Another TIPPING question....
#61
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Although I definitely don't condone it, Rachel is right about disparate customer treatment.
I worked as a waiter for a summer during college at a very popular, mid-priced family restaurant with many regular customers. (The typical bill for a family of 4 was maybe $50.)
The servers definitely knew which "regulars" were generous and which were known to be cheap, and they treated them very differently. (As did the hostesses, but that's a different story.)
On the positive side, generous people were afforded service that often went above and beyond the call of duty. I recall one instance where a steak came up early and sat under the heatlamps for a few minutes. The server said to the cook, "oh, that's for the Jones's who always leave a big tip, please grill up another one for me." The Jones's didn't even know about this. Many other positive examples for not only good tippers, but kind people.
On the disturbing negative side, I saw things that made my skin crawl. I would prefer not to gross out anyone, but let me just say that if you can imagine it, it has been done to bad tippers' food. You don't know where that food has been or what's been done to it before it hits your table.
What I learned: If you plan on returning to a restaurant, and without-a-doubt if you're a regular, tip well and overlook the occasional bad service.
I worked as a waiter for a summer during college at a very popular, mid-priced family restaurant with many regular customers. (The typical bill for a family of 4 was maybe $50.)
The servers definitely knew which "regulars" were generous and which were known to be cheap, and they treated them very differently. (As did the hostesses, but that's a different story.)
On the positive side, generous people were afforded service that often went above and beyond the call of duty. I recall one instance where a steak came up early and sat under the heatlamps for a few minutes. The server said to the cook, "oh, that's for the Jones's who always leave a big tip, please grill up another one for me." The Jones's didn't even know about this. Many other positive examples for not only good tippers, but kind people.
On the disturbing negative side, I saw things that made my skin crawl. I would prefer not to gross out anyone, but let me just say that if you can imagine it, it has been done to bad tippers' food. You don't know where that food has been or what's been done to it before it hits your table.
What I learned: If you plan on returning to a restaurant, and without-a-doubt if you're a regular, tip well and overlook the occasional bad service.
#63
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While I know that MOST waiters and waitresses in NYC are good people who usually provide anywhere from acceptable to great service...
But, I have also observed that New York has a lot of waiters and waitresses who have no interest in their jobs and no interest in providing even halfway decent service to customers. Then they have the audacity to complain if the tip is bad. New York is the only place in the world I have ever been where waiters/waitresses followed me out into the STREET to complain about a bad tip I left for their bad service. This has happened to me twice! I had another waitress loudly tell her other tables in a fake pouty voice that we "didn't like her"
I know they don't get paid a standard base wage, but as long as it's called a "gratuity", they shouldn't be surprised if bad service results in a bad tip. I have worked in the service business, and I know it doensn't take a huge amount of effort to be civil to your customers. If you can't at least be civil, get a different job!
In the meantime, if you're in NY and you think your waitperson doesn't deserve a good tip, for God's sake, RUN.
But, I have also observed that New York has a lot of waiters and waitresses who have no interest in their jobs and no interest in providing even halfway decent service to customers. Then they have the audacity to complain if the tip is bad. New York is the only place in the world I have ever been where waiters/waitresses followed me out into the STREET to complain about a bad tip I left for their bad service. This has happened to me twice! I had another waitress loudly tell her other tables in a fake pouty voice that we "didn't like her"
I know they don't get paid a standard base wage, but as long as it's called a "gratuity", they shouldn't be surprised if bad service results in a bad tip. I have worked in the service business, and I know it doensn't take a huge amount of effort to be civil to your customers. If you can't at least be civil, get a different job!
In the meantime, if you're in NY and you think your waitperson doesn't deserve a good tip, for God's sake, RUN.
#64
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And don't go back to that restaurant unless you want an armpit sandwich. What Ted says is true -- I've seen it myself while waiting tables during grad school at a few different places.
Anyone out there seen the movie "Road Trip?" The scene at the diner. It happens. Be afraid. Tip well or never return.
Anyone out there seen the movie "Road Trip?" The scene at the diner. It happens. Be afraid. Tip well or never return.
#65
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Maybe I have just worked at some better places, or at least better run but I have been waiting tables for 20+ years and I have seen some co-workers try things like what you have described over the years but I could proabably count the times on one hand. I now work in a 4 diamond rated place but I had my start in the basic chain type places like Fridays or Bennigans and I am suprised by how many people are saying that it happens all the time. I would beg to differ.
#66
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I am 22 and most of my friends work as wait staff and are very good. I must say, though I have never even heard of not including the tax on tipping. I am not saying you should or shouldn't, i just never even thought about it. But as for what percent, I tip on service only, not on anything else. I have left 3 dollars and 30 dollars and that didnt depend on the price of my meal, but on the service i got from the server.
#68
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Who are all these people that have responded on this thread?
Yes, some people are lousy tippers. My old boss regularly tipped 10-12% (yes, before tax!).
But doubling the tax in NYC is standard good tipping for good service. Even friends of mine who were servers in their struggling graduate school days double the tax in NYC.
And the same way that you should never tip 15% if the service was inadequate, if a server goes above-and-beyond what is expected you can tipethem 20%. We don't pay bonuses to people who don't perform well on their jobs, why should you tip well for bad service?
Yes, some people are lousy tippers. My old boss regularly tipped 10-12% (yes, before tax!).
But doubling the tax in NYC is standard good tipping for good service. Even friends of mine who were servers in their struggling graduate school days double the tax in NYC.
And the same way that you should never tip 15% if the service was inadequate, if a server goes above-and-beyond what is expected you can tipethem 20%. We don't pay bonuses to people who don't perform well on their jobs, why should you tip well for bad service?
#69
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It was conventional wisdom/advice for a very long time that your tip was based on the total cost of food and drink before tax was added. Look in any book or magazine on the subject.
Also: if you arrive at your tip in New York by doubling the tax (which is 8 1/4% or 8 1/2 %), as many people claim to do,you are in effect not tipping on the tax, as the tax figure you are doubling is a percentage of the bill before taxes.
If you arrive at your tip by doubling the total and moving a decimal point (i.e., tip $20 on a $100 bottom line total), then you ARE tipping 20% on the total including the tax.
Also: if you arrive at your tip in New York by doubling the tax (which is 8 1/4% or 8 1/2 %), as many people claim to do,you are in effect not tipping on the tax, as the tax figure you are doubling is a percentage of the bill before taxes.
If you arrive at your tip by doubling the total and moving a decimal point (i.e., tip $20 on a $100 bottom line total), then you ARE tipping 20% on the total including the tax.
#71
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I am kind and generous, but I do not tip on the tax. That's just how I learned to do it. Since we always get treated well in the restaurants we frequent, I can only assume our level of tipping (18-20%, more for something special)is not considered cheap.
But what I find so fascinating on this thread is the sarcastic scorn about people being cheapskates -- are you the same people who are always looking for a deal on a hotel or airfare? So a few bucks here and there on the tip doesn't matter (although it easily would add up to a hundred bucks in a year), but $20 difference on a plane ticket is worth hours of your time searching the internet? Ah, the foibles of humankind...
But what I find so fascinating on this thread is the sarcastic scorn about people being cheapskates -- are you the same people who are always looking for a deal on a hotel or airfare? So a few bucks here and there on the tip doesn't matter (although it easily would add up to a hundred bucks in a year), but $20 difference on a plane ticket is worth hours of your time searching the internet? Ah, the foibles of humankind...
#72
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FYI-
In California, and I am assuming it is the same in most states, waiters get taxed on the tips they receive. Usually as a percentage of their sales based on the standard 15 percent tip. So most times, the paycheck they receive is minimal.
Remember that next time you stiff someone.
In California, and I am assuming it is the same in most states, waiters get taxed on the tips they receive. Usually as a percentage of their sales based on the standard 15 percent tip. So most times, the paycheck they receive is minimal.
Remember that next time you stiff someone.