Would You Have Tipped In This Situation?

Why it still persists in the US -- because studies show that customers prefer to tip because they believe they get better service.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12tipping-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I think a lot of servers like it better with tips because they can actually make a lot more money than if they were paid straight hourly.

One of my waitress friends works breakfast and lunch. She often makes close to $200 on a Saturday shift. I doubt that if she were paid hourly she'd get paid almost $20 per hour, and if she were, what would the price of a breakfast have to be?
 
I think most customers AND servers in the USA like the system the way it is now.
I do not want to be paid minimum wage. I like to be tipped. I do my job well, and most of my customers tip me 20%, if not more.
Most customers like the fact that they have some control over the situation. they can tip less if the service is below par.
there will always be people who will find an excuse to not tip, or under tip. (including "making a statement" about their disapproval of the system).
It is what it is. most restaurant owners, servers and customers like it.

by the way, I happen to think the OPs meal, such as it was, should have been comped. the whole "team" dropped the ball. sure, they weren't hungry anymore, because once the drinks and appetizer settles in, few people are really "hungry". ( the "comped" meal and drinks should not have been included in the server's total for tipping out, taxes, etc. )

I do think it was nice of the OP to tip a little anyway, since the server was short a tip for that whole table. I don't think it should have been a percentage of the drinks, appetizers, though. a couple bucks for her time.

where I work, (an independent restaurant) , they would have been comped the drinks, app., and given a coupon for a further visit.

but tips are here to stay people!!!!:cool1: and I assure you, if the system changes, I, and all of the decent servers will be in a dif. line of work. NO WAY!!! will I do that job for $8.00 an hour.
 
smidgy said:
but tips are here to stay people!!!!:cool1: and I assure you, if the system changes, I, and all of the decent servers will be in a dif. line of work. NO WAY!!! will I do that job for $8.00 an hour.

I'm with ya there!!!
 
I think a lot of servers like it better with tips because they can actually make a lot more money than if they were paid straight hourly.

One of my waitress friends works breakfast and lunch. She often makes close to $200 on a Saturday shift. I doubt that if she were paid hourly she'd get paid almost $20 per hour, and if she were, what would the price of a breakfast have to be?

I think most customers AND servers in the USA like the system the way it is now.
I do not want to be paid minimum wage. I like to be tipped. I do my job well, and most of my customers tip me 20%, if not more.
Most customers like the fact that they have some control over the situation. they can tip less if the service is below par.
there will always be people who will find an excuse to not tip, or under tip. (including "making a statement" about their disapproval of the system).
It is what it is. most restaurant owners, servers and customers like it.

by the way, I happen to think the OPs meal, such as it was, should have been comped. the whole "team" dropped the ball. sure, they weren't hungry anymore, because once the drinks and appetizer settles in, few people are really "hungry". ( the "comped" meal and drinks should not have been included in the server's total for tipping out, taxes, etc. )

I do think it was nice of the OP to tip a little anyway, since the server was short a tip for that whole table. I don't think it should have been a percentage of the drinks, appetizers, though. a couple bucks for her time.

where I work, (an independent restaurant) , they would have been comped the drinks, app., and given a coupon for a further visit.

but tips are here to stay people!!!!:cool1: and I assure you, if the system changes, I, and all of the decent servers will be in a dif. line of work. NO WAY!!! will I do that job for $8.00 an hour.

I'm with ya there!!!
I'm curious whether any of you read the linked NYT article. It talked about a restaurant the changed to a "service charge" instead of tips...
But Chelsea Boyd told me that eliminating tipping had made her work as a waiter at the Linkery more meaningful than any other restaurant job she has had in the previous 10 years. “For the first time, I get to concentrate on the job, and I’m looking at the guests without seeing dollar signs or worried about what anyone else is making,” she says. Under the old system, waiters earned between $25 and $35 an hour, much of which was untaxed. “Now, waiters make about $25 an hour, which is fully taxed,” Boyd says.

I for one am not advocating doing away with tips. I do think EXPECTED tips should be done away with.
 


I think most customers AND servers in the USA like the system the way it is now.
I do not want to be paid minimum wage. I like to be tipped. I do my job well, and most of my customers tip me 20%, if not more.
Most customers like the fact that they have some control over the situation. they can tip less if the service is below par.
there will always be people who will find an excuse to not tip, or under tip. (including "making a statement" about their disapproval of the system).
It is what it is. most restaurant owners, servers and customers like it.

by the way, I happen to think the OPs meal, such as it was, should have been comped. the whole "team" dropped the ball. sure, they weren't hungry anymore, because once the drinks and appetizer settles in, few people are really "hungry". ( the "comped" meal and drinks should not have been included in the server's total for tipping out, taxes, etc. )

I do think it was nice of the OP to tip a little anyway, since the server was short a tip for that whole table. I don't think it should have been a percentage of the drinks, appetizers, though. a couple bucks for her time.

where I work, (an independent restaurant) , they would have been comped the drinks, app., and given a coupon for a further visit.

but tips are here to stay people!!!!:cool1: and I assure you, if the system changes, I, and all of the decent servers will be in a dif. line of work. NO WAY!!! will I do that job for $8.00 an hour.

Why do you think if you were paid at a minimum the minimum wage people wouldn't tip?
 
There are different schools of thought on where tipping comes from. Here is another with similarities to the one posted earlier. I thing the last line in the section quoted is interesting.

Origins


  • According to economist Ofer H. Azar, tipping may have originated in Ancient Rome, but, Azar notes, the practice more likely developed in medieval Britain and Europe. During the Middle Ages, nobles who were traveling between towns would give money to beggars so the beggars would not attack them. Azar maintains that tipping for service as well as to display one's riches began with this practice.

English Custom


  • Tipping appeared in coffeehouses and pubs in 18th-century England. Signs reading "to insure promptitude" adorned prominently placed containers to encourage patrons to tip in order to hasten service, according to Sharon L. Fullen, who has written about tipping practices in "The Complete Guide to Tips & Gratuities." Customers also started tipping in exchange for an unique service, and tipping became a marker of social status. During this period, household guests also tipped the servants of their hosts; the money given to the servants was known as "vails." At first guests offered vails for good service, but eventually vails became expected.


Read more: The History of Tipping | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6192417_history-tipping.html#ixzz2EtSYhe75
 
Why do you think if you were paid at a minimum the minimum wage people wouldn't tip?

not sure what you mean here. I know people who make mimum wage and are great tippers.

and I didn't say I would never work a minimum wage job. I said I wouldn't be a serverfor minimum wage.

and yes, sam, I read the article. I don't agree.
I actually enjoy waitressing (and bartending). I have regular customers. I don't "compete" with the other emplyess, we are a "team". If someone is not my customer tonight, they might be next week. it is to my benefit that ALL customers are happy and return.
I stand by what I said in my previous post. all of it.
 


not sure what you mean here. I know people who make mimum wage and are great tippers.

and I didn't say I would never work a minimum wage job. I said I wouldn't be a serverfor minimum wage.

and yes, sam, I read the article. I don't agree.
I actually enjoy waitressing (and bartending). I have regular customers. I don't "compete" with the other emplyess, we are a "team". If someone is not my customer tonight, they might be next week. it is to my benefit that ALL customers are happy and return.
I stand by what I said in my previous post. all of it.

Declansdad is asking why you wouldn't still do the job while being paid the "real" minimum wage instead of the pittance you earn hourly now. Your customers would still tip. I was a server for years and not only did I earn minimum wage, one of the restaurants I worked for was actually unionized, so I my hourly wage was higher than minimum wage. I did very, very well in tips.
 
faye, you live and work in Canada. not applicable here.

we are talking about the USA. when in Rome and all that good stuff....:rolleyes:

I repeat: It the USA changed to a system, where servers received minumum wage, tips were not expected, (and, obviously, the bill for the food and drinks was much higher) I would find different work.

maybe servers who give so-so service would do well. as others previously stated, they wouldn't have to worry about how much the table will tip, therefore, what kind of service they are providing.

I don't worry about that. I already give good service. know most of my customers by name, what they drink, how they like their steak, ask about their family, etc etc.

I don't spend my evening at work stressing about the tips. I enjoy my job and my customers. I do my best to make sure they have an enjoyable dining experience. I often make them laugh, entertain the kids, and yet know which table wants to be "left alone".

I often receive over 20%. yet some nights are slow and my pay is small. soe nights are busy, or we have a party, or it's a holiday (I work every holiday) and I make more.

you get the good with the bad. some nights the other waitress has a great table, some nights I do. we take turns. we help each other out. if she is swamped, I'll make her salads, even if it IS her table, and vice versa. we are a team.

If we ever go to a different system, I will not be in this profession. nor will most of the professional servers. and if you don't want to tip, or want to tip poorly, you can find whatever excuse you want. doesn't matter to us.
(and, as alwaysI am speaking of good service). if you get crappy service, you can tip less. see how that works???

I stand by my earlier post.
 
Smidgy, I'm curious... do you give good service (that doesn't sound right :lmao:) because you're hoping for a good tip or because you take pride in what you do and want to do a good job? In other words, if you KNEW a table wasn't going to tip, would you still do your best for that table or let your service slide?
 
faye, you live and work in Canada. not applicable here.

we are talking about the USA. when in Rome and all that good stuff....:rolleyes:

I repeat: It the USA changed to a system, where servers received minumum wage, tips were not expected, (and, obviously, the bill for the food and drinks was much higher) I would find different work.

maybe servers who give so-so service would do well. as others previously stated, they wouldn't have to worry about how much the table will tip, therefore, what kind of service they are providing.

I don't worry about that. I already give good service. know most of my customers by name, what they drink, how they like their steak, ask about their family, etc etc.

I don't spend my evening at work stressing about the tips. I enjoy my job and my customers. I do my best to make sure they have an enjoyable dining experience. I often make them laugh, entertain the kids, and yet know which table wants to be "left alone".

I often receive over 20%. yet some nights are slow and my pay is small. soe nights are busy, or we have a party, or it's a holiday (I work every holiday) and I make more.

you get the good with the bad. some nights the other waitress has a great table, some nights I do. we take turns. we help each other out. if she is swamped, I'll make her salads, even if it IS her table, and vice versa. we are a team.

If we ever go to a different system, I will not be in this profession. nor will most of the professional servers. and if you don't want to tip, or want to tip poorly, you can find whatever excuse you want. doesn't matter to us.
(and, as alwaysI am speaking of good service). if you get crappy service, you can tip less. see how that works???

I stand by my earlier post.


What Faye said is bang on. Servers here are paid more and still do very well with tips. People tip not because it is required but because they want to. The prices in restaurants are not that much higher so the prices in the US restaurants would need to be drastically increased.

My question to you earlier was because your post seemed to say that if the minimum wage was actually increased to be the same as the rest of your state, you wouldn't work as a server because people would no longer tip. Is that what you are saying?
 
Well I guess from now on I'll be more generous when tipping in the US. I really thought 15% before taxes was being generous! Anyhow I'm buying the TIW card this time which means that a mandatory 18% tip will be added.

And for the record here is the mean reported hourly wage in the US and Canada for 2010 including tips:

US: $8.81
Canada: $12.39

I assume that these numbers are negatively biased due to waiters not necessarily reporting all of their tips, and income tax + health benefits are quite different. Still, it seems that a higher minimum wage does not seem to lead to lower total wages.
 
We tip pretty well. However, there are certain things I expect. I expect more than take and bring my order. To me, that is medocre. I expect my order, refills, and carrying off of dirty plates. If I have a problem with an order, I expect it to be corrected without acting like I'm expecting too much wanting my order correct. When I worked in a restaurant, those things were part of the training. It apparently is not everywhere. The one thing I hate about tipping is that it is tied to the cost of the bill. I've had better servers at lower cost establishments in many cases. Those servers will receive less just because the meal is less. As for sharing the tips, I know very few places where I'm from that require that. I know a few chains that have a main server and a helper for each section. They share but the main server gets the higher percentage. One place that has people walking around with "extra" side items people can add to their meal for free receive a share of tips, also but only because they are serving food. My daughter is a hostess paid above minimum wage and does not share. She occasionally is handed a tip separately. As a barista, she always received tips even though she was paid above minimum, also.
 
Smidgy, I'm curious... do you give good service (that doesn't sound right :lmao:) because you're hoping for a good tip or because you take pride in what you do and want to do a good job? In other words, if you KNEW a table wasn't going to tip, would you still do your best for that table or let your service slide?
:lmao: on the "joke!!! anyhow:
I do have some regulars, an older couple, who are very nice, but tip 10%. I treat them very well. If I knew a table would not ip at all, I would still treat them well. however, if that table and a table who tips need something at the same time, guess who will get it first?

but I will not let my service slide. it is my reputation, and the restuarant's reputation. who knows how many people they might tell that they loved or hated it?

I do like my job, and take pride in it. but of course I am also looking for the tip, it's my income! but I won't stress over it, or let my service slide.
 
My question to you earlier was because your post seemed to say that if the minimum wage was actually increased to be the same as the rest of your state, you wouldn't work as a server because people would no longer tip. Is that what you are saying?

I guess so. I mean that if my pay is brought up to minimum wage, (and now the prices of the dinner are higher, and people know this, and don't tip) I wouldn't keep my job. I would not work for minimum wage as a server.

today I worked one of my other jobs . I tended bar at the VFW. we make $9.00 an hour. people still tip a little bit. with tips, my pay came to about $14 an hour today. I am happy with that.
 
I guess so. I mean that if my pay is brought up to minimum wage, (and now the prices of the dinner are higher, and people know this, and don't tip) I wouldn't keep my job. I would not work for minimum wage as a server.

today I worked one of my other jobs . I tended bar at the VFW. we make $9.00 an hour. people still tip a little bit. with tips, my pay came to about $14 an hour today. I am happy with that.


That's what happens here, the wages are still higher but people still tip in the 15 to 20 % range. I have know many servers who do very well.
 
:lmao: on the "joke!!! anyhow:
I do have some regulars, an older couple, who are very nice, but tip 10%. I treat them very well. If I knew a table would not ip at all, I would still treat them well. however, if that table and a table who tips need something at the same time, guess who will get it first?

but I will not let my service slide. it is my reputation, and the restuarant's reputation. who knows how many people they might tell that they loved or hated it?

I do like my job, and take pride in it. but of course I am also looking for the tip, it's my income! but I won't stress over it, or let my service slide.
Thanks. I wasn't trying to be a smart aleck, we've just heard int he past that if servers knew tips weren't automatic the service level would drop. It's good to know (at least to me), that's not the case for you.

I guess so. I mean that if my pay is brought up to minimum wage, (and now the prices of the dinner are higher, and people know this, and don't tip) I wouldn't keep my job. I would not work for minimum wage as a server.

today I worked one of my other jobs . I tended bar at the VFW. we make $9.00 an hour. people still tip a little bit. with tips, my pay came to about $14 an hour today. I am happy with that.
In *MY* ideal, your pay would be brought up but tipping would be allowed... like what your VFW situation is.
 
What Faye said is bang on. Servers here are paid more and still do very well with tips. People tip not because it is required but because they want to. The prices in restaurants are not that much higher so the prices in the US restaurants would need to be drastically increased.

My question to you earlier was because your post seemed to say that if the minimum wage was actually increased to be the same as the rest of your state, you wouldn't work as a server because people would no longer tip. Is that what you are saying?

The culture in the US is different because our reasoning for tipping is different. Most people I know tip BECAUSE they know the servers aren't making minimum wage. I've heard people say that many times, often in explaining to foreigners why we tip or why they're tipping even if the service is poor. The only time I've heard someone say they are tipping to reward someone for good service was when the service was exceptional. I've personally never heard anyone say they are tipping because they WANT to tip.

In fact as an event planner who books countless meals annually, I can tell you that a lot of people resent tipping even when they know the server isn't making minimum wage or they know that minimum wage is insufficient to support even one person in this area. Why? Simple. They're cheap and looking for any way possible to keep their money in their own wallet. In fact, I was just at a meeting with some clients who had never booked an event before who were aghast that they had to pay a gratuity to serving staff and asked if I could negotiate the gratuity out of the bill because the hotel pays the serving staff minimum wage.

I believe -- and it's just a belief, not a hard fact -- that if people know the servers are making minimum wage, then they will indeed stop tipping.
 
The culture in the US is different because our reasoning for tipping is different. Most people I know tip BECAUSE they know the servers aren't making minimum wage. I've heard people say that many times, often in explaining to foreigners why we tip or why they're tipping even if the service is poor. The only time I've heard someone say they are tipping to reward someone for good service was when the service was exceptional. I've personally never heard anyone say they are tipping because they WANT to tip.

In fact as an event planner who books countless meals annually, I can tell you that a lot of people resent tipping even when they know the server isn't making minimum wage or they know that minimum wage is insufficient to support even one person in this area. Why? Simple. They're cheap and looking for any way possible to keep their money in their own wallet. In fact, I was just at a meeting with some clients who had never booked an event before who were aghast that they had to pay a gratuity to serving staff and asked if I could negotiate the gratuity out of the bill because the hotel pays the serving staff minimum wage.

I believe -- and it's just a belief, not a hard fact -- that if people know the servers are making minimum wage, then they will indeed stop tipping.


and my belief is that they won't stop tipping. It is ingrained in both of our cultures that you tip, that isn't going to change.
 

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