How do you feel about tips in restaurants?

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Originally Posted by RallyCola

tipping is never mandatory though...it is voluntary and customary but nevertheless, you should never feel as if you MUST tip a certain amount.

i don't really care about the base pay of a particular person. they will be given a tip commensurate with their level of service and how much I value their contribution to my experience.

if base pay was what was important, then that person shouldn't be a waitress. they are working for tips, not that little hourly check. they knew the job when they took it.

i dated a girl in undergrad that worked with kids with autism. daily, she was hit, had feces smeared on her, etc and she did this as a direct care worker for $10 a hour. where was her tip? she was a caregiver for people who put there kids in group homes because they didn't want to take care of them. how many of you would wipe the ass of some disabled kid spitting on you for $10 a hour to put food on the table or buy textbooks. so please, spare me about the poor waitress who can earn money tax free.

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your an awesome person full of compassion and empathy i see

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Originally Posted by amberskyi

your an awesome person full of compassion and empathy i see

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i am in fact an awesome person, but devoid of empathy. but that's far off from the original topic.

while we are on the original topic...is anyone joining in on the boycott of applebees in support of the fired server? i haven't been to an applebees in 4 years or so...but i don't like the way they caved so easily because a receipt of a photo went viral. their policy was to add 18% to large party bills..its on their menu...the customer should have brought the issue up with the manager, not make a comment on a bill then complain when they are made fun of. clearly, this cunty pastor bitch can dish it out but can't take it.

I actually went as far as sending Applebee's an email b/c their cowardice pissed me off so much, not that I expect a reply, but to tell them they can guarantee I will never give them a dime of my money and will bad mouth them to all my friends and family. It's pathetic that the bitch pastor got all pissed off b/c they called her out on her bullshit and wanted everyone fired. I worked in restaurants for enough years that I make sure I take care of servers every time I eat out, 20% is minimum, and I tip $5 on anything less than $20 just because they work the same amount to take care of me when I feel like eating cheap as they would when I'm eating big. Fuck Applebee's and fuck pastor Alois Bell.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow...192100973.html

I think tipping is one of those "to each his own" situations. a lot of factors can be taken into consideration such as service provided, quality of food and drinks and lets not forget the customers financial situation. i strongly believe that restaurants should not be allowed to add a tip already to the bill. and personally for me i think 18% is too much.

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Originally Posted by Anubis1779

I actually went as far as sending Applebee's an email b/c their cowardice pissed me off so much, not that I expect a reply, but to tell them they can guarantee I will never give them a dime of my money and will bad mouth them to all my friends and family. It's pathetic that the bitch pastor got all pissed off b/c they called her out on her bullshit and wanted everyone fired. I worked in restaurants for enough years that I make sure I take care of servers every time I eat out, 20% is minimum, and I tip $5 on anything less than $20 just because they work the same amount to take care of me when I feel like eating cheap as they would when I'm eating big. Fuck Applebee's and fuck pastor Alois Bell.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow...192100973.html

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:iagree: people should boycott so the can feel pressure from more than just one customer

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Originally Posted by stan.smith

I think tipping is one of those "to each his own" situations. a lot of factors can be taken into consideration such as service provided, quality of food and drinks and lets not forget the customers financial situation. i strongly believe that restaurants should not be allowed to add a tip already to the bill. and personally for me i think 18% is too much.

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i see your point in so far as you don't want it added to the bill automatically but the point is that it is the advertised policy to do so and you were advised of it going into the transaction. at that point, you need to ask the manager to take care of the situation, not take it upon yourself to lecture a waitress following established company protocol then call for her dismissal when she points out how big of a cunt you are.

anyone else find it ironic that this cunty pastor couldn't FORGIVE the waitress for her sin?

I tip anywhere from 15% to 20% depending on the service.

The one time I stiffed a waitress was in a buffet. Now normally you leave a couple of bucks even though they don't serve you anything but drinks but this time I had no change.

I walked out and did not leave a tip rationalizing it in my mind that tips are for service of food.

I'll be damned if I did not leave my damned phone on the table and while normally I get things back in situations like this, this time I did not. I chalked it up to karma and from then on I always tip well no matter what.

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Originally Posted by stan.smith

I think tipping is one of those "to each his own" situations. a lot of factors can be taken into consideration such as service provided, quality of food and drinks and lets not forget the customers financial situation. i strongly believe that restaurants should not be allowed to add a tip already to the bill. and personally for me i think 18% is too much.

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Now see, quality of food and drinks

How does the waitress have any control over that?
She could be the best waitress in the world, but the food and drink are still shite...Her fault, spank her tip?

It's a vile iniquitous practice that needs stamping out!

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Originally Posted by Jericho

Now see, quality of food and drinks

How does the waitress have any control over that?
She could be the best waitress in the world, but the food and drink are still shite...Her fault, spank her tip?

It's a vile iniquitous practice that needs stamping out!

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when i say food and drinks i mean more over the drinks not so much food because out of tip you give the bartender and the person who sits u down gets u all comfortable they get a cut. the so called "chefs" dont get tips as far as corporate restaurants are concerned. ive worked at one of these corporate chains before lol

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Originally Posted by RallyCola

i see your point in so far as you don't want it added to the bill automatically but the point is that it is the advertised policy to do so and you were advised of it going into the transaction. at that point, you need to ask the manager to take care of the situation, not take it upon yourself to lecture a waitress following established company protocol then call for her dismissal when she points out how big of a cunt you are.

anyone else find it ironic that this cunty pastor couldn't FORGIVE the waitress for her sin?

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of course cant argue when its advertised. i rem when i was living in miami for a short while all the restaurants in south beach had an 18% gratuity on the bill and i specifically remembered that not being advertised lol. classic touch on the pastor couldn't FORGIVE the waitress btw!!!

All I would add is that the pastor said 'I give God 10%..' whereas one would hope any Pastor gives God 100%. I think its clear from the posts that most people think waiting staff are poorly paid, but it seems to me that wages across the USA and across many professions have failed to keep pace with the rise in the cost of living -I believe the generally low wages now paid in the US are also part of the cause of your sluggish economy. The Bush era tax cuts were supposed to release capital for entrepreneurs to invest in businesses, creating jobs, whereas they just disadvantaged most Americans. The logic suggests the average American should have a wage increase, have more money to spend on their mortgage, their children's education, purchasing goods in shops -and eating out occasionally....

Having once been in the restaurant,nightclub business I always try to tip 15%-20% or more. They really have to be a total fuck-up to get stiffed by me.

There ought to a mandatory 15% service charge. This is not a "gratuity." It is a charge. The extra 5% or whatever you give should be contingent on service.

In my opinion, whatever product or service you are selling, the price a customer pays should cover ALL BUSINESS RELATED COSTS, Profit, and sales taxes charged by the government.(period!!!) There should not be any service fees, hidden costs, etc. When that business reports income on its tax return, they are not reporting all those separate fees/charges, they are showing GROSS INCOME!!! The taxes are deducted as a business expense.

Gratuity is gratuity, and should only be a mandatory minimum with large parties that require extra service.

Service Fees, etc are NOTHING but a SCAM!!!

does this scene explains it?

Reservoir Dogs - Tips For The Tippers - YouTube

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Originally Posted by sukumvit boy

Having once been in the restaurant,nightclub business I always try to tip 15%-20% or more. They really have to be a total fuck-up to get stiffed by me.

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Agreed.

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Originally Posted by NRT

does this scene explains it?

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Fuk, I'd forgotten just how good that film was.
I'm going to go watch it right now!

Man, I came into this thinking about that Reservoir Dogs scene but NRT beat me to it. I think Mr Pink sums it up pretty well.

Tipping is fine if the service deserves it but just assuming that a tip will be given even if you're a terrible server is ridiculous.

Also have to agree with what others were saying about the abysmal wages waiters are paid, but then the minimum wage is pathetic as it is and is certainly not enough.

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Originally Posted by sukumvit boy

Having once been in the restaurant,nightclub business I always try to tip 15%-20% or more. They really have to be a total fuck-up to get stiffed by me.

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Originally Posted by fivekatz

Agreed.

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Same here.

I use to be a cab driver (4 & 1/2 years), and while I never expected a tip (knowing the human condition) when I did receive one it really made my day at best (2 separate occasions tipped $100) and would at least put a smile on my face ($1-$5). In my book every little bit helps, and so I've always gone with if you are servicing me I'm going to leave a minimum $5-10 tip and usually around $20. I will admit that I don't usually do the math and give the exact percentage though.

While I usually do tip in most instances, I prefer it to be at my discretion. Not being from the US where it's expected I believe, I usually tip between 10-15% depending on the quality of service received.

I tip cab drivers too but never service employees like garbage men and postmen. Especially as I'm the one who does everything except press the button on the garbage truck to put it in there. The postmen down under ride motorbikes right up to your mailbox so again, no reason to tip there either

I'll give a larger tip when even although the service might not have been that great, it's clear that the waiter or waitress has been doing their level best in an overworked place. However, if food is under or overcooked or otherwise unsatisfactory, I'll make my point politely and am unlikely to tip.

Here in the UK the best service is usually to be found in Asian or Indian restaurants. The rule of thumb is the higher the price, the worse the service, and if the place has pretensions, just get a takeaway.

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Originally Posted by Prospero

I was unaware you postmen were not supposed to accept tips. Mine has never refused (and he is a good guy anyway.)

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In the US the posties are allowed to accept 'gifts' so long as they are under a certain value. Many of the carriers and clerks where I work might get something around the holidays as a recognition of good service and less than surly behaviour. Sometimes it is a gift card for one of the local stores or a small food item, but rarely cash. It's never expected and always appreciated. The carriers like Newman from Seinfeld and Elmer from Funny Farm are consistently ignored at these times and often bitch about how 'cheap' their customers are.

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Originally Posted by wiltthestilt

There ought to a mandatory 15% service charge. This is not a "gratuity." It is a charge. The extra 5% or whatever you give should be contingent on service.

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Most chain restaurants and larger independents will add 15-20% automatically if it is a party of six or more. That's what happened with the Applebee's check in this nonsense (And the pastor and her group asked for separate checks to try and get out of it, as can be seen in the amounts on the offending check). So, not only is the 'pastor' a bitch, but a cheating cunt as well.

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Originally Posted by Remy757Photog

I use to be a cab driver (4 & 1/2 years), and while I never expected a tip (knowing the human condition) when I did receive one it really made my day at best (2 separate occasions tipped $100) and would at least put a smile on my face ($1-$5). In my book every little bit helps, and so I've always gone with if you are servicing me I'm going to leave a minimum $5-10 tip and usually around $20. I will admit that I don't usually do the math and give the exact percentage though.

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Remy, you and I have to trade tales some day. I drove taxicrabs for four years in Boston and limos in Boston, Philly, NY, and DC. Our cabs operated on a 50% meter commission, but in Boston proper most were leased and every penny counted. I always gave the best service, fastest/most comfortable ride I could and was rewarded accordingly. I never complained about the amount of a tip (One regular always tipped a shiny new quarter, the same tip he'd given to the driver every day since the 1920s, never adjusted for inflation and rising cab fares) and never stressed over it. I must have been doing something right, as my tips often paid the rent when the fare split didn't.

That said:

I've seen two things throughout the thread that have not been clarified. One being that restaurant servers aren't getting the legal minimum wage. The painful truth is that they ARE getting the legal minimum wage for servers. The current Pennsylvania minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but is only $2.83 per hour for tipped employees. This is on par with minimum wage in other states/nationally. There is fine print in the PA law that states that an employer is supposed to make up any difference between that minimum + tips that doesn't meet or exceed the $7.25 amount, but I've never known an employer to do that (One would assume that the tips for an hour's work would usually exceed the minimum).

The other inaccuracy is the claim that tips are 'tax free'. While gratuities make up a significant part of the underground economy they are NOT 'tax free'. Employees are expected to claim their tips to the employer to be reported in their weekly income. If no tips are reported, some employers will insert an estimated amount, based on some formula of hours worked, or leave the slot blank and leave it up to the IRS to come knocking on the employee's door later down the road. And trust me, the IRS is one, nasty mistress and will err on the high side in any kind of income discrepancy audit. If someone claims income from a tipped profession (Restaurant server, transportation, hotel, etc.) and doesn't show some reasonable amount under the gratuities section the little red lights start flashing at the IRS.

I tip anywhere inbetween 5 and 15 percent and only on a few occasions not tipped at all when service was terrible.

Over here in the UK minimum wage is flat depending on what age you are no matter what job you do, that said one of my friends worked at Frankie and Bennys and could get £30-£50 for a 6 hour shift just in tips.

On the flip side I am a telecoms engineer and am completely forbidden to take tips of any kind other than a cup of tea/coffee and at a push a biscuit.

One thing i remember about when i spent time in the USA me and a three of my collegues went out to eat, we had just finished a late shift and all of us still wore our military uniforms. When time came to pay for the Bill the waitress told us someone at another table had already paid for it in a way of saying thank-you to how we helped out as he put it "our boys". We where flattered and very greatfull of this, but because we at that time were on food allowance we decided to give all the money we would have spent to the waitress in tips (roughly 140 dollars as we all had steaks and beers etc) she asked us are we sure so we told her she had to take it, and ofcourse for the next couple of months until we left for the UK we tipped well and got excellent service every time.

I wait tables at the moment in the U.S. and let me tell you leaving a note on the check doesn't get a managers attention like one put it. No management ever sees a signed check unless that costumer calls in to dispute something and they need to pull it out of records for verification. Secondly for you cheap fuckers out there who think you don't have to tip get a grip and get off your high horses. Servers are people too and need to be treated with respect. We aren't your god damned slaves so remember that. Yes we get paid $4.30 an hour or some crap like that but honestly i cant tell you the exact amount because most of us don't receive anything on our paychecks. That 95% of the time gets taken for taxes and insurance. I think i got maybe 5 checks last year and all where for less than $1. Another thing no one brought up was that a server needs to tip out as well. Now that amount depends on the restaurants policy but for me its 4.4% of my total shifts sales. So if you feel like your too cool for school and want to tip me $10 on a $100 check because your $15 alcoholic drink wasn't strong enough, then Im actually only pocketing $5.60 for that hour you've been sitting at my table. 15% in the United States is mandatory. 18% if you had a good time the table was kept clean, drinks refilled, clean silverware was brought for desert, plates delivered to share, etc. and 20% if they went above and beyond and that varies depending on each guests needs but some like to be left alone and some like to be chatted up during their meal. Some like you to personally box up their left overs some don't. Some want you to take pictures of the table, keep their kid occupied, or sing a birthday song or whatever that establishment does. But all of this isn't because we are lifelong best friends people. Its so that you have a good time and tip me well.

I was a manager and used to love defending my waitresses in front of unruly customers. They'd tell me, "We'll never come here again!" I'd respond, "Tell your friends too!" So many people act like they never even leave their own homes. Social misfits. That's who Swanson TV Dinners are for.

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Originally Posted by BeardedOne

Remy, you and I have to trade tales some day. I drove taxicrabs for four years in Boston and limos in Boston, Philly, NY, and DC. Our cabs operated on a 50% meter commission, but in Boston proper most were leased and every penny counted. I always gave the best service, fastest/most comfortable ride I could and was rewarded accordingly. I never complained about the amount of a tip (One regular always tipped a shiny new quarter, the same tip he'd given to the driver every day since the 1920s, never adjusted for inflation and rising cab fares) and never stressed over it. I must have been doing something right, as my tips often paid the rent when the fare split...

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I actually liked the way it works down here in the Hampton Roads area, we lease the cab for a flat rate and keep all that's made during shift. I leased mine on weekly basis so can stayed with me 24/7 allowing me pop out and work whenever it suited me. I generally spent 4 days earning the lease money and rest of the week on profit. I passed out my own business cards to decent people for repeat business directly to my cell. Also would run the meter but give flat rate to regular customers so they know how much they saved riding with me.

Speak on it, Audrina!

Good service=good tip, Bad service = bad tip plain and simple. Sure the wait staff are people and need to earn money but don't fault the customer all the time. Sometime those bad moods and cigarette smoke come through to us no matter how hard someone tries to hide them. If im coming out to spend my money and you want a little more of it on top of what im paying for my food at least have the ability to know the menu, keep my glass filled and smile. I don't want a hand job at the table I just want someone to be polite. I never bitch at wait staff for poorly cooked food because that isn't their fault unless they put in my order wrong. However before the food gets there and after it is on the table they need to at least check in on my table with a bit of manners. Lets not pretend every waiter deserves a tip just for showing up, its called work for a reason.

I was a waiter and people would tip even when I made mistakes if they could tell I was trying. It was extremely rare that I got stiffed. Bearded one is right that tipped employees are supposed to get more than the minimum wage when tips are added in.

Unless the waiter or waitress is trying to be rude I always tip (one time in my life I did not). Sometimes I hesitate but I just don't have the heart to stiff them.

Also got to appreciate Dino's post. People think they can abuse waiters and waitresses and threaten the restaurant with a loss of business. Nice to have a manager stick up for their wait staff if they're right and the customer is being an asshole.

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Originally Posted by BeardedOne

In the US the posties are allowed to accept 'gifts' so long as they are under a certain value. Many of the carriers and clerks where I work might get something around the holidays as a recognition of good service and less than surly behaviour. Sometimes it is a gift card for one of the local stores or a small food item, but rarely cash. It's never expected and always appreciated. The carriers like Newman from Seinfeld and Elmer from Funny Farm are consistently ignored at these times and often bitch about how 'cheap' their customers are.



Most chain restaurants and larger independents will add 15-20% automatically if it is a party of six or more. That's what happened with the Applebee's check in this nonsense (And the pastor and her group asked for separate checks to try and get out of it, as can be seen in the amounts on the offending check). So, not only is the 'pastor' a bitch, but a cheating cunt as well.



Remy, you and I have to trade tales some day. I drove taxicrabs for four years in Boston and limos in Boston, Philly, NY, and DC. Our cabs operated on a 50% meter commission, but in Boston proper most were leased and every penny counted. I always gave the best service, fastest/most comfortable ride I could and was rewarded accordingly. I never complained about the amount of a tip (One regular always tipped a shiny new quarter, the same tip he'd given to the driver every day since the 1920s, never adjusted for inflation and rising cab fares) and never stressed over it. I must have been doing something right, as my tips often paid the rent when the fare split didn't.

That said:

I've seen two things throughout the thread that have not been clarified. One being that restaurant servers aren't getting the legal minimum wage. The painful truth is that they ARE getting the legal minimum wage for servers. The current Pennsylvania minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but is only $2.83 per hour for tipped employees. This is on par with minimum wage in other states/nationally. There is fine print in the PA law that states that an employer is supposed to make up any difference between that minimum + tips that doesn't meet or exceed the $7.25 amount, but I've never known an employer to do that (One would assume that the tips for an hour's work would usually exceed the minimum).

The other inaccuracy is the claim that tips are 'tax free'. While gratuities make up a significant part of the underground economy they are NOT 'tax free'. Employees are expected to claim their tips to the employer to be reported in their weekly income. If no tips are reported, some employers will insert an estimated amount, based on some formula of hours worked, or leave the slot blank and leave it up to the IRS to come knocking on the employee's door later down the road. And trust me, the IRS is one, nasty mistress and will err on the high side in any kind of income discrepancy audit. If someone claims income from a tipped profession (Restaurant server, transportation, hotel, etc.) and doesn't show some reasonable amount under the gratuities section the little red lights start flashing at the IRS.

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In fact the employees are supposed to report actual tips which the employer can report or the employer can opt to simply report 15% of receipts as tips.