When did giving TIP become a requirement?

[Kenji4861]

In my sociology class the teacher asked everyone "why do you bus your tray after eating at mcdonalds if you aren't being paid to do so?" He says the society makes us think that it's something normal to do.

Then I was thinking, everytime we walk in a restaurant, even if they have bad service, I feel guilty not to leave a (tax * 2) tip. There's always a line that says TIP on your check and.. some restaurants just charge you tip without asking. I mean waiters get paid for doing their job. I would tip them if I felt good about their service. Since when did giving a tip become a social norm? Anyone feeling this way?

 

[jobberd]

You should watch the beginning of the movie "Reservoir Dogs"

 

[Logix]

TIP is an acronym that stands for "To Insure Promptness".

And I would agree, it's certainly lost its meaning, to a certain extent.

 

[Aelus]

in belgium, about 20-30 years ago, the old habit of tipping in bars/restaurants was replaced by a fixed price system, prices now always include service. No more having to wait half an hour for your change because the waiter can't seem to find any. While tipping has it's benefits, i prefer a tipless system where the boss pays for his staff himself.

Aelus

 

[Jerboy]

<< TIP is an acronym that stands for "To Insure Promptness".

And I would agree, it's certainly lost its meaning, to a certain extent. >>




I used to have a calculator that had programmable tax and tip function. You program in the percentage. This portrays tip as some fixed percentage you have to pay.

It is like you're obligated to pay 15% tax type 2(tip) and n% sales tax regardless of quality of service. Waint(er/ress) whose curteous, competant(slow and incompetant are not the same) and gives a damn about customer will get agreeable tip from me. If you're a lil brat who only do things thats absolutely required, I only pay whats absolutely required. Maybe I'll boldy write 0.00% on tip section if your service and attitude sucked bad enough.

 

[iamwiz82]

<<

<< TIP is an acronym that stands for "To Insure Promptness".

And I would agree, it's certainly lost its meaning, to a certain extent. >>




I used to have a calculator that had programmable tax and tip function. You program in the percentage. This portrays tip as some fixed percentage you have to pay.

It is like you're obligated to pay 15% tax type 2(tip) and n% sales tax regardless of quality of service. Waint(er/ress) whose curteous, competant(slow and incompetant are not the same) and gives a damn about customer will get agreeable tip from me. If you're a lil brat who only do things thats absolutely required, I only pay whats absolutely required. Maybe I'll boldy write 0.00% on tip section if your service and attitude sucked bad enough. >>



I am not REQUIRED to do anything. If i get good service, that person can expect 25-30% tip. If i get bad service, they get nothing.

 

[bacillus]

I usually give 10-15% of the bill as a tip. if service was bad then I don't give one!

 

[flavio]

I tip in relation to service.

But the reason you bus your own tray at fast food places is because in theory, if you don't they will have to hire more staff and charge more for the food.

 

[Jerboy]

 

[flavio]

Common courtesy I suppose as well.

 

[Kenji4861]

<<

<<

<< TIP is an acronym that stands for "To Insure Promptness".

And I would agree, it's certainly lost its meaning, to a certain extent. >>




I used to have a calculator that had programmable tax and tip function. You program in the percentage. This portrays tip as some fixed percentage you have to pay.

It is like you're obligated to pay 15% tax type 2(tip) and n% sales tax regardless of quality of service. Waint(er/ress) whose curteous, competant(slow and incompetant are not the same) and gives a damn about customer will get agreeable tip from me. If you're a lil brat who only do things thats absolutely required, I only pay whats absolutely required. Maybe I'll boldy write 0.00% on tip section if your service and attitude sucked bad enough. >>



I am not REQUIRED to do anything. If i get good service, that person can expect 25-30% tip. If i get bad service, they get nothing. >>



888888888888888888888
That's exactly how I'm feeling. But say you don't bus your tray because you are not required to, people give you a dirty look.. Say you don't tip because you don't have to, people(waiters) give you a dirty look

 

[shazbot]

well, if the restaraunts stopped paying the waiters like 2.15 an hour, maybe we wouldn't have to tip. =|

 

[StageLeft]

Though I normally give one if the service is bad I will still give one, but very small maybe in the range of 5%. Occasionally I've given nothing.

 

[jjones]

In the US, waiters, waitresses, bartenders, etc. rely on tips for their income because, generally speaking, they get paid low wages. Where this originated I have no idea but I do like the system rather than in some countries i've been in where tips are calculated into the price. Tipping allows you to express your opinion of the service you are receiving and compensate the person providing that service directly. With good service I leave a great tip; with bad service I leave a poor tip.

 

[GasX]

<< I usually give 10-15% of the bill as a tip. if service was bad then I don't give one! >>

Wow - you're a tightwad.

 

[GasX]

<< You should watch the beginning of the movie "Reservoir Dogs" >>



Here is the script from that scene:

WAITRESS
Here ya go. Please pay at the
register, if you wouldn't mind.

JOE
Sure thing.

WAITRESS
You guys have a wonderful day.

They all mutter equivalents. She exits and Joe stands up.

JOE
I'll take care of this, you guys
leave the tip.
(to Mr. White)
And when I come back, I want my
book back.

MR. WHITE
Sorry, it's my book now.

JOE
Blonde, shoot this piece of sh*t,
will ya?

Mr. Blonde shoots Mr. White with his finger. Mr White
acts shot. Joe exits.

NICE GUY EDDIE
Okay, everybody cough up green for
the little lady.

Everybody whips out a buck, and throws it on the table.
Everybody, that is, except Mr. White.

NICE GUY EDDIE
C'mon, throw in a buck.

MR. WHITE
Uh-uh. I don't tip.

NICE GUY EDDIE
Whaddaya mean you don't tip?

MR. WHITE
I don't believe in it.

NICE GUY EDDIE
You don't believe in tipping?

MR. PINK
(laughing)
I love this kid, he's a madman,
this guy.

MR. BLONDE
Do you have any idea what these
ladies make? They make sh*t.

MR. WHITE
Don't give me that. She don't
make enough money, she can quit.

Everybody laughs.

NICE GUY EDDIE
I don't even know a Jew who'd have
the balls to say that. So let's
get this straight. You never ever
tip?

MR. WHITE
I don't tip because society says I
gotta. I tip when somebody
deserves a tip. When somebody
really puts forth an effort, they
deserve a little something extra.
But this tipping automatically,
that sh*t's for the birds. As far
as I'm concerned, they're just
doin their job.

MR. BLUE
Our girl was nice.

MR. WHITE
Our girl was okay. She didn't do
anything special.

MR. BLONDE
What's something special, take ya
in the kitchen and suck your dick?

They all laugh.

NICE GUY EDDIE
I'd go over twelve percent for
that.

MR. WRITE
Look, I ordered coffee. Now we've
been here a long f*ckin time, and
she's only filled my cup three
times. When I order coffee, I
want it filled six times.

MR. BLONDE
What if she's too busy?

MR. WHITE
The words "too busy" shouldn't be
in a waitress's vocabulary.

NICE GUY EDDIE
Excuse me, Mr. White, but the last
thing you need is another cup of
coffee.

They all laugh.

MR. WHITE
These ladies aren't starvin to
death. They make minimum wage.
When I worked for minimum wage, I
wasn't lucky enough to have a job
that society deemed tipworthy.

NICE GUY EDDIE
Ahh, now we're getting down to it.
It's not just that he's a cheap
bastard--

MR. ORANGE
--It is that too--

NICE GUY EDDIE
--It is that too. But it's also
he couldn't get a waiter job. You
talk like a pissed off dishwasher:
"F*ck those c*nts and their
f*cking tips."

MR. BLONDE
So you don't care that they're
counting on your tip to live?

Mr. White rubs two of his fingers together.

MR. WHITE
Do you know what this is? It's
the world's smallest violin,
playing just for the waitresses.

MR. BLONDE
You don't have any idea what
you're talking about. These
people bust their ass. This
is a hard job.

MR. WHITE
So's working at McDonald's, but
you don't feel the need to tip
them. They're servin ya food, you
should tip em. But no, society
says tip these guys over here, but
not those guys over there. That's
bullsh*t.

MR. ORANGE
They work harder than the kids at
McDonald's.

MR. WHITE
Oh yeah, I don't see them cleaning
fryers.

MR. BROWN
These people are taxed on the tips
they make. When you stiff 'em,
you cost them money.

MR. BLONDE
Waitressing is the number one
occupation for female non-college
graduates in this country. It's
the one jab basically any woman
can get, and make a living on.
The reason is because of tips.

MR. WHITE
F*ck all that.

They all laugh.

MR. WHITE
Hey, I'm very sorry that the
government taxes their tips.
That's f*cked up. But that ain't
my fault. it would appear that
waitresses are just one of the
many groups the government f*cks
in the ass on a regular basis.
You show me a paper says the
government shouldn't do that, I'll
sign it. Put it to a vote, I'll
vote for it. But what I won't do
is play ball. And this non-
college bullsh*t you're telling
me, I got two words for that:
"Learn to f*ckin type." Cause if
you're expecting me to help out
with the rent, you're in for a big
f*ckin surprise.

MR. ORANGE
He's convinced me. Give me my
dollar back.

Everybody laughs. Joe's comes back to the table.

JOE
Okay ramblers, let's get to
rambling. Wait a minute, who
didn't throw in?

MR. ORANGE
Mr. White.

JOE
(to Mr. Orange)
Mr. White?
(to Mr. White)
Why?

MR. ORANGE
He don't tip.

JOE
(to Mr. Orange)
He don't tip?
(to Mr. White)
You don't tip? Why?

MR. ORANGE
He don't believe in it.

JOE
(to Mr. Orange)
He don't believe in it?
(to Mr. White)
You don't believe in it?

MR. ORANGE
Nope.

JOE
(to Mr. Orange)
Shut up!
(to Mr. White)
Cough up the buck, ya cheap
bastard, I paid for your goddamn
breakfast.

MR. WHITE
Because you paid for the
breakfast, I'm gonna tip.
Normally I wouldn't.

JOE
Whatever. Just throw in your
dollar, and let's move.
(to Mr. Blonde)
See what I'm dealing with here.
Infants. I'm f*ckin dealin with
infants.

The eight men get up to leave. Mr. White's waist is in
the F.G. As he buttons his coat, for a second we see he's
carrying a gun. They exit Uncle Bob's Pancake House,
talking amongst themselves.

*note* Does this script have Mr. Pink and Mr. White mixed up?

 

[BDawg]

I always tip well > 15% if service is what I expect or goes beyond. I try to be very generous to waiters. If the service is lacking in any way, I deduct from my tip.

Just the other day, I performed possibly the most extreme action in relation to a tip.

A friend and I were eating at Uno's Pizzaria. Our waiter showed up to take our order, and then to bring our drinks. Another waiter showed up with our food. Shortly after, I finished the rest of my tea. We waited 5 minutes for anyone to drop by. Finally, I caught the manager on her rounds. When she asked me if everything was allright, I mentioned I had been waiting for tea for quite a while. She apologised and promptly brought me more tea. About 15 minutes after this, our waiter finally showed up with our bill. He was quite prompt returning for the money.

I left him $0.01 in tip (the least I ever leave is a penny. I want them to know I didn't forget). On the way out, I stopped where the manager was and gave her $2 and said, "This is what I would have left for our waiter had he performed adequately." She apologised for the incident.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the waiter collecting his tip. He shook his head when he saw mine. Serves him right.

 

[isildur]

tightwad doesn't even begin to describe it.

Your bill is for your food. Period.

You want it served to you too? Then damnit, pay the person who does.

RD is funny, but it is also wrong - waiters/waitresses do not make minimum wage - their empoyers are required to "ensure" that their wages + their tips = an ave. hourly take home above the minimum wage. Guess what: it often doesn't and the restaurants don't have to do anything about it.

You don't like the way the system works? Don't sit and eat in restaurants. If you don't like the rules of the game, don't play.

 

[RedRooster]

<< On the way out, I stopped where the manager was and gave her $2 and said, "This is what I would have left for our waiter had he performed adequately." She apologised for the incident. >>



Wait a minute, I thought you said she treated you well? $2?! j/k hehe
If I don't drop a blueback(Canadian $5 ) for a $20 meal I feel like a cheapo. These people are pretty much degraded to being servants, most of them doing it to feed their children or make their way through school. If I've got the money, I give whatever I can, even if the service sucks. Who knows, maybe their parents were in a car accident, and their mind isn't on the job tonight.

I WILL NOT give money to bums on the corner holding a hat out, however!

 

[kami]

It shouldn't be a requirement...but if someone does go out of the way to give me good service and is friendly, I always leave a healthy tip. if I get poor service and/or an attitude then I leave a penny on the table.

 

[randomlinh]

i always though 15% was pretty much the average in the tip department???

 

[thelanx]

Some restaurants don't pay that much, they include the tip in the wages. (I think)

 

[Descartes]

There's this really nice local restaurant I frequent, and I usually get the same waitress. The bill usually comes out to be about $100 for two of us, and I usually tip around $30, but sometimes more. I've been known to tip 100% of the bill if someone is exceptionally pleasant.

Personally, I'm too much of an introvert to be a waiter, but for those who can do that all day and *still* have a smile on their face and treat you nice, they deserve something extra. I do, however, HIGHLY disagree with tipping to-go "waiters." I frequent local italian restaurants, and they expect you to tip their to-go people. I think this is absurd, as I had to drive across town to pick it up, and all they had to do was pick it up from the kitchen counter. I will say that my service is probably better because they know me by name, and know that I'll tip them for basically doing nothing.

Oh well... that's why I've started trying to cook for myself more often.

 

[Pacfanweb]

<< am not REQUIRED to do anything. If i get good service, that person can expect 25-30% tip. If i get bad service, they get nothing.>>

When you do your job, do you do it perfectly EVERY time? If not, do you get paid anyway? Or if you have a bad day, do they just decide you gave them "poor service" and don't pay you?

Absolutely no difference. You should ALWAYS tip 15%, more if you think they did a good job. Waiters and waitresses make about 2-3 bucks an hour. Tips are how they really make money. There is NO waiter/waitress that does a great or good job every time. They help too many people for that to happen. Doesn't mean they deserve nothing for the hour they spent waiting on you.

 

[BDawg]

<< Wait a minute, I thought you said she treated you well? $2?! j/k hehe >>



Well, my bill was <$10, so $2 is a 20+% tip.