Driven off our Oktoberfest table by the waitress

This occurred in the Lowenbrau tent on Saturday around 1PM: we had gotten to the tent before 9 to secure a table in the free area, and we were having as good a time as one can if you start partying at around breakfast time. Suddenly around 1PM our friends (all not from Germany) got up and when I asked why, they said "The waitress said we had to leave the table is reserved." Suddenly the table was filled with a new bunch of German-speaking people who if I understood correctly bribed (geschmiert) someone to get them a table. I pointed to the siign on our (former) table and explained in German that this area is never reserved. I asked the waitress who said "Uhrzeit" I asked her exactly what she meant and she refused to answer. Then the security told us to move on so I asked them what was meant by Uhrzeit, that is how much time is allowed at a non-reserved table and they also refused even a polite explanation. Eventually the waitress herded us into another table filled with people who had also risen early to get to a table and were totally pissed for a while that we were foisted on them. Mean while my cousin and I, former New Yorkers, agreed that if it were up to us we would have stood our ground and not left.

Sometime latter on I complained to a Bavarian friend of mine who says this is a typical occurrence in the Lowenbrau tent; she had been there the night before sharing a mass with a friend and had been forced away by the waitress and swiftly replaced with a few Italians.

She says this sort of thing never happens at the Braurosl. Well..

Has this happened to anyone else? Have you ever just stayed knowing you were within your rights in a non-reservation zone?

I had a good time, but this i is totally bogus.

Did you consider going to the office (Büro) right there in the tent and asking politely for an explanation (giving the waitress' number at the same time)? Don't argue with the waitress or security, go straight to the top.

Then they would have just thrown you out.

I saw it happen to some Italians last year, they got a table early on. Then the waitress slapped a reserved sticker on it for some people she knew, the Italians did try to stand their ground, but once a few security guards showed up they realised they werent going to win the argument. I think at one point they asked to see the person in charge to which the waitress replied something to the effect of, "Where this table is concerned, I am the boss!".

You should have gone to see who had taken your table and then poured their beer over their heads.

Just one option.

You could still write a letter of complaint. They probably won't give much of a shit, but it might help achieve closure.

Not a tent I have ever been to, nor likely to ever visit after hearing this story. Vote with your feet!

and the bier is revolting too . .. Lowenbräu, no wonder that lion sounds like it's heaving!

My brother in-law went to a tent with a group of people from an office in Munich. They told him you did not need a reservation for a table. The group numbered around 30 people, the leader of the group hailed a waitress over, told her they all wanted to eat and to drink and wanted to stay until closing time. They gave her 50euros and she disappeared with security, found a table from which security removed the occupants and stuck a reserved sticker on it. She waved the other group over and they duly sat down at the now cleared table and stayed there until closing.

My brother in-law said to the leader of the group that he was suprised it was so easy. He replied that they do it every year. If the group is large enough, give the waitress 50euros to start with and you will get a table!

Does not seem very fair though it is profitable if you are a waitress.

Was that the Lowenbrau tent?

How many teeth are you missing?

Not sure I will ask him tomorrow.

Thix.

..maybe he was exagerating... never knew you could seat 30 people at on of those tables...

The bribing issue was in the local papers this week and is an issue beig taken up by the group that campaigns against dodgy beer measures.
The spokesperson of the ies#n Wirte, Toni Roiderer said shocked, that is a grounds for dismissal of staff but seemed to be removed from reality.

I dunno if I was just niave before but I've heard a lot more about bribing incidents recently from a few people, it doesn't even seem to involve huge amounts of cash, sometimes just 20euros which kinda leads me to believe it's pretty widespread, otherwise why would they risk their lucrative jobs for such a small amount?

Because the risk of getting caught taking bribes is so small and it is not just the bribe itself as the story above indicates but a heavy turnover to follow.