Cheap People

[2girlsmom]

Really, I can't imagine why anyone would go to a restaurant without intending to pay a minimum of 15%, generally speaking we tip 20%, we will go as low as 10% for bad service, but it would have to be really abysmal to get anything less than that. I will also tip well over 20% for extraordinarily good service as well. I do see what folks are saying regarding getting virtually the same meal and sometimes better service at a chain restaurant, but the tips being so much higher at the expensive restaurant, and it does seem unfair, but if you are getting expensive restaurant level service, no one is stopping you from tipping more to even that out. I readily admit that I am picky, I do sometimes (not always) special order, and I will ALWAYS send back food that is not correct, but I would never penalize the server for that, that is a kitchen issue. I have on occasion had servers that gave me a horrible attitude for expecting to get what I ordered, and THAT will cut into their tip on occasion, but again, on the one hand, yes a tip is a reward for doing their job well, but it is expected and it is not acceptable to go to any sit down restaurant without the expectation of giving a tip.

 

[kimluvswdw]

I really can understand that people are more careful these days with their money, but us servers have just as many bills to pay and families to support. I think it is unfair to get great service and then leave $5 on the table when you have a $100 bill. After the tip out and what I have to pay taxes on, I have nothing left to take home.


As far as someone saying that a server can make $75 an hour, YEAH RIGHT. If I was making anywhere near that I never would have started this post in the first place. I just wanted to know if other servers were running into the same problem as me.

I work in a restaurant that relies on tourism and with the economy right now, that may be my problem. Maybe I need to pick another place that does not rely on tourism so much.

People walking down the boardwalk who decide to come in to a nice place and pay $25.99 each for the buffet should leave more than that in a tip if the service is good. It is the cheap people trying to save a buck by stiffing the servers that upset me and make it hard for me to pay my bills.

As far as big parties splitting the check to avoid the automatic tip, that is crap. It is the big tables that we kill ourselves over that stiff us the worse. I had people the other night try to avoid the gratuity by splitting the check, I went straight to the manager and fought for it. Needless to say the tip stayed on the bill, splitting the check to avoid the tip isn't going to work with me. It is only the people who want to short us on the tip that would ever complain about it. If the service was good and they had intended on paying the 15% anyway it would not be an issue.

 

[kimluvswdw]

One more thing, most of you sound like great tippers. Have you ever thought about vacationing in Virginia Beach? Ha Ha Ha.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

a good server is worth 15% but look at it at another angle. If a server in a "good" restaurant has say 5 tables and each table stays on the average of 1 hour and their respective bills are around $100.00 that means that server is making about $75.00 an hour! In a casual restaurant I usually leave a tip of at least $1.00 per person at the table with a minumum of $2.00 if I am alone.

Who cares if the server makes $75 a hour? And why should that impact what someone tips? I have never been a server and would never want to - as far as I am concerned they are entitled to every dollar they make!

Similarly to mousekeeping - who cares if with tips they make $20 a hour? That is not a rational not to tip.

$1.00 a person as a tip? Only if my bill with drink was under $5.00.

 

[Todd&Copper]

People walking down the boardwalk who decide to come in to a nice place and pay $25.99 each for the buffet should leave more than that in a tip if the service is good. It is the cheap people trying to save a buck by stiffing the servers that upset me and make it hard for me to pay my bills.

Is the place you work a buffet? I don't think everyone generally tips as well for buffet type places that regular restaurants. If all the server is doing for me is refilling my drink once or twice and taking away dirty plates once or twice, I don't usually tip over 10% at a buffet. So, if DH & I went to your buffet, we'd probably leave only abotu $6 tip. I bet a lot of people leave nothing or $1 per person for buffets (maybe not on the DIS, but in the real world).

 

[2girlsmom]

I really can understand that people are more careful these days with their money, but us servers have just as many bills to pay and families to support. I think it is unfair to get great service and then leave $5 on the table when you have a $100 bill. After the tip out and what I have to pay taxes on, I have nothing left to take home.


As far as someone saying that a server can make $75 an hour, YEAH RIGHT. If I was making anywhere near that I never would have started this post in the first place. I just wanted to know if other servers were running into the same problem as me.

I work in a restaurant that relies on tourism and with the economy right now, that may be my problem. Maybe I need to pick another place that does not rely on tourism so much.

People walking down the boardwalk who decide to come in to a nice place and pay $25.99 each for the buffet should leave more than that in a tip if the service is good. It is the cheap people trying to save a buck by stiffing the servers that upset me and make it hard for me to pay my bills.

As far as big parties splitting the check to avoid the automatic tip, that is crap. It is the big tables that we kill ourselves over that stiff us the worse. I had people the other night try to avoid the gratuity by splitting the check, I went straight to the manager and fought for it. Needless to say the tip stayed on the bill, splitting the check to avoid the tip isn't going to work with me. It is only the people who want to short us on the tip that would ever complain about it. If the service was good and they had intended on paying the 15% anyway it would not be an issue.

Don't blame ya at all, Virginia Beach is a resort area, so you may very well have tourists from places that do not realize how little outside tips you actually make. Honestly, money is tight enough for us that we just don't go out as often, and we are eating much more often at counter services like McD's when we are out rather than sit down meals, we used to go to a decent restaurant (I have kids, so I do NOT mean really really nice restaurants, by the way) at least once a week, now we go every other week at most, and on the off week we might have sandwiches from a fast food place once or twice in the week, but mostly we eat at home. And often when we go it is with my family so it is a party of 7-12 people, and we split checks cause each pays for themselves (we pay for our 4, my sis pays for her 3, etc) but we are completely fine with them adding the tip in to the bill. We do appreciate it when they TELL us that though, we have been several times where they added it but did not mention it, so the lucky server got 38% (the 18% added to the bill plus 20% we added). Generally if they tell us that it was added we add an additional 2-5% on our own, as well.

 

[TwinsinCA]

They only asked for seperate checks to avoid paying 18%.

I doubt that was the only reason. Even if everyone has exact change on them, it gets complicated to figure out who owes what on a big check. I think that is the main reason people want their own check.

Is it really that much harder to serve one table of 8 than two tables of 4?

 

[In a hurry]

I doubt that was the only reason. Even if everyone has exact change on them, it gets complicated to figure out who owes what on a big check. I think that is the main reason people want their own check.

Is it really that much harder to serve one table of 8 than two tables of 4?

It wasn't so much harder, as knowing that people have a hard time giving larger tips. If they see $20 on the table, it is much easier to just add a couple, or nothing at all. That is why restaurants make that business choice.

 

[kimluvswdw]

Is the place you work a buffet? I don't think everyone generally tips as well for buffet type places that regular restaurants. If all the server is doing for me is refilling my drink once or twice and taking away dirty plates once or twice, I don't usually tip over 10% at a buffet. So, if DH & I went to your buffet, we'd probably leave only abotu $6 tip. I bet a lot of people leave nothing or $1 per person for buffets (maybe not on the DIS, but in the real world).

We have a front restaurant that has a menu (no buffet) and then we have a restaurant that has the buffet/menu. Confusing, I know, but I alternate from one a night to the other. I will tell you that you work 10 times harder on the buffet side. I never would have thought that, but it is true. In the regular restaurant you write the order, bring food, and keep glasses full. In the buffet side you take drink orders, deliver menu items if needed, empty shell baskets, refill drinks, and clear plates as needed. The emptying of baskets, drink refills, and clearing of the plates is non stop. It is run run run on the buffet side, on the other side you bring the food and you can just stand around unless the drinks need refilled.


I also used to think that when you went to a buffet the servers did less so they should get tipped less. I was dead wrong. There is alot more behind the scenes that the customer does not see but if the stuff was not done the customer would have bad service. The work is 10x harder on the buffet side.


For smeone to leave a $6 tip on an expensive meal when the server has run their butt off for them is just cheap. It should not matter if it is a buffet or not. I think people use buffet dining as an excuse to be cheap.

 

[TwinsinCA]

It wasn't so much harder, as knowing that people have a hard time giving larger tips. If they see $20 on the table, it is much easier to just add a couple, or nothing at all. That is why restaurants make that business choice.

I think that is a good argument for letting people at the party have separate checks. That way someone's good tip isn't an excuse for another to tip less. If everyone had their own check then they'd all be responsible for their own tip and your get the usual mix of good and poor tippers within the group.

 

[In a hurry]

I think that is a good argument for letting people at the party have separate checks. That way someone's good tip isn't an excuse for another to tip less. If everyone had their own check then they'd all be responsible for their own tip and your get the usual mix of good and poor tippers within the group.

Or just tack on 18%. Either way, as a patron, I'm good with it.

 

[Todd&Copper]

For smeone to leave a $6 tip on an expensive meal when the server has run their butt off for them is just cheap. It should not matter if it is a buffet or not. I think people use buffet dining as an excuse to be cheap.

OK, you have a different perspective b/c you are a server. I, never having had the misfortune of having to be a waitress, don't view buffets as the same as a regular order-off-the-menu dinner. Maybe I just don't cause as much work for the waitstaff at a buffet as most other people do? I don't know. Usually in my experience at buffets, including better ones at the VA Beach ocean front, different watistaff (and maybe even "bus boys") clear plates and I only see the server three times during the meal - when I am being seated, when they bring my drink, and when they refill my drink. I don't think that is worth as much as the 5 or 6 times during a meal I see the server when I order off the menu. Sorry, your tales of "busting your butt" don't comport with my actual experience at buffets.

All snark aside, but if you feel you are not making enough money, why not get another job, maybe in a different line of work? I'd say the same thing to a teacher complaining that they don't make enough money for all of the BS they put up with. Everyone just complains so damn much and doesn't do anything constructive about it. I realize this is a "vent" type thread, but oy vey already.

 

[CathrynRose]

I doubt that was the only reason. Even if everyone has exact change on them, it gets complicated to figure out who owes what on a big check. I think that is the main reason people want their own check.

Is it really that much harder to serve one table of 8 than two tables of 4?

It is harder to serve a table of 8 - then 2, of 4.

And it was the only reason. It was a common 'practice' - however a large table over 8, had gratuity added in.

. I, never having had the misfortune of having to be a waitress, .

I enjoyed my serving years.

 

[Stella3]

OK, you have a different perspective b/c you are a server. I, never having had the misfortune of having to be a waitress, don't view buffets as the same as a regular order-off-the-menu dinner. Maybe I just don't cause as much work for the waitstaff at a buffet as most other people do? I don't know. Usually in my experience at buffets, including better ones at the VA Beach ocean front, different watistaff (and maybe even "bus boys") clear plates and I only see the server three times during the meal - when I am being seated, when they bring my drink, and when they refill my drink. I don't think that is worth as much as the 5 or 6 times during a meal I see the server when I order off the menu. Sorry, your tales of "busting your butt" don't comport with my actual experience at buffets.

All snark aside, but if you feel you are not making enough money, why not get another job, maybe in a different line of work? I'd say the same thing to a teacher complaining that they don't make enough money for all of the BS they put up with. Everyone just complains so damn much and doesn't do anything constructive about it. I realize this is a "vent" type thread, but oy vey already.

I completely agree! There is no way I'm going to tip the same at a buffet type restaurant that I do at an upscale restaurant. I believe the waiter/waitresses at the buffets should be grateful for the 5 dollar tip b/c that is about the norm around here that couples leave (or a little less).

 

[kimluvswdw]

The restaurant I work in is an upscale place seafood place. It is not a Goldern Corral setting. It has a buffet and menu service. I get bored working in the regular restaurant part. All you do is put the food on the table and then gab with the other servers until a drink needs refilled. On the buffet side you have to run alot more, which also makes the time go faster. The people in the regular restaurant always tip less than on the buffet side, but it is understandable because you do less. The only difference is that you put the food on the table for them. I don't even have to take a dirty dish away on the regular side if I don't want to. On the buffet side you are always carting dishes from the table which equals more work.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I enjoyed my serving years.

I think the confusion about that is that some people think we must feel that way about all of our customers, which is not true.

It's like when I come here to vent about customers I have that yell at me for no reason. Most of you know that I work at a grocery store, and it is a very small percentage of the customers I help that I get upset with, yet they are the ones that I mention. The majority of the customers are fine, some I even know by sight, if not by name, that I really enjoy helping.

Though I don't have to depend on tips as part of my salary, anymore, I do have problems with people who don't leave tips just because they don't want to, or can't "afford" it, in my mind, they can't afford the meal then.

 

[kimluvswdw]

I think the confusion about that is that some people think we must feel that way about all of our customers, which is not true.

It's like when I come here to vent about customers I have that yell at me for no reason. Most of you know that I work at a grocery store, and it is a very small percentage of the customers I help that I get upset with, yet they are the ones that I mention. The majority of the customers are fine, some I even know by sight, if not by name, that I really enjoy helping.

Though I don't have to depend on tips as part of my salary, anymore, I do have problems with people who don't leave tips just because they don't want to, or can't "afford" it, in my mind, they can't afford the meal then.

Thank you. You hit the nail on the head. We have to depend on tips for part of our salary and that is the way it is. When people leave little or no money, we are basically working for nothing. We are also paying taxes on money thatwe never got. I dare to say that nobody would go to work and on paycheck day have their boss give them little or no money because he didn't feel like it.

 

[Master Mason]

Did you read my story way back a few pages?

I had a 12 top - who wanted seperate checks. The manager checked to make sure everything was great, before we tacked on the 18%. Everything was WONDERFUL! I was great! Blah blah blah.

They only asked for seperate checks to avoid paying 18%.

My manager had to pay for my tip, that night. Thats absurd.

I really can understand that people are more careful these days with their money, but us servers have just as many bills to pay and families to support. I think it is unfair to get great service and then leave $5 on the table when you have a $100 bill. After the tip out and what I have to pay taxes on, I have nothing left to take home.


As far as someone saying that a server can make $75 an hour, YEAH RIGHT. If I was making anywhere near that I never would have started this post in the first place. I just wanted to know if other servers were running into the same problem as me.

I work in a restaurant that relies on tourism and with the economy right now, that may be my problem. Maybe I need to pick another place that does not rely on tourism so much.

People walking down the boardwalk who decide to come in to a nice place and pay $25.99 each for the buffet should leave more than that in a tip if the service is good. It is the cheap people trying to save a buck by stiffing the servers that upset me and make it hard for me to pay my bills.

As far as big parties splitting the check to avoid the automatic tip, that is crap. It is the big tables that we kill ourselves over that stiff us the worse. I had people the other night try to avoid the gratuity by splitting the check, I went straight to the manager and fought for it. Needless to say the tip stayed on the bill, splitting the check to avoid the tip isn't going to work with me. It is only the people who want to short us on the tip that would ever complain about it. If the service was good and they had intended on paying the 15% anyway it would not be an issue.

Well I can only tell you my feelings, I may not be able to avoid it on a large group, but if the service is not up to par, the waiter or waitress will be leaving my table, If I am forced to pay for service in such a manner, then I will be very demanding of recieving it. Also, at least in my case your shooting yourself in the foot, I'll tip 20% or more if I get good service, and I realize that a larger group is more work, so I would tend to be on the overly generous side. But when I am told that a percentage will be added, there will not be a penny more than that. As I said, I don't like it, tips should be earned not guarenteed.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Thank you. You hit the nail on the head. We have to depend on tips for part of our salary and that is the way it is. When people leave little or no money, we are basically working for nothing. We are also paying taxes on money thatwe never got. I dare to say that nobody would go to work and on paycheck day have their boss give them little or no money because he didn't feel like it.

I used to waitress, so I know how it is.

 

[C.Ann]

But you took up their table. We would only be assigned 3 - 4 tables a night. If you hog a table all night, Im losing money. KWIM?.

---------------------------------

I would never "hog up a table all night", but I am not going to wolf down my meal just so a waitress can turn another table.. And if I did feel as though I was being rushed for that reason, the waitress would get no tip..

I'm sure that most people know that rushing to eat is very bad for your digestive track and should be avoided whenever possible..