I Can't Complain

I was just reading on another board on here about Frank and Elle's bad experience at a restaurant.  They complained about the service (rightfully so!), but it brought up a question in my own mind.

The thing is.. I've noticed that when I'm in England, I absolutely HATE to complain about poor service, be it at a restaurant, movie theatre, grocery store, or anywhere else.  Even in America, I wouldn't usually make a fuss or complain or send an order back, just because I'm so passive and a pushover.  But even moreso in England.  I attributed it to the fact that I don't want to be seen as the "pushy American."  I feel that if I do rightfully complain, it'll most likely be ignored and dismissed the second they hear my accent.  Does anyone else feel this way or get a bad reaction?  Maybe I'm just weird and need to grow a backbone  

Ditto me, in every way.

As a rule, whether in the UK or the US, I really only complain if I think it will get a result.  Otherwise, it's just spouting off and doesn't really accomplish anything - doesn't even make me feel better.  But if I think that a manager will really take notice or that it will alter something about the experience in a positive way, then I speak up!

the attitude here in England seems to me to be "take what you are offered and like it...   just be glad you are getting anything at all."   i am not a big history buff, but it seems to me that this attitude has been ingrained into the English from the days of war, when food was rationed, etc...  

it seems like people are expected to be thankful for whatever food/service they are offered, with no questions asked.  thats where the English "politeness" screws you today, IMO.  i can totally understand that way of thinking, but i don't agree with it.  thats just me, and my spoiled "American" ways, i guess.

if i buy a £5 hamburger in England (which is almost $10 US, with the current exchange rate    bloody hell!), i expect it to be a really f-ing good burger...  if its not, i will definetly say something...

also, the food industry sucks here, in my opinion, compared to the states.  not that ALL of the food sucks, but the quality of service is properly lacking at most restaurants, probably due to the fact that English people don't tip for good service here.  jeesh... how can they afford to?  :-/

I used to be the same way but GLenn has changed my ways about that.  And yes most brits dont complain either, but since Glenn used to be a chef he will not tolerate bad cooked food.

My fiance informed me that "the British don't complain, ever."  He must have been more motified than I even was when we were at a fancy french restaurant with my father and my father asked to move tables because the phone was ringing right next to us.  They refused to let us move even though the restaurant was empty!  So he asked them to move the phone, which they couldn't do, so he asked the woman behind the bar if she would not have personal conversations on the phone while we could overhear.  I was embarassed because it was my dad, but my fiance must have just been ready to cover his face!

Now that I know its not polite to complain, I know that I will mostly keep it to myself, though we did return a meal at a pub once because the middle was still cold and they just rewarmed it.  I think we thanked them a million times for being so kind as to give us hot food.

The only exception to this that I have come across is in the small Indian restaurant I go to in Downtown Coventry - best service I've ever had in ANY country, and the food is pretty good too.

Any similar experiences?

As a rule, whether in the UK or the US, I really only complain if I think it will get a result.  Otherwise, it's just spouting off and doesn't really accomplish anything - doesn't even make me feel better.  But if I think that a manager will really take notice or that it will alter something about the experience in a positive way, then I speak up!

I'm with Peedal in that I'll usually only complain if it seems worth it...or I'm particularly peeved off about it and feel they should know.  Luckily, my husband will also complain about things...even more than me!  

Oh, I wouldn't say that the British don't complain.  The British LOVE to complain.  Complaining is a national pasttime.  There are even television shows DEVOTED to complaining.  And I work in a resturant and believe you me, people do not have a problem making complaints-legitimate and otherwise.  

And by the way, Angel, where on earth are you spending £5 on a burger?  

We haven't had many problems up here in Glasgow - once in awhile the service is a little slow, but otherwise they're really nice.  We've had some truly EXCELLENT meals, and others that....well, weren't so great.  And just the day before yesterday we asked to move tables because the cigarette smoke from the table across the little divider was coming right over into the non-smoking section and hanging about our table. No problem with moving. Crazy how they put a smoking and non-smoking section right next to each other and think that a 3-foot high divider makes a difference. And you walk through a cloud of smoke at the front of the restaurant to get to the non-smoking section.  

You know.. the worst experience I've had a restaurant was in Shropshire.  It was the mexican food place I've mentioned in past threads...  I didn't complain.  In fact, I didn't want to complain that time.  It was so bad it was comical.  They knew the service was terrible and the food wasn't much better.  When it was time to pay the bill, they asked if I enjoyed it.  I was truthful, but entirely polite.. explaining that to a mexican from the Southwest US, it was never going to be as good in England.  The woman smiled and laughed genuinely, then asked me in all seriousness if I'd be interested in a head chef's position.   I had to turn it down, but in that specific instance.. it was actually so bad that it was amusing.  And had I been able to accept the invitation, could've landed me a decent job!