When did tipping become "required".

[poncherelli2]

can you understand that while the law may say that, management has no way of knowing what cash tips you recieved. It would be a cold day in hell before my manager would toss me an extra 30 bucks because i came up short of 5.15 that day. How are they to know if someone stiffed you or if your hiding a 20 dollar tip you got from them.

I've had a days where i've worked 5 hours and made 12 bucks. You get stuck on a bad lunch shift on a day when the weather happens to suck, your lucky to get 2 tables for the afternoon and ring up a sales report of more than 50 bucks. No one gets reimbursed for missed earnings on those days, i dont care what the law says. In a business that still relies heavily on cash, its impossible to track all exchanges.

 

[dfi]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: rahvin

Originally posted by: poncherelli2 it is not fact that waiters make minimum wage required by federal law. I've worked at 3 different establishments over the past few years and the most highest hourly salary i had 3.15, my current is 2.38/hr.

Can you read? This exact quote is on the minimum wage poster that is supposed to be displayed in your place of employment:

Tip Credit ? Employers of ?tipped employees? must pay a cash wage of at least $2.13 per hour if they claim a tip credit against their minimum wage obligation. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's cash wage of at least $2.13 per hour do not equal the minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference. Certain other conditions must also be met.

http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/minwage.pdf Now if anyone else posts and says that wait staff can be paid less than minimum wage for total compensation I'm going to beat you to death with a wet noddle. For those that want to browse the full federal code, you can find it here: http://www.dol.gov/dol/allcfr/ESA/Title_29/Chapter_V.htm

I have never worked in a service industry. However, with a basic knowledge of law I can tell you that laws written in law books have to be enforced. The enforcement of the federal minimum wage even without the complexities of tipping is not all that great.
When you have a situation where cash tips are involved it is nearly impossible for an employee to prove that they got less that $5.15 that hour. The employer might pay to make up the difference a few times, but sooner or later the employer will mistrust the employee and sooner or later the employee will be fired. People are expected to make enough in tips without going to the employer to make up the difference. This is how the real world works.

This is the third time I am saying this in this thread: this law is impossible to enforce. Again, there is no way in a cash tipping situation to prove somebody made less than $5.15 in a particular hour while serving tables. In addition the real world repercussions of going to your employer to make up the difference involves traveling on the road to dismissal.

In the real world tips are a neccessity where menu prices do not include service charges. Many people seem to be living in a world far from the real world, and some have no compassion for real people. Aside from poor service, wait staff should get a tip so that they can afford to eat also. Let's not hide behind books and laws to find excuses to stiff out of a decent living.

I posted a solution earlier in which the manager could (and imho should) collect the bill and tips.

I also feel (as I've posted a couple times now) that if you do not make over minimum wage in tips, you should NOT work as a waiter because imho it's simply not worth that much work. Go work at a fast food restaurant, a liquor store, a grocery store, as a bus driver, etc.

dfi

 

[poncherelli2]

managers are way too damn busy to collect every single check and look it over, analyze it and evaulate the employee based on it. Do you have any idea how busy resturaunt managers usually are without overlooking every single transaction that occurs?

 

[dfi]

Originally posted by: poncherelli2
managers are way too damn busy to collect every single check and look it over, analyze it and evaulate the employee based on it. Do you have any idea how busy resturaunt managers usually are without overlooking every single transaction that occurs?

You don't have to do any analysis or evaluation. Pick up the check, record the tip amount under the employee's name. That's it. I've been to restaurants where the manager was the one responsible for picking up the check, and imho that is the best solution to make sure that employees are honest.

dfi

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: dfi

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: Trevelyan Man, too many of you guys just do NOT know what you are talking about. Fact: Waiters/Waitresses make at leat minimum wage. BOTTOM LINE. It is required by federal law. Fact: Tipping is not a worldwide tradition. It is not proper etiquite everywhere like some of you are trying to say it is. In many European countries tipping is NOT customary, NOR expected. The waiters/waitresses are paid more by the restaurant and the prices of the food reflects that. I tip for the most part all the time, just because they do make crappy money. But the last time I went out I had to wait 30 minutes for drinks, and then another for food, and it was just a sandwich and a coke. Needless to say, I left no tip whatsoever. Why should I? They didn't deliver even acceptable service, so as far as I'm concerned you get no tip at all.

Those European countries have the "tip" or service fee incorporated in the price of the food. We live in a country where that fee is not incorporated in the menu price of food and drink items, therefore it is expected that the customer add a percentage to the menu price commensurate with the level of service received. The only difference is that waiters have an incentive to be good here, whereas in Europe they can be as arrogant as they want and still get their money. I just accept that wait staff are due a minimum of 10% for doing their job in a reasonable manner. However in that situation where you waited an hour for a sandwich, I can understand why you didn't tip the person. In the case of poor service it's really up to you. BTW: wait staff do not make minimum wage, I know this from looking at the minimum wage posters that have to be posted in hospitals and schools. They have a different number for employees that can earn tips and for those who cannot. I realize that technically an employer is supposed to make of the difference but there is no evidence in the case of cash tips how much a wait-staff member made in tips, and an employee asking the management to make up the difference will soon be distrusted and soon thereafter fired. Just because something is on the books doesn't mean it really works that way, these things are impossible to enforce.

Here's an easy solution to make sure that the employer can trust the employee's reported tips: have the manager collect the bill or the tips from the table. Then the management can have an accurate idea of what the employee is making in tips and make up any necessary difference. If your employer is unwilling to do this, does not trust you, and you make less than minimum wage with tips, then you should probably switch jobs. Really, why would you want to work where you are mistrusted anyways? dfi

Do you really think that management has the time to pick up tips and calculate each person's tips? I say these things with the perspective of someone who did a business proposal where our group's idea was to start a restuarant on campus to take advantage of the dearth of restaurants in the campus area. Also as an economist I can tell that the supply and demand situation for wait staff is not favorable to wait staff. Let me make this clear - wait staff are basically unskilled labor that most companies would pay less than minimum wage if they could. Let me repeat - wait staff candidates are a dime a dozen. I hate to be so crude in saying this, but this is the reality from the management's view.
With this background, if you ran a restuarant and some stupid waiter actually had the audacity to ask you make up the difference between what he made and the minimum wage you would start looking for someone who can "carry their own weight." This is reality and it is harsh, and maybe surprising to those of us raised in a protective environment. Maybe I am wrong, but if you imagine the position of a restaurant owner it isn't unreasonable to expect this sort of reasonling.

Despite all the horrible things I said about wait staff being expendable and what not, I have a conscience. I can feel for these people and I think that the system being as it is these people need a break. There's no reason to take away the ability to make a minimum wage living from these people (unless they are intentionally rude). Maybe the service cost should just be incorporated into the menu prices to protect these hard working people from getting ripped off by cheap customers. Then we would all suffer because there'd be no incentive for wait staff to provide quality service, so the system as it stands today balances both interests pretty well but also depends on people tipping for service.

 

[T2T III]

This was posted earlier in this thread. I think it's worth quoting again. Thanks Amnesiac!!

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN / UNDERSTAND "TIPPING" THEN DO NOT -- REPEAT -- DO NOT EAT OUT. Stay home and make your own goddamn food you stupid cheap bastard.

 

[dfi]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: dfi

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: Trevelyan Man, too many of you guys just do NOT know what you are talking about. Fact: Waiters/Waitresses make at leat minimum wage. BOTTOM LINE. It is required by federal law. Fact: Tipping is not a worldwide tradition. It is not proper etiquite everywhere like some of you are trying to say it is. In many European countries tipping is NOT customary, NOR expected. The waiters/waitresses are paid more by the restaurant and the prices of the food reflects that. I tip for the most part all the time, just because they do make crappy money. But the last time I went out I had to wait 30 minutes for drinks, and then another for food, and it was just a sandwich and a coke. Needless to say, I left no tip whatsoever. Why should I? They didn't deliver even acceptable service, so as far as I'm concerned you get no tip at all.

Those European countries have the "tip" or service fee incorporated in the price of the food. We live in a country where that fee is <EM>not </EM>incorporated in the menu price of food and drink items, therefore it is expected that the customer add a percentage to the menu price commensurate with the level of service received. The only difference is that waiters have an incentive to be good here, whereas in Europe they can be as arrogant as they want and still get their money. I just accept that wait staff are due a minimum of 10% for doing their job in a reasonable manner. However in that situation where you waited an hour for a sandwich, I can understand why you didn't tip the person. In the case of poor service it's really up to you. BTW: wait staff do not make minimum wage, I know this from looking at the minimum wage posters that have to be posted in hospitals and schools. They have a different number for employees that can earn tips and for those who cannot. I realize that technically an employer is supposed to make of the difference but there is no evidence in the case of cash tips how much a wait-staff member made in tips, and an employee asking the management to make up the difference will soon be distrusted and soon thereafter fired. Just because something is on the books doesn't mean it really works that way, these things are impossible to enforce.

Here's an easy solution to make sure that the employer can trust the employee's reported tips: have the manager collect the bill or the tips from the table. Then the management can have an accurate idea of what the employee is making in tips and make up any necessary difference. If your employer is unwilling to do this, does not trust you, and you make less than minimum wage with tips, then you should probably switch jobs. Really, why would you want to work where you are mistrusted anyways? dfi

Do you really think that management has the time to pick up tips and calculate each person's tips? I say these things with the perspective of someone who did a business proposal where our group's idea was to start a restuarant on campus to take advantage of the dearth of restaurants in the campus area. Also as an economist I can tell that the supply and demand situation for wait staff is not favorable to wait staff. Let me make this clear - wait staff are basically unskilled labor that most companies would pay less than minimum wage if they could. Let me repeat - wait staff candidates are a dime a dozen. I hate to be so crude in saying this, but this is the reality from the management's view.
With this background, if you ran a restuarant and some stupid waiter actually had the audacity to ask you make up the difference between what he made and the minimum wage you would start looking for someone who can "carry their own weight." This is reality and it is harsh, and maybe surprising to those of us raised in a protective environment. Maybe I am wrong, but if you imagine the position of a restaurant owner it isn't unreasonable to expect this sort of reasonling.

Despite all the horrible things I said about wait staff being expendable and what not, I have a conscience. I can feel for these people and I think that the system being as it is these people need a break. There's no reason to take away the ability to make a minimum wage living from these people (unless they are intentionally rude). Maybe the service cost should just be incorporated into the menu prices to protect these hard working people from getting ripped off by cheap customers. Then we would all suffer because there'd be no incentive for wait staff to provide quality service, so the system as it stands today balances both interests pretty well but also depends on people tipping for service.

I also have an economics degree and I agree with the restaurant's view totally and completely. If you can't pull your weight, then I as a restaurant owner don't want you to work here. That being said, I'm going to repeat my opinion for the fourth time in this thread: if you are not getting paid at least minimum wage in tips, you should not work as a waiter. It's simply not worth the work and the haggling with your employer, when there are other jobs that will pay you a guaranteed minimum wage for a lot less work.

I suspect that most waiters are getting at least minimum wage in tips. But a much much simpler solution then having the customer make up the difference, haggling with your employer, etc, is simply to change the law so that minimum wage cannot be calculated from tips. If waiters not getting paid minimum wage is a real legitimate concern (and I can't understand why you wouldnt change job if this was the case), then please, write your congressman and get the law changed.

Saying all that, I still tip. But not because I feel I have to. Because I want to. And I don't think people should feel like they have to.

dfi

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Zebo

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..

what movie????

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax
It seems like most people who think tipping is required, worked in an environment where tipping happened (restaurant, spa, barber, etc...).

Having never worked in any of those environments, I am having a tough time rationalizing why they think tipping is required.

To me, if someone provided me a helpful service in a courteous way, then I will probably tip them. However, it should be my choice and should definitely not be demanded or expected.

My sister-in-law (a former waitress) vehemently disagrees.

[EDIT]If it is required, then it should be part of the menu price of the food. It should not be added later as an extra item.[/EDIT]

Put in your damm dollar Mr. Pink

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: dfi

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: dfi

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: Trevelyan Man, too many of you guys just do NOT know what you are talking about. Fact: Waiters/Waitresses make at leat minimum wage. BOTTOM LINE. It is required by federal law. Fact: Tipping is not a worldwide tradition. It is not proper etiquite everywhere like some of you are trying to say it is. In many European countries tipping is NOT customary, NOR expected. The waiters/waitresses are paid more by the restaurant and the prices of the food reflects that. I tip for the most part all the time, just because they do make crappy money. But the last time I went out I had to wait 30 minutes for drinks, and then another for food, and it was just a sandwich and a coke. Needless to say, I left no tip whatsoever. Why should I? They didn't deliver even acceptable service, so as far as I'm concerned you get no tip at all.

Those European countries have the "tip" or service fee incorporated in the price of the food. We live in a country where that fee is not incorporated in the menu price of food and drink items, therefore it is expected that the customer add a percentage to the menu price commensurate with the level of service received. The only difference is that waiters have an incentive to be good here, whereas in Europe they can be as arrogant as they want and still get their money. I just accept that wait staff are due a minimum of 10% for doing their job in a reasonable manner. However in that situation where you waited an hour for a sandwich, I can understand why you didn't tip the person. In the case of poor service it's really up to you. BTW: wait staff do not make minimum wage, I know this from looking at the minimum wage posters that have to be posted in hospitals and schools. They have a different number for employees that can earn tips and for those who cannot. I realize that technically an employer is supposed to make of the difference but there is no evidence in the case of cash tips how much a wait-staff member made in tips, and an employee asking the management to make up the difference will soon be distrusted and soon thereafter fired. Just because something is on the books doesn't mean it really works that way, these things are impossible to enforce.

Here's an easy solution to make sure that the employer can trust the employee's reported tips: have the manager collect the bill or the tips from the table. Then the management can have an accurate idea of what the employee is making in tips and make up any necessary difference. If your employer is unwilling to do this, does not trust you, and you make less than minimum wage with tips, then you should probably switch jobs. Really, why would you want to work where you are mistrusted anyways? dfi

Do you really think that management has the time to pick up tips and calculate each person's tips? I say these things with the perspective of someone who did a business proposal where our group's idea was to start a restuarant on campus to take advantage of the dearth of restaurants in the campus area. Also as an economist I can tell that the supply and demand situation for wait staff is not favorable to wait staff. Let me make this clear - wait staff are basically unskilled labor that most companies would pay less than minimum wage if they could. Let me repeat - wait staff candidates are a dime a dozen. I hate to be so crude in saying this, but this is the reality from the management's view. With this background, if you ran a restuarant and some stupid waiter actually had the audacity to ask you make up the difference between what he made and the minimum wage you would start looking for someone who can "carry their own weight." This is reality and it is harsh, and maybe surprising to those of us raised in a protective environment. Maybe I am wrong, but if you imagine the position of a restaurant owner it isn't unreasonable to expect this sort of reasonling. Despite all the horrible things I said about wait staff being expendable and what not, I have a conscience. I can feel for these people and I think that the system being as it is these people need a break. There's no reason to take away the ability to make a minimum wage living from these people (unless they are intentionally rude). Maybe the service cost should just be incorporated into the menu prices to protect these hard working people from getting ripped off by cheap customers. Then we would all suffer because there'd be no incentive for wait staff to provide quality service, so the system as it stands today balances both interests pretty well but also depends on people tipping for service.

I also have an economics degree and I agree with the restaurant's view totally and completely. If you can't pull your weight, then I as a restaurant owner don't want you to work here. That being said, I'm going to repeat my opinion for the fourth time in this thread: if you are not getting paid at least minimum wage in tips, you should not work as a waiter. It's simply not worth the work and the haggling with your employer, when there are other jobs that will pay you a guaranteed minimum wage for a lot less work. dfi

I agree with you completely, and it is nice to talk to another student of Economics (we never finish learning). It is not worth working in a field where you cannot pull your weight - agreed. My problem is just that some people even in this thread state that tipping is optional and with that attitude many people who are actually "pulling their weight" are not getting paid enough to make a reasonable living.

Certainly, if a person does not deserve a tip then they shouldn't get one. I get the impression that some people don't tip even when they get fully competent service. Wait staff should be allowed to make a living, and as we both know there isn't enough room for all unskilled labor to make a transition to a non tipping industry. I just think we need to be more congnizant of the ecomomic reality of these people, and if we feel that we cannot afford to pay for the tip then perhaps we should consider eating at home or at a fast food restaurant. Somebody else will take that table and offer a just reward for the service received.

I guess that we are saying pretty much the same thing when I say that tips should be required except in case of intentional arrogance or poor service and when you say that you are not compelled to pay a tip. I'm sure we would both pay a tip or not pay a tip if we found ourselves under the same circumstances, we just state it differently. As long as we are both cognizant of the reality of these people I'm sure we'll both do the right thing no matter what words we choose to describe our views on this topic.

 

[dfi]

I get the feeling that most waiters are getting minimum wage, at least I hope so. I don't mind helping them out if they at least tried, and I think it would be nice if others did the same. I just don't think they should be required to, nor should waiters feel they are entitled to tips.

Last time I went to a restaurant, the waiter seemed impatient, forgot to order my food, and brought me undercooked food. I still gave him a tip because I know that things just happen. I just don't think someone else in my shoes should feel any pressure whatsoever to leave a tip.

If waiters not getting minimum wage is really a big problem (I have no idea what the scope of this problem is), then I feel the best thing to do would be to change the wage laws as it applies to restaurants, so that all waiters get at least minimum wage. Of course menu prices would go up, then customers can decided if they want to eat there or not, and tip would be given completely free of pressure for a job well done.

Ya, I really think we agree too, or at least disagree very slightly.

dfi

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Eli
Vic - Minimum Wage in Oregon was recently(Well.. Jan 1st, 2003. ) bumped to $6.90.

Also.. I saw someone say you pay taxes on the tips you recieve. You do?

My brother's girlfriend works at Subway, and they just split the tips at the end of the day.. it's certainly not taxed.

Doh! Forgot about the increase

Yes, tips are considered taxable income. Also, for wait staff/servers in restaurants where tipping is considered the norm (i.e. not fast food or Subway), the government automatically assumes that tips will be at least 8% of total sales. This is why not tipping your server costs them money -- they will have to pay taxes on income they never received!! Thank you, Ronald Reagan...

that was debunked a few posts before yours. the employer might have to make it up though.

 

[Atlechnik]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Leaving no tip is just plain rude.

If you think tips should be included move to europe, most menu prices include the tip. In addition leaving tip comes almost as a requirement becaue waiters are hired for only about $3 a hour, becasue their paycheck relies heavily on tips they get.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: dfi
I posted a solution earlier in which the manager could (and imho should) collect the bill and tips.

I also feel (as I've posted a couple times now) that if you do not make over minimum wage in tips, you should NOT work as a waiter because imho it's simply not worth that much work. Go work at a fast food restaurant, a liquor store, a grocery store, as a bus driver, etc.

dfi

You are REALLY REALLY clueless....no way would I trust the manager to tell me how much I was tipped. Even on a CC slip many people think you are getting short changed on it and leave a couple bucks 'just in case' on the table....of course there are also those that but an 'X' on the tip line and don't tip at all.

Also in a busy restaurant or on delivery type things your solution falls apart.

 

[PrinceXizor]

An interesting topic to say the least...

1. As has been mentioned, waitresses/waiters make minimum wage, so that argument is moot.
2. However, as has ALSO been pointed out, how often do you go to a restaurant where the service was crappy enough to leave no tip? (Note, if the answer is more than 1 a month over a six month period then you are a cheap bastard).
3. How many people here who leave no tip, distinguish between the waiter/cook/bartender when there is a problem? For example, I once got the wrong order after a 40 minute wait. How many people here would leave no tip? If you do, you are wrong (in my opinion of course). What did your server do to deserve no tip?
4. Those that leave no tip (which by the way, IS there right at the end of it all) need to consider the sheer number of people who recieve fine service and leave little or no tip. My brother worked at an Elk's lodge bartending. One night, an older lady who always complained about EVERYTHING complains that the beer is warm. My brother (being irriatated already that night) takes the beer in the back, pours it into another glass and brings it back out. She takes a sip and states, "Yes, this beer is MUCH colder. You @$$holes always try to give me warm beer," and walks back to her seat. There ARE people like that in the world and they are the same people who necessitated the 8 person or greater auto-gratuity. I have a friend who is a waitress. She and another girl served ONE party of 8 for 2 hours for the grand total of $2.00 tip. It happens, it sucks.

So, if you are truly dissatisfied with the service (enough to leave no tip), then you should be consulting the manager and discussing it with your server. If you simply leave no tip with no explanation, then you will be considered a cheap bastard...and probably are.

P-X

 

[SammyBoy]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Hello Mr White.

Viper GTS

Why do I have to be Mr. Pink? Why can't I be something cool like...Mr. Black

Bastard! That's my line!

 

[Mannkind]

Yeah this isn't that hard. Bad service = little/no tip and perhaps a talk with the manager about poor service, good service = 15%, great service = 15-18% and a talk with manager about how great person is.
They get minimum wage if tips doesn't cover it, my girlfriend has worked at Red Robin, Chevys, TGIFridays, Old Mill Bread Co and Great Harvest (the last two are different, but they do get tips)... the point being, she always was fine and made over minimum wage w/tips. The rules above are hers... and she is a waittress.

Get over yourselves.

 

[Nebor]

A good friend of mine is a general manager of a restaraunt.... His servers averaged 24% tips last month. Oh, and 2.75% comes out to tip the non-tipped employees. They call that 'tip out.' Most of his servers are paid 2.13 an hour, except for the few who have been there since near the opening, 9 years ago. Back then, the company didn't realize that in Texas (they're based in CA), they could pay less than minimum wage. So there are some servers working at the restaraunt that are clearing nearly 50k a year.
And this is a casual dining restaraunt.... Opens your eyes. There are professional waiters out there. And not just in the $50 dollar a plate joints.

 

[sxr7171]

With reference to the two posts above me. I realize that many waiters and waitresses do well, some do very well. But, if everybody was under the impression that they didn't have to tip when don't feel like it, or if they think that somebody else will make up for their poor or non-existant tipping then the whole system collapses.
The reason that people are doing anywhere from decent to well in the service industry is that the vast majority of people will leave a decent tip. It has been inculcated in us via the media and social custom to tip anywhere between 10 and 20% depending on quality of service. If people started coming in to restaurants and decided that they won't tip because they don't feel like it, then menu prices will have to go up to make up for that lost revenue (since the restaurant will have increased labor costs in meeting that minimum wage). One way or another people that perform useful work need to be rewarded. The system as it stands depends on the premise that people who eat in a sit-in restaurant will leave a percentage of their food check as a tip in good faith. Therefore tipping is necessary if we want to maintain the status quo of rewarding better service.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Nebor
A good friend of mine is a general manager of a restaraunt.... His servers averaged 24% tips last month. Oh, and 2.75% comes out to tip the non-tipped employees. They call that 'tip out.' Most of his servers are paid 2.13 an hour, except for the few who have been there since near the opening, 9 years ago. Back then, the company didn't realize that in Texas (they're based in CA), they could pay less than minimum wage. So there are some servers working at the restaraunt that are clearing nearly 50k a year.
And this is a casual dining restaraunt.... Opens your eyes. There are professional waiters out there. And not just in the $50 dollar a plate joints.

I don't know how a restaurant can open anywhere in a America and not know the wage laws are different for service staff...but say some are making a little over min. wage now with raises and the like....$6.50....that gives them about $10k take home a year, assuming that they work 40 hour weeks....now to clear $50k on 15% in tips (that 24% I imagine is based on the food sales...which I think is impossible even for one month unless someone dropped an insane tip) you'd need to sell about $30k in food per month per server or over $150 in food/drinks per hour each is working.

 

[Sunner]

Poor service - No tip
Avarge service - A little tip, just to be a nice guy
Good service - Good tip, to say "Thanks for the good service"
Exceptional service - Very good tip to say "You kick ass all over the place!"

I don't pay so or so many percent, I just decide how much to tip when the time to cough up the cash comes.

And to me, bad service doesn't have to mean I get to wait too long for my beer, heck, maybe the waitress just has alot to do, it might not be her fault she can't get my beer quickly.
I go by how they act, if they're nice, angry, outright rude, etc etc.
I'd rather wait 10 minutes for a beer from a really nice waitress than 5 minutes for a beer from some biatch.

In my fav place, all the waitresses are awesome, which is one of the reasons I go there so often, they're nice to talk to(when they have the time), they're service minded, just overall kickass people, sometimes I have to wait for a while before I get my beer, but that tends to be for a reason, maybe 25 people just sat down at a table and ordered 25 different drinks? I don't care it's ok, I still tip good.

And yes, I know Im setting myself up for the inevitable "What's something special? Take you out back and sucking your ****", not that's not what I mean by special, I'd go way over twelve percent for that

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Nebor
A good friend of mine is a general manager of a restaraunt.... His servers averaged 24% tips last month. Oh, and 2.75% comes out to tip the non-tipped employees. They call that 'tip out.' Most of his servers are paid 2.13 an hour, except for the few who have been there since near the opening, 9 years ago. Back then, the company didn't realize that in Texas (they're based in CA), they could pay less than minimum wage. So there are some servers working at the restaraunt that are clearing nearly 50k a year.
And this is a casual dining restaraunt.... Opens your eyes. There are professional waiters out there. And not just in the $50 dollar a plate joints.

I don't know how a restaurant can open anywhere in a America and not know the wage laws are different for service staff...but say some are making a little over min. wage now with raises and the like....$6.50....that gives them about $10k take home a year, assuming that they work 40 hour weeks....now to clear $50k on 15% in tips (that 24% I imagine is based on the food sales...which I think is impossible even for one month unless someone dropped an insane tip) you'd need to sell about $30k in food per month per server or over $150 in food/drinks per hour each is working.

At an average cheap diner like wingers where the dinners are 8-12 I have never been able to get out without the tab being at least $30 (for 2 people) and thats if you are cheapo. Assume each wait staff is responsible for 6 tables with the average number per table being 3 (3 couples and 3 quads), assume an average time in the restaurant of an hour and an average meal price of $12 (that includes the drinks) and you have a net of $216 to the establishment and at 10% tips $21.6 per hour to the server.

That is a low cost diner. Shifts vary greatly but so do the price of meals, get a place with high meal prices and servers can easily make 50k a year. To me that is absurd, no one in a low skill job should ever make that much. I tip around 10% on average, less if the service sucks and rarely more. I don't believe anyone that is in a job that requires no skills/education should ever make more than $15 an hour (unless you are tying steal or finishing concrete). I hate the idea of TIPS, servers should be paid the going rate for unskilled labor and meal prices should be increased to reflect that. Alas that will never happen in this country.