Why tipping should be banned (according to Adam)

[JEDI]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_vivC7c_1k (nsfw)

- Shortchanges servers/workers
- Inconveniences customers
- Makes the experience worse for EVERYONE

What was once a bribe to be served before someone else (ie: Prohibition Era in 1920s) has turned basically into an obligation.


None of this stress at the end of the meal should be necessary if the restaurant is made to pay at least the Federal minimum wage like all other jobs in America.

And we are getting there with some cities/States taking the initiative and requiring at least Federal minimum wage for ALL workers.
and some cities are even requiring higher than Fed minimum (ie: $15/hr).

And once tipping dies out like the dodo bird in restaurants, the other industries with their hands out should follow.
Which will make for a better experience for everyone involved!
(Think how less stressful it is to buy a pair of jeans and not having to think about tipping the stock boy.)

/Obligatory Lawn chair + popcorn

 

[shortylickens]

I was just thinking late last night that we hadnt had this fucking debate for at least a whole month and when was some dipstick gonna throw gasoline on the withered old bonfire.

 

[Exterous]

I'm really not sure what else we need to overcome our tipping mindset. There is plenty of evidence and real world examples (and real US examples) but the uninformed+inertia continues to win. There is a tiny sliver of change happening but it will be a long time before that offsets the increasing number of places that want tips

 

[brainhulk]

Idk, I kinda like waitresses who go out of their way to provide good service. They are friendly, smile, happily answer questions, and generally care that your dining experience is pleasant. I tip these workers well.

I wonder if flat rate workers will be just meh...

I guess a counterpoint would be something like Disneyland workers who are paid a flat rate but provide friendly service. But I think they are more outlier than norm.

If you can guarantee me great service with flat rate wage I would be all for it.

 

[Exterous]

I guess a counterpoint would be something like Disneyland workers who are paid a flat rate but provide friendly service. But I think they are more outlier than norm.

I've been to plenty of countries that don't do tipping and the average service experience is at least on par with the US with several countries being better.

If you can guarantee me great service with flat rate wage I would be all for it.

Tipping doesn't guarantee great service now so why make that a requirement to support it?

 

[Staples]

I think tipping should be banned because I think it is a stupid custom.

Would I pay someone to pump my gas? Of course not.
Why would I pay someone to bring my plate to me?

If anyone deserves a tip, it is the cook or the dishwasher.

 

[amdhunter]

I love the Applebees near me. You can pay via a tablet at your table and adjust the tip as much as you want. I usually tip 2% and that's it.Best of all, it's pretty much secret since you don't have to look the waiters in the eye.

I'm all for stopping tipping completely. I was one of those people who were conditioned to feel bad if you don't tip. But not anymore.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I've been to plenty of countries that don't do tipping and the average service experience is at least on par with the US with several countries being better.



Tipping doesn't guarantee great service now so why make that a requirement to support it?

And I can say the opposite. In fact, wife and I once waited 30-45 minutes for ANYONE to come up to us so we could pay the check and leave. Wasn't a busy place, but our American expectation was shot in the foot leaving us hanging. No thanks.

 

[Darwin333]

What really gets me is why we tip the server who just brings us our food instead of the person cooking the food who, at least in my opinion, has a much bigger impact on how well our dining experience is.

 

[dainthomas]

I love the Applebees near me. You can pay via a tablet at your table and adjust the tip as much as you want. I usually tip 2% and that's it.Best of all, it's pretty much secret since you don't have to look the waiters in the eye.

I'm all for stopping tipping completely. I was one of those people who were conditioned to feel bad if you don't tip. But not anymore.

If you really believed in the righteousness of your beliefs, you'd let the staff know when you walk in that they're only getting 2%.

 

[dullard]

And I can say the opposite. In fact, wife and I once waited 30-45 minutes for ANYONE to come up to us so we could pay the check and leave. Wasn't a busy place, but our American expectation was shot in the foot leaving us hanging. No thanks.

I've been to about 30 countries. In virtually all of them, the wait staff leave you alone at the end of the meal until you request the bill. The table is yours until you want to leave. In America, the restaurant wants to turn the table over to get more customers in. So, the instant you are done, the wait staff is usually instructed to get you the bill.

One isn't necessarily wrong, but don't think you got bad service because the custom is different there.

 

[Genx87]

Having traveled in countries without tipping as a custom. Service was similar to the US. Had good, avg, and bad waiters. The whole tipping for excellent service is a bunch of crap. Just like providing good service for a good tip is crap. It is arbitrary how much people tip.

 

[Captante]

I was just thinking late last night that we hadnt had this fucking debate for at least a whole month and when was some dipstick gonna throw gasoline on the withered old bonfire.

So we should blame you?

 

[Exterous]

And I can say the opposite. In fact, wife and I once waited 30-45 minutes for ANYONE to come up to us so we could pay the check and leave. Wasn't a busy place, but our American expectation was shot in the foot leaving us hanging. No thanks.

You're going to encounter a lot of different customs regarding payment. In many places you have to ask for the bill or it may be customary for you to go up to the front\bar to pay and not involve the wait staff at all. In others, particularly those where its common to linger, you need to signal that you want attention be it more food, drink or the bill. This may seem standoff-ish from what you get at American restaurants but its customary for the staff to in those areas to 'not bother you'. I have several international friends who find wait staff in the US a little annoying with how often they stop by and feel rushed when the bill shows up as soon as the food is finished (or even earlier)

 

[ponyo]

Tips should only be required at fine dining restaurants IMO. There should be no tipping at all other restaurants. How do we separate what's fine dining or not? If there is dress code like jacket required for men to dine, then it's fine dining and tips required. At least the waiting staff at fine dining restaurants earn their tips. It's a joke we have to tip at casual dining restaurants with service no better than at fast food counter restaurants. I can self serve better than the mediocre to awful service I receive at casual restaurants.

I can't think of one time where I received bad service at fine dining. The food taste might not have been to my liking. But food presentation and service? Always top notch.

 

[soulcougher73]

Idk, I kinda like waitresses who go out of their way to provide good service. They are friendly, smile, happily answer questions, and generally care that your dining experience is pleasant. I tip these workers well.

I wonder if flat rate workers will be just meh...

I guess a counterpoint would be something like Disneyland workers who are paid a flat rate but provide friendly service. But I think they are more outlier than norm.

If you can guarantee me great service with flat rate wage I would be all for it.

Couldnt you just fire wait staff that isnt friendly or doesnt smile or ignores customers questions instead of tipping? I mean...isnt that how much every other job works?

 

[BoomerD]

The west coast states ALL require servers to be paid the full state minimum wage instead of the welfare-rate that is the federal law. ($2.13/hr) yes, some cities have enacted their own minimum wage, and from my limited experience, prices aren't that much higher than in the welfare-rate states...and you're still expected to tip 15-25%.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

As someone that has actually traveled the world - I will simply say that... it varies.

In Europe (from my limited experience) in general they are "leave a euro or 2 or don't, we don't care - it doesn't affect our service level". Whereas, in Japan they are working their ass off no matter what - and if you dare leave a tip they will fucking hunt you down to shove it up your ass if you ever do attempt to leave them a tip (it's essentially an insult there).

That said, Americans are so retarded that if people stopped tipping it would affect their service because they just don't understand the concept that payment from your employer vs. your customer is the same damn thing.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

The west coast states ALL require servers to be paid the full state minimum wage instead of the welfare-rate that is the federal law. ($2.13/hr) yes, some cities have enacted their own minimum wage, and from my limited experience, prices aren't that much higher than in the welfare-rate states...and you're still expected to tip 15-25%.

Repeat after me: $2.15 (or whatever it is) is not a minimum wage for restaurant workers. If everyone stopped tipping tomorrow the employer would have to pay the full federal minimum wage to compensate.

Why must I constantly repeat this?

 

[RockinZ28]

Tipping isn't going anywhere. It's becoming difficult to even go to a fast food place, besides the major chains, that don't at least have a tipping jar next to the register, or even have a tip section on the god damn receipt. This is for ordering at the counter, filling your own drink and picking up your order. And this is in CA, where they already get whatever the local min wage is + tips.

If I didn't have a wife I'd do carry out only at actual restaurants. Occasionally I'll get a server that at least acts like they care, is friendly and polite, doesn't fuck up the order, brings refills before the glass is empty and prompt with service overall. Then it feels 15-20% is appropriate. Most of the time it's someone that just takes your order, drops it off, makes one more pass if you're lucky and leaves you sitting there for an extra 10 minutes waiting on the bill.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I've been to about 30 countries. In virtually all of them, the wait staff leave you alone at the end of the meal until you request the bill. The table is yours until you want to leave. In America, the restaurant wants to turn the table over to get more customers in. So, the instant you are done, the wait staff is usually instructed to get you the bill.

One isn't necessarily wrong, but don't think you got bad service because the custom is different there.

How can I ask for a bill if no one will come near me? I was constantly trying to make eye contact, then the raised hand, etc., but this was one restaurant. I can see the differences in culture, but when I'm ready to leave there needs to be incentive to assist me in doing so. Even my timid wife was getting frustrated. I think staff usually have the ability to apply experiencing in gauging customers from abroad and their ignorance (the travelers; ahem, me) and make an effort. But I wanted to point out it isn't always a case as Exterous described it.

 

[JEDI]

The west coast states ALL require servers to be paid the full state minimum wage instead of the welfare-rate that is the federal law. ($2.13/hr) yes, some cities have enacted their own minimum wage, and from my limited experience, prices aren't that much higher than in the welfare-rate states...and you're still expected to tip 15-25%.

Wtf???
That's nuts.
Why wasn't there a shift towards no tipping when the bill was passed?

 

[WilliamM2]

Wtf???
That's nuts.
Why wasn't there a shift towards no tipping when the bill was passed?

Because servers won't work for minimum wage. I know a few, and they average over $20 an hour. And they don't claim all of it either. Take away tipping, and they will go to another restaurant to work.

 

[ctbaars]

End service wage and farm wage. Raise minimum to $15.
This is a good one for Trump to do. Everyone hates him already anyway.

 

[Exterous]

but this was one restaurant

Having a problem at one restaurant doesn't conflict with my point. I never implied that doing away with tipping would result in zero bad service issues as I have certainly had bad service overseas just like I've had bad service here. What I am describing is that tipping doesn't result in a positive increase in the overall service baseline in my experience (and several studies) and there are several countries that I have spent over a month in that are significantly better at service than we are despite having a no tipping culture.