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

[MeanMeosh]

geez, this thread is still around?

 

[Freejack2]

I tend to think that 15% is the minimum that keeps the waiters happy unless of course they do a bad job.

However if your goal is not to be remembered (Mystery shop, law enforcement worker under cover, criminal, secret agent, whatever) tipping 15% across the board is the best bet as you don't want them to remember you for tipping too low, OR tipping too high.

 

[Amused]

<<

<<

<< who put the waiters/delivery boy on your payroll? It's not like you're withholding his paycheck... of course, you will argue that the regular pay is so bad that they depend...blah blah blah >>

Who put the waiters/delivery boy on your payroll? YOU DO! When you WITTINGLY enter the establishment of an industry that is KNOWN TO YOU as operating under the tipping concept. If you don't want to tip, or disagree with the concept, DON'T utilize these establisments and services.

You do NOT tip because the waiter 'doesn't get paid very well', tipping is NOT charity (although you can chose to be more or less 'generous' if you wish). Tipping is PAYMENT for services rendered. You are paying to receive that employee's labor and service. That is the system, that's how it works.

It is generally not 'mandatory' because it is an open-ended contract, so the waiter doesn't receive payment before the service is rendered, which disassociates the incentive to render services that meet or exceeds a customary and reasonable level of acceptance, to which the patron may tip accordingly. If you don't agree to this customary and long established business relationship between patron and establishment, stay home or go to Taco Bell instead. >>



wow, so eloquently put, yet still is basically a load of bs. imagine a world where a prospective business owner thought, hey, lets rely on an open ended contract to increase revenue, i trust the people will pay accordingly! sounds great dont it!

gee that reminds me of microeconomics. whats the purpose of a company? to make profits. what does lowering the pay of an employee and having them rely on the public provide? more profit.

i still think the us custom of tipping is a load of crap unless someone has gone out of their way to treat me well and make me feel all gooey inside. no percentages- a tip should be based on the quality of service a waiter provides, not the size of the check the employer receives*

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



You're not a sheep, but you are naive. Restaurants will NOT eat the loss if forced to pay wait staff full wages. They will pass 100% of that cost (more because of payroll taxes) onto the customer. Restaurant profit margins are very thin as it is. (And now, restaurant wait staff will be hourly employees. The same as your local Best Buy, Wal-Mart and DMV.)

Maybe you should actually know something --anything-- about the business you speak of before accusing them of something that just isn't true.

If you took a look at this objectively, you'd see that the US full service restaurant tipping system both SAVES the customer money, AND improves the level of service.

But no, you're too busy trying so hard to be a rebel, that you're incapable of seeing how the status quo is actually beneficial to you.

 

[Murphyrulez]

So far I have seen a couple posts saying that waitresses get minimum wage. THEY DO NOT GET MINIMUM WAGE.

Let me repeat this.

THEY DO NOT GET MINIMUM WAGE.

Waitresses get around $2.50 an hour. They get taxed on that $2.50 per hour out of their check AND they are required BY LAW to report all tips on their 1040 forms, AND PAY TAXES ON THOSE TIPS.


Hope this clears things up for you cheap sob's.

 

[misterj]

<< You're not a sheep, but you are naive. Restaurants will NOT eat the loss if forced to pay wait staff full wages. They will pass 100% of that cost (more because of payroll taxes) onto the customer. Restaurant profit margins are very thin as it is. (And now, restaurant wait staff will be hourly employees. The same as your local Best Buy, Wal-Mart and DMV.)

Maybe you should actually know something --anything-- about the business you speak of before accusing them of something that just isn't true.

If you took a look at this objectively, you'd see that the US full service restaurant tipping system both SAVES the customer money, AND improves the level of service.

But no, you're too busy trying so hard to be a rebel, that you're incapable of seeing how the status quo is actually beneficial to you. >>



i know itll pass the cost to the customer. that is fine. at least this will guarantee the waiters' pay. he will also get tips if he deserves it.

why do i need to know anything about a specific business? every restaurant follows this practice. maybe they arent doing this connivingly, but just follow the 'status quo'.

i dont see how this saves the customer money either, unless he skips the tip which is 'mandatory'. either way the service is improved, but with the current system the waiter may lose if the customer doesnt tip.

actually i think im looking at it objectively. from an economic standpoint, you pay your worker for his labor. he gets paid extra by the customer if they think he deserves it. seems so simple..
to look at it subjectively would be to empathize with the waiters and acknowledge the systems long history and accept it.

i dunno.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< You're not a sheep, but you are naive. Restaurants will NOT eat the loss if forced to pay wait staff full wages. They will pass 100% of that cost (more because of payroll taxes) onto the customer. Restaurant profit margins are very thin as it is. (And now, restaurant wait staff will be hourly employees. The same as your local Best Buy, Wal-Mart and DMV.)

Maybe you should actually know something --anything-- about the business you speak of before accusing them of something that just isn't true.

If you took a look at this objectively, you'd see that the US full service restaurant tipping system both SAVES the customer money, AND improves the level of service.

But no, you're too busy trying so hard to be a rebel, that you're incapable of seeing how the status quo is actually beneficial to you. >>



i know itll pass the cost to the customer. that is fine. at least this will guarantee the waiters' pay. he will also get tips if he deserves it.

why do i need to know anything about a specific business? every restaurant follows this practice. maybe they arent doing this connivingly, but just follow the 'status quo'.

i dont see how this saves the customer money either, unless he skips the tip which is 'mandatory'. either way the service is improved, but with the current system the waiter may lose if the customer doesnt tip.

actually i think im looking at it objectively. from an economic standpoint, you pay your worker for his labor. he gets paid extra by the customer if they think he deserves it. seems so simple..
to look at it subjectively would be to empathize with the waiters and acknowledge the systems long history and accept it.

i dunno. >>



:::sigh:::

The fact that you don't know why it costs more for the enployer to pay payroll, than it does for the customer to tip only shows you have no idea how business, or our tax system works. An employer does not simply pay paychecks. He must MATCH all taxes withheld on those paychecks. This is why it would cost more.

Secondly, our system came about because hourly workers, even tipped hourly workers suffered from the attitude of, "all I have to do is please my boss, not the customer." Well, our tipping system makes the customer the boss. This translates into US full service restaurants offering, on average, the BEST service in the world.

I've been to countries where tipping did not make up the bulk of the wait staff's salary, and trust me, you don't want that.

I accept the system BECAUSE I've seen how things work without using it. It's not pretty.

 

[raka]

Nobody here gets the point. Restaurant owners are the tyrants. Raising prices through "tipping standards" is their objective. It's the hidden costs that I really hate, going into a service restaurant. I always forget(does anyone else?) to worry about the tip cost when I order. Restaurant owners know this, and so this is a way they can keep their *observed prices low, while charging high when it comes to the bottom line.

There are many other things restaurants do to maximize profits that don't necessarily work in favor of the customers, but that's a whole nuther tapioka.

 

[Thegonagle]

<< i know itll pass the cost to the customer. that is fine. at least this will guarantee the waiters' pay. he will also get tips if he deserves it. >>


Actually, I like my non-guaranteed pay. It's rather fun going in not knowing whether I'll make $13/hr for the night, or $21/hr. At the end of those $21/hr nights, I sure feel exhausted, but it's satisfying all the same. If I just got paid a straight $13/hr no matter how busy it was, it wouldn't be so satisfying. I'd be sneaking off to take breaks, I wouldn't feel like working harder than anyone else, service would suffer, and at the end of the night, I'd be exhausted, irritable, and wondering why they wouldn't give me more money for my hard work. Oh, and if I choose to quit, it would probably be during a big rush if I was pissed-off enough.

The system works in everyone?s favor (the customer, the restaurant owner, and the waiter). Don?t be so cheap, everyone.

 

[dejacky]

I gave a 0% ($0.00) tip at this seafood restaraunt because the waiter had a bad attitude, even though he was saying "generous, & kind" words. He also shoved baskets in my face on the table expecting me to pick certain condiments instead of serving them to me. Also, When these two women left the bar he ridiculed them to other customers in attempts to make himself look cool. Seeing that already lowered the amount of tip I usually give in any restaraunt (10%-15%). When I received my food, I was appalled. I spent about $13 on what looked like leftover-seaweed-on the most polluted beach in the world. It was supposed to be some kind of fresh grilled fish with vegetables. It was absolutley disgusting. So, as I leave no tip, I'm leaving the restaraunt, opening my car door... Low & behold, the little prick (probably 19-20yrs old) comes out and condescendingly says "was the service really that bad?" There was no, "how could my service have been better?" It was a deliberate attempt at insulting me. So I sarcastically respond, "no, it was the food." He understood & went back inside after his manager was bitching at him to shut up. So I agree with Epsilon0. I only tip when the waiter deserves it. Am I a "cheap bastard?" No, & anyone that says so is too ignorant to think for themselves.

-dejacky

 

[Jerboy]

<< I gave a 0% ($0.00) tip at this seafood restaraunt because the waiter had a bad attitude, even though he was saying "generous, & kind" words. He also shoved baskets in my face on the table expecting me to pick certain condiments instead of serving them to me. Also, When these two women left the bar he ridiculed them to other customers in attempts to make himself look cool. Seeing that already lowered the amount of tip I usually give in any restaraunt (10%-15%). When I received my food, I was appalled. I spent about $13 on what looked like leftover-seaweed-on the most polluted beach in the world. It was supposed to be some kind of fresh grilled fish with vegetables. It was absolutley disgusting. So, as I leave no tip, I'm leaving the restaraunt, opening my car door... Low & behold, the little prick (probably 19-20yrs old) comes out and condescendingly says "was the service really that bad?" There was no, "how could my service have been better?" It was a deliberate attempt at insulting me. So I sarcastically respond, "no, it was the food." He understood & went back inside after his manager was bitching at him to shut up. So I agree with Epsilon0. I only tip when the waiter deserves it. Am I a "cheap bastard?" No, & anyone that says so is too ignorant to think for themselves.

-dejacky >>




Did you meant to say waiter came out of the building to your car and confronted you? I heard about something like this, but never ever seen it happen.

 

[dejacky]

yea, the prick came out of the restaraunt and confronted me. No one should be afraid of confrontation! It's your money, no one has the right to bully you into paying for something that's not worth the money.

 

[optimistic]

If you have trouble figuring out the tip think of it like this.

tax * 2 = TIP


In Los Angeles tax is 8.25%
8.25 * 2 = 16.50% (so it's approximately 15%)

In Orange County tax is 7.50%
7.50 * 2 = 15% (so it all works out evenly)

 

[HOWITIS]

no one in my family ever tips. i'm paying for the food, not them. if it came to it i wouldn't mind getting up and getting it myself

 

[dafatha00]

If you have trouble figuring out the tip think of it like this.

tax*2 = TIP

that only applies to california though

 

[Epsil0n00]

<< If you have trouble figuring out the tip think of it like this. Tip= tax*2 >>



Great! I love this idea!
In Oregon... Tax=0% so tip = 0%!

What a good suggestion.

Seriously though. You people amaze me in how willing you are to be reamed by the existing social customs. WAKE THE F*CK UP!

 

[Thegonagle]

Enjoy your Mcdonald's and Taco Bell, don't order for delivery, and have a nice day.

 

[VFAA]

Ok, a couple of questions...

1) You ordered a dinner for 2 at some restaurant... Total bill is $195 and you have a couple of $100 bills. Would you really want the $5 back and embarrass yourself to your date as being a tight ass? Afterall, you've proven that you can afford a $200 dinner, why not tip the damn waitress? Even if she looked at you funny. Personaly, I'd show a positive attitude to whomever was serving me from the getgo. That way I know I'll be getting a good service.

I just can't imagine someone sitting down at a table and just observe the waitress and everything she does. Then evaluate her on a 3 point scale. HELLO? Did you come there to eat or to evaluate the people who serve you? It is extremely disruptive for them knowing that someone is watching their every move.


2) You ordered a PIZZA. Total cost is $18.97 and you have a $20 bill. Do you really want to stand with the delivery guy at your doorstep watching him search his pockets for 5 minutes looking for your change? OH, COME ON! Give him the damn $20 bill and thank for your PIZZA. Unless you wanna see some spit on your meal next time your order.

 

[yoda291]

A.) Always tip your bartender. I don't care if he's the biggest jerk in the world and can't mix for his life. Tip him. Why? Cuz he's watching you as you drink and your level of security as well as the quality of your drinks is proportionate to your repuation as a tipper. There's a reason why some bartenders carry visine too.

B.) If the service was really that atrocious, drop a penny or whatever coinage you have in your pocket. Don't leave nothing there. Why? Cuz a penny says that was what the service was worth to you and sends a message that you were not satisfied as a customer.

C.) Your bottom line is too high if you think that tips are such a horrible thing. What level of service do you think is expected of these people when they're being paid and taxed on 2-3 dollars/hour? The most you can expect from most people is that something vaguely food-like gets from point (a) to point (b). THAT is their job. Not to smile at you, not to be courteous, not even to acknowledge you. They are couriers who go from pickup to delivery. Start at that bottom line when you figure in your level of service. All those terrible waiters who do crappy jobs? Believe it or not, they stay as waiters because, for as horrible as they perform their duties, they are still performing at the level expected of him. 15% doesn't seem all that unreasonable now does it?

I always tip what I feel the service deserved altogether be damned the percentages. If I feel that the level of service deserves a 20, then I drop a 20. If I figure that it deserves a dollar, I drop a dollar. If I sit in a diner with a cup of coffee bsin with my friends for 5 hours and the waiter/waitress is still attentive to me if I want my 7th refill, I will put 10 on the table and 20 in her hands cuz I took up a table that she coulda made a good amount of money on. Diners around here have gotten to know me for my tipping, not as generous, but as someone who appreciates service. I work as PC operations and I always do 100% work, which means sometimes I get offered gratuities or compensation which I always refuse. Why? Because I'm bein paid for that level of service. They wouldn't hire me if they didn't expect me to put in everything I could into every shift and I get paid and earn raises commensurate as my supervisor deems my performance. As far as I'm concerned, I perform at the expected level of service asked of me, nothing more and they pay what they believe it's worth. Since their figure is inside what I figure my service is worth, I stay. Since my service is inside what they feel is acceptable, I stay employed.

For restaurants, I gauge service on a bunch of factors and I tend to be very critical in my judgements.

For deliveries, however, I judge by time and by whether or not my food is squished around. Tips tend to be a little lower on this end.

For pickup, they perform at the level of service I expect of them, and so I usually don't tip anything unless something extraordinary warrants it

 

[Epsil0n00]

Yoda291~ you have an interesting idea in the works: Tip based on the level of service you received in relation to the level of service you expect, regardless of percentages.

So, when I go into a restaurant I will start expecting mediocre service (that's whats most common) and then when I get mediocre service I will not tip a damn cent because they only performed to the level of service I originally expected. When I go in for pickup I expect that I will take the food and they will take my money, if they give me a free drink or kiss my ass or something, then I will tip them because this is better than I expected of them.

This also works for different classes of restaurants... if I go into the subshop I expect mediocre service and that is what I will tip based on. However, when I go into the most expensive restaurant in the city (with $200 meals being common) I will expect to be treated like a king, so they will only get tipped if they treat me better than a king. You're so right! I should have realistic expectations based on what type of service I am requesting and then tip if they perform better than my expectations.

So, by that standard, if someone were to get computer service from me they shouldn't even think about tipping me unless I go above the expected call of my job. If I fix their computer in a timely fashion and I am polite and helpful, then I deserve no tip--> I get paid to do this level of service and I must, in order to keep my job, perform at this level. However, a client may be justified in tipping me if I do all of the above AND carry their computer for them, or give them extra quick service, or offer them personalized service, etc. Hmmm... interesting. I think this is a good adaptation of my original plan and a good alternative for those people out there that are still stuck in our rediculous social tipping custom. Way to go Yoda291!

 

[VFAA]

Yep, Yoda291 has layed the smackdown

 

[rogue1979]

There is nothing wrong for not leaving a tip for horrible service or food. However, if you get average service than you should leave an average tip, 15% or so. If you get excellent service, then it is up to your judgment whether you should increase the percentage of the tip, I always do. It is an accepted society standard to tip, it is not a law. Just like the law says nothing about picking your nose, farting, or scratching you private parts in public. But it is a society standard not to do so. Somehow I imagine any cheap @sshole who doesn't like to tip has absolutely no class and is sure to engage in the disgusting habits above in public.

 

[bowie71]

I wish God help you by putting you in my shoes,... you'll never know how hard to feed a family with one kid while stil have to pay tuition for college. I am the part timer pizza delivery guy, work in the week end to still survive,... My God bless your soul here and after..

 

[killmeplease]

<< Yoda291~ you have an interesting idea in the works: Tip based on the level of service you received in relation to the level of service you expect, regardless of percentages.

So, when I go into a restaurant I will start expecting mediocre service (that's whats most common) and then when I get mediocre service I will not tip a damn cent because they only performed to the level of service I originally expected. When I go in for pickup I expect that I will take the food and they will take my money, if they give me a free drink or kiss my ass or something, then I will tip them because this is better than I expected of them.

This also works for different classes of restaurants... if I go into the subshop I expect mediocre service and that is what I will tip based on. However, when I go into the most expensive restaurant in the city (with $200 meals being common) I will expect to be treated like a king, so they will only get tipped if they treat me better than a king. You're so right! I should have realistic expectations based on what type of service I am requesting and then tip if they perform better than my expectations.

So, by that standard, if someone were to get computer service from me they shouldn't even think about tipping me unless I go above the expected call of my job. If I fix their computer in a timely fashion and I am polite and helpful, then I deserve no tip--> I get paid to do this level of service and I must, in order to keep my job, perform at this level. However, a client may be justified in tipping me if I do all of the above AND carry their computer for them, or give them extra quick service, or offer them personalized service, etc. Hmmm... interesting. I think this is a good adaptation of my original plan and a good alternative for those people out there that are still stuck in our rediculous social tipping custom. Way to go Yoda291! >>



Give me a break! Most people know your type. If you recieved anything short of a hummer (because you think that you are worthy of nothing short of it), you wouldn't give somebody a dime out of generosity. And even THEN the server would have to pick your pocket while they're down there.

You are simply, CHEAP! Face the fact and quit making excuses for it.

 

[golfreak]

No Epsil0n00 is a freakin CHEAP dipsh*t.

"HERE'S A TIP! --> Stop tipping waiters and keep the money for yourself!"
Thats the title of his original post, it cries out CHHEEEAAAAPPPPPPP.

If you read his original post, the way he was talking about his so called 3-pt system, it pretty much saying that the most he ever will TIP is $3.
He said he never had the chance to give out more than 3pts and 1pt=$1, thats 3 freakin dollars.

You know if he was to walk by a farm all the baby chicks would be going CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP !!!!

Its amazing how many of you are missing the point.
Please point me to anyone who is saying the servers are entitled to anything.
All we're saying is that if you get good service, the servers deserve a decent tip.

I mean really, who is forcing you guys to eat out at a full service restaurant ??
There are other options you know.

Are you too blind to realize that our society are envied by most people in the world ??
Most people would love to live in this country.
When you people start nitpicking at "how we have to tip and such" you are just making excuses on why you are CHEAP !!

 

[Epsil0n00]

Hmmm... I have to ask myself now, "Did I create this thread so that I can incriminate myself as being cheap, or did I have a point to make?" Well, if you can't guess, I have a valid point and it is that the system of tipping in America is screwed up.


<< When you people start nitpicking at "how we have to tip and such" you are just making excuses on why you are CHEAP !! >>


When you say, "you people" you are being very judgemental and condescending. America is a great country in some respects, but there are many problems that need addressed. In stead of denouncing the people that point out the problems (what you call "nitpicking") you should open your eyes and accept that America is far from perfect.

I am not attempting to make any excuses for my _supposed_ cheapness. Again, this is not about me--This is about the system and what we should do in order to change things.