Would you still tip if you knew your waiter made $10 an hour?

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HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
So what do you propose? Fixed wages? Limits on corporate profits? Socialism? Full on Communism?

I'd like to butt in here (if you don't still hate me :$ ) What I'd change (as an outsider) is this system of being able to pay less than minimum wage if there is potential for earning tips. It seems to be directly against the point of tipping.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
I'd like to butt in here (if you don't still hate me :$ ) What I'd change (as an outsider) is this system of being able to pay less than minimum wage if there is potential for earning tips. It seems to be directly against the point of tipping.

this thread has very little to do with my question.

Click on his profile and look at the threads he starts. Me questioning him on why he hates America is valid.
 

jupiter57

Diamond Member
Nov 18, 2001
4,600
3
71
People who work at Applebee's make $10 an hour starting, most places here start out at $10 an hour. A really nice place will pay a lot more than $10 an hour.

Where the Fack do YOU live?

Here in Kentucky, wait staff at Applebees (and every other tip credit establishment) make $2.13 Hr.
Their total receipts are added after each shift, 15% is added to that, whether customers tip or not.
Their W-2s are based on the ASSUMPTION that ALL customers tip 15%.

If, at the end of the week, the wait person has not accumulated total wages and (assumed) tips to total $7.15, the employer must make up the deficit to make it $7.25 Hr., Fed Min. wage.

I tip pretty much anyone who does an above average job, mechanics, movers, etc.

That goes double for Pizza Delivery drivers, they furnish their own cars, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. just to keep my lazy ass from having to get out of the house!
I would never give a Pizza Driver less than $5.00!
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Where the Fack do YOU live?

Here in Kentucky, wait staff at Applebees (and every other tip credit establishment) make $2.13 Hr.
Their total receipts are added after each shift, 15% is added to that, whether customers tip or not.
Their W-2s are based on the ASSUMPTION that ALL customers tip 15%.

If, at the end of the week, the wait person has not accumulated total wages and (assumed) tips to total $7.15, the employer must make up the deficit to make it $7.25 Hr., Fed Min. wage.

I tip pretty much anyone whoo does an above average job, mechanics, movers, etc.

That goes double for Pizza Delivery drivers, they furnish their own cars, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. just to keep my lazy ass from having to get out of the house!
I would never give a Pizza Driver less than $5.00!

This post is what is wrong with America.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
Where the Fack do YOU live?

Here in Kentucky, wait staff at Applebees (and every other tip credit establishment) make $2.13 Hr.
Their total receipts are added after each shift, 15% is added to that, whether customers tip or not.
Their W-2s are based on the ASSUMPTION that ALL customers tip 15%.

If, at the end of the week, the wait person has not accumulated total wages and (assumed) tips to total $7.15, the employer must make up the deficit to make it $7.25 Hr., Fed Min. wage.

I tip pretty much anyone whoo does an above average job, mechanics, movers, etc.

That goes double for Pizza Delivery drivers, they furnish their own cars, gas, insurance, maintenance, etc. just to keep my lazy ass from having to get out of the house!
I would never give a Pizza Driver less than $5.00!

Agree 100% on the pizza guy. Those guys bust their asses, freeze their asses off, get chased by dogs, get robbed, tear up their cars, all to make $8/hour. They earn their pay plus a lot. I have no problem tipping the pizza guy very well. But then again I worked at Little Caesar's for longer than I care to admit.
 

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
0
Bunch of cheap asses. Who cares if he makes $10/hour. If he's making that much it's probably a really nice place and he's doing a lot of exotic stuff, like bringing your soup out in a vase and adding creme fraiche to the top, or making your salad at the table, and things like that. It's customary to tip any service person that does a good job for you, and I will continue to tip around 20%, thank you.

Wait, it's customary to tip 20% to all service people? Shit, as an accountant I think I should be working in the USA - I'd be making mega bucks.
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
Do you mind people drawing food stamps and living in public housing because their employer does not pay enough? But you probably do not mind paying taxes to support those social programs do you?

At least with a waiter, their trying to work for their money, instead of living off the government.

Everyone deserves a good standard of living. If a waiters employer is too cheap / can not afford to pay a liveable wage, I dont mind helping out.

No, they're in that situation because they choose to work 1 job and they choose a job that can't pay the bills. I don't expect anyone who makes more money than I do to have sympathy for my situation and I don't have sympathy for anyone else either.

Everyone deserves exactly what they earn. Don't like your job? Doesn't pay the bills? Get a different one or a second one. It's still their choice and that doesn't make it my responsibility. Besides, Oregon has awesome laws that prevent employers from paying less than everyone else's minimum wage.
 

deanx0r

Senior member
Oct 1, 2002
890
20
76
It isn't about who is making more money, if you are satisfied with the service you received, tip accordingly. If the service was bad, let the staff know about it and withhold the tip.

After reading this thread, I realized there are a lot of cheap ass stingy people on this forum.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
14
61
It isn't about who is making more money, if you are satisfied with the service you received, tip accordingly. If the service was bad, let the staff know about it and withhold the tip.

After reading this thread, I realized there are a lot of cheap ass stingy people on this forum.

its more elitism than cheapness.

"They should get a better job if they want more money!"

Fuck you. Imagine if your boss told you that the next time your review came up.
 

God Mode

Platinum Member
Jul 2, 2005
2,903
0
71
It's simple for me. If I have some extra cash, I use services where tipping is an unwritten courtesy. If not, I cook myself or pick up my own stuff.
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
It isn't about who is making more money, if you are satisfied with the service you received, tip accordingly. If the service was bad, let the staff know about it and withhold the tip.

After reading this thread, I realized there are a lot of cheap ass stingy people on this forum.

If I'm satisfied with the service I've received, I'll return to the restaurant for repeat business which ensures that waiter is going to continue getting a paycheck. It's not my job to make sure he's making enough money; that's his and his employer's joint effort.

If the service is bad, I simply stop returning to the restaurant.

I get a paycheck for doing my job and I stop getting a paycheck if I don't do my job. Why should it be different than anyone else? When I grab a 180lb cart full of CPUs and distribute them for testing, should every engineer I give one to give me a tip? Of course not.

Tipping is WAY out of control in this country.
 

jteef

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2001
1,355
0
76
The difference is over here, it's not expected good waters get extra money in tips, bad waiters get nothing, in america it's "that was average I'll only tip 10%" insanity. In the UK if you get a tip you have earned it, it's not expected. We have a greater control over it as it is not expected.

this is incorrect. the waiter is not living or dying based on his tip income in Europe. Getting an extra pound or two is more insulting than it is "good job bro".
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
its more elitism than cheapness.

"They should get a better job if they want more money!"

Fuck you. Imagine if your boss told you that the next time your review came up.

Yeah, and? I'd either stay in that job and continue to receive a paycheck or I'd go get a different job or a second job. It's not my customer's fault if I can't live within my means. That's no one's fault but my own and, therefor, it's nobody's fault but the waiter's if he can't live within his means while refusing to get a second job or a different job.
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
this is incorrect. the waiter is not living or dying based on his tip income in Europe. Getting an extra pound or two is more insulting than it is "good job bro".

Waiters don't live and die by tips in the states, either. Nobody's made the choice for them to accept and stay in that job. I didn't submit his application, I didn't go into the interview for him, and I'm not forcing him to stay at that job day after day. Why should the wait staff project their own responsibility onto others?
 

TechAZ

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2007
1,188
0
71
I would tip, but I wouldn't use the unwritte rule of "15-20%" tip bullshit. Whether I order a $10 appetizer or a $50 steak and lobster, the waitress/waiter is doing the same amount of work. They get the same tip. I'll leave a couple bucks for a quick lunch, and 6-8 bucks if it's my wife and I out for dinner regardless of how much the meal costs. We don't sit around and order drinks non-stop or desert, the wait staff spends maybe 5 minutes of actual work for my table TOPS.
 

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
I would tip, but I wouldn't use the unwritte rule of "15-20%" tip bullshit. Whether I order a $10 appetizer or a $50 steak and lobster, the waitress/waiter is doing the same amount of work. They get the same tip. I'll leave a couple bucks for a quick lunch, and 6-8 bucks if it's my wife and I out for dinner regardless of how much the meal costs. We don't sit around and order drinks non-stop or desert, the wait staff spends maybe 5 minutes of actual work for my table TOPS.

To be fair, they're watching (or should be) your table constantly to make sure you're not sitting there with no food or an empty glass. They spend maybe 5 minutes at your table, but they're multitasking like a motherfucker.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Wait, it's customary to tip 20% to all service people? Shit, as an accountant I think I should be working in the USA - I'd be making mega bucks.

You have already been through this argument so unless you are one of the short busers, know.

My accountant doesn't get tipped, nor is expecting that. He is also making much more than $100k a year....

My waiter is more than likely making minimum wage even if I stiff him overall. My waiter is not looking at just making minimum wage though or else he'd be doing a much easier job.

15% is a standard tip. Many of those making decent money give a little more for good service since shitty service is so standard here.

That said, for any service unless it's majorly screwed up...15% is expected. It's not an option and I don't know where that started. In other professions tips are indeed optional, but they are usually higher paid to begin with and for that tip you are having them go above and beyond.

Most people that have issues with tipping are simply living beyond their means and trying to subsidize that through screwing others...there is a group that is just cheap/assholes.

There are some that tip well in front of 'witnesses' (friends) but fuck their servers when incognito - like refills wanted when the glass is still half full, a new ketchup, salt looks clumpy, etc and then leaves no tip.

It's the little angry man syndrome. I guess it's better than them abusing their wives/kids/pets, but still; come on!
 

lord_emperor

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2009
1,380
1
0
HELL NO. I make $10/hr now and no one tips me for the work I'm supposed to do for them no matter how above and beyond my service is to them.

This.

No reason carrying food to a table should entitle someone to thousands of dollars per year of tax-free income.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
43
91
You have already been through this argument so unless you are one of the short busers, know.

My accountant doesn't get tipped, nor is expecting that. He is also making much more than $100k a year....

My waiter is more than likely making minimum wage even if I stiff him overall. My waiter is not looking at just making minimum wage though or else he'd be doing a much easier job.

15% is a standard tip. Many of those making decent money give a little more for good service since shitty service is so standard here.

That said, for any service unless it's majorly screwed up...15% is expected. It's not an option and I don't know where that started. In other professions tips are indeed optional, but they are usually higher paid to begin with and for that tip you are having them go above and beyond.

Most people that have issues with tipping are simply living beyond their means and trying to subsidize that through screwing others...there is a group that is just cheap/assholes.

There are some that tip well in front of 'witnesses' (friends) but fuck their servers when incognito - like refills wanted when the glass is still half full, a new ketchup, salt looks clumpy, etc and then leaves no tip.

It's the little angry man syndrome. I guess it's better than them abusing their wives/kids/pets, but still; come on!

^^ :thumbsup:
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I would tip, but I wouldn't use the unwritte rule of "15-20%" tip bullshit. Whether I order a $10 appetizer or a $50 steak and lobster, the waitress/waiter is doing the same amount of work. They get the same tip. I'll leave a couple bucks for a quick lunch, and 6-8 bucks if it's my wife and I out for dinner regardless of how much the meal costs. We don't sit around and order drinks non-stop or desert, the wait staff spends maybe 5 minutes of actual work for my table TOPS.

wow just wow...this is sort of why Arizona is such the hot spot lately though. You one of those migrating there for the $150k house with a 3 car garage? lolz.

It's not an UNWRITTEN rule. 15% was a standard.

This was started due to service being hard to get.

The percentage is a fair system...in a way you are a 'little' right. Say you are at a Friday's...ordering for two then $6-8 bucks is fair across the board for a 30-60min seat time.

However, if you are going 'out' for your little special dinner once a year to a place with a plate price of $30+ you may as well leave a penny for $6-8 in tip.

Those places will usually have more than one waiter dedicated to you if not your own waiter for the whole dinner. They are tied to your table whether doing anything or not for you directly...they are constantly focused waiting for anything they can do from afar.

This is the main point most lose in this argument. Waiters tend to get less and less tables per visit as the food cost average goes up. A Friday's waiter probably has 10+ tables and something like Masa in New York City, The French Laundry in Cali or The Alex in Vegas probably has you never needing anything...in a place like the latter they will literally have whatever you don't see in front of you instantly appear, like magic.

To me I want to go on cruise control when I dine out. I don't want to have to figure anything out. I am willing to pay for that both to the restaurant and the servers.
 

Locut0s

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
22,205
43
91
You have already been through this argument so unless you are one of the short busers, know.

My accountant doesn't get tipped, nor is expecting that. He is also making much more than $100k a year....

My waiter is more than likely making minimum wage even if I stiff him overall. My waiter is not looking at just making minimum wage though or else he'd be doing a much easier job.

15% is a standard tip. Many of those making decent money give a little more for good service since shitty service is so standard here.

That said, for any service unless it's majorly screwed up...15% is expected. It's not an option and I don't know where that started. In other professions tips are indeed optional, but they are usually higher paid to begin with and for that tip you are having them go above and beyond.

Most people that have issues with tipping are simply living beyond their means and trying to subsidize that through screwing others...there is a group that is just cheap/assholes.

There are some that tip well in front of 'witnesses' (friends) but fuck their servers when incognito - like refills wanted when the glass is still half full, a new ketchup, salt looks clumpy, etc and then leaves no tip.

It's the little angry man syndrome. I guess it's better than them abusing their wives/kids/pets, but still; come on!

It's interesting that more places don't add gratuity by default onto the bill like they do in most restaurants in Europe.