Remove the sign if it's not correct

I did a Flame Broiler shop recently. On the door there was a sign that said no public restroom. The sign was facing into the restaurant so it was not for the people on the outside it was for the people on the inside. I put in my report that there was no restroom. I was just told that the client rejected it because they checked with an employee and was told they do have restroom. Luckily I took a picture so I sent it to the MSC. I am so mad.

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Well hopefully that picture will save the shop.

Well...you have my sympathy, but generally speaking, customers are NOT considered "the public". I would have asked the server for the restroom.

Heck, even fast food shops in some places have signs "No Public Restrooms. Customers Only." Some even say "Paying Customers Only", LOL.

Good luck.

Well, considering that the sign was facing inside the restaurant for paying customers to see and not facing outwards for "the public" non-customers to see, I think the shop should be accepted. I do suppose it warrants asking where the restroom is for any shop in the future, though.

Sounds like the sign was just hung wrong and should have been facing outwards. I bet it will be switched soon.

I looked up public restroom and below is the meaning:
A public toilet is a room or small building containing one or more toilets and possibly also urinals which is available for use by the general public, or in a broader meaning of "public", by customers of other services. ...

@kenasch wrote:

Sounds like the sign was just hung wrong and should have been facing outwards. I bet it will be switched soon.

I double checked my pictures as i had to take one of the outside and the sign is also on the outside along with the inside.

I haven't done that shop (my husband does them), but I used to do a Waba Grill which had no restroom at one of the locations. Apparently, another shopper reported on a restroom at one point. The entire dining room was 15' x 15' at most. I ended up sending a video of the room. It's not as though you'd miss it.

I hope that they push it through for you.

It'd be nice if they accept that for you, but a shopper should always ask. You'd be surprised how many places that don't have a bathroom have a bathroom.

Missing obvious things is an important shopper skill. Normal customers miss things all the time. You can ignore the sign.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2020 06:20AM by 1cent.

Yes, I have been allowed to use the employee only bathroom because I asked about the restroom when I didn't see one. "We don't normally do this, but you seem like a nice lady. Let me walk you back." I just make notes about it being an employee only restroom and graciously accept their offer to allow me to use it. I can't imagine they count off if it's not pristinely clean if it's employees only.

I have one shop that usually is a delivery food job but every once in a while is required to order on site. The instructions include checking the restroom. When asked, the staff allow customers to used the only restroom on site but it's through the main kitchen next to the huge grills and is definitely not meant for customers. It's crazy walking inches from cooks throwing around pans with hot food and flaming grills of meat.

It's a restaurant. They have to have a bathroom for customers. How are people supposed to wash their hands before they eat??

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Thanks for all the feedback. Lesson learned (at least it wasn't a lot of money). I will ask in the future.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

It's a restaurant. They have to have a bathroom for customers. How are people supposed to wash their hands before they eat??

I'm not sure what the rules are here in CA, but not every place has a restroom. I'm thinking of Waba Grill, Subway, ...can't think of any others right now. Apparently, Flame Broiler as well.

I'm pretty sure it's code here, at least for places that have tables. I'm kind of surprised that it's not that way everywhere.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

It's a restaurant. They have to have a bathroom for customers. How are people supposed to wash their hands before they eat??

Restrooms are required where I live, as well. If an establishment offers a place for customers to sit down to eat on premises, they are required to offer a restroom.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

It's a restaurant. They have to have a bathroom for customers. How are people supposed to wash their hands before they eat??

As the discussion has revealed, "no public" is a polite way to say "only paying customers."

Further, if a bathroom has an Out of Order sign our job is to still ask if there is a bathroom available. Same if you just do not see one or even if they have a sign saying No Bathroom.

The client may just want us to observe how the associates respond regardless.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

@isaiah58 wrote:

As the discussion has revealed, "no public" is a polite way to say "only paying customers."

If you look it up online it means customers of other services.

I always ask when doing those gas station audits if they have a public restroom. I have to emphasize public not one that they will let me use but is not public.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

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Remove the sign if it's not correct

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