A server’s tip is a reward, not an entitlement
Letter writer Patti Rankin, who wants to educate readers about the hourly wage of servers and their need for a 20 percent tip (“Servers need the tips,” July 16), should see things from the customer’s point of view.
When people go out to eat, it is to have a pleasant evening and catch up on each others’ lives, not to gobble down their food and hurry up so the server can go home, so someone else can have their table, or — which has been the case many times — so the server can disappear, not to be seen again until it is time to deliver the check.
People don’t appreciate having their conversation interrupted every two minutes to be asked, “Is everything all right?”
Can’t they see that the coffee they served at the beginning should be getting cold or the tea is getting low, without constant interruption?
A tip is not an entitlement, it is a reward for good service.
Franki Rader, Thornton
TIPS
To insure prompt or proper service
Now, If I have an attentive yet not intrusive server I'll tip more than 20%. If I have to ask 3 times for more water, butter, salsa and such the tip goes down.
TIPS
To insure prompt or proper service
Now, If I have an attentive yet not intrusive server I'll tip more than 20%. If I have to ask 3 times for more water, butter, salsa and such the tip goes down.
and it really helps when they speak English and have a personality that is friendly
Posted by on July 20, 2007 04:06 AMWhen you are born, the world owes you NOTHING. It is up to you to EARN anything that you may get out of life. Those of you who do not understand this basic law of the universe, are a real pain in the ass to those of us who do.
truthy is absolutely right. I get tired of these little babies that think they have a right to be clothed, fed and cuddled even though they don't do a lick of work. It's often a cruel world out there, and there are some people who seem determined to make it more cruel. Is that attitude a sign that a person has been deprived of love in his life and so wants everybody else to be deprived? God, I'd hate to have to live around people like that.
Posted by Truth on July 20, 2007 06:10 AMTruth:
WHAT??????????
AF
Restaurants fail because servers suck & the food sucks. I don't go out anymore.
Posted by Chef on July 20, 2007 08:17 AMI'm sure if you are concerned that the servers are trying to rush you out to get more tips, you won't mind if tipping is eliminated and restaurants are forced to pay servers an actual wage appropriate for their duties. Of course, the change will be reflected in higher menu prices that actually reflect the cost of providing the meal.
Alternatively, we can all start working for tips. I'm sure that "truthy" and "Truth" above will both jump at the chance to prove their worth to society by working for $3/hour + tips at whatever it is they do.
Posted by Greg on July 20, 2007 08:36 AMTruth,
Do you really think I want the world to be crueler? You need to look deeper at my motives. I am not some dumb redneck that hates the world. I am a much loved and very fortunate man. True, it was not always that way, but I changed that ALL ON MY OWN.
I used to be like you and think that asking people to be responsible for own actions was cruel and mean, then I GREW UP.
I realized after much trial and error and many learning experiences what the nature of the average human is, and I realized why we must create structure among ourselves in order to survive as a species.
You think I hate humanity. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I think we (The entire human race) are special indeed!
The universe is vast beyond our comprehension. So far, as we have scanned electromagnetic spectra up and down we have NO indication of life at all, anywhere. Now does that mean that life is not abundant in the universe? No.
But, what if, just as a thought experiment, we are the FIRST to evolve to this level? Statistically it is a remote possibility, but honestly we just don't know yet.
Now for the sake of argument, we are the first. That would make us a very special and precious part of the evolution of the universe. We could be the universe's attempt to understand itself. Again, we just don't know yet.
So, because I think such grandiose thoughts about the REALLY big picture, I see the human race as a precious jewel shining in a mostly empty void. I LOVE the human race and seek to preserve it.
Humans are interesting. It is our nature to try to survive, but we seem best as destroying one another. We have a lot of growing to do.
In order to achieve that growth we need to cast off this habit of making each other miserable. Believe it or not, fostering a trend of personal responsibility is imperative to our survival. This can be done in a healthy way.
Now I don't have all the answers of course, but I know what seems to NOT work at giving us a bright future. Here is my list:
1. Crazy oppressive religions like ISLAM that seem to be best at making people feel like crap.
Out of control Christianity, Judaism, and any others that deny science and supress human joy fit this bill as well. Humans must feel safe and be able to experience joy to survive.
2. Greed for possessions, power and money.
Many people place money and ownership of impressive things WAY ahead of everything else. These people really succeed in making others miserable for numerous reasons. The greed thing has got to go if we are to survive.
3. Belief that ones race entitles one to something special.
Duh. We have seen white people really screw up with this. After WW2 you would have thought the world would have learned a BIG lesson in this area, but no. Now other formerly obsessed races are thinking of nothing but revenge. That is making the same mistake the whites did. Anti white racism is at an all time high. This is going to make a lot more people miserable. Not good for survival.
Actually we should all be making babies out side our particular race instead to fighting. Eventually, if we as a species survive, the former races will blend into one. That will be a BIG pain in the ass out of the way.
4. Narcissism:
Humans who are selfish as hell are BAD for the spicies. Too many reasons exist to list here. Since we seem to imitate each other a LOT, we need to make it UNCOOL to be a selfish, destructive POS. That is, if we wish to survive.
There. The above is a good part of my motivation. As for my love of The United States and preservation thereof, I will tie that in later. I need to work.
Posted by truthy on July 20, 2007 08:39 AMBefore you bash the servers, consider these facts:
1. Restaurants are not required to pay minimum wage to servers, and servers are taxed based on an estimated 15% tip for each meal that they serve.
2. Many servers are young people who have never had a job before, and they are not properly trained to perform thier jobs.
3. If your food is not prepared properly or doesn't taste good -- it is not necessarily the server's fault. If the server submited your order to the cook correctly, and the cook messed it up -- don't penalize the server for that. Send your food back, or ask to speak to a manager, and they can usually take it off of your bill.
4. If you truly are not satisfied with the service, SAY SOMETHING -- either to the server, the manager, or both. If you don't leave a tip at all, they might just think that you forgot -- or that you are a cheapskate. (That's why a lot of people tip a penny or two for really bad service -- just to let them know that they didn't forget. Still -- that is kind of cowardly, and it doesn't tell the offednding server why they didn't earn a decent tip.)
5. Finally -- be considerate of the servers. Put yoursefl in their shoes. Sometimes, restaurants get busy, orders get messed up, servers get yelled at and delayed by "difficult customers," and restaurants become short staffed.
If you're pressed for time when you go out to eat, it's probably a good idea not to go to a sit-down restaurant. Either get to the restaurant early, or get fast food if you're stressed out about getting someplace on time.
And if a restaurant has one server trying to take care of 30 tables -- don't get mad at the server. That is the management's fault -- and that's who you should talk to.
Posted by Republican Guy on July 20, 2007 08:45 AMRepublican Guy
My tip to to the server is based soley on the server. I will not subsidize poor performance or attitude. That is my right as the patron!
If the food is bad - I will not go back
If the place is a mess - I will not stay
If the place is chaotic after two visits - I wll not go back
If I have to complain to management about what is in front of thier eyes - I will not go back
Posted by Frank on July 20, 2007 09:26 AMIf you see your server or any other in the restroom and don't wash her hands ..no tip,,tell the manager and don't go back.
Personally, I find the very notion of tipping offensive and demeaning to both the employee and customer. In short,. we're admitting that employees are underpaid and are having to essentially beg for handouts in order to make ends meet.
Let's work on restoring a measure of human dignity instead. Raise the minimum/base wage for employees, and raise menu prices (by, say, 15 to 20 percent) to compensate.
Posted by Miles on July 20, 2007 09:41 AMIf you can't afford to tip 15%, you can't afford to go out to dinner. Don't try to justify your own stinginess by pretending to be dispensing justice. Call a spade a spade: if you don't like tipping, you're a cheap person.
The world needs Kostanzas too, just don't expect anybody else to like you.
Posted by on July 20, 2007 09:45 AMYo Chef: Please don't flog me; however, in keeping with an old man concerned for a young man's intellect: You post a really stupid letter.
Deicide Corner: "I say there are gods, but they care not what men do." ~~ Ennius
Posted by Richard Grimes Deicide r22037@yahoo.com (ffrf and ask for free copy of FreeThought Today) on July 20, 2007 10:00 AMWhen I take the family out to eat, the tip-o-meter starts as we are seated:
If they are to immediately ask how were doing what we want to drink and maybe a little smile/goofyness to make the little one's laugh, that starts it off with $2.
Next is how quick do they serve the drinks, that can add another $1 to the tip. Although they are working for there tip, if they don't serve the drinks in timely fashion they may lose a $1. so the point of the tip-o-meter is every waitress or waiter must work for there tip and keep as positive of an attitude as possible , the tip-o-meter will continue to go up and down thru out the course of the meal, an average tip on the tip-o-meter at a half way descent place should range between $5-$10, for a nice classy joint it can range from $10 with not so good of service to $30 with some good quality service meening your walking out with a smile on your face...You make the rules on your own tip-o-meter on what earns and what burns...
I used to wait tables - did it for six years - so it would take a lot for me to stiff a server, and to date, I never have.
But last week, I encountered such a hostile server, it was all I could do to leave her anything. I really wish I'd taken Republican Guy's advice and just asked her what her problem was.
Anyway, I don't know when 15% got changed to 20%, but that's a bit presumptious of a server to start expecting. Used to be, 20% was given as a tip only for outstanding service.
At any rate, the restaurant industry is getting an amazing free ride not having to pay their servers hardly any hourly wage, much less any benefits. Maybe some of these peeved servers should take up their gripe with their bosses instead of their customers.
Posted by mytwosense on July 20, 2007 11:07 AMWell, two cents, have you noticed that grocery
prices have pretty much DOUBLED in the past couple years? Gasoline prices nearly so?
Perhaps you should be tipping THIRTY percent. To me, it's a matter of common decency and consideration....oh, wait...what am I thinking?
So many today have no idea what that means.
Like someone said earlier on this thread;
anyone who doesn't feel the obligation to leave a decent tip, should try a three dollar an hour wage,
with NO benefits, and hope someone will leave a tip.
I wager most of you'd be singing a different tune.
BTW, I'm an aerospace machinist and have never worked for tips. All you tightwads should stay home and cook for/serve yourselves.
RICHARD LEE LANDRUM II
LONGMONT
The only negative comments you ever get about tipping is from the customer that can find anything wrong with their meal. First of all if your food is cold, the server just served it. They didn't cook it! I"m sure if you relay the message to that server the problem will be corrected soon. I have been in the food and bev. industry almost 5 years. I've had great guests and really negative guests always finding something wrong, always wanting to talk to a manager. I worked for a very popular arcade/ resturant and it never ceased to amaze me when someone wants their wings and then they get up to go play games for 20 minutes and when they get back their wings are cold......hmm....must've been the servers fault. lets call the manager and get it comp'd off. So now I'm going to leave a $2.00 tip off of $57.00. The basic thing is this: it takes great guests to have great service. and as for the person who says they don't go out anymore....thank you! it's people like you that we don't want to serve in the first place!
Posted by rod on July 20, 2007 12:22 PMTHANK YOU RICHARD FROM LONGMONT!!!
Posted by rod on July 20, 2007 12:25 PMI agree with mytwosense, tipping ideally should be a reward for service, not a subsidy. I usually employ common sense while tipping, not faulting the waiter for bad food or whatever.... usually the tip dissipates for rude service, which is entirely under the control of the waiter, and increases for excellent service.
Just like any job, the waiter should earn the tip, not just expect it regardless of how they perform.
Posted by Dan on July 20, 2007 12:26 PMwhen i was in hight school i delivered a pizza to an old lady who tiped me a nickle ( serious ) later that day I went back and threw it through her window
Posted by Fresh on July 20, 2007 01:16 PMI had a customer leave me a fake $5.00 bill that was folded in half. When I unfolded it there was a Biblical passage about not being a materialistic person. Just another reason to hate Christians.
Fresh lol. A no tip foursome once left behind a cigarette case with $7.00 and some Valium in it. Revenge is sweet. It just isn`t legal
Posted by Sharon B. on July 20, 2007 01:38 PMHey RickyLee,
Have you noticed that food prices have gone up? I mean at one very popular chain restaurant, their famous burger has gone up $2.00 in the last year?
If the food goes up so does the tip when paid on a percent basis. So it all comes out the same.
Etiquette note:
10% for ok service
15% for good service
20% for excellent service
On the bill - note this is NOT on the tax or alcohol.
Those are the restaurant industry and society recommendations - not mine
I also am considerate of what is the kitchen's fault and the servers and never penalized the server if they are not at fault. However, a server who approaches me after I'm first time with,"What do you want?" or "Have you decided?" and then never returns except to deliver the bill will get the a 5%-10% tip. I have even tipped OTHER servers that have been more attentive to our table than our assigned server. I've been in service jobs all my working life and it takes good CUSTOMER SERVICE, whether working an hourly wage plus tips, salary or commission only.
Posted by L on July 20, 2007 01:39 PMWell, two cents, have you noticed that grocery prices have pretty much DOUBLED in the past couple years? Gasoline prices nearly so?
Perhaps you should be tipping THIRTY percent. To me, it's a matter of common decency and consideration....oh, wait...what am I thinking?
So many today have no idea what that means.
Actually, I usually tip way more than 15%, I'm just saying it's presumptious of servers to expect even more and to reserve all their hostility to customers instead of their bosses for refusing to pay them a living wage.
Yes, costs for most things have increased - including restaurant meals. With that in mind, wouldn't it be more feasible for the restaurant owners to start paying a living wage to their employees to absorb more of the cost of employing these servers, instead of expecting the customer to pick up most of the tab?
Otherwise, people are going to really cut back on dining out. They won't have any choice.
Until that happens, I'll still tip well. Like I said, I waited tables for years, and could never stiff or give a crappy tip to a server - even though I have been sorely tested in the past with downright rude servers.
Try cooking a meal at home for a change, invite your friends over and have a conversation with no interruptions at all, no need for tipping, and you can control what you're eating (bad tips and complaints turn into strange things in your food). It is also cheaper (before and after tip).
Posted by Roy on July 20, 2007 02:08 PMAargh. Some people fail to appreciate my satire:
"truthy is absolutely right. I get tired of these little babies that think they have a right to be clothed, fed and cuddled even though they don't do a lick of work. It's often a cruel world out there, and there are some people who seem determined to make it more cruel. Is that attitude a sign that a person has been deprived of love in his life and so wants everybody else to be deprived? God, I'd hate to have to live around people like that."
Translation for the literally challenged: truthy has a terrible attitude.
Posted by Truth on July 20, 2007 02:14 PMThere are families for whom it is a financial strain to go out to eat. Sometimes, it might be tough enough so that if they have to tip 15% or 20%, they'll have to stay at home. The "let the restaurant industry dictate how much money they want you to save them" people are very thoughtless not to consider these people.
While tipping is clearly a racket, the restaurant has conned us so badly that it has become part of the landscape and THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT can be expected to continue to tip, BUT AT A RATE THEY DECIDE ON, NOT THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.
Posted by Truth on July 20, 2007 02:24 PMRicky Lee said, "Well, two cents, have you noticed that grocery
prices have pretty much DOUBLED in the past couple years? Gasoline prices nearly so?
Perhaps you should be tipping THIRTY percent. To me, it's a matter of common decency and consideration....oh, wait...what am I thinking?
So many today have no idea what that means."
What we have here is a failure to understand how percentages work.
Well said! As you suggest, "a tip is not an entitlement, it is a reward for good service."
Posted by Brian Stuckey on July 20, 2007 02:48 PMMaybe restaurant owners and managers should start putting tip-meters in the restaurant entrance, like the city does for bums, so that peoples feelings wont get hurt when they don't get a big tip, and then the restaurateur can decide how to dole out the proceeds to each employee...or divide it evenly and add it to the their paychecks...
Posted by Roy on July 20, 2007 03:10 PMI used to get tips as a cab driver and they are very welcome. In the food service industry they are getting much more difficult to justify because of the practice of tip"pooling" where all tips are divided among all servers, bus boys and dishwashers.
I tip a particular server for good service and lazybones who spends most of her time in the back hallway o a cell phone with her boyfriend gets an even share of it. My server is shafted. Eventually the system drives the good servers our and leaves the bad ones in charge. I never go to Denny's anymore for this reason. Most of the time I leave one tip on the credit cardand the real tip in the server's ahnd. I've been told that some servers get upset because of the taxing on a set percentage. I was told to file a tip report with my time card every week and get a receipt. AT the end of the year I would file based on the tip reports and actual salary paid. Some don't want to go to this trouble but if you keep good records you can be taxed on your actual earnings.
Tipping is a practice that rewards performance. I believe in this and like tipping. Of course It means I will sometimes have to choose a cheaper restaurant but that's OK.
If you are looking for excuses not to tip, go to a buffet and do us all the favor of your absence in the restaurants.
Posted by Sharon B. on July 20, 2007 05:41 PMWhe were talking...about tipping.
Whats everyones take on: Buffet Golden Coral? Or Sonic..drive-thru/or stay?
Chinesse Buffet?
If its so difficult to survive on minimum wage plus tips.......crazy idea......get another job.
Of the many servers I know, they enjoy working flexible hours, relatively high pay - in cash and don't pay taxes on it, and they can walk out anytime and get another server position easily.
Oh, and what nobody else seems to notice, they can do drugs (on and off work -- without being tested) and drink while they work for free.
Not such a bad gig so no reason to complain when a few customers actually expect quality service and hold them to it.
Not all server jobs are crappy.
Work your way up to the really fine dining establishments and you can take home six figures.
Granted,these are a small percentage and you have to pay your dues to get them.
Posted by Get Real on July 20, 2007 08:18 PM"When I take the family out to eat, the tip-o-meter starts as we are seated:"
Do you sit on it? How does this device work? Is it carried by Radio Shack?
Posted by Charles B on July 20, 2007 09:17 PMWhat a tip really is is a subsidy. When you tip, you are subsidizing the restaurant. And you are interfering with the law of supply and demand. When the restaurant reduces its wages to a certain level, it won't be able to hire people, unless, of course, its customers step in and subsidize it.
Posted by Truth on July 21, 2007 05:14 AMMy mother was a waitress for a high end chinese restaurant in Baltimore.She was great at what she did. It was not unusual for her to make $400 to $600 a night in tips. She worked the large party tables and the VIP's. Baseball players,Football players ,the Mayor and other legislators,TV personality's etc...
She also did big parties in the party room.
She never once wrote anything down. People often requested her room because she was very popular because she was good at her job.They liked to play in fun with her trying to trip her up when ordering ,because she never wrote down anyone's order,she did it from memory.
This was back in the 60's and 70's. $400-$600 a night was good money.
I remember her bringing wontons home for us after her saturday night shift.She also used to bribe the nurses when I was in the hospital for 3 weeks ,with a broke,fractured,and dislocated wrist and elbow.She would bring them whatever they wanted and they would let her in to visit since she got off so late.
I have a great respect for waiters and waitresses. I treat them with respect and I usually get treated very well.I often over tip,because my mother was a waitress so i know this is how they make their living.
I have not had that many bad experiences. I think you set the tone when your server comes to the table to greet you.
On a horrible note . My husband used to be friends with a guy at work. His wife would take the tip off the table that her husband left,because she thought she doesn't get tipped at home for making dinner,so she thought they didn't deserve to be tipped.God I hated that woman.
Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on July 21, 2007 11:02 AMI worked in the restaurant industry for over twenty years.
1) If you want to rail about the tip system, then talk to the national tavern association. They are the ones that lobbied for the exception to the minimum wage law for tipped employees.
2) Why is it that people assume that restaurants should serve their every need? Even if that need has nothing to do with food or drink? For instance, My children make my dinner time less enjoyable, so I will let them run around and expect the restaurant staff to watch them. I am running late and so will get to your restaurant right closing time. What do you mean you don't want to stay here anothe hour and a half so I can eat? I have noticed that many people are confused about the role of their waiter/waitress. They are your server, not your servant. There is a difference.
Finally, as someone who has read these letters and the dicussion threads for quite a while, and a HATEFUL, BLIND, BIGOTED CHIRSTIAN, I am so glad that Charles B; Sharon B; Richard ; and others feel better about themselves and their superior, "scientific" beliefs. You talk about all the hateful, blind Chirstians out there; with some of the most hateful condescening drivel that I have had the honor of reading. Thank you so much for showing me, a poor unenlightened Christian, how enlightened, and nonjudgemental all you people are
! Oh, and I do not want to leave out Old Grouch!
former wait staff. You are welcome! I do try.
Did you ever get one of those fake $5.00 bills?
Posted by Sharon B. on July 21, 2007 04:02 PMformer wait staff:
Could you provide some examples of our "hateful condescending drivel"?
Posted by Charles B on July 21, 2007 07:38 PMIs it Waiting for a tip?
Or Working for a tip?
former wait staff got it right: "If you want to rail about the tip system, then talk to the national tavern association. They are the ones that lobbied for the exception to the minimum wage law for tipped employees."
While modest voluntary tipping for good service has been around a long time, it has take the restaurant industry to make it mandatory and very expensive. It is something that the industry lobbied to put in place, not to help the staff but to help themselves. The restaurant industry has clearly took to heart P. J. Barnum's statement that "there's a sucker born every minute", and those classics by W. C. Fields, "never give a sucker an even break' and "It's morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money".
It is clear that the reason the restaurant industry has conned the American public into blindly following its directions is not to help the staff but to increase its profits.