Worst Tippers

Old Mar 22nd, 2002, 05:31 PM
  #21  
John G
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Sorry, Miss Piggy, but I am gay and I used to go out of my way to be nice to heavy older women, but they still left me 10% tips. Usually, Joan Rivers-type women left me great tips (very thin, older, plastic surgery, jewelry from Cartier) I never prejudged my guests. And I think the above poster is right when he says that very rich couples tip less than middle-class ones. I would usually get very good tips from college-educated couples between the ages of 27-35 who were out for dinner on a Saturday night. I also found that the more casual the time, the less of a tip. For instance, I received worse tips on a Sunday evening when people were dressed in jeans and just got out of a movie. I also received very good tips from business men with expense accounts (what did they care, they weren't paying). This is all just a generalization, however, and there are exceptions to the rule. But, Miss Piggy, ask any w/w and they will tell you that heavy women in groups of two or more are terrible tippers.
 
Old Mar 22nd, 2002, 05:49 PM
  #22  
why
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John G, some of those you list as poor tippers may be those who themselves don't constantly badger their clientele for tips, because it is not the done thing. Such as in Australia.
 
Old Mar 22nd, 2002, 05:53 PM
  #23  
yyy
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No wonder those "women aged 35 to 45" weren't leaving you good tips. Don't you think it was a bit rude of you to be asking your customers their age? But then apparently you asked them about their educational level, too. Or could you just intuit it?
 
Old Mar 22nd, 2002, 06:04 PM
  #24  
Mary G
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When I was an studying for my PhD at Wotsamatta U., I worked as a waitress and found that Unitarians were good tippers as were Republican men born under Gemini who were between 42 1/2 and 53 years old. People from Virginia, except for those from the Richmond, were bad tippers, especially those from Fairfax County. The best tippers were people who had been members of the National Honors Society.
 
Old Mar 22nd, 2002, 06:09 PM
  #25  
Demographic
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Look, on a bill of $50., 20% is $10 while 18% is $9. and 15% is $7.50. For me, the $1-2 dollar difference isn't all that great and maybe it'll help the w/w (thanks for the abbrev.) out, at least in the morale dept.

Yes I'm generous but I'm not stupid. I think I have a mental "points off" system if orders get confused, if timing's off (bring entree before salad's done), if the w/w has an attitude, etc. etc. I've been known to leave a very pointed 5% or a single dollar.

It's rare that someone exceeds my "standard" for good service but when they do -- when they go out of their way to accommodate a special need or make a special arrangement with a dessert or the bill or whatever -- then I'll add another buck or two. It just isn't that much money compared to the kinds of rip-offs one can get when actually purchasing a product instead of receiving service. How much in change do you have on your bureau at this moment?

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I have seen people ACTUALLY tip as much as 25%!

BTW I'm one of those middle-aged overweight women, so be on alert -- that might be me ordering the broiled skinless chicken, salad, framboise sorbet, and herb tea. Don't make any assumptions.
 
Old Mar 22nd, 2002, 07:43 PM
  #26  
ja
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Canadian.
Late 40's.
Not as lean as I used to be.
I tip baseline 15% and that's for ADEQUATE service. I tip 20% for good service. And if the service is exemplary, 25% and a "kudos" followup to the management naming the person in question.(in writing)
As a teenager, I worked the food & beverage industry, you see. And we tip when we're in a different country!!
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 06:22 AM
  #27  
ttt
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ttt
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 06:59 AM
  #28  
tipping
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hmmm. I don't see why weight would have anything to do with anything, unless it's just a prejudice you have and so you notice it more. And how would you know it's the heavy woman leaving a smaller tip in a group? unless they all get separate checks. Personally, I would never leave a dollar as a tip unless I got a very small meal or the waiter/waitress was extremely bad.
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 07:51 AM
  #29  
ttt
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Here's a tip....GET A LIFE!!!!!
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 10:20 AM
  #30  
xx
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Former waitresses are the best tippers, IMO, especially when service is good. When service is off, they can tell whether it's due to bad/poorly trained wait staff, understaffing (where all the wait staff are run ragged trying to make up for lousy management), or a problem in the kitchen, and tip accordingly.
JohnG's comment is just another one of his rants against overweight women (he doesn't seem to mind overweight men nearly so much). No matter what the subject is, he'll manage to get a dig in at women who aren't thin--what an obsession! John, you *say* you were extra nice, but overweight women can be pretty shrewd and I bet they sensed your contempt under all those phony smiles. THAT'S why your tips weren't big.
I've been traveling to Europe several times a year for 20+ years and find the quality of service in Paris and other big cities is declining, because it's not viewed as a profession anymore by young people, male or female, especially if the management of the establishment is young as well. I've been to many chic and expensive places staffed and run by people under 30 who gave indifferent service and spent their time chatting with each other or on their cell phones. But places run by older managers and with a majority of wait staff over the age of 30 deliver much more professional service. THEY get my big tips.
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 10:32 AM
  #31  
who
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Anyone else have confusions over John Gs email address (which reveals his obsession with the thinner body shape even more).

I thought for ages it meant thing or juice. Couldnt understand it at all.

Imagine having such a complex about yourself that in your own email address you needed to refer to yourself as thin and gorgeous!
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 10:37 AM
  #32  
Britchick
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I usually tip about 12-15% in the UK and between 15 and 20% in the US because I have learned that is the custom.

But what I dont understand is why waitstaff in the US are not paid more?

If they were paid a living wage in the first place it would be easier.

That said one of their own arguments always annoys me... when I first used to visit the US the average tip expected was 15%.

When I heard waitstaff explaining why it should now be 20% they argued that this was to allow them to earn more in line with inflation.

BUT surely all the prices in the restaurants themselves keep pace with inflation in which case the 15% is a continuingly increasing figure?

Or would be it be that actually the prices for eating out in the US have stayed low when general prices have risen.

I believe also that in France and Italy and Spain that a tip isnt always a % amount but a general rounding up of the tip to the next note up (e.g. if its 33.60 then pay 35.00 etc).

Is this the case?
 
Old Mar 23rd, 2002, 11:08 AM
  #33  
Tip_Top
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I love the way Australian taxi drivers round DOWN the fare.
 
Old Mar 24th, 2002, 07:28 PM
  #34  
Dale
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Tsk! Tsk! Now I am offended! How could anyone single out Nova Scotians as bad tippers? Hey, I'll acknowledge that I'm fiscally cautious, but time and time again, Nova Scotians come out way ahead of other Canadians when it comes to being generous. That applies to tipping too, both at home and when travelling even in places where our Canadian dollar doesn't go very far. Alas, it seems our Scottish heritage has once again been defamed. Shame, shame for even starting this post. But hey, you'll be forgiven, as we are a kindly folk, and not noted for holding grudges. Have a good one,
Dale


 
Old Mar 24th, 2002, 08:36 PM
  #35  
Rosa
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Well, hey there, guys and girls, guess what?
I am a 35-45 year old curvaceous female teacher who travels alone by choice,
and I tip 20% in the US.
Steretypes are such a bother, aren't they?
 
Old Mar 25th, 2002, 12:43 AM
  #36  
Melanie
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I have found the Americans to be the best tippers, and the Canadians to be the worst tippers.
 
Old Mar 25th, 2002, 03:40 AM
  #37  
OhNo
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Aahhh! I am unemployed IT programmer in the US and I am scared this will be my new profession very soon.
 
Old Mar 25th, 2002, 03:42 AM
  #38  
hmmn
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The assumption seems to be that a 'good' tipper is someone who leaves more money in addition to the bill than someone who leaves less. Maybe a good tipper is someone shrewd enough to know when they are being left to make their own discretionary, value-based assessment of the service, and when they are being shaken down or bullied by an egomaniac who feels insulted that they should have to serve anyone at all.

As for that last remark, it was such a transparent ploy to ignite indignation that I shall leave 3 pennies, stuck in the leftover sauce on the plate, to indicate my opinion.
 
Old Mar 25th, 2002, 03:47 AM
  #39  
OhNo
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Hey I was a programmer-slave -- let me tell you. I regurarly worked until 3 am because of 'critical' extra work given to me by my employer (damn scope issues). I will be happy to work less hours and even to serve people, I am just not happy about the pay cut since I am still paying my college loans back.
 
Old Mar 25th, 2002, 03:48 AM
  #40  
OhNO
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sorry I got that too late. ;-)
 

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