Tipping Advice from former waitgirl!

[Corpsebride]

I think there have been several servers who posted in this thread that have made some very valid points, the last one withstanding.

Obviously, advocating "sneezing in a sandwich" because you feel that the customer is being difficult is a ridiculous notion and I am pretty certain does not reflect the viewpoint of 99% of the servers working. There are bad servers just like there are bad bankers, garbage men and any other profession you can think of.

also Ive never advocated a sneeze sandwich, I ve seen it done though.and that is just the truth.

 

[DiszyDean]

Yes what a terrible job they must have. Try putting on a uniform and deploying for a year and a half in 130' heat some day. We all have our crosses to bear and someone always has it worse. If they cant hack it, find something else to do.

Just because someone else's job may be harder or deemed more vital is not a reason to demean another person's profession. Servers are there to provide service to you but respect is a two-way street.

 

[TLSnell1981]

also Ive never advocated a sneeze sandwich, I ve seen it done though.and that is just the truth.

Unfortunately, there are many ways a server can "get back" at a customer.

The community I live in was rural until a few years ago. Many of the kids in this area worked at the local store. This store had a deli.....it was frequented by the county sheriffs. The sheriffs didn't give these kids traffic tickets for anything....they knew there would be revenge...at the deli.

 

[angelmav]

no, she is pretty right on. The restaurants I worked in had full bars. So, if my table had drinks, I had to tip the bartender, If I was the bartender, I got tipped, We all tipped the busboys, and the dishwashers. Everyone did. That is how it works. I would just use that info as good inside information when tipping. It all does not go in your servers pocket. Its a drag. especially when you have a big party who orders a lot and tips little, takes a ton of time at a big table. I dontthink she was trying to stir the pot, just putting it out there that it is subject one should consider when eating out. that is all.

Sorry, Having worked as one and having had friends work as dishwashers, that statement is just not going to pass the reality test. It just doesnt happen. Busboys, yes, but not a high percentage. Dishwashers, no never, this is all a ploy to garner sympathy.

 

[angelmav]

Just because someone else's job may be harder or deemed more vital is not a reason to demean another person's profession. Servers are there to provide service to you but respect is a two-way street.

Well then they should consider how they come off in threads like this. What did I post in any way that could be construed as demeaning to a server? Your looking for an argument where one doesnt exist.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Sorry, Having worked as one and having had friends work as dishwashers, that statement is just not going to pass the reality test. It just doesnt happen. Busboys, yes, but not a high percentage. Dishwashers, no never, this is all a ploy to garner sympathy.

I have had employees tip the busboys and the dishwashers. It wasn't required. They did it as an appreciation...maybe 2% on average. They were a pretty tight knit group and watched out for one another.

 

[DiszyDean]

There are better ways to deal with extremely difficult customers than sneezing in their sandwich. Good managers should listen to the reasonable customers but should not allow abusive behavior.

One incident I was witness to had a very irate customer yelling loudly at a server that may have made a mistake. I never got the full story. The man was very loud and causing quite a scene with the rest of his family at the table. The waitress was visibly upset.

The manager came over and told him to not worry about paying for his meal but to please get up and leave and not come back.

The man's poor family was totally embarrassed especially as the resteraunt clapped as the man was leaving.

 

[Corpsebride]

this post started in from a poster who wanted customers out there to know the real deal about tips and tipping. you dont think the information is true. so, if you dont believe me , or her that the fortune of tips goes all in the pockets of servers, what can I say? secondly, it wasnt a post about great customers. Ive bought birthday cakes and gifts for great customers. Ive gone out of my way to payback the generosity of great customers.
nothing is a ploy to garner sympathy. just information. youre the one who thinks its some kind of ruse to stir the pot.

 

[DiszyDean]

Well then they should consider how they come off in threads like this. What did I post in any way that could be construed as demeaning to a server? Your looking for an argument where one doesnt exist.

I am not looking for an argument. I am also not the only person that perceives your apparent hostility towards servers for whatever reason. Your first sentence in the above statement acts as an attempted explanation for it.

 

[DiszyDean]

Sorry, Having worked as one and having had friends work as dishwashers, that statement is just not going to pass the reality test. It just doesnt happen. Busboys, yes, but not a high percentage. Dishwashers, no never, this is all a ploy to garner sympathy.

Considering other servers have come on and supported her position on this matter, why would you still think that it was just one person trying to garner sympathy or stir the pot? Maybe its a global server conspiracy.

 

[angelmav]

this post started in from a poster who wanted customers out there to know the real deal about tips and tipping. you dont think the information is true. so, if you dont believe me , or her that the fortune of tips goes all in the pockets of servers, what can I say? secondly, it wasnt a post about great customers. Ive bought birthday cakes and gifts for great customers. Ive gone out of my way to payback the generosity of great customers.
nothing is a ploy to garner sympathy. just information. youre the one who thinks its some kind of ruse to stir the pot.

Yep I do. I also never called it a fortune (although high end restaurants that keep getting mixed in with these examples do much better, so do Disney servers for that matter, but you cant make blanket generalizations about all servers wages, especially on a disney site were their averages will certainly skew higher). I also think that anyone following the OP advice is grossly mis-informed.

DiszyDean, while I agree with the bulk of your post, I dont think that servers get a huge percentage of these neanderthal customers. I acknowledge that they exist in all walks of life, but consider them the exception and in what job do you not have to deal with these types of folks?

 

[angelmav]

I am not looking for an argument. I am also not the only person that perceives your apparent hostility towards servers for whatever reason. Your first sentence in the above statement acts as an attempted explanation for it.

You read into that statement something that doesnt exist. I have pointed out, on more than one occasion, that servers who post on these threads do themselves more harm than good (see sneeze sandwich). Invariably, they either come off as ungrateful for the wages they earn or hostile towards their customers. Not all servers, but enough that it always seems to leave that perception.

 

[Sysyphus]

I'll happily go 30% or even more for breakfast in a Denny's/local diner type establishment where it's difficult to spend ten bucks on your meal and leaving $1.50 would seem insulting, as long as the server is pleasant and keeps my coffee topped off...

No way will I be tipping 30% at a $30/head buffet or a signature restaurant. I start around 15% and round up to the nearest dollar and will go to 20% rounded up for excellence.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I am not looking for an argument. I am also not the only person that perceives your apparent hostility towards servers for whatever reason. Your first sentence in the above statement acts as an attempted explanation for it.

The have been servers on these boards who have entitlement issues. They feel they deserve at least 18% because they showed up for work....but think you should really tip more because you should and you can afford it. I don't believe it is hostility....just pure fustration.

 

[angelmav]

Considering other servers have come on and supported her position on this matter, why would you still think that it was just one person trying to garner sympathy or stir the pot? Maybe its a global server conspiracy.

Please, your being rediculous. Go back, look at the OP posts with an eye towards objectivity, consider the subject matter, re-read the title, look at the OP's join date, post count, and tell me that you think this thread is legit.

Who has supported starting their tipping at 30% and working down? That was the original advice intent of the thread.

 

[angelmav]

The have been servers on these boards who have entitlement issues. They feel they deserve at least 18% because they showed up for work....but think you should really tip more because you should and you can afford it. I don't believe it is hostility....just pure fustration.

Thank you, you always put it so much better than I do!

 

[Ilovestitch]

I tip around 20% but I don't feel bad for servers making a low wage. If they don't like it, they can try to get something else.

I know someone who just started at Pecos Bill's sweeping the floors for over $7.15/hr.

If Disney server's were making such a low wage from customers why wouldn't they want to change to a different job- like working a counter service or a cashier in a gift shop? Because they get TIPS! and other positions don't. Disney needs people to fill jobs, the person I know at Pecos specifically requested to be in a counter service place- she wasn't forced into it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry, Having worked as one and having had friends work as dishwashers, that statement is just not going to pass the reality test. It just doesnt happen. Busboys, yes, but not a high percentage. Dishwashers, no never, this is all a ploy to garner sympathy.

I worked as a bus-person/dishwasher at a pub/restaurant, and I was included in the shared tips.

Might not be at all restaurants, or even many, but it was at ours!

(I also shared in the pinkeye some customer had, wiped their eyes on a napkin, I must have picked up that napkin, and wiped my own eyes, but THAT was a share I didn't need to be part of ! )

OK, back to reading this thread from the end until I can't take it anymore (I actually hate the whole tipping thing, even though I have worked in tip-receiving jobs; I would rather have been paid a living wage and be done with the whole thing).

 

[Tricia1972]

2 things.

1. For Florida, server/bartenders make the $3.13 an hour, I am not sure about other states.

1. Disney's minimum for servers is $3.80

 

[Uncleromulus]

I guess I'm wondering if being a server is such a snap and a road to great wealth, how come there is such a high turnover??