Tipflation

[MIGrandma]

Have you ever been a server? It’s really hard work, definitely more challenging than a minimum wage cashier job. I haven’t done it in over 30 years and still have some of the nightmares.

I retired from waitressing in 2008, and I, too, still have nightmares about the job. 99% of the customers were great, but oh that 1% could sure ruin a shift sometimes.

 

[dpswift]

I think they should be required to point out that a gratuity was already added for a large party when they bring you the bill. I know it already says it in small print on the menu but by the time the meal is over that's not on my mind. So many times I have double tipped and only realized it after the fact. It makes me mad. Yes, I know I should carefully read the bill but when we're out to dinner with all of our kids and grandkids, having a fun time, I just don't tear myself away from the conversation to review the bill. Again, I know it's my own fault but I think it's shady when the server doesn't mention it or circle it on the bill so that it stands out.

Totally agree. Whenever I am not paying and it is a large party I always mention iT to my host. I know my father has more than double tip at times often for mediocre service

 

[snowwite]

Well my mom was an RN, and she made a living, but nothing like what RNs make now. The nurses at the hospital my mom worked at for 40 years went on strike, and the union said entry level for an RN under their contract was $130,000 a year! My mom retired in 1985 and never made more than $30,000 as an OR RN.

She retired when I started.
I have never known anyone making 130k as an RN

 

[mjkacmom]

She retired when I started.
I have never known anyone making 130k as an RN

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/...d-nurse-salary-SRCH_IL.0,13_IM615_KO14,30.htm

My 25 year old son’s friend is a RN and makes 6 figures, but he works a ton of hours.

 

[tvguy]

She retired when I started.
I have never known anyone making 130k as an RN

$65.03 average an hour here.
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Sutter-Health/salaries/Registered-Nurse/Roseville-CA

 

[Babs Johnson]

I remember recently we went out, and it was a group of like 8 (which I am assuming automatically builds in a tip). The receipt showed that there was a 20% tip imposed into the bill already.... THEN at the bottom it had "tip suggestions" like 18%, 20% etc...on top of the price that included a tip.

A few times I went out with a larger group and an automatic gratuity was added. The menu informed us before ordering. A few times the auto tip was LESS than what we otherwise would have given, like 18%. I don’t remember the bill suggesting an additional gratuity, but I don’t doubt it happens.

i’ve heard of places adding an automatic “Service Charge” but they make it a point of saying it is NOT a gratuity. If I ever encountered that, I’d pay the service charge but wouldn’t add anything on top. Too bad for servers who willingly work in such places.

I fully understand why many places charge auto tips on large parties. From long experience they know that in many cases the party leaves a minimal tip or none at all.

 

[focusondisney]

$65.03 average an hour here.
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Sutter-Health/salaries/Registered-Nurse/Roseville-CA

It also says… “60% above National Average”. Good for them. But that’s not what most RNs make.

 

[snowwite]

$65.03 average an hour here.
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Sutter-Health/salaries/Registered-Nurse/Roseville-CA

Oh CA , no doubt they make a LOT more there.

 

[disykat]

I don't have any problem with charity collecting at businesses. I very seldom give that way because we have a charitable giving plan we stick to, but I think it's a great way to invite/encourage giving from people who might choose to give their excess change or round up. I think it's a smart fundraising technique, but see it as an invitation, not an obligation and just say no thank you with no guilt whatsoever.

 

[Pink Partridge]

She retired when I started.
I have never known anyone making 130k as an RN

Oh I do.

 

[tony67]

Yes, where I live we have started seeing a back of house fee plus a fee to use a credit card.

CC fee, although I can understand it at some level, but I'm guessing they charge more than the CC charges them.

Back of the house fee is also ridiculous, honestly that should be part of the waitstaffs tips.
Some places are starting to do that, but not many.

It's crazy that you go to culinary school and get pretty much minimum wage, but you can walk in the door, be a waitress and make $30-$40 an hour carrying the plate from the person who actually made it to the table. There is a bit more to it, but still ridiculous.

Expecting the customer to pay that on top of the tip - I would not be going back and I'd deduct it from my tip.

 

[dpswift]

CC fee, although I can understand it at some level, but I'm guessing they charge more than the CC charges them.

For the most part I understand this one. In my area it is only done by a few local restaurants and it is a choice that the customer makes. I always bring cash to our weekly pizza outing, but my kids use card.

The one time that it bothered me was at the NYS fair. The Fair only accepted credit card to get in but most of the food venders charged a cc fee.

 

[tony67]

For the most part I understand this one. In my area it is only done by a few local restaurants and it is a choice that the customer makes. I always bring cash to our weekly pizza outing, but my kids use card.

The one time that it bothered me was at the NYS fair. The Fair only accepted credit card to get in but most of the food venders charged a cc fee.

Reminds me of the worst - King Richard's Fair. Thing is a total scam. It is also cash only (or was 15 years ago) and you buy tickets to use at the booths. If you don't have cash you can use their convenient ATMs with crazy fees, and if you use a CC its a cash advance. (I refuse to use debit cards)

Last I heard they still did this.

Oh and those tickets, you always seem to have one or two extra ones you cant use.

I know some people love it, but if you are in the area avoid King Richard's Fair like the plague IMO

 

[Pink Partridge]

The whole "service charge is not a tip" has had me wiping certain restaurants off of my list. I will not step foot in these places. Some of these service charges are so incredibly high. I don't know why anyone would be a server at a place like that. Waitstaff has to get the short end of the stick in those kinds of places.

 

[Pink Partridge]

....., but now with sky high prices and expected tips at 25%+, we eat at home a lot.

Same here. We have actually enjoyed buying better ingredients and finer wines/spirits for home. We still save tons of money just by making our own weekend meals, even if it is higher end meats or seafood. Eating at a restaurant has become absurdly expensive. Tips now expected at 28% to 35%. And the quality of food is going down at even our favorite spots. Just not worth it.

 

[dpswift]

Same here. We have actually enjoyed buying better ingredients and finer wines/spirits for home. We still save tons of money just by making our own weekend meals, even if it is higher end meats or seafood. Eating at a restaurant has become absurdly expensive. Tips now expected at 28% to 35%. And the quality of food is going down at even our favorite spots. Just not worth it.

Agree. I don’t know of any restaurants around here with high service charges but we don’t go to high end restaurants.

I have been cooking more lately because I have gone from working 2 jobs to 1. They had tbones on sale last week so I bought some. Also I am trying to recipes

 

[dvcgirl67]

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/...d-nurse-salary-SRCH_IL.0,13_IM615_KO14,30.htm

My 25 year old son’s friend is a RN and makes 6 figures, but he works a ton of hours.

Also in NJ....nurses at our hospital system start at $48 an hour...or 100K a year, which lines up exactly with CPI and factoring in that nearly 30 years ago, I started as a nurse and made $24 an hour, or 50K a year. My SIL manages two units in this system and she told me she has RN's who have been with her for 10-15 years who are over 150K a year as they saw big jumps in pay during covid.

 

[Pink Partridge]

They had tbones on sale last week so I bought some.

Are you like us? When you get a good deal on steaks, do you say over and over again "We couldn't have even eaten at McDonald's for this price!"

 

[tony67]

Are you like us? When you get a good deal on steaks, do you say over and over again "We couldn't have even eaten at McDonald's for this price!"

Pretty much every time we go out to eat we say - I could have made this at home and saved $150.
We are almost always disappointed, and paying $35 for a $12 bottle of wine irks me.

So we have not eaten out since.. IDK .. a few months other than when I go to the pub, which is also rare because it is so expensive. By the time you tip it's $10 for a beer. I can get 1/6 keg for about $100, and that is around 40 pints I think - and no tip.

 

[ronandannette]

Have you ever been a server? It’s really hard work, definitely more challenging than a minimum wage cashier job. I haven’t done it in over 30 years and still have some of the nightmares.

Nope. I’ve always worked in a field that requires education, training and years of expertise to excel. Work directly customer-facing, on complex issues much more impactful than the temperature of a steak, for people much more emotionally vested and demanding than restaurant guests and where relationships must be maintained for years, not hours.

Hard, thankless work, and yet I’m not curing cancer, caring for the ill or elderly, responding to crisis, fighting crime, educating children or defending my country. Neither what I do, or waiting on tables is heroic. When was the last time you saw someone that actually is, expecting a tip?