Above average service will get you a healthy tip in this country.
Okay, I’m probably going to get a LOT of hate replies for this, but as a former waitress (read: 8 hours ON feet, NOT riding around in the comfort of a car with MY choice of musi,c sans idiot customer’s ciggys in my face), I do NOT tip delivery people on the same par as I would actual SERVICE people.
And it’s NOT cuz I’m “cheap”. It’s a matter of principle. Again,read description above. Wait staff work HARD for their money. Delivery is MUCHO cushy by comparison.
Plus, TIPS means (or used to in the days of dinosaurs) To Insure Prompt Service. An hour, to me, isn’t prompt, plus delivery guys don’t do more than drop it off at your door, again,from the comfort and privacy of their vehicle, whereas wait staff are there for a customer’s every need.
They, delivery people, get 5-10% from me as opposed to the 15-25% tips I pay wait staff at restaurants.
Actually, TIPS does not mean “To Insure Prompt Service”. It’s another one of those acronym-themed urban legends.
Wrong-o. Let’s try a little logic with our math, shall we?
Your 17% is based on the FOOD plus the TIP. Which means that you are taking 20% off the TIP. Did your food arrive any less hot then if you had NOT had a discount? Was the service any less friendly, or your drink filled any less often? Then WHY are you adding the tip to the pre-discounted total, getting $115, and taking 20% off of THAT to get your total? If the service was bad, then tip based on that. The $20 difference between $95 and $115 is based on the pre-discounted meal price, thereby making it a 20% savings on the meal.
When being patronizingly WRONG, you should probably get your head out of your ass before blindly running numbers.
As for doreen, let me get this straight: you’re not complaing about the discount sincero at all, you’re complaining about tipping being based on a meal percentage, right? That’s just the way the system works. Why should I pay more TAX on a shirt that’s $100 than a shirt that’s $20? Because it’s the way it is. Now, I can disagree with sales tax, but that doesn’t entitle me to NOT pay it.
Because you’re NOT just tipping for bringing the food from the kitchen to the table. See Server Law #1. That’s what you’re tipping for, SERVICE. And the level of service given to you at a restaurant is usually based on the menu prices. The difference between a chicken dinner and a filet mignon at the high-end restaurant I work at is $6. 15% of 6 is .90. If someone undertips me a DOLLAR, I’m not going to bitch about it. So go ahead, feel free next time you order a steak to substitute the lowest priced entree into the meal and figure out how much the difference is. Because I think we’re quibbling literally about pennies here.
Now, if I have one table that is getting apps, drinks, entrees, and desserts, you best believe that I am assuming they are out for a real dining experiance. As opposed to the people just passing through who just want a salad and soup. People A are gonna get GREAT service, because it’s evident from what they ordered that they are in a restaurant NOT only to eat food, but to be waited on. People B are defiantely going to get their food in a timely manner, they’re drinks are going to get refilled and all, but I’m not going to TRY and anticipate their needs.
I just thought of another question. As I understand what’s already been said in this thread, the employer basically has to pay staff the minimum wage less 15% - the presumption being that staff will receive enough tips from customers to bring their wages up to minimum wage level.
Here, at least, Mondays and Tuesdays are traditionally slow nights in the restaurant and bar industry. If I worked an 8 hour shift on a Monday night in the US and only served 2 customers, my tips probably wouldn’t work out to 15% of the minimum wage for 8 hours. Would the employer be required to make up the difference - thus ensuring that I received the minimum wage for that particular shift - or would I just end up with his 85% plus my tips?
FTR, a friend of mine is a bartender. She earns roughly $AUD per hour no matter whether it’s a busy or a slow night at work. On an average Friday or Saturday night, she brings home upwards of $70 in tips - THAT’s her motivation for providing excellent service.
ugggh - take two
She earns roughly $AUD20 per hour no matter whether it’s a busy or a slow night at work.
YES, for the record, I was misunderstood completely concerning the Eight Dollar Man. I don’t expectanyone to hand me money the moment they sit down…but if you do, you might as well do it right or you wasted your time.
CONCERNING DISCOUNTS/COUPONS/ETC:
The only restaurant I ever worked for that ran coupons knew that they attract notoriously cheap, annoying people, so they included the pre-discount gratuity on the final check. Anybody lame enough to go out to a restaurant they can’t really afford b/c of a discount or coupon, and then under-tip the server because their ticket is lower than it would have been normally, is a shitty person, period. There are lots of you. shrug Doesn’t make you right. Get over yourself. A coupon is not a “get out of jail card” for being a crappy, unappreciative patron.
Ditto for the whole $100 bottle of wine…such things are normally only served at fine-dining restaurants, so the kind of moron looking for the “non tipping loopholes” doesn’t belong at such a place, and probably won’t ever end up there anyway. Anybody who has to worry about whether or not they can afford/should be required to tip 15% on that bottle of wine SHOULDN’T ORDER IT, for God’s sake. Same thing applies to the Spotted Owl Testicles. What the fuck are you doing ordering them if you can’t even afford to tip on them? Geez. It amazes me how anybody can be so shameless as to hunt for a reason why they shouldn’t have to tip on an item after it reaches a certain price. If you’re that worried about it, don’t order it. Nobody needsexpensive wine or spotted owl testicles…:rolleyes:
This isn’t about the taxes. Any restaurant patron who’s such a crappy tipper that their server ends up owing extra at the end of the night isn’t going to tip any better if they know their server has to pay taxes the patron didn’t know about. This patron doesn’t belong in a restaurant where service is expected, because they really don’t think they should have to pay for it, and they’re just looking for reasons not to.
The bottom line here is that all the smug assholes who are looking to physics for a reason to make waiting tables look easier than it is haven’t ever done it. The bigger the table is, the bigger the nightmare…and if you don’t believe this is true, why do you think so many restaurants have automatic gratuities on larger parties? It isn’t to protect the server’s taxes…it’s to prevent people with this cheap attitude from running a server’s ass off all night, and then not tipping them for it. Just because, on a large tab, the tip starts to look like “too much money” isn’t a valid reason not to fork it over. That’s just you being cheap. If you’re stuck with a $500 tab, and you can’t afford the $75 gratuity, then maybe you shouldn’t have offered to pay the damn tab. Your lack of funds isn’t the server’s fault.
Finally–
Tipping comes down to respect for other people and what they’re doing for you. It’s the same reason you have your deposit slip in order at the bank, the reason you hang up the clothes you tried on before giving them back to the salesgirl, the reason you give the mailman cookies every Christmas, the reason you put something back where it belongs once you’ve decided against buying it, the reason you’re polite to the girl at the check-out counter even when she misrings something…
You shouldn’t have to know what hard work waiting tables is. You should have enough respect for the person doing it to assume, and enough honesty to realize that they’re doing a job you wouldn’t/couldn’t do nearly as well as they are. People who go through life assuming that, because someone takes a certain job, they just “deserve” whatever they get, have absolutely no respect for anyone. This is a shitty person, however you slice it. Step out of your box and have a little appreciation, for God’s sake. It won’t kill you.
Technically, I guess so. In the 5+ years I waited tables at my restaurant, this never happened. Slow nights were just slow nights and the managers cut as many people as possible early so the remaining servers had full sections.
The only time I ever remember getting minimum wage were:
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Monthly Saturday morning employee meetings where we didn’t wait on tables.
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Training new employees, teaching them the menu, the computer etc and I didn’t wait on tables.
Everything else, from opening early and doing an hour of work before customers showed up, to rolling 100 silverware before you left, to a slow 4th of July where I had two tables the whole night was 2.13.
Audrey Levins, I’m sure I’m in a minority position here, but by saying
you’ve made me very glad that I don’t drink, and have done much to ensure that I will leave a small tip if I ever do order an alcoholic drink in a bar.
I don’t want my server sneaking extra alcohol into my drink. I don’t want there to be any doubt in my mind as to how much alcohol I was getting. One reason why I do not drink is because some other members of my family do not hold their alcohol well – I’m talking people who pass out if they have three drinks. If I ordered two drinks I’d expect two standard one-drink doses of alcohol, not one standard followed by a double because I’d been generous with my first tip.
Now, if when giving my tip I’d indicated that I would not be opposed to a little something extra then that would be one thing, but I certainly don’t want to end up passing out on my way to the bathroom just because I’d shown my appreciation to a friendly server by giving her a nice tip.
The server was either cool with it or played along, but did Steve know that ahead of time? It was an insulting and offensive thing to do, and I think that MOST wait staff would have been pissed off (rightly) had they been the server at that table.
I have to agree with most other here who think that Steve’s little stunt was tasteless and tacky.
Servers also have their dignity. Such treatment is demeaning. If I were a server (I’ve never been one) I would have ignored Steve and given him minimal but acceptable service. Screw his damn “fluctuating percentage” bullshit.
One of my sisters, while being a fine human being in most ways, has never had any kind of dead end or “service” kind of job, and I think this lack of experience contributes to her somewhat shitty attitude. I swear, I know she has had spit in her food. She is not a total bitch (not that I’ve seen) but her impatience and lack of understanding are obvious. I see some of that here, too.
Well Diane, as I alluded to earlier:
a) I haven’t worked in the restaraunt industry for about 10 years.
b) I never did anything nasty to anyones food, ever.
However, that being said, you’re moral outrage doesn’t really amount to a hill of beans. Assault or not, it happens. If you don’t want it to, don’t be a jerk to your server.
It’s fine that only patient, kind people should go into the business, unfortunatly, it’s not reality. You want clean food - don’t be a jerk. It’s really quite easy.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Avumede *
Actually, TIPS does not mean “To Insure Prompt Service”. It’s another one of those acronym-themed urban legends. [/B***********************************
Well, that’s what we were told by management when I started waitressing back in 19Cough,ahemmm,
You’ve GOT to be kidding. Anyone with that kind of attitude has no business working in a service industry.
I’m not complaining about the discount scenario, exactly. I’m complaining about the combination of the discount scenario (the justification for which rests on equal work whether it’s full price or discounted) along with the percentage rule. Either one alone, I have no problem with. My problem is when you want it both ways- people should tip whichever way the server gets more money. Equal work, more expensive food- tip as a percentage of the bill. Equal work, discounted food - tip as a percentage of what the bill “would have been” To use your shirt example, I don’t mind paying more tax on a $100 shirt than a $20 shirt, but if the $100 shirts are buy one get one free, I am not going to pay tax on the $200 non discounted price for two shirts when I only paid $100 for them.
Blah blah, woof woof.
Diane: she’ll fight to be as rude as she wants to be, no matter how people behave with her.
She is bitch monster, hear her roar.
Congratulations, we have achieved lunacy.
Where to start parsing the bullshit?
Bust their ass for me??? How’s about serving me my food fairly warm, not spitting in it, and topping off my glass once an hour. That hardly constitutes ass busting, in fact it’s your fucking job! What is busting your ass? Breathing on my fork and polishing it on your sleeve? If in my opinion you do your job in an efficient and courteous manner, then you are entitled to a tip.
**
Yep, life ain’t fair, but I’m not the one bitching here. I don’t want to be treated like a VIP, I expect you to do your fucking job. which comprises serving my food, nothing more nothing less. You want to exceed the parameters of your job and spoon-feed me, maybe you’ll get a nice tip, got it?
Because it’s your job!
**
Good, then they get fired. I’m sure there are plenty of people who need jobs that would gladly fill their shoes, and offer better service. Ain’t capitalism great?
I don’t care how the fuck you dice it, you aren’t entitled to shit, you’re simply doing your job. Wake up and realize that.
And don’t give me that weak ass tightwad BS, when I get decent (yes thats right just decent) service I’m a 25% tipper.
Thats all some of us want. Save the sunshine for the table tipping $150 and give me my fucking food saliva free.
World Eater have you ever been a server? Because sometimes just to get back to a table to refill their drinks can seriously be a freakin nightmare. Running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off is how I felt during the peak hours. When I waitressed I would go up to a table and ask “Would you like a refill?” and when they would say no it was a brief moment of enormous relief. Same thing when they said no about dessert. Despite adding to the amount of the overall bill, I wouldn’t get any more of a tip. Where I worked (at one of those chain restaurants that shall not be named) people just plucked down a rounded $1 or $2 per person. Or a bunch of change.
The general public as a whole sucks major ass.
oops meant to add
The general public as a whole sucks major ass. People in restaurants are rude and often act like a server is their personal hired help to bark orders at and treat with disrespect.