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.
I GUARANTEE you’ve never told a single waiter what you’ve said on this blog. If you had, you’d have had a few things happen to you: 1.) Gotten your ass kicked, 2.) Been kicked out of the restaurant, or 3.) Had your food custom-prepared with input from numerous people.
You’re an angry little person who thinks the world owes you something. You talk about how you don’t care about the problems that we have? To turn you on your head, we don’t care about the problem that YOU have when patronizing restaurants over and over. You think servers don’t remember? Please. As soon as you walk in the door you’re pegged and there is a plan to make your experience the WORST possible within guidelines (or out of them if it can be hushed). In fact, every server, hostess, cook, and manager would have you in their sights. There is a great thing my mother told me…”Don’t mess with people that make your food!”
I’ve seen your pathetic and proudly ignorant blog over the past year or so and it baffles me that you can STILL hide behind the internet like a lil bitch and keep on with this ridiculous argument.
I’m surprised that no one has internet-ally blacklisted you and posted your picture with a link to this site (backed up with screenshots) to warn servers of your impeding arrival. If all of this is how you really feel, fine. Being that as it may, those in the restaurant industry reserve EVERY right to NOT serve you…excuse me, “bring you your food.”
Please, NEVER bring your ass into an establishment I work at or you WILL have the worst experience of your life and would IMPLORE you to blog about it. Not only would I bet my job on it, you can bet the satisfaction of treating you like shit as you have done to countless servers GREATLY outweighs the job itself. Fuck it. I wasn’t gonna be tipped ANYWAY, right?
You’re such a pus*y…
In reply to YeahItsAbe
The only angry little bitch I see is you. You are the one that thinks the world owes them a tip. The world owes you nothing. You have an unskilled pathetic job that relies on the kindness of others.
You are nothing and your little threats don’t scare anybody. Nobody gives a shit about your problems or your tiny little wage. The reason you are so upset is because you are nothing and have no future.
You are jealous of all the people that can afford to go out to eat. Nothing you do is worthy of a tip or extra pay. Two dollars an hour is more than you are worth.
In reply to YeahItsAbe
Don’t bother. His ex was probably a server and now he is mad at them.
So much hate is not normal. I know people that don’t tip and they are not a 1/4 as hateful as this guy is.
I was astonished by his words and then I got it. It’s personal.
And every time someone comments something making sense he says “it’s not my problem”. Then why do you blog about it?
He is just a little insignificant guy that is trying to get a little bit of attention because his life is miserable so he tries to insult other people to feel powerful. Definition of a Loser.
In reply to Gui
He is a bully who feels inadequate and needs to put others down to gain some self worth.
Alright, here we go. Waiting is a job. You can make any argument you want about how easy it is. It is still a job, so they should be paid at least minimum wage. In fact, you can argue that so many different jobs are easy and don’t deserve a living wage. I.E. pretty much any cubicle job where you spend half the day looking at funny pictures on the internet and the other half figuring out ways to make it appear as if you’re working. Next, waiting is not easy or, more correctly put, should not be easy. If you are a waiter and you think it is easy, then you are not a very good waiter. A waiter’ s job is not to simply deliver food from the kitchen to the table; it is to create a nice experience at that restaurant for the patron that chose it. This will include being a constant service to that table and any other table they have assigned to them. Believe it or not, they are doing quite a service for you. Now, some of your arguments would have women credibility if the point of going to a restaurant was simply to sit down, eat food and then leave. No, you go to a restaurant for the atmosphere. You go to eat good food, have a good time with your friends or family and enjoy a dinner that was made just for you. It’s the waiters job to make sure all of this runs smoothly. So if you are so uptight or socially uncomfortable with a stranger being nice to you, then order takeout, make your own dinner or go to a fast food joint. It doesn’t matter, but the point is, you can get food and not go to a restaurant. Also, what is this obsession with money?! Are you that broke or that obsessed that you can’t possibly give, I don’t know, five dollars to a cordial person who happily performed a service for you? I sincerely apologize to all the working waiters that found an empty table and also sincerely hope that you change your mind and take a more relaxed look on the world.
In reply to Will
I went to Ruth Chris for dinner last night and the bill came to a little over $150. Instead of putting a carafe of water on the table, they had a Waterboy. Every time he came over we had to stop talking because we like a small amount of privacy. Other than putting our food on the table, and bringing us two glasses of wine followed by dessert there was no service performed. So using your reasoning I’m supposed to give this person a 20% I feel guilty payment.
The waiter tried to engage us in unnecessary conversation. Even made a comment that we are very quiet. I politely told her we were not there to have a conversation with her.
I was on the phone in the lobby when the waiter interrupted me. Asked me if everything was okay because I didn’t leave a tip. I told her how dare you interrupt my phone conversation in the first place, and secondly nothing you did was worthy of a tip. You walked 50 feet from the kitchen to our table, should I be impressed? Then I told her the hired help should not speak unless they are spoken to. I told her I paid for my food I am not her employer now get lost.
In reply to Raven
Despite the fact that I am currently employed by an establishment from which I rely on tips because I am attending college to become a Veterinarian, I have to say that I would rather be a server for the rest of my life, making nearly minimum wage, than perceive the world and those that are less financially fortunate than I with such disdain and disrespect. I would go even farther to say that I would rather live in a leaky tent in Washington for the rest of my life than be so cold-hearted and hateful as you. Serving does not require a great deal of education to say the least, but neither does being a snobby, insecure asshole, who can only lean on his wealth to redeem any respect from society. I would truly hate to ever be in your toxic presence, and I’m so thankful that I am lucky enough to be conscious of the concept of ethics, the effects of karma, and the fact that respect is not truly determined by anything to do with one’s income- it lies within the capacity of worth and how you treat others- how you show respect yourself, even to those who you may not think deserve it. You will go to your grave being remembered only for your money, and nothing of what you contributed to society. You are a bully, and no matter what you throw back at whomever comes across and comments on your blog, I truly feel sorry for you. If it were not for people that experience phases in their lives that lead them to waiting tables, you would not have the opportunity to go out and flaunt your money in the first place. It sounds like you must not have as much money as you say you do, as you are so determined to weasel your way out of leaving a decent tip and acquiring food vouchers anyways. We servers remember people like you when they come in, and if we must wait your table, we will do it with a grin and expect nothing but a stiffed tip. And that’s ok, because the majority of society does not have such a screwed up, self-worshipping perspective, so it works out for us. At the end of the day, I lay down to sleep at night being much more content with who I am than I would be if I had to live my life from your point of view, and truck the miles that I log in haughty, over-priced, uncomfortable shoes like yours.
I actually feel sorry for you. It must be miserable to be such a bitter and hateful person. What exactly gives you the right to judge someone’s worth? I have never been a server in my life and this post absolutely disgusts me. A server’s job is to work for YOU, the customer. They bring you food, drinks, listen to you probably complain, and then clean up after you. They are not your slave. They should paid and treated with respect. If your money is so important to you that you can’t leave a tip for someone who waited on you hand and foot then you should stay home and make your own dinner. I’m baffled as to how you even have someone in life to accompany you to dinner in public. With this kind of attitude, I’d be embarrassed. Again, it doesn’t matter what they are paid or what your idea of a “real job” is… the fact is someone just served you in every literal way. You say servers are demanding a tip that’s not deserved? Sounds like you are demanding customer service that is not deserved.
In reply to Kaysha
Bringing me my food is not customer service. I order a car they have to bring it to me. I order a large appliance they have to bring it to me. They are just bringing me what I paid for there is no customer service involved.
The waitress is financially and socially so far beneath me, I find it insulting that she would speak to me without receiving permission first. If you want to speak to me at work you need an appointment. The waitress wouldn’t make it past the first secretary. How dare she interrupt my phone conversation. I spoke to corporate offices about this. They gave me a $100 voucher for the next time I decide to dine there again. Bottom line the waitress is never to inconvenience the customer or demand a tip.
In reply to Raven
Raven your name alone makes you a stripper, hate to break it to you sweetie but your parents must not have cared enough to give you a real name. you’re probably upset that men dont find your fatass attractive, therefore you arent tipped when you’re rolling around that pole. I’m surprised you can even afford internet to be posting on this dumb shit.
Reading all of the comments talking shit about servers….notice how they’re all saying the same thing, same language, same name – calling and insults. Bet u all the tips I make tonight that it’s just the dumb pathetic original blogger responding to all of the comments under various names. Who has time to do that?? And even if they had free time to Internet blog and use fake names over and over just to talk shit…what person with an actual life would actually want to waste theirs doing that? Obviously someone with no social life. Hence the hatred over “servers acting like their best friend”. I’ve never acted like any of my customer’s best friend. I bartend, so my customers actuallt strike up conversations with me because I’m a social and outgoing person. My regulars become my friends. I don’t care that one asshole leaves zero tip, you’ll never see me shed a fucking tear cause for every cheap ass, there’s that customer that tips me 50%…or 100%. They do that cuz they like me. In return every time they come back their drinks get poured stronger. And for every drink of theirs that gets poured stronger, the cheap jerks that come in will get stiffed on theirs. It all evens out.
How many comments have been posted regarding “waiters get paid more than they deserve” and “you don’t deserve a tip just by walking 50 feet from the kitchen”, or “I’m not tipping just because you put the food on my table”, and flaunting fake wealth? IT’S THE SAME FUCKING PERSON. You don’t fool me. If u want to use fake names just to appear that many ppl agree with you…U gotta come up with new insults and arguments. Using the same generic insults over and over under different names really gives you away. How many times did you describe serving as a “brain dead” job? How many times did you mention that you only need to pay the menu price? And on and on about your stupid glasses of wine. Nobody cares if you hate servers and think you’re above them. That’s why you have to keep on replying under different names to create drama. Don’t wanna tip? Then don’t. If you ever came into my bar and didn’t tip, next time you come in I’ll still serve you. Won’t be any good and you’ll be lowest priority, but I’ll still do my job. Because again, there’s plenty of customers that give their bartenders 50 to 100%. That shit happens to me all the time. It’s called being a likeable person. If people like you, they’ll do nice things for you. I’m sorry you don’t understand that concept so you have to be an Internet troll with fake identities. I don’t beg for tips. Never. They’re given to me because people want to. And when I see a zero on the top line…that’s fine with me. I’ll think you’re an ass but then get on with my other customers. You don’t matter.
To all fellow servers and bartenders…we don’t need to waste our time describing what we do or defending ourselves to this douche. It’s the same troll over and over using all different names, acting as male/female. Arguments are all the same. Don’t waste your time. Anyone who spends their life doing this is far below us and pretty much anyone in normal society. Haters are gonna hate. So let this guy dude keep on spewing hate. I didn’t even get offended by this, I just laughed at it. Hahaha
In reply to too funny
read some of my anti tip rants–its not full of the language and insults.
I thoroughly don’t believe in tipping, that is all.
All you waiters and waitresses are worthless unskilled people. Doesn’t make sense that I’m supposed to give you a tip because you fetch like a dog and bring me the food. I just don’t get it. You do nothing special putting my food on the table. I have no respect for you you’re worthless. And your greedy bastards because all you do is beg for tips when this is just a minimum wage or less fake job.
You know you really fucked up in life if you have to wait tables for a living. I don’t feel sorry for you dumb bastards. If I feel angry I go to a restaurant and make one of you my bitch. I just leave you a mess with no tip. When I leave it feel better. I don’t have a great job, but it sure makes me feel better to know that people like you are still under me.
How I became a waiter for real. I was never good at anything at all. Graduated high school with a GED never did much of anything. Got fired at Best Buy because I didn’t want to take the time to learn anything about the stuff we sell. Worked at a gas station but I got fired because I couldn’t make change properly.
Got a job in a restaurant as a dishwasher busboy. Some waiters called in sick because they were hung over. So started my first day as a waiter. Wasn’t very hard all I had to do was ask them what they wanted to eat and bring it to them. And when they left they would leave you money. It was more money then minimum wage. I like the extra money cause I got no way of making money like doing anything else. I don’t really get why people leave money after they eat I don’t care why. I just like the extra money.
How about….If you don’t agree with the way the ‘service’ industry is ran….dont….go…out…to…eat. Obviously none of you ignorant douche twats have never worked in a restaurant nor understand how they operate….Restaurants that offer good food do so at very limited profit margins. The restaurants simply cannot afford to pay their serving staff 12 more dollars an hour. ..If they did…they would not exist. So. That’s the way it is….it has to be that way..If you don’t understand that or want to deal with that then don’t go out to eat… Or do…and don’t tip.. I don’t give a shit
.but at least understand why you are paying for gratuity. …it’s so the restaurants you frequent can make money and stay open.
Fucking idiots.
In reply to lame
You are the idiot if you think you’re worth $12 an hour. Your job doesn’t need any training, any fool can do it. You are not paid that much money because you’re not worth it. Two dollars an hour still seems like you’re overpaid. People like you think they’re entitled the world owes you nothing. If you don’t like it get a job you don’t have to be embarrassed about.
In reply to Steve
Technically he said servers should make 14+ an hour; stating, “The restaurants simply can’t afford to pay their serving staff 12 MORE dollars an hour.” Guess you weren’t taught basic english at that college you attended for your ‘real job’ Steve? There was a run on sentence towards the end of your rant as well. Any fool could teach you how to read apparently.
In reply to lame
What if your poor and a tip is more then you really can afford. just because I want to treat my children or my family doesn’t mean I have to treat you. I have worked for the lowest wages ever and nobody gave me a tip to dig their ditch. you want to make more money. Go to fucking college! Its rich snobs like you who should pay tips. When I have lots of money I am generous. Demanding money is something I will not abide.
Guess what. If people need a job they will work their regardless if they get a tip or not. If you don’t like not getting a tip why don’t you work someplace else? Maybe you can make more money digging ditches.
Requirements if you want to be a waiter, waitress. (Table bitch) :
Must be lazy
Don’t worry if your a high school dropout
Live in a trailer park or be able to tell people you have a hard life
I’m going to college
Not everybody can go to college
Must be stupid but you’re considering this job so consider that a given
Know the difference between ketchup and mustard
Can walk from the kitchen to the table without getting lost
Actually think this is a real job
Relying on the kindness of others to pay your bills
Have no pride
Tell people you have plans for your life but really this is all you can hope for
Congratulations your lack of skills and intelligence verifies your qualifications for this position
In reply to Job recruiter
You literally are an idiot. You obviously have no idea what being a server entails. Know the difference between mustard and ketchup? More like knowing every item on the menu, where the ingredients come from, and how it is prepared. That is not the difficult part though…because there is the working 14 hour shifts, weekends, holidays. You go home at night with your feet and head pounding, but it is ok because the gratitude your customers expressed for your service makes you feel like you made their nights better. I am a college graduate and worked in restaurants through college. You are really just ridiculous.
In reply to cris
Just a typical unskilled job. Have to know the ingredients in the menu big deal. Work long shifts that’s what happens when you have a job that requires no skills.
This is just to piss people off. It is common knowledge that wait staff makes less than $3 an hour because they work for tips.
In reply to Calling bs
In California, wait staff make the same as everyone else–at least minimum wage. This means I don’t have to tip.