Tipping is now at about 20% for good service

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I understand why you wouldn't feel the need to tip on two beers. I mean, all I really do is turn around and grab two beers, open them, tell you how much it is, smile, and make your change.

If this is how you feel, I'm likely not going to convince you that you should give me a dollar per drink, but that would be about standard.

If you don't tip in that situation though, no one is going to jump down your throat. Just don't do it ten times in a night. I mean, I know it doesn't sound like much, but I pay a quarter to serve you those two beers. It is a culture thing too... the bartender, rightly or wrongly, is the last person you want to be annoying in a bar. Not that getting two tipless beers would elicit any real annoyance... tipping 12 cents might though...

The twelve cents wasn't at a bar. It was at a place where they have the tip option and really shouldn't... at least in my opinion. I wouldn't do that kind of thing to make a point, but you couldn't get past the tip 'option' without adding something.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Pacem

Its weird how the % of tip has gone up over the years. The cost of food constantly rises. Should the % of gratuity stay the same? Servers are still getting getting more money due to the increase in price

The tipout also has gone up...doubled in some cases

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Has not tipping really c@ckblocked somebody.

Yup...

[polak]

I got called out by a bartender for paying exact change (I was slammed from the dining room already before we moved into the bar, and I had already tipped normally over there) for a bottle of Stella.

I told him that he is f***ed if he thinks shaming me for not tipping when all the guy did was open the bottle and hand it to me was going to win him any future tips. When his boss heard my commotion (of course, being drunk, I had to be louder than he was originally) and I explained to her that I was part of the group that just dropped quite the pretty penny over at the dining side and after I told her what her bartender just did, she got me and the rest of a party a free shot... which that d-bag had to poor.

Smugness that screamed "f*** you" was splashed all over all of our faces.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Slava

Just out of curiosity, how much should I tip if I wait at the bar and grab say 2 beers? I want to tip zero...I mean really, what great service am I getting? I'm not trying to be difficult here either, and not trying to be rude but really this bugs me. Same for the halfway house at the golf course, or wherever else.

I totally get that some guy might sit at the bar and have you solve all his problems for him...he should tip. Me walking up and buying a beer though?

I accidentally tipped a guy $0.12 yesterday. I say accidentally because I meant to tip zero, but the ridiculous debit machine wouldn't let me past the screen. I hate the tip option being everywhere now.

Well, depends on how many times you plan on heading back to grab drinks. If it was only once, no harm no foul. But if it gets busy and you plan on being served with some haste, tipping helps you spend less time waiting. Bartender tend to treat everyone well. But if you chuck something extra their way they tend to remember that.

[stampsx2]

To me the whole tipping thing is out of control so to be fair, i pretty much stopped going out to eat. I get the impression i'm lining the owners pockets.

Anybody tip at fast food places where the tip automatically comes up on the machine?

[Torture]

I went to Montreal this summer and a friend we met for drinks bought the second pitcher of the night. Tipped $1 on a $11 pitcher and the waitress got all uppity because it was less than 10% and she was "losing money" after taxes and tipout. (pretty hefty tipout...)

Not to mention she got $2 for the first pitcher from me...so we went elsewhere to buy our third pitcher.

I worked in the service industry as both a bartender and server during University. I get the $1/drink and 15% for decent service but it's gotten out of control. I shouldn't have to be presented with the tip option for every coffee I buy or required to tip 15% for crappy service. I had lots of customers that gave great tips and I had lots that gave crappy tips. It all evens out.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by polak

I got called out by a bartender for paying exact change (I was slammed from the dining room already before we moved into the bar, and I had already tipped normally over there) for a bottle of Stella.

I told him that he is f***ed if he thinks shaming me for not tipping when all the guy did was open the bottle and hand it to me was going to win him any future tips. When his boss heard my commotion (of course, being drunk, I had to be louder than he was originally) and I explained to her that I was part of the group that just dropped quite the pretty penny over at the dining side and after I told her what her bartender just did, she got me and the rest of a party a free shot... which that d-bag had to poor.


Smugness that screamed "f*** you" was splashed all over all of our faces.

Ya, you had every right... Especially considering it was part of the same establishment. You understand the difference between not tipping for something that was 6 dollars and not tipping for something that is 100 dollars, correct? You didn't give him nickels and dimes though, did you?

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I'm sorry, it is a guilty pleasure of mine. I didn't overcharge or underpour, which is a far easier and less satisfying revenge,

Funny you should mention that was at national on 10th on the weekend, watched the bartender pour a double vodka seven for one of the waitresses, the second shot wasn't even half full.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

To me the whole tipping thing is out of control so to be fair, i pretty much stopped going out to eat. I get the impression i'm lining the owners pockets.

Anybody tip at fast food places where the tip automatically comes up on the machine?

There is no reason to tip unless you are being served, at a table. Fast food, take out - no reason to tip.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Funny you should mention that was at national on 10th on the weekend, watched the bartender pour a double vodka seven for one of the waitresses, the second shot wasn't even half full.

Yes, it is also magnified since 50 % of the ounce is on the top quarter of the shot glass. Some bartenders will short poor either to negate personal spillage which ends up being money out of their pockets at the end of the night (spill could mean drinks that were double made, made wrong, or drinks the bartender drinks)... not a good reason to short pour. They may also do it because they are hustlers and they calculate how many drinks they pour short and how much extra booze they have to sell and not ring in. Not a big fan of that. They may also do it out of malice. Don't like that either. Basically, short-pouring sucks, but for those reasons, it is pretty common and pretty easy.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Major Major

While I do understand your point Dion, and you are 100% correct at a glance of my post, there are times, in any industry, where the party providing service can draws a line in the sand and tells the customer to go eff themselves. Call it entitlement if you want, but if you are forced into business deals by your employer that you lose money in personally, even though you have zero stake in the business, you have the right to call a spade a spade. Also, my employer has the right to fire me if he gets too many complaints. I have worked in the service industry for 7 years at three different places and received 2 customer complaints that were unrelated to me being a 'dikwad'. Have been fired zero times and been lauded for customer service at every step, but I am selectively a dickwad and will not apologize for it.

Do you realise that the vast majority of people never complain about the bad service they recieved? Instead of saying something to the owner or server they instead choose to never come back.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Ya, you had every right... Especially considering it was part of the same establishment. You understand the difference between not tipping for something that was 6 dollars and not tipping for something that is 100 dollars, correct? You didn't give him nickels and dimes though, did you?

Oh yeah of course. I've never had a problem getting drinks at bars before (that I remember) so I can't be that bad of a tipper

There were quarters in it, I remember that cause he bitched about them in his little rant. I was out of change, s### happens. It's great cause as I said, that was the first beer, I had every intention of going to an ATM and getting more cash out and would've tipped normally. That said, if I was sober I would've probably clued in that I could pay mastercard and tip normally.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Dion

Do you realise that the vast majority of people never complain about the bad service they recieved? Instead of saying something to the owner or server they instead choose to never come back.

I realize that 100%, but it doesn't change my stance on the situation. I will continue to speak out on occasions of egregious tipping omissions. Many here think that makes me some kind of ######, that's fine, but it is not the wrong thing to do from my perspective or the businesses'.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by polak

Oh yeah of course. I've never had a problem getting drinks at bars before (that I remember) so I can't be that bad of a tipper

There were quarters in it, I remember that cause he bitched about them in his little rant. I was out of change, s### happens. It's great cause as I said, that was the first beer, I had every intention of going to an ATM and getting more cash out and would've tipped normally. That said, if I was sober I would've probably clued in that I could pay mastercard and tip normally.

Yes well, he was just off base or maybe was extremely pissy about something else. I would say that one out of ever 15 or 20 single orders get payed to the quarter, it's really not that big of a deal. If a bartender is going to get upset over that, then he/she will experience a lot of wasted breath. Plus, bartenders need quarters.

And to be fair, when I make people feel tipping shame in egregious non-tipping situations, it is not to get money from them. Sometimes they offer, and I tell them that that is not why I said that. sometimes we chat and I end up buying them a shot or something.

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

There is no reason to tip unless you are being served, at a table. Fast food, take out - no reason to tip.

The guy at the fast food joint who gets you your fountain pop should get one dollar just like the bartender who got you a pint of beer for you, no?

Why limit entitlement to simplistic alcoholic beverages?

[V]

Originally Posted by getbak

They'd just raise their prices to compensate, and you'd pay the same price for horrible service that you now only pay for excellent service.

If you think service in Calgary sucks now, imagine what it would be like if they weren't "hustling" for tips.

We had a big group at the Olive Garden tonight, so there was a mandatory 15% gratuity on the bill. She knew what she was getting before we even sat down.

The service was great, exactly what I would expect at a place like that.

I really don't understand why including a mandatory gratuity, or including that in the prices will automatically make everyone terrible at their jobs. I like what MarchHare posted. It makes a lot of sense. Pay people appropriately and they'll do their job.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Deegee

The guy at the fast food joint who gets you your fountain pop should get one dollar just like the bartender who got you a pint of beer for you, no?

Why limit entitlement to simplistic alcoholic beverages?

Terrible take. I'm sure the whole tipout situation has been explained to you, and you might even understand it, but that is not the whole story. When I am working in a bar, I have a duty of care towards every single person in the bar and am liable for damages that may occur due to irresponsible service. Added to that, I am sometimes out in situations that could be physically harmful for me, but it is a part of my job to ensure everyone else's safety. I have paid for and taken courses in this regard, and there is more to it then you might think. You cannot compare someone tipping between licensed and unlicensed establishments.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I realize that 100%, but it doesn't change my stance on the situation. I will continue to speak out on occasions of egregious tipping omissions. Many here think that makes me some kind of ######, that's fine, but it is not the wrong thing to do from my perspective or the businesses'.

If you embarrass someone because they didn't tip runs the risk of them telling friends and family members who may may in turn pass that on. That's possible new customers who may not agree with the way you handled the situation.

I spent a number of years in the customer service industry and was never allowed to be rude to customers. I saw no useful purpose in doing it. Like, why let a bad customer get under your skin when you have the choice of focusing on those that appreciate the service you give them.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Dion

If you embarrass someone because they didn't tip runs the risk of them telling friends and family members who may may in turn pass that on. That's possible new customers who may not agree with the way you handled the situation.

I spent a number of years in the customer service industry and was never allowed to be rude to customers. I saw no useful purpose in doing it. Like, why let a bad customer get under your skin when you have the choice of focusing on those that appreciate the service you give them.

Trust me, no one is running off and bragging about not tipping on a 100 $ tab.

What if for every bad customer you dealt with you lost 5 dollars off of your paycheque? Then would you say, oh well, I'll just focus on the positives? Nope, you would become surly towards gross customer negligence and find ways to amuse yourself at their expense. This isn't that complicated people!