i hate the tip jar by the register. it seems like it is more of on obligation. i usually dont drink coffee so i dont run into those tip jars to often. i put a couple dollars in one the other day at a mexican restaurant though. usually if i do anything with those tip jars, i will just dump the change in it from the transaction. a hot girl will probably get a couple bucks.
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Tips & tipping general discussion
- Thread starter Cyc
- Start date
hiphophippy
Bluelighter
Washington state does not allow a tip credit, so servers must be paid the state minimum wage.
^ wow, seriously? it's not that I don't believe you, but that is so radical to me, I would like to see some sort of evidence/source?
the West, and specifically the North-West are the only regions in the Nation that I haven't lived/worked/checked out very often
the West, and specifically the North-West are the only regions in the Nation that I haven't lived/worked/checked out very often
AmorRoark
Bluelight Crew
Yes, this is true in Washington. I still tip because the cost of living here is way more than say Kansas. Added to that a lot of wait staff don't get 40 hour weeks. I assume they get something like ~25 hours so that's $225/wk. = $900/mo. That isn't that much in Seattle. That said, I think we have the highest min. wage in the country so that's a good thing...
http://www.paywizard.org/main/minimum-wage/tipped-workers
http://www.paywizard.org/main/minimum-wage/tipped-workers
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AmorRoark
Bluelight Crew
Addendum: To be honest with you all I think servers in the U.S. would double-think their complaints about not getting minimum wage if it actually infiltrated the entire country. It's because of the 'tip system' that most servers are able to bank way more on any given night than they would had they just been paid minimum wage. Sure, servers should probably, generally, be paid more than minimum wage anyway but should such a system be infiltrated in the entire U.S. we all know it's rather unlikely most corporate restaurants would pay much more than minimum wage in any given State. Additionally, it serves as initiative to do your job well. Why work hard when you're just going to get minimum wage anyway? When tips are involved it kinda changes your outlook, generally speaking.
ebola?
Bluelight Crew
That's a good question, given that I'm now in a no-tipping country where the service is better than places where there is tipping, and given that the servers here are not paid a great deal,
ebola
CoffeeDrinker
Bluelighter
The tipping system is great. I feel like those who don't support it are socially incompetent andor cheap. It's just a feeling I get.
When there's bad service you do less than 15, it's pretty simple. If its terrible then there's no reason not to talk to someone about it before you stiff them.
When there's bad service you do less than 15, it's pretty simple. If its terrible then there's no reason not to talk to someone about it before you stiff them.
hiphophippy
Bluelighter
I dunno up north but in Portland my friends that are chefs and assorted eatery staff usually work 50+ hours a weak no overtime(pay (1.5) but still compensated regular wage). it's hard to catch them with time of a lot of the time they will have to work two 8 hour shifts in the same day. They put you through the fucking wringer as far as I know about Portland area.
I still tip but usually 10%. 15%for good service i'll lay down money at a restaurant that I patronize.
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AmorRoark
Bluelight Crew
I was talking about servers, not chefs, but the point is noted. 
There are about a million qualifiers that don't equate that sentiment to how American mentality would react to transferring to a 'no-tip' system.
There are about a million qualifiers that don't equate that sentiment to how American mentality would react to transferring to a 'no-tip' system.
Max Power
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 9,890
Um, because ITS YOUR JOB? Regardless of pay rate, its a bit unethical as an employee to say "Well, even if I bust my ass I'm not making more than $x.xx/hr anyway!"
ebola?
Bluelight Crew
AmorRoark said:
Er...I was actually wondering why I am getting good service here. I'm not sure what sentiment I was putting forth.
ebola
morpher001
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2006
- Messages
- 1,067
I don't live in and have never traveled to a tipping country, so I have never experienced it first hand. That said, the whole notion seems rather arbitrary, vaguely confrontational and basically an unfortunate nuisance of a custom.
Also, a master/servant relationship then exists between not only the employer and the staff, but the patrons and the staff too. Although this is kind of the whole point, to encourage better service to all patrons, would it not highlight to some degree the gap between the social classes? (gee I'm such a great guy, helping out these unfortunates with a few bucks)
If not for the expectation of tips, wages would be higher and that overhead passed on with the purchase, which seems sensible.
One more slightly facetious observation, no doubt a percentage of tip incomes for serving staff would be straight into their pocket giving them a favorable tax outcome compared to any other worker on wages. This also is inequitable.
Also, a master/servant relationship then exists between not only the employer and the staff, but the patrons and the staff too. Although this is kind of the whole point, to encourage better service to all patrons, would it not highlight to some degree the gap between the social classes? (gee I'm such a great guy, helping out these unfortunates with a few bucks)
If not for the expectation of tips, wages would be higher and that overhead passed on with the purchase, which seems sensible.
One more slightly facetious observation, no doubt a percentage of tip incomes for serving staff would be straight into their pocket giving them a favorable tax outcome compared to any other worker on wages. This also is inequitable.
Perpetual Indulgence
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2004
- Messages
- 20,518
and I am nice and easy to my server. I have yet to have an experience where the person was a dick. I don't think I have gone below 20% for a meal.
I find all of this tipping business fascinating.. Living in Australia we don't tip at all, unless there is truly incredible service provided.
I think I would find it off-putting knowing it was expected that I give a tip, even of the service was sub-par.
Obviously this is a fairly ingrained cultural norm in America and wouldn't easily be changed, but I can't help but think we use a more fair system. I think employees should get a fair and honest wage, and tips for good service should be gravy.
Unfortunately for servers in the US, they are undergoing plenty of hassles, for one the wages are $2.10 per hour, next thing is the IRS automatically removes 8% of the gross food sales you made while serving. This means that if you do a decent job serving, you'll know cause you won't get a paycheck. I worked as a cook for many years, and I have seen many unhappy servers whose only fault lay in their choice of customer.
at home, i usually leave $3-$5 if the meal is under $60 and $8-10 if it's over. it's funny how widely the attitudes toward tipping vary from one locality to the next. in some places my standard tip converted to the local currency was considered extraordinarly generous, in other places it was considered insulting. if i eat at the same place often i'll spend more readily to have the staff remember me but otherwise no.
Captain.Heroin
Bluelight Crew
As if being a banker is any "more real" of a job than being a waiter. 8(
Miss_vanilla
Bluelighter
I have to say I don't agree that Australians only tip with exceptional service - I'll tip pretty much everytime unless the service is awful. Even if the food is a bit sub par I'll tip so long as the staff are pretty helpful and doing their job. Here we don't need to follow a 10 or 20% rule though, a lot of people just throw a few dollars in the tip jar when they pay their bill.
I used to wait tables when I was young - at my parents' restaurant and a fair few others for a couple of years; I actually enjoyed it most of the time but I worked my arse off. Most customers were great; they'd tip really well and we'd all of us put it together at the end of the night to share out. We'd all do well most nights actually, without the tipping it would have been pretty poor wages as I was 16/17/18 and earning the minimum wage. I'm actually wondering now whether the socio economic differences in people makes a difference in tipping or not because I worked in an a la carte, fairly upmarket restaurant in an upper middle class suburb for a while and the tips were phenomenal. Probably not but those rich bastards tipped well, that's all I know
I've travelled o/s to the states and Europe/England and tipped where it was appropriate. I'd never go to another country unless I had some idea of the customs and whatnot but then my family travelled a fair bit when I was younger so maybe something rubbed off I don't know.
It's good karma to tip, well not karma in the real sense but you know, it puts out positive energy and all that. I really don't think a lot of office workers get how hard it is to work on your feet all day dealing with people!
Plus people get mean with food. They'll handle poor service in a lot of places but not a restaurant.
I used to wait tables when I was young - at my parents' restaurant and a fair few others for a couple of years; I actually enjoyed it most of the time but I worked my arse off. Most customers were great; they'd tip really well and we'd all of us put it together at the end of the night to share out. We'd all do well most nights actually, without the tipping it would have been pretty poor wages as I was 16/17/18 and earning the minimum wage. I'm actually wondering now whether the socio economic differences in people makes a difference in tipping or not because I worked in an a la carte, fairly upmarket restaurant in an upper middle class suburb for a while and the tips were phenomenal. Probably not but those rich bastards tipped well, that's all I know
I've travelled o/s to the states and Europe/England and tipped where it was appropriate. I'd never go to another country unless I had some idea of the customs and whatnot but then my family travelled a fair bit when I was younger so maybe something rubbed off I don't know.
It's good karma to tip, well not karma in the real sense but you know, it puts out positive energy and all that. I really don't think a lot of office workers get how hard it is to work on your feet all day dealing with people!
Plus people get mean with food. They'll handle poor service in a lot of places but not a restaurant.
CoffeeDrinker
Bluelighter
^You're absolutely right, Socioeconomics plays a huge part in tipping. Tipping is like a quintessential socioeconomic issue because it has everything to do with how you were raised in addition to your current economic situation. I tip even when I'm broke just because that's how it is for me, and if I can't tip, I feel bad, and let them know just how broke I am at the moment and they seem to be appreciative of it.
manboychef
Bluelighter
bad tippers vs. let me get my change purse sonny....
I received an eleven cent tip on a hundred and twenty three dollar check. I served the table well. The food was all perfect, and their drinks came off the bar on time.
Why do old people tip so poorly? I was told by an older gent that it is because they are on a fixed income. Fixed income?!!?! I'm on a fixed income, I'm waiting freaking tables for chrisakes!!! Chances are they own their home and their car... and it just cost me money to serve these people.
My question is: whom are the worst tippers as a group, and what is the worst tip you ever received, and I would love to hear some server stories.
Ps. I didn't throw the eleven cents at the back of their nice suv as they were speeding away.
I received an eleven cent tip on a hundred and twenty three dollar check. I served the table well. The food was all perfect, and their drinks came off the bar on time.
Why do old people tip so poorly? I was told by an older gent that it is because they are on a fixed income. Fixed income?!!?! I'm on a fixed income, I'm waiting freaking tables for chrisakes!!! Chances are they own their home and their car... and it just cost me money to serve these people.
My question is: whom are the worst tippers as a group, and what is the worst tip you ever received, and I would love to hear some server stories.
Ps. I didn't throw the eleven cents at the back of their nice suv as they were speeding away.