Tipping in restaurants

[CathrynRose]

that was me, and I obviously didn't explain well what I meant. (I am the waitress who posts here a lot, advocating tippping 20%, tpping more on holidays, etc.)

Actually no - it wasn't you. It was a blog, and this was awhile ago. Unless it's your blog.

ETA - I don't think I quoted correctly?? I don't know - the quotes are all funky dunky. ????

 

[jen0610]

DH and I went out Saturday night. Went to one of the local places that was advertising a Buy 1 combo, get one 1/2 off. Our total bill after the discount was 16.32. Our tip for our waiter, 5.00. He more than earned it.

And even with their special, they weren't as busy as they have been in the past on a Saturday night. I know I would hate to trying to make my living as a server in this day and age.

 

[sbell111]

... The one issue I do have is with food quality. Servers don't cook your food, so I don't see how it is their fault. Also, if you are talking about specifications 1. Everyone makes mistakes 2. Even if your server gets it right, sometimes the kitchen still gets it wrong (even after you go explain and double check!).

If the quality issue could have been identified prior to the food landing on the table, it IS the server's fault.

 

[sbell111]

First, I think that it's important to realize that we have seen quite a bit a 'tip expectation creep' over the last few years. Not too long ago, a 20% tip would be seen as over-the-top. Then the 80s came and we were all bringing in lots of cash so the tips increased. They didn't increase because servers started getting paid less or because the service improved. They increased because we started making more and teh few extra dollars became less important to us.

Therefore, it's not a shock to see the pendulum swing in the other direction as the economy has stumbled. Those servers who confuse a generous tip with a fair tip, set themselves for disappointment.

 

[CathrynRose]

If the quality issue could have been identified prior to the food landing on the table, it IS the server's fault.

What if someone other than your server, ran the food?

 

[bicker]

That doesn't mean we can't have a constructive discussion on the pro's and con's of the current system does it?

"Constructive" -- no we don't have the standing to make operational decisions that would constitute a "constructive" discussion. We can discuss the issue hypothetically, though.

I wonder whether some people would secretly like it to change but are too frightened to say so on a forum like this for fear of being branded 'cheap'

That's illogical: No reasonable person believes that changing the system will change how much you pay for restaurant meals, on average. All that is of-issue is how the number is arrived at -- not the number itself.

And that's the problem with your idea of a poll: Most of the time I see such a thing done online, the pollster fails to integrate this fact into the poll questions, and therefore the poll is worse than worthless.

I'm interested in how some other countries manage to keep high levels of customer service when tipping is a very rare occurence or only at small percentages.

You might also want to inquire about social welfare safety nets, in the more developed nations, and the extent of living in what most would consider squalor, in the less developed nations. However, it is all still just an idle, hypothetical discussion.

 

[paintnolish]

What if someone other than your server, ran the food?

Yeah, we have food runners. Also, depending on the food, I might not be able to immediately tell the food is wrong. For instance, if it a stromboli has something in it you don't want (folded over pizza) unless I use my xray vision, I can't tell something is wrong with it right away.

 

[dbriggsq]

"Constructive" -- no we don't have the standing to make operational decisions that would constitute a "constructive" discussion. We can discuss the issue hypothetically, though.

That's illogical: No reasonable person believes that changing the system will change how much you pay for restaurant meals, on average. All that is of-issue is how the number is arrived at -- not the number itself.

And that's the problem with your idea of a poll: Most of the time I see such a thing done online, the pollster fails to integrate this fact into the poll questions, and therefore the poll is worse than worthless.

You might also want to inquire about social welfare safety nets, in the more developed nations, and the extent of living in what most would consider squalor, in the less developed nations. However, it is all still just an idle, hypothetical discussion.

Hmmm - if no-one had discussed the recent issue in the UK the law would not have been changed.

Yes the cost of a meal would remain more or less the same - but there would be a much greater degree of certainty both for the server and the customer.

I can't understand why paying someone less than the minimum wage and relying on customers to make that up to a 'living wage' is better than paying someone a decent wage as a way of keeping them out of poverty.

 

[Minniemama350]

I think that OP has some valuable input if they are looking for why the tip should not go down. One bit that has been mentioned but not commented on is that there are fewer folks going out to eat these days. The server is earning less income based on that fact alone. I am not a server and never have been one, but I agree that most of these folks work very hard and are not earning enough from their employer alone. I'm not trying to end the discussion you all are having, but I hope that our society has not gotten so hardnosed that we are ready to cut someone's income solely because someone else is not making more. I sincerely hope that all of our job situations will improve in 2010. I personally do not see giving a smaller tip as productive, but rather aiding in the continuation of our current economic status as a country.

 

[disneychrista]

Genuine Questions - where can you get a $5 breakfast or a $20 steak?

We have one place in town that you can get both. I know this is not typical and it would not be the place I would go to for steak. But is a great place to go because they have burgers, steaks, chicken, italian, mexican etc.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here is the link:
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm

That's the average total earned per hour by servers, not the minimum wage.

 

[declansdad]

Yes, Servers work there butt off for customers, I don't think it's right for them to stiff you

So if your perform poorly, you still deserve 18%?

 

[mrodgers]

Yes, Servers work there butt off for customers, I don't think it's right for them to stiff you

If you feel you are getting stiffed, then you have the right to get another job that pays better.

What I don't understand is, I just paid 4 hours of my salary for a meal for my family (that I would have paid $20 for cooking the same meal at home) and the provider of that meal expects me to pay his wait staff instead of him. Why in the world is it this way? The owner just made 300% profit on the food and I still have to pay his staff their wages.

And also, why is it based on a % of the cost? If the wait staff sees 5 tables in an hour and receives a $5 tip from each, that's $25 for the hour. That seems pretty darn awesome to me. Instead, they expect $10-15 from each table so they make $50-75 for an hour's worth of work while the owner sees $250-375 for those 5 tables minus the food costs. I think the restaurant should be paying the staff, not the customers.

 

[mikehn]

I dont understand what 'working your butt off' has to do with anything. We all work our butts off. Does that mean we should all make more? Im going to my boss tomorrow and tell him I work my butt off and therefore expect a nice xmas tip, because I heard it on the Disboard.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

If you feel you are getting stiffed, then you have the right to get another job that pays better.

What I don't understand is, I just paid 4 hours of my salary for a meal for my family (that I would have paid $20 for cooking the same meal at home) and the provider of that meal expects me to pay his wait staff instead of him. Why in the world is it this way? The owner just made 300% profit on the food and I still have to pay his staff their wages.

And also, why is it based on a % of the cost? If the wait staff sees 5 tables in an hour and receives a $5 tip from each, that's $25 for the hour. That seems pretty darn awesome to me. Instead, they expect $10-15 from each table so they make $50-75 for an hour's worth of work while the owner sees $250-375 for those 5 tables minus the food costs. I think the restaurant should be paying the staff, not the customers.

The restaurant owner also has to pay rent or mortgage on the building, buy all the furniture for the place, heat it, provide restrooms, lighting and music, pay for cleaning people, cooks, insurance, advertising, accountants, maintenance, etc, etc. He makes far less than the 300% profit you claim.

If you think eating out is a rip-off, you have every right to stay home and cook your own dinners, as well.

I like to go out, and I realize that I'm paying for much more than just the food. I don't have to shop for it, cook it, or clean up after it. I'm paying more for the convenience than the food.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I am a server/waitress but I wanted to put it out there:

There are states that do require servers to make minimum wage such as my state Oregon. So, no... we don't make $4/hr (or whatever) like other places in the country, we make $8.40/hr at the least.

However, in response to people staying that restaurant employers should pay at least min. wage, if they switched all the sudden, don't be surprised if the price of food shot up or perhaps there would be more tables per server. The restaurants would need to make up the money some how.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What I don't understand is, I just paid 4 hours of my salary for a meal for my family (that I would have paid $20 for cooking the same meal at home) and the provider of that meal expects me to pay his wait staff instead of him. Why in the world is it this way?

Tradition. Go back and read the last response in bicker's extremely informative post on page seven or eight, or maybe six

The owner just made 300% profit on the food and I still have to pay his staff their wages.

300% markup in no way equals or implies a 300% profit.

And also, why is it based on a % of the cost?

Again, tradition. This is how restaurant service/pay works in the United States.

And also, why is it based on a % of the cost? If the wait staff sees 5 tables in an hour and receives a $5 tip from each, that's $25 for the hour. That seems pretty darn awesome to me. Instead, they expect $10-15 from each table so they make $50-75 for an hour's worth of work while the owner sees $250-375 for those 5 tables minus the food costs.

Because... food is the only cost a restaurant owner incurs? No payroll, no supplies, no utilities, no rent, no mortgage, no maintenance, no upkeep, no depreciation, no taxes, no income for her/himself?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Agreeing with the majority (so far): if I can't afford (my standard) tip, I can't afford to dine out.

I am this way as well.

I don't go into a restaurant with plans to give a reduced tip. (FWIW: we tip 15% standard, 20% exceptional, 10% for minimal like at a buffet.)

So, I will either order less (i.e. only water, no appetizers) or not go out at all.

And yes, servers are already seeing a reduction via reduced customer base and smaller tickets.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am a server/waitress but I wanted to put it out there:

There are states that do require servers to make minimum wage such as my state Oregon. So, no... we don't make $4/hr (or whatever) like other places in the country, we make $8.40/hr at the least.

However, in response to people staying that restaurant employers should pay at least min. wage, if they switched all the sudden, don't be surprised if the price of food shot up or perhaps there would be more tables per server. The restaurants would need to make up the money some how.

I would expect this to happen.

I do not expect the servers to be spread thin. But if the 15-20% is expected, we're already pretty much paying that anyway.

You can't mandate a "gift", but the establishment is free to adjust the prices so that they can cover their costs and profit on their business.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Also a friendly reminder I know a lot of time curbside or To Go order, I know a lot at times this people don't get tips. They work for tips they often get paid less then minium wage.

Not true for the restaurant we order from. It is the regular servers bringing out the food. I am not certain if they have a dedicated person for that, but it is indeed a regular server.

I do tip on that, but usually only 10% or a few bucks.