Hey, Waiter! Just How Much Extra Do You Really Expect?

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Maybe, however as a customer here in the U.S. I get the impression I am expected to fork over a tip regardless of the quality of service. Fer cryin' outloud even drive thrus have a tip jar sitting in the window.

Don't get me wrong I do take note of service and compensate accordingly. But I refuse to tip because someones thinks they don't get paid enough. If that's the reason then they should quit and seek employment elsewhere.

If every waiter quit and got a job elsewhere, who would wait tables? Some people, especially in this job environment, cannot get another job. Waiters make $2.13 an hour, as they are expected to make up the rest in tips.

I agree with you that everyone with their hand out doesn't deserve a tip. I cross out the tip section of the receipt at my local sandwich shop where I get takeaway lunch. But an actual waiter or bartender? 20% standard. Less if they screw up, more if I feel like they did a good job.

If someone can't afford to tip or has some kind of ethical stance against it, then they should stay at home.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Waiters make $2.13 an hour, as they are expected to make up the rest in tips.

And they have to file taxes based on expected tips, not what they actually get.

I agree with you that everyone with their hand out doesn't deserve a tip. I cross out the tip section of the receipt at my local sandwich shop where I get takeaway lunch. But an actual waiter or bartender? 20% standard. Less if they screw up, more if I feel like they did a good job.

I also hate the 'tip jars' on the counter at just about every fast food place I frequent.

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

I have my favorite haunts to eat at: Dot's, Emma's Tex Mex Grill, Busy Bee. The waitresses there know and love me, cause I take care of them. A happy waiter/waitress is part of the dining experience.

After our Thursday 'Game Nights' we always go to the same Denny's. The night waiter there likes us and takes good care of us, and we make sure he is amply rewarded for his excellent service.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

After our Thursday 'Game Nights' we always go to the same Denny's. The night waiter there likes us and takes good care of us, and we make sure he is amply rewarded for his excellent service.

Yeah. If a guy cannot tip at least 10%, eat at home. Or McDonald's.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Yeah. If a guy cannot tip at least 10%, eat at home. Or McDonald's.

Here in Utah it seems to be a tradition to see who can tip the least.

I always start at 20%, then round up to the nearest whole dollar. And I'm dirt-poor.

[McBeck]

Me and my wife travel all over the world and I go to India as a part of my job, so I always take great care in finding out what the local tipping policy is before I go.

However, as a standard I only tip if I get waited on. I don't tip places where I drive up to a window and get it over the counter.

If I get waited on and the service is either non-existing or very poor, then I dont tip. Ex: I went to a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown in SF. The service was extremely poor and borderline rude. When I got my change back, I didn't leave any for tip and the lady looked at me and pointed to the bowl yelling "TIP-TIP!!" I replied "I don't think so..." and left with her curses in Chinese trailing me.
That being said - If I get a good service, I will tip well!

[mookiemookie]

And interesting and potentially provocative question - are black folks truly worse tippers, or is it a sort of self fulfilling prophecy where the server expects to be stiffed, thus offering subpar service that one wouldn't tip for in any case?

My experience, along with that of friends in the service industry say it's the former, and not the latter. Of course you can't make a blanket judgement and say ALL black folks are lousy tippers, because they're not, but there certainly seems to be something to the stereotype.

[Gerald]

Giving tip I do, whether it is not included, you get service and think it is reasonable so it is natural to give, and in many countries, where it is known that they do not have high wages

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by Vendor

Giving tip I do, whether it is not included, you get service and think it is reasonable so it is natural to give, and in many countries, where it is known that they do not have high wages

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

If every waiter quit and got a job elsewhere, who would wait tables? Some people, especially in this job environment, cannot get another job. Waiters make $2.13 an hour, as they are expected to make up the rest in tips.

I agree with you that everyone with their hand out doesn't deserve a tip. I cross out the tip section of the receipt at my local sandwich shop where I get takeaway lunch. But an actual waiter or bartender? 20% standard. Less if they screw up, more if I feel like they did a good job.

If someone can't afford to tip or has some kind of ethical stance against it, then they should stay at home.

Again. What he said.

[Gerald]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Again. What he said.

You have the answer in your hand,

[Armistead]

I can remember as a teen getting paid like a $1.25 and tips made up the amount to min. wage, about $2. something then. What sucks then I waited the front table, most waited 5. All tips went into a bin and were split with all employees except the cooks....and we worked our arses off.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I can remember as a teen getting paid like a $1.25 and tips made up the amount to min. wage, about $2. something then. What sucks then I waited the front table, most waited 5. All tips went into a bin and were split with all employees except the cooks....and we worked our arses off.

A lot of states now have laws against tip pooling with managers or other regularly salaried employees. But I would wager that many employers do it anyways, as they're counting on servers and bartenders not knowing the law or not wanting to rock the boat.

[tater]

My standard tip is a rough 20% I round to nearest whole buck, usually, sometimes down, but never below 15% unless the service stinks (and I know many in the restaurant business, and know the difference between the front and back problems wise, so I only down tip for bad SERVICE, not problems in back).

Places we go a lot I will sometimes buy drinks for the kitchen, too. Do that and you get treated very well indeed.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by tater

My standard tip is a rough 20% I round to nearest whole buck, usually, sometimes down, but never below 15% unless the service stinks (and I know many in the restaurant business, and know the difference between the front and back problems wise, so I only down tip for bad SERVICE, not problems in back).

Places we go a lot I will sometimes buy drinks for the kitchen, too. Do that and you get treated very well indeed.

Again What he said

[August]

Originally Posted by tater

My standard tip is a rough 20% I round to nearest whole buck, usually, sometimes down, but never below 15% unless the service stinks (and I know many in the restaurant business, and know the difference between the front and back problems wise, so I only down tip for bad SERVICE, not problems in back).

That's pretty much my standard too, although at breakfast joints i'll usually tip the waitress about 100% since the meal is so cheap and waiting that meal is hard work.

Places we go a lot I will sometimes buy drinks for the kitchen, too. Do that and you get treated very well indeed.

I've never heard of anyone doing this before. Do restaurant owners tend to be ok with it?