Tipping a server

[driveway]

Market value for a competent server is $15 - $20 an hour and up. Because of tipping, restaurants can pay servers minimum wage and the rest is made up by tips. If everyone stopped tipping, the cost would be reflected in the food.

You're going to pay that money anyway, you can either pay it as a tip and have some discretion over how much it will be, or it can be in the cost of your food.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

GST is only 5%...In the big scheme of things the additional 5% added on isn't that much of a difference.

In Alberta sure. I grew up in Ontario where GST+PST were 15% so that was where I would have learned it.

But I do recall when 10% was the standard. Now 15% seems the norm. "Only" 5% here and other couple percent there; it just feels like death by a thousand paper cuts sometimes.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by dhc-2

First of all, when the hell did 15% become customary? I remember not even ten years ago 10% was considered standard.

Now all of a sudden I find some of the debit/credit machines default to 20%? Are you kidding? That kind of chicanery automatically reduces what I'll give for a tip. I'm not a goddamn charity.

If you think your wage sucks so bad, then do something about it. I don't get tips in my line of work no matter how great or how ####ty of a job I do. If I don't like my wage I can do two things: make myself more useful and get a raise, or find another job. The restaurant/service industry should be no different.

A night out at a decent restaurant for your average couple without tip, maybe a glass of wine each already runs north of $50. That's ludicrous. Now you want at least 15% (preferrably 20%) for refilling my water glass? Screw off. Maybe you should've stayed in high school.

I can count on one hand the amount of times I've given over 15%, and that was for exceptional service and exquisite food.

Bottom line is that tipping started as a reward, a little something extra for someone who took that extra step above and beyond the expectations for their job. Now it's a ####ing handout.

If it's not running north of $50 for two with drinks you likely aren't at a decent restaurant. Not to say the food might not be great, but if you're expecting the full service restaurant experience for less than $25/person you likely consider Outback to be fine dining.

I don't recall the last time I gave less than 18-20% for good service. I'm actually surprised to see people talking as if 15% is still customary, although that may be a location thing.

[Sylvanfan]

If the IT guys are getting on my nerves, I'll go and tip over the server just to watch them scramble when everyone else wants to tear them apart because the network is down again.

Oh wait...this is about restaurants.

[Reaper]

I cannot imagine how much Springs1 would have to have her ass kissed in order for her to deem that it was acceptable. What a truly horrible human being.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I cannot imagine how much Springs1 would have to have her ass kissed in order for her to deem that it was acceptable. What a truly horrible human being.

That's the scary thing! Imagine some 16 year old waitress, first shift and she asks would Springs1 like another Pepsi? This is one of the things she listed as rules that if broken will result in no tip.

I want to hear about her husband......I would pay good money just to meet this man!

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I'm actually gonna go ahead and say that Springs1 is more than just one crazy woman.

It is an idea. You can't kill an idea. Springs1 has grown into a legend. Who knows if the real Springs1 is still alive. Maybe he/she retired long ago and his/her legacy has been carried on by another and another after that one and so on.

It's like the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride.

Westley: Roberts had grown so rich, he wanted to retire. He took me to his cabin and he told me his secret. 'I am not the Dread Pirate Roberts' he said. 'My name is Ryan; I inherited the ship from the previous Dread Pirate Roberts, just as you will inherit it from me. The man I inherited it from is not the real Dread Pirate Roberts either. His name was Cummerbund. The real Roberts has been retired 15 years and living like a king in Patagonia.'

That's my working theory at this point. In the past there probably was a real Springs1, an unreasonable customer who decided to take up an online crusade against the service industry/tipping culture. She may have even started one of the blogger/live journal/wordpress sites out there.

But she grew bored of this beast she had created and moved on with her life. But her pure, uncut crazy post were in tact. Waiting for a million copy/paste jobs into forums such as ours.

Eventually some one came across her long abandoned blog and realized they had struck internet troll gold. Armed only with the idea of "it's always the server's fault!" they created some google alerts to monitor chatter about servers/tipping, so that whenever the topic comes up Springs1 will be there. Spewing her twisted tails of forgotten ranch and specifically cooked fries.

Springs1, she's the troll the internet deserves, not the one it needs.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by jaydorn

That's my working theory at this point. In the past there probably was a real Springs1, an unreasonable customer who decided to take up an online crusade against the service industry/tipping culture. She may have even started one of the blogger/live journal/wordpress sites out there.

But she grew bored of this beast she had created and moved on with her life. But her pure, uncut crazy post were in tact. Waiting for a million copy/paste jobs into forums such as ours.

Eventually some one came across her long abandoned blog and realized they had struck internet troll gold. Armed only with the idea of "it's always the server's fault!" they created some google alerts to monitor chatter about servers/tipping, so that whenever the topic comes up Springs1 will be there. Spewing her twisted tails of forgotten ranch and specifically cooked fries.

Springs1, she's the troll the internet deserves, not the one it needs.

every part of me hope this is not true.

life is richer with Springs1 in it.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by valo403

I don't recall the last time I gave less than 18-20% for good service. I'm actually surprised to see people talking as if 15% is still customary, although that may be a location thing.

Why would the customary amount for tipping ever increase?

Inflation in menu item prices would cover inflation in tipping. So there is never a need to increase the customary value for tipping.

A better question is what drives the increase in the standard tip amount? Right now debit machines are trying to create an increase by not including a 15% option for tips. But before the debit tips why did it go from 15% to 18% to now people in this thread say 25%.

Service levels are the same or worse than they used to be. Staffing levels are the same or lower. Have tip outs changed? When I worked they were between 4 and 6% depending on location. Are there more bad tippers who tip nothing so the good tippers need to offset this? Do we value the service industry more?

I don't see a good reason why the customary tip should ever increase and I personally draw a line at 15% for good service.

[troutman]

I tip 20% or more at my regular watering holes. You get excellent service in the future, and often free drinks and food. Even better - buy your servers drinks and shooters.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by troutman

Even better - buy your servers drinks and shooters.

Isn't it verboten by AGLC to drink on the job when serving/tending?

[onetwo_threefour]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

That's the scary thing! Imagine some 16 year old waitress, first shift and she asks would Springs1 like another Pepsi? This is one of the things she listed as rules that if broken will result in no tip.

I want to hear about her husband......I would pay good money just to meet this man!

That rule is the one the kills me the most. When I was training to be a server one of the things we were told was that customers are expecting you to know what they are drinking and that it is useful to ask if they would like another of the same, especially if it's an upsell. Most people are happy their server remembers what they are drinking, they don't get offended if you ask if they want another of the same. I actually ran into the french fry thing while serving once or twice, but this whole thing about getting offended because your server asks if you want another margarita, that's just plain loony... Oh my God, you had to waste a word "No, I would like a diet coke please, to go along with my deep fried death platter..."

[troutman]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Isn't it verboten by AGLC to drink on the job when serving/tending?

In theory, not in practice.

[OldDutch]

So here is a question, if you order take out from a sit down, do you tip? I have been to a few places now that force you to tip on the Visa machine, or at least guilt you into typing $0.

My wife insists you do not tip on take out, but I want to make sure they don't expect something for nothing these days.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by onetwo_threefour

That rule is the one the kills me the most. When I was training to be a server one of the things we were told was that customers are expecting you to know what they are drinking and that it is useful to ask if they would like another of the same, especially if it's an upsell. Most people are happy their server remembers what they are drinking, they don't get offended if you ask if they want another of the same. I actually ran into the french fry thing while serving once or twice, but this whole thing about getting offended because your server asks if you want another margarita, that's just plain loony... Oh my God, you had to waste a word "No, I would like a diet coke please, to go along with my deep fried death platter..."

Ditto, I definitely get more annoyed being asked two questions; can I get you another... what were you drinking again?, as oppose to a simple "Can I get you another trad?". Doesn't effect the tip mind you, but having a server remember what I'm drinking gives me the impression that their paying attention and actually care.

But I also don't ****TYPE*** like (this), so maybe I'm wrong.

[HELPNEEDED]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

So here is a question, if you order take out from a sit down, do you tip? I have been to a few places now that force you to tip on the Visa machine, or at least guilt you into typing $0.

My wife insists you do not tip on take out, but I want to make sure they don't expect something for nothing these days.

I usually do not tip on a take out. Why would I pay a food creation tax to eat on my own dining table and clean my own dishes?

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by troutman

In theory, not in practice.

This reminded me of a server I once worked with. When customers would buy her a shot, she'd pour herself a shot of cranberry juice (from a sourpuss bottle, IIRC), and pocket the $6 or whatever it was they gave her for the shot.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

So here is a question, if you order take out from a sit down, do you tip? I have been to a few places now that force you to tip on the Visa machine, or at least guilt you into typing $0.

My wife insists you do not tip on take out, but I want to make sure they don't expect something for nothing these days.

I typically only tip on take out if it's a regular place for me and I'm being served by the same staff on a regular basis. If it's a lunch place I'm in once a week or so and the staff start greeting me by offering my regular order than I'll always toss down some extra coin.

But if it's a one off take out order, or a place I only visit every few months than no, I don't typically tip on take out orders.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

This reminded me of a server I once worked with. When customers would buy her a shot, she'd pour herself a shot of cranberry juice (from a sourpuss bottle, IIRC), and pocket the $6 or whatever it was they gave her for the shot.

Yeah. A chick I knew used to do this all the time. She'd make $400 a night and a good chunk of that is from people paying her $5 to do a shot of cranberry juice.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

This reminded me of a server I once worked with. When customers would buy her a shot, she'd pour herself a shot of cranberry juice (from a sourpuss bottle, IIRC), and pocket the $6 or whatever it was they gave her for the shot.

Normally I'd be oppossed to this kind of deception, especially from sales/service people. However, only drunken @#@#holes hit on servers. If you can't get the balls to hit on a women who isn't being paid to talk to you, then don't complaint if she steals your money.

I've definitely gotten drunk before and tried to buy a server a drink. I deserved to have my money taken for doing so.