just thought about "tipping"

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
25,716
4
81
i used to do valet parking, and the way we got paid was, the management guaranteed us $6 an hour (cash... wooohoo!). so what we make depends on the tips we get. if we did not make $6/hr, we would get reimbursed the difference. for example, if i worked 5 hours, the management guarantees us $30 (5 hours x $6/hr). if we only make like $20 in tips... management will give us $10.

we ususally worked weddings or some parties at manor-type places. our work days are usually 1 hour of craziness when ppl flood in, sit around for a few hours, then another hour of craziness when ppl flood out. usually when i bring a car up, i get outta the car and stand by the door to close the door for the patron. this actually serves as the opportune time to recieve a tip. in the beginning, when some pple just walk by me and don't tip, i'd just be disappointed and carry on. then eventually, i began to get pissed off and when ppl walk by me without tipping, i'd tell them "excuse me sir/madam, we work off tips". that works 99% of the time.

back then, i really didn't care if i sounded like an a-hole, but now that i think about it... it does sound sort of bad, as if i am in some way trying to extort money from the patrons. so yeah... if any of you ppl got the "excuse me sir/madam, we work off tips" from a disgruntled valet, please accept my humble apology. if you pm me the event and location of our encounter, i will paypal your dollar back.

:sun:
 

Quasmo

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2004
9,630
1
76
I used to work in food service, but it was behind a counter, though we still prepared peoples food and brought it out to them. What I found worked was when people signed their reciepts I would say, if you could sign this here and leaving a tip is up to you. Amazingly enough I got more tips that way then just giving them the reciept.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
Originally posted by: Mrvile
Whoa I've never seen the :sun: emoticon before...

LOL I thought the same thing after reading all that. Seriously, tipping is only a city in China. :p
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
I work as a valet right now and I can predict stiffs with 90% accuracy =P

that being said, i'd be fired if i used that line
 

AdamSnow

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2002
5,736
0
76
Glad I never had to rely on tips for money...

I've been lucky to have other forms of employment... but I do try to be a good tipper for those who do that type of job... I respect them.
 

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
25,716
4
81
Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
I work as a valet right now and I can predict stiffs with 90% accuracy =P

that being said, i'd be fired if i used that line

does valet pay well these days? i know that if you work at the right place, u can make a pretty penny doing valet. well... at least back in my day.
 

spanky

Lifer
Jun 19, 2001
25,716
4
81
Originally posted by: AdamSnow
Glad I never had to rely on tips for money...

I've been lucky to have other forms of employment... but I do try to be a good tipper for those who do that type of job... I respect them.

thanx. were you the dude that gave me the $20?
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Originally posted by: spanky
Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
I work as a valet right now and I can predict stiffs with 90% accuracy =P

that being said, i'd be fired if i used that line

does valet pay well these days? i know that if you work at the right place, u can make a pretty penny doing valet. well... at least back in my day.

and my current HOTEL it blows...tips are a bonus, but the hourly is quite nice...averages out to about 13/hr...

at my old workplace it was MONEY. I busted my ass to get all the right shifts so this isn't really a fair comparison but...on my bad days i cleared like 16/hr, on my good days it went upwards of 25+. (all this is tips+wages of course)
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
Originally posted by: spanky
then eventually, i began to get pissed off and when ppl walk by me without tipping, i'd tell them "excuse me sir/madam, we work off tips". that works 99% of the time.

I would never tip someone who asked for it.