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I'm filling out a questionnaire for a company, and one of the questions is about what you should do if you come home to fill out your report and realize you don't have the name or description of one of the wait staff that helped you. What should you do?

I'd like to know that myself! Some places you can easily go back in and catch what you've missed, but if you were at a restaurant, it wouldn't be so easy. What do you all do about that and what would be considered "industry standards"?

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Sadly enough, it depends entirely on the company I am doing the job for. I always can dredge a good enough description of the person out of memory if I don't panic, so that is mostly not really an issue. Of course most of the time my server's name is on my receipt, so that name is rarely an issue. Generally other wait staff are less critical, but I can tell you that my appetizer this evening was served by a gal about 5'5" (i.e. a little shorter than the other servers) with medium brown ponytails who was in her late 20s and my entree was delivered by a woman in her late 40s with ash blonde hair out of a bottle who was about 5'6". I did not need to report on these individuals, but they were players in the whole scenario. If I am totally at sea about a member of the wait staff I will admit I did not notice and take my licks. What usually kills me is when I get home and the shop wants to know about their shoes. I'm looking at faces, not feet. Luckily on restaurant shops my companion almost always notices shoes and aprons.

Flash,
You have a companion who has a shoe and apron fetish? I wouldn't put that info on facebook if I were you, lol.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

He was a cop for years and is frankly more observant than am I overall. I am thinking in terms of what the report wants, he is thinking 'pick them out of a lineup'. Interestingly he overestimates height, as over the years he himself has lost close to 2" in the aging process and he underestimates ages because "they all look so young".

I can come up with the description. If there comes a day when I can't, it's time to cut back! I admit, I once called the restaurant after I got home. I needed the bartender's name and it just refused recollection. I believe the answer on the questionnaire may be something like "I would return to the location and get the needed information", or "I would report honestly, that I do not recall".

I chuckled this evening because we had a server who was just outstanding. One of those people who is lively and really engaged in what she is doing and outgoing. She gave us great service without hovering, even though the appetizer took 5 minutes longer to deliver than the time standards, etc. I could draw you a picture of her lively face and I have her name, but I was so engaged with her that I drew a blank on hair length/style. Luckily I did not dine alone, so my companion supplied hair length and style. And no, this was not an apron and shoe visit. :-)

You seriously have had to report on shoes? I haven't run across that one yet.

Often part of the 'uniform' is dark, leather, close toed shoes. It has been interesting how many of the places that actually have the shoe requirements such as that have employees in athletic footwear. But usually if they want to know about footwear and I missed it, it was because the footwear was conforming to employer expectations so I paid no attention. I did not need to ask my companion about footwear when what was worn was shiny silver athletic shoes while all the other servers were wearing the dark leather shoes.

I believe I might know what company this is for. I answered a different way, but in retrospect, I think they're looking for an accurate description, one that includes gender, height, approximate age, hair color, length and style, and any distinguishing characteristics (glasses, tattoos, etc.).

One time I had to remember if the person was wearing glasses. And I forgot if she did or did not because it was a quick in and out shop to do. I was honest in the report that I forgot to look and they understood that mistakes happen. I was paid in full. I would be honest because you never know if they are video taping while you are doing a shop.

And a good company will work with you when there is a problem. I did a bank where the guy had no nametag or name plaque. I gave a description of him as best could be determined of a video teller. That included dress shirt color and tie as well as hair color etc. The bank came back and said that they had no male tellers. By phone I went through the description again, mentioning what I could remember of a female teller at the drive through window as well who I saw in the background. I never heard anything more about it. I was paid, I am still shopping with them, so I figure somebody worked it out.

If I'm not mistaken, this is a hypothetical situation, not a shop. I think it's an application for a company (and I'm guessing a very high-end one).

I can always remember description as I go the restroom then and write it down, especially when I can't see a name tag. Shoes, new one for me...my reports have, "Are they dressed neatly in uniform", they either are or aren't. I did a pretzel shop and the guys shirt was so soiled I didn't want to get a pretzel, of course I told that, I think you might be out of luck if you can't give a name or a description.....that's they way it rolls sometimes, but, it won't happen to you again.

Live consciously....

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