Do you tip?

Regarding the idea that you shouldn't have to tip if the service is bad... I have to ask.. where are people eating where they get bad service? I can't ever remember getting bad service.

When I dine out, I treat the server/bartender with respect, friendliness and kindness, and I always get the same in return. Now, that's not to discount something not cooked right, or slowness in the kitchen making a meal late in getting to the table, but those things are not the server's fault.

As I said before, I can't imagine not tipping. Not only in restaurants, but taxis, baggage handlers, room service... all of the things where people provide you a service. It's the right thing to do.
 
>The way I see, if you don't feel the service is valuable
>enough to tip, why don't you stay home and service yourself.
>Otherwise, the service must mean something to you.


When going out, one does expect a certain minimum of service. How are you supposed to know ahead of time that service may be bad? The service one expects may mean something to one, but the service one actually gets may not!
 
>You can take your butt to the grocery store,
>take the food home, prep & clean it, cook it, then serve it to
>yourself!<

Jen, the wait staff is not prepping, cleaning, or cooking the food. If we're talking about fairness, shouldn't the chef get a portion of the server's tip for providing this service?

Tracey
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
>>The way I see, if you don't feel the service is valuable
>>enough to tip, why don't you stay home and service yourself.
>>Otherwise, the service must mean something to you.
>
>
>When going out, one does expect a certain minimum of service.
>How are you supposed to know ahead of time that service may be
>bad? The service one expects may mean something to one, but
>the service one actually gets may not!

Thank you for saying this Kathryn! I was thinking the same thing....
 
>Sorry to disagree with you, Jennifer, but yes it is the
>customer's responsibility to pay my salary. That is the
>system. I don't get a paycheck and it is set up that way
>because tipping is expected.

It's this kind of thinking that makes bad servers expect a tip no matter what kind of service they give (I am not saying YOU are one, but this reasoning could be justification for a server to not bother making any effort in their job, because they expect a tip anyway).
 
>>You can take your butt to the grocery store,
>>take the food home, prep & clean it, cook it, then serve it
>to
>>yourself!<
>
>Jen, the wait staff is not prepping, cleaning, or cooking the
>food. If we're talking about fairness, shouldn't the chef get
>a portion of the server's tip for providing this service?
>
>Tracey
>"Where there's a will, there's a way."


Tracey - It has been my experience that most cooks get paid a lot more than the wait staff since they do not get tips, I can't say that is at every restaurant but I would bet that most pay the cooks a lot more than they pay the wait staff.
 
>Regarding the idea that you shouldn't have to tip if the
>service is bad... I have to ask.. where are people eating
>where they get bad service?<

I think the main thing I experience is inattention on the server's part. They come to take your order, they deliver your food, they bring the check and those are the only times you see them. If you need a drink refill or some ketchup, you're on your own. I have actually had to stop other servers to ask for what we want because our server is no where to be found. Those servers get the minimum tip (10%). I have had one waitress who, when I pointed out to her that she forgot the orange juice we ordered, proceeded to argue with me about whether or not we ordered orange juice. Like my husband says "No tip for you".

I don't think the only way to get bad service is to be rude or demeaning to the server. My husband and I are wonderful people who would never demean or be mean to anyone. Some people are simply not cut out for the service industry. It has nothing to do with the patrons.

Tracey
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
I repeat, the system is set up for tipping. You know that ahead of time going in that restaurants are tipping systems. Of course if the service is horrible, you should say something to management, but I know for a fact that people have gotten excellent service and still tip poorly because they don't feel it is their responsibility to tip someone. They're being cheap and using "bad" service as an excuse to be cheap. As someone said, bad service isn't the norm, it's the excuse cheap people use to justify themselves.

And of course if you feel tipping isn't expected and if you still feel you should freely go to restaurants and not tip, I strongly urge you not to go to the same restaurant again. Servers and bartenders have loooooooong memories for that sort of thing.

As far as going into another line of work, I must say most people know how it works and do tip accordingly. I'm not going to change my line of work because of a few cheapskates. I thought I would just enlighten people who truly don't know why people tip. Some people, I guess, really don't know that servers don't get a paycheck, that tips are their paycheck.

And the tips aren't shared with the chef because the chef makes a good salary. He takes home a paycheck whether he does his job correctly or not.
 
>Regarding the idea that you shouldn't have to tip if the
>service is bad... I have to ask.. where are people eating
>where they get bad service? I can't ever remember getting bad
>service.

I don't eat out often, except when I travel.
One instance of sub-par service was when I went to a retirement dinner for one of my colleagues. Because of the large group, a tip was already figured into the final bill, but several of us said we wouldn't have tipped had there been a choice. Maybe the fact that she was getting a tip anyway affected the waitress' behavior, but she rarely checked on us, we had to almost literally go and find her when we had problems or questions (she didn't even look over at our table once we were served, didn't smile once--and we were polite to her--- and seemed to forget about us completely between serving time and check payment time).
 
I've been to a resturant, paid for the meal, forgot to tip. We got into the car and drove off. I thought about it, and realized I forgot to tip. I turned the car around went back to the resturant and handed the tip to the waitress. She was very greatful.
I think it's just being cheap you you don't tip. Most of the wait staff get paid less than minumin wage because the management know they will be recieving tips.
I do not tip the services like the mail carrier. I appreciate their services however they are compensated well for it.
 
Of course I tip! I've been a waitress and I also SHARED my tips with the cooks, especially on busy nights or if they did a good job on a large group. I will always leave a tip, however, if service has not met my standards (and I have high standards because I've walked in their shoes), I tip accordingly.

"Why do people feel compelled to give away hard earned money?" You've said it exactly - their TIP is THEIR hard earned money.

Terri
 
CoralOcean,

Please help me understand why you choose to work in an industry where your livelihood is dependent on the kindness of strangers (I say this because as strongly as you feel people should tip, there are people who feel just as strongly that they should not have to. And, in fact, there is no law that requires it. So, people who work in that industry run the risk of not getting tipped. Just like people who work on commission run the risk that no one will buy anything.). I am asking out of simply curiosity not out of judgement. If it's too personal a question, I understand if you don't want to respond.

Tracey
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
A couple of other issues:

From what I understand, waitstaff are typically taxed at a fixed rate on their income taxes, a rate that presumes a certain percentage. Even if they don't get the tip, they are taxed as if they did.

And, often waitstaff do have to pool their tips and share them with other staff such as table bussers, host/esses, and even cooks. So often even if they get a larger tip for their own superior service, they have to share with others.

And, when a customer pays by credit card, the restaurant / vendor usually has to pay between 4% to 6% of the charged amount to the credit card servicer for the "privelege" of accepting that particular card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover). If a tip is included in the charged amount, I seriously wonder if that 4% to 6% isn't carved out of the server's hide as well.

Just some things to think about. To me, friendly table service is one of the perks of going out to eat, and deserves compensation. If I get crappy service I'll leave a penny tip. But that almost never happens.

A-Jock
 
Well perhaps our government should do what the Europeans have done and require that tips be included in the menu prices? Why create a situation where people have to depend on patrons to make a living and not make tipping mandatory. It really does not make sense and I don't think this should be a societal burden. Either pay them at least minimum wage or make tipping mandatory.

>A couple of other issues:
>
>From what I understand, waitstaff are typically taxed at a
>fixed rate on their income taxes, a rate that presumes a
>certain percentage. Even if they don't get the tip, they are
>taxed as if they did.
>
>And, often waitstaff do have to pool their tips and share them
>with other staff such as table bussers, host/esses, and even
>cooks. So often even if they get a larger tip for their own
>superior service, they have to share with others.
>
>And, when a customer pays by credit card, the restaurant /
>vendor usually has to pay between 4% to 6% of the charged
>amount to the credit card servicer for the "privelege" of
>accepting that particular card (American Express, Visa,
>MasterCard, Discover). If a tip is included in the charged
>amount, I seriously wonder if that 4% to 6% isn't carved out
>of the server's hide as well.
>



Tracey
"Do or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
You never tip.. wow, i do not know what to say to that one! Well i actualy do but will be nice. That is very sad to hear! I am a HUGE tipper to services well done and a good tipper to average or bad service (we all have off days here and there right?). I am lucky to live a good life and i know that the person serving me is working really hard and not making squat... so i would like them to have a little play money after a hard day working on their sore feet dealing with gouchy (some.. not all) demanding people. Gosh.. i give 5 bucks to the guy who brings my dog food to my car, that is about 4 feet from the door! What is he making.. about 8 dollars an hour with tax taken off on TOP of that. Try living on that. During the holidays i tip every one from my cleaning lady to the mail lady to the garbage men...... it feels so very good to give. Give it a try and feel good knowing that you are adding to someones life after they have added to yours by serving you and making your life easier! Imagine how the person feels that gave you amazing sevice and was counting on your tip to buy dinner for their family or children and then get nothing...... If every one had your attitude this would be one sad and selfish world. The have and the have not's.

Brigitte
 
>Well perhaps our government should do what the Europeans have
>done and require that tips be included in the menu prices? Why
>create a situation where people have to depend on patrons to
>make a living and not make tipping mandatory. It really does
>not make sense and I don't think this should be a societal
>burden. Either pay them at least minimum wage or make tipping
>mandatory.
>

This is certainly NOT something to get the govt involved in. Don't we have enough interferance already? It is really a matter of common courtesy, which is lacking in many areas nowadays. Patrons should take into consideration the tip before they go out to eat,if you can't afford to tip, you should reconsider where you eat.
 
>>
>
>This is certainly NOT something to get the govt involved in.
>Don't we have enough interferance already? It is really a
>matter of common courtesy, which is lacking in many areas
>nowadays. Patrons should take into consideration the tip
>before they go out to eat,if you can't afford to tip, you
>should reconsider where you eat.

Well it *was* the government's decision to allow them to be paid less than minimum wage so, it is up to them to fix it. It is not up to me to make sure they can make a living. I agree that tipping is a courtesy and so is saying please and thank you and holding the door open for people behind you. All of which is *voluntary*.

Tracey
"Do or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
>
>Well it *was* the government's decision to allow them to be
>paid less than minimum wage so, it is up to them to fix it.
>It is not up to me to make sure they can make a living. I
>agree that tipping is a courtesy and so is saying please and
>thank you and holding the door open for people behind you.
>All of which is *voluntary*.
>

I wouldn't hold my breath letting the govt fix anything. However since we both agree that tipping is a courteous thing to do, then I guess that those who dont' tip aren't courteous.
 
>Well it *was* the government's decision to allow them to be
>paid less than minimum wage so, it is up to them to fix it.
>It is not up to me to make sure they can make a living. I
>agree that tipping is a courtesy and so is saying please and
>thank you and holding the door open for people behind you.
>All of which is *voluntary*.
>

I wouldn't hold my breath letting the govt fix anything. However since we both agree that tipping is a courteous thing to do, then I guess that those who dont' tip aren't courteous.
 
>
>I wouldn't hold my breath letting the govt fix anything.
>However since we both agree that tipping is a courteous thing
>to do, then I guess that those who dont' tip aren't courteous.
>
Agreed :). and servers who don't provide good service aren't courteous either.

Tracey
"Do or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Where there's a will, there's a way."
 
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