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

[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.
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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]

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.

Good post, Jess!

[pitc9]

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]

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]

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. 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.

[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