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

[jennielynn1970]

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.

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." He was sooooo bad!

[Daisy and Delilah]

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]

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]

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....

My husband and I do the same thing! It's not stupid. Just makes things a bit easier, I think. (I hope! That's what we're aiming for.)

[RICHARD]

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.

---------

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

[lunasmom]

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]

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

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
But I guess that's just one of the hazards of being a server!

I found this this morning on Wikipedia 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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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]

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?

[Cataholic]

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]

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]

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.