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

[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.

[anna_66]

now my husband and I will refer to any bad servers we get as Clueless Clint.

Kinda like Sucky Suzy Server

[RICHARD]

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.

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


"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]

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]

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.

[lizbud]

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.

[RICHARD]

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

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?

[jennielynn1970]

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]

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.

[lizbud]

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]

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?

hee hee

[jennielynn1970]

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.