If you dine out, you should read this...

[Edwina's Secretary]

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.)

[IRescue452]

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]

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]

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

[joycenalex]

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]

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 . ), 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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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
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]

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.

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.

[K9soul]

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! 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]

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