Oldscratch, you’re right.
We can’t tip for shit. In Ireland, we dont have a mandatory tipping system. Its not that we don’t tip, its more that the onus is not upon us to tip. Full time Bar staff make well over minimum wage, but that is no excuse not to tip. Normally, We dont tip each drink in a club. If you’re lucky, we leave the change.
Normally, you do leave a tip in a Bar, and we tip lounge service pretty well.
But in a club…
Well there you have it. Several folks from other worlds have mentioned that tipping is uncommon in their area.
Why would you agree to work for tips? Aren’t you proud enough of you particular profession to demand a “living wage”?
I don’t begrudge a waitress a tip, but that is just because I have always been told that is the way it works. It isn’t right in my mind and I don’t like it.
If I take my family out for a meal, I would like to think that everyone I come in contact with is paid by the owner compensitory to their experience and ability. That is why I am willing to pay some of the outrageous prices I do.
I used to be married to a waitress and it was easy to tell what kind of a night she had when she got home. Hell, I could predict the kind of night she was going to have before she left for work. Generally a sunny personality will earn anybody good tips. I just hate it when anyone tries to tell me tipping is customary, especially for you bartenders that should just greatly appreciate my business. If I have to pay 20 percent more for my beer so be it. I’d rather deal with that rather than have you hanging around my space trying to ferret out a tip.
Service people UNITE!! Do not settle for inferior wages.
So, oldscratch, I can imagine you aren’t too terribly fond of Mr. Pink from “Reservoir Dogs,” are you?
I will not tip as a matter of some herd instinct. I tip for service. Period.
I do not tip for someone ignoring me when there are only 2 other people in the entire place.
I do not tip when, after ignoring me for several minutes, the bartender comes over and gives a sigh when I ask what is on tap, and rolls their eyes.
I am a HUGE tipper when I am treated right, esp if I am treated like a lady. I’ve given 100-200% tips when someone just seemed happy to see me as a customer, tried to make small talk, and pretended at least that they viewed me as a human being, not a “yuppie scum”. :rolleyes: ESPECIALLY when my tips when I’m on the road come out of an expense account - that means I don’t pay for them even! So if it doesn’t cost me anything, why not go hog-wild?
Because I will not tip someone who ignores me, sneers at me, treats me poorly, or essentially does nothing but take out a can of warm Diet Coke and slams it down in front of me, barking out “$3.50!” as they turn their back on me to continue watching the “Felchers versus the Goat Fuckers” play football on the bar TV, or flirt with another customer, or talk to their SO on their cell phone.
It doesn’t take much really - just treating me like a human fucking-being. I may be viewed as a Gen-X Yuppie because - horrors! - I’m wealthy and I dress conservatively. I have no idea what it is about that that really seems to set people off, especially since I’m almost always just the quiet little mouse in the corner.
I’m sorry to go off like this, but this same sort of thing just happened last night at the Hotel bar here, and this thread then conveniently appeared. And you have put this in the Pit.
Una (who has $20 on the “Goat Fuckers” by 8 points…)
For the record- I tip very well.
BUT- I was at an event this weekend at an establishment I had not been to before and was astounded at the “tip jars” all over. They had around 12 tall plastic cups labeled “tips” up and down the length of the bar- extremely tacky. I told the owner there that if they had that much trouble getting tips for the bartenders, maybe they should cater to a different clientelle or raise the drink prices and pass the money along to the bartenders. It was REALLY tacky.
and
I always just bet for the dealers to tip- I didn’t realize you could just tip the dealers outright. How do you do it? Say you wanted to give them each a nickle- who do you give it to? I just usually toss my bet and say “For the dealers”. I love being at a cheap table where no one else is doing that, because they usually yell something like “Thank you, Miss- a play for the dealer! Thank you very much” and make everyone else feel like cheap asses.
Zette - just posting this here, cos you’ve asked a question, so will probably see this:
What’s your sig all about? Is it a quote? Pretty scary reading…
in answer to number 1
no, tipping is not standard everywhere in the world…and the US is not the only nation that gives tips.
here in iceland we dont tip because the restaurant/bar/… includes tips in the wages. employees do not have to rely on tips to get by.
a pretty normal wage is $10 a hour or so…
minimum wage is something like $7 (but that depends on alot of things)
bj0rn - not everybody has got a car…
A while back a different group of poster’s tackled this same topic. Instead of repeating my comments here, I refer you back to this thread.
I hate having to tip. I hate that so many people in the food service industry have to rely on patrons for their pay. I hate that the quest for tips makes the servers in certain restaurants think they have to be my “friend” when all I want is efficient, courteous, unobtrusive service that enables me to enjoy a quiet dinner with my sweetie. I can’t count the number of times we’ve had a server sit at our table and chat while taking our order or waiting for it to come up. Don’t they have anything else to do?
I want restaurants to pay their staffs a decent wage - and I’m willing to accept higher menu prices to accomplish that. I also want restaurants to train their serving staff to be attentive, available, and anonymous. And while I’m dreaming, could we also look at the practice of asking me how everything is just after I take a bite?? Please?? But I digress…
I hate tipping…
Surely if you abolished tipping by increasing prices, you are introducing an automatic tip, even for people you don’t feel deserve it. Waiters can be as rude as they like and still get your money…
There was a restaurant in my town that tried to be a service-included place. It was supposed to be a nice, normal restaurant - not self-serve - with comparable food and level of service to other upscale, moderately expensive places. The servers were paid $10 per hour and the restaurant made it very clear to patrons that additional tips were not expected or encouraged.
The place tanked after about 18 months. The prices they had to charge to justify $10/hour wages were too expensive, and they couldn’t get any servers to work there for any meaningful length of time for that rate of pay.
Hey oldscratch, that club is supposed to be paying you an hourly rate! It doesn’t matter how much you make in tips, they still have to pay you.
I’m getting to this game a little late, but I want to add my piece.
If you want a tip from me;
Fill the damn glass. If I order a pint of beer, give me a pint of beer. Don’t give me the equivalent of a bottle in a pint size glass.
Don’t hate me because I don’t have boobs. Seriously. If it is a male bartender I can guarantee you that I will be served only after all the women have, even if I was there before them.
Don’t “help” me tip you. This is the one that I hate the most. If I have $5 change coming, give me a $5 bill. Or at worst a couple of $2 coins and a $1 coin. DON’T show up with 3 $1 coins and 8 f*cking quarters. I’d rather go make some phone call than leave it as a tip. And don’t tell me that you ran out of the appropriate change either.
If I get good service, I tip - and tip well. But I don’t feel obligated to tip someone because they got a raw deal with their employer.
Biffer,
It’s from a religious gag website about how masturbation is a mortal sin. Someone wrote in and told them it was a funny site, and that is the response they gave. I just thought it was amusing.
DITWDwho tips craps dealers and obviously has a seat reserved in heaven wrote
I do agree that bad service is regrettable. I do want to speak against the practice of penalizing someone for the price. The employees have no control over the price, if they feel it is unfair there may be occasions when they can reduce it. However, many times either their manager will be there, or maybe they are new and under scrutiny, or something of the like. Your policy is quite sensible though. My practice is to pay $4.50 -$5 per beer. If the beer is free, the server gets a $4.50 -$5 tip. If the beer is $2.00, a $3.00 tip. If $4.00, a $1 tip. And tipping for free refills, that’s quite nice of you Daniel.
For StephenG
ipping is standard everywhere in America. In other countries it varies. You’ve been educated now, so there is no further excuse. I do understand the plight of the college student. to which I recommend, if you can’t afford to leave a decent tip, either buy a case of beer and stay home, or don’t drink as much when you go out.
for Juniper200 I can’t speak for everyone, but truthfully it’s the thought that counts. I don’t know what you mean by change, but if it’s $.50 cents off a $4.50 drink, that’s better than digging around in your pocket for change. There’s something insulting about someone leaving dimes and nickels frankly. Just leave the extra change and you should be allright. And if you buy the bartender a drink every now and then, that’s appreciated too. But again, you should factor the tip in as part of the cost of the drink. Just as you must factor in sales tax when you buy groceries, if you don’t have enough for a tip and a drink, don’t get the drink.
The Stranger wrote
Thank you. You realise that this takes as much effort as anything else. While I’m getting you a glass of water, I’m ignoring some other customer and I and the bar are losing money. A tip is a very sensible procedure.
tatertot said
It’s considered average. If you do $1 on two drinks, that’s ok. $1 on three or four is stretching it. It also depends on the drink. Our beers are $4. I don’t expect anyone to tip more than a buck for a beer or a drink. I usually only give them $1 in change. Bottled beers are 3.50, in that case .50 or $1.00 is acceptable. I’ll also let it slide if you don’t tip me for bottled beers, redbull, or water (bottled or in a glass).
TwistofFate that’s ok. I accept it. I just understand that’s the way it is. At least you’re not as bad as some other Europeans. The one’s who don’t speak very good english, ask me to make drinks I’ve never heard of, (I’m sorry, I don’t speak Flemish, if you order a drink in Flemish I won’t know how to make it) get pissed when I don’t know how to make it, end up ordering some Byzantine american coctail afrter keeping me waiting for 10 minutes, and then don’t tip. I serve around 200 people a night. about 400 to 500 drinks in a 5 hour period (less on weekdays). Most of it coming in a block of three hours. I do not have time for you to figure out what you want.
and bare I know you mean well and all so I won’t flame you or insult you.
I will merely state that you really have no idea what you are talking about.
Snoo(oooo)ooopy… no.
Anthracite I understand where you are coming from. I always am courteous, friendly, and generally prompt with people. However, I still tip assholes (with one or two exceptions (the one being when I asked the guy for change, and he sneered at me '“what for”. Well it was to tip you, asshole, but I guess not now)). the way I see it, being an asshole still doesn’t give me a right to deprive him of his money. For all I know, he might have gotten evicted the other day and needs that money so he can get food for his three year old daughter. I don’t make assumptions about people. And maybe my tip will brighten his day so that another customer will get better service.
missbunny
The way it works is this. I don’t get paid a wage, and I don’t get any money taken from me. It works out in my benefit.
Muskoka9 wrote three sperate items that need addressing.
I agree. Although sometimes when it’s busy, or when the keg is gassy or when we have a new keg this is very hard to do. Take an extra step, if you want more beer, ask nicely if the server can top it off. Most will do so with no problem.
Yeah. that’s stupid. I have to say that attractive women are one of the ost annoying type of customers. STOP GRABBING AT MY DAMN HAND!!! I’m not going to serve you any faster. I’m going over to that ugly bald guy in the corner cause he tips more and he was here first. I’m not going to give anyone special attention because they are attractive. If they are nice and pleasent I will. Simple as that.
Why not? I’ve found i get better tips if I give people the change to tip me with. I’m not going to give you quarters. But, if you order a $4.50 drink and give me 10. I'll give you 5 ones and .50 back.
Wealthy being a relative term…
This thread just reminded me of a funny:
I was out once (pre marriage) and got a little tipsy. I got beer goggles on and went up to the bar to get another pitcher. I handed the bartender a $20 and said “You keep the change, hottie” or some other horribly embarassing phrase and winked at him. A week later (sober) I’m in the bar again. Right in front of my friends he gives me back $15 and says “I’m sure in the state you were in the other night you didn’t mean to tip me $15. Here ya’ go”. I about died of embarassment. My husband and I go in there still and the bartender loves to tell that story.
oldscratch, if you’re happy with your arrangement, then fine – but I still don’t understand how it’s to your advantage to get paid zero. What do you mean that you don’t have any money taken from you? Are you talking about taxes? Is this club compelling paid employees to return tips to the establishment (I don’t mean requiring bartenders to tip out barbacks or other staff or assist them; I mean forcing them to hand over tips to the management.) What happens when the club is slow? What if you have very few or no customers? You go in and set up/clean/break down the bar for nothing?
Oldscratch, like I said this was Memphis, and people aren’t real big tippers there, except for Elvis. I’d say I was lucky to get both extra dollars from an eight dollar tab. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a bar in the States, but I’d probably leave the bartendar $1.50 off a $3.50 drink. Less hassle, and makes it more likely that I’ll continue to get good service all night long.
How do you feel about somebody slipping you a twenty at the beginning of the night? I’ve heard it’s a good thing to do, but I don’t want to come across as smarmy or like I own you or anything. I’ve got mixed feelings about this one…
That’s supposed to be:
… other staff who assist them.
That’s right oldscratch
I hate it when all I get are large bills back on a small tab. If I have to ask you for change to tip you you are wasting my time.
I’ve been a regular at my Bar for about 12 years. One drink, $1. Two to four drinks, $5. Bartender that has been there for over 10 of those years, tickets to 2 to 4 sporting events per year. (Get’s to pick one Red Sox Game at the beginning of each year and the others as they become available.) And ussually something for the Holidays.
Actually not alot of money for the type of service I get when I’m there. Beer is always ready when I walk through the door. If I enter with clients, it is like he doesn’t know who I am unless I acknowledge him by name.
I love the place. This is a bartender that can carry a crowd with them.
Restaraunt/Bar employees can’t drink at this establishment. If I see one of them out somewhere else, I always make a point of buying them a round.
I call this enlightened self interest.