Tipping Question

[MadCapper]

If you go to a very expensive restaurant with 4 colleagues for dinner and the food absolutely was a disaster, do you still tip your waiter the minimum 15%? Obviously its not the waiter's fault that the food sucked. But you are still the one that has to pay an outlandish amount of money for the bad food.

What would you do in this situation?

[Sportsgirl]

I would call out the manager, tell them I'm not paying for their crappy food and then generously tip the server.

[RageWizard]

I always tip the service from 15-20% depending on the server. If the food sucks I just don't go back.

In Eastern Pa, or Lehigh Valley to be more pointed, there is a very expensive place called 'BLUE'. My wife and I went there for our anniversary two years ago, and it sucked, but the waiter (some dude who looked like he was a chip-n-dale type) was excellent. The bill with the two bottles of champagne came to be about $285.00 with $150 of it being the wine. I tipped the dude about 20% of the food cost which is about $30. I will never go back however because the food sucked, and I didn't even get anything that was difficult to make.

[Willie Bee]

I would call out the manager, tell them I'm not paying for their crappy food and then generously tip the server.

Exactly, as the manager might comp a future meal or at least part of the meal you were served. If the manager does neither, I'd find out who their boss was and let them know of the bad experience. Would've tipped the waiter in this instance just the minimum 15% rate.

[RageWizard]

Exactly, as the manager might comp a future meal or at least part of the meal you were served. If the manager does neither, I'd find out who their boss was and let them know of the bad experience. Would've tipped the waiter in this instance just the minimum 15% rate.

This all sounds good but I usually don't eat at places that are franchised, and I'm not happy being comped another meal from a place that I had some crappy food from. At least you and SG will complain about it. I only complain about the screaming kids.

[swede96]

If the service was great but the food sucks, take care of your server. Do you think you're the only person that got crappy food that night? Probably not...and most people would tip nothing because they're idiots. Also, if the food sucks, tell the server BEFORE you eat it all. That way, they may be able to get you something else or comp the food. Most olpaces won't comp it if you ate it all. If they did, everyone would clean their plate and say it was awful.

[pico]

If the service was great but the food sucks, take care of your server. Do you think you're the only person that got crappy food that night? Probably not...and most people would tip nothing because they're idiots. Also, if the food sucks, tell the server BEFORE you eat it all. That way, they may be able to get you something else or comp the food. Most olpaces won't comp it if you ate it all. If they did, everyone would clean their plate and say it was awful.

you do know most resturant split the tip between the cook, waitress, and the bustboy... unless you're handing your server cash in hand

[buztah]

Cash in hand to the server and no official tip on the credit card or debit slip.

[RageWizard]

Cash in hand to the server and no official tip on the credit card or debit slip.

This would be my choice as well but sadly I usually don't have cash on hand.

[swede96]

you do know most resturant split the tip between the cook, waitress, and the bustboy... unless you're handing your server cash in hand

Wrongo! Some places pool tips. I've been waiting tables for a long time and oinly worked at one place that did that. In that case, yes, the tip should reflect both the food and the service. Also, at those places, the servers usually get paid more, so it doesn't sting as bad when you get screwed on a tip. Most places pay the waitstaff somewhere around $3 an hour. Their tips are their primary income. They have to tip out the busser and the bartender 10% each. So even if your drink is wrong...you're not punishing the bartender much if you cut the tip because of it. It's the server that suffers every time. Also, be patient with your servers. We're not perfect. If we forget to bring you your third refill in the middle of our dinner rush, how about gently reminding us and cutting us some slack? As long as your server is cordial and gets you everything you need (even if you don't get everything the second you ask for it), the tip should NEVER be below 15%. 20% is more the norm these days.

[swede96]

Cash in hand to the server and no official tip on the credit card or debit slip.

That's always nice. Credit card companies charge something like 3% of each transaction. In some places, the servers have to pay back 3% of their credit card tips. Also, if the tip is on paper, we have to claim it. If you hand us cash, Uncle Sam doesn't have to know how much.

[rake922]

If the food was bad I'd simply walk out out of the restaurant...

[pico]

Wrongo! Some places pool tips. I've been waiting tables for a long time and oinly worked at one place that did that. In that case, yes, the tip should reflect both the food and the service. Also, at those places, the servers usually get paid more, so it doesn't sting as bad when you get screwed on a tip. Most places pay the waitstaff somewhere around $3 an hour. Their tips are their primary income. They have to tip out the busser and the bartender 10% each. So even if your drink is wrong...you're not punishing the bartender much if you cut the tip because of it. It's the server that suffers every time. Also, be patient with your servers. We're not perfect. If we forget to bring you your third refill in the middle of our dinner rush, how about gently reminding us and cutting us some slack? As long as your server is cordial and gets you everything you need (even if you don't get everything the second you ask for it), the tip should NEVER be below 15%. 20% is more the norm these days.

i never like the concept of tipping. it is just a scam the resturant owners push the cost of the meal to the patrons. the meal prices are artifically deflated to attract more customers. pay the waitress 10 dollars an hour and let the customers tip if they wanted to.

[swede96]

If the food was bad I'd simply walk out out of the restaurant...

Well, you're an asshole because your server has to pay for that even though they have nothing to do with the quality of the food.

[Willie Bee]

...and I'm not happy being comped another meal from a place that I had some crappy food from. At least you and SG will complain about it. I only complain about the screaming kids.

Understand not wanting to go back if you had a bad experience. That's something my wife and I differ on because there are some places I simply will NOT go back to and she's always giving me a hard time about that. In addition to voicing displeasure when it's bad, I also make a point to express high regard either in person or in writing when I get excellent service. The managers or customer service supervisors generally just hear complaints, and I've been comped and received extras when expressing compliments more than any satisfaction I've gotten the other way.

ANd yes, the deal about tipping in cash is the way to go, especially in this instance by placing cash directly in the hand of your server. And one little rule people often overlook is while 15%-20% might be a good number for most meals, you should tip breakfast wait staff at least 20% and more when the service warrants. These folks work just as hard getting the meal to your table, yet with breakfast generally priced below lunches and dinners, they get stiffed a bit by those who only leave the usual 15% or so.

[gordon gekko]

I would call out the manager, tell them I'm not paying for their crappy food and then generously tip the server.

100 % correct.

[swede96]

i never like the concept of tipping. it is just a scam the resturant owners push the cost of the meal to the patrons. the meal prices are artifically deflated to attract more customers. pay the waitress 10 dollars an hour and let the customers tip if they wanted to.

$10 an hour? Not quite. I make over $20 an hour on an average Friday...and I work in a very small, reasonably priced establishment No one would do that shitty work for $10 an hour. Plus, the tipping system gives the servers incentive to give you friendly service. If I was making the same no matter what, I'd wouldn't be half as nice to some of the assholes I have to serve. Plus, no one would want to work weekends. Why bust my ass for $10 an hour when I can stand around on a Monday for the same amount? Plus, food prices would go way up if the owners had to pay the waitstaff $10 an hour. They'd put less people on, making your meal take even longer on a busy night.

I don't see how tipping would be any kind of scam by the owners. They don't see that money. Their only benefit is lower price of labor, which then lowers the price of the food. The cost to make each plate factors in not only the actual cost of the ingredients, but the cost to pay the staff...from the waitstaff to the dishwashers to the prep cooks that are there in the morning getting things ready. Start jacking up the cost of labor and it only hurts the consumer and the common folk that bust their hump to put the food on your table.

[swede96]

Understand not wanting to go back if you had a bad experience. That's something my wife and I differ on because there are some places I simply will NOT go back to and she's always giving me a hard time about that. In addition to voicing displeasure when it's bad, I also make a point to express high regard either in person or in writing when I get excellent service. The managers or customer service supervisors generally just hear complaints, and I've been comped and received extras when expressing compliments more than any satisfaction I've gotten the other way.

ANd yes, the deal about tipping in cash is the way to go, especially in this instance by placing cash directly in the hand of your server. And one little rule people often overlook is while 15%-20% might be a good number for most meals, you should tip breakfast wait staff at least 20% and more when the service warrants. These folks work just as hard getting the meal to your table, yet with breakfast generally priced below lunches and dinners, they get stiffed a bit by those who only leave the usual 15% or so.

I love getting compliments, even if they just tell me: "You did a great job." It really helps on a busy night when I've had 4 assholes give me a hard time because their food is taking too long or it took me a few minutes to get junior his 5th soda before the meal even comes.

P.S. If your little "angel" dumped the salt and pepper all over the floor and dropped more food than he ate, we have to clean that up before someone else sits there...which is especially tricky on a busy night. Throw us a few extra bucks. Furthermore, if you refuse to watch your child and let him/her run amuck around my floor, don't blame me when the rugrat gets hit with the kitchen door or gets a sizzling plate of fajitas to the face. We're servers, not baby sitters. Restaraunts are dangerous places...you're kid could get seriously hurt...and I'm pretty sure if I warn you, you can't sue.

[RageWizard]

$10 an hour? Not quite. I make over $20 an hour on an average Friday...and I work in a very small, reasonably priced establishment No one would do that shitty work for $10 an hour. Plus, the tipping system gives the servers incentive to give you friendly service. If I was making the same no matter what, I'd wouldn't be half as nice to some of the assholes I have to serve. Plus, no one would want to work weekends. Why bust my ass for $10 an hour when I can stand around on a Monday for the same amount? Plus, food prices would go way up if the owners had to pay the waitstaff $10 an hour. They'd put less people on, making your meal take even longer on a busy night.

I don't see how tipping would be any kind of scam by the owners. They don't see that money. Their only benefit is lower price of labor, which then lowers the price of the food. The cost to make each plate factors in not only the actual cost of the ingredients, but the cost to pay the staff...from the waitstaff to the dishwashers to the prep cooks that are there in the morning getting things ready. Start jacking up the cost of labor and it only hurts the consumer and the common folk that bust their hump to put the food on your table.

If you would like further information just sign up for Swede's Resturant Economics 101 seminar being held this weekend at the Days Inn in Bristol.

[swede96]

If you would like further information just sign up for Swede's Resturant Economics 101 seminar being held this weekend at the Days Inn in Bristol.

I really should post a thread of all my little tips for patrons. I have said a million times, you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one.

Remember this: We WILL remember your face if you fvck us over in any way. If you plan on coming back, we'll be ready for you.

[WonTooManyBets]

I've never tipped before. I don't go to the same restaurant twice for that reason.

[swede96]

That's good, because if you do...there will be spit in your food.

[RageWizard]

I really should post a thread of all my little tips for patrons. I have said a million times, you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one.

Remember this: We WILL remember your face if you fvck us over in any way. If you plan on coming back, we'll be ready for you.

I will keep this in mind next time I want some Mexican food in Rhode Island.

[swede96]

I will keep this in mind next time I want some Mexican food in Rhode Island.

I'm sure you would have nothing to worry about. I don't mean your food will be poison or anything, just that if you come in one Friday and leave me 10% then come in again the next Friday, you are pretty low on my priority list. Be prepared to wait. You're going to give a crappy tip anyway, right? I'll spend my time on the people I have a shot at 20% with, thanks.

[gordon gekko]

I really should post a thread of all my little tips for patrons. I have said a million times, you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one.

Remember this: We WILL remember your face if you fvck us over in any way. If you plan on coming back, we'll be ready for you.

haha I used to work in a restaurant and that is correct I don't care who the server is but the result will be the same.

[gordon gekko]

" you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one. " words of wisdom.

[pico]

$10 an hour? Not quite. I make over $20 an hour on an average Friday...and I work in a very small, reasonably priced establishment No one would do that shitty work for $10 an hour. Plus, the tipping system gives the servers incentive to give you friendly service. If I was making the same no matter what, I'd wouldn't be half as nice to some of the assholes I have to serve. Plus, no one would want to work weekends. Why bust my ass for $10 an hour when I can stand around on a Monday for the same amount? Plus, food prices would go way up if the owners had to pay the waitstaff $10 an hour. They'd put less people on, making your meal take even longer on a busy night.

I don't see how tipping would be any kind of scam by the owners. They don't see that money. Their only benefit is lower price of labor, which then lowers the price of the food. The cost to make each plate factors in not only the actual cost of the ingredients, but the cost to pay the staff...from the waitstaff to the dishwashers to the prep cooks that are there in the morning getting things ready. Start jacking up the cost of labor and it only hurts the consumer and the common folk that bust their hump to put the food on your table.

you make that much because you're cute and young...and that is a friday. when you average in non rush hours, 10 dollars an hour is enough for regular resturants like applebee. of course, the better the resturant, the higer the wages.

yes, service will suffer, but if the market is efficient, resturant owners will be forced to whip their workers in shape or risk of losing their customers to the next door food place. resturant business is pretty cut throat because the barrier of entry is a lot lower than most business. tipping is basically shifting the resposibility of doing quality control of your worker to the customers. i am there to eat a meal, i don't want to condition your wait staff to work harder. yes it is a scam because the resturant owners is shifting responsibility to the consumers. imagine the airlines said we're only paying our flight attendants min wage, feel free to tip when you leave the plane. of course the the airplane ticket price will drop...do you really want the hassle of tipping your flight attendant at the end of each trip?

do you really like it when all the airline tickets are 15% cheaper when you buy them, but you kinda have to tip the staff at some point.

[RageWizard]

I'm sure you would have nothing to worry about. I don't mean your food will be poison or anything, just that if you come in one Friday and leave me 10% then come in again the next Friday, you are pretty low on my priority list. Be prepared to wait. You're going to give a crappy tip anyway, right? I'll spend my time on the people I have a shot at 20% with, thanks.

I usually don't equate being in Rhode Island with Mexican food, but next time I might make it a point to eat at a Mexican place in the North East just to see how the chowda heads pronounce half of the mexican dishes out there.

Don't worry, if you can serve well and be half way nice when you speak to me. I can over look the waiting 35 minutes for my next margarita and still pony up a good tip.

[swede96]

" you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one. " words of wisdom.

Thanks! It's true! It's shocking how many people don't understand how the reseraunt works. The BIGGEST crime being punishing the server for bad food. If you say no cheese and get cheese there is a 50/50 shot that it's not the server's fault. Personally, I let the table know when it's my fault. I'm honest like that. If they want to dock my tip, fine...but most people appreciate honest and a hert felt apology. I really do enjoy my job most of the time. I'm good friends with my boss, so I want people to come back. I want people to enjoy their meal...but we're not super human. We make mistakes. As long as we do everything we can to correct them in a timely manner, there's no need to dock someone's tip. People who have served tables before understand this. People who never have assume we're stupid if something slips our mind.

[gordon gekko]

you make that much because you're cute and young...and that is a friday. when you average in non rush hours, 10 dollars an hour is enough for regular resturants like applebee. of course, the better the resturant, the higer the wages.

yes, service will suffer, but if the market is efficient, resturant owners will be forced to whip their workers in shape or risk of losing their customers to the next door food place. resturant business is pretty cut throat because the barrier of entry is a lot lower than most business. tipping is basically shifting the resposibility of doing quality control of your worker to the customers. i am there to eat a meal, i don't want to condition your wait staff to work harder. yes it is a scam because the resturant owners is shifting responsibility to the consumers. imagine the airlines said we're only paying our flight attendants min wage, feel free to tip when you leave the plane. of course the the airplane ticket price will drop...do you really want the hassle of tipping your flight attendant at the end of each trip?

do you really like it when all the airline tickets are 15% cheaper when you buy them, but you kinda have to tip the staff at some point.

You are out of your element pico.

[Sportsgirl]

" you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one. " words of wisdom.

I have never worked in a restaurant, but common sense dictates that if the server did their job, whether what they brought me was crappy or not, that they should be tipped according to their service. Although, there are many people who are sadly lacking in the area of common sense.

[swede96]

you make that much because you're cute and young...and that is a friday. when you average in non rush hours, 10 dollars an hour is enough for regular resturants like applebee. of course, the better the resturant, the higer the wages.

Okay...I made that much last Tuesday too. What non-rush hours? I work all the busier nights. Why should the owner have to pay someone $10 an hour for a four hour day shift when they onlt had to serve 3 tables?

yes, service will suffer, but if the market is efficient, resturant owners will be forced to whip their workers in shape or risk of losing their customers to the next door food place. resturant business is pretty cut throat because the barrier of entry is a lot lower than most business. tipping is basically shifting the resposibility of doing quality control of your worker to the customers. i am there to eat a meal, i don't want to condition your wait staff to work harder. yes it is a scam because the resturant owners is shifting responsibility to the consumers. imagine the airlines said we're only paying our flight attendants min wage, feel free to tip when you leave the plane. of course the the airplane ticket price will drop...do you really want the hassle of tipping your flight attendant at the end of each trip?

1. That would be fine by me as far as flights go.

2. You have obviously never worked in a resaraunt. It's hard enough to find good help. Regardless of the tips, we have to condition our employees plenty. I train all the new waitstaff. Some of them are great with the tables and can't sweep a floor to save their life. The costomer isn't "conditioning" the employees for the owner. The tipping system is incentive for the servers to control their own destiny in a sense. Work hard and be cordial to your tables and you'll make more money. We still have to train them in the procedures, upsales, sidework, etc.

do you really like it when all the airline tickets are 15% cheaper when you buy them, but you kinda have to tip the staff at some point.

Again, fine by me.

[Kellen]

Anybody see that movie "waiting"? It was a real piece of garbage but Id imagine its pretty realistic.

[swede96]

I have never worked in a restaurant, but common sense dictates that if the server did their job, whether what they brought me was crappy or not, that they should be tipped according to their service. Although, there are many people who are sadly lacking in the area of common sense.

That's the point, Sporty. It's scary how many people lack that common sense. How about the fvcking diner's club cards. Asshole, I know you're bill was just cut in half...but I still had to bring you two meals, two drinks, etc. You received the same level of service as you would have at twice the price. Tip me on the original amount, please. I mean, you just saved $12.99 plus tax...it won't kill you to tip me 20% on the original $30 instead of on the $15 or so, you actually owe. The way I see it, you still come out ahead.

[Willie Bee]

I really should post a thread of all my little tips for patrons. I have said a million times, you should not be allowed to eat in a resaraunt if you've never worked in one.

Using that rule as a guide, would people be allowed to buy a car if they've never rebuilt an engine, or purchase gasoline if they've never slapped chain on a drilling rig, or even go to the mall for clothing if they don't know how to sew?

I see both sides of the tipping issue, Swede. I've just accepted it in the restaurant and bar bit of life as the way things are. But stop and think if tipping was the norm for every job. Couldn't business owners lower the price of their goods and services simply by paying below minimum wage and then leaving it up to the customer to decide how much extra to dole out to their salesperson? A lot of us work for a set and established salary, no overtime, and are simply expected to do the very best at our jobs, even spending extra time on the job without extra pay to get it done.

And some of the tipping is getting out of hand, including at restaurants for take-out. The biggest argument I have heard about why you should tip for take-out is it took the wait staff and the cooks the same amount of time and effort to get your order ready as if you ate there. Now we know that's not entirely true since there will be no cleanup, no schlepping of silverware and plates to the table then cleaning up afterwards, no trips to the table to offer drink refills, and also frees up a table for the restaurant and wait staff to make even more money off the sale of their food.