Common Sense: Eating Out (1258 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.09 on 94 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Rawrg (View user info) at 2006-08-01 07:00:12 EDT
Tipping is a very touchy subject for a lot of people because while it's not required, it's a server's primary form of income. This isn't meant to make anyone feel bad, rather to enlighten them of a few things. This is also how I conducted myself in a restaurant long before I was a server.
Server facts.
A lot of people are under the misconception that servers make anywhere between minimum wage and 10 dollars an hour, and that tips are just icing on the cake for them. Most servers make between 2 and 3 dollars an hour. Their hourly wage rarely covers much more than the tax on the income that they report (which is usually about 50-80% of what they really make) so your tip is our income. This is true at places like sonic, and pizza delivery, but not at restaurants.
Server attitudes towards customers.
If you don't feel like tipping, or in many cases, ordering more than a 6 dollar entree you split with your other guest and a couple of glasses of water, McDonalds is right down the street. Stop wasting our time, we've got paying clientele to serve. By walking into a restaurant and sitting down, you have as much an obligation to be a good customer as the restaurant has to serve you well :) Good customers come in to pay well for good service and good food, not to split a chicken salad and then have the nerve to ask for a 10% senior discount on top of that.
What it's like being a server.
In most restaurants, a typical section is 2-3 tables and the average customer turnaround is about 45 minutes to an hour. Those tables are rarely full for more than 2 hours out of that server's shift. Also, most servers pay out between 2-5% of their sales to the hosts/bartenders for bussing tables and fixing drinks. Do the math, 10% doesn't cut it, because usually around 3% is gone already.
Also, a lot of the work done in the restaurant by servers, goes unnoticed. Servers roll silverware, stock stations, expo (prepare for presentation) food, bus tables, etc, all the while getting $2 an hour for it.
How you should tip (no, this isn't some subjective personal custom you should come up with on your own, this is how you should tip)
20% is considered the norm for good service. Your drinks were always full, your server was often available for you to give them a look, and they didn't bother you throughout the whole meal (common bad habit of new servers) with constant questions.
15% is if the server dropped the ball somewhere, but didn't neglect you. Maybe your drinks went dry for more than 2 minutes, or they might have slipped up and forgot to bring out that extra sauce you asked for and you had to remind them once. It's ok, the servers know when they screwed up, and they feel bad when they do. They know what they deserve and won't take it personally.
10% is when the service was weak and the server wasn't all there, and anything below is sending a real message that the server needs to do better next time.
And one last thing on tipping, think about what an extra dollar or two is to you. Nothing if you just blew $50 dollars on a meal. What if every customer dropped an extra dollar or two? That can change a server's $50 night to a $80 night. If you're trying to watch your budget by tipping low or dining budget style when you go out to eat, just go to the store and eat at home. We're in the business to make money, not to stand idly by while you exploit the specials and be a cheapskate.
Seperate Checks
If you request seperate checks, you should increase your tip a bit because it takes us a long time to break everything out and ring in people's cards/make change for more people at a table, and that's time we're neglecting our other tables, for you. It is considered typical to add at least a dollar or 5% of your check to your tip, whichever is more.
"My server didn't bring out our food. Obviously he isn't paying attention to us!"
Just because your server doesn't drop off your food doesn't mean they're lazy, it means they're running someone else's food off the line that got there first. In most restaurants, when food is done, it gets run immediately by the next available server in the kitchen.
Big Tops
Don't think that because you ordered $100 worth of food means that 10% is ok because 10 dollars sounds big to you. Servers tip out based on sales and that's $100 worth of entree plates we bring out, clean up and drinks we keep filled. Big tables are a monstrous work load and take up a lot of our resources.
"I don't want to sit here, can I sit over there?"
If you requested to be sat in a different section than the host seated you in, be prepared to wait. There's a seating rotation to allows servers time to take drinks and food orders (about 5-7 minutes per table). What you're doing is causing a "double-seat" which means someone is going on the backburner because there's only one of us. All we ask is that you understand when we let you know "It'll be just a second folks."
The late night crowd and taking up tables for prolonged periods of time.
If you come in 20 minutes before closing and end up staying until a half hour after closing, make it worth your server's while. They would be on their way home, but they're staying late solely for you. Drop them an extra 5 or 10 dollars and make their night because they made yours by staying late for you. Also, if you've been sitting at the table talking for an hour after desert is finished, drop a little extra down, because that time you spent chatting was occupying a table that could have been filled with more paying customers. I usually tip an extra 10% per half hour after desert is done, because I know I'm taking up a spot and they're here, above all, to make money.
...
As much as all this sounds like we hate customers, most servers truly enjoy dealing with pleasant and intelligent clients who understand what's going on. We love to make people happy by being able to answer questions about the menu and letting them have a pleasant experience, not having to worry about anything. We got into the business because we're social people that like dealing with customers. And you don't have to worry about pissing us off, because it would take some pretty extreme lack of tact to cause any good server to mess with your food. Normally we just ignore you if you're a jerk. Be warned though, if you left us nothing or very little, for no good reason, we will remember your face like a police sketch artist, and the next time you come in, your service will suck. Word of non-tippers and low-lifes spreads quickly among the brotherhood of servers.
User Reviews
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-08-03 17:07:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I had that opening -2 all locked and loaded until I read some of these cheapass, smelly motherfuckers piping in with their 2 cents worth - which, by the way, seems to be about the average that these losers will tip - and I had to re-rate.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-03 17:06:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm ok with Shlongy, he's like a spice, horrible if you take a big spoonful and chow it down, but great when added to certain dishes.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2006-08-03 16:57:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Holy fucking moley, batman.
REAL participation from captain cranky pants!
>claps<
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-08-03 16:52:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, and based on the responses from a huge number of the Uber minimum wage lowlifes here - I don't want to name names but Berty comes immediately to mind - I'll never be hanging out with 99.4 % of you, and if I happen to be IN a bar or restaurant where you and your cheapass, smelly looking frineds are hanging out...after I leave my customary 25%-30% tip, I'll be tipping your table full of empty cheap ass draft beer glasses all over you fucking slobs on my way out the door.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2006-08-03 16:49:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I'm a big fucking tipper, and although I realize that 98.4% of Uber REALLY needs to read this, I sure the fuck don't.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2006-08-03 16:33:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
amen brother.
Like I said- you handled yourself beautifully.
It's not surprising that people adopt these cranky on-line tough guy personas. After all, 'we' tend to waddle through life in a constant state of getting shit on anymore don't we?
Either it's the dickhead boss, the nagging wife, annoying friends... shitty servers! There is a whole cavalcade of examples where the shit rolls downhill (parking attendants, governments officials, your mom... the list is infinite.)
"In real life" Most of us are good, friendly people (even if that is a little forced and disingenuous at times) HOWEVER when exposed to a world of significant anonymity- the repressed asshole suddenly comes to life. Being a giant dickhead can be quite cathartic... especially if you just had a river of shit dumped on you earlier that day. This site is plum fully of caustic pricks who would likely never say the sort of inane, negative shit to someone's face that they happily barf out when hiding safely behind their screens. But when they are here they take full advantage of the fact they can dump all over ANYthing they find even somewhat distasteful. Its weak, but sometimes it yields some fairly amusing results. I figure most folks just look at Ubersite (and similar cyber despots) a chance for a good clean negative energy purge... a digital enema, if you will.
Of course, some people are just cunts... and are equally unlikable in life as the part they play on-line.
Ironically it's the "good servers" that can help alleviate the kind of pent up frustration that leads to these petty, unsubstantiated attacks. The good lord knows that I'm been a down right grumpy mother-fucker some days and its been through the majesty of >fantastic< service that I have left the bar/restaurant recharged and eager to hug smelly homeless people.
Oh, and yer darn tootin' I would have happily tipped the very deserving individual who made my experience pleasant. A lot.
I think the key is loving what you do... the good servers certainly enjoy their jobs- and the cash. You seem to have a pretty good grip on life my friend, and I am sure that you'd be well looked after if you were serving my table.
r.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-03 15:38:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
er, wouldn't be here...
I hate that I type on the fly putting apostrophes before the end of every word ending in 's' and leaving major grammatical errors. Oh well.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-03 15:36:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-03 04:52:48 (#)
Ranking: 0
r, you are not taking into account cultural differences when you are lambasting berty.
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Who from outside the states, on this post took into account cultural differences before lambasting me? Even after I informed them that I live in a state that pays 2.13 an hour BECAUSE tipping as a custom in this country has become a customer responsibility for good service.
And again, the "Get a better job argument." is about equal to the "Love it or leave it." mentality of America when you disagree with your government (not that I do or don't disagree). I'm not bitching, I'm not crying, I'm merely informing. Not once in this article did I make my customers out to be morons or jerks. I said people are misinformed: here's what they should know. But people on forums just love to be tough guys and just ache for the chance at quipping off some hurtful little gem because they think dismissal is some kind of victory.
If I implied that you should just throw money at your server for being terrible, I don't know how. I said if the server made some mistakes, drop your tip, if he was really bad, leave nothing to send a message. The server will think, "Woah, what did I do wrong to deserve nothing?" and if he has ANY kind of passion for his job (much like I do), he'll figure it out and do better next time.
I truly enjoy serving people. It gives me a thrill to make them happy by making them feel at ease and feel pampered for an hour out of their day. When I'm working behind the bar, I love to talk with the customers because really, at that point, I'm an entertainer. People come to the bar to talk about work, problems, sports, news, anecdotes, and they also want to hear what you have to say. And really, I enjoy it.
The point I made, that people were just flabbergasted by, was that in America, if you don't tip for good service, you're exploiting the system in a way. The system is in place because restait is similar to a commission based job. Sales is the lowest paying easy work, and the best paying hard work there is. If you're a stellar salesmen, you make crazy money because the sky is the limit. You aren't a wage slave, or trapped in a salary where the company can work you 70 hours a week if they feel like it. Serving is a form of sales, except in this particular instance, the responsibility of paying the commission has been assumed to the customer. That's why your food is so cheap at places like Applebee's. Normally you can get a lot of the food for a few bucks more than you could buy it at the restaurant. If the restaurant had to increase its wage payout by %500 (10 dollars an hour in total for example) the cost of your food would go up CONSIDERABLY, but, you wouldn't be expected to tip.
And the biggest reason commission sales are legal is because most sales are seasonal. Restaurants honestly will have freakishly slow and freakishly busy nights. You never know, so you have to keep a full staff on just in case. Well, if you have 12 servers on duty on a Thursday, but only enough customers come in to where you would have been fine with 6, you'd have to eat a MASSIVE amount of wages. On the other hand, if you spread out that lack of income over the servers by making them essentially commission salesmen, you won't go out of business after a month or two of being slow.
I appreciate rob_berg's response as being very reasonable. Yeah, I'm a dancing monkey, but people LIKE dancing monkeys and pay handsomely to watch them do the Charleston. I also appreciate the more mature response's to the contrary. I guess I don't understand the need to hide behind your keyboard and be an internet tough-guy who feels they can mouth off and personally insult someone for expressing their views. From some of the responses, you'd think I was making an argument for Hitler or the Nationalization of the kiddy porn industry.
All I want is for people to know what it's like to be a server because I was first enlightened as to why 10% wasn't enough (for the tenth time, for GOOD/great service) when I was 16 and I applied at a restaurant. I didn't work there for long, but I learned how much servers do behind the scenes, how much they make and how much effort goes into making people happy. We'll diffuse problems, we'll cater to your needs, we'll try and do everything right because we enjoy working with people, and sometimes you get people that hand you 6% on a big check and say "You did a fantastic job tonight, thank you!" but thanks doesn't pay the bills.
The thing I'm most surprised about, is that THIS is the most controversy I've ever gotten out of the myriad of political and social topics I've written about. I figured I'd get some naysayers, but certainly not a heated backlash like this. Still, if I didn't enjoy the discussion, I would be here.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2006-08-03 06:00:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:14:57 (#)
Ranking: 0
I am so glad I live in England. We treat each other right here.
Particulrly in Birmingham.
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Hehe.
I was a waitress while I was studying for my degree. Although people don't have to tip in the UK I used to make quite a lot in tips by being nice to the customers and doing my job properly. I made the most money the time there was an outbreak of Salmonella at a place while I was working and all the guests and staff got really ill. Because they tested us all and I had it too, I got £1500 in the following court case even though I wasn't actually ill. Consider working somewhere dirty!
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2006-08-03 05:35:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
yaaaaawwnnnnnnn get a better job
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2006-08-03 05:09:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I think that's fair play considering he was pretty eager to ignore "cultural considerations" when he got himself all worked up into a froth.
Besides, isn't that the uber way? Bah, even if not I find it immensely entertaining.
I just wanted to show some support for my man here getting bombarded with crap.
...and I happen to think people SHOULD tip more in general, and sky is the limit for outstanding service.
SO there.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-03 04:53:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
and I'm just upset this post wasn't about cunnilingus.
-2 FOR MISLEADING TITLE.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-03 04:52:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
r, you are not taking into account cultural differences when you are lambasting berty.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2006-08-03 04:49:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very well delivered argument all the way through Mr. Rawrg!
Your grace under-fire has been outstanding. Lotta folks just itchin' for a scrap.
It's irritating how these pricks wander in with absolutely no basis for argument outside of their own negative pre-conceptions. They arrive with nothing more than the urge to be snippy and downright cuntish.
Personally I start at 20%- all the way down to 15%. To me, the amount of effort the server puts in is relative to the amount they get. If its dinner and that dude is running like crazy, filling water, replacing napkins, entertaining the troops... well I would be more inclined
God knows I have tipped >much< more than that. Embarrassingly so.
Worth every dime. Not waiting for my drink to be refilled, and just making the entire evening an "experience", getting me my favorite table, past the line, free bottle of wine on my birthday. LUXURY! I happily tip for that... and so do most of these cranky assholes getting pissy for no reason. These servers are monkeys... and if you plug them with lots of money they will dance... and dance REALLY well. Yup, its fun havin' pet monkeys. Pet monkeys who bring us food and make us smile.
Anyways, I ASSume the point of this entire post is to educate (or poke fun at the impossibility of educating all of) the backwoods, boot-buckle-shining, purse-tightening, un-likeable, disagreeable, grouchy, obnoxious, miserable, cranky... fuckers who walk in the door with something rather uncomfortable shoved up their collective asses out there with the hopes that they might through digital osmosis come to realize what kinda cheap assholes they really are. So that's good. Mission Accomplished I'd say.
Hey Berty - Cheer up poopy-pants. Maybe one day you will get GREAT service and look back at this conversation and... ah fuck it, you'd probably still be cranky. Out of spite. Or maybe you'll get a warm fuzzy and push over the 11% barrier (you benevolant fucker you!). I just bet that deep down you have the ability to admit that you might have over-reacted there a titch. Hmmm?
At the very least untwist them panties, it just makes you look like a bitch.
Servers can be your friends. Loobe them up.
And by loobe I mean golden shower them with *tips.
G'nite.
*Tip.Your.Server.
(*if deserved.)
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-03 02:13:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
because of this post I am going to make sure I don't tip anybody for the next week.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-03 01:35:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I still attest that tipping, while not mandatory, nor should it be, is a responsibility of the customer if the service was good (do I have to underline this? This post OBVIOUSLY attested that if the service was good, the tip should be as well). And for all the people saying, "Get a better job" there are a lot of people who make their living at serving, when they work at upscale places, they make better money than half the people browsing this site. A good waiter at an upscale restaurant will bring home 200 dollars on a weeknight, a bartender at a busy bar can bring home 400 on a Saturday. People know how to tip there. The arrogance from people in a more "professional" job is unbelievable, as if they're some technical genius to be able to grasp the concepts in their professions. Please, spare me shade tree elitism. I'm far from working in an upscale establishment, but I'm only starting out.
I never implied handouts in this post, I implied that many people do not understand the tipping system or why it is important, and judging from the responses (many pathetically immature and beligerant), I was right in that respect.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2006-08-03 00:11:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:39:58 (#)
Ranking: 0
sorry.
I'm too much of a jew bastard to really care if the person who is serving me can pay the heating bill.
***
i can certainly attest to that, but i firmly believe that your behavior is a result of the fucked-up city, and the people, you grew up, in and with, and not from your heritage
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2006-08-02 23:46:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
"Submitted by dr_weazel (user info) at 2006-08-01 20:51:56 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:51:27 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:48:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
How dare you. When I give you a tip it is an act of generosity and not to support some crummy bum who thinks everyone else should carry then through life.
You disgust me.
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That's the attitude that's the problem, a tip is NOT an optional handout, it's a necessary part of the restaurant business in America. You're very misguided if you think that you're a saint for tipping.
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No, cockface, it's YOUR attitude that's the problem. You EXPECT a tip, and that is fucking bullshit, and NO I dont give a flying fuck how much you get paid, it's YOUR responsibility to do a good enough job to deserve a tip, or to get a better paying job. It really is that simple."
i've had a few jobs where i had to rely on tips -and yet, i agree with dr_weazel and Berty. MANDATORY? shut the fuck up. Americans have become a bunch of whiny little shits. probably half of the retarded crap that goes on in this fucked-up country is due to the idea that tips are obligatory. obese kids? tipping. Terri Schiavo? tipping. loki? tipping.
Submitted by PerkMan (user info) at 2006-08-02 23:38:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Here's a tip.
Get a better fucking Job.
Now tip me for that.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-08-02 18:54:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No, cockface, it's YOUR attitude that's the problem. You EXPECT a tip, and that is fucking bullshit, and NO I dont give a flying fuck how much you get paid, it's YOUR responsibility to do a good enough job to deserve a tip, or to get a better paying job. It really is that simple.
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BINGO
'YOUR responsibility to do a good enough job to deserve a tip'...that's worth repeating.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:25:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yammy, they hate you because they love you. You finger it out. . .
Submitted by Yams (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:23:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:15:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Yams (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:06:05 (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck tipping! And fuck you! If you do your job and I feel generous, I'll tip! Lucky for you, I usually DO feel generous. Here are some "tips" (no pun intended!) to make MY dining experience better:
Don't tell me the specials. Policy shmolicy, I don't give a damn, and if I do, I'll ask.
Don't ask me if I'm ready for dessert. Now whadda you think, Junior? Of COURSE I'm ready for dessert, but I'm not paying for that shit. I'm a tightwad. Check please.
Yes, I want a refill.
Show me yer boobs.
Just kidding, you're a dude.
I don't care who just found out they had cancer.
That is all.
Of course, normally service is quite good. I also find that service is generally better at authentic Mexican places. Por favor (that's Mexican for "dude like tell me") why?
________________
Service is better at Mexican places because they hate Sweet Potatoes, AKA YAMS. . .
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That doesn't make any sense at all. Why would service be BETTER if they hated YAMS!?? I AM YAMS!
I swear to God Ubersite is full of tards.
"Hey amigo, tiene 'green card?'" is probably why they are so nice.
Plus the Mexicans and white people have to stick together in prison; sometimes these warm race relations seep out into the public. EH?
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:15:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Yams (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:06:05 (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck tipping! And fuck you! If you do your job and I feel generous, I'll tip! Lucky for you, I usually DO feel generous. Here are some "tips" (no pun intended!) to make MY dining experience better:
Don't tell me the specials. Policy shmolicy, I don't give a damn, and if I do, I'll ask.
Don't ask me if I'm ready for dessert. Now whadda you think, Junior? Of COURSE I'm ready for dessert, but I'm not paying for that shit. I'm a tightwad. Check please.
Yes, I want a refill.
Show me yer boobs.
Just kidding, you're a dude.
I don't care who just found out they had cancer.
That is all.
Of course, normally service is quite good. I also find that service is generally better at authentic Mexican places. Por favor (that's Mexican for "dude like tell me") why?
________________
Service is better at Mexican places because they hate Sweet Potatoes, AKA YAMS. . .
Submitted by Yams (user info) at 2006-08-01 22:06:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck tipping! And fuck you! If you do your job and I feel generous, I'll tip! Lucky for you, I usually DO feel generous. Here are some "tips" (no pun intended!) to make MY dining experience better:
Don't tell me the specials. Policy shmolicy, I don't give a damn, and if I do, I'll ask.
Don't ask me if I'm ready for dessert. Now whadda you think, Junior? Of COURSE I'm ready for dessert, but I'm not paying for that shit. I'm a tightwad. Check please.
Yes, I want a refill.
Show me yer boobs.
Just kidding, you're a dude.
I don't care who just found out they had cancer.
That is all.
Of course, normally service is quite good. I also find that service is generally better at authentic Mexican places. Por favor (that's Mexican for "dude like tell me") why?
Submitted by Yams (user info) at 2006-08-01 21:55:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I've seen this EXACT same thing numerous times, and not only on Ubersite. OK, not EXACT, but the premise is identical, the "advice" is virtually the same in all of them, and the wording generally blows.
I'll reward my waitress, with a buttfuck. And my waiter? With a reach-around.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-08-01 21:42:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Working in blazing heat next to ex-meth heads pulling rank on you because they're 40, when they're a wife-beating waste of life just didn't sit right with me.
________________________________________________
You have no way to know that the above is true.
1. I live in beautiful downtown Colorado.
2. Tipping is always a part of my restaurant experience, barring rude or stupid
jerks.
3. What you don't want to do with me: I give you a twenty for a $12 meal and
you ask, "Do you need some change tonight?" That constitues begging for a
66% tip, and you (he/she) will get nothing. Leave the percentage up to me,
treat me right, and I start with 20% and go up from there.
Submitted by dr_weazel (user info) at 2006-08-01 20:51:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:51:27 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:48:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
How dare you. When I give you a tip it is an act of generosity and not to support some crummy bum who thinks everyone else should carry then through life.
You disgust me.
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That's the attitude that's the problem, a tip is NOT an optional handout, it's a necessary part of the restaurant business in America. You're very misguided if you think that you're a saint for tipping.
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No, cockface, it's YOUR attitude that's the problem. You EXPECT a tip, and that is fucking bullshit, and NO I dont give a flying fuck how much you get paid, it's YOUR responsibility to do a good enough job to deserve a tip, or to get a better paying job. It really is that simple.
Submitted by dr_weazel (user info) at 2006-08-01 20:47:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
blah blah blah whine whine... shut up, if YOU dont like the pay, GET ANOTHER JOB. I will NEVER tip unless it's deserved. Fuck you if you dont like it. We dont tip automatically here in NZ, and I'm not about to start if I ever go to the states. I... just... dont... give... a... fuck... about... serving staff.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-08-01 19:43:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree with everything in here.
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-08-01 17:55:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you still should never expect a tip and never complain that you didn't get one to anybody but coworkers. hey and at least you don't have to sing when it happens. those poor poor coldstone people.
_______________________
Poor Coldstone people?! What about us customers who have to listen to that horrible excuse for singing?
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-08-01 17:49:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I cater... Which includes waiting tables, of course. But at weddings and parties, you almost never get a tip. I don't want their money, though, cause I make 18 dollars an hour, anyway. :)
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 17:17:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-08-01 16:47:57 (#)
Ranking: -2
you have as much an obligation to be a good customer as the restaurant has to serve you well
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and shit like this is why jobs are fleeing this country to India at a record rate.
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??? I believe that's because it's cheaper and we can get around things like labor laws and many employee taxes. I can't think of anyone that would want to deal with a thick accent and poor training over someone with some business sense that's not going to simply be smarmy and kiss their ass. There's no shortage of waiters in America, and it's NOT unreasonable to expect a customer to behave in a reasonable manner as well. If something is bothering him, it doesn't give him the right to make an asshole out of himself by being rude, surly, etc unless they were treated that way.
Also, yeah, hovering is bad, asking "Is everything tasting alright?" more than once during a meal is pestering, noticing things or trying always to be within eyesight of your tables so if your custome needs something you can't see like some sauce, whatever, all they have to do is look your way subtely and you can be right there.
Where I work, it isn't 5.15 an hour, tips are pretty much your only form of income. You could say, "Just get another job asshole, it's not my problem." And it's not, I could get another job. I love my job, but how many people on this site bitch about things even more trivial about this? I realize a bunch of people got offended because their notion of tipping was threatened, but that's fine by me. The point of my article isn't to have mandatory tips laws put in place, it's to let people know the IMPORTANCE of tipping well and why the attitude of "I don't have to leave a tip, even if the service was good because the waiter should be grateful to get anything more than a smile from me." is prevalent in some of our customers. Maybe I didn't kiss everyone's ass like I do at my job, but I felt like bringing it up.
Nitty, Manic and I think EmoJean understand where I'm coming from. We LIKE our jobs when customers are pleasant to deal with. Nothing feels better than a solid night of being on top of everything, making everyone happy and getting good tips (because no matter how much praise we get, the money is the big one. But how many of you have taken up a table for another hour chatting and still only dropped 10%? How many of you have been asked to be seated in another section and tipped the waiter less when he couldn't get to you right away? It's just little things from a server's point of view. We genuinely like serving you, I just didn't put that in here.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2006-08-01 17:02:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
If the service is off, tell the server that you are prepared to tip reasonably for good service but not for poor service. Make sure that the server knows that you know the difference between ass-kissing and good service (hovering = bad, noticing empty glasses = good). If it doesn't improve immediately, have the manager assign your service to a competent server for the duration of your meal. Tip the new server for the sum of the entire service on the bill (written record of tip amount for part poor and part good service) and then give the good server a cash tip that doesn't get split.
Note: doesn't work in crappy restaurants. The melonheads at Flinger's or Chatchky's just don't care.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-08-01 16:47:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
you have as much an obligation to be a good customer as the restaurant has to serve you well
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and shit like this is why jobs are fleeing this country to India at a record rate.
Submitted by nitty34 (user info) at 2006-08-01 10:12:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
My take on this, circa September 2003:
http://www.ubersite.com/m/13818
Oh, and upon reading the title I though this was going in a WAY different direction.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:57:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
meh, at the same time you shouldn't expect a tip. it's your job, a lot of people pick bartending and waiting just for the tips but you're already getting paid by the hour and the point of a gratuity is just that, it's gratuitous. most states i've been in the servers get paid minimum wage which is $5.15 an hour not $5.95. you could always find a job that gives you minimum wage and then still tips. like cutting hair, they get way better tips and all they have to do is rent the chair for a day.
you shouldn't get tipped extra for having to ring up different orders because it's not like you don't stop for a minute or two off break times and do other things between tables. like talk to the other around the place. it takes like an extra thirty seconds to separate a check between 2-4 people. if they're a group of 10 or so i could almost see that but really, stop griping for tips. food service is paid for the skill level involved. i think minimum wage is good enough for a plate carrier or table wiper because really, as you or someone else said, it's a monkey job.
and, before you say anything about me having no clue whatsoever, i have worked in food service both restaurant and fastfood. i've also been a bartender and worked with a caterer. i've worked two or three jobs at a time to get the money i needed too so it's not like i don't get it or wasn't grateful for the bonus.
you still should never expect a tip and never complain that you didn't get one to anybody but coworkers. hey and at least you don't have to sing when it happens. those poor poor coldstone people.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:21:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Fully accurate but you forgot to mention that hideous event called Mother's Day when you get tables of 15 that sit for 2 hours after their meal drinking one cup of coffee and screwing the server on future tables and tip when they take another 30 minutes to decide who's paying for what.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:17:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ugh, the queso dip is horrible. Bad choice.
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:14:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Sorry, but this was terrible.
It's a fucking sales pitch to get people to tip more. NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
Now go get me my queso, BITCH. Then, get a real job.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:06:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh believe me, I'm getting my 6 months experience and I'm moving forward. I'm also getting bartending training there, also I'll be taking outside training. This is similar to college for me, working hard waiting for a better pay off in the end. Bartending won't be my life long career hopefully, but it's something I've always wanted to do. If I'm still at Applebee's after the march sales slide, then I'm stuck.
Submitted by ubetidid (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:02:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
my struggling years as a waitress/bartender
are long gone.
but i worked in my family's restaurant.
neighborhood bar/restaurant. neighborhood regulars.
GREAT tippers. there was this one man that we loved. Rich. Hot.
at the end of the night he would "routinely" just give us his wallet
and let us "take" an appropriate tip!!!
we never ripped him off!
if you're working at like a Ruby Tuesdays or something similar,
get away from that shit now. look for a more up-scale restaurant.
you won't have to put up with non-tipping MF'ers.
Submitted by dove666 (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:01:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Delivery persons, garbage collectors, repair folk, I grease them all.
It's the American way.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 09:01:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Let me enlighten you then. In America, there are certain jobs paid on commission (percentage of your sales) and your employer doesn't owe you anything. Other jobs, have minimums, and in the State of Kansas, restaurant's are allowed to pay servers 2.13 an hour BECAUSE we have a different custom of tipping. The minimum wage in America, I believe, is 5.95 an hour, which very few people make. Most monkey jobs equivalent to mine pay about 8-10 dollars an hour, which is 16-20k a year. I probably make about 12-15 an hour, depending on the night. It is a minority of people that don't tip well.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:57:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
hahahahahahaha. weak is the same as poor. Weak service deserves a slap. Simple as. Please someone tell me that 4000$ a year is illegal. 10000$ is lowest full time workers get paid here. Roughly £6500g after tax.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:54:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Weak, not poor. The difference being the server didn't make major mistakes or falter, just didn't take the best care of you, and the "Salary" as you put it, works out to $4000 dollars a year at 40 hours a week, 2 weeks unpaid vacation taken into account.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:52:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
10% is when the service was weak and the server wasn't all there, and anything below is sending a real message that the server needs to do better next time.
--------
oh and that's where.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:51:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Not really man. That's what the salary is for. It's called a gratuity tip. It means I'm thankfull for your awesome service. Anything below good (even standard/ ok) is not worthy of a tip.What Apollo said. I'm out.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:51:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Apollo, very few people, if anyone, have ever cared about the garbage that flows from your keyboard.
And yes, a monkey can do this job. I don't care how far this post gets driven into the ground, I stand by my statements as being reasonable etiquette between customer and vendor.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:47:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hour Man, where in this artical did I say you should tip if the service was poor? Nowhere. When you sit down, you should be expecting good service, if you don't get it, you don't pay well or at all depending on how bad it was. I didn't say you should come in and throw money at me for greeting you, but if I complete the whole process to a T in a professional and precise manner, you should tip accordingly.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:46:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
NO ONE CARES ABOUT HOW SHITTY WAITERS FEEL IN THEIR SHITTY JOBS
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:44:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Dude you're at a shit hole, what do you expect. When you move uptown and they do this, then bitch, until then SKATE IT OFF! I don't hate you as much for admitting a monkey could do that job.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:41:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I just entered the restaurant business at the ground level a few months ago, although I've wanted to be a bartender for a long time, I couldn't really afford to spend the time it takes working your way up the food chain, so I stayed in construction, where I made great money and was very knowledgeable. I recently found a cheap place to live with an old friend and could afford to take the pay cut, so I started looking for a waiting job because I hated construction. Working in blazing heat next to ex-meth heads pulling rank on you because they're 40, when they're a wife-beating waste of life just didn't sit right with me.
Shamefully, I work at Applebee's which is bottom of the barrel, but the only place that will hire you without experience, so here I am, grinding it out and putting in my time.
If you worked at an upscale place, you wouldn't have these problems, and that's where I want to be in a year or so, but they don't train newbies (not that it's that hard of a job to learn...)
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:36:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:25:33 (#)
Ranking: 0
In our culture, a waiter's pay is determined almost entirely on a personal 1 on 1 handshake contract with the client. Hardly cutting of clitoris's (clitori?) The fact is, this is the system, and some of the responses I'm getting only prove how undereducated people are about it.
-------------------------------------------
No. Bullshit, when I walk in I don't think 'ohhh look it's the guy were paying to look after us! How cool." I think 'I hope it comes quickly with a smile'. If not 0 tip. It's simple to generalise like you are, and maybe you're an awesome waiter, 99% aren't. It's difficult to tip someone who couldn't care less. If i was really employing you, cause that's what it may as well be, I would not wanna share you. SO if you come and wait on ME hand and foot, and no one else then it's a one on one thing.
Unfortunatley being a waiter is another word for culinary whore or service slut. I will tip if you do a better than average job. Otherwise fuck you (not you personally, but the server)
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:35:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I also think that non waiter/waitress types that ask for tips are also doing you a disservice. America as a whole is becoming polarized to the whole idea of tipping in general.
At Dunkin Doughnuts the have tip jars, the ice cream stand, that fast food joints...its ridiculous.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:34:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:22:41 (#)
Ranking: 0
but you're pointing out an etiquette that you believe must be followed, I'm saying that you must provide good service before it even applies and you seem to think it applies no matter what.
as far as personal attacks, sorry if you feel that way and I retract anything that may come across as an attack on you personally.
And you must recognize the difference between the public buying a product you sell thus being responsible for your pay verses you getting paid face to face by the customer?
If not I'm wasting my time here.
---
You're not. I'm a reasonable guy. I believe if you do your job as a server WELL, I believe you're entitled to a good tip (15-20%). This requires you to be clean, precise, professional and adapting to your customers. Some tables want lots of interaction, some are straight to the point and want to be left alone, bla bla bla. I never discriminate, no matter how many people come in and order only appetizers and drop 7%, I ALWAYS take care of them because I'm smart enough to not judge a book by it's cover. If you came in with all your long haired and tattood friends, I'd try to find a common ground and level with all of you because I know the more you like me as a person, the more you'll be thinking "He's a nice guy, let's give him a little something extra" And I'm surprised every day, pleasantly and unpleasantly. Sometimes the stereotypes ring true, sometimes not. Sometimes I get 2 old people who demand the world, order 10 dollars worth of food, have me take it back 2 times to get it recooked and finally get it comped off and leave me nothing, even though I waited on them hand and foot, and sometimes I get no-hassle awesome old folks that are friendly, chat it up and drop somewhere in the 15-20 range and make my day. I love that, but when people drop 4 dollars on a 70 dollar tab that required 2 hours of my attention and 7 seperate checks, someone's misinformed and think I get paid a lot more than I do.
I don't like getting in pissing matches, and most of the arguments are coming from people overseas who abide by a different custom. Proof that most arguments are from misunderstandings. I guess I just don't understand what set you off, because I respect all my customers, it's just that some of them could stand to see it from a waiter's perspective. I'm only here for a few years, then I'm behind a bar, then I'm done with college hopefully, then who knows. And really, it's not that big of a deal, but I got bored and I started writing. I really am running out of important stuff to bitch about.
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:32:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
"I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's fucked up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And this non-college bullshit you're givin' me, I got two words for that: learn to fuckin' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big fuckin' surprise."
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:30:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Can I ask what type of restaurant you work it?
The ones I've worked and the ones my mother worked in were places that we really didn't have this sort of problem...people were well to do, had money, and were aware of etiquette without us having to explain it.
Perhaps if you intend on remaining in your field you might consider a very upscale restaurant.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:30:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:28:48 (#)
Ranking: 0
In the Congo, military personnel are awarded a bonus based on how many women they can rape in 'trouble zones'.
They earn more if they can make them pregnant.
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Sadly true, its quite an efficient tactic over ten years or so.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:28:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
In the Congo, military personnel are awarded a bonus based on how many women they can rape in 'trouble zones'.
They earn more if they can make them pregnant.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:25:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
In our culture, a waiter's pay is determined almost entirely on a personal 1 on 1 handshake contract with the client. Hardly cutting of clitoris's (clitori?) The fact is, this is the system, and some of the responses I'm getting only prove how undereducated people are about it.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:23:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Most heated???
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:22:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
but you're pointing out an etiquette that you believe must be followed, I'm saying that you must provide good service before it even applies and you seem to think it applies no matter what.
as far as personal attacks, sorry if you feel that way and I retract anything that may come across as an attack on you personally.
And you must recognize the difference between the public buying a product you sell thus being responsible for your pay verses you getting paid face to face by the customer?
If not I'm wasting my time here.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:22:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Dude....I was eating man
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:22:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
20% is considered the norm for good service. Your drinks were always full, your server was often available for you to give them a look, and they didn't bother you throughout the whole meal (common bad habit of new servers) with constant questions.
15% is if the server dropped the ball somewhere, but didn't neglect you. Maybe your drinks went dry for more than 2 minutes, or they might have slipped up and forgot to bring out that extra sauce you asked for and you had to remind them once. It's ok, the servers know when they screwed up, and they feel bad when they do. They know what they deserve and won't take it personally.
10% is when the service was weak and the server wasn't all there, and anything below is sending a real message that the server needs to do better next time.
__________________________________________________________________-
British translation.
20% :The waitress just gave a a blowjob.
15% :The waiter/ess was extremely entertaining and really enhanced my meal. Easier to get higher tips if you're a chick with big tits.
10% :The waiter/ess was bloody good
0% The waiter/ess was relatively on time, and relatively polite.
Service weak: complain.
Service terrible: complain and manager waves your bill.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:21:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
In parts of Africa they mutilate womens genitalia as part of their ritualistic culture. They slice off the clitoris and sew the vaginal opening shut when the girl has her first period and the crude stitches are brutally torn out when the girl is wed.
It's not my culture though. Perhaps the girls there love it.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:17:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:14:57 (#)
Ranking: 0
I am so glad I live in England. We treat each other right here.
Particulrly in Birmingham.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dammit.
If I was witty I'd be able to think of something to put here.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:16:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Berty, you're taking your customs and using it to say mine are completely outrageous, when YOU DON'T EVEN LIVE HERE. You're waiters and waitresses make more than $2 an hour, it's a completely different system there. So you're personally attacking me because I'm commenting on something of which you know nothing.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:15:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I also knew that waiting and waitressing were temporary jobs...that any job where you rely on the general public to pay your salary is a waste of time in the long run.
---
The general public always pays your salary, because it pays the salary of the person paying you.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:14:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I am so glad I live in England. We treat each other right here.
Particulrly in Birmingham.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:14:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
What a pile of shit mate. Sorry but this is bollocks. I used to wait tables at uni (last year) so I know how valuable tips are. It's simple: get a better job.
When I worked at a resteraunt people wern't paying me, they were paying for the food, which should pay for the staff. In most cases it does.
You know what this is so biased towards yourself it's retarded and I can't even begin to form a chorent arguement. Needless to say you just sounded really naive.
Oh and
20%: Fucking ace server
10%: good service
0%: anything less than good isn't worth tipping.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:13:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
EmoJean, before this I worked construction for 6 years, 2 of which were in high school. I'm not going to be 45 and 50 waiting tables. I do have an IRA, I am investing in my 401k. You on the other hand are backpeddling, resorting to personal attacks in a vein attempt to discredit my point, which is: there is an etiquette to tipping and this is how I believe it to be. If you were a server (in the States), you wouldn't think any of this was unreasonable.
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:13:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yes I am a former waitress and I had no problems making money at it but that was because I was attentive to my customers. I'd work with fucks that would complain about tips and I'd laugh because I knew it was all in how they treat the customer.
Sure there are some idiots out there but I don't assume that anyone is, rather you have to burn me first before I thought ill of you.
I also knew that waiting and waitressing were temporary jobs...that any job where you rely on the general public to pay your salary is a waste of time in the long run.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:12:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
IRA? I knew the IRA were popular in the US (but brown terrorists are bad right?), but I didn't know they did pensions.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:11:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Rawrg. You are saying that if I buy $100 dollars worth of food that you want me to pay you an extra $20 dollars for bringing it from the kitchen to my table.
Just face it, you are a terrible human being. You should persue a career in telesales.
"I know you don't want to spend all your deceased husbands money on double glazed windows but I've got to make a living."
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:10:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:06:36 (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck courtesy! You're working customer service. You should be down on your knees, groveling in the dust and fucking begging me to allow you to fulfill my every desire.
It's your mother fucking job.
Now I'll not call you a cocksucker but I owe you nothing. The best I will consider you is as part of the restruant furniture.
---
Business is business. And in America you owe your server that tip if you were served well, it's common courtesy on your part. And we do work hard for it and are gratious to recieve it. There are bad servers, and there are bad customers. Live with it, just because you're the customer doesn't make you Jesus Christ. You're attitude to me is more arrogant than I could possibly imagine mine comes off as.
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:08:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
So you make good money at it...are you aligned with a 401k or IRA or some other planning for your future?
How will you do at 45 or 50 waiting tables?
Seriously, you say that this is about how tipping is this odd American pasttime and yet every paragraph you are telling us what we should and should not do.
I think its more that you thought you'd appeal to the few uberers that know your name and thus would support your post and figured you could be contrevertial and now, finding that your points don't have legs you are backpeddling.
You know what, repost a picture of some naked girls or something and this whole little thing will be forgotten in time.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:06:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:57:58 (#)
Ranking: -2
No hostility here pal, but hey...stellar job and skirting all the counter issues I brought up oh and this some peice has been no less than 3 times here so please save your condescenscion and stop whining about how the world treats waiters and waitresses unfairly.
Signed EmoJean, former waitress and daughter to a mother that waitressed her whole life.
---
Any server worth their salt does everything in their power to make the customer's experience a pleasant one. I didn't propose anything that was unreasonable, and this artical is from the perspective of a waiter that serves his customers well. Also, nowhere did I say the world treats servers unfairly, but that there are things that are common courtesy that you should take into account as a patron. If you were a server, your position on this vexes me greatly, unless it was outside the states, then it would make perfect sense.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:06:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck courtesy! You're working customer service. You should be down on your knees, groveling in the dust and fucking begging me to allow you to fulfill my every desire.
It's your mother fucking job.
Now I'll not call you a cocksucker but I owe you nothing. The best I will consider you is as part of the restruant furniture.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:02:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"Actually, I make pretty good money at it..."
-------------
I fucking bet you do. You probably make more money than the people you are demanding money from.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 08:01:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
courtesy yes, extra money, occasionally
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:58:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
A lot of people are taking this way out of context, that I'm just some whiney bum that can't find a better job. Actually, I make pretty good money at it and about 80% of people that come through tip very well. The point of this article is how tipping is an odd custom and mainly the etiquette of it. In America, it is not considered rude to expect courtesy from the customer as well as from the vendor. I forgot that it is a custom fairly restricted to the States.
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:57:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:50:06 (#)
Ranking: 0
EmoJean, I sense a bit of bitter hostility there. I'm sorry I didn't recognize your issues in my artical, didn't mean to make you cry.
============
No hostility here pal, but hey...stellar job and skirting all the counter issues I brought up oh and this some peice has been no less than 3 times here so please save your condescenscion and stop whining about how the world treats waiters and waitresses unfairly.
Signed EmoJean, former waitress and daughter to a mother that waitressed her whole life.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:55:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah, well, I'm not american.
Just try giving someone a tip in Iceland, these days they know what to expect, but years back you would get the most evil looks trying to give money to someone.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:55:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck sainthood Rawrg, I'm calling you a bum.
Fucking waiting tables... A friggin monkey could do it! In fact you can fuck off. I'd rather just someone shout when the thing's ready and I'll get it from the cunting kitchen myself.
You can piss off and sell the Big Issue with the rest of your kind.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:51:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:48:22 (#)
Ranking: 0
How dare you. When I give you a tip it is an act of generosity and not to support some crummy bum who thinks everyone else should carry then through life.
You disgust me.
---
That's the attitude that's the problem, a tip is NOT an optional handout, it's a necessary part of the restaurant business in America. You're very misguided if you think that you're a saint for tipping.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:50:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
EmoJean, I sense a bit of bitter hostility there. I'm sorry I didn't recognize your issues in my artical, didn't mean to make you cry.
And DCWoody, you're proving my point. A Tip in America ISN'T for service above and beyond, you're food would cost a lot more if we made a standard wage. It's set up the way it is for the same reason commission sales are put in place, to motivate the worker to work hard instead of falling into a wage position where if you slack you get paid the same.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:48:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
How dare you. When I give you a tip it is an act of generosity and not to support some crummy bum who thinks everyone else should carry then through life.
You disgust me.
Submitted by Rawrg (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:45:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Gender neutral term, do you call your waitresses waiters in Australia too?
It's a strange tradition that evolved from criminal payoffs back in England (I think...) The problem is that state laws let you pay "waiters" $2 an hour and leave the rest to customers, but a lot of people are misinformed. Not that this will change anything, but then again, nothing on this website changes anything.
Submitted by EmoJean (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:44:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
How much do I tip when me and 4 or 5 of my rowdy but repsectful, tattood and long haired friends come in and and the waiter assumes we will not tip well and therefore treats us like shit?
No really how much, in my book its absolute dick and maybe even a talk with the manager.
Waiters and waitresses are just as presumptuous as anyone out there.
Now on top of that why is that service in a restaurant has gone considerably down here, let me clue you in....you do a good job and I'll tip the living shit out of you...not I tip you good and the next time I come in you treat me well.
I tip great if you deserve it.
Now let me ask you, do you wash your hands evertime after picking up your tip money and before you grab my plate of food? Because money is some of the dirtiest shit out there.
Also, if I have to ask you to refill my drink, if I have to go out of my way to get you to make eye contact with me, if you sit down in the next booth to take my order, if you set anything on my table to take my order, if my kid tosses mash potatoes in your eye and you do anything less than smile...you r tips drop...sorry pal that's the name of the game.
So don't put this all on the customer, on the average there are more shitty servers than there are shitty tippers.
And if you don't like it...get a real job with a gauranteed salary and benefits and all that. Or suck it up and realize that as the world grows further apart and we humans care less and less about each other, waiters and waitresses are going to get more of the shaft...what's easier changing the whole world or finding another job?
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:44:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck it
I tip if I think the service was above what they're paid to do
Thats why its called a tip.
$2 is about £1.30 I think. Get a better job.
Submitted by Entaran (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:40:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Own a restaurant. Large one too. Over here they're called waiters not servers.
People RARELY tip in Australia.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:39:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
sorry.
I'm too much of a jew bastard to really care if the person who is serving me can pay the heating bill.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:39:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH I'M A WAITER WHO WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH
Submitted by OneCheapGeek (user info) at 2006-08-01 07:29:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You're gonna get reamed for this.