Once again Tipping?%18/%15???
Sep 15th, 2004, 07:46 PM
#1
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Once again Tipping?%18/%15???
A most recent thread is about a legal issue regarding a mandatory %18 tip on a large party. Rather than be poster # 49, I have started a new thread to ask simply......
"Whatever happened to the %15 gratuity?" I find the mandatory %18 an insult from owners who have thru some mishap in the past, decided that we should not only pay for overpriced food but should pay their servers salaries. So they can buy more restaurants, bigger houses, and more vacations.
That said, if I am hosting a private party, and the service has been simply good, I tell the waiter to add %23, so I only need to sign. Yes I overtip, but for an owner to demand me to do better than %15 is simply wrong.
With that said, and waitstaffs, bring it on, but realize I worked in the industry for many years, and yes I have left %10 for service that deserved less, and will continue to do so.
Just My Humble Opinion
"Whatever happened to the %15 gratuity?" I find the mandatory %18 an insult from owners who have thru some mishap in the past, decided that we should not only pay for overpriced food but should pay their servers salaries. So they can buy more restaurants, bigger houses, and more vacations.
That said, if I am hosting a private party, and the service has been simply good, I tell the waiter to add %23, so I only need to sign. Yes I overtip, but for an owner to demand me to do better than %15 is simply wrong.
With that said, and waitstaffs, bring it on, but realize I worked in the industry for many years, and yes I have left %10 for service that deserved less, and will continue to do so.
Just My Humble Opinion
Sep 16th, 2004, 08:15 AM
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I hope the post above was supposed to be funny. Not anal about percentages but "roughly 17-20%." That's great!
It's interesting how the recommended tip percentage has risen, seemingly for no reason. After all, restaurant prices rise with inflation, meaning tips at 15% would rise accordingly.
It's interesting how the recommended tip percentage has risen, seemingly for no reason. After all, restaurant prices rise with inflation, meaning tips at 15% would rise accordingly.
Sep 16th, 2004, 08:44 AM
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Having worked in the restaurant business years ago during college, I always overtip. But it's those tip jars everywhere else that drive me nuts-- Starbucks, ice cream parlors, everywhere. I don't like being made to feel bad because I don't tip for a cup of coffee. Am I the only one?
Sep 16th, 2004, 08:51 AM
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Maureen
there are drive throughs for Starbucks and what do you know they had a tip jar sitting there. Normally I do tip at Starbucks because as a Student we often sat there for hours working/studying discussing projects.
But seeing that jar sitting out there was annoying.
there are drive throughs for Starbucks and what do you know they had a tip jar sitting there. Normally I do tip at Starbucks because as a Student we often sat there for hours working/studying discussing projects.
But seeing that jar sitting out there was annoying.
Sep 16th, 2004, 08:57 AM
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I too am annoyed with all the tip jars. Counter staff at coffee houses, delis, and so on are paid at least minimum wage. Unlike waitstaff, they are not dependent upon tips to make a living. They also provide a lot less service than waitstaff. I tip if someone comes to my table to take my order or bring my food.
gt;)
Sep 16th, 2004, 09:17 AM
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Well, three times the tax would be a little generous here - like 25%. But I agree with MaureenB - having waitressed in college I know just how hard it is - and wait staff deserve a full 20% - assuming they are not really incompetent or rude.
If someone doesn;t have the money to tip - perhaps they shouldn't go out to eat.
(And the idea that the restaurant owners should pay staff more is not only unrelaistic - its counterproductive - they woulld not only add the additional cost to the price of food - they would also mark it up - costing the customer even more than giving it directly to the server.)
If someone doesn;t have the money to tip - perhaps they shouldn't go out to eat.
(And the idea that the restaurant owners should pay staff more is not only unrelaistic - its counterproductive - they woulld not only add the additional cost to the price of food - they would also mark it up - costing the customer even more than giving it directly to the server.)
Sep 16th, 2004, 09:19 AM
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Well I don't pretend to know a great deal about labor laws, but I am curious about something. If a so-called minimum wage exists, why are restaurant owners able to ignore it with impunity and insist that their patrons make up their employee salary shortages with tips?
I'm just asking because I keep reading comments here about how wait staff are paid below minimum wage and need their tips to earn a living. Isn't that what minimum wage is all about? A guarantee of at least some sort of basic wage? (Yes, we all know that it's not enough to live on either, but that's not the point here.)
I read in a business journal somewhere that the reason for the rapid increase in the number of "convenience" restaurant chains (Pei Wei, Panda, Baja Fresh, Qdoba, etc. is the tipping issue, not time constraints or fussy kids or anything else. Customers want good, healthful restaurant meals without necessarily having to sit down, be waited upon and leave tips, which adds considerably to the price.
It certainly seems to be the case in a nearby rapidly burgeoning suburb. We went to a chinese sit down place one night and it was practically empty, while the nearby Pei Wei had an overflowing parking lot. Food was comparable. Only difference seemed to be the presence of a bar and waitstaff.
I'm just asking because I keep reading comments here about how wait staff are paid below minimum wage and need their tips to earn a living. Isn't that what minimum wage is all about? A guarantee of at least some sort of basic wage? (Yes, we all know that it's not enough to live on either, but that's not the point here.)
I read in a business journal somewhere that the reason for the rapid increase in the number of "convenience" restaurant chains (Pei Wei, Panda, Baja Fresh, Qdoba, etc. is the tipping issue, not time constraints or fussy kids or anything else. Customers want good, healthful restaurant meals without necessarily having to sit down, be waited upon and leave tips, which adds considerably to the price.
It certainly seems to be the case in a nearby rapidly burgeoning suburb. We went to a chinese sit down place one night and it was practically empty, while the nearby Pei Wei had an overflowing parking lot. Food was comparable. Only difference seemed to be the presence of a bar and waitstaff.
Sep 16th, 2004, 09:30 AM
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Went to our veterinarian today with our new kitty (an exotic shorthair, kind of like a persian but with shorter hair - what a dreamy little kitty cat 
)and there was a tip jar for the groomer right on the front desk! I first thought it was lame, but I guess people put money in to help the groomer out, as their animals are the MOST important thing in the world to them other than their actual family.
Do you tip the groomer 15% too? Stop the insanity!
Steve
Maryland
)and there was a tip jar for the groomer right on the front desk! I first thought it was lame, but I guess people put money in to help the groomer out, as their animals are the MOST important thing in the world to them other than their actual family. Do you tip the groomer 15% too? Stop the insanity!
Steve
Maryland
Sep 16th, 2004, 09:44 AM
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>If someone doesn;t have the money to tip - perhaps they shouldn't go out to eat. <
The fact is they are going to go out and waitstaff will pay for their stinginess.
I find it interesting a lot of waitstaff are always ranting about customers not tipping enough rarely do I hear them complain complaints about restaurant owners not paying enough - so maybe it is more lucrative to rely on tips - unfortunately they are also subject to stingy, angry, disatisfied customers who will leave little to nothing.
Agree questionmotives, they should get at least minimum wage.
The fact is they are going to go out and waitstaff will pay for their stinginess.
I find it interesting a lot of waitstaff are always ranting about customers not tipping enough rarely do I hear them complain complaints about restaurant owners not paying enough - so maybe it is more lucrative to rely on tips - unfortunately they are also subject to stingy, angry, disatisfied customers who will leave little to nothing.
Agree questionmotives, they should get at least minimum wage.
Sep 16th, 2004, 09:48 AM
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Speaking of tips....
So, you tip the esthetician 15-20% when you have a facial, right?
But what if you have a micro-dermabrasion done in a dermatologist's office, but performend by an esthetician... Do you tip a technician in a doctor's office???!!!
So, you tip the esthetician 15-20% when you have a facial, right?
But what if you have a micro-dermabrasion done in a dermatologist's office, but performend by an esthetician... Do you tip a technician in a doctor's office???!!!
Sep 16th, 2004, 09:59 AM
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Depends on where you live, bjboothman. Oregon employers are required to pay at least minimum wage, regardless of expected tips. The resulting increased labor costs have kept several national chains from locating in the state.
On the tipping issue, with a usual tip of ten times the tax, I'm less generous than most here. ;-)
On the tipping issue, with a usual tip of ten times the tax, I'm less generous than most here. ;-)
Sep 16th, 2004, 10:01 AM
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From personal experience, my husband has several restaurant ventures, if he starts paying his staff minimum wage, then the menu prices will reflect this.
Profit margins are very tight on food.
You think service can be lousy now? How many people have complained that the service is not good when gratuity is added?
Take gratuities away have find out what kind of waitstaff you get for minimum wage.
Got a better one, think of the workers out there that make minimum wage and that is who will be serving you your next meal.
Profit margins are very tight on food.
You think service can be lousy now? How many people have complained that the service is not good when gratuity is added?
Take gratuities away have find out what kind of waitstaff you get for minimum wage.
Got a better one, think of the workers out there that make minimum wage and that is who will be serving you your next meal.
Sep 16th, 2004, 10:04 AM
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Oh, yeah, I forgot tipping at the dog groomers and the hair salon and the... it never ends. I was once told that you don't tip if the service provider is the owner of the salon-- anyone else go by that rule?
And, I think when we were in Europe recently we way overtipped. One waiter in Munich told us they don't really expect tips there, so they must have loved we Americans who regularly tipped 20%!
And, I think when we were in Europe recently we way overtipped. One waiter in Munich told us they don't really expect tips there, so they must have loved we Americans who regularly tipped 20%!
