Would you rather Tip or Pay More?

[Papa Deuce]

Someone in another post said tipping is out of control. I agree. After what I posted on, I am pretty sure that I would rather just pay more, so that the waitstaff can make a decent wage.

Oh, and I would rather see SURCHARGES added into ticket prices too.... kills me to see a $9.00 per ticket Ticketmaster charge, just kills me! But that a whole other ball of wax!

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I would rather pay more.

Edited to add: When DH and I visited the Bahamas for a long weekend, the tip was supposedly added in to the meal price at the hotel restaurant, but we think the waiters did not actually GET the tip, because by our last day, we figured out the waiters were completely ignoring us but falling all over themselves for a man who apparently was leaving an extra tip. We felt bad that it took us 3 days to figure this out. In general, I would not want to pay extra AND have to tip (but we would have had we understood what was going on!).

 

[chasbos]

I would rather pay more but still have the option to tip for outstanding service.

I always take my kids and there friends out to restaurants for birthday parties - too lazy to cook! And when we leave, I always leave a large tip for all of the work that the waiter or waitress has done.

But for a normal dinner out with just DH and I - they really only take our order and bring us our food, not really tip worthy because they are doing there job.

So pay more and eliminate the tipping for every day service.

 

[N.Bailey]

I like it the way it is, though I agree that tipping is getting out of hand. It's almost like we're expected to tip everyone now.

I think it's a sad but true reality that service would probably go down if people weren't trying to impress to get a higher tip. Besides that, if prices were raised, I'd bet my last dollar that wages for these people would drop sharply. This in turn would yield an even higher rate of poor service as I believe the jobs would attract a lower quality individual (don't read that I feel one person is better than another, only that some have a lower work ethic).

 

[U2_rocks!]

I don't mind having a way to reward outstanding service by a particular server, so I'd be happy with a system where wages (and consequently restaurant prices) increased a bit (particularly for those not on the front lines, but who were sharing part of the total gratuities before) and no tip was expected for anything up to "passable" service. Tips of up to 10% would be given for excellent/above average service, and only the server who performed that service would be entitled to receive that tip (i.e. it wouldn't be split with others behind the scenes).

I'm not sure how practical that would be, especially if 2 people served you equally well. But I think tips have really become far too high and have become so expected, the restaurants may as well just increase prices (and wages) across the board to make life simpler.

JMHO. I have never worked in service, and I may not be grasping all the intricacies of that line of work. I am really only thinking of what would make life easier for me, the diner.

ETA: get rid of the tipping in all other service areas! Really, is a hairdresser going to do their job significantly better in anticipation of a good tip? Just charge appropriately for the service! Bellhops should still get tips - only some people use them, and all hotel guests should not be penalized by higher room rates to compensate for higher wages paid to bellhops who don't received tips. I also think taxi drivers should not get tips unless they really go out of their way for you. Just charge taxi fare accordingly.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

(I voted the last choice)

I think the tip wage should be removed and their base hourly wage be minimum wage just like any other hourly job. $2 base price (or whatever it is) is just rotten.

I still think good service should be tipped in traditionally tipped jobs. Tip cups at fast food counters...are ridiculous.

So a combination of a higher price--to cover min wage costs for servers...and then keep the tipping system in place b/c I think the service will be better with that custom.

 

[N.Bailey]

(I voted the last choice)

I think the tip wage should be removed and their base hourly wage be minimum wage just like any other hourly job. $2 base price (or whatever it is) is just rotten.

I still think good service should be tipped in traditionally tipped jobs. Tip cups at fast food counters...are ridiculous.

So a combination of a higher price--to cover min wage costs for servers...and then keep the tipping system in place b/c I think the service will be better with that custom.

I can assure you, if you paid servers minimum wage, you'd not want to eat out again. You would have everyone with a terrible work ethic in every restaurant in this nation as no one else would do the job for that amount of money. The turnover rate would be horrendous as well and you would have people waiting on you who had no idea about most aspects of the restaurant; including the menu itself.

When I waited tables, you couldn't so much as go to the bathroom during the rush (which lasted about 4 to 5 hours a night). If you did, you would be so far behind that you'd be a literal mess begging people to help you get caught up.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I can assure you, if you paid servers minimum wage, you'd not want to eat out again.

Umm--I also said to not get rid of tipping. IOW--I said to raise their base wage.

I stand by my statement.

Someone on some thread (I think the Hooter's one) and said that being a PH server would be better than hosting at Hooter's b/c they would make more. Well the servers have to seat, serve, and bus their own tables. Often people leave very scrimpy tips. My hubby worked there and busted his buns and his hourly wage post tipping was still below minimum.

It is just the nature of the beast. If they were permitted to make more than their $3 an hour (especially in multi-duty serving positions)....service might actually improve.

We pay hairdressers an awful lot of money for the things we have done..but we still tip them in the end.

So I fail to see how a fair base wage would inhibit customer service.

That is of course just my opinion.

 

[N.Bailey]

I was the poster on the other thread that said waiting tables at PH would be better than being a hostess at Hooters. I know Pizza Hut will not bring in the $100 to $200 a night that I made, but it will bring in more than minimum wage, not to mention giving the girl a little experience to apply at better restaurants on down the line when she's old enough (some require you to be 18, but I don't think Pizza Hut does). Not that I think she should make it a career, but only as a means to make some extra cash as she works her way thru high school and college.

In all honesty, I fully believe if prices were increased to raise wages, all it would end up doing is putting more money into the owner's pocket. I also know is, if prices were raised to compensate, tips would go down, thus putting us back to square 1. Who would tip the same if their bill was higher?

Personally, I like eating out where I have someone who gives a crap waiting on me than those who just want a job.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I'm fine with the way it is now.

 

[DeterminedOne]

I voted for eliminate tipping altogether. Tipping is out of control!! I'm tired of the attitude where people expect a tip, as though it's required. I can't stand that! I'd rather pay more upfront. Someone else mentioned surcharges. Those are out of control, too! JMO

 

[Anewman]

Sometimes service is so bad that I can not even imagine the lack of interest some(disclaimer) wait staff would show if their tip was garanteed.

I prefer to tip and let the waiter/waitress how well/bad they were as I hand them their tip.

 

[chobie]

I can assure you, if you paid servers minimum wage, you'd not want to eat out again. You would have everyone with a terrible work ethic in every restaurant in this nation as no one else would do the job for that amount of money. The turnover rate would be horrendous as well and you would have people waiting on you who had no idea about most aspects of the restaurant; including the menu itself.

When I waited tables, you couldn't so much as go to the bathroom during the rush (which lasted about 4 to 5 hours a night). If you did, you would be so far behind that you'd be a literal mess begging people to help you get caught up.

I misread what you said. Sorry.

 

[N.Bailey]

Sometimes service is so bad that I can not even imagine the lack of interest some(disclaimer) wait staff would show if their tip was garanteed.

I prefer to tip and let the waiter/waitress how well/bad they were as I hand them their tip.

This is another excellent point. By raising prices and doing away with tipping (I realize everyone didn't say to do away with it altogether), you're taking the choice away from the customer.

It would take A LOT for me to feel service was so horrible it wasn't worth anything, but if I ever got service that bad, I do want the option of not leaving a dime.

 

[N.Bailey]

Having lived, and waited tables, in a state that not only pays waitpeople the full minimum but also has one of the higher statem minimum wages I can assure you that statement is wrong. In fact, I was working as a server when they changed the law so we went from making 2 something an hour to the full minimum wage and nothing changed.

That state is Washington, BTW. So if anyone who lives in that state would like to comment on the level of service out there, please do. Also, last time I checked restuarants are thriving in that state even though it has been about 15 years since they changed the law.

How much were prices increased by at the restaurant you worked in?

What you describe is how it is in Germany too, but that's just the way it is and the way it's always been.

BTW, I could be wrong (don't think I am), but when I waited tables, if you didn't make minimum wage (counting tips), your employer had to pony up the difference. No one fell into that category, so that's why I'm a little foggy on it.

 

[Anewman]

Having lived, and waited tables, in a state that not only pays waitpeople the full minimum but also has one of the higher statem minimum wages I can assure you that statement is wrong. In fact, I was working as a server when they changed the law so we went from making 2 something an hour to the full minimum wage and nothing changed.
That state is Washington, BTW. So if anyone who lives in that state would like to comment on the level of service out there, please do. Also, last time I checked restuarants are thriving in that state even though it has been about 15 years since they changed the law.

That brings up a good question(IMO), does the wait staff know when they gave bad service????

Both times(in my whole life) that I have had to speak to management about bad service, the wait staff looked shocked...

 

[VampHeartless]

When I lived in England we never had to Tip. They thought it was a very silly American custom. I can't see how not tipping would raise costs? How does every other country in the world get away with it then? England has the same minimum wage we do.

 

[Anewman]

This is another excellent point. By raising prices and doing away with tipping (I realize everyone didn't say to do away with it altogether), you're taking the choice away from the customer.

It would take A LOT for me to feel service was so horrible it wasn't worth anything, but if I ever got service that bad, I do want the option of not leaving a dime.

I agree, if I ate it means I was served hence the wait staff will get something...

 

[chobie]

That brings up a good question(IMO), does the wait staff know when they gave bad service????

Both times(in my whole life) that I have had to speak to management about bad service, the wait staff looked shocked...

Yes, of course they do. But I have given what I thought was great service and had people complain to management. Basically, they were just looking for a reason to not tip and to impress the people they were with. Other times I know I had not given good service because I was in the weeds and just aplogized and did the best I can.

 

[chobie]

How much were prices increased by at the restaurant you worked in?

What you describe is how it is in Germany too, but that's just the way it is and the way it's always been.

BTW, I could be wrong (don't think I am), but when I waited tables, if you didn't make minimum wage (counting tips), your employer had to pony up the difference. No one fell into that category, so that's why I'm a little foggy on it.

All the restaurants in the state had to deal with this and the place I was working at did not change the prices at that time. I don't about the employer making up the difference in price I have a feeling that rarely if eve happened.