Joe's Crab Shack - No Tipping?!?!

[OutHouse]

Unless things have changed in the last few years, several countries in Europe have tipping as well, it just works a little differently. The server comes out with the bill and shows it to you. You look at the bill and state what you wish to pay including the tip. The general rule of thumb in Germany and Austria is simply to round up. So, for example if the server tells me the bill is $22.15 I would say $25.

I can't speak for all of the European countries, but it worked that way in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy when I was in those countries. I haven't been to Europe in a long time (10 years or so) so perhaps things have changed. I'll be in Germany next week so I'm interested to see how it works these days.,

Only bringing this up because I see people saying the US is the only country with a tipping policy. I believe other countries also have tipping policies but they aren't so explicitly stated (15% for example).

i lived in Germany for 4 years (small village on the Mosel river). We drove to and visited nearly every country in Europe and I have never ever seen this.

 

[ControlD]

i lived in Germany for 4 years (small village on the Mosel river). We drove to and visited nearly every country in Europe and I have never ever seen this.

Hmm. Maybe it is only in certain areas? I am usually in Bavaria and that is how the locals taught me to tip.

Maybe they were just messing with me. Although they did the same thing ...

I just applied it everywhere and it seemed to be expected.

 

[OutHouse]

Hmm. Maybe it is only in certain areas? I am usually in Bavaria and that is how the locals taught me to tip.

Maybe they were just messing with me. Although they did the same thing ...

I just applied it everywhere and it seemed to be expected.

well let us know or PM me when you go to back next week. im curious.

 

[ControlD]

well let us know or PM me when you go to back next week. im curious.

This is basically what I did.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/restaurant-tipping-germany-59081.html

I'll report when I get back.

 

[JSt0rm]

i dont agree with this. A good friend of ours works as a server for second job. she has pretty much only worked in chains and local joints. your hard work has very little to do with how much you get tipped in places like chili's, applebees, IHOP, Denny's or Billys country diner... your tips are pretty much entirely based upon how generous you guest are feeling that night and how busy the place is. she has done 12 hour shifts and make 60 bucks in tips and and i know the best she has done was a 4 hour shift she made 210 bucks. on her normal shifts about 6 hours she typically pulls in 80-100 bucks in tips.

many of her co-works work as servers and its their only source of income and they STRUGGLE to make ends meet.

80 to 100 aint bad for 6 hours in a joint like that. But you are right. Waiting tables is not a path to economic security for a lot of people. So if not tipping became the norm those people would make EVEN LESS. And its cheered here.

It is a job for those who are on the bottom end of our economic engine. Thats why I talked about my history with it in post #90

If you work hard you can move up but its hard.

 

[Midwayman]

Tipping actually creates incentive for worse service. Tips don't vary much by actual quality of service. However they do vary very directly with the number of tables served. Its in the best interest of the waitstaff to give shitty service to as many people as possible.

Tipping is a horrible custom about the illusion of control. Its time it went away.

 

[JSt0rm]

Tipping actually creates incentive for worse service. Tips don't vary much by actual quality of service. However they do vary very directly with the number of tables served. Its in the best interest of the waitstaff to give shitty service to as many people as possible.

Tipping is a horrible custom about the illusion of control. Its time it went away.

Your example sounds like a poorly managed restaurant and not the norm.

 

[Midwayman]

Your example sounds like a poorly managed restaurant and not the norm.

Its the reality of how tips work. Studies show average tips only vary a couple percent at most by quality of service. Of course a good manager wouldn't let a poor server stick around, but you can say the same in a tip-less environment.

It also avoids other tip related problems of course like certain groups being known for tipping less and servers wanting to avoid those tables. The bill is the bill then.

Point is the whole idea of tips being a way to reward more for better service is completely incorrect. Doesn't really happen in any meaningful way.

 

[JSt0rm]

well the reality of how restaurants work is they dont allow the servers to pick how many tables they get to serve. And servers who give bad service dont last long.

 

[KMFJD]

Originally Posted by DaveStall
Unless things have changed in the last few years, several countries in Europe have tipping as well, it just works a little differently. The server comes out with the bill and shows it to you. You look at the bill and state what you wish to pay including the tip. The general rule of thumb in Germany and Austria is simply to round up. So, for example if the server tells me the bill is $22.15 I would say $25.

I can't speak for all of the European countries, but it worked that way in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy when I was in those countries. I haven't been to Europe in a long time (10 years or so) so perhaps things have changed. I'll be in Germany next week so I'm interested to see how it works these days.,

Only bringing this up because I see people saying the US is the only country with a tipping policy. I believe other countries also have tipping policies but they aren't so explicitly stated (15% for example).

i lived in Germany for 4 years (small village on the Mosel river). We drove to and visited nearly every country in Europe and I have never ever seen this.

You'd normally leave the small change but take the dollar coins

 

[stlc8tr]

No they won't be cooks because they aren't dumb. They will leave the industry. Good luck finding good servers for your $400 per person restaurant. Do you know what happens at understaffed restaurants?

A lot of the nicer restaurants around here (French Laundy, Meadowood, etc.) already are service-charge instead of tip.

 

[JSt0rm]

A lot of the nicer restaurants around here (French Laundy, Meadowood, etc.) already are service-charge instead of tip.

I believe its a tip pool situation between all foh employees. A service charge is different then raising the food prices and then telling you not to tip.

 

[stlc8tr]

I believe its a tip pool situation between all foh employees. A service charge is different then raising the food prices and then telling you not to tip.

No, from what I understand, it's pooled among all employees, not just FOH.

French Laundry just raised their prices so no line item charge while the other restaurants have a line item service charge.

 

[Ns1]

No, from what I understand, it's pooled among all employees, not just FOH.

French Launch just raised their prices so no line item charge while the other restaurants have a line item service charge.

this

pooled tips = FOH only
service charge = FOH and BOH

(at least in CA)

 

[Zorba]

You cant be negative about poor tips. You must be positive about every table every time. Ive had people say they didnt have enought to tip me and they would be back (never came back) or the cc would reject because they are at their limits. Shit happens.

Ive also had people come back the next day to give me more money because they realized they tipped too low. Thats really cool.

You seem to have a pretty good attitude about it, which is probably why you went as far as you did. But every waiter I've ever known whines about every table that didn't give them a good enough tip. A "good enough" tip was often at least 20%.

I also see waiters get noticeably upset from time to time about the tip left by another table.

 

[turtile]

Its the reality of how tips work. Studies show average tips only vary a couple percent at most by quality of service. Of course a good manager wouldn't let a poor server stick around, but you can say the same in a tip-less environment.

It also avoids other tip related problems of course like certain groups being known for tipping less and servers wanting to avoid those tables. The bill is the bill then.

Point is the whole idea of tips being a way to reward more for better service is completely incorrect. Doesn't really happen in any meaningful way.

It really depends on the crowd of people you serve. Certain people will pay 20% normally and give 25% for excellent service.

I've had people tip 30% and then thank me again and hand me extra cash. So it does happen. But at the same time, someone can thank you for great service and only tip 15%.

If you serve alcohol, a good server and make a lot more money. They can't buy more unless keep checking up on them. Considering that many drinks cost as much as a meal, you can make a lot if you push the table to buy an extra round or two.

 

[I Saw OJ]

There's a supermarket chain in Mass call Roche Bros. They have employees who will help you bring your groceries back to your car. They also provide a home delivery service. The supermarket has a strict no tipping policy. A relative of mine, who use to work there, told me that employees who are caught taking gratuities, are canned.

I worked at a grocery chain here in California with the same policy. I started out at minimum wage as a bagger/grocery-taker-outer and could not accept tips. Loading the groceries into your car was a service the store provided and didn't want people thinking they had to pay extra by tipping.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

its so strange to me that everyone in our country wants to pull everyone else down. We off shore good paying jobs to save 10%. We demand minimum wage never goes up. We want everything to be cheaper always. And we dont want to tip some person.

This comic really hits home for me:

http://thewireless.co.nz/articles/the-pencilsword-on-a-plate

I was worse off than Puala and now I'm better off Richard.

I've had the support of people along the way.

I chose to be a human with free will.

I chose not to be poor any more.

I chose to post to this forum.

I chose to fight dyslexia.

The US gave me schools.

The US gave me student loans.

The US gave me an opportunity to learn.

The US gave me a reason to fight for change.

I've had the support of every US tax payer along the way.

I was worse off than Puala and now I'm better off than Richard.

 

[BoberFett]

Never paid your food bill and tip by a credit card?

All the time. But a lot of people tip in cash, and servers prefer it that way so they can cheat on their taxes.

 

[rh71]

I dont think a lot of people in those threads even care about food enough to care about good service. Its like an art form at the right places. For those people to make less then $30 a hour is a shame.

You're right, a lot don't care. Doesn't matter if diners make $200k a year and like to spend money otherwise. It's just food. You enjoy it for the 20 minutes you're scarfing it down then you crap it out later. Some people just like being served and care about that for some reason (old generations, servants, and slavery come to mind). I'm just minimalistic when it comes to eating, so I too will find it "funny" that there are "foodies". Go to a restaurant and enjoy time out with your family or loved one - that should be the focus. Not whether the waiter smiled at you or brought your food out with extra napkins or was able to recite the wine list. Not the $4 difference in a 15% vs. 20% tip, and most certainly not the guilt for deciding on it.

I'm going to have sushi buffet at a reputable place for my birthday tonight with family for about $30 a head. Not some ridiculous fancy sushi restaurant which is nearly the same quality but less food for $100 each when the check comes. Been there, done that and it was utterly nonsensical.

Just an opinion from a consumer. You guys have to account for making money so it's no surprise you have those opinions.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

You're right, a lot don't care. Doesn't matter if diners make $200k a year and like to spend money otherwise. It's just food. You enjoy it for the 20 minutes you're scarfing it down them you crap it out later. Some people just like being served and care about that for some reason. I'm just minimalistic when it comes to eating, so I too will find it "funny" that there are "foodies".

I get a literal high from great food.

I am using literal in the literal sense; not the metaphorical.

Don't do my drug, it's bad, M'Kay?

 

[slag]

Moot point because Joe's Crab Shack sucks. I've eaten there twice and both times it was horrible.

Probably your location. I've gone to the one in Olathe a few times and had a good experience every time.

 

[Midwayman]

It really depends on the crowd of people you serve. Certain people will pay 20% normally and give 25% for excellent service.

I've had people tip 30% and then thank me again and hand me extra cash. So it does happen. But at the same time, someone can thank you for great service and only tip 15%.

If you serve alcohol, a good server and make a lot more money. They can't buy more unless keep checking up on them. Considering that many drinks cost as much as a meal, you can make a lot if you push the table to buy an extra round or two.

http://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1158&context=articles

It happens, but its not enough to make much of a difference. Serving more tables or upselling is the rational way to increase take home.

 

[JSt0rm]

I was worse off than Puala and now I'm better off Richard.

I've had the support of people along the way.

I chose to be a human with free will.

I chose not to be poor any more.

I chose to post to this forum.

I chose to fight dyslexia.

The US gave me schools.

The US gave me student loans.

The US gave me an opportunity to learn.

The US gave me a reason to fight for change.

I've had the support of every US tax payer along the way.

I was worse off than Puala and now I'm better off than Richard.

Same. And it looks like you didnt "know your place". But you shouldn't look down on other people because they don't have your exceptionalism. For me my climb was hard and I made lots of personal sacrifice to get to where I am now. I wouldn't expect everyone to commit to that.

You're right, a lot don't care. Doesn't matter if diners make $200k a year and like to spend money otherwise. It's just food. You enjoy it for the 20 minutes you're scarfing it down then you crap it out later. Some people just like being served and care about that for some reason (old generations, servants, and slavery come to mind). I'm just minimalistic when it comes to eating, so I too will find it "funny" that there are "foodies". Go to a restaurant and enjoy time out with your family or loved one - that should be the focus. Not whether the waiter smiled at you or brought your food out with extra napkins or was able to recite the wine list. Not the $4 difference in a 15% vs. 20% tip, and most certainly not the guilt for deciding on it.

I'm going to have sushi buffet at a reputable place for my birthday tonight with family for about $30 a head. Not some ridiculous fancy sushi restaurant which is nearly the same quality but less food for $100 each when the check comes. Been there, done that and it was utterly nonsensical.

Just an opinion from a consumer. You guys have to account for making money so it's no surprise you have those opinions.

First off I no longer work in the industry so what happens there has no effect on my finances.

I would say this to you. 1 time in your life you should do a $800 tasting menu with your wife/gf/toaster. We only live once and you should try to experience everything life has to offer. When you share a meal like that it stays with you forever. Its like a vacation that lasts for 4 hours.

I can appreciate people saying they would never spend that kind of money on a meal but you are buying an experience. And thats what life is in the end.

If you want to pm me your location I may be able to offer some options.

long island- you have lots of options but per se would be my one time only choice in nyc

http://www.thomaskeller.com/per-se

 

[slag]

What I've never understood is how tipping is relative to the price of the meal.

If I go to outback and buy a 17.00 Strip steak my bill is 40 bucks and you tip 6. If you go to ruth chris and get a 34.00 strip steak your bill is 90 and somehow that waiter deserved 13 bucks?

In my experience they both worked the same job and did about the same in the quality of service.

Go to outback and the waiter just takes your order and brings you your food. Go to Ruth's Chris and the waiter not only takes your order, but explains the special of the day, how it is cooked, what wines would pair well with your dinner, and overall provides a value added service in addition to just jotting down "Tbone, med rare, bake potato".