When did tipping become "required".

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Originally posted by: MacBaine
Originally posted by: Viper GTS Hello Mr White.
rolleye.gif
Viper GTS
Why do I have to be Mr. Pink? Why can't I be something cool like...Mr. Black
Joe: Cause you're a f@ggot, ok?

All jokes aside, was using that word really necessary? :frown:

Using gay slurs is accepted unless someone complains Alot to the mods

Just make sure you complain without using any slurs as an example of what is not acceptable or you will be banned and they won't
 

MegaloManiaK

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,207
0
0
You are supposed to leave a tip becuase for some reason the resturaunt business is excluded from the min wage laws. The resturant can advertise its 9.99 pasta bowl without fear of false advertisement because you end up paying 12.99 +tax for it. Its not fair to you or the server but thats the way it is.

Besides that why start this argument yet again. Neither you, The other people in this thread, or I have said anything that wasn't posted a million times before so what do you hope to accomplish here?

Give it a rest, tip your server.

Every waiter/waitress i have ever known bragged about how they made 15-20 dollars an hour in my face while i was making 12 doing tech jobs and yet they had the nerve to be bastards and complain about how people don't leave tips. Boo whoo.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Originally posted by: amnesiac
Again, just to get my point across:

Tipping is what is known as a "social custom" or "etiquette." Other common social customs are acknowledging a passer by on the street if they say, "Good morning!" shaking hands with someone you just met, holding the door open for someone with their hands full, not diving into your meal until everyone has been served, waiting in line to be served, et cetera.

These are things that any normal, civilized human is expected to do when interacting with society. These are not laws, but as I said, social customs, so you are not at all required to follow these. You do not, however, have the right to complain if people think you are rude for not following along. This is how we have constructed our society, and if you don't like it, get the hell out. There's plenty of third world nations that don't give a flying rat's ass about tipping, and no one is stopping you from moving there.

That's such BS. It's etiquette when the service is there. If you have horrible service you're should'nt be compelled to leave a dime AND the food should be free. I was a waiter for 2 years a banquet waiter and if the service was poor I damned well better not get paid.
 

csf

Banned
Aug 5, 2001
319
0
0
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/q-a.htm

Here's the link to the federal regulations. Employers of tipped employees are NOT exempt from minimum wage laws! Please stop making that argument, because it is completely incorrect! If your employer doesn't follow those, then why not report him? Just because I have not been a waiter does not mean my opinion on the subject is invalid or uninformed. $5.15/hr (min wage) is nothing, true, but it's not like waiting tables is a skilled profession. Seems to me like the most vehement advocates of mandatory tipping are waiters or former waiters who are unhappy with their career choices, but choose to take it out on their customers instead.
 

dxkj

Lifer
Feb 17, 2001
11,772
2
81
Originally posted by: Zebo
Originally posted by: dxkj
waiters/resses, make jack squat if they just get paid their hourly, they kinda rely on tips ....

Learn to fusken type.;)

I typed that exactly how I wanted it to be typed. But thanks :)


 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Originally posted by: dxkj
Originally posted by: Zebo
Originally posted by: dxkj
waiters/resses, make jack squat if they just get paid their hourly, they kinda rely on tips ....

Learn to fusken type.;)

I typed that exactly how I wanted it to be typed. But thanks :)

Not directed to you.. From the movie we're all talking about..:)
 

Fiveohhh

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2002
3,776
0
0
I love going to a restraunt and getting great service and when I do I tip 25-40% if the service is awesome, but I've also skunked a waiter when he didn't even make an attempt to wait on me, and has no other tables
 

Wozster

Senior member
Feb 12, 2001
386
0
0
If I have to wait >5 minutes for a beer then you get NO tip.
Dont like it? Then get me my beer sooner.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: csf
Actually, a waiter cannot make less than minimum wage. If tips and base wage add up to less than the minimum, the employer is required to make up the difference. Please be aware of this and stop spreading the "THEY GET PAID NOTHING" misinformation as well as moronic ad hominems against people who have qualms with the tipping system. I believe there was a link to the Department of Labor website that contained this information; however I can't find it at the moment. If anyone finds it, do link.

It is idiotic to even bring this up....sure it's a law and whatever, but I don't know of any restaurant person I know of that breaks down their tips every night and tell management....and even if they did, I can guarantee if they came up short it'd be their last day before management made good on the minimum wage deal.

Last but not least THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE WORKING FOR MINIMUM WAGE....most wait staff get overworked and screwed around with on their days off "hey frank called in sick, you have to come in".....

If min. wage was their goal, behind a counter at a stop and go or gas station would be an easier route.

Tipping is not a requirement, it is expected, there is a difference. No one wants to be slave labor and when someone provides a service you tip. Used to be all service got tips, (the tire guy, the barber, the waiter, the bellhop, the shoe shine guy, etc).

If you don't want to tip, take your meal home or go to a fast food joint where you probably belong anyway. Go spend your winning lottery ticket somewhere else.
 

PatboyX

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2001
7,024
0
0
Originally posted by: csf
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/q-a.htm

Here's the link to the federal regulations. Employers of tipped employees are NOT exempt from minimum wage laws! Please stop making that argument, because it is completely incorrect! If your employer doesn't follow those, then why not report him? Just because I have not been a waiter does not mean my opinion on the subject is invalid or uninformed. $5.15/hr (min wage) is nothing, true, but it's not like waiting tables is a skilled profession. Seems to me like the most vehement advocates of mandatory tipping are waiters or former waiters who are unhappy with their career choices, but choose to take it out on their customers instead.

you dont seem to understand that law does not equal truth of the situation and that it is beyond some peoples means to do such a thing. a report can mean no job and no job is worse than crappy paying job. obviously i dont think this is the case every time. personally, i think to not tip is rude and selfish in light of good service.

 

royaldank

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2001
5,440
0
0
Crappy service = crappy tip.

Crappy tip >= nothing.

Depends on the situation. If I don't tip, I will leave a note commenting why I didn't tip. I don't want them to think I'm some cheap ass that doesn't tip. I do tip, just not to bad servers.

Talking to the manager is a great thing if service is truely sorry. I've gotten several free meals, free apps/deserts cards, all kinds of stuff because I talked to the manager. Be civil about it. Don't start yelling in their face. Tell them why it sucked and why you have no plans to every come back.
 

FeathersMcGraw

Diamond Member
Oct 17, 2001
4,041
1
0
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Used to be all service got tips, (the tire guy, the barber, the waiter, the bellhop, the shoe shine guy, etc).

They still do, although it sure seems like a bunch of people wish otherwise.
 

GroundZero

Diamond Member
Oct 17, 2002
3,669
1
0
Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Consistently bad tipper = eating special sauce

Tip out of courtesy to the person serving you. They can't always be at your table, and unless you can tell that they are just being lazy, there is no reason to not tip. Even if service is poor, leave a smaller tip, and talk to management about it. If service is good, let them know, but tipping them well. Leaving no tip is just plain rude.

BAD SERVICE= NO TIP

T.I.P.S.= TO INSURE PROMT SERVICE



 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Originally posted by: Wozster
If I have to wait >5 minutes for a beer then you get NO tip. Dont like it? Then get me my beer sooner.

Exactly that's what the whole tipping system was designed for. To bread excellent service though performance. If everyone automatically tips we all end up with sh1tty wait staff and resturants/bars as a whole will suffer. Might as well pay them $15 an hour and drop the whole tip schema.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,666
21
81
O hell no, I'll tip them 2 pennies just to let them know I just didn't forget the tip for their bad service.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
another thing about service which no one seems to grasp is you have different levels.

At some restaurants, order, and a couple unrequested table stops are it....some you have to flag them for any table stop....they are usually the type of 'diner' type places with 20 tables and 1 waitress running around. If she passes she checks things.

At others you may have a big staff, 1 - 2 tables each waiter, expect them to be around frequently...but 5 mins is not out of the question to wait, you can flag down any other waiter/staff member if needed....if you don't see any...then you need to upgrade your restaurant choise....no one said waiter = waiting on you hand and foot each second.

At places, like for instance the Four Seasons, you may have up to 4 servers per table. No waits for anything....of course you are dropping a ton of cash and that's the way it should be.

Don't expect to be treated like Royalty when you are paying under $10 a plate.
 

Ynog

Golden Member
Oct 9, 2002
1,782
1
0
As someone who has worked alot of different type of jobs. I will also say this. Some people seem to not understand what good service is.

Some people don't realize how waiters and waitress can get a screw job by a crappy hostess. Nothing worse than having two table sit down at the
same time. Not a waiter fault there, and yes it might be alittle slow getting your order. Also some places alcoholic beverages must be gotten through a
bartender. If he is swamped it not the waiters fault it takes alittle longer to get your drink. And if when dealing with soda or water, if you suck down a drink
2 seconds after its been given to you, you are probably going to be without a drink until I come back to your table and realize you did this. I never hurts to ask for
two of something if you need it. Its not always a waiter or waitresses fault if you aren't getting the best service. I never penailze a waiter or waitress for this.
I don't reward it, but won't penalize.

Also something not noted here. If you are going to monopolize a table or seat at a bar. Guess what the tip should be higher the longer you stay.
Nothing used to piss me off more, than when some guys sits down at the bar for like 3 hours and gives you like 2 bucks.

Another thing, this is just a good idea, if you are going to be lazy and not park your car, tip the valet. He remembers you and your car. And he
probably doesn't care all that much about your car. So giving him a reason to care.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
It's as simple as this: If you don't like tipping, for whatever reason, don't go out to eat. DON'T GO OUT TO EAT. They don't want you there, and if you go to a place a couple times they WILL remember you, and your service WILL suck more than before. And if the manager already KNOWS that you're an undesirable customer, he won't CARE that you're unhappy with the service. He WON'T give you anything for free. He WON'T discipline the server. He WILL make fun of you in the back.

Some progressive restaraunts, like Bennigans, now give servers the right to refuse service. Simply put, if they've had some customers before, and they don't want them again, they don't have to wait on them. If it gets to the point where all the servers have waited on them, the manager steps in and lets the customer know that they're not welcome any more.
 

csf

Banned
Aug 5, 2001
319
0
0
It's not so much that I dislike tipping as the bad attitude that seems to be exhibited by a lot of waiters, who seem to think that a) a high tip is a right and b) they only should have to do their jobs if they're expecting a substantial tip. The extreme end is the morons who treat a tip as some sort of ransom, i.e. that it's ok to do disgusting things to someone's food or even just stall intentionally on orders and ignore their customers because they aren't the best tippers. Obviously it makes sense to be extra-friendly to people who are known to tip highly, but that doesn't mean a waiter shouldn't do his basic job because he doesn't expect a huge tip.

I generally tip 15%, with 10% on crap service and 20% on good service, but I don't think that everyone should be required to follow my tipping patterns, as many here seem to think so. I can understand how many people view tipping as a tedious hidden cost that would be better off included up front in the mirror, and I respect that.

As for the minimum wage argument, it is generally moot since most waiters make $10-15+/hr, and do a lot better than other unskilled workers. I only brought it up because I'm tired of uninformed people spouting nonsense about how unfair the hospitality business is and how waiters are struggling to live on a sub-minimum wage salary, because clearly that's wrong.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: tokamak
Originally posted by: csf
Actually, a waiter cannot make less than minimum wage. If tips and base wage add up to less than the minimum, the employer is required to make up the difference. Please be aware of this and stop spreading the "THEY GET PAID NOTHING" misinformation as well as moronic ad hominems against people who have qualms with the tipping system. I believe there was a link to the Department of Labor website that contained this information; however I can't find it at the moment. If anyone finds it, do link.
you've never been a waiter. that very well may be the law, but the day you show me a real world restaurant that actually does that, is the day that pigs fly.
Any restaurant that does not adhere to this and make sure that their employees are compensated at least at minimum wage is grossly out of compliance with federal labor laws and can be shut down. IMO, the fault would then fall on the employee for not reporting the employer. Since the beginning of the Bush administration, this law has been STRICTLY enforced, up to the point where even straight commission employees have to be paid minimum wage in the absence of adequate commissions.

Back on thread topic, I always tip at least 10-20%, depending on service. It would take extremely poor service for me not to tip. However, I object to the idea that tipping is "required," and I will tip poorly any waitperson who would project such an attitude. They serve me, not the other way around. The arrogant attitude that some waitpeople seem to have, that I should consider myself lucky just to be able to eat there or for them to serve me, etc., is a sure way to get a bad tip from me. I have patronized their establishment in order to have a good time, and it really pisses me off when some waitperson ruins that good time just because they don't like people or their job.
 

spaceman

Lifer
Dec 4, 2000
17,617
183
106
you should be ashamed of yourself for not leaving a tip.
as has been stated, if you feel like being a nickle rubbing cry baby...order take out and fill your face at home.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: Nebor
It's as simple as this: If you don't like tipping, for whatever reason, don't go out to eat. DON'T GO OUT TO EAT. They don't want you there, and if you go to a place a couple times they WILL remember you, and your service WILL suck more than before. And if the manager already KNOWS that you're an undesirable customer, he won't CARE that you're unhappy with the service. He WON'T give you anything for free. He WON'T discipline the server. He WILL make fun of you in the back.

Some progressive restaraunts, like Bennigans, now give servers the right to refuse service. Simply put, if they've had some customers before, and they don't want them again, they don't have to wait on them. If it gets to the point where all the servers have waited on them, the manager steps in and lets the customer know that they're not welcome any more.
Well, I predict that that business model won't last too long. Restaurants do not pay their bills from the wait staff's tips. They need customers buying food and drinks, and lots of them.

But I will guarantee you this, any restaurant that gives me service so poor that I would leave a tip of 10% or less (an extemely rare event which would have to involve purposeful rudeness and poor service without apology, not merely simple accidents or mistakes), is one that I wouldn't be going back to anyway. And I think most people who frequent restaurants would agree with me on that. So don't give me this BS about how I (in that event) wouldn't be welcome back. I wouldn't want their welcome and you can guarantee I'll tell all my other restaurant-frequenting friends about how bad the food/service/etc. is at said restaurant.

And while you think you just gave Bennigans some positive advertising, you in fact just told the whole world that they care more about their wait staff than they do about their customers.

edit: I thought I should say that years back I used to be a waiter who lived on tips. And the endless fscking bitching about tips that came from most of the wait staff used to just piss me off. Someone was always bitching about how it'd been a poor tip night, or this asshole customer that, or whatever. Never mind the fact that they kept the customers waiting for their check, or didn't watch their drinks, or served their food cold, and that they would never give the slightest apology for screwing up the customers' night -- all they cared about was the tip, not the customer. All I cared about was the customer, and yaknow what? I always got great tips.
There's an important lesson to be learned here.