WETHERSPOONS not e-cig friendly

[HawkeyeFLA]

I always ask to speak to the Manager and explain vaping to him/ her because I understand I am on Private Property. Recently, for the first time, I was told they would not allow vaping in their establishments and I was ok with that BUT the Manager was classy enuff to explain his reasoning. He stated if someone were to have a severe allergic reaction to the vapor he could be liable. I thanked him sincerely, stated I understood and accepted his explanation. Much to our surprise(wife and I) the Manager sent us a bottle of Pinot Noir, compliments of the restaurant. A class act and we will be going back regardless of their vaping policy.
As for the waitress running across the room screaming...completely unacceptable behavior and the waitress should have IMMEDIATELY reported to and asked the Manager to intervene and resolve the issue.

Now that's a manager that knows how to recover a situation. Odds are you would have put that restaurant in your "maybe" category for returning to, but for the low cost of a bottle of wine, he has a returning customer. Such simple things.

As a member of the food service industry I apologize on behalf of the back of the house. Sounds like the front of the front the house employees need some training in respect and tact. If I had been treated as you were I would have not only demanded a refund, but also the manager. The behavior of staff is appalling, and unless they were retrained or fired I wouldn't step foot in there again.

I work on the hotel side of the hospitality industry, but am in school for it as well. One of my favorite professors on campus has a restaurant background, and I've learned so much neat stuff from him that I wouldn't normally learn. I'm tempted to forward this story to him, just so I can see how aghast he would be about it. You just don't treat guests like that. (I abhor the term customer really).

I'm curious to see what the response from the GM will be.

 

[Loveridden]

WOW she was REALLY rude!!!

 

[accordioni]

I have vaped in a lot of bars, restaurants, shops etc and this is the first time I have come accross this problem!

 

[accordioni]

I agree, you would assume that you would be entitled to refund for having experienced appalling customer services, regardless of the reason!

 

[accordioni]

Yes I'm thinking about doing a survey of all local establishments for information purposes, which places allow or don't allow, and I think it would be helpful for those that don't to display signage to avoid any dispute.
PS I also play in a band and vape off stage - never had a problem at any gigs, but I think after this I might start asking first!!

 

[accordioni]

Thanks that's good - I am thinking of doing something like with all my local establishments - just for information purposes.

 

[CommaHolly]

I'm a little shocked that ANYONE allows vaping in restaurants. As far as I know, they do not allow it here. Bars, maybe,,,,,,,restaurants, no.

I agree 100% that her reaction was horrendous. But they are allowed to dictate policy on their property, the same way you are allowed to dictate policy in your home. I don't agree they need to update their policy. As much as I'd like to vape in a restaurant, it's their property and their policy to decide.,,,,,Yelling, however, was ridiculous,,,,,,and THAT is what I would complain about to the management.

I do vape in public (although not indoors) and if someone asks me to stop, I say,,,,,

"I'd be happy to stop (Put PV away) but I just want you to know that this is not a cigarette, there is no tobacco, there is no fire, and there is no smoke. I know it looks like smoke,,,,,,,but it's not, and you can't smell it, and there is no second hand smoke" (smile),,,,,,,,,,if you agree to follow their policy BEFORE you educate, it takes them off the defensive,,,,

If you immediately start out with "but it's not smoke" you appear to be arguing, rather than education,,,,,,,,,,but that's just my opinion on the matter.

 

[accordioni]

I do respect that establishments have policies and would have had no problem not using the e-cig had I been approached politely. I don't think I have a "vape anywhere I want" attitude - it's down to an individual discretion, and having used it before in this place I didn't anticipate this problem.
Regardless of this, my point was to draw attention to the delivery of customer service by the staff in the establishment, and that if they have a policy banning e-cig use, staff should be informed and trained on how to approach customers that do, to politely ask them not to.

 

[accordioni]

Like it, yes, even the bathroom is better than going outside!!!

 

[CommaHolly]

the customer service was horrendous, agreed. But you did state their ecig policy needed updating, I believe. It would be NICE but I doubt it will happen any time soon.

 

[accordioni]

Yes I will post the response as soon as I get it. I agree that the abovementioned Manager was very smart, I would also have been pleased with this treatment, and would go back there. It doesn't matter how great the food or drink is, if the staff give you an unpleasant vibe in any degree you are unlikely to return, vaping or not!!!

 

[accordioni]

I don't believe that the waitress was actually aware of any policy - which is why she had to loudly ask other members of staff. Yes it was the customer service that I was more disappointed with, rather than if it was clear that vaping was not permitted.

I do agree that establishments have the right to their policies and I wouldn't have had any problem here if it was delivered politely.

I always ask and explain if I am in someone's hope or in close contact company with people that I haven't met before etc. But I don't agree with treating a bar or restaurant as if it were someone's home - I think the goalposts are different there, because they are running an establishment to make money from you, the paying customer. Their policies are for the comfort and safety of all their customers, and each potential spender is entitled to the same respect.

 

[Taniger1]

Accordioni, I think we ALL agree you where treated with a serious amount of disrespect!! Anyone who says you where not is probably NOT running a business :0). Or if they are, they probably wonder WHY they dont' have any customers.

This WAS rude and above the top from the waitstaff/bartender! No denying that. I see where you would think it's ok to vape in the joint if you had done it before with no problems. Stick to your guns!

 

[Sam Vimes]

Thanks for sharing this story- just so others who might be interested can find it easily, I'm moving it to the "vaping in public" area, rather than the new members' forum.

Leaving a redirect, so anyone who's been here before can find it.

Best,
SV

PS- I never liked wetherspoons- sanitized standardized pub experience, with minimally trained staff and mediocre food straight from the freezer....mumble grumble...

 

[MickeyRat]

this is just my opinion, but I believe just pulling out your Esmoke and using it where ever you please does more damage to the cause then good. I know its not smoke so therefore it doesn't fall under smoking laws, but theres far more uneducated people out there then educated people and the more its thrown into the faces of the uneducated the more resistant their going to be towards it. The question you have to ask yourself is, whats more important, being able to use your Esmoke where ever you please or being able to use your Esmoke at all. As we've seen in other countries and in some states now, our right to vape is in danger and I worry that the "Vape anywhere I want" attitude is going to be strikes against us in the long run!

I'm sorry but, this is only true if you believe that people that aren't acquainted with vaping will be offended. I've vaped openly in many places and in 4 states and I can say without a doubt this is rarely the case. In fact, I've never seen it. The much more typical reaction is, "Is that one of those ecig things? How cool!!! How does it work?" Restrictions are much more likely to be prevented if more people experience how inoffensive these devices are than by us acting like the restrictions are already in place.

That said, it's important that you don't look a lot like you're smoking. Don't use 510s or 808s in public. If you do, you probably won't get that reaction. People will just assume you're smoking. A funny color or light isn't enough to make a difference.

 

[offashead]

Yes I will post the response as soon as I get it. I agree that the abovementioned Manager was very smart, I would also have been pleased with this treatment, and would go back there. It doesn't matter how great the food or drink is, if the staff give you an unpleasant vibe in any degree you are unlikely to return, vaping or not!!!

Yes please report back on this... I have a taxi and have a sign in it reading.." Vaping welcome on these premises" now I know it's not a pub/club etc but it is my cab. The local council do not know I have the sign, but will when it goes for an mot check later next month. The sign is like a no smoking sign but green, I got this and more from vapourworld, I usually give them to pub/ club landlords where we play in the hope they put them up.

 

[DC2]

Yes please report back on this... I have a taxi and have a sign in it reading.." Vaping welcome on these premises" now I know it's not a pub/club etc but it is my cab. The local council do not know I have the sign, but will when it goes for an mot check later next month. The sign is like a no smoking sign but green, I got this and more from vapourworld, I usually give them to pub/ club landlords where we play in the hope they put them up.

I really like these...
No Smoking Window Decals

 

[accordioni]

Thankyou Taniger (-: Still - the incident on the UK M6 motorway yesterday involving a bus and someone using an e-cig fades my Wetherspoons incident into insignificance!! (-;

 

[accordioni]

Thanks. PS agree with your evaluation of Wetherspoons, I only went in there because the breakfast is ok, cheap, fast - it was my weekly "treat" for not smoking!!!!!

 

[accordioni]

Great idea