[QUOTE=exceltoexcel,Mar 25 2006, 02:38 AM]

Side note we went out with some friends today for a birthday.

 

like someone said above, it's not the customers responsibility how the waiters live their lives. they choose to do what they do and they have to expect that some won't tips or tip cheaply. after all, tipping is not a law or rule to eat at restaurants.

 

Yes it is. Way back when, waiters used to get paid like any other normal jobs. However, over the years, greedy employers realized that the staff was making too much money, due to the fact that they are getting paid AND getting tipped. So over the years, the service industry phased out straight pay in favor of tips. In todays times, a waiter working a 10 hours shift, without tips will make about 22 bucks, and after taxes, about 3 dollars. (Yes its true, i did payroll for 5 years in 2 restaurants) How many of you think its fair that someone who works hard to serve YOU 10 hours a day deserves 3 dollars a day?
No, it doesnt say in any legal book that tipping is mandatory. However, you are part of society arent you? You cannot blame the staff for the owners greed over the years. They (owners) ...basically shifted who pays the staff. The staff is not at fault, and if they do a good job, there is no reason why you should not tip. Im not saying you should tip 55%, but 12% at the least (if the service was just fine) up to 25% if it was fantastic.
I have always said this.....I think everyone should work in a service industry for 1 year of their life. Having people treat you like dirt, talk down to you (much like you did above) expect you to shine their shoes, plaster a fake smile on, and cater to your every whim.....only to get a $2 tip on a $350 check.

Its a very tough business, and many people who are your servers are just trying to put themselves through school, etc etc.....

P.S. Also just a friendly restaurant tip (many people think this is just a joke)...DO NOT PISS OFF ANYONE WHO HANDLES YOUR FOOD.

 

well the world has changed since way back when., don't you think?

like I said before, it's a choice whether one wants to be a waiter or not. if the waiters can get more than 15% tips some of the time, then they have to accept the fact that some customers will tip less some of the time..give a little, take a little. that's how things work.

so the customers HAVE to make up for the greedy owners?

I used to work in a food service industry some 20 years ago and I chose to get out. others can too.

anyway I rest my case here....

 

If you read the minimum wage "poster" that are usually posted inside break rooms or offices of any food establishment, you'll see that there is a separate mininum wage for tipped jobs.

Because of this, I would assume that tipping should be a "law," although the amount of tip should vary.

 

Whoa NFRs2000NYC you are not robbing anyone by not tipping! Many feel you are being robbed by the person expecting the tip.

When you pay for your food it is kinda basic that they need to get it to your table OR offer you a way to get it there yourself (a cafeteria).

As others have said a tip is not mandatory but a customary courtesy and only given when service exceeds the minimum.

Greedy owners - Greedy waitstaff - greedy customers? Who gives a flyin flip! I am not required to leave a tip, but I do when I receive service that goes beyond the basics. A friendly smile, a cute waitress, recommendations of menu items, taking care of me and making sure I am not short changed by the kitchen staff, keeping my glass filled, etc. etc.

I was always taught that TIP meant To Insure Prompt service, not extra cost to my meal.

If the waitstaff wants a Tip they need to provide more than adequate service. NOWHERE, NOHOW is the public ever required to tip UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! Now if you are going back again then maybe you want to to insure that you get extra special treatment next time. That was how tipping came about.

My kids have been waitstaff at multiple low and high dollar restaurants and I know that tipping, while common, is definitely not a given.

And who is to say how much you should leave? Why 15% or 18%? Why not the 10% that was customary (there's that word again) for decades? The amount should be determined by the service provided.

 

I worked at a upscale sea-food restaurant in Jupiter Fl back in college. We had this one family come in who everyone hated to have seated in the their section...being the new guy and wanting to impress I volunteered to the manager that next time they came in (usually weekly) sit themin my section. They were horrible tippers, and in this restaurant which was filled with a staff who had been there a long time and made decent money (some 50-60K rumor had it, not bad).


So, being new, I also got a crap section some nights, upstairs, no elevator. They came in, manager seats them in my section. For the next 45 minutes I give stellar, and I mean steller service.

Check time.

When they ask, the mother, older lady, goes "we just want to let you know that we know your new but this was the best service we've ever had etc etc come here a lot"


I dropped the check and went to brag in the back to the rest of the staff "told you guys, just be nice, i bet im getting 20-25%"


They left, said some kind words to the manager on the way out.




They left me.....
















$10 dollars short.

 

Watching the first 15 minutes of reservior dogs should make you understand that if Steve Buschemi ddin't tip, he was gonna get it. Tipping IS required, by the way. If it wasn't, your food bill would be significantly higher. The restaurant, bar, etc. would charge you more for the food and drinks. It would be incorporated into the sale. It is left as it is as a meritocratic system to reward those who excel and to "punish" those who are not very good at their job.

I sincerely believe everyone should be required to work in the service industry at some point in their life. it will make you think twice next time before not leaving a tip or cussing out your server or attendant.

 

What I want to know is how does the cook who does all the work preparing the dish get anything out of this?

 

Somebody did in fact mentioned this.