this is why your server is cranky

#1 Trickster

I’m a Swede, we only tip in this country if the service was phenomenal. On the other hand, we pay our food service workers salaries they can live on. Not tipping in the States? Not ok.

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:42 pm rating: +36

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#1.1 jt

They start getting paid at minimum wage just like everyone else in the United States.

Dec 16, 2007 at 5:46 pm rating: +12
#1.2 jaclyn

no, they don’t.

idk the exact figure but i think here in georgia they make around $3.00/hr plus tip.

Dec 16, 2007 at 6:17 pm rating: +55
#1.3 901redbone

i used to work tables and I’ve learned the average server wage in the southern states (TN, GA, AL, MS, etc) is approximately $2.13/hr + tips. I dont’ know WHAT made you think that servers make minimum wage… Not at a restaurant. I’ve worked as a cocktail waitress before and while workin THERE i was makin 6.00/hr + tips… but that’s about it…

Dec 18, 2007 at 1:10 pm rating: +25
#1.4 schm0

I have a very simple solution:

If you have a problem with your service, politely ask another employee to see the manager. Explain your situation and that your service was unsatisfactory. Not only will you feel better telling someone about it, but the feedback will be made aware to management and get back to the employee. Perhaps your server was skating on thin ice to begin with? Most likely, you’ll walk out happier than you would had you merely stiffed the employee, unless you’re the kind of person who enjoys such things.

Leaving someone no tip it all may seem gratifying (is that ironic?), but all it does is rev up the apparently “rude” waitress for her next unfortunate customer.

And just a friendly rule of thumb for all restaurant-goers:

* Most servers make precisely the average amount it takes for that employee to pay his or her total income taxes. Most do not receive a paycheck and rely on tips alone.
* If you had sub-par service, leave 10%.
* If you had average service, leave 15%.
* If you had excellent service, leave 20% or more.
* Most importantly, if you have a large group, always consider the amount of work it takes to handle such a group when determining your tip.

Dec 20, 2007 at 11:28 am rating: +82
#1.5 no one

How are those wages not illegal? Excuse my foreigner ignorance, but isn’t the point of “minimum wage” that it’s the minimum wage? Why fucking call it the minimum wage if it’s accepted nationwide that you can pay people well below it, that you can pay what amounts to nothing for slogging their guts out. How is that acceptable, or even legal, in any definition?

I’m so fucking glad my fellow Australians kicked that Bush-loving cunt Howard out before he took us even further down the road to becoming a clone of America.

Jan 24, 2008 at 7:46 pm rating: +93
#1.6 ejw

I work in the restuarant business but I am not a server. Our servers are paid $6.50 an hour. They work hard and have to deal with some rude people. They also, on average receive 40% of their tickets back in tips.

I am paid $6.50 an hour. I work hard and deal with rude people. I do not recieve any tips.

If the job is so bad paying – get a different one.

Jan 25, 2008 at 12:35 pm rating: +38
#1.7 ejw

I also must say that the average server in a six hour shift will take home $120 A DAY in tips.

I don’t mind tipping, and I do consider myself a generous tipper. I tip on how attentive the server was, and how above and beyond he/she went.

If you are angry with a server, contact the manager. I manage a restuarant and the fastest way to voice your anger, have your meal comped and PREVENT this action from happening again is to talk to a manager/supervisor.

Leaving a nasty note to the server does nothing but get your name and face circulated among staff as a jerk.

Jan 25, 2008 at 12:46 pm rating: +13
#1.8 rachael

I’d love to work where you work, if you make that kind of money. I make less than fifty a night, and I have been looking for another job for months. It’s just not worth it, but I couldn’t afford to finish school because I’m not lucky enough to have rich parents. Serving is a real job, and if they got paid minimun wage without tips, like some people on here seem to think, there would be no servers.

Feb 1, 2008 at 2:31 pm rating: +14
#1.9 Bad service=0%

Cry me a freaking river already! If you make fifty a night, five nights a week that $13,000 in tips alone, and you claim all of that on taxes right? If you include $2.50 an hour, for lets say 30 hrs a week, thats an additional $3900 a year, that brings your yearly income to $16,900. The poverty threshold for a single person under 65 is $10,488. And BTW, not everyone with a degree has rich parents, it is called student loans you sodding douche!

Apr 24, 2008 at 10:56 am rating: +48
#1.10 drew

…”if they got paid minimun wage without tips, like some people on here seem to think, there would be no servers.”

BULL.
SHIT.

I’ve worked in food services, and respect anyone who works hard and earns their money.

But I’m sorry to say, being a waiter is an unskilled job with no hazards, a comfortable environment, and regular hours. There will always be people to fill the job of waiter/waitress.

But here’s the kicker: if the tip system were scrapped, and if minimum wage somehow weren’t enough to attract workers… restaurants would be forced to pay their workers MORE.

That’s how the system works.

May 20, 2008 at 1:08 pm rating: +35
#1.11 Jo Mama

Look, I learned in my second year of college that sweeping generalizations are tantamount to a fallacious argument.

I can easily rebut all of the points made, second paragraph, first sentence.

Unskilled job? Really? You say you’ve worked in food service, so you should know that this is not true. Sure, you don’t have to have a degree or apprenticeship in order to wait tables, but compare those who have served 5+ years as opposed to those just starting out. The experienced servers are infinitely better. People think we’re no better than trained monkeys and it irritates me. It does take skill; it takes patience, organization, quick math, juggling tasks, and physical and mental stamina, for a start. Not to mention the customer service aspect of it.

Secondly, no hazards?? WHAT? Yeah, we’re generally not operating heavy machinery, but there are plenty of hazards in food service. Slippery floors, chemicals, heavy trays, having to dodge other people, etc. I permanently injured my back at age 19 after some idiot left a mat flipped up, I tripped, and then fell on the tile. I know people who have suffered lasting damage from chemical poisoning — where I work now, they use all sorts of toxic chemicals to refinish floors and such and there is no semblance of a decent ventilation system, so we all are breathing in fumes. Not to mention the lasting physical damage we inflict on our bodies. Backs, knees, shoulders, you name it. When I had a heavy wooden table fall on me in a storage closet, I quickly caught it with my right arm and pulled the tricep muscle so badly that I was still in pain months later. I could go on, but you get the point.

Comfortable environment? That’s fairly subjective and I’m not sure what your criteria for ‘comfortable’ are. Yeah, generally we work inside in places with heat and a/c. But that’s not all it’s cracked up to be.. just because you’re seated and cool doesn’t mean we’re comfortable. Currently, I’m working in a place with an ancient cooling/heating system, so from May to September, I will be sweating to death in my uniform. All of us do. Red faces, covered in sweat head-to-toe. Not comfortable.

Lastly, regular hours. I mean, you kind of make this easy for me. What regular hours? What restaurant did you work in? I never know what my schedule will be like the next week, or how many hours I’ll be working. This is true for all restaurants in which I’ve worked, and especially so for the places with 40-some servers on the payroll. Some weeks are slim, which hurts come bill/rent time, some weeks are packed. Sometimes it evens out, but sometimes you don’t get many shifts for a month and you really feel the pinch. We were all essentially laid off for a 3-week period last fall, due to a massive business decline. Senior servers have the most stable schedules, but not everyone has the luxury or desire to slave away in a place for 15 years in order to get to that point.

All of your descriptors sound like you’re describing an office job, rather than one in a restaurant..

May 20, 2008 at 3:30 pm rating: +83
#1.12 drew

Unskilled. Look it up dipshit. Any job listing will list it as “unskilled.” You said “Sure, you don’t have to have a degree or apprenticeship in order to wait tables”. Guess what? THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF UNSKILLED. Yes, in one sense, it takes some kind of skill. So does blowing bubbles with bubble gum.

Hazards… what a whiny bitch! Work in construction, and complain about hazards. “Running into people” is not a freaking hazard. If tripping is a hazard, then there is no job on this earth that is not a hazardous job. I’m sorry you can’t walk. If the restaurant has toxic fumes and no ventilation, how the hell do you get customers to come in? What kind of dipshit managers do you have? Why don’t you report this to any number of government agencies who would require them to fix this problem?

“I could go on but you get the point.” Yes– your point is, stupid people can manage to hurt themselves anywhere.

Hahahahahaah here’s my favorite– your environment isn’t “comfortable” because your heater and a/c are “ancient.” You dipshit. That’s not even… my God. What torture.

Regular hours. When was the last time you worked a night shift? When was the last time you were called in on an emergency? When was the last time you had to come in after hours or work overtime?

If you think you qualify for an unskilled office job, and it’s better than what you’re doing, then apply for an unskilled office job. I’m guessing you’re too bitchy for people to put up with you, though, which is why you’re stuck complaining about the only job you can get.

May 21, 2008 at 12:08 pm rating: +78
#1.13 you're a dumbass.

You’ve obviously never been a server.

Do you realize that unless it’s a dessert or drink, food is usually scalding hot when you’re carrying it? Therefore, running into people is quite a hazard. It doesn’t just disappear when you fall, you dipshit. Plus, trust me, it usually is not the server’s fault. We’re pretty careful when the consequence is severe burns. Thanks.

Sure, it’s easy to just sit in a room with an ancient air conditioner. But when you are constantly on your feet moving and the air is focused on the customers, not the servers, it becomes quite a problem.

With the exception of the very few daytime servers, every shift is a night shift you retard. Do you think people only go to restaurants for lunch?

If someone else fucks up on sidework, you probably will have to come in after hours so the restaurant can function properly. I know I do all the time. Overtime? When your fat ass comes in less than 5 minutes before we close and sits for hours… thats the least amount of overtime. You’d be surprised how many hours a week most of us put in…

We’re too bitchy for people to put up with us? What do you think the whole restaurant business is about? Serving food and drinks to people like you and the people in bitchy moods that have to put up with YOU on a daily basis. If we were really that hard to “put up with” we wouldn’t have regulars or really customers in general. Thanks.

May 21, 2008 at 1:03 pm rating: +53
#1.14 Drew

“Scalding hot food.” Yes, they serve food that will “scald” the person who eats it.

How’s the hazard pay? Did you negotiate that?Because jobs with hazards have hazard pay.

Gosh, I’m sorry you have to walk around in a room.

“Night shift” doesn’t mean “7pm.” I’m talking after dark, not evenings. Night.

“Overtime” is serving one late customer. You are so fucking spoiled. Try being a legal assistant, where “overtime” is working 60 hours a week researching for a case,.

I love how you bring down other waitresses with you in your last sentence. Try to avoid “we” because most servers aren’t as bitchy or stupid as you. Very few people in the food services would ever be dumb or clueless enough to claim that the job has hazards.

If you think you’re not that hard to put up with, and that you’re a skilled worker, and you’re willing to put in nights and work overtime, and that you can handle a lot of pressure… get a higher paying job that you like better. Either way, stop bitching about how hazardous, challenging, low-paying, etc. your job is.

May 21, 2008 at 1:59 pm rating: +63
#1.15 Jo Mama

Boy, you’re one whopper of an asshole. An immature asshole, nonetheless, who has to resort to name-calling like a five-year-old rather than debating something intelligently like an adult. Does it hurt your little feelings to be wrong? Are you really that egotistical? I don’t let people talk to me like that, so you can go get stuffed.

I don’t know who you think you are, but you certainly don’t know me. I’d be willing to wager I’m a hell of a lot smarter than you give me credit for. Fortunately for you, I don’t waste my time conversing with shit-stirrers.

May 21, 2008 at 2:54 pm rating: +42
#1.16 Drew

You are so cute

May 21, 2008 at 5:12 pm rating: +8
#1.17 Halley

When I lived in Utah, I got paid $2.13 an hour. . . and the Utah Mormons are CHEAP. Average tip for everyone I worked with was about 8-10%.

Here in Oregon, it’s $7.95/hr. Yay!

May 29, 2008 at 4:56 pm rating: +7
#1.18 artchickhb

Years ago (Back in my day… which was like 10 years ago and now I feel old) I started at pizza hut as a waitress for $1.90 an hour plus tips. And no, you might not need a degree to waitress, but it’s by no means an easy job. I have a lot of respect for wait staff who can continue to smile even when they have 20 clamoring tables of incredibly unbehaved, unparented children running about their section. (I’m a little passive aggressive to bad parents…)

May 31, 2008 at 11:15 am rating: +8
#1.19 Kelly

Ok Drew… I’ve read your comments, and frankly, they’re full of shit. Let’s start with my favourite sentence.

‘[B]eing a waiter is an unskilled job with no hazards, a comfortable environment, and regular hours.’

I’ll give you ‘unskilled’. Although great tact, poise, manners and smarts are essential in the service industry, and all these things are what makes a waitress good at her job; although skill is what separates a passable waitress from a great waitress, and although the ability to smile at a prick like you and not dump water over his head is definitely what I’d call a skill, these are things commonly called ‘qualities’ and not technically ’skills’. Fine.

The rest is bullshit.

The toxic fumes and lack of ventilation are obviously not present in the part of the restaurant where patrons sit. Have you ever been in a restaurant kitchen? Try having sweat pouring out of literally every pore in your body and then tell me that’s a ‘comfortable’ working environment.

Your argument that waiting tables includes regular hours is laughable. ‘Irregular’ means not only evening and night hours when most other people are having fun (what time does your bar close? Past midnight? I’d say that’s a night shift!) but also implies a lack of consistancy. Knowing what time you will arrive and leave with more than a week’s notice implies regular hours; not knowing from week to week how many hours you’ll work would not, in my books, count as ‘regular’.

I could keep going, but it’d take all night. I’ll end by saying that people like you are the reason I am so incredibly thankful that I no longer work in customer service.

Jun 11, 2008 at 8:12 pm rating: +48
#1.20 drew

Hahahah I love it when charming people like you assume that a person venting on the internet is a prick in real life. You’d be so lucky if all of your customers were like me. I’m an ultra-polite pushover who tips very well.

But you’re still missing the bottom line: the pay for waitresses/waiters is shit, because that’s the way the free market works. You can keep putting forth these great arguments for why your job is just so gosh-darned hard and requires so much commitment, and people skills, and stamina, and on and on and oh my God what saints you are— but if any of that bullshit were true, you’d get paid more for what you do.

You get paid shit becuase there are a hundred other people in a 5 block radius who could do what you do just as well. Junior high students can be waiters/waitresses, high school dropouts can be waiters/waitresses, unfriendly and unprofessional people can be waiters/waitresses.

All I really ask is that the EMPLOYER be the one in charge of paying your damn salary, and if you suck at your job, I ask the EMPLOYER to be the one to dock your pay or fire you. I don’t want to be the one determining your worth to the company.

Jun 14, 2008 at 7:27 am rating: +48
#1.21 Lo

And if the employer were to pay them more? The prices of the food would increase, so you’d still be paying for the service anyway.

Jun 14, 2008 at 11:47 pm rating: +11
#1.22 drew

I have no problem paying people to serve me. My problem is that management has decided employee motivation is my job and not theirs.

Also, if managers were in charge of paying servers, they’d really have a reason to bitch, because almost all would be making minimum wage, because minimum wage is what the job is a actually worth. They don’t realize how nice they have it, that generous folks come in meal after meal and plop down enough money that they earn way more than your average janitor, farmhand, vet tech, nurse, and on and on. All of these people work harder than a waiter/waitress. (I’ve been a waiter, farm hand, and vet tech. For what it’s worth, when I was a waiter, of course I liked the tip system, because I made out like a bandit, but that doesn’t mean I thought the system made sense– I was just glad to be getting paid so much for so little work.)

Not to mention if management paid their own employees, they may not increase the price of food– the cheaper places might just as well cut down on the servers. And I have no problem walking across a room and getting my own food, or filling up my own glass, just like I do at McDonalds, at a cheap pancake house or diner. I’d much prefer this, instead of having to wait until someone notices my glass of water is empty before I can take another drink.

Jun 15, 2008 at 4:25 pm rating: +34
#1.23 Meghann

Actually it isn’t management, it’s our government who determines server minimum wage. (3.13/hour) And there are so many servers and cooks on the clock during one shift, that in order to pay us all what we make in tips, management would have to double the prices on the menu. When a corporate restaurant needs to cut back on labor, the managers send home cooks, not usually servers, because cooks are paid more. Which means servers have to help out in the back a lot. It works out so that the customer gets cheaper food, and pays the server for their service.
I don’t like the system, but as a college student I make more money working as a server than I would at most other time-flexible jobs. But if you are a good server who does their absolute best to make sure everything goes smoothly there is a lot of multi-tasking involved and the job can be very stressful. I’ve gone home a few nights crying because of how rude and demanding people can be. The only reason I stick with it is because I can change my schedule to accommodate school at any time and I get paid pretty well.

Jun 17, 2008 at 1:18 am rating: +8
#1.24 Moe

Halley:

“Utah Mormons are CHEAP.”
Way to generalize. I happen to be a Utah Mormon, and I never tip less than 15% unless the service is absolutely abysmal. It isn’t the Mormons who are cheap, it’s the cheap people who are cheap.

And now I’ll shut up, because I’ve started to sound like a chick. (Cheep Cheep!)

Jun 17, 2008 at 5:34 pm rating: +8
#1.25 Rozzie

I personally dont see it as my responsibility to subsidise the restaurant business by tipping as a matter of course. Thats up to the bosses of the eateries to pay their workers decent wages and for the government to ensure that even the minimum wage is liveable. That said if I get good service I reward it but I feel no guilt leaving zero tip if the service below par – why should I ?
The word originates from the 16th century verb tip, which meant “to give unexpectedly”, I rest my case.

Jun 20, 2008 at 4:33 am rating: +24
#1.26 AN

uhhhh I thought TIPS was To Insure Prompt Service maybe im wrong, but you don’t subsudize the industry by tipping cause if you didn’t they would just charge more to offset it.

Every waiter I know easly makes above minimum wage after tips, and minimum wage is dumb if you force wages to be higher less ppl can have a job normally ppl who can be more efficient and have experience so its job protection for unskilled jobs.

Being a waiter is unskilled its very difficult and intensive and is far harder than I thought it would be and it takes time to master, but it doesn’t require vast amounts of specialized knowledge and the majority of ppl can at least get decent at it within a month.

Clone of America I fail to see whats wrong with that we are the richest country, I don’t want to hear but we can’t take care of the poor, everyone poor I know who are poor are slackers or are just fine being poor you can easily get by in US below poverty line unless your trying to feed lots of kids and if you can’t feed your kids why did you have them O_o. I have friends that had every disadvantage outside of living in US and they moved up to middle class cause they worked hard and stayed in school, despite their wacky families.

Jun 29, 2008 at 1:49 am rating: +5
#1.27 PANU

AN,

Urban Legend

http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp

Jun 29, 2008 at 3:21 am rating: +5
#1.28 James

Not doing your job? Not acceptable.

Jul 7, 2008 at 1:25 am rating: +6

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#2 Pete

I’ve worked my share of table-waiting jobs. If you want a tip, do your job. It’s pretty simple. I was stiffed on the tip very infrequently and occasionally I felt that I didn’t really deserve a tip for the service I provided.

I don’t have a lot of sympathy for bad servers who get bent out of shape because they didn’t get a tip. It’s not something you’re entitled to, it’s something you have to earn.

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:46 pm rating: +64

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#2.1 Michelle

My sentiments exactly, alot of servers I work with believe that it is an obligation for the customer to leave a tip, yet in reality it is up to that server to earn that tip! I have been a server for more than 20 yrs and i can assure you that I have good days and I have bad days but for the most part I make well over min. wage after hourly pay plus tips. It is all in how you serve your customers and never expect more than what you have given. This is one job where you almost can make your own wages. I haven’t made myself rich doing this kind of work but I enjoy it and have done well for myself.

Apr 4, 2008 at 8:48 pm rating: +24
#2.2 blahblah

Exactly! Just doing the basic job of taking my order (correctly) and serving it will get you double taxes (16.50%) from me.

My method for tipping is starting off with 15-20% depending on the type of restaurant it is. If the service is excellent, it stays at 15-20%. If the service is bad, every time the server makes a mistake, I deduct 2%. For every 5-10 mins. I have to wait after I request something (like a straw or to-go boxes), I deduct 2%. Of course, I take into account how busy the restaurant is at the time and the server’s attitude about making me wait.

When the service is bad, I don’t even bother telling the server. I just go talk to the manager. Any decent manager will 1.) apologize, 2.) change servers, 3.) offer something extra like free dessert, or 4.) comp the meal. If the manager doesn’t do something to make up for the bad service, you know not to ever come back.

Bottom line 4 me: servers need to understand that a tip is a GRATUITY, which means it’s gratuitous (unnecessarily extra). It’s an acknowledgment of your level of service. If you want more tips, provide better service…or apply to a higher end restaurant where the patrons generally tip very well.

Apr 24, 2008 at 11:35 am rating: +23
#2.3 nicholas

wow, you really take into account all of that while eating? i would hate to be dining with you. how could you pay attention to your guest? i guess you eat alone alot.

tipping is a gratuity, but if restaurants actually paid their employees minimum wage or more, then the price of food would raise considerably. that is the reason we get paid less, and also the reason tipping is not actually optional…unlesss you are a huge prick like you.

Jun 2, 2008 at 1:40 pm rating: +8

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#3 Dave

If the service is _really_ bad, of course you don’t tip. We all know that many waitresses depend on tips – shouldn’t be that way but it is – but at least a forced half smile and coming when called (and staying in a place where a signal can be seen) is a minimum – perhaps just a rounding up sort of tip. Less than that ……..

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:49 pm rating: +5

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#3.1 Meghann

For future reference, servers usually have about 5 other things to be doing WHILE they are waiting on you, such as rolling silverware, filling up dressings, arguing with cooks to make sure your food comes out the way you ordered it, helping the host seat people, and cleaning tables. So if you don’t see them, it doesn’t mean they’re sitting somewhere being lazy. It’s a hard job. If they stand around where you can see them, none of their tables will have good service because nothing will get done.

Dec 24, 2007 at 12:34 am rating: +22
#3.2 Canthz_B

In my experience, the server who tries to “help the host seat people” is really trying to steer patrons to their own stations. It is the job of the host to seat patrons and try to make sure all servers get an equal chance for tips.
If you weren’t trying to steal patrons from other servers and do the host’s job maybe you would do a better job at your own.

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:03 am rating: +21
#3.3 Meghann

if you weren’t such an idiot maybe you would know what I’m even talking about. I don’t steal customers.
you obviously just like to argue, I’m finished.

Dec 24, 2007 at 7:18 pm rating: +5
#3.4 bizzle

ya canthz! have you ever worked in a restaurant? just because it is the hosts job doesnt mean they do it… besides people call in sick and servers have to help out to pick up the slack…

Feb 1, 2008 at 10:54 am rating: +2
#3.5 Canthz_B

Just so I can get comment #500..bizzle, what part of “In my experience” puzzles you? ♥

Feb 1, 2008 at 11:15 am rating: +3
#3.6 shawn p

where i work we concider our tip is our pay and our pay is our tip….well ive worked at the worst possible resturant since november ‘07 its not that its nasty cuz we strive 2 keep that place clean and i would consider my self a good server i give ok 2 excellent service but i live in a small town and 4 me on average i mite leave with $20 to $30 and yea its a good thing im only 17 but i need money as much as the next guy u kno……….like 2nite sum1 walked out and didnt pay at all and got away with it so i had to pay the ticket out of my pocket and lost $26 (half) out of my money

Feb 23, 2008 at 12:07 am rating: 0
#3.7 Skeltz

what a horrible customer you are, dave. I wonder how much spit you have ingested while dining out? Servers have shit to do, lots of it actually, and–brace yourself–the world does not revolve around you.

Apr 3, 2008 at 12:25 am rating: +5

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#4 Jeff

I tip very well (usually 20% if there are no problems), because I sympathize with people working in food service (being there previously myself), but there definitely are times when no tip is deserved. I have had about three or four times in my life where I was almost completely neglected by the waitstaff and stiffed them the tip; last time this happened they were wandering around in plain sight not doing much of anything, but would not come to the table. Even at the end of my disappointing visit I had to finally go chase them down to get the bill, so I could leave.

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:55 pm rating: +12

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#4.1 blahblah

Just like servers think customers don’t understand all they have to go through for their job, I don’t think servers quite understand some of the horrible experiences some customers have.

I have never worked as a server, but I have been a customer many, many times. The problem is that if you’ve been a customer a lot, then you’ve had a wide range of service. Getting excellent service really does raise a customer’s expectations, like “ahh, THAT’S what it’s like to get good service.” It really makes bad service stand out when we get it. My boyfriend and I disagree on tipping. He will give anyone a good tip, while I don’t believe in tipping bad service.

About a year ago, we went to Chili’s (in CA) on a Saturday. It wasn’t extremely busy. When we first walked in, the hostess was chatting loudly on her cell phone on an obvious personal call. She was looking us dead in the eye the whole time with no welcome or acknowledgment that we were customers. Then she strolled off. After a couple minutes, she came back and pointed to the booth for us to seat ourselves. After sitting for about five minutes, NO ONE came by to greet us or ask us if we wanted anything to drink. We saw several servers walk by but none stopped at our table. One server even stood nearby but still didn’t approach us. After about 10 minutes of this, I went to the hostess and politely asked for the manager. When I told the manager what happened, he called over a server that was hovering nearby eavesdropping and asked her why we hadn’t been greeted, yet. She told him that she hadn’t seen us (which was a lie because I made eye contact with her at least three times). When the manager asked me where we were seated, I pointed to a table close to the one where we were actually seated and the server corrected me by saying “No, you were sitting right THERE”. Of course, I then asked her “If you didn’t see us, how do you know where we were sitting?” (thanks, law school!) After that, the manager offered to personally serve us and comp our meal but by then I was too pissed off. I told him “Thanks, but no thanks. We’re going to try out the restaurant across the street.” Yes, I am Queen of a land called Passive Aggressiva. By the way, the new restaurant we tried was fabulous with great food and service. They got a 25% tip because of our Chili’s bitterness.

I haven’t went back to Chili’s since. Now, we only go to 4-star restaurants or better. Those places know how to provide great service.

Honorable mention for really awful service: Cheesecake Factory in San Francisco (on top of Macy’s).

Apr 24, 2008 at 11:55 am rating: +20
#4.2 Lord!

“I haven’t went back to Chili’s since. Now, we only go to 4-star restaurants or better. Those places know how to provide great service.”

Hmmm…. law school may have helped a smidge with your logic, but it did sod all for your grammar. Schmuck.

You don’t need to go to a 4-star establishment to get good service, nor do 4-star establishments serve as a guarantee against poor service.

May 7, 2008 at 5:22 pm rating: +16

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#5 Ash

I dunno, I was a server and being such, you know you have to kiss ass to get a good tip. If the server sucks that bad, they don’t need a tip because they’re obviously not working for one. I find both of these absolutely hilarious. I especially like the credit card receipt!

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:56 pm rating: +7

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#6 Jeff

Wanted to add – I would never do what is pictured in this post, even in the worst cases. Neither one of those actions is going to result in any future improvements, and if you do something like that you probably don’t want to ever go there again.

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:56 pm rating: +2

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#7 Ary H.

Not leaving a tip: textbook passive aggression.

Jul 29, 2007 at 12:57 pm rating: +5

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#8 Squeaky Wheel

To Ary – It’s not passive-aggressive – it’s the way the system works. The reason servers here don’t get at least minimum wage is because tips are *expected* to cover the discrepancy, but they’re NOT guaranteed/required to. The understanding is that if you suck, you get paid less, and you learn to not be a shitty server. Frankly, I think it’s brilliant.

I will tip up to 40%, depending on whether the server is friendly, and the price of the meal. I rarely tip less than 10%. But I will not hesitate to forgo leaving a tip if the server is rude and slow. AND I will leave a note letting them know why I didn’t tip them, if it was bad enough.

Obviously there are some who just won’t tip because they’re assholes. But that’s not the case with most people.

So I think these examples are hysterical. I especially love the receipt.

Jul 29, 2007 at 1:07 pm rating: +14

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#9 j

the only time i ever didn’t leave a tip was when i asked for something with chicken (which was more expensive anyway, whatever) and the waiter brought me it without, and when i said (politely) “i ordered this with chicken” he gave me a rude look and said “no you didn’t” when i had like 4 other people who definitely heard me say “with chicken” so i didn’t leave a tip, because the customer is always right. and i did order chicken. and he was a prick. the end!

Jul 29, 2007 at 1:08 pm rating: +6

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#9.1 drew

you had me until “because the customer is always right.”

fuck that.

May 20, 2008 at 1:14 pm rating: +8
#9.2 Halley

I know! I love it when I take an order and the person points to the item on the menu. I write it down. I bring it to them. “That’s not what I ordered!”

I was so shocked by what they said, I replied “Yes you did!” Which I never would ever say to a patron. Then they stated that they wanted fajitas. Why’d you point to fajita Quesadillas, then!!!!!?

May 29, 2008 at 5:02 pm rating: +1

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#10 BB

I never tip more than the normal “round-up” when I’m introduced to the practice of tipping as a duty, or if I am dissatisfied with the service provided to me or other customers.

I realise that this would be a problem in the U.S., where tipping is mandatory by unwritten social laws, but I live on one of the continents where tipping still is a gesture of appreciation.

Jul 29, 2007 at 1:24 pm rating: +7

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#10.1 Tricia

What you may not realize, since you aren’t from “this continent”, is that our US servers get paid WAY WAY BELOW minimum wage because it is “expected” that they will get tipped by each customer about 15%. These people work very hard for their money – they are underappreciated for running around after dozens of people’s orders and add-ons, making sure food is hot and served correctly and that glasses remain full, but they are only “noticed” when they make a mistake with an order. Please remember that these are people, hard-working people, who do make mistakes, but are trying hard everyday for pay that is miniscule. Because my mother gets health insurance through her boss, she actually OWES HER BOSS money at the end of the week instead of getting a paycheck! 100% of her take home pay is what ever tips she gets from her customers. Remember that the next time you go out to eat here in America, please.

Dec 17, 2007 at 8:19 am rating: +12
#10.2 Cimmy

Whoa, Tricia, that was uncalled for. This Web site is not called “Passive-Aggressive Notes in America” and I do not have to tip anyone. I live in a city where there are tip jars everywhere. I am not fucking tipping the high school kid who scans my library books. And I will not hesitate to refuse a tip to someone who does not deserve one; I will, however, explain to the manager that some actions may need to be taken. Perhaps the server had a bad day. Whatever. But that is not my problem.

Your comment was just plain rude.

Dec 18, 2007 at 5:00 pm rating: +24
#10.3 Kelsey

Her comment wasn’t rude, it was stating the truth. Clearly she feels passionate about the topic, but it’s not like she called the OP names or swore or anything. No need to get defensive – she never said you had to tip librarians.

Dec 19, 2007 at 4:36 pm rating: +6
#10.4 unholyghost2003

kelsey,
you missed the part where tricia slammed the OP for being from a different country/ commenting on this topic while not being an American.

furthermore tricia did all of this while reiterating points made MANY times previously and NEVER offering a sound rebuttle as to why a server that has not done his or her job properly DESERVES or has the right to DEMAND or even (as seen other places on this thread) STEAL my money.

Dec 19, 2007 at 4:50 pm rating: +9
#10.5 Kelsey SUCKS

…which is the point I was trying to make to Sara before Kelsey came riding in on her white horse. There are other continents in the world that deserve equal time to be heard from.

Dec 19, 2007 at 6:23 pm rating: 0
#10.6 long time waiter

I think the main point here is this. Even though in other continents/countries waiters get paid an appropriate amount for their work, here we do not. It is especially frustrating when someone from another country comes here for vacation, work, etc. and either does not know or does not care what we make hourly and does not tip accordingly. I worked in restaurants for over 10 years starting at an average restaurant and making my way into fine dining. For standard, friendly service the customary tip should be 18% and up for better service. Coming from nice restaurants I am probably more nit-picky about my service than someone who has not worked in a restaurant at all, but I still VERY RARELY tip less than 15%.

Feb 27, 2008 at 6:30 pm rating: +2
#10.7 Drew

Can you justify this “should be 18% and up”??

If you are payed $3/hour, an extra $4/hour gets you up to minimum wage. Considering how many customers you serve in an hour, probably doesn’t require more than a 4-5% tip per customer.

So, why are we, as customers, instead of your employer, obligated to make sure you get paid above minimum wage?

When I see a crew out working in a corn field, making sure that the corn I will eventually buy in a grocery store is growing weed and insect free, do I have some sort of obligation to go out and give them some of my money?

They work for minimum wage because there are plenty of other people who could do what they are doing just as well. If they do their job poorly, it is the job of their employer to get rid of them.

If the boss wants them to do their job better, they should offer higher wages and demand a higher level of effort from their employees.

Why is this different in the food service? Why should a huge corporation like Olive Garden or Chili’s leave customers in charge of motivating their employees to work hard? Why should customers have to determine appropriate wages for servers?

When I go out to sit and enjoy a meal that someone else cooked, I agree to pay a certain price for that food. Why is it my job to worry how well the person serving me is getting paid?

Maybe my waiter/waitress should wear a tag telling me how many children they support, and if they have any medical expenses, how hard they worked in school, etc… that way, I can spend my evening determining what kind of salary they “deserve” to earn, and then adjust my tip accordingly.

May 20, 2008 at 1:26 pm rating: +50

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#11 Candice

I almost always tip at least 20%, and often more, when we wind up at a diner after the bar, for putting up with our drunk asses. But if the service really is bad, I have absolutely no problem with skipping the tip. Or better, fill in the tip line with “$0.01″.

Jul 29, 2007 at 1:28 pm rating: +22

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#11.1 Skeltz

WOW Candice, you are a rotten bitch. There is no other way to say it.

Apr 3, 2008 at 1:42 am rating: +3
#11.2 Skeltz is low-class

No, Skeltz: YOU are the “rotten bitch” for turning this thread into a name-calling session. You’ve insulted almost every commenter who disagrees with you. Here’s a TIP for you: Learn some manners!

Apr 24, 2008 at 12:14 pm rating: +27

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#12 MB

shame you can’t see chris’ visa number on that bill.

Jul 29, 2007 at 1:34 pm rating: +1

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#13 former waitress

The last time I waitressed was five years ago, but I still remember this couple who were nice and complimented my service, but stiffed me on the tip. They paid with a credit card, but left the tip and “total” lines blank, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and filled in my own $5 tip. Eh, they never knew the difference!

Jul 29, 2007 at 1:51 pm rating: +5

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#13.1 Just Sayin'

Just a word of advice.. you probably shouldn’t advertise this fact. It doesn’t paint a pretty light on you, you know?

Dec 9, 2007 at 2:15 am rating: +8
#13.2 Also just sayin'

Um, that’s also illegal, it’s called credit card fraud

Dec 19, 2007 at 1:41 pm rating: +22
#13.3 Vanessa

I waited tables for many years getting through school and received many ‘verbal’ tips. “You gave us the best service! Really made our night! Thanks!” Then the big fat gooseegg in the tip line. I don’t know what people think they are giving you when they say how great you were but leave you nothing but a little more in debt to the IRS because they came in and ran up a big check. You still have to tip out the busser, bartender, food expo. Think about it folks, don’t bite the hand that feeds you!

Jan 5, 2008 at 2:43 am rating: +5
#13.4 you suck

Could be they just thought that was such a pathetic move, they figured any loser who had to wait tables for a living AND steal $5 tips wasn’t worth the trouble of dealing with.

I’m not even sure you could be any more lame. Kudos, you are a thorough low-life.

Apr 3, 2008 at 2:16 am rating: +5
#13.5 blahblah

So you stole the “nice” couple’s money? Yes, that makes me feel so much better about servers with bad attitudes.

Thanks for reminding me to cross out the tip/total lines on credit card bills/receipts.

By the way, if that couple “notices the difference”, they can call their credit card company and dispute the entire charge. And they will win.

Apr 24, 2008 at 12:17 pm rating: +18
#13.6 anon

The people who are criticising the poster for giving herself a 5$ tip have obviously never had to subsist on minimum wage in this country during a recession. Think about it before you try to make her feel bad. After all, it was only five dollars.

May 6, 2008 at 5:23 pm rating: +3
#13.7 Drew

Those who don’t think stealing is acceptable should realize that everyone is entitled to a certain amount of money.

This also applies to new shoes– I know, that guy in the locker room might have really liked his Nikes, but listen, have you ever tried playing basketball in the crappy shoes you can afford from a minimum wage job? I took his Nikes because they were comfortable.

Duh. Think about that before you condemn robbers and thiefs.

May 20, 2008 at 1:31 pm rating: +34

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#14 kait

my best friend happens to be a waitress, and i try to keep her in mind when it comes time to tip- and having worked behind a food counter myself, i’m pretty compassionate towards servers. when the service is at all passable i leave at least 20% (and i won’t go out if i’m not able to afford my meal plus the tip.)
however, there are times when the service is so horribly sub-par that i feel it’s necessary to forgo a tip. as stated above, tips are earned, not expected.
being young i’ve gone into resturants and been denied service (as in, no one came to give my date and i waters) because it was the business-lunch rush and two eighteen year olds weren’t of any importance. i’ve been told i was wrong when said “i ordered this without veggies” (i’m allergic to most of them). trust me, i’m pretty good at remembering to leave out ingredients that send me to the hospital.
and as a note to all the female servers out there, flirting with my boyfriend (who you assume is paying) will not earn you anything. trust me on that one. (i’m talking about handing him the bill with a ‘here you go sweetie!’ and circling the amt. in a heart with your name underneath and a ‘come back again soon!!’).
in my honest opinion, if you choose a job where your income directly depends on your performance, expect your tips to reflect a job well (or not so well) done.

Jul 29, 2007 at 2:20 pm rating: +22

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#14.1 blahblah

Wow, the flirting with hearts on the bill is hilarious (and absolutely ridiculous!). I have noticed that women always hand the bill to my bf, but men will hand it to me. What’s with that?? Best thing to do is put the bill in the middle. That way, you don’t risk offending anyone or causing a couple’s fight (angry people do not tip well).

And acting like the customer didn’t order what they claimed to order is a huge serving NO-NO. Some of these servers really have nerve. I went to one Italian restaurant where I ordered a substitution sauce for my pasta dish (pesto with salmon). The server actually turned up his nose and says “You want salmon with PESTO? Are you sure about that?” all disapprovingly. It took over an hour between the time we ordered and when they brought out our main dishes (the place was NOT packed at all). We were actually getting up to leave when the server finally brought out our dinner. I paid for the $15 crab cake appetizer, left no tip, and we left.

Great service tip: If you’re ever in San Francisco, an excellent restaurant for food and service is Palomino’s (on Embarcadero).

Apr 24, 2008 at 12:26 pm rating: +3

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#15 jet

A couple of times now here in Pittsburgh we’ve had awfully slow service — 10 minutes to take our order, 30 minutes before appetizers show up, while the table next to us shows up after us and gets fed before us.

I’ve complained to waiters and managers and the most we ever get is “we’re so sorry”.

When I waited tables in Houston (and lived in restaurants in the Bay Area) it was customary for a manager to comp drinks, desert, or even half the tab if there was a screwup in the kitchen. Not once in Pittsburgh has someone offered us any sort of apology that would have cut into their profit.

Jul 29, 2007 at 2:25 pm rating: +3

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#16 Jamuraa

In my view, whether it’s completely unthinkable to not leave a tip depends on the state’s laws. Some states allow restaurants to pay their waitresses less per hour because they are supposed to make up that amount in tips. I will gladly tip all the time if it is such a state. I live in a state where everyone must make at least minimum wage – regardless of tips or not. So if they do a minimum wage job (not paying attention, bring wrong food, waiting ages to get over to us even though we’re like 1 of the 4 tables in the place) I don’t tip. Acceptable, I try to shoot for 15%.

Jul 29, 2007 at 2:32 pm rating: +2

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#16.1 Len

Where I live, wait staff have a lower minimum wage, on an average day, if even half your customers leave the “standard” 15% tip, you more than make up that hourly difference, think about the cost of a meal, the number of meals served in an hour, and the tip based on that. Chances are a decent server gets much better than “standard” minimum wage if they do their job.
As such you are expected to earn that tip.
Trust me, I’m not stingy, I’ll buy my $1.50 morning coffee and pay $4.00 without a second glance because my server was cordial.
I’ll go out with the gang for a $70 a plate meal, and still we’ll leave a 30%+ tip because the server was excellent.

But if you’re rude, or lax in your duties as a server, you neglect your customers for extended periods of time, and never check up on them. Consider yourself shunned, I would be happy to leave no tip, and a note for future reference, or if I think someone who works with them is clever enough to get the joke. I’ll leave my two cents on the table.

Don’t try to shoot for anything, aim only for what is deserved. Most good servers understand this, and do a good or even great job. Those who don’t deserve to be shunned.

And if you leave a note like this, don’t be afraid to return to that restaurant, perhaps you’ll get a server who cares about what they do. Or maybe, you’ll find your previous server has improved, and you’ll be able to give yourself a pat on the back knowing you contributed to that improvement.

Dec 4, 2007 at 7:11 pm rating: +6

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#17 Jack

I once had a guy college preppy frat type leave me a tip of “Get a Real Job”

Unfortunately for him, my girlfriend happened to be one of his bosses at the law firm he was file clerking at….the rest of his summer sucked

Jul 29, 2007 at 3:19 pm rating: +23

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#18 Patty O. Furniture

My only food service job was a short stint at McDonald’s, but I have many friends who are waitresses. I can’t fathom leaving no tip at all, but if the service is bad I don’t leave a big tip. However that first picture isn’t passive aggressive, it’s just a douche-bag move.

Jul 29, 2007 at 3:31 pm rating: 0

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#19 Jack

btw, the reason (aside from his douchitude) that he left that charming note was that the 6th plate HE stacked on top of the pile while I was clearing slipped and I saved everything but one chicken wing bone which landed on his toe

Jul 29, 2007 at 3:34 pm rating: +2

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#20 Raye

I’ve only skipped tipping a few times in my life and only if the service was ridiculously bad. Half an hour and no service sounds pretty bad. Having said that, I would NEVER write in ketchup on the table. That’s pure assholery.

Jul 29, 2007 at 3:45 pm rating: +2

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#20.1 Len

You’re right, writing on the table in ketchup is a touch strong. You’re not creating more work for the person who is getting no money out of you.

If you have no other writing utensils available, consider using the ketchup to write on a couple of napkins.

Dec 4, 2007 at 7:15 pm rating: 0

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#21 sk

I waited tables forever, and I got stiffed on occasion. Sure, it sucks, but it’s not the end of the world. Your regulars will make up for it, and then some. I thought the ketchup was hilarious, although a total dick move. Some bitches once squirted ketchup under one of my tables (I gave them great service, they were just whores) but one of them left her sweater on accident. Guess what I used to clean up the mess?

Jul 29, 2007 at 3:54 pm rating: +29

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#21.1 noneya

haha, this is awesome! I just had to say it!

Dec 19, 2007 at 3:43 pm rating: 0
#21.2 Vanessa

I call that instant Karma!

Jan 5, 2008 at 2:50 am rating: +1
#21.3 901redbone

SWEET!!! I probably would have done the same thing.

May 22, 2008 at 6:35 pm rating: 0

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#22 aliastaken

I’ve been a waitress. I made 2.13 an hour. People who leave no tip are just assholes. As long as the server is not flat out rude to the customer, he/she deserves a tip. So service was slow… sometimes the kitchen is backed up, the computers aren’t working, or maybe your server is new and just learning the ropes. Waiting tables is hard work. If you go out to eat, don’t be a jerk, leave something for your waitress. Her life is hard enough without the customers taking their night out as a chance to sit in judgement of her.

Jul 29, 2007 at 3:57 pm rating: +7

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#22.1 Len

That’s a rediculously low wage, even for a server. At any rate, I maintain a tip should be earned.
Slow service, and slow food are not necessarily the same thing, and the wait-staff’s tip should have no relation to the kitchen-staff.

This does not stop you as a server however, from being able to offer to get drinks, refills, or apologize for the meal taking some time.

Don’t blame the computers, the world has not always run on computers, yet food services have existed for many a long century.
If you honestly have no back up plan for when the computers fail, or you don’t know how to use a pen and paper to work out the charge, I’m sorry that your school system has failed you.

You should still do YOUR best as a server to earn that tip, despite the fact that hell froze over, the grease traps overflowed, and the new chef used too much cooking Cherri and there’s now a five alarm fire in the kitchen.

As for sitting in judgment, the only thing they will judge you on, is your skills, or lack of skills as a server.

As with any job, your work will be scrutinized, if I fuck up when fixing someone’s computer it’s my time and money that has to make up for it. If a mechanic messes up on a car, same deal. Larger corporations screw up, you end up getting law suits over it.

You are held accountable. Act like it.

Dec 4, 2007 at 7:22 pm rating: +16
#22.2 lynn

Wow. You’re an asshole. Have you ever waited on a person a day in your life? Do you have any knowlegde or experience to be making your claims? Maybe once you have done this, then you can talk about “how smoothly” things should go in the front of house when the back of the house is a disaster.

I make $2.35 an hour.

Why don’t you try it.

Dec 7, 2007 at 1:53 pm rating: +3
#22.3 unholyghost2003

I don’t always tip. Tips need to be EARNED. Performing the minimum duties of service will get you 10% (and being POLITE AND SMILING are part of minimum duties) I say this after spending YEARS waitressing … oh BTW when I MANAGED a restaurant … leaving people 20min w/o service? That gets your ass FIRED. You want to bitch about your $2.35? Get a different job.

Dec 7, 2007 at 2:31 pm rating: +19
#22.4 lynn

oh…. BTW I’m not bitching about making $2.35… I knew that was my wage when I took the job. I am bitching about people like you who seem to not take that into consideration.
Who would even sit in a restaurant for 20 minutes without even getting a “I’ll be right with you guys” from ANYONE?? Thats just being a dumbass. Go somewhere else…. find the manager… or don’t complain if you aren’t taking any action other than writing something in ketchup… now the poor busser has to clean it up. I’m sure that really showed the server!!!

Dec 7, 2007 at 3:05 pm rating: +2
#22.5 unholyghost2003

Why should I take that into consideration? Do YOU take the fact that many telemarketers work on commission into consideration when they call? Or do you just hang up?

I am not saying writing in condiments is a good thing (if I were the manager there and knew who did it I would ban them from the establishment), I do stay aware of what is going on in the restaurant when determining how big, if any tip to leave. I DO grab the manager’s ear and state my complaint before walking out to eat elsewhere. I don’t believe you are ENTITLED to my money.

Dec 7, 2007 at 3:16 pm rating: +15
#22.6 Alena

‘That’s a rediculously low wage, even for a server’

Well, welcome to the world of the restaurant industry. Most states have the minimum of $2.13/hr for tip-based professions. There are exceptions (such as big cities where the cost of living is higher), but just about every state I’ve worked in, I’ve earned $2.13/hr.

And yes, actually, $2.13/hr is ridiculously low. Hence the reason all the servers are getting worked up about people stiffing them or not getting the point that 15% is the standard tip. Quite frankly, because the system is set up the way it is, consider that that gratuity is a part of your meal charge here in the States. If you lived in Europe, we servers would be paid a salary and it would already be included in your bill. At least here you get a say in it, no?

Dec 9, 2007 at 2:28 am rating: +1
#22.7 nina

A salary? No, we get paid per hour and exceptional service gets tips.

Though unlike the US in many restaurants, pubs, cafes, etc tips go into the big pot to be shared out equally among everyone. If you’re rude(or generally a habit of not being polite and smiling regardless of the actual work you do), not only do you not get a tip, but you just get fired.

No salaries, but here in the UK, minimum wage for under 18s is £3.70, 18-20 is £4.45, and 21+ is £5.35.
No, we don’t depend on tips and it is considerably more than $2.13, but the US is a much cheaper place to live, despite the almost pathetically low minimum wage.

Dec 16, 2007 at 8:47 am rating: +3
#22.8 Past and present server

I have worked in 6 restaurants in 4 years and have always been paid between $2.13-2.23 per hour. Being stiffed on a check always hurts. Always. There is really no such thing as a paycheck for a server, it’s mostly taken out for taxes.

Someone mentioned on here always smiling; well that is much easier said than done. The server is blamed for everything. If we’re out of something, lower tip; if the restaurant charges a lot for a drink, lower tip; the food’s taking a long time, lower tip. Now, I consider myself a good server and am rarely stiffed, but I find it amazing how it’s the tables that make you run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off that TELL you you’ve been great then screw you over in the tip. I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t pay my rent in compliments.
I will usually give 20-25% tips, but if the service really sucks, I will give 15%. I know what it’s like to have a bad day and have to work anyway. I served the day I found out my grandpa was dying and the day after my dog was put down. If the service is bad enough, I just won’t go back to the restaurant.

Dec 19, 2007 at 1:58 pm rating: +7
#22.9 Vanessa

There is a difference between commission and tips. Yes telemarketers may make commission on extra sales, but they usually make $8-$10 an hour base. Servers usually make $2.13/hr +tips.

Jan 5, 2008 at 2:56 am rating: +2
#22.10 joe

if you do your job right you will get tipped. if you do your job wrong you wont. the same is true in any profession, if you are good at it you get somewhere. I was a waiter i know what it takes to do a good job and you know what i know what it takes to not do a good job. if the kitchen is backed up explain the problem to your customers and they will typically be understanding and yes still leave a tip bc you provided great service. you let them know the current situation, how long it will take to get the food and you apologize for the slow service. Realize this, I also have earn my dollar that I give you and if I have to earn that dollar you are gonna have to earn it from me. Handouts dont help anybody. Also, you choose to be a waiter you know how much you will make per hour so if you need more money you better work harder/better than the next guy. WE ARE NOT COMMUNISTS

Jan 23, 2008 at 3:53 pm rating: +8
#22.11 Erik

Unholyghost: A server who has no compassion for other servers? That’s almost as disgusting and enigmatic as gay Republicans. Btw, your telemarketer analogy is stupid and totally incongruous with the tipping argument at hand. How is voluntarily going into a restaurant demanding a service at all like unwittingly picking up the phone only to discover it’s someone invading your personal space and trying to sell you something? (Nothing against telemarketers, but for argument’s sake.) I think from here, you can figure out the difference? Does it make you feel big and powerful to neglect tipping your server?

Len: You are a human being. Act like it.

Jan 28, 2008 at 2:59 pm rating: +1
#22.12 blahblah

If service is slow because of a backed-up kitchen or non-working computers, then the server should make up for that by acknowledging it to the customer with an “I’m so sorry, we’re slow because (fill in the blank with excuse). I’m working on getting your food/drinks/whatever.” Most sane customers will understand this because we don’t expect the server to make up for all problems in the restaurant. But when service is slow, a server should NOT:

*leave the customers unattended for a long time (over 10 mins. without taking an order or bringing food/beverages/the bill)
*walking by the customers numerous times without eye contact or any acknowledgment

If you don’t want to leave a tip, then I highly recommend speaking with a manager. They need to know when a server is bad, so the server can be fired if it happens too often.

I used to go to this pasta pomodoro near my house where the same server messed up my order three times. She didn’t just leave off chicken or mushrooms, but brought me an entirely different order. When I asked where was what I ordered, she tried to tell me that’s what I ordered. I hate tomato-based sauces, so I know I didn’t order what she brought out – some spaghetti-type pasta. By the time my meal was corrected, the rest of my group was already halfway through their meals. The 2nd time this happened, I had to put my meal in a to-go box (even though I was still really hungry) so we could make our movie.

By the way, there was only a week between these two horrible visits, so I definitely talked with the manager who was nice enough to comp my meal. I haven’t been back since.

Apr 24, 2008 at 12:43 pm rating: +2
#22.13 blahblah

Vanessa:
“There is a difference between commission and tips. Yes telemarketers may make commission on extra sales, but they usually make $8-$10 an hour base. Servers usually make $2.13/hr +tips.”

Maybe servers should become telemarketers then. If you don’t like major parts of your job, quit and get a new one like the rest of us do.

Apr 24, 2008 at 12:49 pm rating: +5
#22.14 Drew

Everytime I read this bullshit “I only make 2.13+tips, I want to hear how much the “tips” is.

I know, I know, “the 2.13 goes to pay taxes.” Well, so does 2.13 of everyone else’s money who makes minimum wage.

Tell me, how much does “+tips” come out to on a Saturday night?

I know not everyone makes this kind of money, but I worked at a nice pizza place in small-town Illinois, and I would often make $200 over five hours on Friday or Saturday night.

How many jobs pay that well, that require NO training, NO education, NO talent, NO mandatory overtime, NO hazards, NO dealing with the weather, NO “on-call” time, etc?

I know, I know, there are challenges to waitressing. But it’s still one of the easiest jobs around that doesn’t require training.

Try working for a moving company, a seed-corn company, or as a painter, or janitor, or vet-tech (NON-R.V.T, no offense to you incredible R.V.Ts with 2 years of college training), etc. You’ll quickly find that you have no reason to bitch about the occasional rude server or the fact that you have to ‘remember orders’ and ‘roll silverware.’

May 20, 2008 at 1:45 pm rating: +21
#22.15 mk

just thought you’d like to know that i went through 30 hours of training before starting my job as a waitress, as well as a written and practical (waiting on tables) exam. granted, i’ve never not been left without any tip and i only work seasonally (no regulars) and i’ve never left my table hanging for 20 minutes without service.
maybe more restaurants should look into regular training for their staff. i hated it at the time, but it’s been a big help.

Aug 2, 2008 at 8:58 pm rating: +8
#22.16 Sirius

“just thought you’d like to know”

Nope.

Nice apostrophe work, though; next we’ll work on the Shift key

Aug 2, 2008 at 9:35 pm rating: +1
#22.17 Canthz_B

” i’ve never not been left without any tip “ means you’ve never gotten a tip.

We need to work on more than the Shift key!

Aug 2, 2008 at 9:48 pm rating: +2

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#23 Andy

Yeah, I must say, if you are not leaving a tip, you need to talk with a manager about WHY you are pissed.

I’ve never stiffed on a tip. The amount that is claimed on taxes is 8% of sales, so at least I tip that.

Taking crappy service and not saying anything except with how much tip you leave/don’t leave smacks of douchebaggery (whomever came up with that term here, bless you) or just plain stupidity.

Though, I must admit that the ketchup/mustard message WAS well written, with the mustard doing the underlining and all. Douchebag move, but hey.

Jul 29, 2007 at 4:14 pm rating: +1

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#23.1 Meghann

Actually in NC we are required to claim 12%.

And I agree, if your service is bad, don’t automatically assume that it is totally your server’s fault, most of the time it is not, it could be due to many factors.

Speak to a manager and you might get a percentage comped off your check, but don’t stiff the server.

We work our asses off whether we’ve had a good day or bad day, and most servers were I live are also full-time students. Think about how stressful that can be.

OH, and whoever made the comment up there about servers not knowing how to use a paper and pen to figure out a bill, I’d like to see you try to take the time to add up the bills of 3-10 tables along with your other duties. Some servers are graduate students, which may be more of an education than you have.
Servers are constantly multi-tasking, and this just adds on to the already high list of things we have to do while waiting on you. So just don’t go out to eat, ok?

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:00 am rating: +1
#23.2 server

And as for the computer comment, the computers down causes so many more problems then having to manually figure out bills. The kitchen will be completely thrown off as they aren’t getting order printouts as things are entered into the computer. The bartender will also no longer be getting printouts. This takes a lot more time for your server. And in addition, my favorite is that in the half hour it may take to get the computers back up, no one can pay with a credit card! And trust me when people have to wait for a while because of something like that, no matter how much you try to explain the whole thing to them, and offer them some complementary desserts or drinks while they wait, a lot of them are still jerks about it.

Mar 21, 2008 at 1:00 pm rating: +1

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#24 aliastaken

I want to add that there’s almost nothing worse than a man out on a date who thinks he looks like a big-shot when he’s snotty to the waitress. If my date ever treated ‘the help’ poorly or had the nerve to stiff a server, it would certainly be our last date!

Jul 29, 2007 at 4:47 pm rating: +16

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#25 server

Where I worked (up until I walked out yesterday), I was the only server for up to 500 customers at a time. I was constantly berated, people left nasty notes on their receipts regularly, AND my boss didn’t even pay me minimum wage. I can understand if the restaurant is dead and the service is shitty to not tip, but I was trying to do the job of 25 people and no one would have put up with what I had to unless they were desperate for money. Not tipping is totally uncalled for.

Jul 29, 2007 at 5:13 pm rating: +2

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#26 eat me

you must have gotten something to have to pay a bill…was the waitress rude or inattentive cause it was busy? wtf?

Jul 29, 2007 at 5:29 pm rating: +1

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#27 Marissa

I have never been a waitress myself, but I always tip well. I only refuse to tip when the waiter/waitress was deliberately rude and the service was nothing short of appalling. Even in those instances I usually leave a dollar.

I loathe people who don’t tip for perfectly satisfactory service, but if you’re an asshole to me don’t expect me to cough up cash for your substandard service and crappy attitude. It’s not my fault you’re having a shitty day.

Jul 29, 2007 at 5:43 pm rating: +4

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#28 ginger

in the uk tips are a bonus. if i get bad service i have no problem with not tipping. to my mind if i tip someone who is rude or imcompetent i am rewarding them for being shit at their job.
it seems to me that if the folks in the u.s ought to worry about the fact that ppl are not paid a fair wage, rather than going along with the notion that tips are compulsary.

Jul 29, 2007 at 5:59 pm rating: +14

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#29 M@

I’m not loving this increasingly common phenomenon of people submitting their own notes to this site. Nowhere near as funny and makes me wonder whether the passive aggression is genuine or just contrived for the site.

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:05 pm rating: +1

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#30 M@

Prime example – how much funnier would that first note have been if it was posted by a waiter at the restaurant, who said ‘that note was fucking delicious’?

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:06 pm rating: 0

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#31 Writer, Rejected

Catsup with a mustard underline? Now that is one delicious passive aggressive note!

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:19 pm rating: +2

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#32 Mr. Pink

I don’t believe in tipping.

(Had to be done)

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:31 pm rating: +5

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#33 S.S.

I agree with the person who said that waiters should be paid a living wage, instead of expecting the customers to feel obligated to tip because their waiter is probably earning $2-3/hr.

That way, tipping would be given as an *extra* for a great service, a reward for being a great waiter/waitress.

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:40 pm rating: +6

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#34 Waiter

Man, the “5″ on the check total looks like a 9 to me.

$4 on $15.34. I’d take it.

“Boo you fail?” That’s probably what all Chris and Katie’s lovers say.

Bitches

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:47 pm rating: +1

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#35 Melissa

The definiton of tip, or tips is ” To Insure Prompt Service.”

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:53 pm rating: --1

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#35.1 kalieris

No, it’s not: http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp

Jan 15, 2008 at 10:48 am rating: +7
#35.2 Ron

I don’t think so. To Insure Prompt Service? Does that Mean the tip is a premium and that if the service isn’t prompt then the server needs to give a settlement? Do you have to file a claim if the service isn’t prompt? If the service is prompt and you don’t leave a tip is that insurance fraud? I believe the proper word is ENSURE but that would make the acronym so much less pithy.

Jan 31, 2008 at 1:15 pm rating: +9
#35.3 grammarian

Oh my God, Ron. Awesome. I *hate* it when people use “insure” (or worse, “assure”) to mean “ensure.” File a claim indeed. Delicious!

Jul 30, 2008 at 5:47 pm rating: +3

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#36 katie

Whoever posted these pictures should probably blur out the account number on the credit card slip. Just a thought. Unless they are leaving it on in hopes that the waitress comes on here and orders herself some flowers with the number…

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:54 pm rating: +1

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#37 Devil's Advocate

I’m sorry but why should I pay you extra for doing your job? That’s the restaurant owners responsibility-not mine. I don’t tip the girl working the cash at Walmart for ringing through my items and bagging them, nor the one at the grocery store for doing the same, nor the mechanic for fixing my car, the person at McDonald’s or Burger King, nor the bus driver for delivering me to my stop, so why should I pay a server/waiter/waitress/bartender for doing their job? They applied for the job, knew the job description and wage when they applied then accepted the job so why should I be expected to make up the difference?

On the flip side: I had friends who worked serving jobs through university and no matter where they worked, no matter what they made for tips-at the end of the night, no matter if you gave great service and johnny was a complete asshat-the tips went into one big jar and were divided evenly amongst everyone.

Jul 29, 2007 at 7:56 pm rating: +9

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#37.1 Alena

Seriously? Why? Seriously??

Well, because the people at Wal-Mart make more than three times the amount than your average server, in terms of hourly wage. Because we can’t live on $2.13/hr and it’s rather expected in this country that the customer tip. Hence the low wage; the government, our employers, and we all expect your tips to supplement that crazily low wage.

You have no idea how insane the whole ‘the restaurant should pay the servers more, why should I have to tip’ argument makes me. I mean, just because they *should* doesn’t mean they do or will, and your not leaving a tip doesn’t further your cause one bit.

I’m sorry, but even if you have this belief, it doesn’t exempt you from the social more of tipping if you go out to a restaurant. That’s just the way it’s done in this country and if you don’t like it, I hope you enjoy cooking! Or Europe! You can try being a one-man army and all, but you’re getting absolutely nowhere by taking it out on the working stiff. That’s selfish and a little bit cruel. If you feel strongly enough about it to want to take some action, why not talk to someone in power in the restaurant, say someone who controls the wages?

P.S. Not every restaurant pools tips.

Dec 9, 2007 at 2:42 am rating: +6
#37.2 Earfull

If you don’t like to tip, you shouldn’t go out to eat. End of story. If you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to go out. You know, it’s never working class folks who won’t tip, either. It’s always the asshat wearing the $300 sunglasses who stiffs you, never the mechanic from two towns over. I’m soooo glad I never have to wait tables again.

Jan 21, 2008 at 5:23 pm rating: +2
#37.3 Crash

You’re beating a dead horse….

Jan 21, 2008 at 5:38 pm rating: 0
#37.4 Canthz_B

“End of story!“…that would be soooo f*cking nice!!
Unfortunately people like you keep coming in here to say the same thing that has been said 250 damned times already!
Read before you post asshole!!

Jan 21, 2008 at 5:50 pm rating: 0
#37.5 An Observer

The “B”in Canthz_B stands for Bitter. Bitch. Boring. Too bad “troll” doesn’t start with a B, or that’d be way too fitting.

Jan 22, 2008 at 12:38 am rating: +2
#37.6 Canthz_B

Yes…But I tip well and have “Word!” of the day six times…and you…?
Observe more closely.

Jan 22, 2008 at 12:44 am rating: +1
#37.7 An Observer

Um.. okay. Where should I send your trophy?

Jan 22, 2008 at 3:15 am rating: +1
#37.8 blahblah

Alena: “I’m sorry, but even if you have this belief, it doesn’t exempt you from the social more of tipping if you go out to a restaurant. That’s just the way it’s done in this country and if you don’t like it, I hope you enjoy cooking!”

Hmm…does the server cook? No. The server SERVES. If the SERVICE sucks, then the server gets no tip. Instead of harassing customers for not tipping bad service, maybe you should…

1.) not apply for a job as a server (knowing what servers don’t make)
2.) have a nice, helpful attitude

I’m noticing a trend in this thread. The servers with bitter attitudes here are the main ones complaining about getting stiffed. Could this possibly be related? Hmm…We all have to deal with crap on our jobs. It’s not the customers’ job to make our day/wallet better.

If the wages for servers suck (and I agree they do), servers should petition their local/state/federal government to raise wages to at least minimum wage, so the expectation of receiving a tip is what it should be: for a job well done, and not to make up for the low wages in your industry. No other industry has this “Because my boss doesn’t pay me fairly, YOU should.” rationale. I wish I could tell my customers to make up for what my employer doesn’t add to my check. LOL

Here’s an example of why tipping isn’t (and shouldn’t be) mandatory. In my state (CA), when there’s a table of 6 , most restaurants add on an automatic 18% gratuity. I guess this is to ensure that servers get compensated/rewarded for service to a lot of people. HOWEVER, what I’ve noticed is that many servers give subpar service when they know they’re getting an automatic tip. So I think the reason why tipping is such an integral part of the servers’ income is to make sure they give at least standard service, which is defined by the customer (as it should be) – not the server. Of course, there are plenty of customers who take advantage of this by not tipping adequate service, but no system is perfect. I think most servers would agree that MOST customers tip fairly. If a server is repeatedly getting stiffed a tip, then that should tell the server that the service is unsatisfactory overall. Either improve your service or get a new job. It also could mean that the restaurant is so consistently bad, that the customers are always angry, which again – apply somewhere else. Before applying for a server job, I would ask the servers how much tips they average a night to get a handle on whether the job is worth it to me.

I agree with the one guy who mentioned there are now tip jars everywhere – like at the library. Why is there a tip jar at Starbucks (or McDonalds even)? I’m supposed to tip you for taking my order and giving it to me? I’m already paying for overpriced coffee. At least at a restaurant, there’s a higher level of service. Restaurant servers make it possible for customers to not have to go get our food ourselves. But these places where the customers are doing all of their own serving need to stop with the tip jars. As we can see from this board, that makes some people get irate and stiff the people who really do deserve the tips – good servers.

My ex used to be a server (now he’s a restaurant manager) and he never complained about not getting tipped…because he rarely got stiffed. He made good money. You know why? Because he’s very gracious and friendly (and flirty even). He loves to go out to eat at nice restaurants. He was a very good tipper, but he definitely believed in speaking to the manager about bad service.

Apr 24, 2008 at 1:14 pm rating: +12
#37.9 Alena

Your comment still doesn’t change the fact that tipping your server is the social more in the U.S. I think I rather eloquently put my thoughts on that elsewhere here, so I won’t repeat myself on that count.

What does it matter whether we cook or not? The cooks are paid a different wage, with the notion they aren’t receiving tips. We actually do a lot for our guests — servers are rarely pampered by the house. Just because you see us breezing through the dining room doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk; it’s just that we are professionals and it’s our job to make it look easy. We don’t just take your order. We often put a lot of elbowgrease and work into making the whole thing run. Depending on the restaurant, we do prepare things for you in the kitchen. A dessert I brought out that you ooed and aahed over the presentation? Yeah, I did that, not the chef. We polish glasses and silverware, we clean all sorts of stuff, and we run around trying to please you, on top of it.

As for the ‘bitter server’ charge, well, yeah, I feel bitter at times when I bust my ass, give up my holidays to wait on rude people, etc., and get stiffed or an undeserved undertip. You don’t know me, so I will tell you that I generally strive to be warm, sincere, personable, efficient, and to go out of my way to do things for my guests. I know when I haven’t done my best job and I can’t blame people for a smaller tip. This is just to let you know that I am hard-working and reasonable, not somebody whining because they got what they deserved.

In that light, perhaps it is more understandable what some of us feel. You automatically assume that we are uber-lazy liars, as in your example, but I would say the majority I have met work rather hard to please the people they wait on.

This is why it’s so frustrating for us to read some people’s comments here. Many, many of us work extremely hard, so please give us a break. For each of your horrible server stories, I bet I’ve got a hundred horrible customer stories!

Apr 24, 2008 at 3:20 pm rating: +2
#37.10 901redbone

blah blah
“Hmm…does the server cook? No. The server SERVES. If the SERVICE sucks, then the server gets no tip. Instead of harassing customers for not tipping bad service, maybe you should…

1.) not apply for a job as a server (knowing what servers don’t make)
2.) have a nice, helpful attitude”

sometimes, that’s not enough. you talk about how when “the service sucks” the server shouldn’t get a tip. i know this was covered earlier, but you have to realize that some of the time, it is not the fault of the server. but since the server is usually the person that is seen by the customer, that’s who automatically gets blamed. not it’s not fair, but that’s the way it is. i’ve had cooks who just refuse to make EXACTLY what’s on the printed slip, just because it’s easier. in that situation 1 of 2 things is gonna happen. 1. ur gonna take the meal out to the customer and get bitched at for it being wrong (which i wouldn’t recommend) or 2. you’re gonna spend an extra 15 minutes in the expo, fighting with the cook until the CORRECT order is made and then getting bitched at because the food took too long. and like someone else said. not only do servers just bring you what you ask for, but we have to prepare things as well. that house salad you wanted with extra tomatoes no onions tossed in italian dressing with a side of ranch dressing, WE have to make that! that sundae with extra nuts, double the ice cream and 4 cherries, it’s US again. so while we’re back there making your perfect salad (which takes a little extra time because we have a system for making the standard salad QUICKLY) we still have other things to do.
and God forbid the busboy(s) didn’t come in. now here we are, bussing your tables, rolling your silverware, cutting up the cucmbers, tomatoes and onions so your salad won’t take so long when you want it, making fresh coffee every couple of hours and cleaning up the expo so when we bring your food out you won’t have butter, syrup, etc (i worked at IHOP) on the bottom of your plate. along with serving people there food in order (don’t bring the salad out in the middle of the meal) refilling glasses, bringing you your bill, taking your bill up to the register and waiting on the cashier/host(ess) to cash you out(who need i remind you is in no hurry because they’re making at least minimum wage), oh yeah, and i forgot, BREATHING! it IS a difficult job. and some people do it because it’s a challenge. that’s why i did it.i could have worked anywhere else, but there’s something about actually getting some REAL interaction time with other people that makes work so much fun (as opposed to bagging their groceries or selling them tennis shoes) i know this has been said more times than i would care to count, but some people are just dicks when it comes to there servers. you just can’t please them. they ask for a lot of ice, then when you put a lot of ice in their cup all of a sudden they don’t have as much to drink because you put too much in it. PHYSICS… DUH! or they lady that says her coffee is too hot. But I’d be a terrible server if I stuck it in the refrigerator for a few minutes. or the ones that occupy your table for 2+ hours and get pissed when you come over every 10 minutes asking if they need anything, because you’re disturbing them. but you’d be wrong for not coming over there at all, right? I agree it shouldn’t be put 100% on the customers to make sure the server gets paid adequately, but that’s just not gonna change. working graveyard shift at the only restaurant within a 15-mile radius that’s open after the club closes can have it’s ups and downs. sure you’re gonna have tons of tables. but at the same time, you’re dealing with a lot of drunk people (who are some of the worst and some of the best tippers)and a lot of very young people(who dont fully understand the concept of why you should/shouldn’t tip). if you feel you should get your food just the way you want it, and not have to tip, GO TO MCDONALDS!!! you can get your refills as often as you’d like without having to wait on someone to get it for you. if you want to order something else, you don’t have to wait for someone to come take it to the back for you. and one of my favorites YOU WILL KNOW BEFORE YOU GET YOUR FOOD what you’re being charged extra for. (i know the menu says “sub steak for extra 2.99) and you pay for your food b4 you get it, so when you get thru eating you don’t have to wait for the “bitter/slow/ lazy-ass” server to bring you your ticket… JUST GET UP AND GO!

May 22, 2008 at 7:28 pm rating: +5

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#38 E

I’ve only not tipped ONCE… and it was because the waitress was so damned rude and incompetent. A bunch of us in college went to a Denny’s late at night – a common occurance in that town. While 4 people were ordering a lot of food, my roommate and I wanted to split a milkshake and an appetizer (something we had done before at that restaurant, and did again)… mainly because we couldn’t afford a nice tip if we ordered more. She INSISTED that we had to order more, or one of us would have to leave. She was absolutely rude to the others, rolling her eyes and asking if that was all they were going to order, etc. I even overheard her talking about that “table over there” in some not so nice tones.

Well, my roommate and I figured out how much we had… and ordered enough food to use up that amount. Then, we made a production after we ate that it was all we had – it was clear why she didn’t get a tip (because she made us order more in the first place!!!)

We just smiled and left.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:05 pm rating: +14

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#39 Anonymous

I’m sorry, but a tip is a reward for good service. It is not mine, nor any other customer’s fault that some employers choose to pay their staff well below the standard minimum wage.

That being said, if a server is incredibly rude or ignores the table other than to drop off your check, then they deserve nothing extra out of your pocket.

I tip on good/standard service, and very well on excellent service, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to add to the already exorbitant price of a meal if the server is unprofessional and rude.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:14 pm rating: +5

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#39.1 Meghann

Sweetie, try ALL restaurant emplyers. Not some. Legal minimum wage for servers is 2.13/hour. And while it is not your fault that laws are written, it is not your server’s fault that you lack the ability to empathize.

Also, servers do not determine the prices of the food that is served. So if you can’t afford to pay for your meal and a tip, maybe you should consider eating at McDonalds?

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:10 am rating: +2
#39.2 susan

and what would you do if all the servers who are “dumb enough” to work for less than minimum wage went to other jobs? the restaurant industry would collapse, and other job markets would be flooded with people who are best at something else.. just because you want to be a stingy asshole doesn’t change the economy, asshole.

Jan 29, 2008 at 10:05 am rating: 0
#39.3 Tjkdg

Oh, but that’s the essence of it all. As long as you or other people accept the general fact, that they don’t need to step up the minimum wage because your tips will even them out, nothing will change. Acceptance doesn’t get anything changed.

Is your primary skill to wait tables….?

Apr 3, 2008 at 2:45 am rating: +3
#39.4 blahblah

susan: “and what would you do if all the servers who are “dumb enough” to work for less than minimum wage went to other jobs?”

That’s the thing. Not all servers would go to other jobs, because most servers understand that tips are directly related to the level of service they provide.

What would YOU do if all the customers decided to go to another restaurant because of the bad service? Which is better? Getting stiffed a tip or getting fired? I know some restaurants that will fire a server on the spot with one complaint from a customer whether the complaint is legitimate or not (this happened to my friend a couple times). Not getting a tip is a far more lenient consequence of bad service.

What hasn’t already been said here is that some servers profile customers. (I venture to guess the servers who don’t particularly enjoy serving do this more than others.) From their previous experience, they learn which people are most likely to be good or bad tippers and then they form a stereotype on which they base their future treatment of customers. It happens with minorities all of the time. I have eaten at the same restaurant and been served by the same server, yet received completely varying levels of service. I think who I was eating with made a lot of difference. That shouldn’t be the case. FYI: When this happens, it’s very obvious, especially when we see other tables around us getting really good service from our crappy server.

Servers are not entitled to our money if we don’t like the job that’s being done. Period. We worked hard to get our money. So should servers. That said, good servers deserve good tips. I look at a tip as a thank you for making my dining experience enjoyable. I also tip extra if the server handles difficulties beyond their control with grace – even if they make mistakes.

Meghann: “Also, servers do not determine the prices of the food that is served. So if you can’t afford to pay for your meal and a tip, maybe you should consider eating at McDonalds?”

I already mentioned this in a previous comment but even the McDonald’s near my house has a tip jar now. We’re supposed to tip for getting hot french fries?

Apr 24, 2008 at 1:34 pm rating: +4
#39.5 901redbone

blah blah
“What hasn’t already been said here is that some servers profile customers. (I venture to guess the servers who don’t particularly enjoy serving do this more than others.) ”

and at the same time customers profile their servers. being the only African-American server in a restaurant in a predominantly Caucasian-American neighborhood, I have had several instances where i was told “we want Sarah to be our server.” I’ll tell them “i’m sorry Sarah’s not here today, but hopefully you’ll be just as satisfied with my service if not more. ” (with a smile on my face) but after i say that and i’m told “well what about that girl over there?” (yes the white girl whose name they don’t even know) then it starts pushing the limit. so now i have someone serving a table in MY section. PLEASE don’t ask for a table in that persons section to compensate for it, then your cutting back on THEIR tips…

May 22, 2008 at 7:40 pm rating: +1

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#40 dirty mary

Please. If you wait 30 minutes and no one even acknowledges your presence you walk out and let them know why. And if you can let them know in condiments…all the better, my pretties.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:18 pm rating: +7

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#41 agirlie

I’ve only not tipped once. The waitress was rude and not accommodating. I usually tip 20% or more now. If service is really bad and awful, 10%. I don’t want to walk into a place around town and be known as a bad tipper or non-tipper.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:19 pm rating: +1

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#41.1 blahblah

Why go back if the service was horrible? Now I never go back to a restaurant if the service is so bad that I don’t want to leave a tip. If you leave a low tip, you are definitely sending a message that the service is subpar, but you’re still rewarding them with extra money. From the looks of this board, servers treat 10% tips the same as they would 0% tip – as if you’re robbing them of their livelihood.

Apr 24, 2008 at 1:50 pm rating: +3

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#42 Nick

Tipping is a cost of eating out. If waiters were paid even minimum wage, menu prices would rise. Some restaurants split tips with kitchen and bar staffs, so by stiffing based on one shitty waitron is fucking others.

And if you are the kind of schmuck who doesn’t even tip minimally for questionable service, you shouldn’t eat out.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:20 pm rating: +2

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#42.1 blahblah

No, the cost of eating out is the PRICE OF THE FOOD. Tipping is thanking good service. If the tables are sticky when I sit down (which has happened several times), no tip for the busboy. If the service sucks, no tip for the waitress. If the wait staff are noticing lower tips, then they should all get together to make sure that everyone on the team delivers GOOD SERVICE. Peer pressure works wonders.

I used to work as a Sales Coordinator for a nice hotel. It was part of my job to set up conference rooms for meetings and make sure everyone gets served. Now, I could go the route of recruiting the hotel service staff to help me and share my tips OR I could serve them myself and get all the tips. Servers are right. There are really rude, demanding, cheap customers who are unsatisfied with any level of service you provide. That comes with the job.

The way our pay scale for meetings went is there’s the flat cost for renting a room which comes with complementary water and notepads/pens. There are rental charges for projector, easels, etc. There’s an 18% gratuity added to any beverages or food ordered from the hotel – the reasoning being that the servers should get paid for setting up/clearing out the refreshments.

Some really cheap customers used to try to circumvent the 18% gratuity by bringing their own food (or ordering from an outside restaurant) but still requesting help with set-up/trash removal. Well, after doing this a couple times, I rewrote our meeting sales contracts to include separate set-up fees – for setting up refreshments/meals, audio-visual (for those lazy customers who wanted us to set up the audio-visual equipment they brought in instead of being charged for renting the hotel’s equipment), and any other extra service they requested from our limited hotel staff. With the rewritten contracts, I was able to dole out tips more fairly (based on who helped with what) instead of splitting them up evenly based on an overall 18% gratuity on food, which would sometimes amount to each person getting only a dollar for several hours’ worth of hard work.

The point of my story is that I didn’t like my pay situation, so I did what I could to change it. Obviously, servers can’t rewrite contracts like I could, but they can lobby to increase their base pay. Get 2500 signatures on a petition and add higher base pay as an amendment on the ballot for your next local election.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:06 pm rating: +5
#42.2 Amanda

In Ohio the minimum wage for servers is $3.50/hr – because someone lobbied to get it on the ballot a few years ago (along with the minimum wage for non-tipped workers, which also increased).
It’s still not a lot of money, but I usually get somewhere between $60 and $100 every 2 weeks (working about 20 hrs a week).

I love my waitressing job, and I enjoy taking care of my customers. I have a college degree and could be doing several other things with my life right now, but I choose to be a server because it is what I like doing. That being said, “do unto others” applies in the restaurant business too. If a customer treats me like crap, the service they receive will suffer. A tip from your table isn’t important enough for me to be treated less than human by you for the next hour.

Jun 17, 2008 at 11:21 am rating: +6

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#43 Cindy Who

I beg to differ, Nick.

Tipping is a reward for good service, otherwise it would be listed as a service charge.

Bad service gets no tip. End of story.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:27 pm rating: +6

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#43.1 YOU"VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!!

where i worked as a server it was written on the menu’s that tipping was mandatory.
and its always added to the check if its more than 8 ppl.
these ppl bust thier ass for ignorant fools like you.
thats why its called an unwritten law., becuase you should be beaten in public if you don’t tip.

Feb 11, 2008 at 2:06 am rating: +4
#43.2 901redbone

totally agree with that. LMAO! even the worst servers will get SOMETHING! even if it’s just the change from a $20 bill with a $19.26 ticket. yeah it’s not much. but they get the clue that they have somethin they need to work on

May 22, 2008 at 7:46 pm rating: 0

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#44 dangermandownunder

A tip is not a god given right. It’s to reward good service. It do it like this:
Average adequate service 15%
Barely adequate service 10%
Crap service 0%
Good service 18%
Great service 20% +

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:41 pm rating: +5

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#44.1 blahblah

Very nice scale. It’s close to the one I use. Requires very little computing and it’s fair to great servers. Any server who argues with this is basically admitting that they want to be unduly rewarded for inadequate service.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:12 pm rating: +5

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#45 Mike

I tip excessively for good service. For bad service, I tip whatever would bring them to minimum wage for the hour… a forty minute meal, they make 2.15 (in NC that’s what it is for waiters), they get at least a 3.40 tip. Of course, I also think it’s bullshit to tip on percentage of cost… carrying a steak is no more difficult than carrying a salad.

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:45 pm rating: +6

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#45.1 blahblah

“Of course, I also think it’s bullshit to tip on percentage of cost… carrying a steak is no more difficult than carrying a salad.”

I never thought about it that way, but you’re right. Tipping based on cost encourages just-ok service on lower bills. That could explain why some servers keep asking whether we want dessert after we’ve already said no more than once. They just want to pad the bill for bigger tips.

I’m gonna amend my tipping scale to tip based on # of ppl at table # of plates carried.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:18 pm rating: +1
#45.2 901redbone

i thought it was just me that the percentage thing was out of whack.

May 22, 2008 at 7:48 pm rating: +1

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#46 Sara

Anyone else notice how the receipt has the credit card number on it? Mama needs some new shoes!! Just kidding! But seriously, you should probably blur that out..

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:50 pm rating: +1

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#46.1 Len

Don’t know a lot about credit cards do you? Count how many numbers are in that. It’s only the last 7 or 8 digits of a 16 digit number.
I am surprised however to see the expiry date there.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:24 pm rating: +1

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#47 Matthew

Just because I keep seeing the argument pop up.

Everyone gets paid at least the minimum wage.
If someone’s hourly wage and hourly tips do not add up to the minimum wage then the employer MUST make up the difference.

If any server/tipped employee does not get paid at least minimum wage their employer is breaking the law.

For Further Reading: The Tip Wage Credit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_wage_credit

Jul 29, 2007 at 8:55 pm rating: +2

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#47.1 Meghann

Many managers won’t make up the difference, and what server can really afford to take legal action?
That’s how the system works, and the server is basically screwed.

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:14 am rating: +3
#47.2 blahblah

Not the customer’s responsibility. Take it up with your local congressperson.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:21 pm rating: +9

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#48 Mela

I waited tables throughout my first attempt at college and for a year after that attempt. I never once got zero-tipped, although once a pro football player left me $1.50 on a $300 bar and food tab after I refused to go back to his hotel room with him after work.

I’ve only ever zero-tipped a server myself, once, and that was when we watched her give the most excellent service in the universe to the table next to us, and left our food under the heatlamps for at least 30 minutes, never once refilled sodas, all the while taking pictures with the table next door, giving them booze on the house, and kissing their rears. I wrote a remarkable note on the credit card receipt, but it was before the days of cameraphones, or I would have submitted it here, by then.

Jul 29, 2007 at 9:00 pm rating: +3

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#48.1 used to waitress

a $300 tab would have at least a 15% tip added automatically to the total….

I’ve only NOT tipped twice. Usually I tip too much, especially for great service, which is unusual (females do not get great service, nor do they tip well in groups). Once was in high school at an ice cream shop with such a rude waitress we ended up leaving about 2 pennies under a glass full of water on the table (yes, you CAN do it!).

The other was a few weeks ago at an I-Hop with such lazy waitresses flirting with the cooks who were using foul language and talking loudly in the kitchen we could hear them in the dining room… long story short, I asked the casier where the “manager” was and he said he WAS the manager and I told him he should try “managing” his restaurant. The manager gave me 50% off the tab and the waitress got nothing! p.s. I worked at I-Hop (about a month). Sad, but true.

Dec 4, 2007 at 11:14 am rating: 0
#48.2 Juliet

I worked at IHOP for just about 2 years. There was foul mouthed cooks flirting with the waitstaff there, as well.

People here are extremely defensive about tipping.

Tips should just be added onto the bill, and end of story. If you didn’t like the service talk to the manager.

I see plenty of other people earn their full wage even when they do their job terribly (like the Premier of the province I live in,) so please don’t start barking about how the server was lazy and doesn’t deserve a tip.

If you haven’t worked in a restaurant you have no idea and I can’t take your comments seriously.

Dec 16, 2007 at 3:42 pm rating: +2
#48.3 Canthz_B

I worked in an IHOP when I was a college student.
Some of the things that some of the waitpersons here are claiming as part of their jobs were the jobs of the bus boys at IHOP.
Not taking sides, I’m just saying.
Yes, waitpersons filled the syrup, salt and pepper shakers and the like, but that was done between the end of lunch and the beginning of dinner while there were few customers (can you say time on your hands?).
That is also when the bus boys swept and mopped the floors, topped off the coffee machine, filled the soup and salad bins, filled up the ice bin, made the iced tea, and wiped down all of the tables and booths and cleaned the Ladies and Mens Rooms.
For all of this we got 10 percent of the tips to split between bus boys, dish washer and swing man. After cleaning your tables all day to assure wait staff a good customer turnover, they bitched every evening over ten percent which we had to split 3 ways!
I can see both sides on this. I tip because I know other workers benefit even if my waitress sucked. I had a clean plate, so I’m paying the dishwasher. I had a clean table, so I’m tipping the bus boy. I had a poor waitress, so I’m telling the manager!

Dec 16, 2007 at 4:26 pm rating: 0
#48.4 901redbone

WOW! your busboys did all that??? i used to work at IHOP too and ours just bussed the tables, cleaned the dishes, and made sure the floors were mopped in the dish wash area. we had to keep all our own bins topped off. made our own tea and coffee, and cleaned the ladies’ and mens’ rooms. another thing. when you work 2nd or 3rd shift, there’s almost no such thing as free time. so you’re pretty much filling up the syrups and shakers between tables. normally while your other tables are eating or chit-chatting after dinner.

May 22, 2008 at 7:56 pm rating: 0

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#49 BoggyWoggy

What about all of the other service workers out there who get no tips??? I don’t believe waitresses are earning $2-3/hour, as stated above, due to minimum wage laws. However, I could be wrong…and I’m sure someone here will blast a response to me, which is good, since that is entertaining.
I sometimes LIKE poor service, since it gives me a story to share, raises my blood pressure, and gives me a chance to “give feedback” verbally (for example: “I’m sorry. Have we done something to offend you?” That statement is SOOOOOO passive-aggressive and gets a mixed response from waiters.)

Jul 29, 2007 at 9:30 pm rating: 0

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#49.1 blahblah

I agree! I can be very passive-aggressive with bad servers, right before I get very assertive by talking to the manager.

I like asking if the server is having a bad day. Usually, I get one of three responses:

1. Yes, it’s been really bad. (Proceed to dump all their problems on the table.)

2. No, why? (It’s now my turn to ask “Why I’m getting bad service then?”)

3. No. (”Then why are you trying so hard to ruin my day?”)

Next stop: Leave a low/no tip and then off to speak with the manager.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:28 pm rating: 0

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#50 mosquito bitten

so the ketchup/mustard one is on a counter at a diner?
there must have been No One around who worked there, cuz that type of work takes a couple mins and it would be obvious to anyone around that he/she/they were maneuvering the bottles around pretty differently than if there were fries there.
i’d be afraid of getting caught.

Jul 29, 2007 at 9:41 pm rating: 0

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#51 Umm, what the hell?

Umm… If you aren’t getting paid at least minimum wage, why work there at all? And where exactly is this happening? In Canada it’s illegal to NOT pay minimum wage. Plus, I’m expected to tip, but I do more work and get paid less than most waiters/waitresses, and I’m in a skill based job instead of a “i’m just doing this til I get something better” job…. Oh well, if you do a shitty job you shouldn’t get a tip. If you don’t like your wage, leave.

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:00 pm rating: +4

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#51.1 Meghann

It is happening everywhere in the US. All corporate restaurants (TGI Friday’s, Applebee’s, Ruby Tuesday’s) where I live pay 2.13/hour. It is legal minimum wage for the food service industry. The restaurant managers do not give raises to servers, no matter how well they do their job. SOME (very few) mom-and-pop restaurants pay a little more, but not much.

Most servers, on a good day, make more than minimum wage, and most are full-time students with many obligations.
On a bad day, I’ve walked out with as little as $7 in my pocket. Try paying bills on that. It pretty much evens out to around minimum wage, but until I’m out of school I can’t find another job that will work with my hectic schedule the way restaurants do. That’s why most of us still work in restaurants. If we left, we would have no way to pay for out education.

And just wondering, where exactly are you employed that requires you to do more work than a server? I’ve had three other jobs outside of restaurants and NEVER have I busted my ass like I do serving.

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:24 am rating: +2
#51.2 Canthz_B

I would think that any kind of contractor…Plumbing, electrical, landscaping, etc. works harder than you. And let’s not forget the cook that cooks for your tables as well as those of the other servers at the same time. You could always lay brick.
Stay in school. Maybe having worked for it will help you appreciate it all the more.

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:32 am rating: +4
#51.3 Meghann

And these contractors also make a lot more money and are usually men, not women like myself who are 5′1 and weigh 110 lbs.

And the cooks usually cause us just as much trouble as the bitchy customer.

I am always nice to my customers and 90% of the time I do an awesome job. I was just making the point that it is extremely hard work, and yes I do appreciate having worked hard and my lesson learned is that it is NOT okay to treat anyone with disrespect, whether you are a server or customer. And not tipping is disrespectful.

Dec 24, 2007 at 2:35 am rating: +4
#51.4 Illeanna

Excuse me? Don’t bring the cooks into it. I bust my ass to get your food out on time, I work in a kitchen that in the summer is 125 degrees! I make sure EVERY plate goes out to the specifications of the server, and if your food comes out wrong, then it was your own damn fault for not listening to the customer. Before I ever became a cook, I was a server working at the Elephant Bar, and yes, 2.13 an hour does suck, having loads of sidework and a ton of customers is trying, but TIPS are not guarenteed. You have to earn them. Congrats to you for saying you are a great server. I’m sure you bust your ass and work real hard but on a lot of your comments you have come off as extremely biased.

Not tipping, or tipping poorly is not dissrespecting the server. It is letting them know that somewhere during the time the customer was there, they screwed up.

Jan 4, 2008 at 10:11 am rating: +7
#51.5 Alena

I think it’s great you’re such a good cook, and I will be the first one to give props to people working in such a hellish environment (extremely hot, high stress, etc.). The heat alone is what has kept me from trying to cook, and I do admire the fortitude of those who do it.

However, I could give you a long list of times the kitchen has messed up my food.. times when they automatically assume (like you) that *I* messed up. Times like that, after being belittled, sworn at, or having to argue with someone when it wasn’t my fault in the first place, I get a small sense of satisfaction showing the ticket that I rang up correctly. If I made a mistake, I will admit it and take whatever comes, but not all mistakes are the servers’.

I try to get along with all my coworkers, and I cultivate a friendly rapport with the people on the line. I have to say that in my years of service, I’ve observed that cooks and chefs often feel it’s their duty to give the servers shit. I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked for something in a polite and friendly manner, only to have bad attitude lobbed back at me. I don’t know why this is, maybe it’s a power trip or ego thing, but I don’t get it because ultimately our goal is essentially the same, no?

Jan 4, 2008 at 2:44 pm rating: +1
#51.6 you're a dick

the reason they only have this job till they can find one better is because its really is that bad, and they really do get paid that little, but sometimes there isn’t a choice involved, where i live there is a 13% unemployment rate, you can’t leave a job, and you can’t demand better, you have to grin and bear it, all the while praying you make you good tips.

Feb 11, 2008 at 2:14 am rating: +2
#51.7 Eat a dick.

Few servers are where they are because they “didn’t stay in school”. Most of us are still in school , trying to pay our way and have little alternative to waiting tables. I have two jobs now, my non-serving one I was in training for for over three months. I bust my ass way more waiting tables than I do at my “skilled” job.

Feb 19, 2008 at 6:43 pm rating: +1
#51.8 Meghann

To Illeana, I am trained as a cook as well, and pick up cooking shifts whenever people call out, so I as well have seen both sides of the equation. If I fuck something up, I have no problem admitting it. But even when I ring in an order exactly as the customer orders it and someone else fucks it up (cooks, expo, etc.), I am the one whose wages are taken away, and I am the one who is punished. So instead of always thinking it is the server’s fault, I do not understand why some cooks cannot admit when they are wrong. Everyone makes mistakes.

Mar 15, 2008 at 2:33 pm rating: +1
#51.9 blahblah

To Meghann: As a server, you are the liaison between the cook and the customer. If something’s wrong with the food, then it’s the server’s job to make sure the mistake is corrected. I have had wrong food brought out to me. It’s annoying but I don’t automatically assume it’s the server’s fault. BUT when I inform the server about the mistake, I expect to get a more polite response than “This is what you ordered.” The cook didn’t make the server say that. So the server gets docked on tips. If I ask for a straw TWICE and the server never brings it to me, did the cook do that, too? If the server is giving me attitude, is the cook acting as a ventriloquist? If you’re such a great server (how unbiased of you to rate yourself), then your tips will reflect that on average.

From the condescending and argumentative tone in your comments here, I highly doubt you’re as great of a server as you claim to be.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:39 pm rating: +4
#51.10 Joey's Stinky Foot

Blahblah, you’re only assuming “this is what you ordered” or a like statement has consistently been uttered by Meghan to her customers. Never at any time did she mention that she’d responded to them in this manner.
She didn’t sound condescending in her comments at all–somewhat argumentative, yes. However, I find your comment both condescending AND patronizing.

Jun 18, 2008 at 4:17 pm rating: +1

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#52 angiedmann

Katie, you are correct it was originally an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. However, it also came from a time when you tipped BEFORE the meal.

I would just like to say something a coworker from one of the many restaurants I worked in once pointed out. When you’re having a bad day or screw up at the office your boss does not dock your pay. Why should it be considered acceptable to do the same in a restaurant? Granted, if you have a series of bad days you should be fired, but leaving a bad tip doesn’t tell the manager the server is bad and will not get said server fired. Bad service? Tell the manager.

I also think unless you’ve worked in a restaurant you can’t have a full understanding of all the things that can go wrong which are out of the server’s control and can consequently make it look like they’re doing a bad job.

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:03 pm rating: +3

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#52.1 Len

I’ve replied to previous statements in kind, but I believe it bares repeating.
The manager pays their wages, not the customer. The customer is already paying enough on one meal to have fed themself for a week if they did groceries, they go out for the comfort and luxury, a rude server is not luxurious.
You are not docking a persons pay by leaving no tip, you are telling them they have done a lousy job and need improvement.

I’d also like to add you are incorrect about the origin of the word, and I would be interested to know where your etymological research was performed.

Considering that modern English was not even a notion conceived at the time that giving a gratuity or “tip” was conceived, and would therefore not have the same acronym. Nor were they ever paid in advance.

You can find many references to it gratuities and tipping starting in Latin, French and German in the 16th century around 1515-1525.

It is defined, as an unexpected payment without claim or demand for the benefit of one’s services, and is in no ways considered to be mandatory or necessary by a legal sense. Though as pointed out by the Oxford institute is considered poor etiquette to be “stingy” on the tip.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:38 pm rating: +5
#52.2 schm0

Your statement is not true.

In the U.S., servers make a wage just enough for a server to cover an average amount for tax purposes. Most do not receive a paycheck. I have probably collected several hundred checks with “This is not a check” printed next to zero balance.

Read: Most servers make their money ONLY on tips.

So, you *are* docking a server’s pay by not tipping.

Dec 20, 2007 at 11:49 am rating: +4
#52.3 Skeltz

Len, It’s actually a little worse than just “docking a persons [sic] pay.” It is stealing, in the same sense that sneaking into a movie theater is stealing. You are stealing the service that they provided you. Furthermore, there is a reason your steak costs 24 dollars and not 30, and that is because servers get paid between $2.35 and $3.25 per hour, depending on the state. I agree with your statement that dining out is more expensive than going to the grocery store–which means if you cannot afford the experience of dining out, then…don’t go out to eat. It’s really not complicated. By your logic, you could go into a Banana Republic store and only pay $15 for a $75 dollar shirt, because it costs that much at Wal-Mart. So Len, if you are so poverty-stricken that you are comfortable stealing someone’s living from them, then please don’t pretend to have the requisite income to dine out.

Apr 3, 2008 at 1:23 am rating: +3
#52.4 blahblah

Angiedmann:
“When you’re having a bad day or screw up at the office your boss does not dock your pay. Why should it be considered acceptable to do the same in a restaurant?”

What part of “SERVICE industry” don’t you understand? When the point of your job is to serve, and you don’t do that well = no/low tip. I’ll put it to you like this. Restaurants are in the service industry. In addition to the food, restaurants with servers are also providing a dining EXPERIENCE, if you will. If the food is provided but is not satisfactory, the manager should cut the bill down, exchange the dish, or add something complimentary to make up for the subpar food. If the service isn’t satisfactory, the service charge (tip) should be decreased. If any part of the dining experience (food, service, atmosphere) is inadequate, it takes away from the total product the restaurant is selling and could lead to disgruntled customers = low sales. Good managers understand this, that’s why they bend over backwards to make the customer happy. Bad word of mouth about a restaurant is the kiss of death. The quickest way to get bad word of mouth is to provide bad service. Therefore, bad service means lost revenues for the restaurant = liability. Every now and then low tipping can be blamed on cheap customers. But receiving consistently low tips is an indicator that the server needs to step the service game up or change occupations.

I am in sales. If I make little or no sales, I don’t get commissions and/or I get fired. Most sales jobs make low base pay because this is supposed to be incentive to earn sales (by treating people well, understanding the customer, etc.).

When most people mess up the main part of their job description, they get disciplined (probation, written up, suspended, etc.). Over time, the mistakes/subpar performance can lead to getting fired…which is way worse than getting pay docked. Try a new job. It sucks for everyone else who isn’t a C-level exec, too.

Apr 24, 2008 at 2:46 pm rating: +5
#52.5 Joey's Stinky Foot

Blahblah, obviously you’ve never worked in the food industry.

“When the point of your job is to serve, and you don’t do that well = no/low tip.”

Yeah? well, I’ll tell you what else = no tip:
1. obnoxious high school students or other young punks that use their last dollars to pay for the meal you serve them and raise hell to boot.

2. Neurotic folks who are never satisfied with anything, ever (that includes those special customers who are meticulously specific with their food order and have to have it “just perfect” or there will be hell to pay).

3. Your regular gaggle of a-holes and douchebags (who DO exist outside of the waitress/waiter business, in case you’ve forgotten).

I’ve waited in the food industry, and that’s how I know. Having said that, I will NEVER wait tables again. Talk about getting crapped on, especially when people like Blahblah go out to eat. As a matter of fact, I was once even sexually molested by some jerk and he didn’t have the decency to tip me, either. Sometimes you can give it your all–be polite, courteous, and readily available–and people will STILL not tip out of sheer rudeness. Oh, but it’s still the server’s fault, right? And the customer doesn’t HAVE to tip, right? Well, the customer doesn’t HAVE to go out to eat and require a waitstaff’s services, now do they? Try waiting tables one weekend night at an Italian restaurant in a town in Jersey and we’ll see how quickly you changed YOUR biased “the customer is always right” attitude.

Jun 18, 2008 at 4:53 pm rating: +5
#52.6 Joey's Stinky Foot

And one more thing, Blahblah: You say if you don’t like the service industry, get another job. Well, not many people like working in the service/food industry, but if everyone listened to your advice there’d be nobody to cook or serve your food when you want to go out to eat.

Jun 18, 2008 at 4:57 pm rating: 0
#52.7 me

But there would be people to cook and serve. If all the workers started to leave, restaurants would start to pay more to attract new workers. They might have to increase prices to cover those expenses and maybe people would “eat out” less often. However all things would balance out and supply would meet demand and the free market will figure itself out.

On another note I wish restaurants would just up their prices and pay their staff more. When I buy my gas all the taxes are added into the price why can’t it be that way with expected “gratuities”, just add it in. Just as the above if they add in too much fewer people will visit their establishment and the free market wins again!

Jun 21, 2008 at 2:25 am rating: +2

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#53 der

That’s the point–there was No One around!!

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:07 pm rating: +1

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#54 angiedmann

Boggy Woggy, you’re wrong. In most states it is legal for a restaurant to pay their tipped employees half of minimum wage, and Matthew, I have personally worked in a place that did not adhere to that policy. It is also interesting to note that in any restaurant that works with computer generated checks and receipts a server is taxed based on 9% tips REGARDLESS of what the actual tips are.

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:10 pm rating: +1

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#55 restaurantess

I live and work in a restaurant in Canada, where waiters and waitresses are paid MUCH less than minimum wage. Tips are their income! And to all you assholes who stiff your servers: eventually, they’ll just start adding a 15% ’service charge’ directly to your bill.

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:23 pm rating: +2

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#55.1 Len

Many restaurants do add a 15% service charge to the bill here in Canada, mostly places where a single plate will be upwards of $30, but not all restaurants do this.

And servers are not paid less than minimum wage, they are paid based on servers minimum, which is approximately 70% of the standard provincial minimum wage. This means a single 15% tip equal to approximately $3.00 brings them above and beyond minimum wage, and that’s from one meal, at one table.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:41 pm rating: 0
#55.2 Skeltz

I should have guessed you weren’t American. In America, servers get about $3.00 per hour. From reading your other posts, I really hope you never come to America to dine–although judging by your pathetically cheap practices, you would never be able to afford the plane ticket.

Apr 3, 2008 at 1:32 am rating: +1

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#56 Mama C

That’s illegal! I do payroll in Canada. All employees MUST be paid their provincial minimum wage, not including tips.
I used to be a server and I considered tips to be a bonus, not a right.

Jul 29, 2007 at 10:48 pm rating: +1

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#57 cam

In Australia, waiting staff get reasonable pay, so I only ever pay “loose change” tips. If I don’t get tips at work, why should I pay any?

U.S serving staff should strike for minimum working conditions.

Jul 29, 2007 at 11:21 pm rating: +7

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#57.1 Juliet

I agree about the workers striking for minimum wage. Can you imagine? People would spaz if they couldn’t go out to eat.

Dec 16, 2007 at 3:48 pm rating: +2
#57.2 Eli

Of course US servers should strike to get fair pay. Why do you think restaurant owners and managers fire any employees that try to organize a union?

Jan 25, 2008 at 11:58 am rating: +9
#57.3 ak

Then get another job, instead of whining and blaming customers for your lousy working conditions.

Jan 27, 2008 at 6:22 pm rating: +3
#57.4 Niki

The problem with striking or something similar is any server knows that they can be replaced easily. And their replacement can be trained in a matter of days.

Mar 21, 2008 at 1:24 pm rating: +2
#57.5 Skeltz

not in fine dining, sweety.

Apr 3, 2008 at 1:37 am rating: 0
#57.6 f8ra

And working in “fine dining” is the only way a server deserves to make a living?

Jun 27, 2008 at 3:45 am rating: +1

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#58 Devil's Advocate

To: restaurantess-there is a 15% service charge already. Its called GST-ever hear of it?

And I would love to know where in Canada people are being paid less than minimum wage for work-its illegal and the employer not only faces massive fines, but also jail time.

Jul 30, 2007 at 12:16 am rating: 0

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#58.1 Len

Not to mention they get audited for payments due and back pay to all employees affected.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:43 pm rating: 0

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#59 Michelle

I honestly do sympathize with servers, the work hard for very little money. However, it is a service industry. I tip, and I tip well…so I expect good, prompt service. And I usually get it.
However, I’ve had experiences at wonderful restaurants, that I’m a regular at, where I’ve given less than 5%…
But that was because they forgot about us for an hour. If the kitchens backed up, okay, but you can bring me my drink and let me know how long it’s gonna be.
Then you get bumped up to my everyday 15%

Jul 30, 2007 at 1:42 am rating: +3

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#59.1 Len

Thankyou Michelle! Someone other than me who can point out that a server is not tipped based on the kitchen’s inadequacies, it’s a matter of how the server does their job and controls THEIR end of the situation.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:45 pm rating: +3

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#60 Melody

I live in Japan and there is no tipping here. The waitstaff or taxi driver is there to meet the customer’s needs and when they are on duty that is their reason for living. Being an American, it was kind of hard to get used to – we couldn’t get over the feeling that we’d stiffed people and were always looking over our shoulders as we left the restaurant wondering if someone was going to approach our table and suddenly look totally dejected and pissed. But, that’s the way it is here and it’s quite nice since the service is always impeccable everywhere. There’s no figuring, no wondering, no discussion about how much to leave. I like it.

Jul 30, 2007 at 1:48 am rating: +5

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#61 Iskander

I’m dutch and I don’t understand…..If there is a minimum wage in the USA, why are there still people being payed LESS than the minimum wage? In my opinion the whole point of having a minimum wage is that that is the least people can get payed.

In Holland waiters get payed far more than minimum wage, and do not have to survive on tips. Tips are only given to people who do excellent jobs, as a bonus.

Jul 30, 2007 at 2:03 am rating: +3

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#61.1 schm0

The amount servers make is enough to cover the average local, state and federal income tax. Therefore, all gross income is from tips. If nobody tipped, the server would make no money, but still make enough from his or her wage to cover the income taxes.

Dec 20, 2007 at 12:18 pm rating: 0

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#62 lindsay

the only time i have ever left a bad tip was this summer. i went to dinner with some of my fellow interns (i’m an engineer, i’m female, the rest of the interns are male). our server at this restaurant was male. when he was seating us, we were the only people in the lobby area since it was a really slow night (4th of july!) and he addressed all of us as gentlemen. please note that i mentioned i’m female. then when he came back to take our drink orders, i had to wave him down because he started to leave after taking everyone else’s drink order but before taking mine. he not once refilled my water glass even though multiple times i was very obviously trying to drink from an empty glass. the only time he ever looked at me or addressed me instead of only the guys i was with was when he took my plate, which was 10 minutes after he took everyone else’s plate even though i’d been done that whole time. everyone else in my group got great service, but the server acted as if i wasn’t even there. i left a 58 cent tip (rounded to the nearest dollar) and a note as to why i gave him such a bad tip

Jul 30, 2007 at 5:08 am rating: 0

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#62.1 Len

Shouldn’t have given him anything other than the note sweetie. Average night he serves how many tables at a time? Even if he did poorly at each table, and each table left him $0.60, he’d be up about $6.00 an hour.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:49 pm rating: +1
#62.2 me

Male server giving good service to the guys and bad to the girl? I’m going to go with “He’s gay.”

Jun 21, 2008 at 2:31 am rating: +3
#62.3 KR

Len- Notice how you called her sweetie there? It smacks of the same misogyny her server showed her. I’m just trying to help you out, you may want to keep that in check. Women don’t like to be called little pet names by people who aren’t blood related or sleeping with them. Now you know.

Jul 25, 2008 at 12:22 pm rating: +9

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#63 Erin

To all you compassionless non-tippers out there, I hope you are 100 per cent perfect at your job at every moment. What if for every ten minutes you slacked at work, or did your work but didn’t do a good job of pretending to be enjoying yourself, you had money deducted from your paycheck? What if your boss was hovering over you at every task throughout your day, with a mental scorecard, deciding what your salary should be, sometimes arbitrarily, for each task? And your boss changed with every task you performed, so you could never really get to know how they want things done?
Dealing with the public can be degrading and emotionally exhausting, and one of the hardest jobs out there.
Have some sympathy, and give your fellow man the benefit out of the doubt when you don’t get exactly what you want.

Jul 30, 2007 at 6:05 am rating: +7

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#63.1 Len

I do have a boss who grades my every move, and I do get payment based on my performance, if I perform poorly I still have a wage. I must live based on my wage, and if I make more in performance bonuses so be it.
A tip is just that, a performance bonus, the customer is not your boss, they do not own the restaurant, they are there for a meal, and hopefully an enjoyable time out for something they could have otherwise had for a 1/10th the price at home.
I’ve never found the public difficult to deal with at any time in any of my jobs. Many of which have been jobs where my only purpose is to take complaints from customers who yell and scream and make a fit over something that was definitely not my fault in the first place.
In the service and public services industry it’s your job to know how to deal with people, all kinds of people. If you think this sounds too much like being a psychiatrist, well it sort of is. At least you should be a half decent cold reader, or move into a different industry. Perhaps fast food is for you.

Dec 4, 2007 at 10:54 pm rating: +3
#63.2 schm0

This is much different than living entirely on tips, like most servers do. You said it yourself, “I must live based on my wage, and if I make more in performance bonuses so be it.” A large majority of servers make enough to cover their taxes, and that’s it. Tips are their ONLY source of income.

Taking complaints is one thing, but basing your livelihood solely on your performance (and hopefully not receiving a complaint in the first place) is entirely different.

Dec 20, 2007 at 12:29 pm rating: 0
#63.3 Meghann

Amen to Erin!

And to Len… I said before most servers are college students, and as you said, we are doing the job required of a psychiatrist. We don’t get raises, we get tips. We don’t have dreams and aspirations of being a server all our lives, we’re just trying to get by. Not everyone can afford to go to college without working full time. So give us a damn break.

Dec 24, 2007 at 1:34 am rating: +1
#63.4 901redbone

len
can’t you still live on just your wages though? that’s the big difference. if servers made at least minimum wage, a lot of this wouldn’t be an issue. in YOUR industry you get “performance bonuses”. servers get “actual take home pay” as a bonus.

May 22, 2008 at 8:13 pm rating: +1
#63.5 me

“Not everyone can afford to go to college without working full time.”

… then don’t go. Or get a loan, or a sugar daddy/momma, or get a full time job for a few years and save money, or get a job that will pay for you to go to school… or suck it up and accept that the job that you accepted to work at pays you crap + (sometimes) tips.

Jun 21, 2008 at 2:39 am rating: +1
#63.6 johnny

There’s always the Army.

Jul 25, 2008 at 12:26 pm rating: 0

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#64 Anonymous

Who waits 30min for service and leaves without ever interrupting a nearby server??

Jul 30, 2007 at 6:10 am rating: +1

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#65 Erin

I beg to differ Cindy Who and others. It’s a simple economic fact that you’d be paying more for your food if servers were paid more per hour. They aren’t because the understanding exists that, in this country, you tip for the service of a live human accommodating your every dining whim.
And I hope you don’t ever go back to a place you’ve left no, or a poor, tip. The reality is, servers always remember and retribution happens.

Jul 30, 2007 at 6:23 am rating: 0

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#66 Jenny

Not leaving a tip is COMPLETELY passive aggressive because more than likely – and I know from experience – the people who don’t leave tips and do sh!t like this are also the ones who don’t bother to speak to a manager and actually complain. I had times where I knew things were going rough (and I apologized every time) but people kissed my ass and never complained, never asked to talk to my boss, and then stiffed me.

My advice? If you get bad service, TELL SOMEONE. Tell a manager – they do follow up with that. On the flip side, I also make it a point to always talk to a manager when I have great service, because that deserves recognition as well.

Jul 30, 2007 at 6:30 am rating: +3

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#66.1 johnny

Is it really passive-aggressive? If someone leaves you no tip or a penny you should know that your customer was not happy with their service. Would it be better if the customer just came out with it at the end of the meal and said “You were a terrible waitress, you ignored us, our order was wrong, you never refilled our drinks, you were rude, etc. etc.”? Because I generally don’t like to do that in a public place. So what is the best thing to do? I don’t want to talk to the manager, to me that’s passive-aggressive. He’s not the one that screwed up. The server needs to hear it directly. While I don’t think just saying BOO You Fail is enough information, how is someone going to learn from that? They need specifics. So what is the answer?

Jul 25, 2008 at 2:17 pm rating: +3

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#67 Annoyed

To all of you that keep using the comparison of having your pay docked at a normal job for making a mistake, tips are BONUS not SALARY. You DO get your bonus reduced if you screw up at a regular job.

Besides which, if you’re not the screw up waiter, it’s the kitchen’s fault, you can talk up the table and let them know that and how long the problem is going to be. It’s not the customer’s fault that their food is late and that the waiter is too much of a jerk to tell them why. If there’s a problem, say so, don’t let the poor customer waiting.

Tips aren’t supposed to be salary, and if you’re getting paid as if you are you should just leave instead of bitching here. There are lots of jobs that deserve tips more than just a person who brings food to your table… I have no idea why waiters get tips whereas teachers, doctors, mechanics, etc don’t. It is known that waiters don’t get paid well… If you don’t like the pay don’t be a waiter.

Jul 30, 2007 at 6:54 am rating: +1

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#67.1 schm0

Finding a restaurant that pays more than $2.50 an hour is nearly impossible. A lot of people, such as students or single parents or anyone without a 9-5 schedule don’t have any other options. Ironically enough, it is most likely these people (who need all the help they can get) who suffer financially from such behavior.

Dec 20, 2007 at 12:33 pm rating: 0
#67.2 Eli

“Tips aren’t supposed to be salary…”

If that were remotely true, the government wouldn’t allow restaurants to pay a lower hourly minimum wage to tipped employees.

People who have a problem with paying for being served are cheap, and they cheapen the dining experience by expecting something for nothing.

Such people should stay out of restaurants and stick to places where they are welcome. I.e. carryout.

Jan 25, 2008 at 11:21 am rating: +1
#67.3 901redbone

wages make up taxes. so a tip is a salary. and oftentimes, no matter how much u chat up the table and tell them it’s the kitchens fault or that the computer is down or whatever, they can only take their anger out ONE way… stiffing or leaving very small tips (i’m talkin pocket change with lint balls) i’m sure that if they had a choice and could pay less for their food and tip the server for being so nice about it, they would. unless they see a manager, what would’ve been your tip is now going toward paying for their food. some ppl could come in expecting to pay 55 bucks for good food and good service say they run up a 42 dollar check but the food was so terrible they aren’t gonna pay but $45. the server could have been Jesus himself. the cooks (who created this monstrocity of a meal) are still gonna get their pay, but the poor server (don’t u just hate being the middleman) get’s left with 3 bucks. i’m sure if they could take 5 dollars off their meal that they WOULD give it to the server

May 22, 2008 at 8:27 pm rating: 0

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#68 PatHMV

Ditto what anonymous #62 said. If I’ve been sitting in a restaurant more than 5 minutes without any server coming to the table, I go find a host/hostess or a manager, or even just another server, to make sure my server knows I’m there. Most of the time, it turns out that the poor server was working 10 other tables and nobody bothered to tell her she needed to work mine, too; sometimes she was working a section of the restaurant she doesn’t normally work, and so again forgot to check my table. When that happens, I certainly don’t hold it against her when it comes to the tip.

To the waiters and waitresses: Hey, most of us know that you’re human like the rest of us. But if you’re having a bad day, at least be AWARE that you’re giving bad service and apologize for it. Do that, and we may have some sympathy for you and bump up your tip to make your day better. But don’t expect the standard tip if you’ve done a sub-standard job. You don’t ask your boss for a raise right after one of your bad days, do you?

And to the managers: You really should step up to the plate and provide discounts on meals when the kitchen staff screwed up. The other night, my medium stake came out completely rare. I sent it back, politely. It came back perfectly done, and a manager brought it out, but the manager didn’t take even the slightest discount, even though my date had almost finished her meal by the time my steak came back.

And I still gave the waitress my usual 20%, even though I was mildly ticked at her for not stopping by immediately after the meal was served to make sure everything was done properly (I had to flag down a hostess to send it back)…. she was polite and apologetic and clearly overextended in her section.

Jul 30, 2007 at 6:55 am rating: +5

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#69 Andie

Around South Carolina, it’s $2.15 an hour and whatever tips you make. The companies around here don’t make sure you get at least min. wage or anything like that, so there are days where you work 12 hours, with no breaks (you don’t get scheduled breaks like every other industry) and end up with only like $20 plus your $2.15. I’ve worked in the food buisness plenty of times but I do agree that if the service is that shitty, then don’t tip.

Jul 30, 2007 at 7:05 am rating: +1

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#70 m

i am one who disagrees with leaving a tip for crappy service. why should i leave a tip if the waitstaff is going to treat me like an asshole when i come into his establishement over any other establishment to eat?

Jul 30, 2007 at 7:07 am rating: +1

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#71 Max Roswell

If you didn’t like the service, don’t tip. That’s fine.

You leave me a note like that on the check, and I’m following you into the parking lot and smashing your entitled little face into the pavement. What a douche.

Jul 30, 2007 at 7:12 am rating: +4

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#72 stephanie

Unfortunately, tips are not really optional when people make $2.13 an hour. They are factored into the pay in such a way that a person is essentially working for free if they don’t get tipped. It would be nice if they were an extra incentive for good service, but those days are long gone.

If you don’t like the service, leave a small or no-tip and leave quietly or have a reasonble discussion with the server or manager if you must.

This ketchup thing and note on the bill was just unacceptably stupid and mean-spirited.

Jul 30, 2007 at 7:23 am rating: +2

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#73 Hannah

I’ve only not left a tip once (and even then, I just left the .63 in change). This woman was awful. Here are some highlights:

- hitting on my boyfriend
- coming up behind us and coughing “gross” under her breath because he was kissing my cheek
- asking my friend where she got her shirt, and when informed it was from American Eagle, responding with a disappointing, “Oh. Nevermind.”
- instead of bringing eggplant, she brought my vegetarian boyfriend, of all things, veal, and when we sent it back, with smiles, she went on a 5 minute tirade about, “Who eats eggplant anyway? I think my MOM eats eggplant!”
-then she brought the veal back AGAIN because she forgot what we had wanted
-when we told her we didn’t want anything boxed up, she told my boyfriend that his eggplant was free, saying, “Anything for you, babe.”

Yeah. No tip for you, chick.

Jul 30, 2007 at 7:24 am rating: +4

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#74 T-Bone

I agree, Jenny 64. It’s childish to write on the counter with ketchup and mustard or leave a nasty note on the credit card receipt. For heaven’s sake– just ask for the manager and complain to them. No need to be an ill-mannered jerk.

Jul 30, 2007 at 7:45 am rating: +2

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#74.1 zombieBlanco

901redbone!!!

Stop posting on this note now!!!

It is old and dead!!!

May 22, 2008 at 8:36 pm rating: 0

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#75 Writer, Rejected

Good point, anonymous. It certainly is worth a screaming tantrum or two to get another waitron’s attention before you resort to the big catsup/mustard guns. Who says that’s childish? Isn’t that just a good old fashion capitalistic the-customer-is-always-right American-obnoxious philosophy? Not that I don’t love it, or anything. I do. But I’ve waited on many-a table in my lifetime, and I have never *not* tipped because I know what a horrible job it truly is. But I do think the condiment message is priceless. If I were the waitron and that happened in my station, I would have a good laugh over it.

Jul 30, 2007 at 8:04 am rating: +1

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#75.1 Caty

As a waitress for the last five years, the ketchup thing would make me laugh. It’s funny. If a guest had the time to do that without getting caught, then more power to him.
The “notes” left on the tickets however … that makes me so mad.
I had a table last week. A mother with two adorable little hellions. While waiting for the food, the little cuties thought it would be fun to pour out all of the salt, peper and sugars on the floor, as well as snash totilla chips into the booths.
I dropped off the check, and went in the back to box up all three of their meals. I returned, and there was no payment. I checked on my other SEVEN tables, still no payment. I stepped behind the bar to help the bartender for about two minutes, when I turn around, the woman was flagging me down.
I ran her card, and dropped it back off with a smile and a goodnight.
When I went to finish bussing the table, there was a big fat zero, along with a note that took the entire back of the credit card recipt, telling me that I got no tip becuase I took too long to run her credit card.
Now, yes, I was away from my table for less than five minutes, but what about the other ten that she was watching her child color on the table?
It is women like that, I will never understand. And trust me, all of us that were working that night remember her (and the brats).

Feb 17, 2008 at 11:19 pm rating: +2
#75.2 blahblah

Wow. That’s horrible. I guess there are bad customers and bad servers. It all averages out because there are some customers who tip VERY generously for just okay service (my bf happens to be one of them). He will give a 20% tip for a person who reads the specials, brings drinks, brings food, takes the plates, and brings the bill. That 20% is always based on the cost of the meal which is always high because he insists on getting 2-3 overpriced appetizers, very expensive entree, and then dessert (even if he’s already full).

Apr 24, 2008 at 3:12 pm rating: 0
#75.3 lc

People who bring children into a restaurant should automatically have a 20% service fee added onto their check. Scratch that, children shouldn’t be allowed in restaurants. Period.

Jul 25, 2008 at 3:28 pm rating: +3

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#76 aliastaken

To Mike: Carrying a steak could possibly be less work than carrying a salad, since where I worked, we had to make the damn salads in addition to bringing them out to the table.

Jul 30, 2007 at 8:13 am rating: +2

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#77 JoJo Dancer

Those who have pointed out that we are missing the point about the wage issue are correct. It’s ridiculous that servers should be paid less than minimum wage and I think we first need to address this issue in America. Maybe servers would behave better if they weren’t so underpaid.

That said, a tip still shouldn’t be seen as a right because there is not set percentage that everyone tips. So much depends on the diner, the class of restaurant, etc. I’ve been known to tip as much as 40% when I’ve had outstanding service or for some reason our order was particularly difficult. I’ve also “stiffed” bad servers, but only after complaining about the service and getting no result. I agree that if you are receiving poor service you should complain to the management. It doesn’t always make a difference though. Needless to say, those are the places I choose not to return to and I let others know about the bad experience as well.

It’s a competitive economy and if you aren’t going to provide good customer service, you don’t deserve good customers.

Although I am a professional, I also work with the public. I don’t buy the excuse of “having a bad day”. That doesn’t matter to your customers and if you can’t leave it at home, then you should stay home. You’re not entitled to bring your issues to me along with my meal.

Jul 30, 2007 at 8:23 am rating: +3

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#78 vlad

the reciept thing is great

but

if some asshole writes with ketchup on my counter i will use their face for a napkin

Jul 30, 2007 at 9:00 am rating: +1

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#79 the observer

What a lot of comments!

Jul 30, 2007 at 9:02 am rating: 0

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#80 Andy

Acutally, the best thing about these signs is that they don’t make the first thing I see on this site is a rubber floating in a toilet. Whee!

Jul 30, 2007 at 10:14 am rating: 0

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#81 Ace

both of these are classic. It’s always acceptable to not give waiters a tip. A tip is an indication of good service. If the service isn’t good, then they don’t deserve a tip. Honestly, the one with the ketchup container is classic. I have to do that the next time that I go to a place that doesn’t serve me.

Jul 30, 2007 at 10:22 am rating: 0

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#82 Bake Town

If the service is bad I only tip 10% – other wise it’s 20. Servers are taxed on a percentage of their tips, it is inexcusable to not leave at least 8%.

Jul 30, 2007 at 11:09 am rating: +1

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#83 Joey

its called a GRATUITY. I think in this instance it has two meanings – GRATIS – or free, you as the customer give FREE MONEY to a wait staff. As the server it mean GRATEFUL, you provide good service and then you get said FREE MONEY.

I give tips based on service. I don’t think I should ever have to freely part with my HARD EARNED money if the recipient themselves hasn’t worked hard to earn it.

I work on phones, and no matter how shitty MY day is, it is never the fault of the person on the other end of the phone. And I treat people with utmost respect at all times. Its my job to do it, even if I have to do it through gritted teeth.

I often leave without giving a tip – and I never frequent places again that treat me poorly. I also TELL others about poor experiences, in hopes they don’t go there either!

But – when I am happy with services – I’m the type of tipper you DREAM of!!!!

Just two weeks ago, I gave a 150% tip. Yup, more than TWICE the cost of the bill.

She was wonderful, and deserved to be compensated for being polite, courteous, knowledgeable and efficient . . . .

Jul 30, 2007 at 11:11 am rating: +2

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#83.1 Eli

Tipping $3 on $2 beer two weeks ago doesn’t make you correct, or for that matter, a good customer. It could well be that you just wanted to get the bartender’s phone number.

But anyway, since you insist on capitalizing GRATUITY, consider another explanation of the word’s etymology. It’s the only way a customer can meaningfully express his/her GRATITUDE for good service.

While not tipping for bad service may be acceptable, a tip is never, as you said, FREE MONEY. It is payment for services rendered.

Those who don’t pay for said services deservedly earn the title of PERSONA NON GRATA.

Jan 25, 2008 at 11:30 am rating: 0

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#84

painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings from shared spaces the world over

this is why your server is cranky

July 29th, 2007 · 732 comments

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