What happened to the "drink call" slot feature?

I'll be in Atlantic City at Harrah's this time next week, so hopefully that will be an indicator of how good or bad CET's "drink call" system is.

Admittedly, I'm not going in with high hopes in that sense. The whole idea of "let's automate drink ordering" and "that way we'll save XX% on our comp drink costs" sounds good at an annual meeting or in a statement to shareholders. But it isn't a substitute for real service, both in the way it feels, and in the mechanics of getting a new drink on the way. Say you're really into the game you're playing... do you really want to stop, press a few buttons, and get back into the zone for your drink to hopefully come eventually? Or would you rather have someone come around and ask what you'd like or if you'd like a refill where all you have to do is say "yes please"?

Truly discretionary cocktail service is one of many reasons I've grown to prefer non-corporate dive casinos in Vegas. To me it's a lot more seamless, personable, and likely to result in me having a drink in front of me when I want it.

 

The guy at the Rio who took the order on the tablet refused my tip!

 

Horseshoe Tunica still has it, and you can have a great morning/afternoon drinking there.

 

Me thinks it's a good system that hedges against the bums betting a nickel a spin.

 

The ones at the New Hard Rock in AC even take it a step farther. If you order a drink on a machine and want to move machines somewhere else before your drink comes. The lady sees where your card has moved and still brings your drink to where your currently at.

 

Horseshoe SI is using it. It wasn’t working last week and the bartender was asking the CWs to walk the patrons back to their machines so she could send the drinks out. Very strange, they walked up to the bar to complain about remote ordering being down but didn’t ask for a drink.

 

I had the same thing happen at the Linq when I tried to tip the girl with the iPad. She told me I only need to tip the girl delivering the drink. I also remember the Cromwell using iPads when they first opened.

Mark

 

I use the "order from your machine" feature extensively when playing at Harrah's New Orleans. It works like a charm there. I was in Harrah's Gulf Coast last week but did not notice if their machines had that option out on the floor. I played at the Stage Bar almost exclusively that day.

 

I remember when they rolled it out in AC. The cocktailers wore t-shirts that said, “Ask me how to get a drink!” The system wasn’t working all that well at first with lots of delays, so I finally did ask someone wearing the t-shirt how to get a drink and she told me, “Go sit at one of the bars!”

I didn’t really notice that it didn’t catch on in LV until this thread started. In those Caesrah’s casinos with Total Touch, I like that my usual orders come up under the “My Drinks” tab and that I can order right when I start playing.

 

I havent been to gulf coast in a lil while but they do not use the machine order drink system. they have the CW constantly coming by asking

 

For someone who declared the world had gone to shit because of a lack of adequate cocktail waitress service rounds and who spent their time craning your neck while playing looking to see if others were getting drinks, I think having a button below the playing screen that you choose your drink would be welcomed. You can also flag a CW down and request it verbally, but the more options to get your drink might stop you from ruining your trip fuming over such calamities.

 

To be clear, just because the button is there, doesn’t mean it’s going to work as simple as “Press > Select > Receive drink”. At least one other poster here had indicated they had been told they made a drink request too soon, seemingly due to time interval based restrictions.

My saying the world has gone to shit in my TR was clearly an exaggeration, but it’s a sentiment that I stand by at a level which is proportionate to the importance of getting drinks while gambling.

If the casino is understaffed, staffed with lazy servers, or if it has a strict comp drink limit policy, it doesn’t matter whether you order through the machine or a server... those limitations will taint cocktail service no matter how you do it.

 

@notfromconcentrate I think you will find the system is really what you make of it. The time thing has never been an issue in dozens of trips and when I am playing and drinking I order very fast, like the drink arrives and I order another. The only complaint I have is that the options for drinks don't get very specific. You don't get to choose your fruit for instance, I like Grey Goose and Club with a lemon but can't request lemon, I usually get lime the first time and then alert the cocktail waitress. If you want something specific there is a call server button and you can be as specific as you want, but that will not end up in the ordering system.

I saw earlier you will be Diamond due to match which is nice because top shelf liquors will be automatically comped on your screen. I'm not sure what your liquor choices are but they typically offer crown royal and makers on the whiskey front, Belvedere and Grey Goose on vodka, and shots of patron.

In the early mornings( before 10 am) they are short staffed and so it can take a bit, but the progress is tracked from order placed to prepared to on its way and you can cancel if you don't like the wait.

The drink system and its efficiency and effectiveness is one of the biggest reasons we stay at CET properties in AC and one the things we miss most in LV

 

I was the poster that mentioned that my DW was told she ordered 'too fast'. This was in Harrah's A/C. I don't think it had anything to do with any monitoring of the system at all. The CW in question was surly to begin with. We were in her section for a while and on almost every drink she delivered it appeared she wanted to be anywhere but the casino floor. In fact when she mentioned this to my DW the person sitting right next to me mentioned that she had a poor attitude.

We've made several trips to A/C and I personally love the system. Drinks are definitely delivered at a consistent speed and yes you have to take a break to order the drink but I find that it actually is nice to stop spinning for a few minutes. In addition we have ordered drinks that we normally wouldn't have. To each their own entirely but I've always thought it was a good option. Others may see it differently.

 

I think you'll like it. It beats sitting there craning your neck all over the casino floor looking for a CW to flag down, especially on a huge casino floor like Harrah's AC. Talk about interrupting your play!

It takes a minute and the screen will tell you when your order is in and when it's on the way. I've never waited long. I view it as a big improvement over the old system.

 

Glad to hear that they still have it. I have not visited in about 4-5 years, but I loved ordering drinks this way! No need to flag down or catch a cocktail waitress's eye to order a drink. At some CET properties (Harrah's Las Vegas, for one) I have played for an hour before ever being able to order a drink!

 

I use it in AC and it's fine. One problem is that sometimes I'd like a bottle of water too. Usually when the CW comes I tell them I want a water too. The other is if you want something not on the menu. It's a pain to try to figure out a substitute. Example: I like a Tito's and cranberry. It's not listed - I end up ordering a Cosmopolitan.
One thing really good about it is that you don't have to flag down a waitress. Certain times like mornings they're scarce.

 

If you push the call server button, they will come and take your order and explain how to get them to keep bring it to you. I like my whiskey with diet coke (gotta save calories somewhere lol) but they don't offer Crown and diet on the screen. They offer Jim and Diet, or Jack and Diet etc. When I ordered crown royal neat on one machine and a diet pepsi on the other the waitress brought both and explained that now that she knows what I want if I press call server instead of an order she would bring it. Obviously if you change machines frequently then it becomes a PITA to keep explaining to the waitress what you want, but no harder than waiting for one to take your order and bring it back.

I may try it this coming trip with some higher end liquors not listed on the screen and will report back.

ETA:

They don't typically comp titos if you're not Diamond and up at CET AC

 

Thanks Alexm - I never noticed a call server button. I'm a 7* so I get pretty much anything I want. I never get anything fancy plus I don't drink much alcohol while I'm playing. I play VP and like to minimize stupid mistakes which I would make (and have) if I drink too much.

 

As a cet regular in ac I love this drink system. Drinks come faster than I can finish them and you don’t have to keep an ear out for the sweet sweet siren song “cocktails?? Cocktails??”