Tipping a server

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

7. She is approx 37 years old (graduated HS in 1995)

Uh... what?

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by GGG

Where do you draw the line between a tipped and non-tipped occupation? Convenience store and low-end retail are probably the two lowest paid jobs out there so should we tip there?

I think one thing we should recognize is that waiters and waitresses make excellent money for they work they do in the current tipping enviroment. They are probably close to the top of the zero required education wage scales. Even in low end restaurants they make $25 plus per hour and that number gets much higher at better restaurants and bars. So if the sole reason is to spread around the wealth tip your gas jockey and the guy at 7-11.

I draw no line. Everyone in the service industry gets my tips regardless.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Okay. So if the thread does show up immediately on a Google search, what exactly would you have to search for to find it? Unless you specified "Calgary" in the search, "Tipping" comes up with a lot of hits before the Calgarypuck forum results appear.

Isn't google returning CP related items because your browsing history is littered with CP stuff?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by GGG

If you take a look at the people working at Walmart and then take a look at restaurant staff you can tell whose take home pay is higher. Just look at the shoes, purse, or jeans of your average Walmart employee and the average waitress and you can tell who makes more money.

Now this has nothing to do with should you tip or not. Lets just not keep pushing along this poor waiter or waitress myth. They are the highest paid people in the restaurant and amoung the paid highest zero education jobs out there. So if you are tipping, tip for the service you recieve not some percieved duty to help out your fellow man.

I agree. I think its time to really face the fact that nobody tips because they want to. It's an awkward, guilty-driven, societal thing. If people could get away without tipping and not feeling like they'll be ostracized or have their food contaminated by bodily fluids, they would.

I haven't worked in a restaurant, but I don't feel that anyone working there deserves a tip anymore than somebody else in a low-paying, customer service job. I don't see why some would tip a barrista at a Starbucks, but not a fast food employee, Tim Hortons, or 7-11 employee who get crappy hours, pay, and are probably more likely to get held up in a robbery.

[Ben_in_Canada]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

So to recap, here is what we know about the lovely Springs1
7. She is approx 37 years old (graduated HS in 1995)

Either she's really dumb (possible) or I was a teenage prodigy (not likely)

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I agree. I think its time to really face the fact that nobody tips because they want to. It's an awkward, guilty-driven, societal thing. If people could get away without tipping and not feeling like they'll be ostracized or have their food contaminated by bodily fluids, they would.

I haven't worked in a restaurant, but I don't feel that anyone working there deserves a tip anymore than somebody else in a low-paying, customer service job. I don't see why some would tip a barrista at a Starbucks, but not a fast food employee, Tim Hortons, or 7-11 employee who get crappy hours, pay, and are probably more likely to get held up in a robbery.

I agree. I don't like to tip (but obviously I do) and I work in the industry!!!

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Uh... what?

shhhh....I am hunting a bunny wabbit

[jtfrogger]

Springs1 was reading this thread earlier this evening and did not post.

I are disappoint.

[Aegypticus]

My brother and I had (another) great experience at the Original Joe's on 130th Ave. tonight. The most impressive part of the service was when our server asked if I wanted another red. I said I'd like one when my burger came. Five minutes later someone other than our server brought us our food (I guess a runner or another server or something? I don't know how this stuff works) and not 30 seconds later a third person was putting a beer down in front of me. Truly impressive. I highly recommend them for service quality (and they're not hard on the eyes either).

We tipped ~22% because it came out to a nice round number. We usually tip around 20%. I wonder if they know us there now. We only go in once every month or two, but I can't remember ever having a single complaint. Do servers remember customers that are that infrequent? Does being a good customer factor in along with tipping? We were raised to always say please and thank you and to look someone in the eye when you talk to them. How much weight does that hold with a server? We very rarely make special requests such as asking for Béarnaise sauce at The Keg with a steak that doesn't typically come with it. Do these types of requests bother servers if you ask politely and it's reasonable?

I'm quite interested in the answers to these questions.

[Flames89]

My main problem is taxi's. What do you tip taxi drivers?

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

A McDonald's employee might serve 100 customers an hour so $0.15 would add up. As for the waiters, do you think they average out to $25 per hour for 40 hours of work or is it more like $25 per hour over dinner and lunch and much less in between assuming they can even get 40 hours a week. I have had some wait staff mention that they always work split shifts as well.

I worked as a server for about 1.5 years. I tracked my hours and tips in excel and I averaged $15/hour in tips (mostly tax free) + wage of $9. so total I averaged $24 over my entire time serving. I was working 32 hours/week and that was only because I was a student. I could easily have 40+ hours. Also never worked a split shift.

And I was not the best paid server there by far, I didn't really care, and barely tried to make a personal connection with the people. Just took orders and brought food out asap. Plus I'm not as easy on the eyes as most servers I like to tip well.

Not all servers work in the conditions you describe ( I personally know zero servers that would put up with that). In my opinion it is a super easy job with excellent pay. The benefits thing you mentioned is the only draw back, that and not qualifying for any loans because the bank wont take tips into account.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Swarly

The benefits thing you mentioned is the only draw back, that and not qualifying for any loans because the bank wont take tips into account.

They will if you claim it.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[GP_Matt]

I always laugh when people complain that they can't use the money they earned under the table to qualify for a loan.

[Dion]

Love this exchange between Anonymous and Springs1

Anonymous:

Did you forget to take your meds or something? You babbling is pure insanity. Who the hell do you think you are? If I saw you sitting at a table (and you can spot your type a mile away) I would probably have fun doing things wrong just to piss you off and would rather receive no tip and never see you again then receive a 50% tip for being treated like your god damn servant. most menu's have a rediculous amount of items on it and it is freaking rediculous to expect a server to know the price of every item on the menu, let alone expect the computer to make a mistake. Take your self serving attitude and shove it up your ass...

Springs1:

Re: Are you fureaking kidding me?

"most menu's have a rediculous amount of items on it and it is freaking rediculous to expect a server to know the price of every item on the menu, let alone expect the computer to make a mistake. Take your self serving attitude and shove it up your ass..."

I NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, STATED that a server would have to "KNOW" the menu prices, I stated they can ***EASILY JUST AS A CUSTOMER CAN, TAKE A MENU AND COMPARE THE MENU PRICES THAT ARE LISTED IN PRINT ON THE MENU WITH THE CHECK! HOW ####ING HARD IS THAT, HUH? ARE YOU THAT LAZY ASS?
http://www.chilis.com/menu/print_men...nuType=Dine+In

This menu states: MARGARITA GRILLED CHICKEN - $9.59

So let's say the CHECK has $9.99 even though you ordered it as it comes according to the menu. It's MY SERVER'S JOB to get a to-go menu and KEEP IT IN THEIR APRON to verify EVERY SINGLE PRICE that is listed. The soft drinks or tea are usually not listed on MOST menus, NOT in EVERY RESTAURANT though, just in MOST restaurants. My server's job is to ***CHARGE ME CORRECTLY***! Shouldn't you be able to put 100% TRUST into your server when YOU personally go out to eat or be their "BABY-SITTER" by verifying EVERY priced item for them when THEY can EASILY DO IT TO EARN THEIR TIP? WHAT THE HELL IS THE TIP FOR IF THE SERVER DOESN'T ************CARE**************** IF THEY ARE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS? If it's an overcharge, the SERVER is 100% at fault NO MATTER WHAT UNLESS the MANAGER or some other server hands the customer the check, which is very highly unlikely. I have gotten a check from another server maybe ONCE at Houston's in my entire lifetime.

SHOVE YOUR OVERCHARGING ASS UP YOURS! YOU ARE AN UNCARING LAZY, LAZY, LAZY, ASS BITCH! If the customer can take a menu and compare ****EACH PRICE THAT IS LISTED ON THE MENU, SO CAN MY SERVER DO THE ####ING SAME THING, YOU LAZY ASS AND UNCARING HUMAN BEING!

http://springs1.livejournal.com/392.html#comments

[burn_this_city]

I feel ****sorry**** for this woman's husband. She must be a ******demon****** in the sack to put up with that level of insanity. I've never seen someone so obessed with such a trivial problem like restaurant service. With this level of dedication, she could have accomplished some amazing things rather than dwell on such nonsense.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Flames89

My main problem is taxi's. What do you tip taxi drivers?

Depends, did you puke in their cab?

[anyonebutedmonton]

Originally Posted by GGG

Depends, did you puke in their cab?

$100, I may have experience in this area...

[flames_1987]

If anybody would like to contribute, I'm putting together a fund to help Springs1 start a twitter account. First off, it would be awesome to see her try and get those rants to fit into 148 characters and second off, we could get some insight into how our 35 year troll spends her days. Imagine the check-ins on 4 square! Chilli's, Harvey's, TGIFridays, the list goes on and on

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

If anybody would like to contribute, I'm putting together a fund to help Springs1 start a twitter account. First off, it would be awesome to see her try and get those rants to fit into 148 characters and second off, we could get some insight into how our 35 year troll spends her days. Imagine the check-ins on 4 square! Chilli's, Harvey's, TGIFridays, the list goes on and on

I would lose all ability to be productive at work if her rants occurred any more frequently.

[Swarly]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

They will if you claim it.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

I always laugh when people complain that they can't use the money they earned under the table to qualify for a loan.

no, tips wont go into the calculation as to how much you earn even if you claim it. You will pay tax on it but you will not be given a larger loan. As far as the bank is concerned you earn minimum wage. Any bonus (tips or xmas bonuses) do not allow you more borrowing power.