Gratuities and Tipping !

[TiggerDad3]

Websters Dictionary:

tip - A small sum of money given as an acknowledgment of services rendered

gratuity - A favor or a gift, usually in the form of money, given in return for service

customary - 1. commonly practiced: usual.
2. Based on custom or tradition rather than
written law or contract.


Tipping/Gratuity is 100% voluntary!
It is a gift.
Customary is a very gray area, and depends on the individual.
It is not required unless posted, and at that point can no longer be defined as gratuity, it is then a required service charge.
You do not have to tip if you do not want to, and you still have the right to eat in any restaurant you choose.
Not tipping is not rude if you cannot afford it, however letting your server know this would be polite if you cannot.
Not tipping when you can afford it and received worthy service could very well be taken as rude by many, but is still a choice.

The above are my thoughts and oppinions, and are mostly backed by definition.

Personally as stated in my opening comment... I Tip.

For those of you who have continued on with your forceful thoughts, you are wrong. Telling people that your way and your belief is the only right one is wrong. Your self proclaimed rules only exist to you, and attempting to control others should be condemned. Any of you who further said false things against me without knowing me... shame on you.

Thank you to all of you who were a constructive part of this thread, and for those of you who welcomed me. I look forward to lots more conversation!

 

[apostolic4life]

We also make sure we tip Mousekeeping because anyone who takes on the major task of cleaning up after my family deserves a tip!!!! LOL!

Actually, we were told by the Mousekeeping Manager at Poly not to tip the Mouskeepers. The reason this subject came up: We left our room early (9am) one morning to head out for the day.......we came back late (10pm) only to find our room untouched, but the tip we left had been removed from the room. When we called down to the front desk they sent the housekeeping manager up to see the room and help get everything in proper order. I told him my biggest gripe was the tip we left was gone, but the room had not been touched; they had not even collected the dirty towels from the bathroom floor!!! That is when he informed us that those positions were non-tipped positions and the housekeepers were not allowed to accept tips.......he further explained that if policy allowed tipping of the housekeeping staff, some guests may not get proper service. The expectation, he said, was all guests were supposed to receive the same level of housekeeping and by accepting tips the CM's may favor one guest over another.

Sorry to be so off topic, but I just wanted to share a little factoid about housekeeping and tips.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Not tipping is not rude if you cannot afford it.

IMO, if you can not afford to tip, then you can't afford the meal.

 

[JimMIA]

Not tipping is not rude if you cannot afford it,

Nonsense.

Going on a Disney onsite vacation, buying Deluxe DDP, eating at one of the better restaurants, and then trying to plead "poverty" is intellectually and ethically dishonest.

Going to any restaurant where you can't afford to tip is grossly rude.

Getting offended when many others point out the rudeness is just plain childish.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

To not tip would be theft of services. Of course you can do this without a criminal penalty but SHOULD you? While it is not mandatoy to tip, it isn't mandatory to go to WDW or TS for that matter.

While I expect decent service at a local chain restaurant I expect better service the more expensive the restaurant, and pay accordingly. I've found that the signature restaurants at WDW have exemplary service and should be paid. I seriously doubt that any of those server's just walked in without paying their dues at some of the lower paying jobs.

Deliberately underpaying the tip based on what you personally feel shoud be capped is like using foul language, not against the law but not right anyway.

 

[TiggerDad3]

Nonsense.

Going on a Disney onsite vacation, buying Deluxe DDP, eating at one of the better restaurants, and then trying to plead "poverty" is intellectually and ethically dishonest.

Going to any restaurant where you can't afford to tip is grossly rude.

Getting offended when many others point out the rudeness is just plain childish.

pretentious

 

[MaryKatesMom]

To not tip would be theft of services. Of course you can do this without a criminal penalty but SHOULD you? While it is not mandatoy to tip, it isn't mandatory to go to WDW or TS for that matter.

While I expect decent service at a local chain restaurant I expect better service the more expensive the restaurant, and pay accordingly. I've found that the signature restaurants at WDW have exemplary service and should be paid. I seriously doubt that any of those server's just walked in without paying their dues at some of the lower paying jobs.

Deliberately underpaying the tip based on what you personally feel shoud be capped is just making up the rules to benefit yourself, since it does not benifit the server. In fact as I type this since and you are interested in this "conversation", how does you underpaying the server benieit me? I think a reasonable argument can me made that it does just the opposite. It discourages hard-working people from taking this job.

 

[apostolic4life]

...I have read through the entire thread and had to chime in. I do believe tipping is something one should do when going out to eat, and I think tipping should be based on the level of service received. Too often these discussions degrade into arguments of who's way is right or wrong, but the simple fact is we each must tip what we think is appropriate for the point in time that is at hand......each person's perception of service will be different, as will the amount we leave, but the simple fact is this, we should try to leave some form of tip if the service was acceptable. The only time I ever advocate no tip is when every point of service was lousy. I always tell my servers to keep their head up and do the best job they can even if the tip is small because if we make sure the job is done well it will all even out in the end.

With that said, I want to address a previous post about things that are not the fault of the server. Many times over, servers will blame every bad aspect of the meal on the kitchen/host(ess)/bar to protect their tip percentage. Many times I have had a server bring me food that had gotten cold or formed a skin on the sauce and they tried to blame the kitchen; the reality is the food sat in the window waiting for the server to get the food and deliver it to the table.......I have gotten beverages delivered that were not mine; the server blamed the bartender instead of taking responsibility for grabbing the wrong drinks. My point is this, not every mistake is some other person's fault, but servers like to make us think it is. When something happens, think of the customer not your tip percentage. If I have a server who owns up to an error, rather than shifting blame, it helps their tip; if the reverse is true it hurts their tip.

 

[crimsontide27]

I will give my opinion as I am a waiter myself.

Waiting tables is certainly not the easiest job in the world. Many times we have to deal with people that have unexpected problems elsewhere in their trip and its usually the server staff that gets to deal with all of their unhappiness.

Servers only get paid $3 an hour. What makes the difference between an excellant server and a pathetic one is the tips they make. As a server, it is my job to serve you.

In my experience, the faster and harder I work for you, the more compensation I get out of it. I could take my time when it comes to getting your refills or removing your dishes or whatever, but I choose not too because I know I am getting rewarded for my services rendered.

If people completely removed tipping from the equation, your service level...no matter where you went would be horrific.

Ask yourself how hard you would work for $3 an hour. And then ask yourself who in their right mind would want to work for $3 an hour.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that most places have stations for servers and the majority of nicer establishments only allow a server to have 3 table sections to insure they can deliver a proper experience for its guests.

Of course it all depends on where you are, but I can tell you first hand that at Disney people love to take their time when they are eating...and I know I would if I paid $200 for my family to go. Most server shifts are only 6 hours long or so, so by having a few people that tip very low that night, it really affects their bottom line that evening.

I dont usually tip based on a percentage. I base my tip on my experience. I know how hard they work and just how hard it is to please everyone. Sometimes Ive left a little, couple times I have been known to leave a "very" nice sum.

I make good money as a server, but thats because all my customers say Im very good at taking care of them. If I didnt make good money, of course I would quit. The tips keep me in the industry. I dont know of any good servers that would continue to wait tables if they couldnt expect a decent level of compensation. And of course if that was the case, all you could ever expect would be horrible servers left whereever you go.

In summation....Tip what you feel you can, but its a two way street. If you were to come back to that restaurant and people remembered you, you can be assured you wouldnt recieve the same level of service you expected...as the servers would concentrate more on the other guests where they would hope to recover the loss of having you in their section.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

pretentious

How so? Please define pretentious.

 

[dolce]

this is the reason i choose not to do the dining plan. not because i cant afford it but because i know that it will add up once you add tip to the meal. I would never eat at one of these restaurants and just walk out without tipping. to me its simply rude. reason why i will stick to more counter service and maybe go 2 times to a nice restaurant during my stay. so lets say you are not a waiter/waitress but yet you work in the medical field, and a certain patient doesnt like you, should you not get your hourly wage because of this?

 

[mom2my3kids]

Websters Dictionary:

tip - A small sum of money given as an acknowledgment of services rendered

gratuity - A favor or a gift, usually in the form of money, given in return for service

customary - 1. commonly practiced: usual.
2. Based on custom or tradition rather than
written law or contract.


Tipping/Gratuity is 100% voluntary!
It is a gift.
Customary is a very gray area, and depends on the individual.
It is not required unless posted, and at that point can no longer be defined as gratuity, it is then a required service charge.
You do not have to tip if you do not want to, and you still have the right to eat in any restaurant you choose.
Not tipping is not rude if you cannot afford it, however letting your server know this would be polite if you cannot.
Not tipping when you can afford it and received worthy service could very well be taken as rude by many, but is still a choice.

The above are my thoughts and oppinions, and are mostly backed by definition.

Personally as stated in my opening comment... I Tip.

For those of you who have continued on with your forceful thoughts, you are wrong. Telling people that your way and your belief is the only right one is wrong. Your self proclaimed rules only exist to you, and attempting to control others should be condemned. Any of you who further said false things against me without knowing me... shame on you.

Thank you to all of you who were a constructive part of this thread, and for those of you who welcomed me. I look forward to lots more conversation!

I have to laugh the stiffers and the bad tippers always have to prove their reasons for being such bad tippers. Karma will always bite you in the butt...Make sure you tell your server that is making 2.00 a hour that you plan on tipping poorly or nothing at all and I bet you get excellent service.. By the way most hoosiers are not like this poster, we know how to tip..

 

[disneyfav4ever]

How so? Please define pretentious.

I think he means we're making unjustified claims. I don't know how expressing our opinions is unjustified.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I do so many things that go against the grain of what society "demands" from who I love to who I worship. Why would I choose to allow society to tell me how I should spend my money?

Society isn't telling you how to spend your money (the IRS is, to a great degree, but that's a topic for a different day). Custom - not society - is indicating that if you choose to spend your money a certain way (a restaurant meal) then there are costs that need to be covered by the diner that do not appear on the menu.

 

[apostolic4life]

I will give my opinion as I am a waiter myself.

Waiting tables is certainly not the easiest job in the world. Many times we have to deal with people that have unexpected problems elsewhere in their trip and its usually the server staff that gets to deal with all of their unhappiness.

Servers only get paid $3 an hour. What makes the difference between an excellant server and a pathetic one is the tips they make. As a server, it is my job to serve you.

In my experience, the faster and harder I work for you, the more compensation I get out of it. I could take my time when it comes to getting your refills or removing your dishes or whatever, but I choose not too because I know I am getting rewarded for my services rendered.

If people completely removed tipping from the equation, your service level...no matter where you went would be horrific.

Ask yourself how hard you would work for $3 an hour. And then ask yourself who in their right mind would want to work for $3 an hour.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that most places have stations for servers and the majority of nicer establishments only allow a server to have 3 table sections to insure they can deliver a proper experience for its guests.

Of course it all depends on where you are, but I can tell you first hand that at Disney people love to take their time when they are eating...and I know I would if I paid $200 for my family to go. Most server shifts are only 6 hours long or so, so by having a few people that tip very low that night, it really affects their bottom line that evening.

I dont usually tip based on a percentage. I base my tip on my experience. I know how hard they work and just how hard it is to please everyone. Sometimes Ive left a little, couple times I have been known to leave a "very" nice sum.

I make good money as a server, but thats because all my customers say Im very good at taking care of them. If I didnt make good money, of course I would quit. The tips keep me in the industry. I dont know of any good servers that would continue to wait tables if they couldnt expect a decent level of compensation. And of course if that was the case, all you could ever expect would be horrible servers left whereever you go.

In summation....Tip what you feel you can, but its a two way street. If you were to come back to that restaurant and people remembered you, you can be assured you wouldnt recieve the same level of service you expected...as the servers would concentrate more on the other guests where they would hope to recover the loss of having you in their section.

I appreciate the very eloquent way you have stated your position.........if you ever find yourself in WV and in need of a job as a server I'll hire you!!! Good/great servers understand what their job is about and will do whatever it takes to make the customer happy........in more case than not, happy customers = good/great tips!! Thanks again for the way you worded your response!!

 

[patsal]

characterized by assumption of dignity or importance.
making an exaggerated outward show; ostentatious.


You know, kind of like going to an expensive restaurant and spending $200 on a meal and not leaving a fair tip for good service.

 

[catne]

Wowser, TiggerDad3, you started a bit of rousing entertainment for a boring Saturday afternoon while I wait for May & my Dis vacation..

Personally, I believe in tipping & tipping as well as I possibly can, which is typically at least 20% (and that includes tipping mousekeepers, whether or not they're supposed to be tipped.) But I can afford that now. It was not always like that. As a previous poster said, I personally want to reward anyone who will wait on me these days & clean up after me! As a mom of 4, I was the "maid, cook & chief bottle washer" for too many years...

That said, I don't presume to impose my tipping standards on anyone else, or decide how they should spend their vacation budgets. If you can afford to eat at tableservice restaurants after paying for Mouse hotels & Mouse park tickets, then go for it. If you can afford to tip on top of that, then tip. But I don't believe that people should be shut out when their dollars only stretch so far. Some have to squeeze every last bit out of that last nickel to buy the magic of Disney. And just because they're not as affluent doesn't mean they should stay home until they are. For many families, that would mean staying home until the kids grew up & moved away (as my husband often says, most middle class families discover they're "rich" as soon as the last kid moves out!) Bottom line is, we shouldn't shut people out of great vacation experiences just because they can't afford to do everything top of the line.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Once again... 5 pages and we have resorted to name calling....totally inappropriate to say that someone is a troll because they have a low post count. How do you know this is truly not a new poster? I moderate here and do not know, I am taking him at face value, he says he is a new poster, why would I question that.

Everytime one of these threads comes up, people become irate and judgmental. Personally...until Disney makes tipping mandatory as they have done with DDE....on all sit down restaurants, we can battle it out here all we want, people will tip if they so choose. It is voluntary right now so if they choose not to, no one will force them to do so. It is still a free country and voluntary means you have the choice.

I ask that we have a discussion without name calling respecting each other's opinion.....Consider this a warning, any further arguing will result in this thread being locked...

 

[kaytieeldr]

You do not have to tip if you do not want to, and you still have the right to eat in any restaurant you choose.

Mm, nope. Unless the establishment is violating existing laws, you do not have a "right" to eat in any restaurant you choose. You have the right to eat in any restaurant in which the proprietor or manager chooses to allow you to eat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

but the simple fact is we each must tip what we think is appropriate for the point in time that is at hand......each person's perception of service will be different, as will the amount we leave, but the simple fact is this, we should try to leave some form of tip if the service was acceptable.

While your point is excellent, there is a big difference between
tipping based on one's perception of service
and
opting not to tip, period, several months before entering the restaurant