, etc. There are PLENTY of great wines available for under $45.
Message edited 6/10/2012 9:57:27 PM.
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| Posted 6/10/12 9:53 PM |
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sameinitials
insert creative comment here
Member since 2/12 1998 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by JAAMS
However, I do spend a lot of time at wineries, checking out different wines, etc. There are PLENTY of great wines available for under $45.
absolutely - at the store or available for purchasing at a winery. but that same decent bottle that is $15 at the liquor store can very well be $45 at the restaurant. and even if some restaurants have great merlots for under $45, that doesn't mean that *this* restaurant does
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| Posted 6/10/12 10:05 PM |
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MrsS1976
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/11 534 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Girls fault for sure..waiter is not responsible for knowing what the girls can or cannot afford.
Next time, the girls should request the house bottle of wine, and confirm the price before ordering it.
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| Posted 6/10/12 10:13 PM |
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Domino
Always My Miracle
Member since 9/05 9922 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by JAAMS
However, I do spend a lot of time at wineries, checking out different wines, etc. There are PLENTY of great wines available for under $45.
I dont disagree, however that $10 bottle of Pindar is still going to cost you at least $20 in the restaurant. Heck my girlfriends paid $30 for a bottle of Sutter Home White Zinfandel at Ciao Babys. The bottle of wine I COULD have been drinking at HOME for that price....
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| Posted 6/10/12 10:15 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
The customer is always ordering at their own risk. It is the same way if the waiter tells you the specials and doesn't mention the prices. I always assume they will be more than the average entree price.
I don't think the waiter did anything wrong. Maybe they had a cheaper Merlot, but maybe he thought it was crappy.
I don't know much about wine either, so when I look at a wine list, it is mostly for the price.
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| Posted 6/10/12 10:26 PM |
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BunnyWife
Insert Witty Comment Here
Member since 5/07 8274 total posts
Name:
BunnyWife
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by sameinitials
Posted by JAAMS
However, I do spend a lot of time at wineries, checking out different wines, etc. There are PLENTY of great wines available for under $45.
absolutely - at the store or available for purchasing at a winery. but that same decent bottle that is $15 at the liquor store can very well be $45 at the restaurant. and even if some restaurants have great merlots for under $45, that doesn't mean that *this* restaurant does
This. Wine in restaurants are usually marked up about 3 times the price from a liquor store so, no, 45 bucks is not crazy for a good bottle of Merlot. In the future ask for a wine list or at least check the price with the waiter.
Signed,
Someone who spends a lot of time drinking in restaurants
Message edited 6/10/2012 10:40:35 PM.
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| Posted 6/10/12 10:40 PM |
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BunnyWife
Insert Witty Comment Here
Member since 5/07 8274 total posts
Name:
BunnyWife
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
Posted by Little-J-Mommy
Posted by cncforever
I will go against the grain.
In those situations, as I have been in them, the waiter has ALWAYS given me a HOUSE WINE. Not something fancy and certainly not something that high of a cost.
I would be pissed.
It's taking advantage of the consumer.
I mean, I think most people would feel uncomfortable and tacky to agree to a wine suggested by a waiter and then ask, "Umm..by the way..how much is it?"
Can you imagine a guy doing that on a date? It's a reasonable question, just an uncomfortable one.
I'm willing to bet they know this, and therefore, can get away with it.
Usually in these cases, the waiters I have had have confirmed the price before going to get it.
I'm on the side of the girls.
ITA. I think the waiter took advantage of a bunch of girls whom he knew had no idea about wine or prices of bottles. He totally padded the check. Their fault for not asking, but let's be real here....he definitely took advantage of them.
Really? I feel like they were fools for NOT asking for a wine list! If he really wanted to take advantage of them he would have sent over the $100+ bootle.
To the OP...what restaurant was this?
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| Posted 6/10/12 10:44 PM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: What do you think of this situation?
I also think mostly the girls. With mark up $45 is not an outrageous price. You really can't get much for less than $20-25, so the lesson only cost you guys $40 or so.
But a good waiter should clarify with the wine list
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| Posted 6/10/12 11:24 PM |
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