I'm going to make this as brief as possible and try to leave out the unnecessary details.

So I went to my local restaurant (that has a really good beer selection) on Sunday because they have American microbrew pints for $2-3. My girlfriend ordered a salad and I just ordered a side of fries, figuring my beers would constitute a sufficient bill. I asked for two beers and was served both with no questions asked. When I got my bill, however, I was charged $8 and $10 for each of the beers. I double checked with my server that they still had the pint special, and he said that I had been served "larges," so they could not be discounted. There's only a six ounce difference between the large and pint sizes and they're served in the same shaped glass so I never thought twice. Since I felt like the server intentially tried to upsell me since we didn't order any official entrees, I only left a 10% tip, even though I normally leave upwards of 30% or even 50+% on small bills.

Later on, I felt like I should have left the waiter a note saying that we aren't cheap tippers, but that our service sucked. It's too easy to chalk bad tips up to cheap customers and keep the shitty service the same. The restaurant has a feedback email address on their website so I emailed them telling them that I normally have a great experience there but that I didn't like how my waiter handled things in this situation. The general manager emailed me back saying they would send me a gift certificate for my troubles.

He asked what the server looked like and where I was sitting. Here is my exact response: "Our server was named John or Joe I believe -- he has longish black hair. I don't want to get him in trouble, however, because he has waited on us before and we have both commented how good our service was. He's extremely friendly and funny and knowledgeable about beer and what is and isn't on tap. It was only in this particular instance that our service was less than great with him" (which is true).

I got a reply to day that says:

"I will send it out today.FYI- We have terminated the server."

What the fuck? Do you think this guy is fucking with me? I appreciate him sending a certificate (I didn't expect one in the first place), but my $15 isn't worth this server, who genuinely seems like a good guy, getting fired. How should I respond to this?

Maybe they had other reasons to can him?

I doubt they terminated him over the one incident.

If they did actually terminate him, I'd venture to guess there's other shit involved that has nothing to do with you.

I would say either he was pulling your chain, or this guy has a history. Generally speaking, in none of my jobs in a restaurant would a manager just fire someone unless they had reason to. Some guy commenting via email wouldn't be enough. Heck, I'm surprised you even got a $15 g.c. Most of the time it would be a "I'm sorry" and a free appetizer or something.

I'm leaning more towards that this guy was probably on the verge.

yeah, i doubt anyone gets fired from comment cards/emails unless there appears to be an enormously consistent pattern of bad comments

if he was fired, your incident is just one in a history of events
or maybe dude's a dick to his coworkers and they needed an excuse

not yo fault dawg

fuck him. He probably likes String Cheese Incident.

also, 6 oz. isn't a small difference in beer sizes IMO

I agree. This guy probably had a list of grievances piling up. Your was merely the final straw.

i think you probably just sent a guy struggling to pay the bills and keep his head above water to the poor house. probably lost his girlfriend over this, repo dudes came and got his car. so now he is probably living at home with his aging parents, looking for work without any success, probably depressed and gaining weight.

invite him to obner

Do you feel like a rat now?

I'm sure this guy did nothing wrong...

I'm with those in the "meh, he deserved it" camp.

Cash in that gift card pretty quick, because if they let this dude go that easy, the place is going under.

terminated?

schwarzenegger style...not bale

If I had asked what the drink specials were, and then ordered one from the list, I would most certainly make sure I only paid the special price. If I was charged an extra $10 or more for drinks that should have only cost me $4-$6. I'd feel slightly bad that some person got fired over it, even if they were an absolute moron or complete asshole about the situation.
If I hadn't specifically asked about the specials or sizes, I'd be a little pissed at the guy, but mostly pissed at myself for going to a place that charges $10 for a pint of beer. It is situations like this that I am glad I live in Nebraska where only fancy Belgian beers and huge bottles of Great Divide/Rogue beers go for that price.

Too late now, you already felt the need to fuck with a guy's job over 10 bucks or whatever. You already stiffed him on the tip. I'd have left it at that. And, if it is a place you frequent, did you really not notice the giant beers you were getting instead of the typical size?

well DDR is an idiot, so....

Dude, fine out who he is, and where he lives....and fuck his girlfriend. Not much else you can do except maybe hit him with your car?

Did you confirm the existence of the "large" (probably actually an Imperial pint, which is 20oz or *4* oz. more than a pint)? Sounds to me like this guy was lying to you, pocketed the extra 15 bucks, and got caught.

Capital Ale House?

Were you at the downtown location? I haven't been in years (moved to MA in 04), but from what I remember, the service there sucks. You may have found the one good server there and got him fired. Awesome.

i agree with the majority here that the termination wasn't just for this reason, but there is also absolutely no reason for the GM to tell you that the dude is gone. does he think it'll impress you that he fired someone that you complained about, especially if you noted the guy had been fine in the past? i don't understand that at all.