Tipping Advice from former waitgirl!

[MagicAllison]

So because someone sits at a table and takes up a servers time the server should be tipped above and beyond 20%? Since when did 20% become 'just' 20%. Apparently now that 20% is not generous enough we should all stay home to eat and the servers can see how much they make in tips with no one to wait on.

I always tip 20% for good service and a little more for exceptional service as many do, but to act as if 20% isn't good enough comes off as sounding presumptuous.

I agree. It's been 10 years since I worked in restaurants and I can't understand why things have changed so much! It used to be that 15% was standard and when servers earned 20% they were very happy! Why is 15% now a bad tip and 20% is expected? It's not like the level of service has improved immensely over the last 10 years!

If we get treated like crap we tip around 15% just so we can return to the place without the nickname "stiffers". If we're treated really well and the server overlooks the fact that we have 3 kids and is friendly right away I'll order a drink and we'll get an appitizer to up our bill total and then leave 20%. I also always pick food etc. off the floor and make the kids help before we leave- not because of the server, but because it's a respect factor. There isn't anywhere in the world I'd go and leave a mess on the floor.

 

[conandrob240]

Give me a break with the 30%! I waitressed for years and years while in school and made great $ getting an average of 20% for the night. Some left less, my best customers left more and it all balanced out to anywhere from 15-25% of my total checks for the night. And while a little hard being on my feet all night, in general it was pretty easy work for great $. I start at 15% for basic average service and I often tip more where deserved. I have occassionally tipped 30% or even higher but only in cases of truly exceptional service.

 

[waynesgirl]

When you worked at the rental car company, I have to beg to differ as to your motives for cleaning out the cars. You did it because you were told to do so by your superiors. I find it hard to believe that your only intention was to care for the customer. It was because it was your your job and you had to do it.

As a matter of fact I was the supervisor-it was my branch and I was the person to report to and also the person who took the blame. I received 2 major service awards when some people there for years longer never received anything. I love customer service- it was why I went to college and now I train people the very dying form of customer service-now days there are SO many employers that don't train, they just fire.

I don't care what anyone tips, I just thought it would be nice to see it from someone else's view considering that so many other posters and threads have been really quick to say they don't tip or don't know what to tip.

Again, everybody enjoy your Disney Magic, regardless of what you tip or don't.

 

[MagicAllison]

I am not sure where you get that "our" waiters refuse to wait on families with children or single women. I have never seen this once in all of the years I have been going to resteraunts, anywhere.

I have been a hostess at 3 different restaurants and at all 3 places the servers who didn't want kids in their section were very vocal about it to us. And at times I'd be forced to seat a family in their section because we were slammed and the kid-hating server had the only open table and the next 4 parties on the waitlist had kids. And yes the first thing I'd do is walk by the server and whisper an "I'm sorry".

Occasionally a server would be so put out by it they'd pass the table off to another server. And we'd never report this to a manager because it was an unspoken "code" between us.

All servers have their preferances. For every server who hates kids tables, another one like them. I had one server who loved old ladies. He was very polite and always came across well with them and made good tips because of it.

 

[lmhall2000]

Wow! 15 pages...can't read them all...but I think starting at 30% is not realistic for most folks....I can see her empathy because she used to be a server...I, too, was a server, my husband when we met was a server...he easily made over 50k a year on tips alone! College student at that! Sure, they only get paid $2.50 per hour but that is PAY and goes towards their taxes...I can stake a claim here that 90% of servers don't claim all their tips...so they're actually making MORE than you and I who have it all recorded and taken out.

EXCELLENT service (less than 10%) gets 20% from us

Good service (about 70%) gets 15% from us

Poor service (about 10%) gets 10%

Beyond repair service gets ZILCH and a handwritten note that explains why

Not that difficult...maybe once or twice we might have rounded up a bill of $60 to $100...but not much!


Each to their own, I just don't think 80% of us will follow the OP's "recommendations"

Tara

 

[stellablue]

So because someone sits at a table and takes up a servers time the server should be tipped above and beyond 20%? Since when did 20% become 'just' 20%. Apparently now that 20% is not generous enough we should all stay home to eat and the servers can see how much they make in tips with no one to wait on.

I always tip 20% for good service and a little more for exceptional service as many do, but to act as if 20% isn't good enough comes off as sounding presumptuous.

20% is my standard for good service basically everywhere I go where tips are necessary (even pizza delivery). It's rare that I leave less, but then again, I've been lucky enough to have never experienced truly aweful service.

Just to throw in my opinion about why someone might want to leave more than 20% if they occupy a table for an extended amount of time, I would say it's because if they are just sitting there talking for an extended amount of time and not racking up much of a bill for the time, that server is losing out on tips they could have been getting for other tables. Also, one might take into consideration how long they are staying there after closing.

My DBF is a server at an upscale restaurant in downtown Boston and he is not allowed to inform a party if the restaurant is closed. He just has to wait it out until they leave which can run into over an hour after the restaurant closes sometimes. Sometimes they are considerate and tip extra for the inconvenience, other times they could care less.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I have been a hostess at 3 different restaurants and at all 3 places the servers who didn't want kids in their section were very vocal about it to us. And at times I'd be forced to seat a family in their section because we were slammed and the kid-hating server had the only open table and the next 4 parties on the waitlist had kids. And yes the first thing I'd do is walk by the server and whisper an "I'm sorry".Occasionally a server would be so put out by it they'd pass the table off to another server. And we'd never report this to a manager because it was an unspoken "code" between us.

All servers have their preferances. For every server who hates kids tables, another one like them. I had one server who loved old ladies. He was very polite and always came across well with them and made good tips because of it.

You were sorry!? You have got to be kidding me? I wouldn't have kept a server with that kind of attitude and (lack of) work ethic for more than 5 minutes!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Oh boy what a bad subject. My daughter is a waitress, I hope you all know that they make no money other than what you are tipping. So if you tie up a table for a bit and leave just a 20% tip that is what they made for the hour or two you have been sitting there, and no more. If you are a large party then the waitstaffer has no other parties to make any money at. Lets not forget they are running around trying to make you happy.

So, now we are supposed to wolf down our food and rush right out the door because we are only tipping 20%? Let's not forget....without the customer....she would not have a job or any tips!

 

[sjaakie]

So, now we are supposed to wolf down our food and rush right out the door because we are only tipping 20%? Let's not forget....without the customer....she would not have a job or any tips!

Good morning.
I wonder if restaurants are there for waiters ore costumers?

Maybe they could hang a box outside where we could leave our tip and not have to go inside where we could disturb the rest of the waiters.

More and more I get the impression that guests are something like flies that you have to get out as soon as possible.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Good morning.
I wonder if restaurants are there for waiters ore costumers?

Maybe they could hang a box outside where we could leave our tip and not have to go inside where we could disturb the rest of the waiters.

More and more I get the impression that guests are something like flies that you have to get out as soon as possible.

You made my day! Hope you are feeling well!

 

[sjaakie]

You made my day! Hope you are feeling well!

Thanks, just back from a week in hospital but my lap top goes with me.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Oh....by the way....the box thing....don't give them any ideas!

 

[sjaakie]

Oh....by the way....the box thing....don't give them any ideas!

Pssssssst we keep that our little secret.
But seriously would you hire any person that refuses to serve on families ore whatever?

And yes I have worked behind the counter myself for 15 years but if I told my boss that I would not help children ore Eskimo people ore people with red hair I would have been without a job in five minutes.

 

[MagicAllison]

You were sorry!? You have got to be kidding me? I wouldn't have kept a server with that kind of attitude and (lack of) work ethic for more than 5 minutes!

Yeah I said I was sorry to them Hostesses are not managers (at least not at any of the places I worked at) so we had no real authority over servers. We were in charge of the front of the house but pretty much worked for the servers because they are the one's who tip us out at the end of the night. Only diff is that we got paid a higher hourly wage than the servers.

That's where the "code" comes in. The last thing a hostess wants is to get a bad rep with servers because then they all will tip out crappy.

One thing to keep in mind at any restaurant is if your server doesn't get to you right away, it's sometimes the hostesses fault. They've slammed a server with too many tables in a short amount of time instead of rotating the tables. This is also the reason why you sometimes see an empty table but they aren't seating the next party at it. Chances are the server isn't good enough to handle another table at that moment.

Anyway, I didn't mean to single you out and didn't mean it in a negative way. I just meant to point out that there are servers that don't serve families with kids if possible- even at kid friendly restaurants

 

[BabyPiglet]

We usually tip around 18%. As far as making it easy for the server, sorry. I don't go to a restaurant to care about the servers. That's their job, that's why I tip them. Of course I say please and thank you and don't try to rush them, god knows their job must be demanding, but I most definitely don't focus all my attention on making the waiter happy. I could've stayed home.

And before anyone asks it, no I've never been a waitress.

 

[apostolic4life]

I am not sure what is wrong with that or why that is "greedy" as long as they are doing what they feel is necessary to earn that tip.

I think this is the real issue at hand for most people who oppose the OP.........since when has it been the servers idea or feeling that determines the tip? The customer is the recipient of the service, therefore the customer's feelings are the ones that should count.

At WDW most servers are in their early to mid twenties and have been raised in a generation where effort was valued more than result, which brings me to this point: In the real world (anyone who has worked in this country knows) results are the measuring stick used to justify wages. We as a society have brought our children up to expect great reward just because they put forth some effort with little result. Showering people with praise and recognition for minimal effort just for the sake of good self-esteem has really damaged the results produced by our young workforce. Many people who do strive to be the best, often get discouraged when they see the same rewards given to those who are willing to just skate by. Does anyone else think this could be some of the issue at hand?

As a server, the required result should be a customer that leaves the restaurant satisfied; this customer usually will tip appropriately, although some (out of ignorance or spite) will not. The reward given should match the result as perceived by the customer; it should not be because the server (in their mind's eye) perceives an adequate effort.

Just an observation from a guy who has 15+ years in the business. And yes, I have waited tables, washed dishes and even scraped the gum from under tables in restaurants during my career.

 

[apostolic4life]

And for the record, I think it is very rude to generalize about people (servers specifically) as much as you are doing with your "self-entitled and skin-crawling" posts. You don't even know these people. I guess it is easy to call people names behind the anonymity of the computer screen as you accuse the servers of doing.

As the pot calls the kettle black.

 

[apostolic4life]

I don't understand why so many people think that they are going above and beyond at work. I have seen nothing but a decline in customer service and when people mention lousy service it seems to end up being the fault of the consumer.

The mindset of many of our young people today allows them to rationalize everything through their narrow viewpoint (basically a me first attitude), hence, the notion of "I am the best at everything" is their motto even if it is far from being accurate. My PP gives my ideas on the huge decline in work ethic and dedication in todays world, but I am sure I will take some heat over that one.......that's ok, I have on my asbestos undies and flame retardant smile!!!!

 

[apostolic4life]

Serving tables is hard work and most servers do enough work to get a wage they find acceptable, and we the customers, generally are willing to do our part and provide adequate compensation for that effort. It seems the few who are not willing to do adequate levels of work are generally the ones being referred to as having a "sense of entitlement", and those servers do tend to come on the DIS and get noticed (those people and those threads do exist DiszyDean). The posts generated by some of the disgruntled servers over the years make many quick to the draw when a topic titled "Tipping advice from former waitgirl!" pops up on the forum. I think the title is the part most people have the problem with..........not the OP's personal practices. If the title would have been different I think it would have been better received.

Waynesgirl, you are new here and I bet you have learned that the subject of tipping is a topic that brings the heat........I hope you continue here on the DIS, all the discussions are not this polarizing. Sometimes we are actually nice to each other.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I think its sad this thread has come to " lets bash the servers". Who cares if someone wants to tip 30% for excellent service then let them tip what they want. Heck I could sit here and tell you story's about bad lawyers, rude sales girls, the kids at Kroger who acted like it was killing him to get me something. Get the drift.......