| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
OK, folks- last nite I heard that Oprah Winfrey made a statement to the effect of "in these tough economic times, it's okay to tip a waiter/waitress a 10% tip"... I started to do a google search and decided instead that I'd ask my all-knowing bunch of Buell buddies: Is this true?!?! Does anyone have a GF/wife who actually SAW her say this?!?!? (Not so sure about you manly men if you've first-hand knowledge of this....) Given that I've spent most of my working life making a living in restaurant service/bartending/you name it, it has been an ETERNAL uphill battle to overcome the IGNORANCE of folks who believe it's OK to leave a miserly, pitiful, and CHEAP!!! 10% tip or less to a server after running them to death, I'm totally flabbergasted to hear this! Standard practice for those who frequent restaurants is 15%, even for average service- I routinely leave 20% or better, especially if the server did an exceptional job or even managed to entertain or produce a laugh from me or my guests. Help me out on this, folks- without verification as to whether she did/didn't say this, I hesitate to judge. Warning: PLEASE STAND BACK FROM YOUR COMPUTER in the event that this is true. My complete immolation and explosion may be imminent... | ||
| Jaimec |
That doesn't sound like something Oprah would say. It doesn't even sound like something she'd THINK. And I'm not an Oprah fan, either. | ||
| Scottykrein |
Nope http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/oprahtip.a sp | ||
| Phelan |
I may be a bit biased, but I have to say that anyone who leaves less than 15% should not go to a restaraunt in the first place. If you want people to take care of you when you're eating, take care of them too. Most servers only make $2.13/hr, and they rarely see any of that anyway. Ask me how I know. At the restaraunt I work at, I have to pay tipshare and Tip expo out of my tips, so if I don't get tipped, I could actually lose money by going to work (happened before on slow days where I only had 1 or 2 tables). Tipshare is 3% of gross sales, which is 20% of my tips if every table leaves me 15%. Then I tip expo generally 10-15% of my post-tipshare gross (expo makes $4/hr instead of $2.13 so this is fair). So generally I walk with about 70% of my gross tips. Some word of advice for best service- when you frequent a restaraunt and find a good waiter, request them every time you return and leave them a fat tip (20-30% or more). Not only will you brighten their day and give them a better outlook on the rest of the day, but you will probably see the level of service skyrocket as well as have a better overall dining experience. | ||
| Phelan |
Something I forgot to add- the federal govt. requires us to claim at least 10% of our gross regardless of if we acutally made that much, so, theoretically, if the restaraunt was busy, but nobody tipped me anything, than I could actually lose my ass on the day, because not only would I have to cover the tipshare, but the gov taxes our $2.13/hr checks based on our claimed tips+hourly. My 80 hr paycheck (2 weeks) is usually about $70, so if I'm not making tips, I'm really not making anything. | ||
| 86129squids |
What Phelan said. | ||
| 86129squids |
This may be one of the most ephemeral ways to earn a living. When a malor celebrity/media mogul says ssomething so stupid, well, then expect to find yourself on a scene of Gulliver's travels. I still don't know if it is true, but mebbe someone can look at an online source or google her transripts. I'd love to, but I'm helping the GF cook dinner. At the present time, my thoughts are this: Whether or not she said this, it should be a media vehicle to use toward the end of educating the dining public as to what's proper for a tip. | ||
| Aesquire |
I tip 10% to insult bad service. Otherwise, 15-20+ depending. If I can't afford to tip, I eat at Taco bell. Waiters & Waitresses get screwed on taxes & tips. The job is hard. | ||
| Mudinmyvaynes |
ALWAYS TIP AND BE NICE. My g-pa sent some fish back cause it wasn't cooked thoroughly and it came back with a f*cking dead water bug under it. We told the manager and got to watch the Cook get fired. Very satisfying. | ||
| Myzen |
I travel 3 weeks a month and spend a ton at restaurants. I typically do 20% of the total (not subtotal), most times more. Last month the owner of the company came to me and said I was tipping too much. I told him I tip on quality of service, and if they took good care of our customers, then they deserved what they got. He agreed and walked out. | ||
| Milt |
People who work in restaurants, drive cabs, etc. depend on tips. The hourly wages these workers get is meager at best. Even if the food is crappy, tip the waitstaff - they didn't cook it. In a more perfect world, maybe restaurant workers and cab drivers would be compensated with a living wage, profit sharing, insurance, stock options ..... But in the real world, your tips pay the rent and the baby's doctor. | ||
| Court |
Absolutely agree. I go in the same joint for breakfast 3 days a week. My breakfast costs the same every day . . . $7. I always leave $3 and they treat me like a king. They see me coming down the street and have my coffee and paper waiting. Last week I took the SCU in with me a couple days before Xmas . . .had a couple eggs and a muffin and left a $50. Someone . . . and I'm not sure who . . once said . . . "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Wise words. Those guys work their asses off for whatever they make. | ||
| Hmartin |
The whole percentage thing doesn't always work for me because the amount depends on where you're eating. A 10% tip for crummy service at a seafood and steak restaurant shouldn't be Also, don't forget to tip your pizza dude. I worked on commission only and had to pay for my own gas, driving my own car. On some nights, that was like working for free. That job was so bad, I peeled out in a particularly difficult customer's driveway and yet the boss didn't fire me because too few other people were crazy enough to take that job. (Message edited by hmartin on December 27, 2009) | ||
| Jaimec |
Scotty, thanks. I usually do look these things up on Snopes, but this one sounded so stupid as to not even REQUIRE verification. Looks like I was right. After awhile, you just get a feeling for what is fact and what is pure internet bullshit. | ||
| 12x9sl |
I appreciate these type of threads. I ALWAYS tip at least 15%, but had no idea how tough the job really is-the bar just got raised. One thing that really annoys the heck out of me is when I don't have something to drink and/or there are empty glasses on the table-take care of me that way, even if the food isn't great, and the tip gets better. | ||
| Xodot |
...Most servers only make $2.13/hr, Minimum wage here is about 4 times that + some. I tip on the gross bill - before our 13% taxes are added. Seems some of ya here might think I'm cheaping the server doing that. After reading this discussion I might agree and amend my practice. Like some have voiced here, my rate is 10% for bad service, usually 15% and sometimes significantly more if the server added to the enjoyment of the meal for us. | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks youn's for guuud input.... Help my mind understand this media message/phenomenon. TRUE?!?! UNTRUE?!?!? | ||
| Scottykrein |
Not True. Click the link above. | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
I too work in a restaurant, and i work in a "right to work state" Arizona. When i bus tables i make 4.25$ per hour plus tips, and 3.75$/hour plus tips...So i too tip based on service not on price, because i know the difficulties of living on tips. I've done this for 4 years, all through high school, and is how i pay for my beloved 1125r  So i can relate to everything here, another thing, at least for AZ, cash tips do not get taxes takin out, but charge tips do...so try to tip in cash when you do  hahaaha Remember to tip your server Jake | ||
| Augustus74 |
I tend to tip well, but, correct me if i am wrong, alcohol is taxed differently then food??? Where places aren't supposed to charge tax on drinks but do anyhow, thus increasing your bill?!? | ||
| Phelan |
@Xodot: minimum wage as a server or minimum wage in general? Minimum wage for waiters is less than regular minimum wage. Min wage here is like $7.50/hr, but still only $2.13/hr if you're a server. | ||
| Fast1075 |
I always make sure I leave a decent tip, quite often more than 20% if I feel the quality of service was exceptional...and I am a big fan of filling out comment cards...and I am lavish with praise for extraordinary service...and I try to keep it low key if I feel there was a was to improve my customer experience... | ||
| Ulywife |
If I can't afford to tip, I eat at Taco bell. Exactly what we do. When considering where to eat, all things have to be considered and that includes money for the tip. We always tip at 20+%. Being a waiter/waitress is not easy work. On a side note, it always annoys me when parents allow their children to talk to servers as though they are their personal servants. If you and your children have no more manners than that, you need to stay at home and work on your etiquette. We always tell our children, if you can't use your table manners at home then how do we know you'll use them when we are out to eat. We also teach our children how to ask for what they want when we're out, never tell or demand. As Court quoted, "treat people the way you want to be treated", it goes a long way. | ||
| 86129squids |
Thanks Scotty- I tried to follow that link, but my ancient craputer won't go there. Wish I knew what got all this started- I didn't think it sounded like something Oprah would say. Regardless, I'm glad for the debate because it is something more folks should be aware of. Anything that helps educate the dining public as to proper tipping is good in my book... | ||
| Drkside79 |
I waited tables for a long time. I wished that all non tippers would get one of my actual paychecks at some point which many times was under 20 dollars a week. Also keep in mind that a tip doesn't just go to the server. I n many cases the server than tips out the busboys and if applicable the service bar. | ||
| Eaton_corners |
Is there an upside to working in the restaurant/ serving business? From reading this thread, I don't see how restaurants find people to hire. | ||
| Drkside79 |
Meeting people and partying your ass off after hours are some of the perks. Also if you get in at a good restaurant or are a good looking girl at a bar you can make really good money. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I feel bad leaving less than 15% for even bad service. I usually have a floor of 10% for bad service with the majority of the tips being 20%+. My wife waited tables at Logan's. I know what sucky tipping is all about. | ||
| Babired |
I leave 20% all the time and I usually give the cash right to the server who served me. For anyone who really needs a good dose of reality on how hard it is for servers and maids and other trades like these, give them a book Titled Nickel and Dimed it is a good read on how the lowest class survives in America. I get to deliver to the mechanics at HD who help me stay on the road this Wed. I'm buying them lunch again. Last year they loved it! K | ||
| 86129squids |
Eaton: Yes, there are good things about restaurant work- meeting/serving/ entertaining good folks is fun, the work keeps you physically active (as opposed to sitting at a desk), and despite the occasional crappy tip, the money's not too bad. Plus you get to eat great food at employee discounted rates, and then there's the nightlife. Good stuff for night owls, and I've never been an early bird... I left a motorcycle sales job after 4 1/2 years to return to restaurant work this past March. No, it's not easy work at all, but few things worth doing are easy. I enjoy doing what I do, and generally get my just rewards in good tips. Boy it pisses me off to get a Bubba/Bluehair/prick table and then get 10% or less after being run to death though... it DOES happen, all too often lately... Thanks, youns, for caring and being mindful of this subject... Anyone caring to dig through and find old, lost, obscure and out of print songs on the 'Net, go find "The Waiter" by David Baerwald. On the out-of-print "Triage" album, copyright 1992 on A&M Records. Listen, and prepare to soil your pants laughing on the floor... |
