HERE'S A TIP! --> Stop tipping waiters and keep the money for yourself!

[ScottyB]

Waiters/Waitresses have to get the minimum wage. If they don't make minimum after tips their bosses have to pay the difference. so if you no one tips they are still going to get minimum wage. And PS they don't work harder than the people at BK getting minimum.

 

[Gaard]

<< Oh get off the high horse. >>


If someone makes a racist comment...especially if that comment hits close to home...I'll get on my 'high horse' every time.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< Oh get off the high horse. >>


If someone makes a racist comment...especially if that comment hits close to home...I'll get on my 'high horse' every time. >>



Sorry, I saw no racism in his remark.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

funny what threads make it to 200 and which ones don't. I haven't read all the replies, but I did read the original post.


Consider it this way, when you make the decision to go eat at a restuarant, you are implicitly agreeing to pay someone to cook your food, serve your food, and clean up after you. Most restuarants do not charge you for the service aspect of your experience, rather, they leave it up to you to decide how much to pay. It may be called a 'tip' and it may be optional, but if people didn't tip, then restuarants would soon have to raise their prices and your waiter would get his money, regardless of the quality of his work.

If you don't like paying someone to serve you, then don't go eat at restuarants that have waiters.

 

[im2smrt4u]

I'm very cheap, and I still tip people! One good example would be at Cornell, I would order a calzone ($6) at like one in the morning! I would get it flaming hot to my door in about 10-15 minutes! Now that was service! I would always tip $2-3, which would be as much as 50%, but it was so fast it was worth it!

I think the delivery guy really liked me!

 

[Amused]

<<

<< They get basicaly NO hourly wage (so low, it's inconsequential), with the unwritten agreement that YOU, the customer become their boss and are responsible for paying them for their services. This custom started so that YOU have control over thier pay giving YOU the power to pay, or not pay according to the level of service you receive. >>



they get what? $3 / hour? yeah that sucks but that to me is some sorta loop hole in the system for avoiding the minimum wage laws.

it seems also the trend is going higher and higher tips, so the wages get lower when the managers ntoice this. the end result is its purely an interaction between customer/server and one of them will probably get ripped off since the tip 'standard' will be high. the managers will sit pretty not having to pay your wage and only getting more money then usual off the tax on your tip. not a good scenario.

what annoys me most though is the obvious prejudism waiters have. I'm not very old, and I don't wear suits and gold watches, so many places I go the waitress make their analysis and conclude i will not tip high, so i am greeted with an attitude and lagging service. I still try to tip them nicely as I always do because it's nice to see the surprise on their face- but still... you should be nice to everyone! >>



What trend??? I'm 34, and for as long as I can remember, the baseline tip for acceptable service has been 15%. I am now speaking with my 71 year old mother on the phone. Guess what she tells me??? Tipping 15% has been the custom for at least 20 years, and before that it was 10% for the previous 50 years. "Keeps going up?" Hardly.

The system is NOT a loophole for avoiding MW laws. It's a system set up so that you the customer pays the wait staff, to insure good service. Remember, if tipping were abolished employers would simply raise the cost of the meal to cover their salary. And believe me, you'd pay more with this system because an employer must match the payroll taxes... and you'd end up with service as good as your local DMV, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy.

No thanks, I'll take the present system.

 

[Quad]

Epsil0n00 i somewhat agree with you. if my waiter messes up my order/meal/eating-out-experience in ANY way...they're getting a low-ass tip. simple was that. it isn't rocket science to write down what i want, going to the kitchen, getting it, and bringing it to me. that's why i'm paying these outrageous restaurant prices in the first place!

i seriously dislike people who insist on giving tips...even for bad service. i was at a restaurant with 2 of my friends, i ordered for all 3 of us. 2 of us got our food...while my other friend didn't get anything. 25 minutes later, we got fed up of waiting and we called the waitress over. she didn't even write his order down even though i had clearly ordered it. and yet my friend still insisted on give her a $4 tip
wtf is that

these people are paid an hourly wage already. if they give you excellent service, give em a good tip. if they give you sh!tty service, leave them a quarter....if they are extra rude, leave them nothing.

 

[Epsil0n00]

AmusedOne~
I'm sorry.
I really wasn't aware that you made the rules of tipping and could stand up as the singular voice of social mores.

_____


<< If you get ACCEPTABLE (mediocre) service, the custom is 15%... >>


I really can not believe that you are honestly suggesting (in a very outright manner) that we all should pay 15% for mediocre. If you're consistently okay with paying full price for mediocre service, then you are getting ripped off! Why should people settle for mediocre when we "have the power" to purchase the kind of service we want?

:| MEDIOCRITY SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED IN ANY FORM, AND CERTAINLY NOT BY A 15% TIP! :|


Case in point: (to demonstrate that we need to demand proper service as a base-level requirement and not something special)
--- Yesterday I went to Tacobell on my way home. The man in front of me ordered 3 hard tacos. When he got his order he inspected it and then called the manager over. He said, "Do you see the tacos in that picture (pointing to the overhead menu display of beautiful/full tacos)?" The manager said, "Yes." "Well, my tacos are not nearly as full as the tacos in that picture. Please put some more food in my tacos." The manager took the tacos and filled them to the brim. The man left and was satisfied.--- Now, this customer was not asking for anything special. He was only demanding to get the product that he paid for. Some people would feel that the manager deserved a tip in this example. However, why should he get a tip for correcting something that was incorrect to begin with?

--- I was next in line; I placed my order (in these words), "I'd like 2 bean burritos, with no onions. 2 cheese quesadillas, NO CHICKEN, and a medium soda." Now, I know that Taco Bell always messes up orders, but since I am a vegetarian there is no room for mistakes when it comes to chicken on quesadillas, this is why I say very clearly "NO CHICKEN." However, a few minutes later I recieved my order with 2 CHICKEN quesadillas. I called the manager over and said, "I ordered 2 CHEESE quesadillas (holding up the receipt), these have chicken on them. I am a vegetarian. I would like these replaced and my money back." The manager said okay and proceeded to replace my food and my money. Again, there should be no tipping here.

People need to be more assertive and stop paying for products/service that they are not happy with. What is the point of paying if you're not getting what you want?
Again, :| MEDIOCRITY SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED IN ANY FORM, AND CERTAINLY NOT BY A 15% TIP! :|

 

[awanSky]

This is fun.

Y'all willing to pay extra just to get somebody pass your order to kicthen, sometime deliver your food (I say sometime because most rest has food runner), and get you drink????? How bout this, REST SHOULD GIVE CUST OPTION TO NOT HAVE SERVICE FROM WAITER. SELF SERVICE LIKE GAS STATION. I am more than happy to write down my order, pass it to kitchen, and bring back to my own table. This will eliminate a lot of mistake. Number one problem in rest is actually misorder food.

BTW, for those hardcore tipper consider this ==>do you think lowering dental/medical cost and force dentist/doctor to earn their living base on tip will work?

also, for those who tip when they recieve sub standard service, you against your theory on tips improve service.

0.2 cents X 15% = my tips.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

<< I really can not believe that you are honestly suggesting (in a very outright manner) that we all should pay 15% for mediocre. If you're consistently okay with paying full price for mediocre service, then you are getting ripped off! Why should people settle for mediocre when we "have the power" to purchase the kind of service we want?

MEDIOCRITY SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED IN ANY FORM, AND CERTAINLY NOT BY A 15% TIP!
>>



I don't know why you are so angry, Epsilon00. If you want to eat out, especially at places like TacoBellyAche, then you shouldn't get too upset when they make a mistake. You get what you pay for, and in cheap places like that, you get cheap service. And mistakes are a part of life, if you have to deal with them.

What exactly is your point? Are you arguing that people should tip the same as you? I am fine with paying 15% for normal service. I think it is a fair percentage. I don't think I am getting ripped off. You have your right to your opinion just as I do. If you think 5% is fair, then go ahead and tip 5%. But don't expect too many people to agree with you. Furthermore, don't get all pissy when people disagree with you.

If you can't handle the fact that people screw up your orders or give you unsatisfactory service, then why don't you just stop eating out. You'll save tons more money than by haggling over a few percentage points. Or just eat at places where you know you'll get good service. However, if you regularly stiff the same waiter, they will quickly learn to stop wasting effort on you.

 

[Amused]

<< AmusedOne~
I'm sorry.
I really wasn't aware that you made the rules of tipping and could stand up as the singular voice of social mores.

_____


<< If you get ACCEPTABLE (mediocre) service, the custom is 15%... >>


I really can not believe that you are honestly suggesting (in a very outright manner) that we all should pay 15% for mediocre. If you're consistently okay with paying full price for mediocre service, then you are getting ripped off! Why should people settle for mediocre when we "have the power" to purchase the kind of service we want?

:| MEDIOCRITY SHOULD NOT BE REWARDED IN ANY FORM, AND CERTAINLY NOT BY A 15% TIP! :| >>



A tip is not a reward in US full service restaurants. It is payment for services rendered by the wait staff, which is YOUR responsibility as our sysytem is now set up. Mediocrity is described as competent, but not outstanding. If you have a mediocre waiter, you have an average, competent waiter who DESERVES to be paid for their service to you. Our system does not give them any real wage to speak of, because that responsibility is on the customer.

If you get acceptable service, and do not tip, you are morally and ethically guilty of theft of service.

No, I did not make these rules. I simply abide by the system that exists.

As for your Taco Bell example, see what happens when you have hourly workers who's salary is not dependant on how happy you are?

 

[Thegonagle]

Dude, you're bitching about a $4 Taco Bell meal! That's not a tipping restaurant. Those guys already get paid more than the minimum, otherwise there wouldn?t be a staff to serve you and clean up the plastic chairs and tables.

I know the point has been made, but if tipping were abolished, restaurants would need to pay servers a lot more than you?d probably think to make up for it, or you?d have a bunch of people who don?t care at all, just like at Taco Bell. The thing that keeps a good server around (and smiling) through a hectic lunch or a hellish Friday-Saturday night bar rush is the money they'll make, and it's a lot more than $8/hr during those times. It?s a system that works in everyone?s favor.

 

[beer]

Why do some people think a waiter is a minimum wage job? Minimum wage does not even come close to making ends meet, not even for a college student. I work at a *decent* restaurant (average tab of $40 or so) and I make $15/hr and some waiters there still have a hard time making ends meet at that wage. Being a waiter is NOT a minimum wage job; if it was, the same people that server you at BK, Wendys, and help you atl Electronic Fry's would serve you at a nice restaurant.

That's not the way it is. And if you start tipping less, the better waiters will move to classier restaurants and you will get a set of waiters that are willing to work for a lower wage. That means your service declines.

Go to a nice restaurant, and then head over to your local Fry's. One is a near-minimum wage job, the other is not. Where do you get better customer service?

That's what I thought.

 

[merlocka]

, "I ordered 2 CHEESE quesadillas (holding up the receipt), these have chicken on them. I am a vegetarian. I would like these replaced and my money back."

You demanded new quesadillas and your money back? Dasm, you be a cheap bastage.

 

[Platinum]

A comment I like to make is, Do you base your tip on your total bill or the bill before tax? Say your bill was like 18.87 + 6% tax = $20. I mean, usually I look at the final total on the bill and base my percentage on that. Yet, when waitresses puts a 15% gratuity on the bill for large parties, I always hear these old ladies complaining and arguing for 15 minutes that they should not base their tipping percentage on tax too.

I mean, we are talking about chump change here compare to the check. For a $200 check, the difference would be $1.70. Sheesh, the steps cheap people will take to weasel out of ~2 bucks.

 

[misterj]

food- i pay what the business charges.

tip- i pay what is deserved.

employers- hike away at the food prices to compensate for your employees. hiked it too much? well i wont eat there, duh.

is this concept too hard to understand?*





*now since im a sheep and dont like to be hated, i pay what society tells me to =P

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

<< A comment I like to make is, Do you base your tip on your total bill or the bill before tax? Say your bill was like 18.87 + 6% tax = $20. I mean, usually I look at the final total on the bill and base my percentage on that. Yet, when waitresses puts a 15% gratuity on the bill for large parties, I always hear these old ladies complaining and arguing for 15 minutes that they should not base their tipping percentage on tax too.

I mean, we are talking about chump change here compare to the check. For a $200 check, the difference would be $1.70. Sheesh, the steps cheap people will take to weasel out of ~2 bucks >>




LOL, i have a very good friend, who also shares this opinion... hahahah its so funny to see him quibble over a few cents... it cracks me up!

 

[Hossenfeffer]

<< Sheesh, the steps cheap people will take to weasel out of ~2 bucks. >>

Hehe

 

[Jfur]

<<

<< if it were 10%, that would be easy. >>



Dude, take 10% of the total.

Then divide that by 2, which gives you 5%.

Add the two results to get 15%.

This is elementary math! >>

 

[TremblingFool]

If service staff have to put up with people like some of the posters in this thread, then they deserve their 15% and more.

Waiters and Waitresses of ATOT, I salute (and tip) you!

-Erik

 

[dafatha00]

--- I was next in line; I placed my order (in these words), "I'd like 2 bean burritos, with no onions. 2 cheese quesadillas, NO CHICKEN, and a medium soda." Now, I know that Taco Bell always messes up orders, but since I am a vegetarian there is no room for mistakes when it comes to chicken on quesadillas, this is why I say very clearly "NO CHICKEN." However, a few minutes later I recieved my order with 2 CHICKEN quesadillas. I called the manager over and said, "I ordered 2 CHEESE quesadillas (holding up the receipt), these have chicken on them. I am a vegetarian. I would like these replaced and my money back." The manager said okay and proceeded to replace my food and my money. Again, there should be no tipping here.

Interesting point you bring up here. Now let me present you with an example. Say your Taco Bell order had been correct, and on top of that, prepared in an extra timely fashion, the employees are super friendly, and they include some extra food that you did not request (say an extra cheese quesadilla). Now I would say that this service is more than above nominal.

Now earlier, I recall you clearly saying that you tip only when service has been extraordinary. But would you tip the Taco Bell people? I think not. Why? Because it is AGAINST social customs to tip fastfood joints. Somewhat hypocritical if you ask me.

Also, you said you use a 3-point system with a maximum of 3 dollars to tip? So if you went to a nice restaurant and the total came to be $100 for you and another person, you'd leave only 3 dollars?

Don't have an easy time with the ladies do you?

 

[misterj]

gee are tips taxed with income?

 

[kami]

<< You demanded new quesadillas and your money back? Dasm, you be a cheap bastage. >>


LOL


epsilon, I don't know why you're so angry about this. don't tip if you don't want to, but don't preach your ways to us. we'll tip when and if we feel it's necessary. i happen to enjoy giving them when i feel a generous one is deserved. not everyone goes through life being as cheap as you are

 

[ultimatebob]

What on earth does Taco Bell have to do with tipping wait staff?!? Taco Bell is a FAST FOOD restaurant, so a tip is not required or expected. I know that someone is cheap as yourself probably doesn't go to full service restaurants every often, but the superior level of service is something that you're expected to open your tight little wallet and PAY for.

Don't be a cheap skate, and pay for the services rendered. If think that the service sucks, you can leave a smaller tip, but it is EXPECTED that you should leave SOMETHING behind.




<< Case in point: (to demonstrate that we need to demand proper service as a base-level requirement and not something special)
--- Yesterday I went to Tacobell on my way home.... >>

 

[Thegonagle]

<< gee are tips taxed with income? >>

Servers are taxed based on minimum wage ($5.25) at the least, and sometimes, if the IRS gets on the resturant about correct reporting, on 8-10% of the server's sales (or probably higher, if they accurately report their tips), plus their puny "wage."