Speaking of Rachael Ray/HORRIBLE TIPPER

[SaraJayne]

I am from SC and here....10% is all your gonna get!! 15% at a really nice place-if you have 6 or more...and that's IF you're any good. The Disney's typical 18% tip is UNHEARD OF around here. That's a meal by itself. My husband has a VERRRRY hard time with this when we are at Dis. I have to say- we never leave 18%. The food is so outrageously expensive, we make it to Disney by the skin of our teeth! There really should be way to help out those families that really want to go, and can't because it's so expensive. The average person these days can't do it without getting a LOAN or just breaking the bank. The food always costs us more than the room or anything. And the food is not the greatest I've ever had and we've never had service that was even worth 15%...just "here's your dinner, would you like more tea and have a good night............" Nothing really outstanding. But...we don't go to Dis for the food we go for the FUN
Up north, people make a whole lot more money and Disney seems to think we all do. I LOVE YOU DISNEY, but the tipping fee is rediculous. I used to wait tables and I know it's alot of work (we did not even get 10%- "$1 per person" was the norm. And alot of folks here still think it! It was tuff... especially on busy nights with rude, hungry, tired people. But 18%... is just too much. When we are treated good, we tip accordingly. But to tell me I HAVE to leave 18%....nope. I would have flipped if anyone EVER gave me 18%!! NOBODY gets it in our town!

Here, 20% is the norm.

 

[granmanh603]

Then why are automatic gratuities only 18%?

Yep that is what it is at Disney if you use the TIW card... we usually tip 20% but when using that card figure that is what it should be...and yes on most menus when they mention tip added for parties of 6 or more it is 18%. The thing I don't like is the waitperson not telling you it was added, which they often do or I should say don't do at Disney with the TIW card...
And the only time I remember 10% in my life time was way back in the 60's maybe 70's

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I just have to say a few things as someone who has worked in the restaurant business for over 20 years.. First off.. I work in MA.. where we do not get minimum wage.. If you work in a restaurant the restaurant is required to give you $2.67 an hour.. Not minimum wage.. SO, everything that i make is in tips.. I work my BUTT off.. Lots of times people aren't nice to me.. They are demanding and rude, but I wait on them the same way I wait on my biggest tippers with a SMILE.. This is MY livelihood. It is how I put food on my table, it is my family survived when my husband lost his job. I don't have a busser, I don't have someone that does the work for.. If I don't do it, and do it well, then customers are going to see that and I won't make any money..
I hear ALOT of times from the younger kids, " I am just working here until I get a real job".. guess what?? it is a real job.. it may not be a job that you think is important, but what is the difference?? I work as hard as anyone else to feed my family.. Imagine?? for 1 minute that your company came to you and decided not to pay you what you think you deserve.. how would that make you feel??
By the way, I am not just waiting on you to get my $5 or $6.. I am washing dishes, washing glasses, refilling condiments, paper products, taking out the garbage, bussing tables, cleaning tables.. changing water, detergents, vacuuming, the list goes on and on.. But, this is MY JOB and if I don't do all these things I don't get paid..
As for Rachel Ray.. I used to be a fan.. and then I started reading about her.. and how from an early age she worked at a restaurant.. i think shame on her.. She knows how hard we work and for her to be stingy on the tipping, it made me decide.. I will be happy to NOT be a fan anymore..
This is just my story..

 

[SaraJayne]

I just have to say a few things as someone who has worked in the restaurant business for over 20 years.. First off.. I work in MA.. where we do not get minimum wage.. If you work in a restaurant the restaurant is required to give you $2.67 an hour.. Not minimum wage.. SO, everything that i make is in tips.. I work my BUTT off.. Lots of times people aren't nice to me.. They are demanding and rude, but I wait on them the same way I wait on my biggest tippers with a SMILE.. This is MY livelihood. It is how I put food on my table, it is my family survived when my husband lost his job. I don't have a busser, I don't have someone that does the work for.. If I don't do it, and do it well, then customers are going to see that and I won't make any money..
I hear ALOT of times from the younger kids, " I am just working here until I get a real job".. guess what?? it is a real job.. it may not be a job that you think is important, but what is the difference?? I work as hard as anyone else to feed my family.. Imagine?? for 1 minute that your company came to you and decided not to pay you what you think you deserve.. how would that make you feel??
By the way, I am not just waiting on you to get my $5 or $6.. I am washing dishes, washing glasses, refilling condiments, paper products, taking out the garbage, bussing tables, cleaning tables.. changing water, detergents, vacuuming, the list goes on and on.. But, this is MY JOB and if I don't do all these things I don't get paid..
As for Rachel Ray.. I used to be a fan.. and then I started reading about her.. and how from an early age she worked at a restaurant.. i think shame on her.. She knows how hard we work and for her to be stingy on the tipping, it made me decide.. I will be happy to NOT be a fan anymore..
This is just my story..

And *this* is exactly why I tip like I do. In my state, wait staff is paid around $2.50 an hour and tips are expected to make up the difference. I find that disgusting. I would never, ever want to be a waitress or waiter.

If the service was outstanding, I've been known to tip 50% on a bill. If service is lacking, the tip reflects that (typically 10%). Since 20% is the norm here, the servers should realize it's a reflection of their service.

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you work in a restaurant the restaurant is required to give you $2.67 an hour.

What? You all got a raise? That's it. I'm cutting back on my standard tip to compensate. Note to self: tip only 19.974% on all restaurant meals...

 

[wasabi girl]

Yep, I quit watching Rachel Ray because the poor tipping. She is presented as an example of how to behave when traveling and I figured that if she isn't shown tipping, if it isn't considered important, then this is not a show I would watch. They always showed Samantha Brown tipping the bell services guys for carrying her bags, not how much, but something. I appreciated that. Tipping is always a hot topic. I am sometimes annoyed by having to tip but it is just part of the deal in the US, and I am not going to stiff the servers just because I wish things were different. If I don't feel like tipping, I go to Counter Service places.

 

[Macprincess]

My question then is, why is it that the waitstaff at a place serving $250 meals for 2 people deserve $50/hour just for 1 table and the waitstaff at a chain restaurant only deserves $10 for that same amount of work? It doesn't take more work to bring a plate of $250 food to me than it does to bring $50 food to me. That is the problem of tipping on a percentage. Tips should be a $ amount, not based on the price or overprice of a meal.

Because odds are pretty darn good that the server woking at a place that is serving a meal that cost $250.00 for two people has been a professional server for a while. A guest at a high end restaurant who is there for a special night out and doesn't dine in this type of establishment often may not understand that there is a great deal more to working in a four or five star restaurant then in a local restaurant that charges $50.00 for two for a night out. In addition because of the quality of service you should have in a restaurant such as this the server will have fewer tables and guest here often stay much longer which means fewer turn over of those tables.

As someone who waited tables all through my University years I can assure you that when you work in a high end restaurant you are required to have a ton more knowledge and experience. When you’re working at a local Cracker Barrel or Mom and Pop restaurant it’s doubtful that you must know every ingredient in every item, how everything is prepared on the menu and if said items can be prepared in other manners that are not on the menu. It’s crucial that you understand about food allergies and possible food allergy cross contaminations. You must also be able to guide guest who have strict dietary needs through the menu regardless if these needs are personal or health related. Odds are this server must also have an extensive knowledge of the wine menu and pairings with each entrée. They also need to understand all ingredients in a full bar and know the differences between a top shelf alcohol and a house pour. Table service is indeed more complex at this level than just delivering food to a table.

A server at this level is working in a career. They work extremely hard and in most cases it took several years to get the experience required to obtain the job as server at a high end establishment. It is customary to tip 20% of the bill even when the bill is expensive. The government is going to tax that server based on their sales each evening. Regardless of the amount the server takes in as tips they must tip out bartenders, food runners, bus people and many time host staff according to their sales of the evening. Not tipping them properly (when service is at the level it should be) is very much like saying I want to buy Drexel Heritage caliber furniture but only pay Rooms to Go prices. If you can’t afford to dine and tip properly in a certain establishment then dine elsewhere. There are tons of wonderful dining options in America where you don’t pay these prices. I know because most of the time I’m not able to afford these type of establishment either. However, when I splurge I always make certain the server is tipped accordingly.

 

[DaisyD]

Okay... I have a scenario.

If you and your friend go to a restaurant such as the Old Hickory steak house at Gaylord and the entree costs $56 - the kobe beef filet, and you have appetizers and desserts and a glass of wine each and the bill comes to about $250 and you've been there about 1 hour total, do you think that warrants a $50 tip (20%) for two customers for 1 hour for the waiter? And - he's doing 5-6 tables at the same time - not all evening - all evening he may do 15 tables - and tip sharing.

I should add that this was a real situation - real check - I was one of the 2 dining and the food was excellent.

We don't take into account how expensive a restaurant is when we tip. We will tip 20% or more if we have good service no matter if the bill is $50 or $300. If you are going out and paying $250 for a meal for two you most certainly can afford a nice tip or don't bother going. What does it matter what the waiter is getting per hour? If you think they are rolling in the cash there is nothing stopping you from waiting tables too. I wanted to add too that most servers in higher end restaurants are career servers. They aren't getting 6-8 tables an hour. They and their helpers are there to serve and take care of you and perhaps 2 or 3 other tables. They aren't your lower end restaurants like TGIF.

 

[DaisyD]

My question then is, why is it that the waitstaff at a place serving $250 meals for 2 people deserve $50/hour just for 1 table and the waitstaff at a chain restaurant only deserves $10 for that same amount of work? It doesn't take more work to bring a plate of $250 food to me than it does to bring $50 food to me. That is the problem of tipping on a percentage. Tips should be a $ amount, not based on the price or overprice of a meal.

If you think the meal is overpriced then why eat there? I certainly wouldn't. Tipping, while optional, should be based on the % of the meal cost, not whether you think the meal is overpriced. No one is being forced to go there.

 

[Judique]

Well, back to the original thread topic ....I think Rachael Ray has a responsibility to divulge her tipping and tax as a part of the budget.

 

[tjevans]

I am from SC and here....10% is all your gonna get!! 15% at a really nice place-if you have 6 or more...and that's IF you're any good.

...

I LOVE YOU DISNEY, but the tipping fee is rediculous. I used to wait tables and I know it's alot of work (we did not even get 10%- "$1 per person" was the norm. And alot of folks here still think it! It was tuff... especially on busy nights with rude, hungry, tired people. But 18%... is just too much. When we are treated good, we tip accordingly. But to tell me I HAVE to leave 18%....nope. I would have flipped if anyone EVER gave me 18%!! NOBODY gets it in our town!

Really? I live in Mississippi--poorest state in the country. 15 % is the minimum to tip around here unless you have bad service.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You all know it's moot, right? No new episodes of the show have been taped in almost six years - so it really doesn't matter how much it appears Ray tips on TV.

 

[kathie859]

You all know it's moot, right? No new episodes of the show have been taped in almost six years - so it really doesn't matter how much it appears Ray tips on TV.

Excellent point! I wonder if anyone could eat on $40 per day like the old series did? Unless it's three meals at various fast food restaurants, I think it would be difficult to do.. At least not eat as well as the series projected.

 

[Minnesota!]

When I hit adulthood at 18 and started working/paying for my own meals out - 10% WAS what was tipped. Just moved up to 15% around when I got married (2000), and now I do 20%+. I turned 18 in 1996....so 15 years ago it was the norm to tip 10% here.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Excellent point! I wonder if anyone could eat on $40 per day like the old series did? Unless it's three meals at various fast food restaurants, I think it would be difficult to do.. At least not eat as well as the series projected.

Oh, I can do it. Does it have to be nutritious, or can I make my own choices?

Going back to the Boston episode, she had a muffin (and coffee?*) for breakfast. I could get a pastry and coffee from my local Italian bakery for under $5; or a Dunkin Wake-up wrap and coffee for for under $4; or a bacon/egg/cheese & coffee for $4.95 (typical breakfast, so I know the price to the penny ); or oatmeal & coffee at McDonald's under $4. So, $5 for breakfast, all with tax.

Okay, lunch. McDonald's salad is, or was, $5.03 with tax; adding a drink at $2.13 comes to $7.16. Or at Kelly's I can get a roast beef sandwich (bad Bay Stater for not liking seafood... oh, wait, it's Kelly's Roast Beef!) for $6.25 and a soda for $1.95; with tax that's $8.75**. Or, since this is Anytober at Subway, I gat a footlong sub that would actually cover two meals for $5; add $2 for a drink, then tax, I'm at $7.45.

I think I'll go with the bagel sandwich and the chicken salad - so $4.95 + $7.16 = $12.11
That leaves me with $17.89 for dinner, beverage, tax, tip, treat (drink/dessert/etc.) Well, according to tv.com, some of the tips in the show say to order half portions, or appetizers as entrées... I'm going to cheat a little here .

Olive Garden's never-ending pasta & sauce for $8.95 I couldn't get the menu to display on my ITouch, so for my drink I'm just going to go with the ubiquitous water with lemon . The meal tax here is 6.25%, so for my convenience I'm going to calculate the tax+tip at 25% overall, or $2.26, for a dinner total of $12.25 - rounded up so I'm not tipping an odd number of cents.

Okay, subtract that $12.25 from the $17.89 I had left after lunch, and I have more than $5 left for my treat - a dessert, a decadent candy, a glass of wine... Personally, I'd hit up the Market Basket supermarket up the street from Olive Garden. They've got some lush individual pastries, and the Italian bakery I mentioned earlier would be closed by now.

Disclaimer: no, I never considered doing this before; all pricing is either based on actual purchases or researched while writing this post.

*I have the $40 a Day book around somewhere; I could get the actual detail eventually.
** where I calculated in my head, I tried to estimate high.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Have you ever seen her show where she goes places and tries to eat all day on just $40?

I have started noticing she doesn't really tip very well if at all. She will have a $12 ticket and say her TAX & TIP were a dollar something. Just the tax would be almost a dollar and a tip, a good tip on a $12 ticket would be $2.40. So she is not really tipping.

Once I noticed that I started watching what her TAX & TIP were for every meal and she is only really leaving less than one dollar for a tip every time. Sometimes just 50 cents or less.

It made me rethink how I feel about her.

If she is NOT tipping to save money then don't say anything about the tip just tell how much the tax cost and leave the tip completely out of it. But to be fair if you are going to try to eat on a $40 a day budget then tips are part of that cost at table service meals.



I am going to post this here so that if you don't read all the way through these posts. If you don't believe she is a bad tipper or that ppl don't think of her as a bad tipper GOOGLE "Rachael Ray bad tipper" and read all about it.

1. Some of the places where she shows "tax and tip" don't have tips....

2. I ate at a resturant where she was doing the show one time. I am not sure what she actually tipped, but the truth was ... she didn't really even pay! LOL!

Was this really a budget board thread? Shouldn't "trash talking of celebrities" be on the Community board? (I know ANYTHING GOES on the budget board but... REALLY! LOL!)

And "google" LOL! Just because it's on the internet does NOT mean I have to believe it.. ("Google" Martians on Earth.... fun stuff there!)

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yep, I quit watching Rachel Ray because the poor tipping. She is presented as an example of how to behave when traveling and I figured that if she isn't shown tipping, if it isn't considered important, then this is not a show I would watch. They always showed Samantha Brown tipping the bell services guys for carrying her bags, not how much, but something. I appreciated that. Tipping is always a hot topic. I am sometimes annoyed by having to tip but it is just part of the deal in the US, and I am not going to stiff the servers just because I wish things were different. If I don't feel like tipping, I go to Counter Service places.

I think you should apply the same standard to Ms. Brown. After all she tells you how much she "paid" for that hotel... which she got for FREE! So if "truth" is your standard then.. Bye bye Samantha (Do you really think Disney CHARGES her for those free advertisements? Are anyone else for that matter LOL!)

 

[kaytieeldr]

And "google" LOL! Just because it's on the internet does NOT mean I have to believe it.. ("Google" Martians on Earth.... fun stuff there!)

Well, when I took the bait and did the search, one of the top results was "34 notoriously bad celebrity tippers". Sure, Rachael Ray is on that list - but her (typical/everyday?) 10% makes her look generous compared to some of the others: http://www.glamorati.com/celebrity/2008/34-notoriously-bad-celebrity-tippers/

 

[tlbwriter]

The amount she tips on a personal level is just that...personal, so I won't comment on that.

But, she is doing a show that is presenting food to be under $40.00/day. If she has to tip less than the regional norm, or not at all, in order to make this $40.00 budget work, then her whole show is bogus.

These same threads have come up on the Restaurant board, and people are reminded that it's not fair to stiff a server for a tip (unless that server was horrible), in order to make a budget work.

The same principle should apply to Rachel.

I agree with this. If she claimed you could eat for $40 a day, and she wasn't including reasonable tips in that $40, she should have disclosed that fact. Otherwise the whole show is a lie. No, tipping is not required, but it's certainly customary.

I think you should apply the same standard to Ms. Brown. After all she tells you how much she "paid" for that hotel... which she got for FREE! So if "truth" is your standard then.. Bye bye Samantha (Do you really think Disney CHARGES her for those free advertisements? Are anyone else for that matter LOL!)

I don't see how this is even remotely related. Does Samantha Brown have a show called "$100 a Night" where she claims you can stay at a deluxe resort for $100 a night?

 

[wasabi girl]

I agree with this. If she claimed you could eat for $40 a day, and she wasn't including reasonable tips in that $40, she should have disclosed that fact. Otherwise the whole show is a lie. No, tipping is not required, but it's certainly customary.



I don't see how this is even remotely related. Does Samantha Brown have a show called "$100 a Night" where she claims you can stay at a deluxe resort for $100 a night?

Of course they were related, I watched them both!

Really I knew many people who watched both and considered them hmmm...well not as role models but as examples. I always thought that Rachel Ray was a bad one, Samantha better. That's just my opinion. I wonder if either of them actually paid for anything? I honestly doubt it. So I guess, the point is sort of moot.