Curse

Shursh · May 12, 2009, 05:58 PM // 17:58

zwei2stein - they are tipped because they DO NOT make minimum wage. in fact, they make no wage at all (2.13/hr, taxes take all of it). as was stated before, this is the essential problem, and until restaurants start paying the minimum wage (or more), we will always have this argument.

nodakim - see above comment ^

cataphract & divinity - 99.99% of the time, servers have good intentions, but if you don't tip them then don't be surprised if you get spit etc. in your food. not tipping is a really quick and easy way to piss off someone who is getting your to-go box ready. and like i said earlier, i have absolutely no qualms over violating someone's food if they leave NO tip, and nearly every server i've talked to feels the same way. something you might want to consider.

zwei2stein · May 12, 2009, 06:58 PM // 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataphract

Because they're the only ones in a unique position of spitting (to say the least) in your food. Considering most of them are idiots, paying them is a small price to pay for a spit-free meal.

Meh, I would never know anyway. spit is tasteless and if they make sure it is obvious that food was spit in, well, that is epic backfire.

Compared to what food goes through before it even gets to restaurant kitchen ... (if you know someone what works in company making, say, yogurts or wieners or plain bread, ask for stories.)

But again, here waiters generally have decent wage (there are laws about it) and bigger tip makes you look like you expect few private minutes with waitress or something.

edit: in fact, after Commies were overthrown and American tourists started appearing and before people got used to fact that they tip, they were considered pigs slash sexual tourists, based solely on "i expect to see you later (wink wink)" size tips. but that was years ago.

cataphract · May 13, 2009, 06:22 AM // 06:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shursh

cataphract & divinity - 99.99% of the time, servers have good intentions, but if you don't tip them then don't be surprised if you get spit etc. in your food. not tipping is a really quick and easy way to piss off someone who is getting your to-go box ready. and like i said earlier, i have absolutely no qualms over violating someone's food if they leave NO tip, and nearly every server i've talked to feels the same way. something you might want to consider.

There's a little problem with the timeline here.

The check and the tip come after the meal. Unless you're advocating preemptive tipping, you can spit into empty plates all you want.

Oh and, thanks for letting us know what kind of a person you are.

Shursh · May 13, 2009, 03:50 PM // 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by cataphract

There's a little problem with the timeline here.

The check and the tip come after the meal. Unless you're advocating preemptive tipping, you can spit into empty plates all you want.

Oh and, thanks for letting us know what kind of a person you are.

LOL wow way to take that out of context. i was actually agreeing with you in my last post.

and no, i can't spit on food that isn't there. understand that this is a hypothetical situation in which you do not tip, and then I am given the opportunity to box your food in a to-go box.

I have never and would never spit in someone's food who tips me. The only time I would EVER advocate spitting in someone's food BEFORE the meal/bill comes is if the guest was treating you in an inhumane manner (and that is in the strictest sense, aka physical abuse and/or malicious intent...if you are a waiter you know exactly what i'm talking about).

and to be frank, if you read all my posts in this thread, you'll realize that i'm a pretty fair and honest person, given the unfair and arguably illegal sub-minimum wage situation I and every other waiter in america finds himself in. throughout my year-long waiting career, i've spit in a grand total of two people's food, and trust me they had it coming.

which brings me to my final point, unless someone posts more ridiculous reasons why they don't tip

:

DO NOT go out to eat at a restaurant if you and/or the people you are with are in a bad mood.

oh and zwei2stein, that last bit you wrote made me laugh - that's hilarious that the servers thought the guests were asking for sexual favors by tipping.

Divinitys Creature · May 15, 2009, 10:27 PM // 22:27

cataphract - posting opinions like these makes some people feel they have a right to do that shit. If you ever feel someone has done something to your food - just leave, they never have an excuse to poison you.

Kumu Honua · Jun 03, 2009, 04:17 PM // 16:17

I just want to say a hearty thank you to all the non-tippers out there. Including all of you in this thread.

I worked a 12 hour shift last night and thanks to your kind I made a whopping $1 last night after expenses.

I'm so glad you feel that tipping should not occur. I hope you die in a fire. ESPECIALLY those who say "You know, the economy and all that." as your excuse for no tips. I hope you lose your job, have your house foreclosed, and get gonorrhea.

Enon · Jun 03, 2009, 04:50 PM // 16:50

Isn't that called slavery, Kumu Honua?

haggus71 · Jun 03, 2009, 06:57 PM // 18:57

As a former member of the service industry, a few things...

First, the amount the IRS taxes you for is 12% of your table sales. Along the issue of taxes, the average American pays 25-30% of their income, all totaled. A-Rod pays close to 40%. You want a bigger tip from him? Start paying the taxes he pays.

As for serving being an "easy" job, I've run the gamut of jobs, from the military(9 years), to service(3 years total) to Behavioral Services(5 years and counting). Other than the Navy, I found the greatest mental flexibility required in the serving. You try turning 5-6 tables, averaging 2-6 people, every hour or two, 5 nights a week, keeping their orders straight, and keeping a smile on your face. Add to that the fact that most waiters end up having to bus their own tables. Oh, and they also have to tip out to the bar and the kitchen...who both make, on average, $30-50 grand a year.

I see a bunch of trust fund babies or others who never had a millimeter of callouses on their hands, or sore feet, giving "Mr. Pink" anecdotes on the service industry. I can only hope the economy gets worse, so more of you can see what the real world looks like.

GL HF. This post, like the rest of mine, will last about 5 minutes.

Avarre · Jun 04, 2009, 12:49 PM // 12:49

I make about US$260 per month, not counting expenses, for a full-time 50-60 hour a week job. I don't get tips. I'm also technically in a service sector.

Fortunately, there's no tipping in this country. I'd probably not afford it.

pumpkin pie · Jun 04, 2009, 01:59 PM // 13:59

I have been without a job for a few years

distilledwill · Jun 04, 2009, 03:51 PM // 15:51

I usually leave 10% unless theyve been a bit crap.

glacialphoenix · Jun 04, 2009, 04:13 PM // 16:13

Quote:

I make about US$260 per month, not counting expenses, for a full-time 50-60 hour a week job.

Serving NS, are you?

Kumu Honua · Jun 04, 2009, 05:02 PM // 17:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enon

Isn't that called slavery, Kumu Honua?

No. I am free to quit the job. Thankfully I don't usually have a night like that. I normally have plenty of people who are going to tip. Even if it's just a dollar.

I simply had a night of nothing but low class jackass customers. The kind who I would refuse service to if I were allowed to pick and choose who to pick up.

AidinSwiftarrow · Jun 04, 2009, 10:12 PM // 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shursh

coming from someone who HAS waited tables, here is my breakdown for tips:

25%-100% - if the server was perfect, and/or did something far out of the ordinary (at macaroni grill they sing to you for your birthday, something i think we can all consider to be far from the norm)

Pretty much all the restaurants in my area do that. Applebee's, Cattlemen's, and Outback.

fenix · Jun 04, 2009, 10:54 PM // 22:54

I like being in Australia.

No one ever tips. Well, sometimes people will leave something in a tip jar at a pub/bar, or maybe if the food was excellent, but aside from that, no one tips.

Actually, the issue came up recently, because my girlfriend wanted to tip this restaurant, and being American she was fine with it, but the waiter didn't actually understand the concept. He said that sometimes people will give the staff their extra change, but that's about it.

I like our system.

Avarre · Jun 05, 2009, 12:22 AM // 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by glacialphoenix

Serving NS, are you?

Yup.

Someone post something interesting, work is boring

subarucar · Jun 05, 2009, 04:11 AM // 04:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenix

I like being in Australia.

No one ever tips. Well, sometimes people will leave something in a tip jar at a pub/bar, or maybe if the food was excellent, but aside from that, no one tips.

Actually, the issue came up recently, because my girlfriend wanted to tip this restaurant, and being American she was fine with it, but the waiter didn't actually understand the concept. He said that sometimes people will give the staff their extra change, but that's about it.

I like our system.

We have the same system in NZ, The only time ive seen tipping here is if something costed $38, they might hand over $40 and say "keep the change".

Tipping should only happen when the service or food was VERY good. If i were in a country that had the whole tipping thing going on, i would rather pay a bit extra for the food so the waiters and waitresses could get a better wage, and avoid the whole "You're a bad tipper", "OMG this celeb earns millions of dollars but only tips 15%" thing.

It was an odd situation when i went overseas, the porter at the hotel in Dubai was standing around in the room for a while, he straitened up some items and turned the TV on. Only after he left did i realise that he was waiting for a tip. Then throughout the rest of the trip, i got confused on how much i should tip.

Shursh · Jun 05, 2009, 06:05 PM // 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by haggus71

As for serving being an "easy" job, I've run the gamut of jobs, from the military(9 years), to service(3 years total) to Behavioral Services(5 years and counting). Other than the Navy, I found the greatest mental flexibility required in the serving. You try turning 5-6 tables, averaging 2-6 people, every hour or two, 5 nights a week, keeping their orders straight, and keeping a smile on your face. Add to that the fact that most waiters end up having to bus their own tables. Oh, and they also have to tip out to the bar and the kitchen...who both make, on average, $30-50 grand a year.

I see a bunch of trust fund babies or others who never had a millimeter of callouses on their hands, or sore feet, giving "Mr. Pink" anecdotes on the service industry. I can only hope the economy gets worse, so more of you can see what the real world looks like.

GL HF. This post, like the rest of mine, will last about 5 minutes.

Amen, brother.

Ghost Omel · Jun 05, 2009, 08:28 PM // 20:28

I could not read the entire thread so sorry if i post somehtign some 1 else already posted...

My Mother works as an accauntant in the restaurant and the way the tips work there is rather something i havent seen or heard of before...What happens is If the waiter/servant get the tip the tip goes into the collection box...at the end of the day the tip is divided between the staff the higher ranked staff member gets the biggest "tip" and lowest ranked gets lower. The Tip is mandatory though.. i am not quite sure but i think its added into the bill right away....and the waiters take it out and put it in the jar out of the totoal price of the meal..

In any case i alwasy tip fine as i see it .. but i go to Asian restaurants i eat enaugh of european/American cousine at school and home.. and the tip is generaly 10-12%...depending on the meal served

Miss Puddles · Jun 05, 2009, 08:38 PM // 20:38

I'm glad I don't have to work for tips anymore. And even then I was paid $9.25/hour as a shift leader.