Tipping Advice from former waitgirl!

[TLSnell1981]

Its interesting to watch things like this get blown out of proportion...

The next "hot" thread will be:

Disney Servers Demand 30% Tips! - How do we stop them??!!!

Bring it on....we ain't scared.

 

[Dumbo76]

'

 

[N.Bailey]

For the little that my post is worth and the FEW who will probably read it, I don't think there is a need to make posts about what one should leave wait staff on any of the Dis boards. While there are a few exceptions, it's been my experience after reading MANY threads thru the years, that the VAST majority of Disers are well aware of how hard wait staff works and has no problem tipping accordingly.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

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.

From page 6:

...Third - I don't expect more money for messy kids but it would be nice. I usually told the hostess not to put small children/babies in my section. (Sorry but I'd say 7 out of 10 of those tables were an issue. The sorry state of parenting.) However there were the times when a family would leave an unholy mess of soggy smashed saltines all over the table and the floor and the busboy would REFUSE to clean it. Therefore if I want another party at my table, guess who cleans it?...

...Also what is really sad is that overall, women are the worst tippers. Especially "ladies that lunch" and I hate being lumped in with my gender since I tip well. Usually I mention that I use to wait tables and then my service improves. Ladies, don't be so damn cheap. Just because some guy isn't paying for your food doesn't mean you can't cough up a few extra bucks for your salad during your "ladies spa lunches".

 

[angelmav]

Wow, I just looked at this. I didn't mean to open up a can of worms on this...

Please understand that I was not telling anyone what to tip. I would never tell someone what to do with their hard-earned money. I was only offering a view point. I stated I STARTED at 30%; it wasn't a guarantee that they were going to get it. But, that was also for servers when I have my children with me. And I have seen it with my own eyes at DW eateries-generally by people bragging about where they are staying (deluxes), what they are driving at home, their kids running around and throwing food, the parents boozing it up, and watch them complain AT THE END OF THE MEAL and throw a tiny cash tip on the table after getting the meal for free. I have sat next to people and seen the poo-poo tip they write down for what I would have viewed as exceptional service. But I have also had many servers at DW thank me for expecting my kids to be behaved-no matter what amount of money I spend, nor the fact I am at DW (which is for kids) means that we should forget common courtesy by not letting children act like they own the place.

I do appreciate people that understood I was only expressing a viewpoint.

However, in my personal defense against the person whosewife was a hairdresser, I generally leave close to 50% when I get my hair cut, simply because where I live, the patrons to my hairdresser are usually non-tippers for very expensive services-AND I REALLY LIKE MY HAIR and her service. But there are a few rest. I will not eat at due to horrible service-many high priced, some average chains.

Again, please accept my apologies for anyone who took this the wrong direction. I only offered a view point.

Actually, you offered advice, which is why were still having this discussion. (see thread title).

DiszyDean, having re-read this thread about three times now, I still can not find another server that agree's with the OP's advice to start their tipping at 30%?

Look, we eat out pretty much every day now, and I cant think of any of the restaurants that I have been to where I have encountered a real live server the likes of which always cause my skin to crawl on here. (see self entitled) so maybe thats just an internet phenomena.

I have to say, I dont recall running into any of these servers at Disney either, so perhaps there just really good at keeping their low opinions of their customers to themselves until they get home to the computer?

Either way, I would never tell you or anyone else on here how I feel they should be tipping.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

...but being pregnant in my 30's, working for a major car rental (off airport site) company, and having to climb into the cars, clean them up after some really nasty people, in the rain, in the 95+ degree days, in the freezing cold, I do empathize with the hard working conditions. And these people paid $19 per day to rent cars and never realized the effort that went into cleaning them so they would not have to sit on a nasty seat and smell wet dog, especially when they have children. And I did that for customer service sake, not for a tip, because we did not get them at all. I still have former clients begging me to return because of my customer service.

Sounds like you worked for Enterprise!

 

[TLSnell1981]

Wow, I just looked at this. I didn't mean to open up a can of worms on this...

Please understand that I was not telling anyone what to tip. I would never tell someone what to do with their hard-earned money. I was only offering a view point. I stated I STARTED at 30%; it wasn't a guarantee that they were going to get it. But, that was also for servers when I have my children with me. And I have seen it with my own eyes at DW eateries-generally by people bragging about where they are staying (deluxes), what they are driving at home, their kids running around and throwing food, the parents boozing it up, and watch them complain AT THE END OF THE MEAL and throw a tiny cash tip on the table after getting the meal for free. I have sat next to people and seen the poo-poo tip they write down for what I would have viewed as exceptional service. But I have also had many servers at DW thank me for expecting my kids to be behaved-no matter what amount of money I spend, nor the fact I am at DW (which is for kids) means that we should forget common courtesy by not letting children act like they own the place.

.

So...what WDW restaurant did you used to work at? I don't think people who don't like families need to work at Disneyworld.

 

[DiszyDean]

Actually, you offered advice, which is why were still having this discussion. (see thread title).

DiszyDean, having re-read this thread about three times now, I still can not find another server that agree's with the OP's advice to start their tipping at 30%?

Look, we eat out pretty much every day now, and I cant think of any of the restaurants that I have been to where I have encountered a real live server the likes of which always cause my skin to crawl on here. (see self entitled) so maybe thats just an internet phenomena.

I have to say, I dont recall running into any of these servers at Disney either, so perhaps there just really good at keeping their low opinions of their customers to themselves until they get home to the computer?

Either way, I would never tell you or anyone else on here how I feel they should be tipping.

Just my 2 cents.

When and where did I say that anyone should agree that someone should start the tip at 30%? I said that was HER method and she is entitled to it. If she wants to tip $100 a table, so be it...Why do you care so much what someone else is tipping?

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.

 

[DiszyDean]

For the little that my post is worth and the FEW who will probably read it, I don't think there is a need to make posts about what one should leave wait staff on any of the Dis boards. While there are a few exceptions, it's been my experience after reading MANY threads thru the years, that the VAST majority of Disers are well aware of how hard wait staff works and has no problem tipping accordingly.

Agreed. It should be common sense.

 

[TLSnell1981]

 

[DiszyDean]

From page 6:

Not sure where this proves that servers refuse to wait on families or single women? May not be every servers first choice but I guarantee you they receive service.

When I say I have never seen it, I meant in real life, not the bizarro world of internet message board claims which cannot be proven or disproven.

 

[DiszyDean]

There is an adage, "Don't judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes."

I have never been a server but I have been to a lot of resteraunts and have traveled to a lot of different areas of this country and the world and have a lot of respect for most servers. There are some bad ones, no doubt about it but there are examples of this in every profession. The majority are good and some are exceptional.

I think the OP tried to give her perspective on the whole hot button tipping topic as a former server. As I do not know her from Eve, I cannot say that she is a good server or bad server or self-entitled or whatever but I think her intentions were not to be a message board troll. IMO.

 

[byoung]

20% is the highest I will go.

 

[angelmav]

There is an adage, "Don't judge someone until you have walked a mile in their shoes."

I have never been a server but I have been to a lot of resteraunts and have traveled to a lot of different areas of this country and the world and have a lot of respect for most servers. There are some bad ones, no doubt about it but there are examples of this in every profession. The majority are good and some are exceptional.

I think the OP tried to give her perspective on the whole hot button tipping topic as a former server. As I do not know her from Eve, I cannot say that she is a good server or bad server or self-entitled or whatever but I think her intentions were not to be a message board troll. IMO.

I think you are misconstruing some posts. I questioned the original poster only. If I wanted to start a flame war on the dis, I would duplicate what they have posted. I find it curious that they posted in the manner that they did and called only that into question. You keep going back to, 'Its only her opinion' however thats not how this post was started nor with that intent. If you want to give advice, expect those that disagree to chime in. An opinion doesnt have to be supported by facts, but the OP has tried (and rewrote) several examples that they felt backed up their justification in giving such advice.

I am not generalizing about servers, heck the people that have posted in those aforementioned threads could just as easily be bored lawyers that have an axe to grind. What I have repeatedly stated is that servers come off in not too good a light on threads like this because someone always makes a post that gives one the inclination that servers are either greedy or dont like their customers. (see how to tip, sneeze sandwich, declining tables with families, etc) You dont seem to think these threads exist despite several other posters saying pretty much the same thing, so believe that or not.

 

[my3disneygirls]

Of course no one should have to compensate for someone else's bad tip.

but being pregnant in my 30's, working for a major car rental (off airport site) company, and having to climb into the cars, clean them up after some really nasty people, in the rain, in the 95+ degree days, in the freezing cold, I do empathize with the hard working conditions. And these people paid $19 per day to rent cars and never realized the effort that went into cleaning them so they would not have to sit on a nasty seat and smell wet dog, especially when they have children. And I did that for customer service sake, not for a tip, because we did not get them at all. I still have former clients begging me to return because of my customer service.

Now, before anyone else flamethrowers me, I am again sorry. It was only a viewpoint from someone who did it and returns the favor when I can....

If this is your opinion than that's all well and good. I see no reason as to why you feel the need to keep apologizing after state how you feel, just because others disagree.

Since you mentioned at least twice that you have witnessed servers with messy children or poor attitudes in your posts, it did come off as you thinking that you tip more to compensate because of what you have seen and experienced.

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.

This is not in directed to anyone in particular, just a general statement. 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. There are jerks everywhere, but I am starting to feel that some people in the service industry act holier than thou since they are "hard working". Well, so are lots of people.

 

[myladyisatramp]

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. Granted some don't,
So keep that in mind when you are sitting a table and someone else is taking your order and serving you.Your tip is the only money they are making. They don't make any money for an hourly wage I believe its about 2.50 per hour. She supports herself on tips alone. So be generous next time you dine out.

 

[kat777]

Wow, really glad we're a big group and will have the auto grat as a safety net on our trip...this whole tipping thing is just scary

I guess we'll round up the 18% for decent service and add more as we see fit for good service.

I find it really hard to get my head around tipping any amount for poor service, but I do understand that it's necessary because of how the system works over there (I'm from England, btw).

What I don't understand is: if menu prices go up with inflation, why does the tip percentage need to go up too? That part confuses me. Probably some mathematical thing that's way over my head

You'll be relieved to hear I was lucky enough to stay with a friend on my first visit to America; I asked her to explain the tipping etiquette to me so that, when in Rome, I could get it right. My uncle was actually telling me the other day that he and his family got tossed out of a bar in New York for not tipping...he was mortified, they had no idea they were supposed to and no one even tried to explain to them beforehand. They would have been more than happy to tip appropriately had they known.

Hopefully, WDW makes it clear to foreign travellers what's expected of them in their literature or they could be stiffing servers without even knowing it.

 

[N.Bailey]

If you'd like to see how your fellow posters on this board feel about tipping, maybe you should take a look at this thread. It's guaranteed cheap entertainment, but unfortunately, it's been locked, so now it's read only. I think every poster on the board who read this thread stood up to defend the wait staff of the world.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1693634

 

[my3disneygirls]

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. Granted some don't,
So keep that in mind when you are sitting a table and someone else is taking your order and serving you.Your tip is the only money they are making. They don't make any money for an hourly wage I believe its about 2.50 per hour. She supports herself on tips alone. So be generous next time you dine out.

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.

 

[MagicAllison]

I always tip a % be it 15 or 18 or what ever.

But I often wonder why we tip a % of the meal? Is it harder to serve me a lobster then a pizza? so I should give you more $.

Is it harder pour a glass of the house wine vs a $12 glass of a finer wine, so I should tip more?

It would make sense to me, if we simply tipped a dollar amount based upon how much time a person puts in making our meal better.

A waitress could wait on 8 people at Spoodles that spend $230 total, by ordering an entree and water/coffee or a waitress could wait on a table of 4 that has a bill of $250 with a bottle of wine and a cocktail prior to dinner.

Now common sense tells you the table of 8 took more work, but the tips could be the same.

That makes no cents to me.

I wish a waitress made a fair wage, and the owners of the eating establishments would simply fire the ones who didn't do good jobs, and DO AWAY with the whole idea of adding some mystery % to the final bill.

If this means the cost of my meal goes up 5 bucks a plate, then so be it.

ITA!