I joined the VFW mainly because they have a nice pool table that I can play on during lunch. I went in, asked all the pertinent questions about the table (in terms of things such as availability, do I need to purchase food to play, etc.). Content with the answers I received, I paid my $25 fee and was given a card indicating membership.
Now, the problem. I go in Friday at lunch and the bartender comes over and tells me that a group of men come in every Friday to play and that I'll have to leave when they show up as "they have kind of a reservation". I then asked, "Oh ok. So I can reserve the table for other times?" She responded, "No. You can't reserve the table. But, they're 4 people and they buy lunch." (In other words, they spend more money than you, so you need to go away.)
Ok. At least 2 problems I can see here: 1) How is it that these 4 men have carte blanche to "kind of reserve" the table if it can't be reserved, and 2) if it can't be reserved, what business is if of hers (the bartender) to police who's on a table that can't be reserved?! Her business is behind the bar. I'm sure that when the guys showed up, we could have worked out an agreement. Maybe, I leave. Maybe, I join them. Who knows?
The bottom line is that it's extremely rude and unprofessional to effectively imply to a paying customer that other paying customers have special rights not enjoyed by all. If they have some sort of nepotistic thing going on here, then fine. Tell me before hand, and I won't join. But it's poor business to take my money and then tell me after the fact that there are two sets of rules.
Ok. It's a measly $25, but it's the principle that counts here. I planned my lunch hour on this, and now have no time to go anywhere else to eat or shoot some stick. I'm definitely going to complain as loudly to the highest levels I can to get my $25 back and to ensure that others know about how these people conduct business. read more