It never fails to shock me how a tip is demanded in the US. People simply refuse to listen to reason when we (yes, there are others!) tell them that leaving a tip isn’t necessary. Well, I’m hoping for too much here, but if you’re a waiter, here are 5 reasons why I will try my best not to give any money to you and why the reasons for tipping are crappy.
1. You act as if you’re my best friend
Just leave me alone ok? I don’t want to bloody chit chat with you. I want food. FOOD! Get it? It’s a restaurant. I go there to eat. I go because I want either Italian food, Chinese Food or something else which I can’t get in a McDonald’s. So I come to a restaurant to fulfill my cravings for it. I will pay for what I value – food. Not you.
Christ, you offend me – kneeling down next to my table, pretending to like me and chatting as if you’re my best friend when it’s obvious that all you’re after is the tip! I’m not a bloody money bag you know. I will pay the bill which includes the cost of the food, the environment and the salaries of the people involved – nothing more.
The only way to get money out of me that I don’t have to legally pay is by prying it out of my cold dead hands…
Bottom line: I don’t want to know your name, or interact with you for any longer than I have to in order to place my order. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the equivalent of a conveyor belt that brings me my food and a computer into which I input my order. Of course, I won’t be rude. But don’t expect me to interact with you any more than I would with some stranger.
Image Credit: cafemama
2. You don’t get paid enough
And this is my problem how exactly? It’s astonishing that customers are expected to make up for your employer’s cheapness in not paying you a decent wage. Please include the full cost in everyone’s bill thank you very much. I’ll pay it because I have to and the charge is there for me to see.
What’s really funny here is that no one seems to criticize the employers! All criticism is reserved for non tipping customers instead of the owners of the restaurant for not paying a decent wage. Wtf! Could it possibly be because you guys know you can make much more by tips and under report your income to the IRS?
3. You’ll spit in my food if I don’t tip you?
And I’ll shoot your kid if you don’t give me a million dollars. Seriously, am I even hearing this right? You’re actually using the threat of blackmail to make me pay you? Well as long as you’re openly claiming to be a criminal it’s all right I guess.
Fortunately that’s why I prefer buffets. Listen apart from it being illegal, this shows your poor integrity. But if you spit in someone’s food because they didn’t give you money you didn’t earn, then you’re a loser and deserve to be a waiter for the rest of your life.
4. Bringing me my food isn’t worthy of being paid extra
Did you cook it? Did you invent it? No. You picked it up and brought it to me. While it might not be easy, there are plenty of jobs which are much worse – shop floor workers for example. And I’ve been a shop floor manager, so I know. Face it – compared to other jobs, being a waiter is unskilled. You get paid what the market will think your services are worth. You don’t deserve more for your work over and above what your employer should pay you.
5. Money doesn’t grow on trees
I expect you to be grateful and pray for me at night if I tip you 10%. Be happy I gave you anything at all. I worked for the money in my wallet and by giving you some I didn’t have to, I’m doing you a favor. Learn to remember that when people give you something they don’t need to, it’s a favor. You don’t complain that they didn’t give you more!
By the way, the same thing above applies to all professions that demand tips including those on cruise liners.
So now that you understand why I won’t give you money you don’t deserve, stop with the “oh how could you?” attitude. I can. And I will.
Update: Here’s a rebuttal of the many silly justifications for tipping that people have given in the comments section.
OH my God ! I can’t believe People like you actually exist. Who talks like This? I want to know who Your parents are? Are you being a dick on purpose? I also went to an Ivy League college and I have respect for people no matter what job they hold. Who are your parents?
This douche has obviously never worked in a restaurant before. You tip people because they are doing a service for you that you would normally have to do yourself. Next time you don’t feel like tipping request not to have a server…then see how quickly you get a refill or a nice wine presentation or your food at all. You also tip because the severs have to deal with rotten people like you. Do us all a favor and learn how to cook your own food and stay at home.
First off, I will pray that this fat disgusting man who wrote this article dies from choking on his food, and I hope that his death is slow and painful, and that I can witness it.
Now that that is off my chest:
Reasons TO tip:
1. Servers are not the only ones serving you. The bussers, bartenders, and hosts are also forced to serve a pathetic excuse for life such as yourself. Therefore, the tip goes to everyone who works hard to make your experience enjoyable.
2. I know you don’t want servers to be chit chatty with you because you are an anti-social, however would you prefer servers to be complete rude assholes to you and throw the food at you, or possibly forget your drink? Maybe even forget to ring in your food on purpose, because why should they help you when you don’t want to help them?
3. The employers in most cases are not responsible for wages. As a server I get 5.13 an hour plus whatever tips I make, and so does every other server in New Mexico. The minimum wage is determined by the state you live in. Not by what your employer deems fit to give you.
4. The thing is at the end of the day, if tipping didn’t exist and the current server wage stood as it stands today there would be no servers, and your fat ass would not be able to satisfy your disgusting gluttonous cravings.
5. BECAUSE WE ARE HUMAN TOO. WE HAVE BILLS TO PAY TOO. WE WORK OUR ASSES OFF TOO. WE HAVE KIDS TO FEED AND A FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF TOO. BECAUSE WE DESERVE THE RESPECT OF HAVING OUR HARD WORK BE PAID OFF TOO.
6. And most importantly because…FUCK YOU.
Have a great fucking day.
This is by far the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You’re reasons are terrible.
1. Act like your best friend? It’s called customer service. That’s what they’re paid to do. Other than that they don’t really care about you.
2. You don’t get paid enough? So your not gonna tip them because they don’t get paid enough. But if they made 50 dollars an hour you would leave them a tip. At least according to your logic.
3. They’ll spit in your food? How can they spit in your food if you eat it before you tip them?
4. Bringing you food doesn’t deserve a tip? That’s self explanatory.
5. Money is made on paper which is produced by trees. So yea. Money grows on trees.
Sincerely,
American Soldier who fights for your right to say stupid things like this.
In reply to Joshua Letellier
I am 35 years old. In my lifetime the only wars American soldiers fought were dumbass wars that had nothing to do with the United States of America or our freedoms.
Last time the USA did any fighting for us was when they dropped the second nuclear bomb on Japan. All the rest of the fighting we have done since then were for foreign countries nobody gives a shit about.
I don’t tip because being a waitress is a dumbass job that does not deserve any extra pay. The short walk from the kitchen to my table does not deserve a tip unless you shine my shoes. Lick my ass or suck my dingdong that is the only thing I consider extra service. Simply putting my food on the table is your stupid job if you don’t like the pay to bad so sad.
In reply to Jack
Well first of all, if you are going to trash talk like you are then please learn your history. We dropped ATOMIC BOMBS on Japan. We didn’t have nuclear bombs yet. Sad, uneducated and racist person.
In reply to Joshua Letellier
Oooo…burn. very well said. And thank you soldier for all you do. Sincerely, server for 22 years.
In reply to Christopher
translation: 22 years a lazy loser who whines about tips
I think its hilarious that this idiot and his followers have the nerve to say that waiting tables is “unskilled”. If you’re sooo dead set on this ignorant mind frame, why don’t you put your money where your mouth is and try it out for a few days? Seriously. Get a serving job as a test to see if you can even hack it. Let’s all make a bet to see just how long it takes you to quit, or get fired, run home with your tail between your legs, and grovel for an apology to all those you so inconsiderably insulted. Ill only say this once (because your entitlement makes me we WANT TO SPIT IN YOUR FACE, not your food), if you feel that servers don’t deserve your tip then don’t go out to eat. Trust me, the server doesn’t want to wait on you, but it’s a job. Being nice is called good manners, not a requirement. 80% of Americans don’t like they’re jobs, but they do it anyway. Serving tables pays bills, puts food on dinner tables, pays for child care. That’s nothing to look down your snobby nose at. I know quite a few people with BAs, MAs, and doctorites waiting tables because they’re so-called education put them in debt and without a position. You’re not doing anyone any favor by leaving a shitty 10% tip. Ill assume you’re not married. You live alone, or just have no friends with the lack of curteousy your parents neglected to teach you. So in fact, you’re just taking up a larger table being part of the lonely heart’s club. There’s a reason why you’re alone. And if you actually DO have anyone that will be courageous enough to sit through dinner with a rambling fool, then I’m sure they’re just embarresed for you when it comes time for the bill. No one wants to kiss your single minded ass for a tip that’s not coming. Trust me, servers remember the non tippers better than the one’s that do. Get a clue!! For your sake I hope there’s a long list of restaurants where you live, as I’m sure you’ve eaten more than just “spit”.
In reply to CC
The Department of Labor lists server jobs as unskilled. There is nothing further to argue on this. You don’t need to go to college, or take any advanced training classes. There is no certification or licensing involved. If you know the difference between ketchup and mustard you can be a waiter. I am sure for you people it is very demanding because you are so stupid and simple.
You did nothing with your life. You rely on the kindness of others to support your worthless ass. The only people that have graduated with advanced degrees from college that need to wait tables, are those that chose worthless fields of study. They should’ve just been waitresses from the start.
I will never tip you because I think you should be ashamed of yourselves for pissing your life away. A short walk from the kitchen to my table and you are so proud of yourself because you did not get lost. You have what is known as a brain-dead job. I have more respect for the people that pick up my garbage. At least they pay their bills without begging for tips. Your employer does that even think you are worth minimum-wage. The Department of Labor also thinks you are a joke.
In reply to Financial guy
Again, another ignorant, spineless fool who runs his mouth about the real world he knows nothing about. Ketchup and mustard? Seriously?
I worked my ass off serving tables and now I’m a teacher, probably teaching your inbred family of cretins who will judge others they don’t even know because they have access to the internet.
I suppose you think teaching is a worthless field of study? I worked with many servers who couldn’t find jobs as teachers because of the recession. How about nursing? Is that a trade unworthy of your approval, you pompous ass?
You can continue to voice your worthless opinion, but the reality is, it takes a lot more than you think to be a server. I have absolutely no shame in saying I waited tables. Not everyone was like you, and really, it didn’t matter if people like you tipped me or not. I still made my money. I had plenty of regulars and people who were not just kind, but courteous, understanding. Those people had class, integrity, and an idea of how the real world works. You clearly don’t fit into any of those categories.
You cannot teach the skills required of a serving a job. You can’t teach patience, manners, or making a connection with people. That’s called talent, in which from your ramblings, is apparant you possess none.
As far as the department of labor goes, that is completely out ANYONE’S control. That is a government issue. How typical, an asinine response from someone who is ignorant to how it all really works.
In reply to CC
Those who teach can’t do. You couldn’t make it in the real world so you teach.
In reply to Billy
STFU billy what kind of shitty quote is that. “Those who teach can’t do” that shit don’t even make sense you uneducated rat kid. If a person teaches you then dumbass that person obviously knows what there talking about. Smh. You cannot make it in the real world so you should stop bashing on someone who has career rather then you who along side jack that works at mcdonalds flipping them burgers.
Nobody cares if you are waitress working your way through college. Your parents should’ve had a college fund set aside for you, so that you could devote all your time to study. What no parents or they didn’t put money aside, too fucking bad.
I don’t give a shit and nobody else does either. My favorite thing to do is run up a high dinner bill. I make the waitress bust her ass. I run her ragged. Then I stick around to see the tears in the waitresses eyes when she sees no tip. That is my hobby.
In reply to Jack
Jack I know your just a Internet fag boy. Your real name ain’t jack your to scared to use your real name. You’ve never rung up a bill higher then 25 bucks because your job at McDonald’s can only give you 1 shift a week because you are “slow” in the head. So what if people work to pay for college. Not everyone can afford it, and not every parent can save up for it either. At least servers saving to pay for college or university are actually doing something with there life unlike you. Who would rather save up a months worth of income and go to dennys which is your version of a fancy restaurant and ring up an expensive” 25 dollar bill ” for you and clearly not tip. So next time you try to bash a server think again little jack boy. Because in the end you’ll be the one crying while that server is actually going somewhere in life rather then having a career at McDonald’s. HAH
You’ve obviously not had the opportunity to dine at any establishment where you would actually spend money. As a General Manager, I can assure you that type of behavior, not tipping without complaint to management, would guarantee you to be blacklisted from all future reservations and/or a 20% service charge/manager only service. We take pride in our work and take care to make sure our employees are taken care of. Enjoy your Applebees.
In reply to Matthew
Translation: I’m too cheap to pay my employees a decent wage and demand that you do it for me!
In reply to bhagwad
I go to a nice restaurant and spend around $600. I should not have to tip the waiter for the simple job of putting my food on the table. Servers are worth about two dollars an hour. Making people feel guilty so that they have to tip is unacceptable.
If servers want a living wage, don’t be a server. It is not even a real job. I was a server when I was 16 years old. It was the easiest most brain-dead job I ever had. Extremely simple and easy.
I can’t stop laughing when I hear a server saying how hard their job is. Being a server is a good job for a kid that is too lazy to work at McDonald’s. Having to rely on the kindness of others for tips is very sad. Good thing I don’t give a crap about you. I am there for the food not to tip you.
In reply to Randal
Stfu Randall you lying piece of shit. Why the fuck do all these stupid people like you who are against tipping, come out of nowhere and say they spend 500, 600 or even thousand dollar dinners. Like how shitty of a liar are you, and how dumb do you think we are. Do you think we actually believe that you would spend 600 bucks on dinner and have the time to go on this bhagwad forum and tell people about it. Like cmon most people would tip you dumbass if you can afford 600 bucks then you can afford 15%. So for you Randall and other Internet “rich wannabes” who want to post about spending on expensive dinners ,don’t flaunt at the money you dont have and the hundred dollar dinners that you have never bought. Because clearly you can’t afford it and are just living the Internet fake rich life. So shut the fuck up Randall and stop bashing on hard working servers you ignorant lying shit. At 16 you couldn’t have been a server, for one you are slow and lack in common sense and second you dumbass you can’t serve alcohol you underage shit so stfu with your shitty as serving story. At 16 you were probably working at McDonald’s. There is a difference between that and a actual server at an actual restaurant not fast food restaurant which you worked at. So don’t classify yourself as server when clearly you were classified as a McDonald’s cashier.
In reply to charles
I am so sorry you are jealous of my wealth. I do not consider a $600 dinner flaunting my success. My definition of really making it in life is when I can afford the finer things and have the time to read blogs like this.
In reply to Randal
What finer things do you possess? A shit Chevrolet cavalier ? Your one bedroom apartment with your only friend which is a cat ? Stfu already Randall. You are not someone to be jealous of. You are nothing but a Internet faggot and who cannot prove your wealth. Smh at this kid lol
In reply to Matthew
I wonder if Matthew would care to share with us which Applebee’s restaurant he is the manager of and if it is official company policy to blackmail their customers into tipping. I doubt he will, but I would like this to be addressed at the corporate level.
In reply to Daniel Stevens
You are full of shit and a cheap bastard! Out plain and simple. You deserve nothing. You sure posting because someone I’d kind enough to bring you 17 diet cokes with your cheap ass. You are the bottom of the barrel of mankind. I don’t believe you go out very often it that you have an intelligent vibe in your body.
In reply to Matthew
Lol sure Applebee’s guy, that’s exactly what your policy says. BS if you even tried that a customer would complain and you’d be back to collecting welfare you loser.
In reply to Matthew
Manager only service sounds like it would be awesome. I would never complain about that.
The guy who me this is a piece of shit. Servers only get 3.63$ an hour and most shifts are about five to six hours long unless it’s a double which can be around eight hours. That’s about 120$ a week which is about 360-400 a month. How do you expect us to pay rent, car payments, insurance, utilities, groceries, gas etc. And yes we could get a different job but most of us are college students that have limited availability, restaurant jobs are as flexible as it gets. We also don’t “act like your best friend”, some us genuinely care about out customers and love having conversations with them. We know how hard we have to work and what it takes to make the customer happy and ensure that they come back in the sake of our business. Not to mention we bite our tongues for arrogant pricks like you.
In reply to Kayla Shelton
Nobody gives a shit about your insignificant problems. Let me play the world’s smallest violin for you.
I am not your employer, so tipping you is not my problem. I don’t care if you make two dollars an hour. You are paid more than you’re worth. Your money problems or situation is of no concern to me,
In reply to Randal
It’s obvious that you are a jealous, low wage, piece of shit. No need to argue with you. Go back to your buffets and get s life instead of trolling your pathetic life away.
In reply to Kayla Shelton
bs, you make more with tips than minimum wage busboys and cooks do. Otherwise you wouldn’t fight against min wage for servers. Your whole agenda is try to get pity so you can continue to earn good money for a job that should be paid min wage.
EXCUSE ME!?
I’m working as a waitress in a bar. It’s not hard? Oh please! I work from 4 PM to 2 AM when it’s FULL of drunken idiots who yell at me, make comments about my looks and want everything RIGHT NOW. There were guys asking me to ‘have sex’ in the bathroom and when I tell them to FO, they say rude things to me. I’m ten hours on my legs, trying to serve everyone and I am still nice and polite to all of the costumers. And even though the bar works until 2 AM, they won’t leave and they stay there for two hours more. And I don’t get extra paid for it. I’m not even paid per hours. My salary is 8 euros a day! You think it’s enough for a 18-year-old girl whose mother is unemployed and whose father works all day: just to pay off his debts and buy some food? And I still have to go to college. Who’s going to pay for my rent and my scholarship? Me.
And no, there’s not a choice. In my country, you can’t get a decent job if you don’t have a college degree. I can work as a waitress and that’s all.
And no, it’s not easy. It’s one of the hardest jobs. Being up on your legs for more than 10 hours, dealing with all kinds of people, having to ignore your bosses’ stupidity, preparing all the drinks and being careful about the thieves… and still there are people who won’t pay your tips. Many people. It’s just rude. Try working as a waiter once and you’ll see how easy it is. But a real waiter, you know.
I really can’t stand people like you. Heartless. Primitive.
AND I’M NOT WORTH MY PAYMENT? How dare you? Do you know that my coworker fainted once because she was running around the bar for ten hours, and she didn’t even have the time to eat something? Do you know that my other coworker in another bar ended up in hospital because some stupid customer threw a glass at him ‘because he didn’t get a green glass but a white one’? Do you know how much stress do I suffer during one work day? And I almost ended up on the court once because I wanted to sue a customer who verbally abused me in a sexual way. But I STILL got over it.
And it’s easy?!!!! And we’re not worth even 8 euros we get?
I know that when I finish college and get a better job, I will give 50% tips to everyone in every cafe, bar, restaurant and co.
In reply to Sonia
Nobody cares about your problems. I am not your employer so I should not tip you. Your employer only pays you a small amount of money because that is all you are worth.
In reply to Raven
It’s fine if you don’t want to tip. That’s your prerogative but please don’t be so rude.
In reply to Raven
I don’t care if its equivalent to 50 cents. She agreed to a contract. She can always find another job. “comparing the cost of living” is an absolute socialist argument. Who cares about “cost of living?” In a capitalist society, no such thing needs to be added to pay. I find a job, I like the pay, I agree to the terms, that is it.
In reply to Sonia
Try working in an ER from 3PM to 4AM (usually overtime is added) with drunken idiots, wives who were beaten and won’t admit it, and other victims.
“In my country, you can’t get a decent job if you don’t have a college degree. ” I don’t mean to offend you, but the reason your country is that way (I’m assuming you are in Europe) is because European nations are socialistic in nature. Maybe Germany is an exception.
“Do you know that my coworker fainted once because she was running around the bar for ten hours, and she didn’t even have the time to eat something?”
YOu know even ER employees faint when they see people releasing their bowel movements, urine, blood, vomit uncontrolled on the floor after not being able to take a lunch?
10 hours on your legs? Try 10 hours on you legs in blood.
Can nurses receive tips?
BTW, 8 euros? That’s pretty decent. That’s almost $11/hour. Don’t complain. People here in the US make equivalent to about 4 Euros.
If you don’t like it, find another job.
In reply to Common Sense
You are really stupid. You can’t compare working in ER to being a server PLUS nobody insulted your job or said you were worthless like this other dumbass did. I don’t even know why you are arguing right now there is no reason to it.
I am from Europe also and moved to the U.S. 8Euros doesn’t make 11dollars. 8euros is around 8 dollars if you compare the cost of living. So if she or he makes 8 euros/hour it’s like making 8dollars here in the US.
I doubt you ever lived in Europe so don’t talk when you don’t know. Thank you.
In reply to Gui
“You can’t compare working in ER to being a server”
Yes, because the ER job is much more difficult to do. How is Common Sense’s comment stupid?