If you dine out, you should read this... [Archive]

anna_66

10-10-2007, 03:11 PM

There are SO many people out there flooding the restaurants w/o any knowledge of how to tip. Here is a short guide for the general public to follow. Feel free to print out and store in your wallet and/or purse. :)

1. CHILDREN "THE LITTLE DEVILS":
If you have children, DO NOT let them, open and dump anything on the table (ie; salt, sugar, etc). IF YOU DO, you must leave an extra $5 for the server to clean up YOUR CHILD'S mess & to restock the now unusable wasted items. We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. The least you can do is pay us for the extra work. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restraunt. It's very distracting not to mention dangerous if they get ran over by a server with hot food in their hands.

2. "THE CAMPERS":
If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, its an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.

3. COMPLIMENTS:
Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is not a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We cant pay our bills on compliments. Its not that we don't appreciate the praise, its just that if you say that and then leave 10%, its an insult.

4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS:
Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlet is NOT a tip. It is insulting that you assume we are w/o religion and must save us. Again, like ..3, we cant pay bills w/prayer cards. We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because EVERYONE who goes to church follows it by eating out.

5. TIPPING:
It is not 1960. Cost of living has gone up dramatically since then. 18% is the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers. Just look at the tax line and multiply by 2-3, this gives you your minimum tip amount. Remember, our companies pay us minimum wage (minumum wage for servers is $6.75 in CA, $3.38 in FL, $3.09 in IA, ONLY $2.38 IN MARYLAND & $2.13 in Louisiana & TN) And we are taxed on 10 percent of your meal automatically anyway. So if your meal is $100 and you leave $10 and we tip out $4-5 to the busser, bartender, and whoever else then we pay tax on 10 dollars the state assumes we are atleast making and we actually make $5. It seems small but it adds up. How many times do you eat out per week and do this? 18% PEOPLE!!! MINIMUM!

6. THE COMPLAINERS:
If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong or something, do not take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us.

7. THE FREE STUFF:
If you happen to get anything for free and you did not have a problem with your dining experience, most of the time it is because the server thinks you will realize that they are giving it to you for free. There should be extra tip thanking the server for the free item. They could get in a lot of trouble giving away free stuff. You should give them hazard pay for it.

8. THE LATE ONES:
If you come into the restraunt 10 mins before closing or any time near closing hurry up and order your food and get out. Closed means closed, not social hour. It is so rude to sit there and take your sweet ass time. We can't leave until you leave because we have to do sidework and clean the table you are sitting at. We don't want to stand there waiting for you for an extra hour just because you don't want to go home. We recommend 24 hour establishments such as Dennys if you wish to sit into the wee hours of the night.

9. THE TABLE HOGGERS:
If you only come in for coffee or a dessert, to do paper work, or to have a meeting, don't sit there taking up our booths for hours. We are not Starbucks or a hotel restraunt. If you want to sit for hours, go there or else you better leave a good tip for us and camping fee included.

10. THE GREET:
When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. We honestly want to know how you are doing. If you are in a bad mood we want to know that from the beginning. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to "How are you doing?". Also most of us are REQUIRED to say certain things during the greeting, so please don't interrupt our greeting and say "I want coffee", "Can we get some bread?", or "What are the soups?"

11. THOSE DAMN CELL PHONES:
Don't ever talk on your cell phone in a restraunt. This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. Just show some respect and give us your attention for a couple of minutes.

12. TAKE-AWAY OR TO-GOS:
Always remember to tip the take-out order servers! They work just as hard as a server, and hardly ever get tips for it! WE DESERVE TO BE TIPPED TOO!

13. DO NOT TELL ME YOU ARE BROKE WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING: If you cannot afford to tip properly then do not go out to eat. If I as a server bring you back $8.00 in change lets say from a $70.00 bill and only leave me $2.00 and tell me you are broke you should be castrated for being such an ignorant a**hole!! Do not waste your time or mine it really pisses us off.

14. High School Kids: Learn how to tip!! Just because you do not have a job and mommy and daddy pays for everything you have including the meal that you are eating do not think that it is ok to not tip. Leave a tip people b/c I remember every face that does not tip.
!!!SERVERS READING THIS!!!
Please repost this so the word can get out, since so many people are uneducated about tips and our lives depend on this - atleast for now...

SIGNED, YOUR FELLOW RESTAURANT WORKERS

lbaker

10-10-2007, 03:27 PM

As someone who worked in restaurants for years, supporting two young children, I agree totally. No time to properly respond at this moment but will have some to add later this evening. One thing that used to drive me MAD :mad: CRAZY :mad: would be when people would look down at the menu and mumble or talk to the menu... exCUSE me... the menu can't hear and I would appreciate it if you would look at ME when asking a question or placing an order :rolleyes:

jackie

10-10-2007, 05:16 PM

OK, I am one to disagree.

Last year when I went to Canada, I sat in one place for more then 10 minutes before even being approached by a server. She then acted bored to have to serve us (hello, it is your job, put a smile on your face or get a new job), the food took ages, and we had to flag her down at least four times to get the bill. The most emotion on her face was when we didn't leave a tip.

I do tip, but not for nothing. If the service is reasonable, I will tip, if it is excellent, I will over tip, if it is horrible, I wont leave a penny.

Catlady711

10-10-2007, 06:56 PM

I do tip, but not for nothing. If the service is reasonable, I will tip, if it is excellent, I will over tip, if it is horrible, I wont leave a penny.

Pretty much same here, except if the service is awful I leave 2 pennies as my two cents worth for a comment.

Although, my pardons to servers, I always thought a tip was supposed to be a VOULUNTARY expression of grattitude for service well done, not a mandatory way to supplement someone's else's income.

Catty1

10-10-2007, 07:03 PM

Although, my pardons to servers, I always thought a tip was supposed to be a VOULUNTARY expression of grattitude for service well done, not a mandatory way to supplement someone's else's income.

It was supposed to be. But today's reality is, restaurants don't pay worth **** because they figure the staff will live off their tips - so they have no reason to increase the unliveable base wage.

When managers raise the wages - maybe then. But they won't, and are letting tippers pick up the slack.

JME

critter crazy

10-10-2007, 07:10 PM

My question is, there are tons of jobs, that only pay minumum wage, and they dont get tips. And they manage to survive?? So why must we be pretty much be ordered to pay a tip, when others dont get one??

I also will not tip if the service is bad! Just a few weeks ago, when my parents stopped over, after my dads testing for his cancer, we went out to dinner. The service was horrible!! We sat at the table for 20 mins, before even being asked what we wanted to drink, then the food took over 45 mins to get to us, and half of our food was ice cold. Then it took well over 30 mins, trying to catch the guy for our check! I was furious, my poor dad got a drink spilled on him, and they took forever to bring us something to wipe it up with, then he almost fell cause they didnt clean up the floor!:rolleyes: Needless to say they didnt get a tip, nor will we ever to to that place agian, family restaurant my butt!!

I am a very good tipper, but bad service=bad/no tip!

Karen

10-10-2007, 07:33 PM

Minimum wage for food servers is often far lower than what the rest of the community gets paid as minimum wage. Sad, but true.

Anna, I often get take-out, and don't tip them, and no one has ever suggested that I do. That is not the same as serving a table - they
A. take the order,
B. type it into the cash register, and then
C. put the food in a bag for me when it's done and hand it to me.

How does that remotely compare to
A. Greeting and seating me,
B. Giving me a menu and reciting the daily specials
C. Answering question about the menu
D. Getting me drinks
E. Taking my food order
F. Checking and refilling my drinks, inquiring about the food,
G. Inquiring about dessert,
H. Bringing me my check,
I. Asking whether I want to take anything home, boxing it up if I do,
then after I leave,
J. Bussing and cleaning the table for the next person

Just curious ... places where I regularly get take-out are always friendly and glad to see me, so they don't seem angry that I haven;t been tipping them ...

Alysser

10-10-2007, 07:42 PM

When me and my friends go out to applebees, we usually tip the reccommended amount, but last time our waitress took forever to return the change. We waited over 15 minutes! So, we gave her a $3.00 tip. Since the service was not terrible(she was nice), we gave her something. Trust me, if someone was rude to me and took forever they will not get a tip. They don't deserve it if they act that way!

jennielynn1970

10-10-2007, 09:46 PM

I waitressed when I was in high school and after high school. One of the places was a nudist resort where we didn't get tipped (hello... they wore no clothes, they had no pockets!), but they did have to pay minimum wage. At least around here, if you're working a job like waitressing, if you don't make at least minimum when you add in your tips, payroll has to make up the balance.

Most of the waitress and waiters I know these days make some damn good money. My one boyfriend worked 3-4 nights a week, and pulled in about $600 minimum just in tips for those nights.

When I tip, I normally do 15% as a base. If they are excellent I'll do 20%. My delivery guys get at least 25% cause they have to drive to get to me as well. My chinese delivery guys are the best, and I always tip them well. I may not be rich, and I may be tight on money, but I know how I would feel if I were them, and they need to make a decent living as well. I've never not left a tip... even if they sucked. I figure some days I suck at work, and I wouldn't want to not get paid.

critter crazy

10-10-2007, 09:50 PM

To be honest, i think all the points could have been said in a much nicer way. Calling epole names, and talking of Castration sure does put one in a foul mood.

jennielynn1970

10-10-2007, 10:11 PM

To be honest, i think all the points could have been said in a much nicer way. Calling epole names, and talking of Castration sure does put one in a foul mood.

I agree with that totally... Plus who has room for a list that long in their wallet, lol! :p ;) It's basically "Remember not to be cheap, and tip the way you'd like to be tipped yourself."

Catlady711

10-10-2007, 10:31 PM

I've never worked as a waitress, however in H.S. I washed dishes in a busy restaurant. I don't know if any other places have the same procedure with tips as this place did but I thought it was grossly unfair to everyone. This place worked like this...

Waitress or bartender at the bar takes care of customer

Busboy/girl cleanes up tables and collects tip money, not the waitresses, bartender collects their own

ALL tip money collected went into a can during the shift

At the end of the night the tips were divided up evenly between the bartender, cooks including prepcooks, and waitresses but NOT the busboys/girls or the dishwashers which were the lowest paid in the place.

So the customer who left a tip intended for the waitress, it got split up between various people but not the ones responsible for the cleanliness of the place.

I only worked there for a couple months and got the heck out of there.

columbine

10-10-2007, 11:34 PM

I waitressed when I was in high school and after high school. One of the places was a nudist resort where we didn't get tipped (hello... they wore no clothes, they had no pockets!)So did they bother with lobster bibs?

It stinks that restaurants are still allowed to pay an insultingly low wage to their servers when even the newest potscrubber on the line is at least technically supposed to get the local minimum (although as likely as not they're working under the table for much less). Restaurant work is back-breaking and brings one into daily contact with folks who can't hold down another job, for reasons ranging from noncitizen status to a criminal record. I hardly ever eat out because I just won't go unless I can afford to tip heavily. And yes, if the server's rude or slow or makes a million mistakes with no discernible reason, I don't tip heavily. But if the place is gonzo, my dining companions are rude or unreasonable, or the server is clearly injured or too pregnant to be on her feet all day, I don't worry about slowness or a few mistakes.

Love, Columbine (dang, now I'm jonesing for fish-n-chips at my favorite local place again)

clara4457

10-11-2007, 06:50 AM

I waitressed and bartended for about 13 years off and on, and I so agree with you. Some things that people might not realize.

Servers do not usually get fringe benefits. Most have to pay any insurance or retirement plan out of pocket, so if you think they make too much money, realize that they have their own payroll expenses.

The minimum wage for servers is $2 to $4 less that the national minimum wage. The argument that other workers get minimum wage without tips and do fine doesn't stack up. Also, servers do not get raises, so there are no merit raises, cost of living raises, etc.

The serving jobs where they make over $400 are few and far between. Most servers make between $250 and $400 in the majority of establishments (before taxes) - add into the costs for their own health insurance and retirement and that figure decreases dramatically. Try to make a living making that kind of money. Many servers are single parents with children at home and that is their only income. These women will probably always have to work and have little or no prospect of retirement. I feel bad for these women.

Serving is HARD WORK. It is physically and emotionally draining. Try being happy and cheerful for a 10 hour shift with no breaks, verbal abuse, cleaning other people's messes, dealing with rudeness throughout your shift. You are on your feet running for the entire time. I used to come home with my legs throbbing so bad that I couldn't sleep. Cleaning up after the shift can take over an hour - at the same $4.00 an hour.

Back of house issues are not the server's fault - yet directly impacts the money she/he makes. Cold food, slow food, under or over cooked food have nothing to do with the server's performance. If you have these issues, talk to a manager, don't stiff the server.

I'll add one more to Anna's list:

You aren't the only table I have - try to get all requests for your table so the server only has to make one trip. If every time I go back to your table I have to get something else for a member of your party, it is taking away from the time I can spend at my other tables - which will affect my tip from them. I don't know how many times I have gotten a drink for a table and every time I deliver it - someone else at the table asks for a drink themselves. ONE TRIP PLEASE!

I'm not saying you have to tip for bad service, just be considerate of the person that is trying their best to make a living.

JMHO

CathyBogart

10-11-2007, 10:11 AM

My sister has another one to add:

The fact that there are a few empty tables in the restaurant does NOT mean you get to be seated immediately. Those tables are empty because our servers are already stretched too thin and nobody is serving them. Whining at the hostess is not going to make the management staff more servers, nor is it going to make anyone happy. Just RELAX for 15 minutes so that you can have a server who is a)not completely frazzled and b) has the time to get to you between all of their other tables.

Ginger's Mom

10-11-2007, 10:39 AM

cassiesmom

10-11-2007, 01:51 PM

Okay, dearies, since it has been brought up, I'm going to hit you with all my questions...

Sunday brunch buffet (or any buffet). I've heard it said that it's okay to tip less at a buffet than a sit-down meal. Is that correct? The last 2 brunches I have been to, we had a gratuity added on to the check because of a party of six or more.

At a place like the Old Country Buffet, where there is not a server per se except someone who clears your plate, should a tip be left?

What do you do with your tips at the end of your shift? Do you give them to the restaurant manager in exchange for bigger bills? How do you prefer to receive a tip? Do you hate receiving change in a tip for that reason? Is it even correct to use coins for a gratuity anymore? What happens when I write the gratuity onto my credit card receipt - do you get it?

If I need to split a $20 bill, do I tip the bartender who takes care of that for me? If I'm waiting with a friend for a table in a restaurant (say, T.G.I. Friday or Applebee's), and we get soft drinks from the bar while we wait, do I tip on those?

What about Starbucks or Caribou Coffee? That jar on the end of the counter - I am never quite sure what to do.

jazzcat

10-11-2007, 02:09 PM

Does this bother anyone else? I hate when I pay for a meal and the server asks if I would like change back. :confused: I think they should always bring the change back unless the told to keep it by the customer first. Sometimes they will say "I'll be back with the change" and I'll say just keep it and that is fine but to flat out ask if I want change back is a little too presumptuous.

moosmom

10-11-2007, 02:09 PM

I try to be as close to 15% as possible. If the service sucks, I don't leave one.

Suki Wingy

10-11-2007, 03:50 PM

Thank you for posting this. I've never been a server but my mom was for years. I work where I have to cater to people's every need too, and honestly I HATE it. The least they could do is be nice. I don't eat out on my own except for fast food but my family always leaves a big tip. My mom usually gives 20% for good service.

jennielynn1970

10-11-2007, 08:56 PM

So did they bother with lobster bibs?

Love, Columbine

Do you really want to know what they did or didn't wear, lol!! Some things were very odd (napkin rings where I never want to see them stacked again, and clear plastic shorts... why??? ).

The funniest sight was the handy man who was also a member... steel toed boots, athletic socks, a tool belt with all the tools, and a baseball hat. And that was it! Oh, and a guy who had legally changed his name to Santa Claus... I thought that was just sick cause he looked like Santa, but rode around on a golf cart naked. Who wants to sit on THAT Santa's lap?! EEK! :eek: :p

lbaker

10-12-2007, 07:10 AM

:eek: :eek: my goodness Jen... you really can give a visual image!!!! um, maybe too visual ~ ;) :D That's hysterical :D

anna_66

10-12-2007, 09:55 AM

Ewww I don't think I'd like to work at a nudist resort :eek:

I totally understand why a lot of you don't agree with my post but
have you ever waitressed? Try it for a few days, it's not quite as
easy as it looks.

At Red Lobster I do almost everything except cook the food.

I make my own drinks (except alcoholic drinks)
I make my own salads
I dress my own food (with the exception of the weekend)
I make my own desserts
I bus my own tables and clean them (again with the exception of the
weekend)
I do lots of side work during and after my shift ends

And for all of this I get paid $3.43 (we just recently got a raise
from $2.13-$3.43)
I NEVER get any type of pay raise.
I also have to pay the bartender 5% of my bar sales-I TOTALLY DON'T
AGREE with this because our bartenders make much more above minimum wage and get tips from the bar tables, guests who are at the bar and take outs.

I would be happy if the restaurants would pay us a normal wage.

This was posted in Ginger's Mom's thread "Question on Tipping"
(I'll post in that thread when I have more time)

If you are working for a tip you work harder!
This is SO NOT TRUE!
I work just as hard for guests that I know for a fact leave me nothing as I do for the ones that leave me a fat tip! Any GOOD server will.

I know a lot of the wait staff suck, I work with quite a few of
them.
But that's not me. Well at least not most of the time:o
I try to treat my guests the way I like to be treated when I go out.
But as jenn_librarian said:

I've never not left a tip... even if they sucked. I figure
some days I suck at work, and I wouldn't want to not get paid

Now if you know the server is purposely just being nasty I agree
with not leaving a tip.

Does this bother anyone else? I hate when I pay for
a meal and the server asks if I would like change back.
I can understand why you feel this way but this is my experience...

I always say "I'll be right back with your change" and the guest
will say alright. I'll come back and the people will be gone :rolleyes:

Anna, I often get take-out, and don't tip them, and no one has ever suggested that I do. That is not the same as serving a table - they
A. take the order,
B. type it into the cash register, and then
C. put the food in a bag for me when it's done and hand it to me.
I don't know how it is in other places Karen, but at my work during the day shift the bartender is the take out person. Not only do they do what you said they also have to dress the food (get it ready). I've seen them spend up to 1/2+ getting food ready for a big take out.
I can understand why people don't tip on carry out and I still don't know how I feel about tipping for it, guess that's all up to you:)

Sunday brunch buffet (or any buffet). I've heard it said that it's okay to tip less at a buffet than a sit-down meal. Is that correct? The last 2 brunches I have been to, we had a gratuity added on to the check because of a party of six or more.

At a place like the Old Country Buffet, where there is not a server per se except someone who clears your plate, should a tip be left?

What do you do with your tips at the end of your shift? Do you give them to the restaurant manager in exchange for bigger bills? How do you prefer to receive a tip? Do you hate receiving change in a tip for that reason? Is it even correct to use coins for a gratuity anymore? What happens when I write the gratuity onto my credit card receipt - do you get it?

If I need to split a $20 bill, do I tip the bartender who takes care of that for me? If I'm waiting with a friend for a table in a restaurant (say, T.G.I. Friday or Applebee's), and we get soft drinks from the bar while we wait, do I tip on those?

What about Starbucks or Caribou Coffee? That jar on the end of the counter - I am never quite sure what to do.

OK, this is MY take on your questions...
I've eaten at a buffet and if they come and take my plates and keep my table clean I'll leave a few bucks because I appreciate it. But that's up to you. I've never been to one that adds gratuity to the bill.

If you have drinks at the bar, tip them what you want but do tip. They also have to claim their tips.

I'm not sure about the Starbucks thing. We don't have one around here. I guess if you were treated especially nice and feel like giving...do:)

Our computers automatically tell us how much we "should have" made (at least 10%)
All credit card and gift card tips are automatically added but we have to put what cash we made.
I get my credit card tips at the end of ever shift (I also am the cashier for my tables)
I can't exchange large amounts of change for bills and I can't change lots of $1 bills for larger bills. I don't care how you leave me a tip (as long as you leave me one;))

To be honest, i think all the points could
have been said in a much nicer way. Calling epole names, and
talking of Castration sure does put one in a foul mood.
It wasn't my words, it was something I got from one of my friends
so please don't take it personally.
I just posted it because I wanted to know how others felt.

RICHARD

10-12-2007, 10:16 AM

OMG....

This is so stupid, but laugh away and post your comments.

I actually wipe down the table when I finish a meal at a restaurant.

I also make sure my plates are stacked so the server doesn't have to do it.

--------------

When I was working, I'd go grab a coffee at the machine and fix it at the sugar/creamer area....If some messy AH spilled stuff on the counter, I'd take the damp cloth that was next to the coffee machine and wipe up the mess.

Some of the cafeteria workers weren't happy with me but they learned they could not be everywhere at once.... :p

NicoleLJ

10-12-2007, 10:25 AM

Personally, and yes I was a waitress for 5 months(I know not long but long enough to know what it is like), I do not agree with it being mandatory or even that it should be a set amount. And I find it completely offensive for anyone to think that if someone does not have enough to leave a tip or an 18% tip that they should not go out. Just because you bring back change, no matter how much it is, how do you know that change is not already budgeted for bills or other more important expenses?

Not all people can afford to leave a tip of that sum. Not all people can afford to even leave a tip. Many times people in low incomes save for a while to just be able to go out once in a blue moon to enjoy a special night out. Wait staff are not the only ones that are in a low wage bracket. Many people are. And to say they can't go out to a nice place if they don't have enough to tip is just plain insulting.

Tips have never been mandatory. They are ment to reward the hard work and pleasant service recieved if the person can and feels like leaving it. I try to leave at least 10% when I leave a restraunt if the Service was good. But I never leave more then that unless the Service was excepcional and also if my kids left a mess(rarely happens but can). I have never heard of recieveing 18%.

I am sorry but I do not see it as my DUTY or JOB to pay someones wages. I am there to enjoy a night out(which I rarely do) and if I have enough and thought the Service was good then I will leave something in appreciation. But I do not believe it is a must. If a job is not paying enough then look for another, go to school to get a better job, or look at other prospects.

I know this will sound harsh and I am sorry but it is how I feel about the subject.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

RICHARD

10-12-2007, 10:53 AM

P.S.

About the Little Devils, Evil Spawn, Unruly Little....I'll stop there...

I don't think that servers or busser should have to clean up after you or your kids...My peeves?

Self serve Ice Cream Machines and Salad Bars.

1. Any kid that goes to the ICM will waste ice cream trying to "see how high they can get this cone" or "I love crumbled Oreos and sprinkles and gummi bears and M&Ms....."

I do like them all too! but not all over the counter. TAKE A MINUTE TO GET OFF THE CHAIR AND WALK YOUR KID OVER TO THE MACHINE. If it was your kitchen you'd have and S-fit if they made that mess on your counter.

2. Being over six foot, I have to scooch down to get to the chick peas at the back of the salad bar.

Your kid doesn't have to, so.....

Don't let your kid serve themselves, they usually will play with the tongs, drag their long sleeve skateboard t-shirt across the food to get to the broccoli they want to pick up, inspect and toss into the bean sprouts.
(I have seen kids wipe the snot off their nose with a sleeve, then stick said sleeve under the guard.)

Watch them so they do not stick a finger into the dressing to see which they like.
Watch them so they do not stick the Italian dressing ladle into the Ranch.
Watch them so they do not stick their fingers to grab a few of the crunchy noodles with their dirty hands.
Watch them so they do not load up on a dish, dress it and leave it when realize they don't like Blue Cheese dressing.
If they remotely have the sniffles or a cough -
keep them away period!

I absolutely hate to see kids serve themselves GIANT bowls of Jello, take a bite and leave the rest-That pretty much goes for all self serve food.

dAgain, if it happened in YOUR KITCHEN.....

--------

We used to go out to a Sizzler, It has since burned down-and we made friends with a server who was the greatest!

A few times she walked away with a 50 dollar tip on our tickets-we were about 10 diners and I figure we spent about 15-17 bucks a piece.

She took extra special care of us, she'd show up with extra plates for the Salad Bar.....During the all-you-can-eat
specials you'd get extra BEFORE you asked for it.

Of course, she probably cost the company a few bucks for doing that, but she made the company money by keeping us as customers.

------

I say, tip and tip big.....

As I heard a pizza driver say once.....I am alone with your food! :eek:

Cataholic

10-12-2007, 11:40 AM

jennielynn1970

10-12-2007, 11:46 AM

Ewww I don't think I'd like to work at a nudist resort :eek:

Honestly, I met some really great people there. You've got your weirdos who are just there to swing, but you also have your Nature People and others who had skin conditions that the sun helped. Most people you wanted to ask them to put the clothing back ON... ;) :rolleyes: But that was part of the whole place... everyone was allowed to feel comfortable in their own way.

All waitresses and cooks HAD to be clothed. It was a hygenic thing. I just worried about serving because I'm a clutz and spill everything. Coffee and gravy were my biggest worries!!

Sometimes we got tipped at the end of the season (October), but some people are just cheap and don't tip anything at all (it was mostly a few seasonal regulars who did tip, but they tipped their favorite waitress only - the one who was also a drug dealer :( ).

Look up Sunny Rest Lodge or Resort in Pennsylvania. It's one of the largest on the east coast, and been owned by the same family for decades. Even my mom delivered newspapers there when she was a young girl, and she's now 67.

cassiesmom

10-12-2007, 11:59 AM

Our computers automatically tell us how much we "should have" made (at least 10%)
All credit card and gift card tips are automatically added but we have to put what cash we made.
I get my credit card tips at the end of ever shift (I also am the cashier for my tables)
I can't exchange large amounts of change for bills and I can't change lots of $1 bills for larger bills. I don't care how you leave me a tip (as long as you leave me one;))

Thank you, Anna! I hate to leave change as part of a tip because I always feel like a cheapskate when I do that. I also hesitate to leave smudgy, crumpled bills as part of a tip. I have a friend who was a waiter in a very popular restaurant, and he told me some of his ex-waiter pet peeves -- so I try to respect them.

Miss Z

10-12-2007, 12:00 PM

Tips are optional. Anyone that thinks they "deserve" a tip is probably not in the right industry.

I might not eat out as much as I used to, since Jonah, but, I have to stretch my mind far and wide to think of a time I was given such service to justify a 18% tip.

Let me share a few of my own opinions:

1) You might not like it, but, my son is part of MY dining experience. Treat him respectfully, and chances are good your tips will increase. Putting a hot pizza plate within his grasp is probably not the brightest thing you could do. And, same goes for knives, full glasses of anything not specifically ordered for him. Giving him crayons that look like they lived under the table for the last 6 months is just plain gross. If you can't afford crayons, or choose not to display crayons (which is totally fine by me, as I bring my own 'supplies'), fine. But, don't hand my son- at the dining table- something gross. He might be young and uneducated, but, his momma ain't.

2) I am not your associate server. Sure, I am nice, and helpful, but, I don't want to pass out your plates, go get my own napkins, silverware, or remind you who had what.

3) When I want to order my meal when you want to only take a drink order- note that I am here to be served, not to accomodate your wishes. I don't need 20 minutes to make a meal decision. Maybe others do, and that is fine- for them. It doesn't work for me- the CUSTOMER.

4) Wiping down a table with a bar towel, so that the crap falls unto the seats is gross. Not sanitary, shows a real lack of respect for the next diner, and did I mention is not sanitary?

5) If I ask you to please box up the left overs- do it. Don't just bring me the box. Does your "service" end with the delivery of the meal? Okay, then, my tipping will reflect that as well.

6) I am paying, presumably, for a dining experience. If I want to linger over my coffee, and pie, let me. I didn't rent a booth for a set amount of time, and, while you might be making an hourly wage, that can't be my concern.

I agree whole-heartedly, couldn't have said it better myself.

I was a little shocked to read the last section in which teenagers are scolded if they don't tip. I must say if I was dining with my parents and was asked to tip myself, I would be horrified, as I'm sure my parents would be. Funnily enough, I need my money too, and I don't hand it over to any Tom, Dick or Harry who reckons they've earned it.

We only ever tip if the waiter/ess in question has gone out of his/her way to provide us with excellent service. That doesn't just mean service with a smile or some free bread rolls. That means an actual effort at light-hearted conversation, a willingness to explain the dishes and professional service skills. That can sound a bit harsh, but the world of business is cut-throat. You work as hard as you can and you'll be rewarded, I've always believed in that.

Plus, I believe tipping is mostly linked with culture. Tipping, here in Britain, is relatively uncommon and in certain circumstances is frowned upon as a piteous gesture. The only time we ever really tip is when on holiday, as most southern European resorts are accustommed to receiving tips.

RICHARD

10-12-2007, 02:10 PM

It's pretty funny to see what people expect when they go out to eat.

I HAVE YET TO MEET A SERVER THAT READS MINDS!

1) I have a few funny faces for a kid draped over the chairback.
after that let me eat in peace

2) You can't box your own food? I have seen people box only what they want and leave other things.

3) I don't want to wait 20 minutes while you make up a menu for your child.
"Can I have the kid's plate? Chicken Fingers is nice, what kind of sauce do you have for them....Ah, can I substitute the cherry tomatoes for carrots.
What do you want to drink, honey? No, no pepsi........" "WAAAAAAAAA, I want pepsi!" Order for the kid and get on with life.

My parents didn't put up with that kind of shiat. We are going out, order - do not be picky and start making stupid requests.

The same goes with effing adults. I used to do the burger run for my office.
I want grilled onions, no onions, no sauce, extra pickle.....No, Eff you-you stand at the counter and give a Super Sized order -tailored to 10 people individual needs.

Push the offending matter aside or don't ask me to waste my time accomodating your wimpy arsed foibles.

3. Don't put the kid into a booth and expect him to stay clean. And when YOUR KID sits in the high chair and makes a mess have a little bit of sense and clean up after them. Laugh at me again but when dining with children I make it a habit to police the area after them.

Watching a kid flip a plate onto the floor and sitting there smiling doesn't quite cut it with me.

--------------

And one of the stupidest, most crass phenomenoms I have seen is the applause AFTER some server drops and breaks a platter, dish or glass.

--------------
Hey anna,

Where would you wear the hairnet anyway?

anna_66

10-12-2007, 02:11 PM

Anyone that thinks they "deserve" a tip is probably not in the right industry.
I'm sorry, but please don't tell me I'm in the wrong industry. Maybe I don't think you need to be a lawyer, but I'd never be so rude as to say that.

while you might be making an hourly wage, that can't be my concern.
Can't be your concern???
What this all sounds like to me is that your really don't give a sh*t about the person who is going out of their way to make sure you have a good meal. Sorry but I wouldn't want to wait on you.

For those of your who don't feel you should tip...don't. I've waited on and still wait on people who come in often and don't tip.
If you want to leave 10% do that, tip whatever you want. I'm not here to tell you how much to tip.

And as I said in my last post I treat all my guests the same whether they tip or not. Needless to say not all servers feel the same though.

caseysmom

10-12-2007, 02:15 PM

Here in california servers are taxed on tips whether they get them or not...keep that in mind.

My husband put himself through college waiting on tables, he even served liberache...talk about a tipper.

anna_66

10-12-2007, 02:21 PM

It's pretty funny to see what people expect when they go out to eat.

I HAVE YET TO MEET A SERVER THAT READS MINDS!

--------------
Hey anna,

Where would you wear the hairnet anyway?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/Smileys/clap2.gifBravo Richard!

Hmmm I won't say where I'd wear it ;)

RICHARD

10-12-2007, 02:29 PM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/Smileys/clap2.gifBravo Richard!

Hmmm I won't say where I'd wear it ;)

One guess is enough. ;)

-----------

My strong reactions to people who "do" the public are based on my mom working as a cashier for 30 years and my doing surgery scheduling.

If the customer is always right, the world is screwed.

Cataholic

10-12-2007, 02:45 PM

How funny. You, as a server, have the 'right' to post your opinions, but, others do not? I thought your post was incredibly insulting. It made me think that I would not want to be waited on you, as you would 'expect' something that wasn't required.

I work in the service industry. All day long. I wouldn't dictate to others how they 'must' treat me. They are paying me for a service, and, I deliver. I would LOVE to charge double for a rush job, working after 7 pm, or on the weekend. Love to. But, that isn't how it is done. If someone likes the quality of my work, they return. If not, they go somewhere else. The customer, or client, or patient, however you want to term it, leads the way.

It is all about the service. Want a tip? Do a good job. Don't care about tips? Then, neither of us will be disappointed.

And, in the future, you might want to reconsider taking some poster's comments so personal. You already said it wasn't 'your' post, just something you were passing along. I was speaking in the general sense when I said you (as in, you, the server-unnamed) should be in a different profession. Even still, I wouldn't care a rat's butt if you thought I should be a lawyer or not. That is kind of silly, isn't it?

Ginger's Mom

10-12-2007, 02:47 PM

I am very surprised as some of the comments in this post. I will stand by my objection to being told how much I should tip. However, in the US tipping is a standard and expected part of dining out. Saying I don't have enough money to tip doesn't make sense to me. That would be like buying a car, but not having enough money to pay the tax, and being offended that the State thought they deserved it. Restaurants pay their servers poorly based on the fact that they are paid by the people they serve, who are better able to determine the worth of their service. That savings is then passed on the the public in the form of lower prices. I think that the system should be changed and that restaurants should charge more and pay their employees based upon their observance of their employees performance. If a customer has a problem with their server they have the same remedy as in any other business they can complain to the manager. You don't have to hold a tip over the servers head like a carrot (that is degrading). And as I attempted to say in the other thread, it is impossible to please everyone, no matter how "nice" you are. Do away with tipping, and respect yourself, the servers and those sitting around you when you go to a restaurant.

caseysmom

10-12-2007, 02:48 PM

Just from my experience with Anna on pettalk I would LOVE to have her as my server.

Cataholic...Lawyers don't charge for night or rush work?

cassiesmom

10-12-2007, 03:13 PM

Wiping down a table with a bar towel, so that the crap falls unto the seats is gross. Not sanitary, shows a real lack of respect for the next diner, and did I mention is not sanitary?

That's something I'd prefer to speak to the manager or the maitre d' (sp?) about, rather than letting it be reflected in the tip. What scares me about that is - where has that bar towel been before it was used to wipe down my table? and some buspersons only give the table a cursory wipe with the towel when the tables need to be re-set quickly. But, again, that is not something I'm going to reflect when I'm readying the check. I'm with Richard - tip, and tip big (because I know other people don't).

Ginger's Mom

10-12-2007, 03:17 PM

I work in the service industry. All day long. I wouldn't dictate to others how they 'must' treat me. They are paying me for a service, and, I deliver. I would LOVE to charge double for a rush job, working after 7 pm, or on the weekend. Love to. But, that isn't how it is done. If someone likes the quality of my work, they return. If not, they go somewhere else. The customer, or client, or patient, however you want to term it, leads the way.
I don't think this analogy works for a number of reasons. First, it is common practice for attorneys (at least in NJ) to charge 1 1/2 times their normal fee for anything that is going to take them extra effort; be that working weekends, driving to another county, etc.; it is "how it is done." Secondly, in your field the customer, client, patient isn't as likely to "lead the way," because they have come to you for a certain expertise they believe you have that they do not possess. Agreed they can always express disappointment at the outcome and/or your efforts, but there is a certain deference to you that is not given to a server. And lastly, you may have the luxury of saying if they are not happy with the service they don't have to come back, the server doesn't have that luxury because the restaurant owner is not going to keep a server that sends customers away unhappy. The comparison is like that of oranges to ummm...clementines (maybe not as different as apples but not placed in the same bin).

JenBKR

10-12-2007, 03:29 PM

What I would object to is the 18% minimum tip. For two reasons, first I object to being told what the minimum tip/contribution/voluntary payment of anything is. Second, the reasoning is faulty. This says that because the cost of living has gone up since 1960 the percentage of the tip should go up. But the cost of the meal has also gone up since 1960, so the actual monetary amount being left as a tip has kept stride with the cost of living. The percentage does not have to be increased. For example, I would have paid $4.00 for a meal in 1960 and left a .60 tip. In 2007 I will have to pay $12.00 for the same meal and will leave a tip of $1.80 (probably will round it up to $2.00), an increase of 230%, and that is without raising the "minimum" tip.

I completely agree. I always tip based on the service I receive - but I do always leave a tip. I don't really like being told how much I am 'supposed' to leave. I do generally tip around 15%, and around 20% if the service is exceptional. I can't imagine not leaving a tip at all though, the service would have to be about nonexistant for me to do that.

Lady's Human

10-12-2007, 03:35 PM

I normally tip extremely well, especially when it comes to breakfasts. If I tipped based on the bill, it wouldn't be much of anything normally.

All I ask is friendly service, and keep my coffee cup full. If the service is really good, I'll leave 50% of the bill for breakfast, which would amount to what a normal tip would be for a regular meal. The waitress/waiter is working just as hard, no need to give a lousy tip.

Edwina's Secretary

10-12-2007, 03:36 PM

I eat out often. I travel frequently for my work. So often I am eating alone.

This week I arrived at my hotel...no restaurant.... :(

So I go next door. A hotel restaurant. No smile. No greeting.

I have to ask to be seated. I have to ask for water.

I see clam chowder in a sour dough bowl. I order it and a diet soda.

My soup is brought to me in a china bowl. What about the sour dough? I ask. "Oh, you want it in a sour dough bowl?" as if I were making a bother.

Afraid what he would do and how long he would take to do it...I said I would take it as he presented it.

No refill on my soda. No inquiring of any kind.

I had to flag him down for the check.

So what should I have tipped?

Lady's Human

10-12-2007, 03:42 PM

Sara, I wouldn't have left a cent.

No service, no tip.

lbaker

10-12-2007, 03:43 PM

I would have left 10% or a bit less with a comment to the server AND the manager that I was leaving 50% of what I normally would because the service received was only 50% of what I had expected "of a hotel restaurant of this caliber" or something equally as condesending (snotty?), especially if I were dressed in professional business attire (and yes, I do own and wear some when I am traveling on business ;) )

p.s. In many places now water is served only when requested because of the drought. At least the soup was consumable and hot I assume. When I have had to wait for the check after trying to get his/her attention I have been known to go straight to the cashier and explain the situation, demand the check and in such cases have not left a tip.

Edwina's Secretary

10-12-2007, 04:35 PM

IRescue452

10-12-2007, 04:42 PM

I don't eat out often, and never super expensive. For the most part I leave a $5, which can be anywhere from 100% of my bill to 20%. I've left more than my bill before. Unless the service is bad. I don't consider an overworked, frazzled server to be giving me bad service as long as they are trying with what little time they have. I think ALL jobs should be included in the federal minimum wage, even if they make tips.

Cataholic

10-12-2007, 05:21 PM

I don't think this analogy works for a number of reasons. First, it is common practice for attorneys (at least in NJ) to charge 1 1/2 times their normal fee for anything that is going to take them extra effort; be that working weekends, driving to another county, etc.; it is "how it is done." Secondly, in your field the customer, client, patient isn't as likely to "lead the way," because they have come to you for a certain expertise they believe you have that they do not possess. Agreed they can always express disappointment at the outcome and/or your efforts, but there is a certain deference to you that is not given to a server. And lastly, you may have the luxury of saying if they are not happy with the service they don't have to come back, the server doesn't have that luxury because the restaurant owner is not going to keep a server that sends customers away unhappy. The comparison is like that of oranges to ummm...clementines (maybe not as different as apples but not placed in the same bin).

It is not customary here to charge 1.5 times my hourly rate for working outside 'normal' hours. I was at a depostion until 9:30 Monday night, two days later, I was driving a client HOME Wednesday night, getting me home about 7ish...and it was all at my hourly rate. Rushes? Part of the job, and truly, I am not complaining- I choose this profession. My point was more along the lines of I AM in customer service. Lawyers have nothing by way of work product, really, other than their advice. So, it is nearly 'all' customer service that builds and grows a client base.

As for deference given to an attorney that is not given to a server? I don't know. I treat people the way I want to be treated, and the way they treat me. So, server, busser, doctor, whomever, they get respect.

Now, if that person decides to dictate, or otherwise educate me, on how I *need* to act- that is a problem. And, if you go back and read the OP, you will see that is exactly the tone the "advice" was dished out. "You all that eat out need help in learning how to tip".

So, give me an orange, would you?

Catty1

10-12-2007, 05:26 PM

Restaurant Customer: "Do you serve crabs?"
Waiter: "We serve anyone, sir. Have a seat."

:D

joycenalex

10-12-2007, 06:14 PM

i have a question, i tip in cash. if i use a gift,debit or charge card on the tip line i write none, does this affect what the computer would "say?"

cyber-sibes

10-12-2007, 06:49 PM

LOL, "have a seat", I like that!

When I read this opening post, what I hear is a very frustrated wait person venting. And they have a point - most people really are clueless about how much and why. This post wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, or "telling" you how to behave -- it's a pretty accurate picture of what you run into waiting tables. And from many of the comments, the original poster was right - lots of people are clueless about tipping.

I usually tip pretty well (including take out orders & coffee only) because I spent several years working in a variety of places from an Airport sandwich shop (where I waited on Ritchie Havens & Joni Mitchell :D. ), family places, & lawyer hangouts to a nice luncheon room in an upscale store. My general experience overall was that the more money the clientele made, the worse they tipped. (Especially the "white-collar professionals" - ack, they were so demanding, and most were lousy tippers.)

There's no excuse for servers being sloppy or rude, but providing good service is a real art. Keeping 15 or 20 people happy while quietly addressing problems or complaints, making sure everyone gets everything they ordered correctly & in good time, and doing your best to assure they will have a pleasant experience... takes a lot of hard work & good diplomacy - well worth a few extra dollars added to my bill.

jennielynn1970

10-12-2007, 09:57 PM

I left 15% and resented every penny! I suppose I felt guilty as it wasn't a very large check. But to pay a 15% surcharge for food NOT as it was described, poor service....Doesn't make me feel good...

(btw...LB...there was no cashier...it was waiter takes the check...and the last thing I want to do in the evening after traveling/working all day is seek out the manager, haggle, complain, be patronized., etc.)

I've actually gone home, sat down, and written out what I'd like to say, edit it so that it is not too terse, and then mail it to the manager's attention. Normally there is a response from the manager of the restaurant in the mail or over the phone (normally with a meal offer/discount as well) and they apologize about the wait staff. This way they can keep track of staff that they may be having problems with, but jsut need a paper trail to keep track of them if and when the'd need to be let go.

I know in our state, PA, we don't get water at most restaurants unless we ask for it. Goes back to water shortages. They had even been cutting out tomatoes on sandwiches and such the past two summers if you didn't ask for them.

jennielynn1970

10-12-2007, 10:04 PM

Take tonight for example.... I stop in at our WaWa convenience store. I order a hot toasted Pizza Chicken Cheesesteak with sauteed onions. Grab some chips, a jug of lemonade tea, and pay at the register. Go back, pick up the sub and leave a tip at the counter where the girls prep all the soups, sandwiches etc...

I get home to find that I have a regular beef cheesesteak sandwich. Not even what I ordered in the meat category. Not toasted. Not a pizza steak. Cost more, and 20% tip, and I have the wrong food!

Did I go back? No. Did I complain... No. It was a friday night, a busy shop, and even though it was red meat and not chicken, I didn't die from it (the cats enjoyed the most of it). I'll still go back there. They make good subs. I think they were just rushed, which happens. Won't tip any less because of it either next time.

At least the cats were happy with the order, lol.

jennielynn1970

10-12-2007, 10:11 PM

I
As for deference given to an attorney that is not given to a server? I don't know. I treat people the way I want to be treated, and the way they treat me. So, server, busser, doctor, whomever, they get respect.

Now, if that person decides to dictate, or otherwise educate me, on how I *need* to act- that is a problem. And, if you go back and read the OP, you will see that is exactly the tone the "advice" was dished out. "You all that eat out need help in learning how to tip".

So, give me an orange, would you?

I still don't think you can compare an attorney to a waitress. It's a different industry, and the base wage for both is not even close to a comparison. I think many time with what an attorney makes in an hour, or if they are SALARIED, make a huge difference in economic situations. Attorneys are white collar, upper level industry and not down in the streets normally unless doing pro-bono work or dealing with child welfare and all that stuff.

It's the difference between apples and feaking prickly pears.

jackie

10-13-2007, 05:27 AM

What this all sounds like to me is that your really don't give a sh*t about the person who is going out of their way to make sure you have a good meal.

OK, I think you are being way to dramatic with that. Servers don't go out of their way, they do their job. Smiling and giving the customer what they want, IMO, is just doing their job.

Ginger's Mom

10-13-2007, 07:05 AM

My point was more along the lines of I AM in customer service. Lawyers have nothing by way of work product, really, other than their advice. So, it is nearly 'all' customer service that builds and grows a client base.

As for deference given to an attorney that is not given to a server? I don't know. I treat people the way I want to be treated, and the way they treat me. So, server, busser, doctor, whomever, they get respect.
I understand that. The point I was trying to make was, just because you don't have a used car that you are trying to sell, it doesn't really mean that what you do has any kinship to what servers do. (Although you may have a greater understanding of that than I do being the single mother of a three [?] year old boy). And not everyone automatically gives servers the respect they deserve as workers.
If I give you an orange I will expect a tip. :)

anna_66

10-13-2007, 07:34 AM

How funny. You, as a server, have the 'right' to post your opinions, but, others do not? I thought your post was incredibly insulting. It made me think that I would not want to be waited on you, as you would 'expect' something that wasn't required.

Not funny at all. Others can post whatever they like and have, including you. I won't say I'm sorry you were insulted because I also thought your post was insulting and down right rude.
And if you wouldn't want to be waited on by me that's fine, it doesn't hurt my feelings. And no, I wouldn't 'expect' a thing from you. You'd just be missing out on a great dining experience with me:)
____________________________________
I'd just like to share something that happened to me last night.

I had two tables both who's bill were both $60. One said everything was great and left me $5, the other who didn't say a thing and asked to see the manager while I cashed their check out.
I had no idea what the problem was but found out that they wanted to rave about their service. Needless to say this made me feel very good. Not only that, but they left me $17 :D
I didn't do anything different to the table that left me $5 than I did to the one that left me $17.

I think people leave however much they want and I don't think that will ever change.
So please don't feel I'm telling you how much to leave. That's not what my post was about.
It's like cyber-sibes said:
When I read this opening post, what I hear is a very frustrated wait person venting.
That's exactly what it is and nothing more.
________________________________________

OK, I think you are being way to dramatic with that. Servers don't go out of their way, they do their job. Smiling and giving the customer what they want, IMO, is just doing their job.
Yes, maybe I was but I felt as if people in my profession were being attacked.
You have no idea how much us as servers go out of our way to make guests happy.

Just recently I had a man ask me to cut up his salad for him, a lady who asked me to take her lobster out of the shell and then there was another guest who asked me to shell her crab legs for her.
I've run boxes out of the restaurant to guests that have left them sitting on the table along with credit cards, hats and other things.

I'd like to thank you all for your imput on this thread. It makes me understand why people tip the way they do:)

Pam

10-13-2007, 07:47 AM

Anna, I just want to say that if I had you as my server I know I would be in for a treat. :) Of course, I would get you in trouble by asking you about your furkids and just wanting to gab and gab and gab. :p

My only thought on this thread is how surprised I was to see so many heated emotions on this issue. Just yesterday I met an old friend for lunch at a nearby restaurant. We left a 20% tip. The server was not the best I ever had but not the worst. To me a tip is a "given." I would never not leave a tip unless the server was completely rude, which I have never experienced. I do think that it would make life easier all around, though, if tips were eliminated and servers just received more per hour. I know that sometimes when a group of us go out we wish we had a calculator to figure out who pays what. We can barely do the division let alone add the tip in. :p :o

K9soul

10-13-2007, 08:06 AM

I waitressed in college in Branson, MO. I made 2.13/hr but didn't get a check really because what I made just went to pay taxes on tips. So the only money I took home from my job was tip money. If I waited on my tables for an hour, and no one left a tip because they didn't feel it was necessary (assuming I gave at least decent service), I basically just worked that hour without getting paid. A person in another industry expects to be paid for their service, why shouldn't a waitress?

Now fortunately, in my experience, it usually evened out between the few generous people, the average people, and the stingy people, and I did certainly make more than I would have working at McDonald's or Wendy's. However, it was also some of the hardest work I have ever done. I think the worst is when it was so busy that my break was delayed for a long time and I'd get so starved. Taking out meals and hot dinner rolls time after time is torture when you haven't eaten in several hours! :o It's a mentally and physically draining job and a good server earns every dime of every tip.

I'm sure everyone could write a rant about the work they do and the people one has to deal with in it. I just read it as someone blowing off steam in a ranting/yet meant to be a bit humorous manner. People should tip what they feel is best, but keep in mind that a tip is basically payment, perhaps the only real payment, the server will get for the services they provide. I don't think many people realize that.

RobiLee

10-13-2007, 08:43 AM

Geesh, I don't even know what I want to say here. Seeing how Anna is my very best friend I feel like I'm too close to the situation and I have taken offense to things that have been said. The "way to dramatic" statement really botherd me. Anyone who knows Anna even just a little bit knows that she is a very caring and giving person who does go out of her way to make people feel good even when she might not be feeling so good herself. She doesn't need me to defend her though because I know my Girl and she can take care of herself. I know I'm probably being too "dramatic" now. Like I said I'm too close to the situation.

All I know about tipping is that my parents raised me to know that you are supposed to tip. I consider myself a good tipper. I never go out to eat unless I know I can afford the meal and the tip too. Maybe its because my mom did some waitressing and Alden was a pizza delivery guy. After learning more about the profession from Anna I am even more aware of how it all works and how crazy the whole thing can be. She has certainly given me more appreciation for my server. I am also one who tips when I order take out from places like Red Lobster.

Bravo for you Anna! Love ya! Now I'm off to the races! You people better play nice here....LOL

RobiLee

10-13-2007, 08:45 AM

pitc9

10-13-2007, 09:49 AM

I always tip, even if the service was horrible.

Someone said something about the nasty wet towel being used to wipe the tables. RIGHT ON!! OMG!! There is nothing worse in the eff-ing world than sitting down at a table to eat and you can smell that funk left behind by the dreaded nasty towel.

I have a tip calculator on my cell phone and I love it!!
If service was bad they only get 15% if it was great service they'll get at least 20%.

NicoleLJ

10-13-2007, 10:16 AM

But that is the thing the waiter or waitress knows how much their pay is when they accept the job. So they would then know if the pay would be enough to cover their living expenses or not. To expect the customer to cover their pay is wrong. I didn't hire them. The restraunt did. So the restraunt is responsible for paying them not me.

To me the tip is a bonus for good service. And I will leave what I can for the service provided. But i do not see it as mandatory no matter how much they are paid.

When did someone elses choice in a job become my job to pay for? If they are not making enough from their pay then instead of relying on tips and EXPECTING a set amount from each customer(who have their own living expenses to worry about also) they should either get another job to cover the other expenses(my husband does this when the fall season hits so that we have extra money for b-days, christmas, hunting and so on), go to school so you can get a different job that pays better or if you have the skills get a different job altogether. And yes this can be done also by single parents(my mom was one with 2 girls) and my couples with young kids also. Sometimes it is difficult but it can be done.

I personally know how hard waitresses work. I did it. But I knew the job when i took it, knew the pay when I took it and I accepted that. I am my own responsibility, no one elses. I never expected a tip so when I got one I was very pleased that the customer was that happy with my service and it gave me a little extra spending money.

This is just how I feel from it. I am not putting down the people in the profession I am just giving another take on it since I was in it and this is how i feel about it.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

jazzcat

10-13-2007, 10:44 AM

Just have to share this story. Several years ago I took my Mom out to lunch to a large chain restaurant that wasn't very busy. We waited a long time for a server to come to our table. Finally I went back to the front and ask the hostess to find our server. About 5-10 minutes later he came out, walked up to us and said "your food will be right out" and walked off. :confused: :confused: I had to yell at him to get him back to our table and said "we haven't even ordered yet so what will you be bringing us?" After giggling like a child he finally took our order and after a long wait we were served a very disappointing and cold meal. Our server's name was Clint who we nicknamed Clueless Clint and now my husband and I will refer to any bad servers we get as Clueless Clint.

anna_66

10-13-2007, 10:46 AM

now my husband and I will refer to any bad servers we get as Clueless Clint.
Kinda like Sucky Suzy Server:D

RICHARD

10-13-2007, 12:32 PM

I still don't think you can compare an attorney to a waitress.

I beg to differ.

If your server don't get your order right you don't have to worry about Bubba giving you a Jail House Prostate check.

Jenn,

I am the same way....

You could have burnt valuable fossil fuel, calories and precious mintues off your life going back to GIVE THAT PERSON A PIECE OF YOUR MIND! ;)

ES,
Sometimes it's not worth the hassle to go mano a mano with a manager.
Most of the time they laugh at you after you leave. :rolleyes:

Anna,
About the woman with her crab legs.....next time tell her to wear pants. :eek:

"white collar" people are the biggest AHs to serve.

I have had people threaten me, yell at me and act like effing kids when they don't get their way!

For example,
I hate to direct this thread in a different direction, bear with me.

Like running out of -------- on the menu, people got totally out of control when I had to cancel their surgery- One woman threatened to sue me if she died, another wanted to come down and "beat me up".

Just because you can demand stuff from your housekeeper, nanny, gardener or ???? doesn't mean that anyone has to bend over backwards for you.

---------------

Last word here.
Four dollars and change?

Here in CA the minimun wage is 6.35.

That is barely enough to live on out here.

More reason to respect and not give them a hassle.

---------------

And here is MY IDEA ON PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF SERVING THE PUBLIC.

1. My interaction with that person may be a few minutes or an hour.

2. That person may have to pull a four, eight or twelve hour shift.

3. I do not know who came before me or who will come after.

4. I do not know how tough it is for a person to put on that 'corporate image'
smile just for me. I have bad days too.

5. The person who serves me deserves my respect- even tho they suck at the service they gave me.

6. I have sucked at my job too and have failed at providing a quality service.

7. I got dressed the same way they did this morning, This rule does not apply to women, I refuse to wear a bra or thong. ;)

8. FIDO.

K9soul

10-13-2007, 12:33 PM

But that is the thing the waiter or waitress knows how much their pay is when they accept the job. So they would then know if the pay would be enough to cover their living expenses or not.

I don't know how things are in Canada since from others' posts I see that wages and tipping work differently in different countries, but here wages for restaurant servers are based on the fact they will receive tips, thus the wages are set below the mark where anyone could actually live off of. If servers went into a job expecting to make what they get paid per hour and nothing more, there would be no servers because no one could live off 2 or 3 bucks an hour. Restaurants can pay below the minimum wage because of how tipping is done here. Fast food places pay at least minimum wage but restaurants do not because the tips are where the money is made. I don't know how else to explain it. Tips are not "extra" here they ARE the wage you make. (Granted sometimes big tips are extra and provide "a little extra spending money").

If wages were around minimum wage and tips were just something for if the customer felt nice that day, then I'd agree a tip shouldn't be "expected." It's not expecting a customer to pay a wage any more than any other service oriented job, just in this it's a choice on how much the customer is willing to give. When you go into a store and buy groceries, part of the money you spent is being used to pay the workers. Here, in restaurants, part of the money you spent is used to pay cooks and dishwashers and so on, but the meal would have to be higher priced to pay the servers the national/state minimum wage.

RICHARD

10-13-2007, 12:46 PM

LOLOLOL,

I just remembered the movie Reservoir Dogs.

There is a scene in a restaurant where the main characters are talking about tipping.

Mr. Pink doesn't tip.

:eek:

lizbud

10-13-2007, 12:56 PM

Wow, interesting subject here. I've always tipped according to the service
given and the general experience inside the restaurant. Bad service, bad
food, I don't ever go there again.

I don't even remember the last time I've had a bad experience with a lousy
waiter, or bad food. I really respect people who can do this job and remain
friendly and helpful to all patrons they meet every day. I know I could never
do it, ever. I'd rather rob banks for a living than be a waiter. :p

RICHARD

10-13-2007, 01:05 PM

I'd rather rob banks for a living than be a waiter. :p

Check this out..If you wear a low cut dress the people you rob won't remember what you look like facially...

I'll pick you up on Monday morning? :cool:

jennielynn1970

10-13-2007, 04:21 PM

I still think unless the person isn't a truly a people person, most waiters and waitresses I've dealt with, genuinely like people and enjoy what they do. I don't think anyone is going to take a waitstaff job if they hate people... they'd be miserable! I'm sure there is the exception out there, but for the most part, waiters and waitresses I've worked with and dealt with have been great. I have my favorite places to go to, who I like to deal with, and if someone is having a bad night/afternoon or whatever, it happens. We're all human. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect.

It's kind of like being a teacher. If I didn't like kids, and I didn't like dealing with them every day.... I wouldn't be in this profession. I might get some brats who just like to give me a hard time, but still, I'm the adult and I am also getting paid by tax dollars. When it comes to the point that I don't like what I do, and I don't enjoy working with the kids, then I will leave, because I won't be doing the kids any favors by staying. I KNOW there are teachers out there that should retire because they don't like dealing with the kids any longer, but for the most part, I'd say the ones who are teaching are doing it because they love it. The ones who aren't there for the kids shouldn't be there.

As for Nicole's one comment, I can't see taking the attitude that they knew what job they were getting into and that the pay is lower than minimum wage so they should expect to only make that much... someone else said it as well... the restaurants expect the tips to make up the balance of what you are paid per hour. Fast food restaurants are the exception, they get paid at least minimum wage (and usually get a meal deal as well). No one is out there because they want to get paid only 2.30/hr and wait on people because they think we're so much fun to deal with. That's just masochistic!

lbaker

10-13-2007, 05:07 PM

lizbud

10-13-2007, 05:09 PM

I still think unless the person isn't a truly a people person, most waiters and waitresses I've dealt with, genuinely like people and enjoy what they do. I don't think anyone is going to take a waitstaff job if they hate people... they'd be miserable!

Ouch. Just to clarify, I consider myself a people person & I do like most
people, but not enough to pretend courteousness to a jerk who happens
into my restaurant.

I also would make a terrible sales person because I would never try to influence someone to buy something. :)

lizbud

10-13-2007, 05:13 PM

Check this out..If you wear a low cut dress the people you rob won't remember what you look like facially...

I'll pick you up on Monday morning? :cool:

hee hee ;)

jennielynn1970

10-13-2007, 06:18 PM

Ouch. Just to clarify, I consider myself a people person & I do like most
people, but not enough to pretend courteousness to a jerk who happens
into my restaurant.

I also would make a terrible sales person because I would never try to influence someone to buy something. :)

It wasn't meant to be rude or saying that you have to kiss butt or anything. No one should have to pretend to be nice. If someone is rude to you, there is no reason to put up with it. If there are rowdy customers, then the manager should talk to them.

jennielynn1970

10-13-2007, 06:21 PM

Well Jen, depending on what the nekkid "handy man" looked like without clothes I would be hard pressed to go home without leaving a tip, (but where would I leave it???) ;) Let's calm down about it folks... opinions are like... blankety blank..... everybody has one. :D

LOL! He was built nice, and had a great tan! Not particularly cute in the face, but he was a nice guy. I think that was another thing at the resort... it wasn't all about looks. They helped though, lol.

As for tips... my hair stylist used to joke that they'd say "Bend over honey, I need a buck." :eek: :D He was sooooo bad!

Daisy and Delilah

10-13-2007, 07:34 PM

This thread was a great idea, Anna. I am fascinated to hear all these opinions.

I eat out alot. Both in restaurants and take-out. I always tip 20% unless something isn't adequate and then, I might start deducting. Most of the time, I tip the 20% anyway. I've never worked as a server but I watch them in restaurants and I usually feel that those people are working their tails off. They're on their feet 8-whatever hours a day. Most of the time they are running from table to table, trying to keep dozens of people happy.

If I can't afford to cover the food and the tip, I shouldn't be there. Tipping is a "given" to me too, just as Pam said. Someone has to do this job and I'm glad it's not me. I have to imagine what it would be like to walk a mile in the server's shoes. If they are trying to please me, then they deserve a good tip.

I have had bad experiences before with bad service or no service and the tip might go down. In these cases, I always figure that that person is having a bad day or they don't belong in that industry. Not long ago, I had a waitress that insulted one of the people in my party. I have never had this happen before. I was astounded by what she did. I still tipped her but not much. Just to add: I emailed her boss and described the incident. I received an apology and a $50 credit for the restaurant.

Anna, I would almost drive to Ohio to visit your Red Lobster. I can imagine it's a dining experience I would never forget. I have to ask you......are your feet killing you most of the time? I don't know how you servers do it.

Animalhouse26

10-13-2007, 07:45 PM

Well as far as Tipping goes for me. I tip if your good. If you do as your job entiles, I am not Cheap. I actually have a friend of mine that will put out in Singles the amount Avg for the group on the table layed out. And if the waitress/waitor messes up, a bill will be pulled up, and if they do really well, then another will be layed down. So, the Server will see there tip at all times. No Boundries. If it is a 20 doller Meal ticket.. and the server earns up to 15dollers in tip, so be it.. if it is a 50 doller meal.. and the server Sucks.. and gets down to say 3 dollers.. then so be it. I have no problem paying 20+% .. But, Greet me with a smile, check on me.. And for heavens sake.. FILL UP MY DRINK When it is empty.. Not let it sit there empty from the meal till the bill.. That is just rude! And don't come over to me being a pain cause your having a bad day. If I am trying to joke around and have a good time.. Humor me! Even if my joke is Stupid!

Sevaede

10-13-2007, 08:48 PM

RICHARD

10-13-2007, 09:46 PM

Last night 15 'articulated lorrys' (see the chicken thread by Killearn Kittens)
crashed in a tunnel on the interstate just north of my house. The fire burned for some 16 hours and it will be closed until they figure out on how badly the the road above the tunnel was affected.

The freeway is the main way to get to the northern part of the state from Lost Angeles and there were people who were stuck in traffic for hours. The local radio news station had a reporter who was driving the area giving status reports on the roads.

The area to the north of the accident is packed with restaurants because the Magic Mountain amusement park is there.

The news reader told the reporter that the area eateries were packed probably packed and that people who were waiting for the road to clear would be better off going to get a bite to eat while waiting. The reporter agreed that it was a good idea!

The news reader then said, "And remember to over tip the waitresses."

I laughed. :D

---------

A few weeks ago I had breakfast with my brother at a Denny's....The waitress was so good she was annoying! :eek:

lunasmom

10-14-2007, 03:21 AM

When you go into a store and buy groceries, part of the money you spent is being used to pay the workers. Here, in restaurants, part of the money you spent is used to pay cooks and dishwashers and so on, but the meal would have to be higher priced to pay the servers the national/state minimum wage.

That is SO well said!!

While it may not seem fair that tips are what make up most of the servers' salaries, it is still the reality of the situation. Don't punish the individual people just because you don't agree with the system. I'm sure they would love to be paid a set amount by the restaurant and not have to worry about how much they get in tips...but it just doesn't work that way, so I think it's important to understand that and be kind and plan on leaving a tip when you go out to eat.

I don't think there's anything wrong with using tips to reflect the service...if someone was just plain rude and didn't do their job, then there is no reason you should be 'required' to leave a set amount. But if the server was obviously busy and just had a lot going on...as long as they took care of you, they are still doing their job and deserve to be tipped.

I used to have a friend who really had kind of a powertrip about tips. The server could have been friendly, gotten the orders right, and kept drinks filled all night...but if they weren't as friendly as he'd like, or if his drink was empty for just a few minutes before the server got a chance to see it, he would tip significantly less. I'm not suggesting anyone here is like that, but it just emphasizes that different people are looking for different things when they go out, and the waitstaff cannot be mind readers..they have a lot going on and deserve to be given the benefit of the doubt most of the time, and get paid. I used to work at a video store and people would get irrate if you told them a video was overdue, or that you didn't have what they were looking for. I still got paid for doing my job even though the customers may not have been happy. Servers have a lot of stress on them because their salary depends on how happy each guest is.

anna_66

10-14-2007, 07:21 AM

Anna, I would almost drive to Ohio to visit your Red Lobster. I can imagine it's a dining experience I would never forget. I have to ask you......are your feet killing you most of the time? I don't know how you servers do it.
Thank you:D

Yes, most of the time my feet hurt (at work and at home) but also my shoulders from carrying the trays. I think we at Red Losbster have some of the heaviest dishes around:eek:
But I guess that's just one of the hazards of being a server!

I found this this morning on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip) about tipping for some of you that asked these questions:
Tipping for traditional table service restaurants offering take-out and curbside service is sometimes suggested, one source suggests a tip of 10-15%. This is due to the fact that in a few cases up to 8% of the server's total sales may be automatically reported as tips, so the server is penalized if you do not tip at least at that level.

Tipping at buffet-style restaurants is also necessary, although some may think it is appropriate to tip a small amount (e.g. $1) if a server refills their drinks. The fact of the matter is, that servers in buffet style restaurants receive less than minimum wage per hour as well and thus need gratuities to supplement their earnings. [citation needed]

Some coffee shops or establishments without table service leave a countertop tip jar (a.k.a. guilt cans)by the cash register, but tipping is not expected as it would be for table service.

Servers usually "tip out" portions of their tip receipts to support staff like bussers and bartenders. Bartenders usually are also tipped by the patrons ordering drinks at the bar

cyber-sibes

10-14-2007, 08:11 AM

Servers have a lot of stress on them because their salary depends on how happy each guest is.When I waitressed, I realized another source of stress for servers are the "in-house politics". Get on the bad side of the cook, busboy, or hostess, and your orders get lost or shuffled to the end of the line, or you only get a couple items at time, your tables don't get bussed, or you get stuck in a lousy section (every restaruant has one) for the whole week instead of one shift. All of these take a toll on your tips... besides having to deal with the tipping-whims of the customer.

I know there are places people make tons of money in tips, but more servers work at family places where regular people go out to eat. The little things I liked about waiting on people were when you can lift someone's spirits by saying a kind word or giving them a smile, and give them good service so they can relax & enjoy a meal out.
I knew some of the people didn't have alot of money, and weren't going to leave much of a tip, and that was ok with me. At least they smiled back. :)

And Anna, I'd love to sit in your section next time I come to Ohio!

K9soul

10-14-2007, 08:25 AM

Thanks for posting that Anna, that explained somewhat what I had been trying to say. My "wage" was taxed a certain amount automatically for tips, so whether I made a tip or not I was still taxed for it.

Nothing exhausted me mentally and physically to the degree long hours at that job did. And while I like people, I am too easily hurt and stressed by nastiness and thus it was only something I really did for a few months. But it was enough to make me always appreciate a hard working server, in my experience most of them really are.

I will never understand some people's need to be nasty and condescending to people in customer service. So many people tolerate NO mistakes and no apology or trying to make things right will appease them. I guess they are just generally unhappy people.

Uabassoon

10-14-2007, 09:19 PM

I'm usually a good tipper, a server has to be horrible to get a bad tip from me but usually I tip 20% or more. I see it as a labor fee, if I have a plumber over and he's late or takes longer then expected I still have to pay him for labor. I feel that's how it is with a server, only I at least get to choose how much I want to pay for labor. I don't think I have ever not tipped a server before, however if the service is horrible I will leave a small tip.

Someone asked about the tip jars at coffee shops, having been a barista for 4 years I figured I'd give my input. I've worked for a local shop as well as Starbucks, I don't get tips anymore since I'm management and am salaried. Tips are not a baristas main source of income, but a supplement. Tips are not expected but appreiciated. Did the barista do something out of the ordinary for you? Maybe they took the time to make you samples of different drinks, stepped off the floor to do a french press demonstraion for you, managed to put together 4 coffee travlers in under 15 minutes during a rush even though you forgot to call ahead and place the order. In those situations you really should tip, not just for the amazing service and the fact they stopped what they were doing to help you but because then the poor barista is going to have to deal with angry customers wondering why the service is especially slow.

When customers apologize for not having money to leave a tip I always say that I'd rather have nice customers then an extra dollar, and it really is the truth. If you just order a medium coffee you should not feel like you have to tip or in any way feel guilty that you didn't leave your change in the tip jar.

However, my #1 pet peeve... Don't take money out of our tip jars! If you are short 5 cents odds are that we will spot you, but don't be rude and grab our money. I'd never dream to stick my hands in your wallet to pull out what you owe me so pay me the same respect! You'd be amazed at how many customers think it's ok to make change for themselves out of our tips or help themselves to a dime because they don't want to have to carry 90 cents in change.

Ginger's Mom

10-14-2007, 09:54 PM

However, my #1 pet peeve... Don't take money out of our tip jars! If you are short 5 cents odds are that we will spot you, but don't be rude and grab our money. I'd never dream to stick my hands in your wallet to pull out what you owe me so pay me the same respect! You'd be amazed at how many customers think it's ok to make change for themselves out of our tips or help themselves to a dime because they don't want to have to carry 90 cents in change.
:eek: You have got to be kidding. I only wish you were. I cannot believe anyone would do that. I almost never put tips in those jars, if I feel someone has gone out of their way or been especially nice I will, but that is rare. However, I would never dream of taking money out of the tip jar. I am sad to here that people actually have such little respect for other people's property.

RICHARD

10-15-2007, 12:49 AM

I'm usually a good tipper, a server has to be horrible to get a bad tip from me but usually I tip 20% or more. I see it as a labor fee, if I have a plumber over and he's late or takes longer then expected I still have to pay him for labor.

OMG!
Ask Gini about getting a plumber to her house when PT members come over. ;)

She would have tipped, washed their car and ????????? ;)

-------------------

I have never been to a Hooter's restaraunt.

Why?

I want to eat chicken wings, not pay for a breast enhancement.

Why pay for something you ain't gonna take home? :eek: ;) :confused:

Cataholic

10-15-2007, 07:39 PM

Lots of times, people presume to know what an occupation involves, what goes on in a daily way, how people might act, etc. Even as it relates to lawyers. One might presume there is some special environment, all white linen and soft fabrics, quiet music, and people just falling all over themselves to be polite and gracious to me. Trust me, after 8.5 years, I can tell you- it isn't true. I am in customer service, albeit, at a higher price tag. I didn't know that that made me unable to grasp how to tip someone.

I don't like being told what to do, and I wager most of you are in the same place. That was how I took the OP.

As for me crying in my soup, and not able to stomach a meal, now, at Red Lobster, well, puh-leeze. Can't opinions just be opinions? Short snap shots on how someone views something, at a set period in time? Does it have to get so personal? So drama'ish? I don't think so. All day long I have disagreements with people. It just can't be that big of a deal to me. If that makes me "wrong" somehow, oh well. It isn't a opinion I share.

I will still tip the way I will tip. If the OP meant to educate others (me included) on how to tip more, well, as it relates to me, she failed.

Audience. Message. Intent.

And, Richard, as usual, you find a lovely way to over generalize 'white collar professionals'. Strangely enough, I agreed nearly completely with your list of people in customer service.

Cataholic

10-15-2007, 08:03 PM

However, my #1 pet peeve... Don't take money out of our tip jars! If you are short 5 cents odds are that we will spot you, but don't be rude and grab our money. I'd never dream to stick my hands in your wallet to pull out what you owe me so pay me the same respect! You'd be amazed at how many customers think it's ok to make change for themselves out of our tips or help themselves to a dime because they don't want to have to carry 90 cents in change.

That is CRAZY! Crazy that it is nearly (nearly, I said) funny. I guess you have to say "they must need it more than me"?????

I have had people call me 3, 4 times a day, sometimes for a period of several days, for free advice. They think if they don't meet with me, or give me any info on themselves, I won't bill them. Well, I CAN'T bill them, since I have no way to get their address, but, after a few of those a day, it totally eats into my fees(the way I make a living). However, if I say, "I won't tell you anything unless you pay me first", I wouldn't have too many clients at all....LOL. Lawyers, gotta hate 'em, til you need 'em that is, right?

Edwina's Secretary

10-15-2007, 09:08 PM

I
Last word here.
Four dollars and change?

Here in CA the minimun wage is 6.35.

RICHARD...it has been $7.50 since January 1, 2007. And it goes to $8.00 on January 1, 2008. If you are being paid $6.35...you are being cheated.

RICHARD

10-16-2007, 12:05 AM

Strangely enough, I agreed nearly completely with your list of people in customer service.

Watch your step, missy....I can make you see cross-eyed if I want. ;)

ES,

LOLOLOL,
Having closed MANY OFFICES with those huge Labor Rights and Minimun Wage limit posters, I did notice that they stated the MW was 6.35.

I thought, "Geesus, I am thankful that I earn quite a bit more than than.."

Really.

Blame them for not updating the poster.

I did read the sexual harrasment part and it said that I could not bash women...Ah, so is life. :(

anna_66

10-16-2007, 06:40 AM

If the OP meant to educate others (me included) on how to tip more, well, as it relates to me, she failed.

Gosh, why am I not surprised by this :rolleyes:

Cataholic

10-16-2007, 08:40 AM

Oh, wait! Wait! I want to do rolly eyes, too! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Blue_Frog

10-16-2007, 09:59 AM

I don't know how things are in Canada since from others' posts I see that wages and tipping work differently in different countries ...

Each province is different, but here in Ontario --

General Minimum Wage -- $8.00 per hour

Students under 18 and working not more than 28 hours per week during the school year or working during a school holiday. $6.40 per hour -- $7.50

Liquor servers $5.95 per hour -- $6.95 per hour

http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/factsheets/fs_wage.html

I'm assuming that Liquor Servers covers wait staff, since I know that they do get less than the general retail level minimum wage.

(edit: forgot to add the tipping info) I always used the 15% rule for tipping, which worked really well when our tax rate was 15% -- I just used that and rounded up to the nearest dollar. Now that its 14%, i just double whatever the 8% tax shows. Unless its really good service, then they get more, or its a restaurant that i regularly go to. Extra tipping goes a long way to becoming a 'preferred' regular, and can get you free Maki Rolls, Blooming Onions, and sometimes desserts ;)

As a side note, a friend of mine manages a restaurant, and would like me to remind everyone out there with kids to please keep a close eye on them. A couple nights ago, they had a little boy, around 3 or 4 who was not being supervised by his parents go running around near the kitchen area and collided with a waiter bringing out a meal, who ended up dumping it on the kid. Thankfully it wasn't anything scalding, but he was covered in foodstuffs and it could have been much worse (especially since they routinely carry steak knives out along with the food if a customer orders a steak). Please keep an eye on your kids for their sake and for the sake of the servers (and for the people around who are out for dinner too).

anna_66

10-16-2007, 10:14 AM

Oh, wait! Wait! I want to do rolly eyes, too! :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/Smileys/clap2.gifhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v43/anna66/Smileys/laughinghard.gifI can't help it but you make me laugh! Thanks for the big smile this morning:D

Edwina's Secretary

10-16-2007, 04:54 PM

LOLOLOL,
Having closed MANY OFFICES with those huge Labor Rights and Minimun Wage limit posters, I did notice that they stated the MW was 6.35.

I thought, "Geesus, I am thankful that I earn quite a bit more than than.."

Really.

Blame them for not updating the poster.

(

Sorry RICHARD....you cannot blame it on the poster. California minimum wage has never been $6.35.

January 1, 2008 $8.00 $7.50 $0.50 6.7 percent
January 1, 2007 $7.50 $6.75 $0.75 11.1 percent
January 1, 2002 $6.75 $6.25 $0.50 8.00 percent
January 1, 2001 $6.25 $5.75 $0.50 8.70 percent
March 1, 1998 $5.75 $5.15 $0.60 11.65 percent

So repeat after me....mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa....

(and next time you accuse a politician of trying to weasel out of something....)

jennielynn1970

10-16-2007, 10:07 PM

(and next time you accuse a politician of trying to weasel out of something....)

Who's the politician???

shais_mom

10-18-2007, 12:42 PM

Do you really want to know what they did or didn't wear, lol!! Some things were very odd (napkin rings where I never want to see them stacked again, and clear plastic shorts... why??? ).

The funniest sight was the handy man who was also a member... steel toed boots, athletic socks, a tool belt with all the tools, and a baseball hat. And that was it! Oh, and a guy who had legally changed his name to Santa Claus... I thought that was just sick cause he looked like Santa, but rode around on a golf cart naked. Who wants to sit on THAT Santa's lap?! EEK! :eek: :p
this is off the topic - but I'll finish reading it and get back to it - but I had to say - was this in PA? One of my college professors was from PA and he worked at a hospital around a nudist resort, and he xrayed a guy that had shot himself in the knee with a nail gun. It went behind his knee cap and in front of the bone. My instructor asked the guy what happened and he had been roofing next to the nudist place and he asked Wil, have you ever seen anyone naked riding a 4 wheeler? and Wil said no he said yea well I hadn't either.....
:eek:

shais_mom

10-18-2007, 01:14 PM

I've read thru most of this thread and I'm really confused as what to say.
I don't even know where to begin. I'm amazed at the twists and turns that people have put on this, something that started out as a tongue-in-cheek guideline was turned personal and not eating at a chain where someone works.....
What's in the water here on Pet Talk?!?!?!
I've never been in food service, but I have worked on 100% commission. And I've had people try to get me to take $50 off a vacuum, and I told them, that was taking money out of my pocket and the guy said "no it isn't you get minimum wage" I said "No I don't - I get 100% commission and if I don't make enough to get $6 an hour THEY PAY ME $6 an hour BUT then I have to pay them back out of my next check, its called the draw system." One time I came home working 18 hours in a two week period with an $11 pay check....

I always tip well, I have the EZ tip calculator on my phone and use it as a base rate. I've never not left a tip for bad service. My sister had horrible service once and left a penny, b/c she thought that would make more of a statement than nothing at all.

I got some awesome service at Olive Garden one day and when I looked at my bill my server (male) didn't charge me for my soup ($5) I gave him like a $9 tip. So I really didn't get anything free, I just paid him for the soup instead of the restaraunt.
I've also laid down what I thought was 3 1-dollar bills and when I glanced again I saw one of them was a 10. That's too good of a tip when my meal was only $15. :eek: So needless to say I changed the 10 for a 1!!!
I eat out a lot of most of the time by myself, I take a book with me, and I think I get better service when I am by myself b/c I can talk more one on one with the person.
There was one time I was going thru Taco Bell and the girl in the window may have said something to me that didn't mean anything to her but to me, it made my day. She told me to drive safely and be careful and have a nice day. She didn't need to tell me that but she did.
A few weeks ago my parents and grandma went out for supper at a local restaurant. Our server was ehhh ok but there was a younger boy that worked there that kept checking on us, getting our drinks, talking to my dad. I felt HE deserved the tip b/c once the other waitress saw him doing that she only came to give us the bill. He even came over and said "is there something else I can do for you guys since my turd friend has seemed to forgotten about you!" My dad told the manager she better watch her job b/c that kid will take it from you someday. :p
I actually didn't even think anything of the OP b/c I knew it wasn't 'from' Anna that it was probably an email she'd received. If you think this is rude there's one floating around on the net from an ER nurse that is 100% worse. Maybe Anna cleaned up the language on this one but the ER nurse one has all kind of threats and foul language.
now
go find a furry animal and give them a good pat!