Couple Arrested for Refusing to Pay Tip

[N.Bailey]

Yes your suppose to claim your tips every night but there are ways around it. The IRS figures your going to make a certain amt per hour in tips, add a little to that figure, and thats what gets claimed.

I'll be frankly honest, I don't know a single waitstaff person who has ever claimed all of their tips. Maybe there is someone out there, surely there must be, but it's a legitimate argument that most don't claim it all.

The IRS mandates (or at least did at the time I waited tables) that 8% of gross sales be reported. Restaurants vary as to how they go about this. Some just take a flat 8% off the sales and divide it by the waiters/waitresses who worked that day or divide it then by hours worked and waitstaff, etc... Others require weekly tip reports. One I know of had the waitstaff figure up only their sales for the day and they then turned in 8% of only their sales each and every shift they worked (much fairer system really).

Some restaurants allocate tips on the W2's at the end of the year, others don't.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I would actually go there I'm glad they stood up for the server

Pope claimed that they had to wait nearly an hour for their order and that she had to get napkins and silverware for the table herself.

“At this point I became very annoyed because I had already gone up to the bar myself to have my soda refilled because the waitress never came back,” Pope said.

So the waiter didn't refill drinks, left them for an hour for their order and didn't even bring them the silverware they had to get that themselves and still expected a tip? Isn't that the waiter's job to serve the customer?

 

[PaulaSB12]

I wonder if they tipped on the tax.

I dont' know your sales tax, so I cannot calculate it.

At 6%, that would get you close to the base price.

Tipping on taxes--a big no no.

Including the tax the tip would have been $13.92 if they where expecting $16 dollars they where being charged 21% tip which isn't the 18% that the restaurant was claiming as a manditary tip.

 

[PaulaSB12]

This is most unfortunate, a resturant review site that has turned into much a message board, It says nothing about the food and really nothing about the service, Just about a bunch of folks stating an opinion, and it's just that because i'm certain that most of them were not even there when the event took place. I'm certainly of the opinion that this could have been handled way differently from both sides if we are to believe the story, even the cops handled it wrong......handcuffs really, for not paying a bill. Glad we didn't hear about a tazing....again, There has to be more to the story

Nothing about the food and service?

I wasn't surprised to read this story at all. I was in town on business and a few buddies and I had the displeasure of actually eating in this dump. None of the story is an exaggeration. I had never before encountered a more rude staff of waiters in my life. The bartender was no better. The food was average but the people were rude beyond description. Would I go there again? No chance.


Versailles, KY
1 star rating
11/19/2009

It's not a great place to eat to begin with, unless you really, REALY like applebee's with a fake irish makeover. You can't get into the joint if you are in a wheelchair--not without help. I mean, what place isn't wheelchair accessible these days! The food is nothing original or cool. The beer selection is pedestrian and the waiting staff is laughable.

Skip this place altogether. Really. To be honest, the chain restaurant "The Pub" takes a better stab at UK Taverna style. Which is to say it doesn't...much--but it still ranks classier than this place.
it sounds like it doesn't have a good reputation.

 

[Disneyadore]

Wow I'm amazed about this topic. As soon as a tipping thread comes up I see tons of people that act like Tarzan ,beating there chests and telling every one they are the worlds best tippers.

But reading this thread all at a sudden tipping becomes a dirty thing?

Coming from a different non tipping part of the world I strongly believe that if my louse few dollars can help a waiter send his kids to school,pay the rent or buy food for his family there is no way I'm not going to tip. Under no circumstances. Every one has a bad day sometimes and who am I to punish a waiter by making a stink for a few dollars.

 

[N.Bailey]

Wow I'm amazed about this topic. As soon as a tipping thread comes up I see tons of people that act like Tarzan ,beating there chests and telling every one they are the worlds best tippers.

But reading this thread all at a sudden tipping becomes a dirty thing?

Coming from a different non tipping part of the world I strongly believe that if my louse few dollars can help a waiter send his kids to school,pay the rent or buy food for his family there is no way I'm not going to tip. Under no circumstances. Every one has a bad day sometimes and who am I to punish a waiter by making a stink for a few dollars.

Tarzan beating his chest?

No one has said waitstaff does not deserve a tip. Quite the contrary actually. From all the responses I read (read first couple pages then read the last page before responding) we ALL leave tips when it's deserved. I for 1 have NEVER not left a tip (other than the 1 time upthread where I forgot, but then went back and left one). I also consider myself to be a pretty good tipper because I know it's not an easy job (after 12 years, I should know this).

You failed to acknowledge any of this and preferred to ignore all the facts to the contrary by stating it's now a dirty thing. You simply didn't care if one tipped or not and in doing so, you chose to toss your own spin on it.

Tipping should NEVER be a requirement. By the very definition alone, it fails to hold up. Tipping is a gift. A gift left because someone feels services rendered were worthy of that gift.

This is simply not going to hold up on the legality issues at all.

 

[AKLBeauty]

I never tip for bad service. If I have to go to the bar and refill my drink, the tip goes down to 5%, if anything else happens, I'll leave a quarter and that is it. A quarter lets them know you thought the service sucked - with a penny, they might think you just forgot.

 

[cjb71870]

Well, if you can go to the bar and refill your drink without notice...that's not bad!

 

[disykat]

Wow I'm amazed about this topic. As soon as a tipping thread comes up I see tons of people that act like Tarzan ,beating there chests and telling every one they are the worlds best tippers.

But reading this thread all at a sudden tipping becomes a dirty thing?

Coming from a different non tipping part of the world I strongly believe that if my louse few dollars can help a waiter send his kids to school,pay the rent or buy food for his family there is no way I'm not going to tip. Under no circumstances. Every one has a bad day sometimes and who am I to punish a waiter by making a stink for a few dollars.

Ah ah ah ah ah! I'm getting the biggest kick out of the DIS tonight. (that emoticon doesn't quite work here - but there is a pot and it's a black kettle!)

 

[Disneyadore]

Tipping should NEVER be a requirement. By the very definition alone, it fails to hold up. Tipping is a gift. A gift left because someone feels services rendered were worthy of that gift.

This is simply not going to hold up on the legality issues at all.

As I said tipping is one of the things many people brag about.Not pointing to anyone special of course
And I strongly believe that tipping should be forbidden by law. The fact alone that people have to hope and pray that costumers have a good day so they can feed there children is so sad.

Everybody deserves to earn enough money to live a normal life and not be bullied around and not be able to say anything because of the tipping.
And boy did I see people threat the waiters as thrash and leaving with THROWING a quarter on the table.

The whole tipping system just stinks, but still we tip 20% because I sleep easier.

 

[AKLBeauty]

As I said tipping is one of the things many people brag about.Not pointing to anyone special of course
And I strongly believe that tipping should be forbidden by law. The fact alone that people have to hope and pray that costumers have a good day so they can feed there children is so sad.

Everybody deserves to earn enough money to live a normal life and not be bullied around and not be able to say anything because of the tipping.
And boy did I see people threat the waiters as thrash and leaving with THROWING a quarter on the table.

The whole tipping system just stinks, but still we tip 20% because I sleep easier.

Well, I would never threat waiters as thrash.

 

[Disneyadore]

Ah ah ah ah ah! I'm getting the biggest kick out of the DIS tonight. (that emoticon doesn't quite work here - but there is a pot and it's a black kettle!)

Frankly I don''t get what you mean

The food in the US is ridiculous cheap and the portions are way to big. So why not cut the portions is half? The restaurant owner makes more profit and can pay his staff a normal wage.
This way the knife cuts two ways. Good for our health (less calories) good for the environment (less spilling of food) and good for the wages and profit.

It can be as simple as that.

BTW My day just begins. In my part of the world is morning so we can have a long and nice discussion.

May I give you a cup of breakfast coffee?

 

[happygirl]

Pope claimed that they had to wait nearly an hour for their order and that she had to get napkins and silverware for the table herself.

“At this point I became very annoyed because I had already gone up to the bar myself to have my soda refilled because the waitress never came back,” Pope said.

So the waiter didn't refill drinks, left them for an hour for their order and didn't even bring them the silverware they had to get that themselves and still expected a tip? Isn't that the waiter's job to serve the customer?[/QUOTE

At most places the hostess bring silverware when they seat you. How is it the server fault it took the kitchen so long? Everyone is always so quick to blame the server, for things that aren't even in there control. I guess she should have went back and cooked there food, Did the hostess job and did this for all of her tables

 

[Disneyadore]

I think we just not hearing the whole story. As this were students I think there a lot more than just bad service.

 

[FayeW]

God I am glad I live in a place where wait staff are paid a reasonable wage instead of a pittance that I am then expected to tip a ridiculous amount for poor service because the poor server doesn't earn a proper hourly rate.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I can tell you exactly why. Because of comments like this:



It's absurd, ridiculous, and IMO a cop-out. You (general you) know damn well you're expected to tip for good service.

But we've got people who believe that (comment) to some how be true, and it infuriates a group of hard working individuals.

I see you have it in for me because I disagree with you. I tip because I want to, not because I have to. Others agreed with me.

You have to claim your tips, every night. So the answer to this person is - yes. As an FYI - anything on a credit card, is automatically claimed.

I'm completely baffled as to why this poster thinks servers are an underground community of non-tax-payers.

Huh. Now you're putting words in my mouth. Have fun with that.

The comment was directed at the RESTAURANT. If they are forcing people to pay this "gratuity", the comment was made that they should have to claim it along with the price of the meal as part of their profit. I didn't know how that worked, which is why I asked.

Thanks for overreacting, though

 

[merryweather20]

At most places the hostess bring silverware when they seat you. How is it the server fault it took the kitchen so long? Everyone is always so quick to blame the server, for things that aren't even in there control. I guess she should have went back and cooked there food, Did the hostess job and did this for all of her tables

If the server is responsible for neither bringing food to the table, nor bringing silverware, and in this case the customers got their own beverages as well, what are we tipping for?

Apparently the waitress/waiter just stands around in the restaurant with no responsibilities?

No. I've had plenty of waitresses bring me my silverware. That way I get the appropriate utensils for what I'm eating. A soup spoon comes with soup, salad fork comes with salad, etc. Even if it is the hostesses responsibility, she doesn't check on me, the waitress does. She should notice that the hostess is slacking, especially when I ask for silverware.

I have indeed had food delays be the responsibility of the server, and even if they are not, an average base line waiter will keep me posted of any delay.

 

[happygirl]

If the server is responsible for neither bringing food to the table, nor bringing silverware, and in this case the customers got their own beverages as well, what are we tipping for?

Apparently the waitress/waiter just stands around in the restaurant with no responsibilities?

No. I've had plenty of waitresses bring me my silverware. That way I get the appropriate utensils for what I'm eating. A soup spoon comes with soup, salad fork comes with salad, etc. Even if it is the hostesses responsibility, she doesn't check on me, the waitress does. She should notice that the hostess is slacking, especially when I ask for silverware.

I have indeed had food delays be the responsibility of the server, and even if they are not, an average base line waiter will keep me posted of any delay.

Huh I never said that the server doesn't bring the food to the table, I said she can't be held responsible for how long it takes to cook it,

 

[agnes!]

...The comment was directed at the RESTAURANT. If they are forcing people to pay this "gratuity", the comment was made that they should have to claim it along with the price of the meal as part of their profit. I didn't know how that worked, which is why I asked. ...

Hadn't thought of that, that the restaurant could possibly be displacing the tax liabilities. Very interesting... the concept reminds me in a way of the TV ads that say "money-back guarantee' but neglect to mention that the exorbitant shipping/handling fee is most probably the actual cost of the item...and *that* is most certainly NOT refunded. It's all just sleight-of-hand accounting.

agnes!

 

[C.Ann]

Huh I never said that the server doesn't bring the food to the table, I said she can't be held responsible for how long it takes to cook it,

I think most everyone is aware that the server is not responsible for how long it takes to cook the food - and would not hold that against the server (meaning a lesser tip or no tip at all)..

However, in an establishment where the server is responsible for the silverware, napkins, refilling drinks, taking the order, etc. - tips should be based on the level of service provided.. Excellent service = excellent tips!