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.
There people go again, throwing the word “retarded” around like it’s not insulting to people with real mental issues. Samual, do you mind telling me where you live? I would love to come and beat your fucking face and your head in, until you’re “retarded”. That way you can join the ranks of mentally disabled like me! Except that I wouldn’t have to wear a diaper or a napkin due to the drool.
In reply to Jake
You will be fired so fast.
In reply to Ren
Obviously you have been living a fantasy life if you think I’d be fired for kicking someone’s ass. At best I’d be arrested for assault and temporarily suspended from my non waiting job. Woopty doo. Come at me, bro.
In reply to Jake
Yes, tipping is optional, and yes bringing you your food is our job and that’s what were paid for. What we don’t have to do is give a shit about you, but we do because 99% of waiters take a lot of pride in giving great service and making sure you’re evening out is the best it can be. That’s what you’re paying for in a tip, the service and experience. If you don’t tip, then don’t expect good, friendly service because you didn’t pay for it, we will do what the restaurant pays us $2.30 an hour to do, which is take your order and run your food. It’s not blackmail, we’re just like every one else and don’t want to work for free. If you’re not going to tip and honestly have a real problem with it, then tell you’re server when they great you. If you don’t have the balls to do that, then you don’t really have an objection to it, besides being a cheap piece of fuck.
In reply to Ren
Not necessarily. I run a very busy restaurant with a 93% Yelp rating. My staff is knowledgeable and knows how to treat each guest as an individual. I have their backs-when they are in the right. We can spot self-entitled jackasses a mile away. And if one abuses my staff, they get the treatment Kat describes. Needless to say, we have tons of regular business, and our bottom line is increasing by about 18% annually. We’re in our fourth year. If you don’t want to tip people for busting their asses for you, then eat ramen.
In reply to Haverford
Well said
In reply to Haverford
Please name your highly touted restaurant where you and the servers think so highly of yourselves, so the rest of us can plan accordingly. The only self-entitled jackass I see in this discussion is the servers who don’t understand that tips are completely optional. By law. If your servers are crybaby spoiled brats who have come to expect a gift for doing the job they’re already paid to do, then heaven help you. I know a lot of people who work for minimum wage or less (on commission) who ALSO “bust their asses” and don’t ever expect a tip, or a bonus. Some are even happy just to have a job doing what they enjoy.
Kat lists some of the hundreds of unseen things a server does as part of the job. Oh, puh-leeeze. THAT’S WHAT YOU GET PAID TO DO! Big whoop. Let me list the seven million things MY job involved to earn the money that you expect me to simply throw away as an excessive tip for service that is already included in the menu prices.
In reply to Haverford
Remind me to NEVER eat at your restaurant then. You need customers more than they need you, so you’d better change your attitude if you want to stay in business.
And this is coming from a former server myself.
In reply to Ren
hate to bust your narcissistic bubble but no she wouldn’t be fired. because her boss is going to back her up when corporate calls to confirm the complaint was unfounded and that it was just another asshole who thinks the world revolves around him.
In reply to Suzanna
Suzanna the world revolves around the paying customer. Your unskilled ass is easily replaceable. Oh I do t tip people for doing their simple jobs.
In reply to Ren
Oh no she wouldn’t bosses stand by their food servers believe that,where is again saying you don’t have a clue,if the boss stand by their servers who would u go to The President hahaha your a real moron!!!
In reply to Ren
How fast do you think? A minute? Maybe 5 seconds? I’m very interested.
In reply to Jake
If that’s the requirements for being a waiter or waitress, You’d fit right in. Have at it dumbass.
In reply to Jake
Yes! Because the answer to being offened is violence!
In reply to Jake
Listen to me you filthy little retard, I don’t GIVE A FUCK about your false claims of being actually retarded, just the tards acting like they’re gonna walk around like their shit don’t stink and not tip their wait person, you filthy, fucking retarded asshole. Drop dead you cocksucking loser, get a life; nobody here actually believes you’re “mentally handicapped” because somebody who is, couldn’t type a response like yours, BUT A GODDAMNED FUCKING RETARD LIKE YOURSELF SURE COULD!! ADUH ADUH DUH were you live i ca puch yu face n SHUT YOUR BITCH ASS UP PALSATARD PALSOTARDY TARDYPALSO PALSY THE FIRST.
In reply to Jim T.
Jim T, I’m guessing you don’t personally know anyone who has a developmental disability, right? If you did, you would NEVER say such ignorant, hurtful comments! You, Sir, are a huge piece of SHIT!!!
In reply to Paula
Fuckin little filthy retard you are Paulatard.
In reply to Jim T.
Holy shit dude chill the fuck out. Not every mentally disabled person can’t read or write, not every disabled person needs you to feed and change them and not every disabled person needs your fucking handout. Also not every mentally disabled person was born like that; sometimes it’s a car accident (like why should happen to you) that causes a shift in the brain. Don’t be such a prick to someone you’ve never met. If I met you I would fucking annihilate your face until you begged for mercy then capsize your fucking leg and you would be prejudicially judged worse than someone with Down syndrome you fucking imbecile. Your the kind of off-kilter ego of whom thinks he/she is the shit sitting behind a fucking computer screen bullying other people because of your own shitty experiences in life. I’d be embarrassed to be your fucking mother no doubt.
In reply to Jim T.
Lmao, every time I think I’ve come accross the most ignorant person there is always someone that outdoes it. Do you have children? Jesus I hope not.
In reply to Jake
If you are willing to commit an illegal action over something that isn’t illegal, you need to be behind bars afterwards. And they will be at home getting laid from the lawsuit they won.
Oh really? That’s all I do? I bring you food and that’s all? So I don’t get you your drink, answer any questions you have on the extensive menu, handle any changes you want made to your food (I.E. no mushrooms, extra cheese etcetera…), refill your drinks, handle the pissed off cooks if anything is done wrong, handle every little desire you have…. Oh wait lets not forget the lemon wedges you want for your beverage… I cut those. Oh that salad and soup you want? I prepare that for you, and arrange it on the plate so it doesn’t look like somebody just slopped it on a plate for you.
Oh that hot fudge brownie sundae you want? Oh wait it’s me who heats it up, and prepares everything for you. But yeah I just bring you your food, deal with your shitty attitude with a sweet smile and soothing words. Oh you hated this? Let me get you something else… And then go back and have to have the cook make it.
Oh but I only hand your food to you. I don’t actually work… Oh and lets not forget, the salt pepper and sugar shakers on the counter? I fill and clean those. The small pitcher of creamer? I clean them, make the creamer, and fill them. Oh your dirty table? I bus and clean that. The floors? Oh I mop those too. Oh you have a smudge of food on your menu? Yup you guessed it, I’m,m the one who cleans those. Oh your special sheet in the menu is dirty? I’m the one that takes it apart, and replaces it with a clean one.
Oh wait you have to pay. Guess what? I check you out on the cash register too! Oh you want stuff to go? I prepare and get everything ready for you.
But seriously I don’t have a real job. I don’t really work at all. So I don’t deserve a tip.
I work my ass off every single day to make a living. No it isn’t the job I want, nor will I do it for the rest of my life. But I make decent money through tips, and the restaurant I work at is filled with amazing coworkers, the best boss I could ever hope to have, and we make each and every long day standing on our feet and running around a fun filled day.
And for those people who are jackasses and do not tip, maybe you should actually try being waitstaff. You would be singing a different tune.
Also I do want to point out, it is the hardest workers, and the people with the crappiest jobs who work the hardest. Those of you with giant salaries and who are too “high class” to tip, you just sit on your asses all day long and don’t understand what WORKING means.
And no, I don’t spit in people’s food, or screw with their orders. I’m not that kind of person. But if someone who stiffs me comes in and sits in my section again, and demands the same service is a moron. If you come sit in my section you will get a tiny glass of water, put in your order. I won’t bring you your drinks, your sides will take forever to get out to your table, and I will withhold you order for a long while, and leave it sitting there so it comes out lukewarm. I won’t check up on you, you won’t see me again actually. And if you try to flag me down I will walk into the back where you can’t follow me. And my boss will stand by and laugh, because if she was a waitress again she would do the same exact thing. Oh and when you would go up to complain we will just point at a sign hanging on the wall stating COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT IS 300 MILES AWAY.
If you don’t tip me, don’t expect good service. End of story. I mean ya’ll do know what TIPS stands for right? TO INSURE PROPER SERVICE.
In reply to Kat
Complain to your employer for giving you a shitty wage. Do not throw your frustration at the customers for having a crappy job. You waiters /waitresses tipping is OPTIONAL. If you don’t like that term, DON’T WORK FOR $2.50 an hour.
In reply to Brad
Oh trust me we all have.
But I can complain about you assholes who come in to eat, and expect for me to be your own personal servant. No matter what my wage, I’m not a personal servant, nor will I ever be treated like one.
Or the people who are nasty, rude, and overall enjoying making my good day turn into a completely shitty one.
Oh and tipping is optional. If you would come into my workplace, not tip me, even though I gave you great service, and you came back in again on a different day, then it is my option whether to give you good service, or service at all. People like you will never get a refill, checked up on, I will intentionally give you a fucked up order… Oh dessert? Nope since I will not go anywhere near your table, nor will any of my coworkers. Nobody will help you, and if you walk over to us, we will smirk, laugh, and ignore you. And when you get up and leave, we will stand there and laugh at you. Everyone seems to forget the golden rule of don’t piss off the people that handle your food. ((Oh and the best part is that I will have already gone to my boss, and told her what was going on, and she would support us, and not listen to any of your complaints! And will outright say, well if you had tipped her last time…))
In reply to Kat
hi Kat,
you make waiting sound like some scientific job that demands talents and skills. almost every job that demands customer service require human interaction and invlove complains. not everyone gets a tip. you took a $2 an hour job. deal with it
In reply to loly
Minor correction. Kat took a job that paid at least minimum wage.
In reply to loly
Restaurant jobs factor in that the wait staff is making tips. That is why they get paid $2/hour.
In reply to Kat
you sound like you hate doing your job. please quit. I do not get a tip where I work. There are good days and bad days, but that is life. I like what I do so I continue to do with a smile on my face and with no tip
In reply to Kat
All wait staff seem to forget the golden rule of DO YOUR JOBS.
You people think you’re fucking gods? That’s fine, I’ll find another pantheon, and by that I mean restaurant.
And no, don’t tell me every wait staff acts like this. See, your boss is clearly more interested in being ‘cool’ then maintaining her job (or keeping herself financially afloat, if she is the owner). Some restaurants actually realise that keeping on petty staff more obsessed with tips than anything else hurts your business, since those are PAYING CUSTOMERS. I’ll give my custom to them, instead.
In reply to tehy
Hahaha I find this hilarious, I make anywhere from $15-
$45 an hour where I work serving tables, I bust my ass and deal with drunk shit people all the time, but do I complain? I work for 5hours and walk with $300 don’t be mad cuz your bachelor’s degree makes you less than I do, ahhh awe :( and just speaking on my behalf if you tip me bad or not at all, I just feel sorry for you. that you can have me as your own personal slave,and revert back to the olden days. I deserve your tip. And if I don’t get it ? I smile and am thankful for the people who do. Xoxoxo go fuck yourself guy
In reply to brittnee
I like your attitude, brittnee :) You do your job regardless of whom don’t tip you. You see that you deserve tip even if someone else might not share this vision with you but you do your job in which you were hired. You don’t use a stupid logic like, I’ll spit on your food or drink if you don’t tip me. You don’t use stupid logic like my employer is not responsible for my wages but the society is, and they should empathize with my poorly paid job and therefore tip well. You know your job is to serve and you’re thankful to whom tipping although you’re not well behaved I see from your language.. but again maybe this is one qualification that suits some bad customers!!
In reply to brittnee
Remember my poor non-tipping customers, I deserve your tip and if I don’t get it, You all deserve to get fucked. Xoxoxo
In reply to brittnee
@brittnee
You don’t deserve a tip AT ALL. IT IS YOUR JOB TO SERVE REGARDLESS IF YOU’RE TIPPED OR NOT. Why? Because you were HIRED by THE RESTAURANT to SERVE. They are the ones who PAY YOU. Not the customers. Tipping is just extra and OPTIONAL. This whole “I deserve to be tipped even though I’m suppose to be doing my job” is ridiculous.
If I don’t want to tip. I won’t. I didn’t hire the server, the restaurant did. I just pay the food. THAT IS ALL I’M REQUIRED TO DO. Nothing more.
In reply to Ali
@Ali, slavery is out the door my friend. A servers job is to bring your food out, everything else they do is extra so why wouldnt they deserve extra? There have been times where I’ve left my restaurant because we were out of something that my customers were in the mood for, such as tea etc. This sure as hell wasn’t in my job description, and I wasnt reimbursed for this action by my employer because going the extra mile isn’t in the job description. Our employer basically pays us for the minimum effort if anything, everything else we do isnt in our job description but you seem to be all for slavery so have at it. (:
In reply to Jess
You’re getting paid.
Money.
Please, explain to me how that’s slavery exactly?
It’s great that you’re going the extra mile to make the customer happy. Many employees do that. They don’t expect or get tips or rewards from management, just job satisfaction (and return customers.)
Why should you be different, exactly?
In reply to tehy
you really have no idea that the tip-earners minimum wage is 2.13, and most of that goes to taxes right? so if nobody tips, watiresses don’t get paid. That’s slavery my friend.
In reply to Rachel
That’s not true. By law the restaurant owners have to make sure their staff are paid at least the Federal minimum wage which is $7.25. If your $2.13 wage and tips don’t add up, then the managers have to make up the difference to ensure that you ARE getting the same minimum wage as everyone else. The reason why a waiter would still be making $2.13/hr is if they were making MORE than the standard minimum wage of $7.25 for the hours they worked. So NO you are not slaves. If you were not making any money, you wouldn’t keep working there for free so please stop with all the lies. If you’re not making as much as you’d like there are plenty of other jobs that do not even require a degree that pay more money and offer benefits.
In reply to Stop the BS
Yes “stop the BS”, because there are always so many amazing paying jobs available anywhere, anytime! Not. I’m in college and live in a college town, we work in restaurants or pretty much don’t work. I’m not even a server so I make my money getting ripped out by the servers. In most restaurants they give away percentages to the cooks, hosts and bussers. It’s not like they just keep all that they make.
In reply to tehy
What agency pays you people to blog here? Listen up niggers and fast food retards, WE make way more money than you ever will, understand that, your little minimum wage “want fries with that” party is going to have a rude awakening when the minimum is raised, and yet the CUSTOM of tipping us, doesn’t go away, so even though a few fuck stick mental midgets decide not to tip, we will be making even more money! So, go fuck yourselves
In reply to Jess
You are literally getting paid money in a job you can leave at any time.
So basically, no resemblance to slavery at all.
He’s not required to pay you jack, the restaurant itself is required to do that, and we all want waiters to just get paid a normal wage.
But hey, as long as you bring something like slavery into the argument, maybe you can muddle the issues enough to pretend like you’re not wrong, right?
To digress here, good for you. Plenty of employees do stuff like that. They don’t expect or get tips or rewards from management. What they do get is satisfaction and return customers. Why should you be any different?
In reply to tehy
well the first comment didn’t appear to go through
so yeah, please just delete the first one
In reply to tehy
In the restaurant I work at, my checks are nothing. They go to my taxes. If I spent an entire day at work and no one tipped me, I would actually have to pay to work because we tip out our bartenders. So if I do $1000 dollars in sales and no one tips, I pay ten dollars to work that day. Do you get that? No bullshit, no sense of entitlement. Just numbers. My best friend actually had this happen at another place we worked together. And the next day she was right back at work. If you didn’t get paid for every second you were at work you would bitch up a storm and then quit. We do this because the good days outweigh the bad, restaurant managers work with school schedules or second job schedules or kids if you have them, and it’s really just fun. You do not understand the industry until you’ve worked in it. You just don’t. But don’t act like we are entitled when we go the extra mile, get nothing for it and still come back the next day when you wouldn’t do the same.
In reply to Red
Your employer is required to make up your wages to at least minimum wage if you don’t make at least that much after tips.
As you said, the good days outweigh the bad so on an average a typical server earns a hell of a lot more than minimum wage. What exactly are you complaining about?
In reply to tehy
All you have to do is not go to full service restaurants and the servers would be fine. Most non tippers are just angry because they went to school and got a “real job” only to find out that they could of made more waiting tables. In my first four years of delivering food full time I saved 42,000 along with paying a mortgage and my health insurance out of pocket. That’s a little more than the average student loan debt after 4 years of college. So yes while you ” real job” college people racked up 40k in debt so you could get a 35k a year job, I saved enough to pay off your debt and have change left over. All that money was saved even with ignorant non tippers like you making me work for nothing at least 3 or 4 times a shift. I was able to do this because there are so many wonderful people out there that tip way over 20% because they know there are people like you. Non tippers are no better than lazy welfare people. Same concept, they think they should not have to pay so the rest of us have to carry them. This could be a great country if welfare dinners would just stay home.
Reply
In reply to Jess
It all boils down to the system having a problem. The fact that you have to do that extra but not be paid for it is a shame. But one cannot rely solely on the customer to give you tips, and have them say “Oh of course, I understand the pain you are going through, I’m so sorry for you. Here, have more money.” You should expect that the waiter/waitress job is entitled to these kinds of services. IF YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE NOT BEING PAID THE AMOUNT YOU DESERVE, THEN YOU MAKE THE CHANGE IN YOUR WORKPLACE. That is not something the customer has to worry about when they walk in after a long day at work with their own problems to think about.
In reply to Ali
Meany Head. They could spit in your food or kill you in your sleep by tracking your mean bum down.
Butt Face.
In reply to Ali
You would still be forking out of your own pocket if servers got paid minimum wage because that plate of food you were gonna pay $20 for, is now $35. Whereas if you just paid the $20 plus $4 tip you would have made out a lot better. In the U,S, if you don’t want to tip, go to a fast food joint, or go back to your country.
In reply to brittnee
I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU PEOPLE FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ENTITLED TO BE OUR “PERSONAL SLAVE.” FUCK! YOU DON’T FUCKING HAVE TO! Look, serving people FOOD is not being a “personal slave.” IF they ask for ANYTHING MORE than you serving their food, you can fucking complain. That’s fine. But when you think you’ve been ENSLAVED to serve food, there are a couple of things that come into my mind:
1) You probably shouldn’t work. But look, you’re still working, because you get a lot of money for it.
2) Don’t deal with shit other thank serving food. Period. ITS THAT FUCKING EASY.
Good day.
In reply to brittnee
If i could have you as my own “personal slave” I could get you to suck my dick during my stay at your restaurant. Thats about the only thing you’d do during that day that would warrant 45 dollars an hour. bitch.
In reply to brittnee
I wonder how much of that gets reported to the IRS.
In reply to dan
Every penny of what a server makes is reported to the IRS. They’re required by law to report all their tips. Then taxes are taken out of their $2.35 an hour paycheck. If a server doesn’t report everything and it’s found out they are fined and face the same consequences anyone else who doesn’t file their taxes would face. The restaurant doesn’t determine what the wait staff makes, the U.S. government does. Just like they determine what minimum wage is for everyone else in the country.
For anyone else who says that wait staff doesn’t do anything more than just bring you food, go work as a waiter or waitress and then tell me that all they do is bring out your food or basic customer service. It’s not an easy job and a majority of wait staff are college students working to make ends meet while they’re in school because it pays the bills; your employer is willing to work around your class schedule and the shifts are short. If you need to take an extra shift or give one away there’s usually someone to help you out.
No job that requires working with the public and demanding, entitled people is easy. For those of you who are lucky enough to never have done it, don’t judge or pretend to know what anyone who serves you, in any way, food or retail, does. You don’t work there, never have, so who are any of you to tell any of us how to do our jobs or treat us like you know better. We work hard for YOU. To make sure that you have a pleasant experience no matter where you are, so don’t treat us like we’re beneath you because we work in the service industry. Most of us have dreams and hopes and aspirations and we’re working toward them daily and unfortunately that means having to deal with disrespectful, rude, and ignorant people who shit on floors and piss in chairs at at your local bookstore. I’m the one who cleans that up so you, the next person to visit my store, doesn’t have to deal with that. You have no idea what goes on beyond what you see in front of you. So what gives you the right to judge anything we do with our lives or the decisions we make or the job that we do?
In reply to dan
Cunts like you, make people not wanna tip. I tip, based on service. 5$, 1$ off for everything shitty you do, and 1$ added for everything good. But if I had the displeasure of working with you, I’d hate my jo .
In reply to dan
You see you can not tip, but do you tell that server beforehand you do not tip? I’m sure you don’t because you want your 10 refills, 10 sides of ranch and 20 napkins. You want your food to come out correctly with the 5 modifications you’ve made. If you don’t want to tip, get take out. Don’t waste someone else’s time and money, since they have to pay to serve your pathetic ass and stay home.
In reply to brittnee
If you make that much money an hour you shouldn’t sound so bitter towards those who choose not to tip you.
In reply to brittnee
I wish I made close to that at the end of a shift where I serve :(
In reply to brittnee
Well said :)
In reply to tehy
No please don’t. Just stay home. It’s obvious this stuff is way over your head.
In reply to Kat
No, see, you dont have that right. Yes, tipping is optional, SERVICE from a SERVICE PROFESSIONAL (so called, in your case) is NOT optional, it is your JOB. And i say this having been on both sides of the issue, and actually being a good tipper AND a good server. You are not a good server, you are an entitled, spoiled brat, from what you have posted, and your manager is stealing from her employer (or maybe just herself if she owns the place, thats on her) by letting you behave this way towards the customers. You should grow up a little and admit that people like me, who give excellent tips, even when the service is sub par (i always assume you are having a bad day, had a family crisis, are coming down with something, whatever, maybe poor servers should let us know ahead of time so we can tip accordingly, just as some (maybe you?) have suggested poor tippers do. Oh and that whole “to insure prompt service” thing, you know thats a myth right? It used to be called a “gratuity” and still is on most official paperwork, because if someone is GRATEFUL that you have served them well, they may give you a gratuity. You should check your privilege.
Here is a “tip” for your edification, and that of every nitwit on this board who spouts the “to (e)nsure prompt service” nonsense… http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp
In reply to Marie
its INSURE w a mother effing I. I cannot stand you people that try and act so smart saying that it is Ensure. Stfu! It’s INSURE: to make certain by necessary measures.
In reply to Martin
Martin…Dude.. how do you “make certain by necessary measures” when the tip comes AFTER the meal.. no matter how you slice it trying to make “tip” an acronym (by the way, how does that work out.. you may get “tips” but I LEAVE a “TIP” so that’s “to insure prompt”… what exactly?? idiotic. Snopes it, you liberals are supposed to love that website, aren’t ya? For the record, I DO “tip” but no tardis ever showed up to rewind time and change my server’s behavior based on a tip left after the service was rendered so… yeah.
In reply to Kat
http://www.snopes.com/language/acronyms/tip.asp
In reply to Kat
I would run my bill up and not pay it, then see whos laughing when it comes out of your cheque
In reply to David
David, if you run your bill up and not pay it.. that is a felony. We would call the cops and you would be arrested and forced to pay your bill and or court costs. I think your logic needs a good ass whooping to remember how to think straight.
In reply to David
If you run up a bill and refuse to pay it, that is a felony. We call the cops, you get arrested and then you have to pay the bill and court costs. Clearly you have a well defined grasp on logic and reality.
In reply to David
Actually, servers aren’t penalized for having asshole customers like you who refuse to pay their bill. More often than not, the restaurant calls the police, as it is the equivalent of stealing. So you have fun with that, buddy.
In reply to David
Hmmmm. First of all, you do understand the basic concept that that is stealing…right?
Second, its illegal to force a server to pay for a check that a customer ran out on. So, have fun, but you aren’t bothering your server one bit. Doesn’t have any impact on them.
In reply to Kat
So, if a customer doesn’t leave a tip, which is optional in the first place, you will not do your job. A job your employer pays your for?
In reply to Kat
Blackmail is always a great way to get people to do what you want…
In reply to Matt
Apparently trying to shame people (on the internet) is too.
In reply to Kat
I would call your manager, you would get fired, and I would probably get sent a gift card in the mail. In reality, this is how your scenario would work out. Just saying.
In reply to Kat
“service sector” = “servant”, that’s what you are, deal with it. and giving a fucked up order? then i will not only not be paying, I’ll be ensuring that it comes out of your paycheck.
In reply to harold
Lol you have no power to do that, you pathetic, sad, little man. Plus, servers don’t really get a paycheck anyway, so have fun taking from nothing, you ignorant twat of a human being. Also, have fun proving that it was your server that did anything to your food! Odds are no one would get fired just because one asshole complained. A server at a restaurant is way more beneficial to have than one customer. See ya!
In reply to wow
You seem to have some super inflated sense of your worth here. I don’t need to prove… anything. Think about it from the perspective from a restaurant manager. You could ignore the complaint, and lose a possible lifelong customer, as well as lose his friends and family as customers as well, and risk backlash from negative reviews on yelp, his story spreading throughout the community, etc.
Or you could get rid of a minumum-wage, minimally trained worker in a high-demand job who might also be spitting in people’s food.
Gee, i wonder which is the better course of action…?
Here’s a fun saying for all you TIPS morons-the customer is always right <3
In reply to Kat
Haha really man?
You would refuse to do your job because a third party refuses to “pay” you.
That’s some nonsense, people don’t have to tip, it’s for exceptional service. I almost always tip but i once had a waitress that forgot i ordered desert. Then she was wondering why i didn’t tip. I mean come on…
In reply to Noone
You Didn’t tip your server because they made one mistake with your order? Which I’m sure was rectified and some part of your meal was comped. Let me understand this, you had already eaten, you weren’t starving at that point. Just because you waited a little longer for dessert you didn’t tip at all? Scumbag move. People make mistakes. We’re all human. Apparently you’re a very cheap one.
In reply to Kat
Unfortunately you must have lost your employee hand book the day you were hired and you may want to revisit sitting down with your employer and going over your job duties and what is expected of you. You have chosen a job that requires you to wait on customers and provide them with the best possible service you can. To smile at them and be friendly at all times. Your job duties are but not limited too basically whatever your manager has set forth for you including: setting up restaurant, cleaning tables, providing drinks and refills, their meal along with dessert if so wanted, their food brought to them not only correct but in a timely fashion. Going back to that server station/kitchen for the 10th time because they can’t or won’t tell you everything they need at once and would rather run you to death even when they are doing it on purpose. I have worked in the customer service industry my entire working career and have waited tables off and on for 14 yrs. It is servers like you that give servers like me a bad name. I firmly believe that I should be tipped for the service that I am providing to my customers. I make sure that I do whatever is nessicary to help them have a great dining experience. I feel if you have chosen to come out instead of cook at home or go through the drive thru you should tip or stay at home. It comes with the territory to have customers not tip. It happens to all of us at one time or another. Maybe you were having an off day and your service wasn’t up to par. Understandable as we are not perfect or maybe they are like some of the people on here and don’t think they should. But what gives you the right to refuse service to someone because they did not tip you. Wether you are tipped or not it is your job to do it. I would never sabotage someone’s meal because of it. I wouldn’t be so rude as to see my customer need me and make eye contact and turn around and never come back. You probably get stiffed more times then you want to admit to because, and I’m just guessing, you have a piss poor attitude and it has probably gotten shared through customer gossip. Are you stupid enough to not think they don’t talk about us just as much as we talk about them. I have never given a repeat non-tipper bad service. The service I provide for my customers has my name attached to it and says why kind of person I am. I don’t know these people stories. Maybe they can’t afford to tip only pay for their meal because that have nothing but this is the only time they get to go out and feel like things are alright. Maybe they are elderly and haven’t realized that maybe in the 30’s 40’s tipping a quarter was a great tip, seeing you could rent a room for a week for a dollar and some change, maybe they live on a fixed income or maybe they are like the ones on here who don’t think they should tip. You don’t know and you shouldnt assume you do. The way you said that you would handle a non-tipper on here just shows what kind of person you are and in my neck of the woods we call that ” white trash”. Good luck to you, you’re gonna need it cause I dobut your gonna go far in life and will always have issues in your job.
In reply to Kat
It’s like talking to a brick wall. Sorry you had to take the brunt of all their ignorance. They insist on viewing us as subordinate, the underclass. Their entitlement is nauseating. If their food were more expensive and we got paid real wages, THEY’D BE PAYING THE SAME AS IF THEY TIPPED, which completely blows that dumb argument out of the water. At least they get to choose how much they give us. And to act like we’re so horrible for expecting TO BE PAID FOR HOUR WORK. That $2:50 an hour bullshit is just so the restaurant can have us on the payroll for legal reasons. But our work is basically contract work. The guests contract us with an unspoken agreement AS SOON AS THEY SIT THEIR CHEAP ASSES DOWN. THEY are our bosses and THEY are the ones who pay us. I don’t know about the rest of these dumb cunts in here, but my ass does not work for free. I challenge anyone of these horrible horrible people to try working our job and then come back at us with that bullshit. It’s so funny how they have no experience in the field, nothing that qualifies them to speak on the issue, and yet insist that they have a superior perspective on OUR profession which apparently can be done by a monkey. WELL GUESS WHAT IT CAN’T. I see a lot of monkeys try to wait tables. A lot of young people and kids doing it, and THEY FUCKING SUCK. The service is shitty and the food is cold. We’re always on our feet and we work long hours, double shifts, and late into the night. These fucking people. I swear to god. They all deserve to LOSE EVERYTHING. I hope they do. I hope every assholes that spews that vitriol out against wait staff loses EVERYTHING and has to work a shitty job JUST LIKE US to make ends meet.
If you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat at a restaurant. Go home.
In reply to Brad
Couldn’t agree more
In reply to Brad
“DON’T WORK FOR $2.50 an hour.” Are you fucking serious? If you actually assume people have a choice then you are a spoiled brat who was handed everything in life. People have to take what is on offer….dying of pneumonia under a bridge is not a survival strategy….thats what happens to most Americans (not the kind whose mommies and daddies paid for everything…like you) who decide they are not going to work because the only thing on offer is still poverty level pay.
In reply to ummm bro?
“dying of pneumonia under a bridge is not a survival strategy….thats what happens to most Americans” This has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever read.
In reply to Brad
And if you don’t like tipping, at least be man enough to inform your server before you order anything, so he or she knows going in to the experience that he or she will be working for no financial reward. Seriously, you people go to restaurants knowing full well you’re not going tip; yet, you won’t give your server the same courtesy. As such, you know you’re going to get their best service and you don’t have to provide anything in return. If you don’t like tipping, tell them ahead of time, & then see how good your service is. If you can’t man up & do that, go out to dinner somewhere they don’t have servers.
In reply to Stefan Paul
“he or she will be working for no financial reward.”
Servers make at least minimum wage.
In reply to JustWow
Tips servers make significantly less than minimum wage, depending on where you live. In most states, it’s $2.13 an hour. I once received a paycheck for $0.01 after taxes and social security had been taken out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States
In reply to Meg
Society places little to no value on waitresses. Hopefully now you can see how worthless this job really is. I’m not going to tip you for doing your job
In reply to Stifler
Society once placed little to no value on Black people. Some people still think black people are worthless. Does that make those people right? Of course not. Society isn’t right about everything.
In reply to Stefan Paul
Your job is to provide quality service regardless if you get tipped so why would someone who doesn’t intend on tipping you tell you that ahead of time?
In reply to Stefan Paul
So basically unless I give you extra money to the point where YOU’RE satisfied, you’re not going to put your best effort into YOUR JOB?? If that’s how most waiters think then that’s probably why they landed up at those jobs in the first place. If you’re not willing to give it your best in your desired career path then you’re going to get nowhere. On top of that instead of trying to fix your work ethic and twisted sense of entitlement you’re going to complain that we don’t tip you? Why don’t you work your ass off to satisfy customers not expecting to get tips, be pleasently suprised when you get tipped and work your way up to manager or something. My father once knew a guy that came to this country to provide for his family, started working as a janitor for one mcdonalds and now he owns 14 of them. All because of he knew he wasn’t entitled to shit and had to work for it. If you give me average service, I give you a small tip (not even near 15%), if you give me great service I give you around 15%. If it’s anything beyond great I’ll tip accordingly however the definition of this is not just “doing your job” you gotta do things that is above and beyond your job description. Frankly I know how hard I work for my wage and I’m not about to give it directly to someone for just “doing their job” especially when their job is extremely easy once you’ve done anything else. Think you guys have to deal with a lot at restaurants, try medicine, law, or the corporate world and then you’ll know what it means to deal with assholes.
In reply to Brad
Oh yeah, Brad? Then be a man & tell your server about your typing beliefs ahead of time. That way they can give you the corresponding service.
In reply to Brad
Yes, tipping is optional, and yes bringing you your food is our job and that’s what were paid for. What we don’t have to do is give a shit about you, but we do because 99% of waiters take a lot of pride in giving great service and making sure you’re evening out is the best it can be. That’s what you’re paying for in a tip, the service and experience. If you don’t tip, then don’t expect good, friendly service because you didn’t pay for it, we will do what the restaurant pays us $2.30 an hour to do, which is take your order and run your food. It’s not blackmail, we’re just like every one else and don’t want to work for free. If you’re not going to tip and honestly have a real problem with it, then tell you’re server when they great you. If you don’t have the balls to do that, then you don’t really have an objection to it, besides being a cheap piece of fuck.
In reply to Brad
Agree with you. I really don’t understand why the waiters/waitresses in the US don’tmake complaints to their employers for giving them such low wages. In Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, etc, tipping is definitely not the norm. When I first went to a restaurant in the US, I didn’t know that I was supposed to give tips. What confused me is that the waiters and waitresses in the US are giving basic services just like the waiters /waitresses in Asia. Isn’t this part of their scope of work? Why they ask for tips? We don’t tip teachers for correcting students’ exercises because grading is part of their scope of work at school. I think restaurant employers should re-consider to raise their workers’ salaries rather than expecting customers to pay their workers.
http://www.travelfish.org/eatandmeet_profile/singapore/central_region/central_area/downtown_singapore/2341
In reply to Meg
“Why not complain?”
We are expendable and why listen to a few people bitch about a law and threaten your business? Just fire them and bring on new people. Fact is that current laws (which nobody wants to change because it somehow hurts businesses) prevent meaningful action from being taken. Given how people can’t even agree to raise the minimum wage, that is a non solution for now until proper organizing and campaigning can change minds. It’s easy to say demand a better wage, but when someone can loose their job for such things, there isn’t much incentive to speak up.
In reply to Meg
You would still be forking out of your own pocket if servers got paid minimum wage because that plate of food you were gonna pay $20 for, is now $35. Whereas if you just paid the $20 plus $4 tip you would have made out a lot better. In the U,S, if you don’t want to tip, go to a fast food joint, or go back to your country.
In reply to Brad
I don’t understand why the waiters/waitresses in the US don’t make complaints to their employers for giving them such a low wage. In Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc, tipping is definitely not the norm. When I first went to a restaurant in the US, I didn’t know that I was supposed to tip the waiters. Now I would do it but I needed to order cheaper food so that I can tip the waiter $2 to $3. However what confused me is that — why the basic services of the waiters and waitresses require us to pay more? Isn’t this part of their scope of work? We don’t tip teachers even though they need to correct students’ exercises or mark papers after school. I think the restaurant employers should raise their workers’ salaries rather than expecting their customers to help paying their workers’ salaries.
In reply to Meg
We do make complaints. Do you think we just ignore the fact that we work for companies that LEGALLY don’t have to pay us a good wage? And as for the remark regarding what my job entails, my job is to get you to tip. Regardless of what you may think, my job is to give you good enough service that you’ll pay my wage system they don’t have to and come back again. If you don’t tip they have to make up my wage equal to minimum wage per hour. Contrary to what you may or may not think, minimum wage isn’t enough for what I do and it’s certainly not enough to survive on. We do complain and they ignore it and keep making huge profits with low overhead.
In reply to Brad
You should tip because this is America, where rich white folks in the Restaurant Lobby PREVENT the servers from earning even minimum wage. Where people serve and deliver food at the WHIM of the customer.. how degrading to hear you say ‘Not my problem! I will make you serve me for free!’
In reply to Brad
just because it’s “optional,” doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. if your a CUSTOMER, don’t eat out if you can’t take care of people who take CARE of your food. douchebag. and i have never waited tables in my life.
In reply to Brad
Well by your logic every waiter or waitress should quit their “crappy job” which pays $2.13* an hour, and then you wouldn’t have anywhere to go eat with service. When you make a $3.55 paycheck for 2 weeks because of a screwy system that federal law allows (we have to claim 100% of our tips, which is then added to our hourly wage and then taxed accordingly on our paycheck since they cannot tax our tips directly,) the tips we make are our lively hood. Just as you say it’s not your fault our employers pay us this way, it is the way things are, and it’s not our fault either. Tipping is a terrible system but it is so far ingrained in our society at this point there is nothing, aside from some inexplicable government intervention, that can be done about it at this point. So if you go into a full service restaurant, you are certainly not obligated to tip, but you are certainly an asshole.
In reply to Brad
Stay your ass at home and cook for yourself Brad.
In reply to Brad
Looks like we found the none tipper.
In reply to Brad
If you’re cheap enough to go out to a sit down, service based, nice restaurant and not tip, you probably shouldn’t be going to these nice restaurants. Go to a fast food restaurant, it would make everyone a lot happier. It’s not the employers choice to give us $2.13 an hour. Oh, and let’s all not be servers. Nobody wants to work for that and not get tips? Ok, say goodbye to all the restaurants that you like as well.
In reply to Brad
You’re just jealous that I make $2.15 an hour and add the fabulous tips I make from douche bags like you, I make way more per year than you do and also payed my way through college and payed my rent plus a beautiful new car working 30 hours a week. Get a god damn life. Educate yourself rather than knocking on other people’s jobs. 95% of servers are either paying their way through college or just absolutely fabulous at what they do and make sick money you dumb fuck.
In reply to nancy
Translation: 95% of waitresses are high school dropouts, who got their GED online. They also have 2 or more kids from multiple dads, get food stamps and free college grants. They are unskilled at what they do that nobody else would hire them.
In reply to Eddie
This is a joke, right? You must live in a trailer park if those are your statistics. Most waiters are in COLLEGE. I can make 1400 after a busy week of waiting tables. (It’s called find a nice restaurant don’t work at an I-HOP or Denny’s. ) In other words, I make MORE than teachers and many other professions. Waiting tables is a GREAT way to make money, it lets us pay for college and our bills. And I actually make connections with my customers, and offers for other jobs. You must live in a very poor area and i’m sure you’ve actually “researched” your un-educated post and “statistic”.
In reply to Eddie
I don’t think online colleges give you grants… HOW WOULD YOU KNOW!? ARE YOU A EDUCATION CONNECTION ENTHUSIAST?!
In reply to Brad
Waiting on you properly is optional. Don’t eat at our restaurants.
In reply to Brad
YOU ARE RECIVING A SERVICE. Plain and fucking simple. So when you go to a bar and order and drink and the bartender ACTUALLY MAKES YOUR FUCKING DRINK you’re not going to tip him either?! Most servers are in the service industry as a means to an end. Most are not in it for life. Their job requires a fucking MAD set of skills to deal with entitled, low lives like yourselves. What goes around DOES INDEED come around and boy is it going to suck for you in the future if you keep being a fucking ignorant asshole. People have said it earlier but I’ll say it again…if you “can afford” or “don’t feel it necessary” to tip, don’t fucking go out because no one wants your business. Resuarant owners would rather you stay the fuck home. Thank you, do not come again.
In reply to Gabrielle
I absolutely do not tip a bartender. I order and pay for a drink, not service. Give me the bottle of beer I paid for and I’ll open it myself. It doesn’t take skill to pour me a draft beer or a shot of whiskey either.
In reply to Brad
Yeah let’s just go talk to the state because cheap assholes like yourself think that tipping is beneath them. People like you should of been swallowed on the night of conception.
In reply to Brad
If you cant afford to tip, dont go out. If you dont want to tip, dont go out. When people provide you a service you pay.
In reply to Brad
Tipping is definitely a good thing of you would like good service. If you receive good service, you should have the decency to leave a tip(you seem a little out of touch with reality). Maybe you have more room to talk if you have worked in the industry.
In reply to Brad
AMEN! THANK YOU!
In reply to Kat
You know, it’s funny how you could make the argument that tipping isn’t necessarily bribing, thus possibly justifying it. And yet, every word typed by these waiters convinces me that it totally is. Saying you won’t give me the best service or w/e if I don’t tip is debatable, but the kind of behavior talked about here is insane. Bringing me my meals when they are ready is your JOB, as is being available to acquire new orders, writing down orders on a piece of paper, et cetera. Spitting in my food or any of that crap is illegal. So often waiters mention ‘free refills’ as a reason to tip; also illegal, and smacks of bribery to commit crimes. Plus, why not just pay for the refills? Why do I have to pay you extra for you to do your JOB? The correct situation would be for you to get paid minimum wage (or whatever you’re really worth), and then we can just pay more for food. Of course, that would lead to you getting paid what you’re actually worth, and you wouldn’t want that, now would you?
Also, you really sound like a whiny bitch when you talk about cutting lemon wedges as a separate part of the job. Ditto for all that other stuff, some of it is legitimate but mostly it’s just nonsense.
In reply to tehy
Yes, tipping is optional. Yes, waitresses/waiters do not get paid enough an hour. And yes, they agree to work with these standards because the majority of people tip them well. This is because the people who tip well are decent humans. People who do not tip because they think they’re “above” wait staff are simply assholes. And not people I’d ever want to associate with. You not tipping the wait staff reflects far more on you than it does on them. Stop being such a stingy, uptight dick and try to do something nice for someone else. Jesus, this article was beyond pathetic.
In reply to Julie
I work as a waiter and have been for the past 18 years. This is a profession I choose to engage in….my friends, it is not your civil duty to tip us. I totally respect your views, but don’t dehumanize us….I have a college degree as well, which does not elevate me to status of god almighty…..my sole purpose is to make peoples dining experience pleasurable. Fortunately there are people who like to tip regardless of the cultural norms or customs….I personally observed many europeans accepting tips, as I lived there for 8 years….and tipping is not widely suggested…for those of you complaining about not getting tipped….stop worrying. Do your job and good things will happen for you. Don’t be concerned with clients who don’t tip, as it is there right my friends. Please treat them with at least the same respect as you would any other guest or client
In reply to Julie
In most parts of the world waiting staff get paid properly. And they do the same work, and try to provide the same excellent service. Not for tips, but because it’s part of the damn job.
If most civilized countries can get this right, so can the U.S. (if it weren’t still stuck in ancient history). You don’t tip your children’s school teachers, you don’t tip the tech support guy who fixes your internet, you don’t tip the UPS guy who delivers your package, you don’t tip the garbage man. And there’s no need to tip waiting staff.
It’s not about being ‘above’ anyone. It’s about people who work a job, ANY job, getting paid for what they’re supposed to do, BY THEIR EMPLOYER.
In reply to Julie
Amen Julie
In reply to tehy
It’s not “our bosses don’t pay us enough,” it’s that servers get paid $2.13 an hour. This is a FEDERAL server wage, and it’s not something the employer can simple change. THAT is why servers don’t come running to their boss because their hourly isn’t good enough. When you go into a restaurant in the U.S. (it’s not like this everywhere, but no one cares what it’s like in another country – this is the reality in THIS country), you should be preparing to tip. It’s not a common courtesy thing. It’s the reality of going to dine in a restaurant – your waitstaff is doing FAR more than simply taking your order and bringing it to you when it’s complete.
They do just as much sidework as most other hourly paid jobs. They clean, restock, deal with hundreds of guests daily, answer questions, and maintain knowledge of their product/services, among MANY other things. The difference? In a normal hourly job where those things are pretty standard labor chores, they get paid next to nothing per hour. When you go to a restaurant, you aren’t just paying for food. You’re paying for SERVICE as well. You may not like that you have to pay the worker to work, but when you go into a restaurant, you are basically acting as their ‘boss.’ They provide service for YOU so that YOU are satisfied with your experience. If you just want food, there’s a grocery store full of it. You can buy it yourself, prepare it exactly how you want, and then enjoy it at your convenience. But a restaurant isn’t a grocery store. You’re paying not only for food, but for convenience. You’re being paid to be brought everything you want without lifting a pinky. The least you could do while being as lazy as you are is appreciate the service that’s being given to you, and REWARD the person that is allowing you to be so lazy.
In reply to Anthony
You mean there’s a law against restaurants paying their waiters a minimum wage? Shocking!
Also remember that employers are also required by law to make up at least minimum wage to their employees if tips don’t cover it.
In reply to bhagwad
That’s not true actually. YES there is a law/loophole that basically says, if a servers hourly wage + their tips do not add up to minimum wage… tough shit. Trust me, I know. I managed several corporate and privately owned restaurants in my day and have been fighting that fight for a long time. Anyway – the point is – employers are NOT required by law to make up minimum wage, in the service industry. A different set of wage rules pertains.
In reply to bhagwad
@bawgDog- 4 years on here Really ! Do I need to say more
In reply to bhagwad
You’re right Bhagofshit, there is a law requiring employers to make up the difference, but this is where your complete ignorance of the service industry comes into play. Let’s think about this a moment, shall we? In what circumstance would a server not make enough tips to supplement that discrepancy (the difference between what they earn and minimum wage)? Well, either all that server’s customers were giant dicks such as yourself who don’t believe in being decent people and tipping like they rightfully should, OR (and this is the obvious one) the restaurant wasn’t busy that day. Now if the restaurant in question is empty, what does THAT mean? That means that the restaurant is barely making any money, perhaps not even enough to cover the cost of opening on that particular day. This happens all the time since restaurants are generally open literally everyday in order to provide a constant option for customers. If you’re thinking of places to eat and you have to wonder if the place you want to go to is even open, there’s a good chance you won’t go there. Well on those days, when restaurants don’t make any money and their servers ask their employers to make up the difference in wage, do you know what happens? The manager/owner laughs in that servers face, says “tough shit, hopefully it’ll be busy for your next shift.” Yes it’s against the law, but almost all businesses break the law in some way, all the time. This particular law is not really enforceable anyway. What can a server do? Sue a restaurant for tens of dollars which would automatically result in dismissal? Not a chance.
Now since no money is made on those days, they have nothing to pay their employees with. You might say “well they have to have cash in the restaurant” and you’d be right, they do. But at the end of every night a certain amount is expected to be left in the register for the next day. Almost all places will not lock their doors for the night until the exact amount of petty cash is left in the register. This is another way in which a server can get screwed out of money very easily. Usually one person is in charge of a register, but it’s not as though all the employees don’t have access to it and can exchange money from it as they need to, or take a few dollars when someone’s back is turned. Another person’s mistakes, theft, or computer error, can cost a server money since they are the ones expected to make up the difference of what is missing in that register. After the register is “counted out” correctly, the remainder is then “dropped” into a safe or a lockbox as the restaurant’s profit. Those tasks, correcting the register, and dropping a profit are always a higher priority to restaurants than insuring employees are paid what they’re owed by law. On those days when the restaurant is empty, no employer will dig into their pockets to make up the difference. Ever. And asking for it is a good way of putting you out of a job. Think about it. If the restaurant is practically empty on a certain day (and this happens to EVERY restaurant at some point, often several days a week) that means that the server is doing considerably less work while they are present. However, they ARE still present. They could be their for 9+ hours making less than $30. Or they could clear out their day to work, only to be sent home after 2 or 3 hours since the restaurant is not busy enough. In that instance in particular, the short shifts, tips make a big difference in making or breaking a server’s day. No matter what, servers are spending their time at that job, just like any other, waiting for tables to show up.
Another problem that occurs frequently is that servers might still not make enough money to make up the difference in wage even if the restaurant appears busy. This happens when a shift is overstaffed. This is why assigning the right number of employees for a particular shift is such a delicate process. Generally restaurants will overstaff, meaning more than one server at a time could often be unoccupied for hours. Not enough tables for too many servers. The managers don’t care because it costs them very little to keep the staff there, and management’s priority is to make sure customer service exceeds expectations. They care less about paying their employees their due or assigning just the right amount of staff in order for their employees to make the most amount of money possible. Now having said all that, think about this. If restaurants don’t care about overstaffing, which leads to a server making less than they should by law, and they won’t pay them on those nights, even if it happens to be busy, why would they choose to pay them on other nights when it is dead and servers are doing even less physical work over much longer periods of time? THEY WON’T. THEY NEVER, EVER, EVER do.
So finally, just tip your fucking servers you cheap bastard. owners may be required by law to make up the minimum wage, but bottom line is, they don’t. And if they did restaurants would not be able to provide you with food for the price that they do without going bankrupt (I showed you this in other comments already using your own flawed math, YOUR math, showing it would cost an extra $250,000 a year to make up that difference for 12 employees). No matter what you say the job is hard. It is unforgiving, it IS skillful and you could find that out for yourself if you tried to do it for five seconds. I’ve written on here over and over again how it’s a FACT that you save money under the western tipping system by spending less on food than you would in other places, even with a 20% tip included. You can’t complain about service, because it’s just common sense that a server is going to focus more energy on the customer that will tip them, than a customer that won’t, and when you have 5 tables at a time, you have to be economical about how you divide your time and services.
AND FINALLLY, FINALLY, aside from all of this. If it’s really just the food that you want, and you don’t want to talk to anyone anyway and you absolutely hate to tip, WHY don’t you get your fucking food, TO GO. It gives you what you want, requiring no tip whatsoever. No tips are even expected on takeout orders. No one is forcing you to sit down, but the second you do, knowing ALL that you know, from the thousands of comments here (even though your sad saggy ass made up half of the responses yourself) you are agreeing to tip!
One more thing, and this is the last of it. What about servers and bartenders, who often get no hourly wage whatsoever, and work for tips alone? Or who receive a meager $10 shift pay which is given from the establishment in order to cover the whole shift? How do you act at a bar or in those cases when their ONLY wage comes from tips? I’m especially curious since you’re pretty much left up to their mercy. I’d imagine if you drink, that you’d find yourself having no choice but to tip or go thirsty. Anyway, I’m getting tired of responding to this over and over about how stupid and wrong you are. So just shut the fuck up already. It’s clear that you’re a sociopath and part of me wonders if you even believe all this or if you just wrote this to get attention for your sad little life, which is probably spent in a smelly basement, masturbating with a rubber vagina to people having sex with cows.
In conclusion, you’re wrong, nobody likes you, and YOU LOSE! Good day.
In reply to Anthony
Look. If you have a problem with us customers not giving you an award for your services. Please. Go take this problem to the federal court. We only want to eat. We appreciate your “extra” services, but so long as carrying your job out is concerned, we think they are all extra. We want food in our stomachs, and your job should only entail you delivering us our food. That is it. If you think that printing out the receipt, decorating our plates, and cutting up lemon slices to be placed on our water cups is extra service, you should probably talk to your employer and consult the federal system about that. We thank you, but that is not necessary. And I understand that the expectation on the level of service has risen a bit, because the customers themselves believe that they are entitled to extreme service – those who think that they need that lemon slice, or they will sue. They have been spoiled to the point of no return, and there is no obligation on your part to bring them back a sense of humbleness that they get to eat in the first place. You should certainly not feel like you are enslaved when you are working. And we don’t know your circumstances that brought yourself to take on the job of being a waiter or waitress. But please don’t place the blame on the customer simply because they don’t tip. It is simply their choice, and it is optional, like most of you admitted. You are absolutely not entitled to feel offended when they do this, per it being optional. We know you are having a hard time making living wages, but it is true that you are paid a minimum higher than 2 dollars in the case that you are not paid your tips. If we believe that you have certainly gone out of your way to make sure everything is comfortable for us, we thank you, even if it was not necessarily for those who did not ask for such service. But please don’t expect anything. We did’t ask for it.
In reply to Anthony
Uhmmm…your boss CAN pay you as much as they choose. There’s no law against paying more than minimum.
In reply to Anthony
HÀHÄHÂHÃ. Federal government sets the minimum wage not the max. An employer can pay more if they wanted.
In reply to Anthony
An employer CAN choose to pay you more per hour.
In reply to tehy
Sir/madam. You are inconsiderate. I am not a server, but a hostess/busser. I have two jobs to pay for my schooling to “get a real job” pay all my bills including a $700 rent (with a roommate that pays the same if not a bit more) I Work for minimum wage because I’m 19 and have to. I don’t want this job. I come home and my knees are swollen. I do not eat for eight to nine hours. I do not (am not allowed) to sit down. I do everything a server does other than taking the order and get 2% (for hosting) or 10% FOR bussing of their tips. For minimum wage. I am lucky with tips if I make $750 a month. So by stiffing the servers you are actually really hurting me.
In reply to Pandora
Pandora your problems are not the customer’s problems. You took this crappy job that your problem. No tip for you.
In reply to Pandora
Pandora your sob story is no concern of mine I don’t care. Do you want more money get a better job I don’t tip it’s that simple. Putting my food on my table is not a service. It is your simple job try to get it right
In reply to tehy
I’m sure a person like yourself would NEVER pay double the price of a meal so the staff would get the proper hourley wage. HAHA STICK TO BUFFETS!! They seem to suit your personality!!
In reply to tehy
You sound like a trustfund brat who’s never worked a job in your life.
In reply to tehy
Your a cocksucker, someone has to do those jobs. You wouldn’t get to have those dining experiences without someone being there to take care of you.
In reply to tehy
So it’s a severs job right? Correct me if I’m wrong but a job is something you get paid for. In america it is customary for you to tip your sever. The government expects you to tip and if you do not those taxes for the tip the server was supposed to receive is still taken out. By not tipping your server is not getting paid. So you are literally stealing from your server. You’re stealing a service. But hey if you can live with that, then by all means save yourself five dollars. What goes around comes around.
In reply to tehy
Then refill your drink yourself, asshole. I’d skip spitting in your food in favor of spitting in your face.
In reply to tehy
It’s sad that so many threats are being thrown around. While yes I do know it happens in restaurants that food is messed with, it is disgusting. I’m proud to say my restaurant has never in any situation decided to alter people’s food. With a smile on our face we deal with angry customers. In most cases I’m not tipped because the food took to long or it didn’t taste good or it cost to much. All of which are not my fault. And to be honest don’t go back if it was so horrible or if you don’t want to tip or can’t afford it. It’s called cooking from home! Your food will be just the way you like it, and is always cheaper. No one forced you to go out to eat where yes it is expected of you to tip. Because yes servers make less than minimum wage in a paycheck. You know what that means? I don’t get a paycheck because it’s all taken away for taxes. So yes when I wait on you in my restaurant I’d appreciate recognition for what I do for you as a customer. And if your one of those who believes tipping is ridiculous then I’d appreciate you staying home.
In reply to tehy
I implore you to try your own 3 weeks in the service industry and then feel free make all the claims you want. I don’t make claims about how difficult or easy it is to be a tax accountant because I am not one, I have no idea what that job entails or the day to day activities you perform as part of your employment requirements. As such, and as a reasonably intelligent human being who likes to treat other reasonably intelligent human beings as respectfully as they deserve, I do not attempt to place my criticisms on something I know absolutely nothing about. You have no idea what it involves to be a server or waitstaff, or management or back of house for that matter. I could never explain to you what it is to be a server and how demeaning it is to have to deal with bigoted, misogynistic, entitled assholes such as yourself, but imagine placing it somewhere along the lines of working in a complaints calls centre for 14 hours straight on your feet, except here when the idiot on the other end of the line isn’t happy they deduct your wage.
If you’re so unhappy with the fact that your money for our tip supplements our wage then feel free to write congress or let the IRS know you wont be paying the portion of your taxes that provide income for public employment positions, because I don’t know what you think your taxes pay for but Im sure your local bus driver and police enforcement would love it if you neglected that as well.
But you’re right, next time ill just bring a full un-cut lemon to your table and you can tip yourself. Grow the fuck up you entitled bitch.
In reply to tehy
I implore you to try your own 3 weeks in the service industry and then feel free make all the claims you want. I don’t make claims about how difficult or easy it is to be a tax accountant because I am not one, I have no idea what that job entails or the day to day activities you perform as part of your employment requirements. As such, and as a reasonably intelligent human being who likes to treat other reasonably intelligent human beings as respectfully as they deserve, I do not attempt to place my criticisms on something I know absolutely nothing about. You have no idea what it involves to be a server or waitstaff, or management or back of house for that matter. I could never explain to you what it is to be a server and how demeaning it is to have to deal with bigoted, misogynistic, entitled assholes such as yourself, but imagine placing it somewhere along the lines of working in a complaints calls centre for 14 hours straight on your feet, except here when the idiot on the other end of the line isn’t happy they deduct your wage.
If you’re so unhappy with the fact that your money for our tip supplements our wage then feel free to write congress or let the IRS know you wont be paying the portion of your taxes that provide income for public employment positions, because I don’t know what you think your taxes pay for but Im sure your local bus driver and police enforcement would love it if you neglected that as well.
But you’re right, next time ill just bring a full un-cut lemon to your table and you can tip yourself.
In reply to sam
looks like a lot of butthurt fools, let’s get them all
Julie says:
Yes, tipping is optional. Yes, waitresses/waiters do not get paid enough an hour. And yes, they agree to work with these standards because the majority of people tip them well. This is because the people who tip well are decent humans. People who do not tip because they think they’re “above” wait staff are simply assholes. And not people I’d ever want to associate with. You not tipping the wait staff reflects far more on you than it does on them. Stop being such a stingy, uptight dick and try to do something nice for someone else. Jesus, this article was beyond pathetic.
I don’t know where I ever said that waiters aren’t paid enough an hour or that i’m above wait staff. Good idea on that last part though, i’m going to go give 20$ to a hobo. Or was i supposed to gift you with that money instead?
brittnee says:
Hahaha I find this hilarious, I make anywhere from $15-
$45 an hour where I work serving tables, I bust my ass and deal with drunk shit people all the time, but do I complain? I work for 5hours and walk with $300 don’t be mad cuz your bachelor’s degree makes you less than I do, ahhh awe :( and just speaking on my behalf if you tip me bad or not at all, I just feel sorry for you. that you can have me as your own personal slave,and revert back to the olden days. I deserve your tip. And if I don’t get it ? I smile and am thankful for the people who do. Xoxoxo go fuck yourself guy
i think this is a copypasta or just some random troll, it kind of goes all over the place. nice job not complaining when you make a lot of money?
brendon says:
No please don’t. Just stay home. It’s obvious this stuff is way over your head.
equally as obvious that yours is empty
Anthony says:
It’s not “our bosses don’t pay us enough,” it’s that servers get paid $2.13 an hour. This is a FEDERAL server wage, and it’s not something the employer can simple change.
real talk:is calling someone like this retarded even offensive to the differently abled? do you really think the law prohibits you from being PAID MORE? how do you even get a law like that through congress? who would approve it? 2.13 is the federally mandated MINIMUM wage; obviously your bosses can pay you more…
THAT is why servers don’t come running to their boss because their hourly isn’t good enough. When you go into a restaurant in the U.S. (it’s not like this everywhere, but no one cares what it’s like in another country – this is the reality in THIS country), you should be preparing to tip. It’s not a common courtesy thing. It’s the reality of going to dine in a restaurant – your waitstaff is doing FAR more than simply taking your order and bringing it to you when it’s complete.
They do just as much sidework as most other hourly paid jobs. They clean, restock, deal with hundreds of guests daily, answer questions, and maintain knowledge of their product/services, among MANY other things. The difference? In a normal hourly job where those things are pretty standard labor chores, they get paid next to nothing per hour. When you go to a restaurant, you aren’t just paying for food. You’re paying for SERVICE as well. You may not like that you have to pay the worker to work, but when you go into a restaurant, you are basically acting as their ‘boss.’ They provide service for YOU so that YOU are satisfied with your experience. If you just want food, there’s a grocery store full of it. You can buy it yourself, prepare it exactly how you want, and then enjoy it at your convenience. But a restaurant isn’t a grocery store. You’re paying not only for food, but for convenience. You’re being paid to be brought everything you want without lifting a pinky. The least you could do while being as lazy as you are is appreciate the service that’s being given to you, and REWARD the person that is allowing you to be so lazy.
so to clarify: those hourly normal jobs all have that labor and you don’t have a problem with them being paid minimum wage. What’s the problem with you being paid minimum wage? Which, by the way, you are; if the tips don’t make it up, you get paid minimum wage, which wait staff either don’t know or conveniently forget to mention (pretty funny either way). Also, what is all this REWARD etc nonsense? because you did your job that allows me to be lazy, I should tip you? it’s still your job. Plus i’d have 0 problem with getting the food myself. i guess there’s an interesting argument where SERVICE is a more difficult task, but you never actually made it and it seems kind of dead-end.
Pandora says:
Sir/madam. You are inconsiderate. I am not a server, but a hostess/busser. I have two jobs to pay for my schooling to “get a real job” pay all my bills including a $700 rent (with a roommate that pays the same if not a bit more) I Work for minimum wage because I’m 19 and have to. I don’t want this job. I come home and my knees are swollen. I do not eat for eight to nine hours. I do not (am not allowed) to sit down. I do everything a server does other than taking the order and get 2% (for hosting) or 10% FOR bussing of their tips. For minimum wage. I am lucky with tips if I make $750 a month. So by stiffing the servers you are actually really hurting me.
hey there, can we please get a blanket ban on wait staff “I have a bad situation, and you’re such an asshole for not tipping me?”
Understand this: when i walk past a homeless person, i am often legitimately sad. I guess that’s me trying to steal the moral high ground or w/e, i don’t know how widespread such is, but i’m not just some sympathyless asshole.
However, this is just ‘give money to everyone because some people need it’. i’ve known wait staff that didn’t need the money, and many here in the comments don’t either. Wait staff may need it more than other people, but charities need it the most.
Shelli says:
I’m sure a person like yourself would NEVER pay double the price of a meal so the staff would get the proper hourley wage. HAHA STICK TO BUFFETS!! They seem to suit your personality!!
i do love buffets, who doesn’t. real problem with restaurants (not at all relevant to this discussion) is that you never know if what you’re ordering tastes good to you, buffets offer a vast tantalizing array of food you can taste and take more if you want.
get your head out of your ass for a moment, and riddle me this:do people tip even close to double the amount of the meal? No? So either most people don’t tip (if they did this wouldn’t be under discussion) or you’re a moron.
Why do people keep making these claims? It seems like a very confirmation bias thing, a simple belief that makes you feel good about yourself that people don’t bother to think about.
music break
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc6vs-l5dkc
Souris says:
You sound like a trustfund brat who’s never worked a job in your life.
at the time of writing that comment I was in the israeli army, get up at 7 in the morning, go work from 9-8 in Logistics, which is basically serving people. Granted, you had leave to be kind of a dick, but I was usually nice to people and did what I could.
That said i’ve been well provided for my entire life by my father, so I guess you didn’t miss the mark entirely.
waitress says:
Your a cocksucker, someone has to do those jobs. You wouldn’t get to have those dining experiences without someone being there to take care of you.
which is why those people are paid a minumum wage . . . . . . …;;;;;;;; seriously dude.
by the way, i wouldn’t mind carrying the food to my table, especially if it cheapens my meal.
Mary says:
So it’s a severs job right? Correct me if I’m wrong but a job is something you get paid for.
thank you, i shall. you’re wrong.
ok seriously, this is petty of me, but that was a really dumb use of a rhetorical device.
In america it is customary for you to tip your sever. The government expects you to tip and if you do not those taxes for the tip the server was supposed to receive is still taken out. By not tipping your server is not getting paid. So you are literally stealing from your server. You’re stealing a service. But hey if you can live with that, then by all means save yourself five dollars. What goes around comes around.
uh…no, they just get taxed for minimum wage, which they get.
Brendan says:
Then refill your drink yourself, asshole. I’d skip spitting in your food in favor of spitting in your face.
sure thing?
go ahead and do that, i’m not particularly disgusted by saliva and you’d never get hired again, which is a nice thought.
Alex says:
It’s sad that so many threats are being thrown around. While yes I do know it happens in restaurants that food is messed with, it is disgusting. I’m proud to say my restaurant has never in any situation decided to alter people’s food. With a smile on our face we deal with angry customers. In most cases I’m not tipped because the food took to long or it didn’t taste good or it cost to much. All of which are not my fault. And to be honest don’t go back if it was so horrible or if you don’t want to tip or can’t afford it. It’s called cooking from home! Your food will be just the way you like it, and is always cheaper. No one forced you to go out to eat where yes it is expected of you to tip. Because yes servers make less than minimum wage in a paycheck. You know what that means? I don’t get a paycheck because it’s all taken away for taxes. So yes when I wait on you in my restaurant I’d appreciate recognition for what I do for you as a customer. And if your one of those who believes tipping is ridiculous then I’d appreciate you staying home.
dear lorde what is it with you people
you know something? the fact that no server seems to know about the rule that the manager must make it up basically proves that all servers get way too many tips, therefore you’ve never had this situation come up.
also, you make an interesting point, that people shouldn’t not tip if the food was bad or if the food took a long time to make. Not sure why you’re beating me specifically over the head with it, i don’t tip for different reasons.
In reply to tehy
I implore you to try your own 3 weeks in the service industry and then feel free make all the claims you want. I don’t make claims about how difficult or easy it is to be a tax accountant because I am not one, I have no idea what that job entails or the day to day activities you perform as part of your employment requirements. As such, and as a reasonably intelligent human being who likes to treat other reasonably intelligent human beings as respectfully as they deserve, I do not attempt to place my criticisms on something I know absolutely nothing about. You have no idea what it involves to be a server or waitstaff, or management or back of house for that matter. I could never explain to you what it is to be a server and how demeaning it is to have to deal with bigoted, misogynistic, entitled assholes such as yourself, but imagine placing it somewhere along the lines of working in a complaints calls centre for 14 hours straight on your feet, except here when the idiot on the other end of the line isn’t happy they deduct your wage.
so like, firstly
you’re right, i don’t know the trials and tribulations, but I also don’t know the trials and tribulations of other jobs. What i do know is what the market sez, and the market sez it’s minimum-wage difficulty; maybe people aren’t paid enough IN GENERAL but that sounds like something you should take up with society. Also, you explained it pretty well, although :’bigoted, misogynistic, entitled ‘, can you find me proof of bigotry or woman-hating, or are you just trying to sneak in an insult on me (i.e. the assholes like you part) without realising what you said? Entitled is o.k. though. Not that i feel i’m entitled, but it’s at least a conclusion you can draw if you want, w/e.
If you’re so unhappy with the fact that your money for our tip supplements our wage then feel free to write congress or let the IRS know you wont be paying the portion of your taxes that provide income for public employment positions, because I don’t know what you think your taxes pay for but Im sure your local bus driver and police enforcement would love it if you neglected that as well.
But you’re right, next time ill just bring a full un-cut lemon to your table and you can tip yourself. Grow the fuck up you entitled bitch.
let’s see:
firstly, that’s illegal, so it’s just you being a blowhard. Not that i’d do that, but the fact that it’s not even on the table makes you an asshole for even mentioning it.
secondly, and try to wrap your head around this: when i go to a restaurant, i pay a bill. The restaurant takes that bill and uses it to pay for all the services necessary to create my dining experience. When i go to a country, i pay taxes. The government uses that bill and uses it to pay for all the services necessary to create my living experience.
obviously the second is a lot ‘squishier’ because, you can argue i don’t personally use those buses, or whatever, but since it’s governed by officials elected by me, i don’t have a huge problem with it.
finally, why do you think I don’t know what my taxes pay for? or is that just another dig for no reason? dear lorde, did any of your argument make any sense?
shane says:
And you wouldn’t be able to afford to go eat if the price of paying a server what they are worth were included in the food you order.
I may just start posting ‘deja svupid’ in reply to every post like this. or just ‘your an idiot’. Maybe some riff on that above line about how it’s not insulting to call these peopl retarded…? /you get the idea, stop saying this nonsense
Rachel says:
you really have no idea that the tip-earners minimum wage is 2.13, and most of that goes to taxes right? so if nobody tips, watiresses don’t get paid. That’s slavery my friend.
except you can, you know, choose to stop working there. which was the principal problem with slavery. Oh yeah, that whole ’employer has to make up wage’ thing too.
jamie adams says:
What agency pays you people to blog here? Listen up niggers and fast food retards, WE make way more money than you ever will, understand that, your little minimum wage “want fries with that” party is going to have a rude awakening when the minimum is raised, and yet the CUSTOM of tipping us, doesn’t go away, so even though a few fuck stick mental midgets decide not to tip, we will be making even more money! So, go fuck yourselves
who could possibly have a motive for paying people to blog against tipping?
the rest of your post is moronic; if the custom doesn’t go away when the minimum is raised, lol, the minimum would be raised to tell people to stop and I bet they would. It’d be tip included in the bill so yea.
thank you come again~
In reply to tehy
Although it seems to me that you are very very inconsiderate of servers and what they do, in a way you are right. I run a restuarant at a country club in Colorado and while our servers are payed $8 an hour plus tips, not many restaurants do this. Most are payed 2.13, but it is not federal law or anything like that that the restaurant has to pay their servers this wage. If the servers tips do not make up for the remainder of the minimum wage then the server gets the difference in his or her paycheck. While your tip won’t usually make or break the server, it does make the server feel appreciated, which i think you can agree is always nice. And no in not saying it’s your job to make the server feel appreciated but if you do appreciate what the server has done for you, then tip, if you don’t appreciate it then don’t. Enevitably the server will get payed their minimum wage but here in America the minimum wage that is offered, more times than not, won’t even pay your bills. So i dont think it’s as much of a sense of “be mad at this person for not tipping” or be really happy because this person tipped you 35% of his bill” (although a tip like that is always awesome and can definitely turn a servers whole shift around) but more about how the minimum wage should be raised to a livable wage. So if you don’t believe in tipping or just won’t tip then sure come on out because you are still putting money in the businesses pocket but after you go somewhere a few times, they will recognize you and remember that you don’t tip and unfortunately most of the time your service will be inadequate. Like I said, unfortunately that’s the way a lot of restaurants go. But at a well managed restuarant your service will be exactly that of which you asked for. Basic, to the point, and the minimum of your needs will be met. Mostly to hurry up and get you finished with your meal so the server can get another table in his or her section that WILL tip. I understand your view on it but that doesn’t negate the fact that most servers will work very hard to make your experience one to remember and one that is everything you wanted it to be. If you appreciate what the server has done then a tip is appreciated, if not then don’t tip and you are just a drop in the bucket of how many people that person will come in contact with/ get or not get tips from that week so I’m pretty sure they’ll get over it. For every person who thinks the way you do on it there are 50 more who support it so it’s not going to change any time soon anyway.
In reply to tehy
Tehy, suck a dick and go blow yourself up!
In reply to tehy
And you wouldn’t be able to afford to go eat if the price of paying a server what they are worth were included in the food you order.
In reply to tehy
You are a low-life pathetic piece of shit dude! Take your ass to a restaurant and get a job for 1 month and see what it’s really like to be a server!!!! It is NOT just taking orders and bringing you food, that’s for sure! There is a lot of prep work and cleaning that is required of us, a restaurant might close at 11PM but you won’t be leaving until EVERYTHING is CLEAN and ALL work stations have been re-stocked!
Trust me, we don’t stand there and carry on conversations with assholes like you to try and be your “friend” or to get bigger tips, we do it because it is part of the job!
I think it’s funny you call someone a “whiny bitch” just because they gave a detailed description of what this job really entails. This WHOLE article is nothing but whining and bitching!!!!
It may not be YOUR fault that servers don’t get paid minimum wage, but it’s not OUR fault either! We do what we gotta do to support ourselves during college, take care of our families, pay off medical ills, etc…
Most of us would LOVE to go out and find better, higher paying jobs but guess what?
The economy SUCKS so we have to take what we can get.
I have never said this to anyone but I HOPE the servers you encounter spit in your food and piss in your soup, I HOPE they put eye drops in your drink and give you diarrhea so bad that you shit all over yourself before you make it to your car, I HOPE you order your favorite meal and CHOKE on it you STUPID fuckmented bunglecunt!!!!
In reply to tehy
All you have to do is not go to full service restaurants and the servers would be fine. Most non tippers are just angry because they went to school and got a “real job” only to find out that they could of made more waiting tables. In my first four years of delivering food full time I saved 42,000 along with paying a mortgage and my health insurance out of pocket. That’s a little more than the average student loan debt after 4 years of college. So yes while you ” real job” college people racked up 40k in debt so you could get a 35k a year job, I saved enough to pay off your debt and have change left over. All that money was saved even with ignorant non tippers like you making me work for nothing at least 3 or 4 times a shift. I was able to do this because there are so many wonderful people out there that tip way over 20% because they know there are people like you. Non tippers are no better than lazy welfare people. Same concept, they think they should have to pay so the rest of us have to carry them. This could be a great country if welfare dinners would just stay home.
In reply to Kat
So you write a few extra words down with the specifics of how/what somebody wants on their food, and the chef has to prepare it. This warrants a tip? Seems like you’re doing whats in your job description.
You refill my drinks? Sounds like the job description for the job you are doing. Mcdonalds employees refill my drinks, so that’s not special to the experience and I don’ t see how that deserves a tip. Especially when 90% of the time it would have been more convenient for there to be a machine for me to get my own refills. The refill argument is easily replaced by a fountain pop machine in the dining area.
You have to deal with the “pissed off cooks” anyway. People in any profession of customer service deals with pissed off people all of the time, but don’t feel entitled to extra wages afterwards.
You put my “hot” fudge sundae in the microwave for me, and served my “hot fudge sundae” to me hot? That seems like a daunting task to serve a menu item the way it is supposed to be served.
I never have a shitty attitude at a restaurant, why would I go out to eat while im pissed off or in a bad mood? There are customers who are miserable and will make work harder for you, like any customer service job, get over it.
The fact you are doing the job of the busboy/custodial team shouldn’t fall on my conscience, but instead the employers paying you a fair wage.
Im pretty sure it’s common practice for a restaurant to have full salt/pepper shakers, and full condiments. That’s not going above and beyond to provide exceptional service; it’s a basic task which every restaurant does.
When I want to pay you print off a receipt and bring it to me, another task in your job description while being hired. That is not a special task and nothing to brag about or use as an argument to warrant tips. Most of the time the server brings me a to-go container to my table and I box my leftovers myself, why should they be tipped for that?
In the past, I worked as a security guard at Medieval Times. I made 10.25/hour and worked 40 hours a week. On top of that I took on many responsibilities of the cleaning staff, and even the bar staff. Cleaners made 14 an hour and I was making 10.25 doing their duties. I would also help the bar clean up at the end of the night, take deliveries at shipping and receiving and set up kegs/store alcohol in the fridges downstairs. Run bottles to them if they were running low, bring drinks to tables sometimes and was in charge of cutting people off when they got too drunk. They made 10.25 PLUS tips, and all I would hear from them is complaining when a table left a 10 dollar tip on a 150 dollar bill. EVERY SINGLE DAY someone would be complaining about it when they just made over a hundred dollars in tips plus 10.25 an hour on a 4 hour shift. They would start after me, leave before me, and walk out of the building with more in tips than I made working my whole shift helping them, plus walked out with an hourly wage equal to mine. And this is Medieval Times, a fixed menu where servers walk with trays and place the same thing on every plate, yet they felt hard done by when they didn’t get a tip over 15%. They didn’t deserve a tip at all.
15-20 dollars per beer and 60 per meal. Because they decide to charge 20 for a budweiser I should tip 4 dollars on every one of them, when down the street a budweiser is $4. So for the EXACT same product, and, description wise, the EXACT same service I should tip them only a dollar?
If both were being paid the same (fair) wage, there wouldn’t be a gap in the income of different servers. If tips were used the way they were intended to be (for exceptional service, not just to be treated like a human and served at all) it would benefit way more servers than would be hurt by it. Making a livable wage and then having the public giving OPTIONAL tips would ensure that the majority of servers could survive.
Servers are the worst people because they complain like they’re so hard done by (because of the public and not their employer) when they’re really just doing whats expected of them in their job description. The fact that tips are expected, or even demanded (by the way servers act) regardless of them going above and beyond their job description makes tipping a terrible practice.
The all familiar saying now “If you cant afford to tip, don’t go to a restaurant”
why is that the saying? Why should I not be able to go get basic service when I am glad to pay the listed price? (which is inflated to cover costs of wages/restaurant expenses) I’m really the scum of the earth because your restaurant is charging 700-1000% inflated prices on a shot of alcohol, and I’m expected to also pay your workers wage by paying an additional fee for them doing their job?
why is the saying not “If you can’t afford to pay a reasonable wage, don’t open a restaurant”
I’m not saying it is easy being a server, but the difficulty of your job should not be a reason for me to pay you more than I have to. A lot of jobs are hard, and require a hell of a lot more experience than it takes to be a server yet they’re getting paid fair wages and not relying on the consumer to pay extra than the marked price.
Servers can shift the blame to the public for not coming in and dropping 20% extra on their bill instead of blaming the person who makes them rely on that 20%, but it just makes servers look like whiny, ungrateful and narrow minded people to me.
I have never met a server who doesn’t complain about tips at every chance possible, even when some are making more than $150+ for 4 hours of work. I’d love to see them find another job with the level of experience/education they have where they can make a wage like that.
Id imagine that most of the time the ones complaining about how their wages rely on tips are the ones who are making more money than somebody with a job like that should, and would make less money if they were offered a fair wage. You hate me for not tipping, instead of hating that you have to rely on tips because your employer pons the responsibility of paying you a livable wage on the consumer. That is why there are people doing the exact same job (maybe even easier), but because they’re prettier, or at a more expensive restaurant, they’re able to live off of tips and you cant. And that’s apparently my fault.
Tipping should be for above and beyond service, not for the very basic service provided by any restaurant (getting refills, writing down what somebody wants/doesn’t want/allergies, being friendly to me, smiling and not looking miserable, and bringing me the bill)
I’d much rather put a tip directly in the pocket of the chef who cooked me my meal (the reason for going out, not to interact with a server), than to give it to somebody just relaying me the thing I am there for. You don’t tip the FedEX dude ontop of shipping and handling prices for bringing you the package you ordered. Instead, im forced to feel obligated to tip the server who gives like 1% of that to the chef.
I bet if restaurants gave the option of offering a Tip section or a No tip section, in which there is a machine to get your own refills, a computer to punch in your own order at your table, and a window to pick up your meal when it is finished being cooked and you pay on your way out, it would flourish. It would probably destroy the service industry once employers realized that it’s not only quicker, but also a lot cheaper and safer for liability suits.
I know everybody is programmed to hate me due to my view on tipping, and I am aware that I’m going to hear it from servers who have misplaced hatred and play the victim. Get mad at the laws, the employers and workers rights before you get mad at somebody who has no obligation to make sure you can make a living off of your job.
In reply to David
I don’t understand why the waiters/waitresses in the US don’t make complaints to their employers for giving them such a low wage. In Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc, tipping is definitely not the norm. When I first went to a restaurant in the US, I didn’t know that I was supposed to tip the waiters. Now I would do it but I needed to order cheaper food so that I can tip the waiter $2 to $3. However what confused me is that — why the basic services of the waiters and waitresses deserve a tip? Isn’t this part of their scope of work? We don’t tip teachers even though they need to correct students’ exercises or grade papers after school. I think the restaurant employers should raise their workers’ salaries rather than rely on the customers to help them paying their workers’. However it is interesting to see that almost all the waiters/waitresses here don’t blame their employers but feel upset for customers who don’t tip or disagree with giving tips.
In reply to Meg
Trust me they do make complaints. However, there is a loophole in the laws here in the U.S. regarding service industry wages that basically says, “If a servers tips + hourly wage does not equal regular minimum wage… tough shit.” I managed several corporate and privately owned restaurants and fought for higher wages for my employees multiple times, but basically – $2.15 is standard, and they believe it is a fair wage after tips. Most of the time they are right. But if people in the U.S. stop tipping, servers and service industry folk all around, not to mention the restaurant industry over all, will be fucked. No one will agree to work in restaurants in tipping decreases, and no one will want to go out anymore because of the lack of service.
In reply to David
Dude, you said a lot to say that you won’t tip because most servers have some sort of chip on their shoulder because they are overworked and underpaid and take their anger out on the customer/guest when a tip is not given. While I can respect your opinion, I do have a response to a couple of things said in your anecdote:
1. Your job title was a security guard. You were hired to do just that. Why you were running around refilling drinks and helping at the bar worrying yourself about how much people are getting paid, who was being the security guard? Bottom line is really, no one asked you to help so why expect extra compensation for your extra hard work, I applaud team work but I feel the same way as a hostess; you shouldn’t do nice things and expect extra credit/recognition or even compensation because in the real world, you’re just helping someone else do their job. I’m not saying going above and beyond is never rewarded but it’s hardly noticed unless you save a little White girl from a well in backwoods middle-of-nowhere. You were hired to do one job, you wouldn’t have been so stressed out if you did just that.
2. Your outlook on how the restaurant industry would flourish if everything was computerized is completely bogus hon, let me tell you: So far as now, everything in the restaurant industry is pretty much computerized except for the cooks who make your food. I have even started to see that Chili’s has embraced the techno-age and began to have tablets on the tables where you can place drink orders, purchase appetizers and desserts without even looking at a server. The tablet also allows you to tip/not tip accordingly and has games and apps while you’re sitting at your table. But that’s totally NOT for people who go to a restaurant for experience or atmosphere. If you go to a restaurant just to order food, you might want to visit a Chili’s because that’s exactly what you get, your meal with minimal interaction with the server that you don’t have to tip!
3. Your server is computer-savvy enough to enter your order in such a way that if you ordered your appetizer, you actually have time to finish your appetizer and have room for your next course. They are also responsible for bringing your food over to you as soon as it appears in the window otherwise your food would always be ‘dead’ (pasta is hard, salad is wilted, fried food becomes inedible because all the breading has fallen off while sitting in the window, etc.) as we say in the food service industry. When you insert these computers you want at your table, you cut out the middle mad–you food may not come out fresh and ready instead, you may walk over to the window to pick up your ‘dead’ food, how stupid would you look bringing the food you rang in on your own to a manager of the establishment to ask for comp. on dead food because you couldn’t get to the window in time because there were 4 other tables around you who rang in an order at the same time.
3. While I respect your opinion or right not to tip, I would like to try to justify tipping by not using a guilt-persuasion attempt, but by saying, servers mean no harm to no one, they are just as tired of the rat race as everyone else. After standing on your feet for 8 or 9 hrs, sometimes more and presenting a table with a $150 check to which you get nothing of and then going to tip out to the bartenders, food runners and bussers, it’s a little discouraging to go and try to be happy for your next table. I’m not necessarily saying tip the server $8,000,000 for emotional support but tip them because they didn’t quit giving exceptional service after getting stiffed table after table.*This is of course if they did attempt to give exceptional service*
4. I haven’t been working in the restaurant industry long but I work as a hostess for a chain corporation, I go to school full-time and work part time. This very same restaurant doesn’t tip out to hostess so I get paid about $9.00, don’t get me started on utilities, rent, car insurance, gas for the car, food and etc. I live in Miami and that is BARELY a living wage unless you want to live in a neighborhood where someone might steal your car or kill you for not having a cigarette lighter. I watch servers bust their asses for guests who tip them crap-mostly because they’re foreign and don’t understand the gratuity/tipping customs in America-and don’t think anything of it. They don’t think about the server’s struggles because without a care in the world they short changed the server $5 and didn’t tip, now the server has to come out of pocket for their meal and leaves that shift with even less than they came in with. I’ve even watched tables walk out of $130 checks and slip the wait staff fake money which hurts their pockets even more.
5. I fully understand what you mean when you said that you helped out custodial staff who got paid more than you because I go through this everyday as a hostess, the hostess at my restaurant don’t get tipped out and average about $10 an hour depending on tenure. We are solely responsible for the front end: taking to-go orders, making sure the to-go orders reach the proper department, seating guests, spreading guests out amongst servers semi-equally, answering the phones, cleaning the restrooms which is almost impossible when you’re busy with guests and every now and then, the bussers who get paid the same as the hosts and also get tipped out by the servers, start slacking for whatever reason, making it harder for the hosts to seat tables because they’re dirty. That’s when we step up and clear tables or set tables or clean the floors. And still, we get no credit, no one EVER says wow, great job or those hosts work so hard all we hear all day is: “Your job isn’t THAT hard”, “What are you tired from?”, “All you do is stand there and look cute!”, “You hosts are good for nothing.”-Can you imagine a restaurant on a busy Saturday night without a host team? Chaos!
Try to see the server’s side. They don’t beg for tips, they show up to work and do their jobs because it’s helping get by, you’re helping them pay the bills because their salaried managers can’t find a way to pay them more. Their salaried managers don’t understand how hard they work for tips or no tips because the salaried managers make the same amount of money no matter what, they get paid sick/vacation days and get bonuses (more money!) for keeping labor costs low and food sales high. I feel like if I was a server, it would make me sick to my stomach to cater to a table and bust my ass for them just to have them stiff me, I would fall apart inside (probably a huge reason I can’t see myself being a server). But all the same, I respect your reasons for not tipping, Cheers and happy dining!
-Idelkys via D.R.
In reply to Idalys
As a “salaried” manager, I don’t have to figure out how to pay servers more because they make in two days what I make in two weeks working 3 times the hours they work.
None of you have any idea how restaurants work do you?
In reply to David
Please do me a favor, slip on some ice at that self serve fountain machine, in your not so slip resistant shoes, and please get the worst concussion that has ever existed. Also, maybe break your leg too. I could only dream.
In reply to David
Why don’t you cut out the middle man altogether you fucking retarded loser, and stay the fuck home and cook for yourself, you know because, individuals who go above and beyond should get tipped blah blah blah like the incompetent piece of shit who doesn’t know how to act as an INDIVIDUAL when they pitch the same stupid argument everyone else has and yet, shows how he’s still just a number in the Collective “lemme getta” crowd, you can hardly read the words on a restaurant menu, let alone understand what’s been written.
In reply to David
Until everyone on here bitching about servers helps us put new laws into place, this is what we get. So until some new legislature appears, restaurants have servers who don’t get paid unless you tip, period. To everyone else who was passively aggressively using their past jobs to idk, teach servers a lesson, fuck off. I took more tests for my server job than a college course I had last semester and serving is physically tiring. I’ve worked in shops, offices, whatever, to help me pay for school and I have never been more dehumanized than as a server. If you don’t want service, tell the server up front and you won’t get it. We won’t spit in your food but we will leave you alone with your bitterness so we can focus on tables who see a face and not a conveyor belt.
In reply to Tai
I like to tell the waitress throughout the whole meal that she’s gonna get a huge tip from us, then leave without tipping. Seeing her facial expression through the window is priceless!!!
In reply to Sammie
I absolutely love stiffing my waitress it’s so much fun! Plus I make damn sure she runs around until I see sweat on her brow. I know my job is complete when I finally see her head hanging low, because she’s in a low station in life and she better know her place.
In reply to JoeTheHeartSurgeon
go fuck your self dick head is love to see someone like you do this kind of shit you would never think of not tipping again I can promise you that. Your a fucking tool bag and deserve to eat ramen and McDonald’s hell not even people at McDonald deserve to handle people like you. I pray you have no children this world does not need more of your genes running around hurting this economy even more!
In reply to JoeTheHeartSurgeon
Buncha fake “rich” trolls sure are stirring you lot up. People with as much money as these lot are bragging about a) don’t need to brag unless they are nouveau riche, and b) generally have some sort of class as well, unless “a” applies. If any of this lot make more than ten bucks an hour ill eat my hat.
In reply to JoeTheHeartSurgeon
I bet your great at taking it up the Ass aren’t you ?
In reply to JoeTheHeartSurgeon
OMG. What is with everyone saying they’re surgeons. No well respected surgeon would be on a blog site. I was going to write something witty, but I think you have enough problems. Not only are you delusional because you claim you’re a heart surgeon, but you’re actually really fucked up
In reply to Dan
I like to dine and dash. That way the worthless server has to pay for my meal out of their pocket.
In reply to Todd
TODD. lmfao, you keep thinking that. I’ve never had to pay out of my pocket when someone leaves without paying.
In reply to David
I’m a recent college grad and server and I’m not going to throw mean words at you. I just have one thing to point out, in which you’ll probably say it’s my employers fault, but here it is. We tip our bartender/cook/bus boys 3% of our total sales, not of our tips. So if I have a table that spends $100 and leaves me nothing as a tip, serving that table just cost me $3. I work for a HUGE chain restaurant. It’s not as easy as walking up to my general manager and demanding a raise as you and others have made it seem. I respect your opinion and just hope that you can come to respect the truly difficult job that many of us do on a daily basis. I’m a college student and haven’t had a friday or Saturday night not cleaning up after people in 3 years. I think I deserve more than $3 an hour and right now, as the world is, you are the only one who can make that happen for me :)
Sorry..one more thing. I have never treated a guest any different who I know tips poorly. I’m surprised to hear some other servers say they do, but it’s my job to provide the best possible experience for my guest and I do that no matter what. I don’t think I could fall asleep at night if I treated customers any less than my best.
In reply to David
David, they already have such a place. It is called the drive through window of a fast food place. As to your situation. If everyone is being paid $10.25 an hour, any tips collected by the wait staff, should be equally divided between all employees.
In reply to David
I used to be a server/waitress (whatever it’s called these days) and I whole-heartedly agree with you, along with this article. Your comment is amazing.
In reply to David
If you believe that restaurant prices are currently over inflated (700 to 1000%), imagine if they took you up on your suggestion to pay servers a decent wage! Where do you think that money is going to come from?? Perhaps then the prices will be so high that you will do everyone a favor and eat at home! At least with the current system, if a server does a crappy job, then you can leave them a crappy tip. However, if you’re paying for it in food prices then you’re paying that server regardless of quality of service.
In reply to David
The buffets are made for you!
In reply to David
You should work as a waiter sometime. I spent a lot of time being trained for what I do and I spend a lot of time training others. We learn the wines and the beers and what goes with what and which are oakey, dry, sweet, organic, wheat, bold, unoaked……and that’s just the alcohol. We have to know every thing on the menu, how it’s made, every ingredient in it, whether or not it can be made vegan style, is is gluten free, did it come in contact with nuts, where we get our vegetables. No, refilling a drink is not hard. Neither is making a salad. Or preparing a dessert that looks nice on the plate. Putting soup in a bowl and garnishing it is easy. Now: you need 3 bowls of soup and 4 salads (2 with no onion, one no tomato and add onion, 4 different dressings and croutons on the side please) 6 desserts, you have 3 orders up, table 7 needs refills, table 3 wants coffee ( can I get 2/3 decaf and 1/3 reg?) The lady at table 6 wants to know why his special (which he ordered with chicken instead of pork, changes most of the seasonings, added cheese and substituted fries for rice) “doesn’t taste right”. It all needs to be done right now. With a smile. And more is coming; everything you get done in a busy restaurant is replaced with something else to do and keep track of. A good waitperson is a skilled worker. I personally try not to bitch about my tips- for every stiff or bad tip there is almost always a table that makes up for it. I make decent money. And I am worth every penny. I treat every customer as if they are going to leave me enough to retire to the Caymans on. Even the regular who comes in, runs me half to death, orders the most expensive things on the menu, tells me his life story (every time) and leaves me a quarter (every time). Waitstaff who don’t treat every customer well don’t last long in this business. If you don’t want to tip, that’s fine. Up to you. I won’t spit in your food or give you bad service. The most I will do is laugh about it later after the place is closed and I am sweeping the floors, washing the linens and scrubbing out the bathrooms.
In reply to David
I want the no tipping section to come to all restaurants. I never tip anyways but this way I don’t have to speak to the low life waitress with her hand out for a tip.
In reply to Amy
You’re disgusting. Calling someone a low life because they are a waitress? At least these people have jobs and earn their living! Or maybe they’re in school or it’s a second job. Doesn’t matter. You are NOT better than them.
In reply to David
So you are pretty much saying every restaurant should be fast food?! *face palm* So laughable… I feel sorry for you. Not every waiter/waitress is as bitter as everyone is making them out because I am a Bartender/ Waiter and I love my job! I’m grateful for all the tips because I appreciate the value of a dollar… And I know I can go anywhere with these jobs under my belt. Not everyone is privileged to have the support of family or friends… So they have to make ends meet. Of course you’re going to say that isn’t your problem and it isn’t, but what if you lose your job and there wasn’t another one for you for months? A year? What then? Shitty things happen to shitty people!
In reply to David
TBH i’m a waitress at a “fine dining” restaruant and i agree with what you’re saying. Do i complain about tips, yes sometimes, but there are times i do go above and beyond for a table and they don’t agree, which i understand. It is shitty that we do work for tips though sometimes nights are amazing i can make up to 300$ for a 6 hour shift and still have people that don’t tip or barely even tip the 10%. I’m thankful that they tip at all as should any other server. I don’t agree though to never tip. If get the authors point not wanting to be bugged, i’ve had tables like that too but it is part of our job. I get yelled at if i don’t tell a table my name or suggest apps or drinks or desserts. If you don’t want our friendliness let us know, it’s that simple. As well as just tip us the minimum, we do have to tip out those who work in back usually. The ones who make the food and provide you with what you’re eating so those 2 extra dollars really count for us. Though I do agree with you, i’ve had a good amount of costumer service jobs and of course they’re all underpaid because the rich man wants to keep more then help out the poor so I do agree with what you’re saying, I am also just saying that we do have to tip out the back of the house. My tip out has been anywhere from just 5$ to almost 100$ and i’m glad to help them, they’re the reason I have my job, but that two dollars does always count so instead of thinking of not tipping because you can do all of our duties and we can be paid better just remember we are also tipping out those who do the hard work for you.
In reply to David
We don’t hate you, we pity you, self righteous dick that you are.
And when all of you “I’m too good to tip” people have to pay twenty dollars for a burger, and order it from a greasy, disgusting cook who won’t even give you a smile (Because they hate you. Seriously, they fucking LOATHE you, and if you were on fire, they wouldn’t piss on you.) You will be begging all of us servers to come back with a bouquet of roses in your hands.
You think that we would spit in your food? Oh no, my love, because, unlike you, we have class.
You know who would do that if we weren’t there? The disgusting cooks.
So, have fun, when all you tip nay-sayers get your way.
I hope you and the cook (Who is probably drunk and/or high) have a very happy life together.
In reply to David
That is the fast casual segment…like Panera. It’s hard for uneducated people to understand where they are dining. I understand your limitations.
In reply to David
I understand where you’re coming from. I have been a bartender/server since I was 18 and for what it is, it has treated me well. I just want to say to you that not all service employees are like what you guys are describing. Unfortunately, at least 50% are. I have to work with them and listen to their unnecessary whining and complaining every day. They sound like beggars complaining about tips where people can hear them as they leave the restaurant. It’s quite embarrassing. Many of these are spoiled city folk who haven’t ever really worked some hard manual labor for 9 hours a day. I have never done/seen anything done to anyone’s food where I have worked. You really have to piss somebody off or have bad luck for that to happen to you. I will treat you with respect, be kind, and try to offer the most genuine service I can. Yes, I might bullshit with you some, but I’m not “kissing your ass for a tip”, I’m just doing my job. Many employees will b.s. and chat you up that dont work for tips, theyre just friendly people. I know my tips come from offering EXCEPTIONAL service not some fake “I’m only nice to you because I want your money” crap. If that was the case, I wouldn’t be walking around filling other servers tables drinks and making sure their guests are doing OK. I do it because it’s my job and I take pride in it. If you don’t want to tip, that’s fine. I’m not going to let it ruin my day. I will make 25% off of at least 2 or three tables to make up for you. You’re right that many of them don’t know hard work and are ungrateful. I know I probably make more than i should, but I make sure I do a damn good job. I’m sorry that you often get bad service from these people and they are such complaining selfish assholes at times. Just one thing, if you’re going to take up my whole section with a big party, try to leave something. You make it hard to make up for you when half of my night is spent working for you for free (my check is Void after taxes).
In reply to David
Not all servers complain, the complainers talk the loudest. Many are just doing their jobs, they are not the “worst people.” Just don’t tip if you don’t want to. But, don’t hate.
In reply to David
Depending on what state u work in the government takes a percent of your food sales as tax. If the customer does not tip over that percentage then the waitress is paying for the tax themselves. That’s why small tips hurt. And yes don’t expect SERVICE if u ain’t gonna pay for it. You will get ur meal but the extra is a price, that’s why you are not eating at home…..for the extras. Can’t believe people can’t understand that.
In reply to David
Its ok everyone regardless of what these idiots say or what they want to say is illegal I will serve every SPECIAL course of your meal with a warm smile you will never know the difference you would not believe what I do to you guys. So you see theres no way you can prove anything! Remember that next time you frequent your favorite restaurant.
In reply to David
I am not reading all this.
In reply to David
So you’re a loser douchebag food/drink runner/janitor.
Somewhat like the security guard/wannabe/neverbeCop?
In reply to David
So you’re a food/drink runner/janitor.
Somewhat like the security guard/wannabe/neverbeCop?
In reply to David
Ok listen dude. I have called you names. I have said nasty things to you. That’s not who I am. So first I’ll say sorry. However it is an American custom. Do you go to other countries and not follow their customs?
If that is the type of service u prefer only go to FAST FOOD establishments or places that have the type of dinning you descibe. Dont be nasty and down right ugly on the custom to which Americans are expected to follow.
At least we have jobs. We are not living on welfare and fucking assistance. (though most in this PROFFESSION are close to poverty level).
Yes we rely on the tips people give us. That is what was offered to us with the job. So in lieu not not having a job or not having a *Daddy Warbucks* on hand, we do what we have to do.. Do you really fucking think for one second that we want to be the way we are while we are at the edge of you fucking table? DO you really think we want to be there acting like everthing is the way it is? Like seriously man, DO YOU? We (when I say we I mean us your fucking slaves, because it is slavery at a low level form) don’t know you from Adam.. you sit down and immediately cast judgement. Then to start barking whatever fucking order questions stupid fuck shit for the next hour you can muster up. While we run around like a (I mean this very literally) chicken with our heads cut off trying to accomplish it all not for only you but the other 20 or 30 diners in our sections. Tipping is for the art of dinning out not to insure proper service. You are tipping for let’s call it the ambiance of the establishment to which YOU chose to the eat at… Honestly dude we hate it as much as you hate tipping. However we do what we haget to do. At least we are doing it, rather than being a part of the no job.living on the government that forces you (nothing you can do about kind of society–BITCH BERTA HAVE MY MONEY type of stuff) pay with no say so. We are trying to create SOMETHING/ANYTHING that warrants a reason for one person (you) to think we (servers) were worth you giving us money (and btw its called a job) in other word we are the insurance policy on your good time. Am I saying that we always succeed on that……Absolutely not! That’s a whole other entity that I won’t go into….
It’s not a matter of if our employer-pays-us whatever crap you are trying to rationalize man.. it’s a matter of gratitude. (The hint is in the name..
)
In reply to Kat
The restaurant is required to pay their employees AT LEAST minimum wage no matter how much they made in tips. So when I don’t tip, more of your salery comes from your employer like its supposed to. Let’s not forget what a tip is, it’s supposed to be a totally voluntary gift to the service workers who do a really good job. Not a hidden fee. And frankly, if your work ethic is so poor that you would go out of your way to inconvenience a person who chooses not to gift you extra money, you don’t deserve it at all! There is a strange sense of entitlement that plagues wait staff these days.
In reply to John Snow
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that if servers were paid minimum wage the cost of your meal would triple and you wouldn’t get good service just for the simple fact there would be less staff on the floor. TIP means ” to insure promptness ” and I’ve been doing it for 12 years and it is hard work. Its not as simple as taking an order and walking away. Hey if its busy your not getting a break. Hell I’m lucky if in a 12 hour period if I get to go to the bathroom a couple times. We work when sick because theres no sick time. No health benefits. Not to mention we’re working in a time were no matter what the job your lucky to have one. And hey if there weren’t servers who’s gonna bring you your water with lemon and your meal because your ass is to lazy to cook. So your knocking on tipping why because YOU don’t wanna cook. Its very simple don’t like tipping then either A. Get fast food or B. Cook your own food and serve you own dumbass
In reply to Krystle
WRONG. TIP does NOT mean “to insure promptness.” That’s where your education has served you incorrectly.
tip3
tip/Submit
noun
noun: tip; plural noun: tips
1.
a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services. <—- THIS.
synonyms: gratuity, baksheesh; More
verb
verb: tip; 3rd person present: tips; past tense: tipped; past participle: tipped; gerund or present participle: tipping
1.
give (someone) a sum of money as a way of rewarding them for their services. <—— THIS.
"I tipped her five dollars"
In reply to youve
Actually, this is correct. TIP = To Insure Prompt service.
This was well before tips were the norm. This started when customers would occasionally throw their waiter/waitress a couple of extra bucks when they first sat down in hopes that he or she would give them extra attention.
Eventually it started becoming more common, enough that the IRS started seeing it and realizing that it could be considered a taxable form of income.
So, now you see what we have here today.
In reply to SD Houston
Actually it’s not correct, unless you’re working for teps (to ENSURE prompt service)
in·sure
inˈSHo͝or/
verb
1.
arrange for compensation in the event of damage to or loss of (property), or injury to or the death of (someone), in exchange for regular advance payments to a company or government agency.
“the table should be insured for $2,500”
provide insurance coverage with respect to.
“subsidiaries set up to insure the risks of a group of companies”
synonyms: provide insurance for, indemnify, cover, assure, protect, underwrite; More
2.
secure or protect someone against (a possible contingency).
“by appeasing Celia they might insure themselves against further misfortune”
vs.
en·sure
enˈSHo͝or/
verb
make certain that (something) shall occur or be the case.
“the client must ensure that accurate records be kept”
synonyms: make sure, make certain, see to it; More
make certain of obtaining or providing (something).
“she would ensure him a place in society”
synonyms: secure, guarantee, assure, certify, safeguard, set the seal on, clinch, entrench
“legislation to ensure equal opportunities for all”
make sure that (a problem) shall not occur.
Basic English.
In reply to Krystle
1) no it wouldnt increase the cost “triple”.
2) your service is already shit
3) your own damned choice
no sick time? no health benefits? not my problem, take it up with management.
In reply to Krystle
What everyone seems to be forgetting is that if servers were paid minimum wage the cost of your meal would triple
HOW? Holy shit, this keeps getting explained again, and again, and again. How the hell could tips, which usually take at the most 20% of your meal, being taken away, triple the prices? Jesus fucking christ.
and you wouldn’t get good service just for the simple fact there would be less staff on the floor.
Prices triple AND there are less staff on the floor? Are you fucking insane
TIP means ” to insure promptness ” and I’ve been doing it for 12 years and it is hard work.
Insure as in insurance? I guess that works in a twisted way but the word you’re looking for is ENsure, like make sure it happens.
Its not as simple as taking an order and walking away.
…because you walk back with the food? does that even qualify as difficult?
Hey if its busy your not getting a break. Hell I’m lucky if in a 12 hour period if I get to go to the bathroom a couple times. We work when sick because theres no sick time. No health benefits. Not to mention we’re working in a time were no matter what the job your lucky to have one.
Then your employer should provide all those things. But i bet he doesn’t and no one complains, because you’re getting huge money from tips without having any real job skills. Don’t see how bad job market is relevant here, because you can’t get another one? As if you couldn’t have in 12 years. I bet you stayed because again, no skills but big money.
And hey if there weren’t servers who’s gonna bring you your water with lemon and your meal because your ass is to lazy to cook. So your knocking on tipping why because YOU don’t wanna cook.
Are you trying to say the waiters cooked the food? If not, i’d be fine personally with bringing the food to my table myself. I do think there are people who wouldn’t do it because they’re used to having waiters, but in a few years it’d be the norm and no one would complain-especially because of the cheap prices.
Its very simple don’t like tipping then either A. Get fast food or B. Cook your own food and serve you own dumbass
Or C:don’t tip at all?
In reply to John Snow
If you believe that you’re an idiot!
In reply to John Snow
Do you even know what minimum wage for tipped employees is? it is 2.13/hr. that is the Federal Minimum Wage. look it up. you know what else. even with inflation, that number has not changed since the 80’s. Just imagine for a brief moment that you were starting a new job at the 80’s minimum wage of 3.35/hr and you still needed to make your current monthly rent, feed yourself with today’s food prices, and pay bills to keep your heat and electricity running. that is assuming you do not have anything such as student loans or children to worry about. I will agree. Servers today are lucky. they are lucky that most people in this country are not like you and do tip well. in a small town at a family restaurant I was lucky to make 60 dollars on a slow night for a long 8 hour shift that is 7.50/hr in case you need the help with math. on a busy night for that same shift, which happens rarely in a small town, i am lucky to make more than 120 in one night which is 15.00/hr. add to all of that small business can not afford to keep their employees more than 28 hours because they would be forced to purchase health insurance for them weather they could afford it or not. so at the end of any given week after taxes, and after living expenses, I have roughly 100-150 dollars by the end of the week. I have to work 3 jobs just to pay bills. this is not what I will be doing with my life, but it is the reality of it. granted this is just small town experience talking. I hear serving in the cities can be extremely lucrative.
In reply to Joe
That sounds like a personal problem, but it’s not mine. Your employer will make up the wages, so I could care less if you don’t go home with my extra change jingling in your pocket. You’re covered, so I really don’t care.
In reply to John Snow
No, you’re actually incorrect. Restaurants are not required to pay their waitresses and waiters at least minimum wage. Most of them make between $2.50 and $3.00 an hour, leaving them with virtually no paycheck after taxes. They RELY on tips as their source of income. Unfortunately this is the way it is in the US. I would also prefer not to tip someone for “doing their job” but that it is how it is in the US and therefore I tip when I eat out. If you’re not going to tip then don’t eat out, it’s as simple as that.
In reply to Brittany
Brittany, I support tipping, but they’re right. A restaurant is required, by federal law, to make the difference up, if the waitstaff have not made at least $7.25(after tips) per hour each paycheck. If they aren’t, they’re breaking federal law, which I have no doubt some employers do.
In reply to Jake
I keep reading everyone keeps saying that if we don’t reach minimum wage with our tips then our employer has to make it up because it’s federal law. But I want to let people know that, that is not always the case. Yes they’re suppose to but in my case where I work they make you enter in more tips than what you actually make so they don’t have to pay you minimum wage. If you try to put in a low amount it requires a managers card before it will let you continue. And if you do choose to get a manager and continue and they have to pay you minimum wage then they put you back in training because to them if you’re not making enough tips to add up to minimum wage then you’re not doing a good job as a server. While in trainging you do not receive tips. And if you have to go back into training more than once then you get fired. So imagine I wait on you and I’m a great server but because you choose not to tip and others choose not to tip and at the end of the night I have to have my manager over ride the computer so I can actually get paid minimum wage then I’m the one who gets in trouble. I know this isn’t your problem I’m just clarifying that not all employers follow federal law. Also I want to put this out there. I consider myself a great server. I’m polite, friendly, prompt, and I check to make sure everything is great for you the whole time you are at my restaurant. I have no problem doing that for you or anyone else. If you don’t tip me, of course I’ll be upset but I’ll live and move on to my next customer and the next time you come in and I’m your server then guess what. I will still be polite, friendly, prompt, and check on you to make sure everything is great for you. I won’t hold a grudge against you. I understand what it’s like to want to go out to eat at a nice restaurant and only have enough money for your dinner. Lucky for me not all people believe in not tipping. Yes there will be a few people who stiff me but at the end of the night most nights I still make a decent amount. I’m from a small town so a decent amount to me is $50-$60. Most importantly I want to point out that if you do tip or you don’t tip I will still treat to you all the same each and every time. And for the servers that commented before me saying that if they don’t tip you then you will ignore them, or intentionally mess up there order, well I just want you to know comments like that make us all sound bad. Serving maybe a low class job like some of you have put it but I’m a professional and will act professional no matter what.
In reply to John Snow
I don’t know where you are getting your information, but employers DO NOT have to supplement a server’s wages to bring them up to minimum wage, and they don’t, and they never have. Another thing some people aren’t aware of is that servers are taxed on their sales in every state. That means if you go in a restaurant, eat, and don’t tip, the server is paying taxes out of their pocket for your meal out of the 2.13$ they make an hour, which is NOT supplemented by their employers.
In reply to Emily
This is the biggest load of bullshit I have ever seen. I don’t know where you work, but they are screwing you. Employers have to make sure you meet minimum wage. You are only taxed on what you make. You aren’t taxed on anything else. I have worked as a waitress at numerous places.
In reply to John Snow
Oh honey you have clearly never worked in ANY restaurant setting
In reply to John Snow
Actually, the restaurant is NOT required to pay minimum wage. Most waiters/waitresses only get paid between $2.50 and $4.00 an hour. That is because they’re working for tips. Same with the delivery guy who brings your pizza and the hairdresser who cut your hair, except they make more like $6.00 an hour.
In reply to John Snow
I could not agree more. Waitresses seem to have serious psychological problems and a unnatural sense of entitlement. The world owes you nothing yet they think it owes them everything. I work hard supporting three kids by three different dads high school dropout the trailer roof is leaking the dog died. This is why you should tip me. As a customer I don’t care about your personal life I am not going to tip you just bring me my food and go away. Makes me wonder if you have to be psychologically messed up to be a waitress. Look at all the responses on here, these waitresses are not normal.
In reply to Wolfgang
Wow sometimes just having common courtesy can pass for a tip. I’ve worn many hats in the service industry for 10+ still serving tables and you just got to be content that your not going to hit the jackpot after a shift. Some servers like myself actually take pride providing exceptional service to the best of my ability and accept the stiffs who justify not tipping for whatever reason and those who pay tip in gratitude.
No persons worth is greater than the next no matter what status in life.
If you feel you don’t have to pay money for gratitude then use your words and show some respect for your server or whoever by telling them personally if you’ve enjoyed their Service or not because reality is in America if you go to an establishment to be serviced by a working individual whether it be a mcds drive thru or a stripper in a bar, are you that indecent to lay a simple token of appreciation? Humble yourself and spread some humanity. I myself would appreciate actual currency but you shouldn’t undermine a working individual just because the law says this and the employer should do that.
Having a decent service experience deserves some form of gratitude whether it be paper or simply thank you. If you don’t get that experience of service up to standards then by all means keep your dollars and your bitterness and never go back to that establishment.
Just know not all service workers are the same and not all customers are the same. As long as you can show equal respect and appreciation to any working individual or consumer.
If you’re so nit picky about giving money or receiving money then maybe you should reevaluate your life style priorities.
In reply to reason
Actually, some people are worth more than others: collectivist minded retards who think they’re bad ass and yet whine on a street corner because their ass belongs, to a union, are worth far less than a waiter. We are financially independent, in my case no corporate rules or an H.R department and I answer to no one. I am truly an individual who works hard and makes my money, and believe me, the money I make.. it more than suffices ;-) so as long as you “Reason” the same way they do, you’ll never make it. The world belongs to the individual who looks out for themselves, the rest of the is just divied up among the the trough eaters. Fuck them.
In reply to reason
Actually, some people are worth more than others: collectivist minded retards who think they’re bad ass and yet whine on a street corner because their ass belongs, to a union, are worth far less than a waiter. They are after all, your customers and the customer is… “always right”. You said yourself, customers are not always the same… yes they are. We are financially independent, in my case no corporate rules or an H.R department and I answer to no one. I am truly an individual who works hard and makes my money, and believe me, the money I make.. it more than suffices ;-) so as long as you “Reason” the same way they do, you’ll never make it. The world belongs to the individual who looks out for themselves, the rest of the is just divied up among the the trough eaters. Fuck them.
In reply to Wolfgang
How would YOU feel if one of YOUR children had to work as a server? Is this how you would want them treated? I think NOT..
Well, not if you’re a good parent anyway
In reply to Wolfgang
It’s not our fault you couldn’t keep your hands off men. You had 3 kids by three different fathers. Wow. And you are not with any of them. Isn’t that a little irresponsible. Isn’t that why the world is so over-populated, and why kids are so messed up these days because they had a mom who slept with every man that looked at her, and they played her like a fiddle and ran out the back door? Have a kid once by a father that doesn’t stay shame on him, have a kid twice by a father that doesn’t stay shame on you, have a kid three times by a father that doesn’t stay WTF????
In reply to Wolfgang
It’s not our fault you couldn’t keep your hands off men. You had 3 kids by three different fathers. Wow. And you are not with any of them. Isn’t that a little irresponsible. Isn’t that why the world is so over-populated, and why kids are so messed up these days because they had a mom who slept with every man that looked at her, and they played her like a fiddle and ran out the back door? Have a kid once by a father that doesn’t stay shame on him, have a kid twice by a father that doesn’t stay shame on you, have a kid three times by a father that doesn’t stay WTF?
In reply to John Snow
Quote:
“The restaurant is required to pay their employees AT LEAST minimum wage no matter how much they made in tips. So when I don’t tip, more of your salery comes from your employer like its supposed to.”
Unfortunately it isn’t always that simple. Most restaurant owners will tell their employees upon hiring that if they consistently do not make up the “unpaid” part of the minimum wage salary, they will be fired and the owner will hire someone who can make it. Basically new employees are told “If you don’t make enough tips, you better claim you do or you will be fired.” It doesn’t matter how good of a server you are, how often you go above and beyond, if people do not tip (and you do not claim the tips as the owner thinks you should) you can, and often will, lose the job.
No, it is not right. It is not right that the government allows restaurant owners to pay their servers less than minimum wage. It is not right for the restaurant owners to basically force their employees to lie just to keep a menial job trying to pay their bills. However, that is the way that it is, and the arguments here are pointless. Unless you have worked as a server, you cannot say they are “uneducated” and “do not deserve a tip”. Every server that I know has worked harder than any other employee in their respective restaurants, and for much less pay.
As for those who say servers have no “skillset”…I’d like to see you try to work as a server and see just how well you do. Being a server is one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done. I have worked at places where the employer actually paid a wage and tips weren’t a ‘necessity’, and I have worked places where tips were much appreciated but not often received. I can honestly say that many of the people I came into contact with understood that, while it was a crappy thing, nothing would be done about it, and servers still needed those much deserved tips to survive.
In reply to Kat
All of the things you mentioned are already part of your job description. News flash: in most civilized countries waiting staff do everything you do, receive a fair wage from their employer, and don’t expect tips. Don’t expect customers to make up for the fact that restaurants don’t pay their staff properly.
Like you said, you do have a real job. As real as any other. And you deserve to get paid for it. BY YOUR EMPLOYER. You don’t tip the tech support guy who fixes your internet. You don’t tip the UPS delivery guy. You don’t tip the teacher at your children’s school. You don’t tip the mall security guard. And you shouldn’t have to tip waiters/taxi drivers/bellboys/whatever.
I wait tables at a restaurant. I do pretty much everything you do. The difference? I get paid 12 euros an hour to provide proper service, because I don’t live in a country that’s still stuck in ancient history.
In reply to Rudy
LISTEN UP ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKERS:
I challenge you to get a job as a server in a restaurant for one month (if you can even last THAT long) and document your experience with video evidence (so there’s no bs) if it is an easy and unskilled job you should be able to swing it right? Until you have successfully completed this challenge with a smile on your face and a standpoint that is still negative of the industry worker. Then you are hereby no longer allowed to spew your ignorance across this thread. SILENCE INSULATE FOOLS. No longer shall you speak upon things of which you know nothing! Now off you go. Happy serving ladies and gents! May the old bitch Karma have mercy upon you. =)
In reply to Rudy
The euro-zone is going to fall you euro trash piece of shit and when that happens, like it always does to Socialist Countries, I hope you starve in Auschvitchz.
In reply to Rudy
Your wage sucks…. why do you work for such shit?
This is also why service is better in the US. You are JUST LIKE the UPS man or FedEx or the security guy at the mall who is 16 and asleep. You all suck!!! THANK GOD I won’t have to wait for crap food in London served by a hygenically challenged twat without speech skills anytime soon.
In reply to Rudy
The key words here were receive a FAIR WAGE from their employers
In reply to Rudy
Rudy… I have to be honest. Totally irrelevant, but since you’re from Europe do you shave? Also, converted to U.S dollars that equals to $13/hour. That kinda sucks. I get $5/hour and with my tips I can make anything between $20 – $26 dollars an hour, depending on the night. Maybe you should come to the U.S… just a thought. Only thing is, PLEASE take a shower everyday here, I know in Europe its not part of your everyday habits. Not trying to be rude, just friendly advice… ya know?
In reply to Kat
Dude you serious? That’s your fucking job. Just do it. If you want tips, which by the way are not ‘to ensure proper service’ but rather defined as “a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services”, are meant to be optional. They’re “given to someone as a reward”. As a “REWARD”. If you’re not doing extra, you don’t get tips, aight? The doctor doesn’t get tips for dealing with shit patients. The guy working behind the complaints counter doesn’t get tipped for listening to pissed off people. We. Aren’t. Made. Of. Money. You of all people should understand that.
“If you don’t tip me, don’t expect good service.” I mean, are you really serious? You’re job is to provide good, tangible service to the customers, who I don’t know if you understand, are paying your bills? I mean come on. It should be, “If you want a tip, give me good service.” not the other way around. Imagine. The next time you give shit service because someone didn’t tip you, well you just lost customers that probably don’t want to come back because of your shit attitude. Which means, less money, less wages, etc, etc.
You’re in the service world, just do your fucking job. God. You don’t see other careers complaining about how little in tips they get. Retail doesn’t get tip, they’re in service. Teachers don’t get tips, social workers don’t get tips. The janitor at my school doesn’t get tips. You should count yourself lucky that you do get tips.
In reply to OMFG
Not to mention you don’t know if they’re going to tip until the END. So how can you gauge whether to be nice or not?
Thank you, by the way. Took the words right out of my mouth…
Months later.
In reply to OMFG
If you can’t afford to tip, then you should take your dumbass to Mcdonalds. Or maybe Burger King where you can “Have it your way”. And if you’re going to come into a restaurant and not tip, believe me everyone will be praying for you never fucking come back.
In reply to OMFG
really doctors make a notable amount of money even if the person is a shit my wife is a server and I am a plumber every once in a while a customer will give mwe a tip even after I give them a giant bill, why? cause they know I work for someone so does my wife if you go above and beyond and you get a tip good that means there is still humanity in this dog eat dog world
In reply to Kat
Preach! This I so true. People dont see the effort we make. We have to be nice and friendly all the time to them and they respong rudely…
In reply to jelly
omg.. really??? They expect you to be POLITE and do your JOB???? absurd. And yes Meg.. you got a tiny check.. how much was stuffed into your apron pockets??? you people cant make up your minds whether you make so much money us peons should be jealous, or so little that we should feel sorry for you, but i suspect it has a lot to do with attitde and what particular part of town and type of restaraunt you work in. I was a small town waitress at Pizza hut, with a good attitude and a good work ethic. I didnt make stellar wages (2.13 an hour plus tips, averaged between 35 and 50 bucks a night tips, which netted me around 8 dollars an hour, i considered it fair considering the economy, the small town, and the fact that this was 20 some years ago) but i made enough to get by, and frankly, thats what a waitress or waiter is SUPPOSED TO DO. it is NOT supposed to be a “living wage” or a “career” it is supposed to be something to help you get through college or fund a teenager’s “extras” not support a family. It is sad when someone has to resort to waiting tables to survive when there is more than one mouth to feed, but that is not the fault of the diners or the industry, its just life, and life isnt fair. Tip what you can afford, dont be stingy, but you shouldnt be expected to pay the entire tuition in one shot, if a waiter is working hard enough to earn her pay he or she should be turning over several tables an hour, so even if each table only leaves 5 or 10 dollars its still a good hourly wage, a dollar, not so much. On one hand the tips are so wildly variable that its like a lottery, highly dependant on where you live and what sorts of places you apply to, along with other, less tangible things. Attractive people will be tipped more than the unattractive, women more then men, and upscale restaraunts because of the ridiculous ties to amount of cost rather than amount of effort, will get more than family style, where conversely, the waitstaff will have more, often MUCH more to do, thanks to messy little diners. Unfortunately these are also the places where average people without a ton of disposable income will go to celebrate small milestones in their average little lives, and they should be free to do so without your censure because they cannot afford 20 to 30 percent tips for your surly service. But if you are kind, and patient, and DO try to smile and offer them some additional enjoyment (*since thats what they are there for, on top of the food, some celebration) these are often the people who will go out of their way to tip well when they can. Frankly, i think most of the carpers on this website are making WELL over minimum wage, thats why they are fighting to keep their tips, but they play the “poor me” routine to justify their own immature entitled attitudes and petty pay back schemes. To them i say Grow the hell up. you DO make minimum wage or above, it IS the law, if your tips dont cover it your employer MUST BY LAW. So stop with the violins and get back to work, and if you spit in someone’s food that is assault, so be prepared to be fired at the least, arrested or sued at max. Not to mention its immoral and disgusting. The lot of you make me sick. In my day we had a WORK ETHIC. Find one.
In reply to Marie
well than serve your own fat ass. Look at yourself! Your pathetic! Your sweating like a stuck pig! Will you please write back? That was a rhetorical question dip shit. Wow you really are a shit sack.
In reply to Kat
Don’t forget filling ketchups and mustards, rolling silverware, cleaning up after everyone’s bratty kids, making sure all the stations are cleaned so these assholes food isn’t contaminated, and most common cleaning up/ vacuuming up the paper napkin someone tore up and threw all over.
In reply to Linda
“cleaning up after everyone’s bratty kids” this is why people don’t tip, wait staff have no manners anymore, disgusting!
In reply to Sammy
HEY SAMMY. MAYBE. JUST MAYBE. IF YOUR KIDS WERENT SO MESSY THAT WOULDN’T OF BEEN SAID. I put muzzles on my children, throw them in cages and leave them at the host stand so they wont talk nor make a mess. I have so much money that I pay everyone a bajillion dollars to not call the cops. It’s not servers that are scum. It’s kids. I don’t even know why the fuck I have them. I’m probably going to put them on the side of the road soon.
In reply to Kat
AMEN
In reply to Kat
Your “job” sounds like it takes no thought or skill. You blackmail me into service as well. Yes cutting lemons and writing things on paper to pass to the chef is “work” for you. Good job on the rest of the things, they were chores (no paid) I learned to do when i was 5. You muct be very proud of yourself.
In reply to Jimmy
Please go get a serving job for one month. I challenge you and your ignorance.
In reply to Jimmy
How do we blackmail you when you choose to go out to eat at a restaurant instead of cooking for yourself or the drive thru. I surely didn’t call you up on the phone and issue a warning of “come in or else…..” I don’t stand at your table holding you hostage or your food hostage until you tip. No you walk in on your own and expect me to provide you with best service possible with a smile as you’ve sent me to go get you something elae cause when I asked you, ” is there anything I can get you?”, you couldn’t tell me all at one time. Maybe you should learn some multitasking so you can carry-on that conversation with the one your with while trying to eat and remember if you use ketchup or not. Trust me by the fourth time I’ve had to turn right around to get you something I am annoyed but funny how you’d never know it cause I have grace and manners and my momma taught me better. Blackmail, what a joke.
In reply to Jimmy
My “job” probably pays more than yours. I don’t care if you tip or not, I’ll still make more. I’m 21 by the way… Your probably broke in your 30s wondering how your even gonna pay the bill. Let alone tip haha. Keep being a cheap miserable asshole I’m sure your really enjoying life. Don’t talk shit about something you know nothing about. Goodnight.
In reply to Jimmy
JIMMY.Nobody is blackmailing you.You are a cheap bastard and proud of it.
In reply to Jimmy
Jimmy you were rolling silverware and filling ketchup bottles at 5 yrs old!! You had a weird childhood man
In reply to Kat
Thank You Kat…they have no Idea.. What kind of skill set… You need to be a waiter. Let this cheap people choke someday. :-)
In reply to Kat
Funny how you say “I don’t spit in people’s food, or screw with their orders. I’m not that kind of person”. And then go on about how you “won’t bring you your drinks, your sides will take forever to get out to your table, and I will withhold you order for a long while, and leave it sitting there so it comes out lukewarm. I won’t check up on you, you won’t see me again actually”.
And in another post you actually say I will intentionally give you a fucked up order.”
Servers like you are the reason servers like me are given a bad name. In the cust. service industry for 23 years and never no matter what a customer did would I ever given anything but my best. The service you are providing has your name on it, it says who you are, tells about your integrity and morals. What it shows is you are nothing but white trash. I believe I should be tipped for my service but I believe my service comes before all else. Good luck, your gonna need it.
In reply to Erinn
Don’t you mean cunt. service industry? C’mon stop getting all self-righteous on us little girl, don’t set yourself apart from the rest..
In reply to jason S
Nah she meant the CUM GUZZLING INDUSTRY ! Exactly what you get paid for each night on the corners I send you out to?? You got my money Jason AND MY TIP ? Don’t get on here acting like your hard trying to impress folks..Big Joker R U Now ?? U Little hopscotch jumping tulip wearing illiterate F@@k..Go cut on yourself some more! P.S. YOU WILL NOT BE MISSED !
In reply to Erinn
So you brag about your twenty three years of ‘ great’ service but no matter what you do your best. So if a repeat customer treats you like shit and will never tip because you do not deserve it for being uneducated served like all servers..you would still treat him we’ll. BULL SHIT! Twenty three years you would not deal with that. Plus you’ve been a serverfor that long so you ARE the picture perfect sever this guy has painted out. That servers will never better their selves. You have proven that… Even though you SHOULD be giving great service after twenty three years you idiot. Smh. I’m a sever but I would give this guy a piece of my mind while giving ‘decent’ customers my great service.
In reply to Kat
Oh that’s so harddddd. Go cry yourself to sleep. You do less than a McDonald’s employee and they don’t even get tips.
In reply to You’re A Dumbass
Yes, however you’re paying for table side service vs. Some greasy asshole zit faced kid at a counter to get your order wrong. Big difference. Are you retarded? Lmao
In reply to You’re A Dumbass
Mcdonalds makes minimum wage asshole, so they shouldn’t get tipped out, our checks are $0 -$30 every two wks, somebody has to be a server or we would have no restaurants, just like a pizza boy or a cashier someone has to do these jobs in order for the world to run….
In reply to You’re A Dumbass
is this a site of cheap bastards?
I got news for you lowlifes.CARMA IS A BITCH
In reply to Kat
It’s actually “ensure”. The word “insure” in that context makes no sense. Your argument sucks, also.
In reply to Kat
I could not have said it better myself! I worked as a hostess at a restaurant and got asked so many times if I wanted to serve, but I declined every time because I know I could not do the work the servers do and I definitely couldn’t put up with assholes like this guy. Working in a restaurant has definitely made me tip even better than I did already!
In reply to Kat
I feel your pain I always go out to eat and I see how ppl treats you guys it’s so bad but there are some nice ppl also outside who cares about you guys I’m not telling u this to make u feel like I’m a great person but I usually go to ihop every Saturday night and there is a same server who serve us one night some ppl leave the table the one who he is serving even without paying a bill they said they r going out for smoke and they left from there they r 7 people and I really feel bad bcoz the waiter told me that ihop policy is if something happens like this then waiter is the one who is going to pay that ticket price and I think that is not fair at all so I told him bring the bill to me for those stupid ppl and I paid the whole bill bcoz what I believe is waiters are one who deals with your drunk asses on weekends and they clean ppls shit
In reply to Ali Muhammad
You are a good, kind, caring person and your good deeds will come back to you. God bless you!
In reply to Kat
Well said my dear!!
In reply to Kat
You rattled off 20 things that you have to do at your job that my 7 year old sister is also capable of. Do you understand why people don’t have a lot of sympathy for this position, or think it’s worth 40k/yr?
In reply to based
Oh yeah? Your 7 year old sister can juggle 8 plates at 165°? You want your 7 year old sister to be eye candy for old men? Do you want her working in place where guys touch her sweet little ass? Bet you do you fucking pervert. Go fuck your sister
In reply to based
Are you that miserable with your own life that you care this much about your server’s salary? Stay the fuck home then! Or, go to McDonald’s and spike your free refill with vodka to combat your terrible day and terrible attitude. If you don’t think I deserve a tip, DONT TIP ME! I’m not losing any sleep over it. Some people still enjoy the experience of having another human being interact with them. Yes, a servers job can be replaced by a computer. But so can so many other jobs! No, it’s not that hard. But have some fucking compassion, you miserable prick.
In reply to Kat
Hes not saying you don t deserve a tip hes saying he should have to be the one to pay for it. He shouldn’t have to pay you for doing your job that’s your employers job. Hes saying that one day a restaurant came up with the idea will let the customer decide if they get paid for doing your job so we don’t have too. I think its bullshit. I always tip because I know how hard you work but the customer shouldn t have to pay you for doing your job right your employer should, its bullshit.
In reply to Kat
Absolutely correct. If your a non tipper, then don’t complain when you sit in my section on your next visit and DON’T receive the service you expect.
In reply to Kat
Kat,
I agree with you.
When I go out to eat its for a reason and that reason is I don’t have to cook that meal, I don’t have to serve that meal, I don’t have to deal with the family saying I don’t like that and I don’t have to clean up after that meal, that my friend is why people go out to eat. So it is worth it to me to tip you are saving me a night of work.
I applaud all waitresses and waiters who work hard for those tips.
I would do the same thing and Ren, do you really think her boss is going to fire her, think again behind closed doors her boss is high fiving her!!!!
In reply to Kat
A bit faulty, eh? Tips don’t necessarily ensure good service. You don’t know if they’re going to tip until the END. And the way you’re putting it makes it sound like the OP’s argument; you’re bribing people to be nice with money.
In reply to Kat
This is perfecttttt :)
In reply to Kat
Amen! I am a full time college student at one of the most prestigious universities in the country and I wait tables to help make ends meet and attempt to support myself and attempt to pay off some of my student loan debt. I am not a retard nor am I lazy. Being a server or a waiter or whatever you want to call us is not easy. There is a ton that goes on behind the scenes. We are the backbone of the restaurant.
My boss is an amazing person, and I dealt with an individual who is very similar to the one who wrote this article and my boss called him out on not tipping me on a nearly $200 dollar check. He kicked the man out of the restaurant and told him he was no longer welcome in his establishment. And the other patrons I was serving were so kind that they each pitched in a little so that I got a decent tip off that check, and then they all still tipped me separately.
There are very view individuals who view waiters as lazy or stupid or any variation of worthless. A vast majority of people have been servers at one point or another and have respect for their servers. I am working as a server because my hours are more flexible and work better with my school schedule. I work hard to earn that tip.
If you dont want to tip me after I give you amazing service, then dont come into the restaurant. My boss will happily kick your no-good, rotten, selfish, self-entitled butt out.
In reply to Kyla
Bullshit, no manager is ever going to embarrass a wealthy customer that can affored a $200 dinner plate You can be easily replaced. Wealthy customers are not a dime a dozen like you.
In reply to Amy
HEY AMY. A $200 dinner plate is so POOR. I literally walk into the restaurant and tell the manager that I want to pay $5,000 dollars more for each piece of food I order. If my bill isn’t at least 5 million dollars, I buy the whole restaurant & the restaurants next door bottles upon bottles of liquor. This isn’t a lie. My house is literally 126 floors & sits on 5,000,000 acres. I will wire you a bajillion dollars so you can live like I do for a week & know what REAL wealth is! I would never fucks with you. My friends and I like to drive around and hit you all with our Rolls Royces because we have nothing better to do & pregnant women are double points.
In reply to Kyla
Thank goodness for your excellent boss and your teammates.
In reply to Kat
AMEN. Seriously. People don’t realize how hard it can be to ensure they have the best experience possible!
In reply to Kat
I would just like to thank you for your awesome rebuttal to this dumbass’ article. This guy is a complete douchebag! I also work in the restaurant business as a server and I can relate to you on everything you said! Thanks again!
In reply to Kat
TIPS does *not* stand for To Insure Proper Service, that is a made up acronym so you can make excuses not to do the job you have been hired to do.
Everything you described is **a part of your job**.
If you ever did what you described above to me if I was a non-tipper, I would take a record of the entire night and make sure Corporate fires you and compensates me. Luke warm food would be sent back, again, and again, and again, until you did your JOB right.
Seriously, get over yourself.
In reply to Sean
Hahaha true he’s a scumbag!it’s miserable people like him has to try to put somebody else down to make him feel South better for 5 minutes, well we enjoy our serving jobs and make good money doing it so get some therapy there may be some medication to make you better..p.s we won’t get fired cause of jackass people like you lmao so try it, also I don’t suggest sending back hot water cause it won’t come back what at all…
In reply to carrie
this is a basic defensive mechanism; you can’t deal with the fact that I’m right, so you shit talk me instead. face up to the truth.
If you enjoy your serving job, why do you care about anything I have to say?
p.s. if a restaurant manager is faced with either firing a potential food-spitter who earns minimum wage in a low-skilled job or losing a customer and generating a large amount of very negative buzz… haha have fun finding another job, you fucking idiot.
Seth, you’re right that the general living wage needs to be raised. However, should I tip other people on minimum wage? if it’s just about them needing the $$$ then if anything we should direct it towards minimum-wage workers that don’t get tips. Or is it that i should feel grateful to a server for doing their god-damn job?
In reply to tehy
Uh. huh. I think they care because they like being able to take something away from the wealthier customer. That’s why if they aren’t allowed to, then they’re like “Well, I’ll just spit in your food then” “I’ll just sleep with your husband.” (I saw that on a different page) “Then just DIE, or go serve yourself but DIE” If they can’t get the money, then they’ll take something away from you one way or the other.
In reply to Anna
I BET UR UGLY ASS HELL !
In reply to Sean
You’re right it’s a “part of the job.” But tips are “part of your wage” when you are making $2 an hour for the minimum tip wage. I keep reading the same things over and over and over again. By agreeing to eat at an establishment and get waited on rather than getting the food as a take out order, you’re enjoying much cheaper prices of food and entering into a social contract to tip. You ALWAYS have the option to take your food home rather than take a seat, and that’s your best chance of continuing to be a low life cheapskate. In terms of good service being part of the job, you’re right, but if I’m aware that you’re not going to tip, but my other tables will, of course I’m going to pay more attention to them. That’s capitalism and just plain common sense. Also, and this is very important, customers benefit from lower food prices solely because of the tipping system. Oh and guess what! Even if you tipped 20% on those meals you would still be spending less money than you would be in a non tipping restaurant overseas. And before anyone says “that’s not true,” it is. It is a cold hard fact, evident in standard of living statistics . To take one example, in the U.S. the average cost per meal for 2 at a medium priced restaurant is $50. In China and New Zealand its $100. Do the math for yourself. The smallest discrepancy for countries with comparable economies is still about $20-$30 more. So even with that 20% tip, you’re still saving $10 to $20, and in some cases up to $50. So the argument that employers should pay more rather than customers tipping DOESN’T ADD UP!
In reply to Kat
I agree with the article. Sure the author is a bit of an antisocial arse. But he’s right. And I believe the amount of people being served is a factor to take into consideration as well.
(1-3 people shouldn’t have to tip every time, unless their requests are excessive. Four or more that dont tip have mother’s who are whores.)
That’s why any normal person, not in the middle or upper class, can’t afford to tip every time they go out to eat.
Life’s not easy and nice all the damn time.
No one really has the job they want. Living paycheck to paycheck. Or supportive family and friends; hell some don’t even have any of the above. So they’re definitely not gonna give up their bus money to make you feel better about your “service”
If you’re a waiter/waitress, or bartender, that expects a tip from every single contributing person that walks into the establishment, (especially a chain) maybe you should consider a different job, or position. When it “irritates” you that you’re not receiving a tip, you’re a self centered piece of shit. The world doesn’t revolve around any individual person.
A tip is NOT MANDATORY. Sure, in America it’s “common courtesy.” Yet, not everyone is rolling in money left and right.
Now, if you’re clearly stiffed of a tip, ie a bill that’s $100 above average, you and the rest are hustling, and they’re still clearly a prioritized customer(s), and they cant leave an extra $1-$5 or 5%-15% for your effort, they’re just cheap assholes. And you should know.
And knowing is half the battle!
In reply to Kat
Kat, you are awesome! I was going to reply to this arrogant clown but you’ve succinctly stated everything on my mind. I wish I could come into your work and leave a ridiculously generous tip! Keep up the hard work and don’t let ignorant jackasses like this get to you.
In reply to Kat
Waitstaff isnt a hard job thats why you get shit pay dont try to glorify the job or make it seem hard by naming 50 meaningless tedious tasks such as cleaning a salt shaker and call the job “hard” it may be hard for a low life who doesnt know what real work is but also dont bash on highsalary works in offices theres a reason your a waiter who makes shit pay and theyre in an off making 10 times what you make
In reply to Kat
Thank you Kat! There is a lot more to the job than carrying food. And yes, a lot of that is in our job description, but that doesn’t mean we don’t deserve a tip. We are on our feet running around all day doing things customers don’t realize we do, while keeping a smile on our faces when talking to rude, disrespectful, self-righteous people who think they are better than us because we brought their food to them. I’ve always noticed the people that tip the best are current/former servers and bartenders, while the worst tippers are normally doctors etc. It seems the more money you have, the less you tip. Most of the people saying we don’t deserve tips or don’t work that hard have obviously never been a server or a bartender and would never be able to handle it.
In reply to Kat
A few points for those that just don’t get it (and those who are uninformed):
1. There are two types of minimum wage for tipped workers and non-tipped workers. There is normally at least a $5 difference.
2. The restaurant does not-I repeat DOES NOT-determine the minimum wage for servers. Minimum wage is set by the government, so telling servers to complain to the owner is pointless.
3. Yes-our side work, food prep, cleaning, cashing you out, etc is in the job description. There is also a lot that servers do that is not in the job description. Either way, it is still a lot of work that has to be done, and most of it has to be done while taking care of 3-5 tables (with an average of 4 people per table) and helping out anyone that needs help. I can promise you it isn’t as simple as it may sound.
4. Many people wait tables while going to school or as a second job. Some people do it temporarily, but others truly love it and choose to do it long term. If they didn’t do it who would? You? Are you able to go do that job? No. You won’t and probably can’t.
5. Whether you agree with the system or not, it is set up for servers to be tipped. The federal government has it set up that way, we didn’t randomly wake up one day and think ‘hey let’s do this and steal money.’
6. Yes there are servers that are overly talkative, friendly, etc to get tips but most are just being polite. And some are just naturally friendly to everyone no matter what. Imagine that.
Tipping is not a new thing. It’s been here a while. You can’t act surprised that servers are expecting a tip or pretend you didn’t know about it. There are also other jobs that tip. Hotels, for example. And when your corporate boss offers an incentive, isn’t that a bribe or a tip?
I understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and not everyone can leave $20-30 tips. But if you at least try to leave something, that’s better than nothing. It’s also common courtesy. Just because you may not agree for whatever misguided reason doesn’t mean you should be rude, disrespectful, or condescending about it.
In reply to Kat
A few points for those that just don’t get it (and those who are uninformed):
1. There are two types of minimum wage for tipped workers and non-tipped workers. There is normally at least a $5 difference.
2. The restaurant does not-I repeat DOES NOT-determine the minimum wage for servers. Minimum wage is set by the government, so telling servers to complain to the owner is pointless.
3. Yes-our side work, food prep, cleaning, cashing you out, etc is in the job description. There is also a lot that servers do that is not in the job description. Either way, it is still a lot of work that has to be done, and most of it has to be done while taking care of 3-5 tables (with an average of 4 people per table) and helping out anyone that needs help. I can promise you it isn’t as simple as it may sound.
4. Many people wait tables while going to school or as a second job. Some people do it temporarily, but others truly love it and choose to do it long term. If they didn’t do it who would? You? Are you able to go do that job? No. You won’t and probably can’t.
5. Whether you agree with the system or not, it is set up for servers to be tipped. The federal government has it set up that way, we didn’t randomly wake up one day and think ‘hey let’s do this and steal money.’
6. Yes there are servers that are overly talkative, friendly, etc to get tips but most are just being polite. And some are just naturally friendly to everyone no matter what. Imagine that.
Tipping is not a new thing. It’s been here a while. You can’t act surprised that servers are expecting a tip or pretend you didn’t know about it. There are also other jobs that tip. Hotels, for example. And when your corporate boss offers an incentive, isn’t that a bribe or a tip?
I understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and not everyone can leave $20-30 tips. But if you at least try to leave something, that’s better than nothing. It’s also common courtesy. Just because you may not agree for whatever misguided reason doesn’t mean you should be rude, disrespectful, or condescending about it. If you received bad service leave a penny. Otherwise please tip your servers!! They have worked harder than you know.
In reply to Kat
Ba Ha Ha Ha!!!!
I am sure whoever this is didn’t really make good use of those TIPS to educate themselves properly!
A really confused individual who needs to go back to grade school and learn the difference between
Insure and Ensure!
(TO “INSURE” PROPER SERVICE)
I agree that its a customary to TIP waiters because they get paid below minimum wage, but its definitely NOT the customers fault that the restaurant owners don’t want to pay them. TIP is a gratuity amount that is completely dependent on what the customer, whether he wants to pay or not pay at all. And YES its is frowned upon in countries where it is customary to not give a TIP. It is unfortunate that the employers want to take advantage to the TIP culture. Tipping is a tradition only prevalent in some countries. (Mostly in US and some other countries) In fact, for people in Japan, waiters think it is rude of the customer, if they tip.
So don’t be sore at the customers who doesn’t want to TIP. Complain to the management that their Employees should not have to rely on TIPS for livelihood and should be paid at least minimum wage.
In reply to Kat
Well said. As a Chef in the industry, I have seen too many of the servers I have worked with have to deal with this level of ignorance (and worse, to be honest). This article was very frustrating to read. Such a level of self-entitlement. “Be happy I have given you anything at all”? If his boss were to call him in to his office tomorrow, cut his salary in half, and give him that same statement, he would complain as well, I’m absolutely sure. So again, I say, Bravo!
In reply to Kat
Dear Kat
As I’ve worked wait help too I’ve come to the same conclusions and warranted the same feelings against this jag off also. Maybe his arguments were childish and very poorly structured with unnecessary tones of infancy. I used to wait help for resorts and cruise liners for “The Mouse” if you can see what I refer to and it’s not an easy profession; higher regards to the hardship I’ve endured because it’s under this company because people paid so much for the overall experience that tipping is the last topic in their minds. As I’ve come to sympathize with you, this blogger aroused my memories of being BOH. I can tell you that BOH is easily 10x harder than it is to wait or bus help because those cooks stand in front of burners, fryers, stoves, ovens, flat tops, heat lamps, and handle more equipment that can easily atop that safety risk for hours! I cannot say that I’ve prepared salads or soup because the cooks and food preps are the ones who made it. The clean dish and tabletop ware that I set was cleaned by the efficiency of the stewards or dishwashers. The allergies and dietary needs of the guests are handled by chefs or BOH leads. So essentially my $1000 paycheck in tips by week’s end doesn’t account for the support staff that helped make the customer satisfied enough to leave me a tip. I owe it all to BOH because the customer comes for their food and not my service; me being there just creates a medium between the customer and the cook. Coming from the hotline I’ve always recognized the hardships and stress it is accompanied with and that’s why I always give them my focus and praises to because they made it happen! I’m not trying to rain down on your rant as I surely would’ve done too but he issued some points that sensibly can be better argued for if argued by the right person. I’m also not sure if I’m allowed to correlate my experience as wait help with yours because of who I work for and the politics and policies I abide with but I know your struggle dear Kat.
Sincerely Jose
In reply to Kat
You are exactly right TIP is a centuries old abbreviation for “to insure proper service”. It used to be administered before the meal to make sure the server treated that customer with due respect keeping their drinks full and getting their meal right. This still translates into today’s world even though it is given at the end of service. “IF” you get my meal right and keep my drinks filled you get a tip, if you don’t you get nothing, this is what the author is trying to stress. A tip is not something that is a given, it is based totally upon the service rendered by the wait staff, good service=good tip, bad service=bad tip.
In reply to Kat
I’m a server too. And holy shit. This was perfect.
In reply to Kat
Amen sister. I’m a waitress too and this highly offended me. Not all waitresses work at places that have people to clean off there tables or prep certain things in the kitchen. Heck on Friday nights, we can’t even keep up with rolling silverware. Just because this guy is too arrogant to see that, you should know I appreciate what you and every other waitress does. They know our faces and not our stories. It’s not easy coming to work feeling like you’re going to cry and having to put a smile on your face because people don’t really want to know what is going on in your life, so thank you for telling him what it’s really like because you said just what I was thinking and feeling all in one
In reply to Kat
Thanks for proving this article right! Enjoy your lifetime of menial jobs!
In reply to Kat
Kate,
You completely touched on subjects I wanted to point out is why I agree with the blogger.
This past week I spent my days working at a potato chip factory (will not give out the name, but trust me you have eaten them). We are installing a new automation system at their biggest facility.. Helping to speed up the shipping process for all the hungry potato chip fans on game day.
First off, IT’S HOT IN THERE! When it’s 65 outside, your sweating inside.. Mostly due to the fact they have to ensure the building is insect tight.
When I started there, it is LOUD! Machines roaring, machines beeping when product is backing up, and large furnaces roaring.. You have to talk in a high voice to hear anyone..
ON top of this you are required to wear hard hats, heavy boots, safety glasses, hairnets and oh yeah.. beard nets as well. You will be required to wear shirts and jeans.. (not the cute shorts or kakis waitresses get to wear.) . The bottom of my booty greasy from the oil on the floor.
Then you have to use a lift to a point. Then climb on top of an object and pull thick heavy strands of wire though an LB with three other coworkers.. all at there own position pulling wire.. You struggle to keep balance, not fall 20 feet, plummeting to your permeant disablement , you pull and pull with great strength as your safety glasses fog from your perspiration. Later you are then told to measure, design and fabricate brackets that look perfect. However, the catch is that you are shoved in a 4×4 corner. Simply because you cannot block customer personal for their product movement.
After the long 14 hour day of feeling like situated in pure hell. You step outside to breath in the cool air evening air; You take off the uncomfortable heavy sweaty boots in the gravel parking lot. The cold air rushing over your feet, feeling better then the jagged rocks. Yours cloths filled in sweat and musk. Wanting to just curl over and sleep in your car. However, you drive home 1.5 hours. Putting on a happy smile, acting like you a great day and happy to see your family..
Then on that Sunday when you take your family out to a nice restaurant. making sure your child is silent and respectful. Telling your wife “order dish of your desire”. To only be greeted by the unhappy waitress who fusses about sitting in AC and refilling menus and salt shakers. Who complains about unhappy childish cooks. Who have never handled the stress of “I know you had this vacation planned with your family and we are sorry, but the project deadline is being pushed. “Can you move your vacation to next July. We will pay you the vacation time plus your pay” Inside burning with disappoint and rage.. Only to swallow your feelings.. and give a simple nod of ok. Telling your Son to understand, we cannot always expect things to happen when planned. Then to your upset wife at night. “There is no choice in the matter, we got the extra money, we will just have to wait until next year.”
In reality you don’t treat me as my tip or tips (as you say it..) “To Insure Proper Service”. You treat me as the previous person has TIPS you. Either polite and eager to serve or bland and the casual or downright lazy.
In the end, I am still paying a higher price for grocery store quality food. To pay the cook in the back sweating his butt off, the owner for taxes, facility upkeep and profit. Then yes, there is the waitress that deal with drama in the comfortable temperature controlled environment. Sure you deal with the occasional pissed off customer, you fill a salt shaker or two. You yell at a cook and your already making a base salary, for that work.. On top of that let’s face it. If your tips continue to decline. It’s only because you carried the drama of your last customer onto your next. Or because you simply are horrible as a waitress.
Twenty or even ten years back. I would have respected your position. Now in the twenty-tens. Times have changed for America. If you are late twenties or above as a male or female waitress. You are seen as either someone with a wealthily spouse or someone that has excused college. Yet, expecting the same respect as a professional..
You will soon have to face the facts of refilling menus, salt shakers, and cups. Answering basic questions from a 20 minute menu study. Will no longer grant you the same wage and respect it once did. As the country declines. So will your lifestyle.. Which sadly sounds like you have not come to understanding of the nation’s new reality..
It is going to be very.. very hard for people like you to adjust..
In reply to Kat
You really work hard. Too bad it’s not our fault that your employer doesn’t pay you well enough and tippers have to do it. There are people that work in fast food that can do what you do and work twice as hard but get paid minimum wage. I worked at Taco Bell and basically did what you do. Cook, clean, take orders, be kind to rude customers, answer questions, and stock. I got paid minimum wage without pity tips. So get off your high horse and think that people are expected to tip for your wage. Tell your employer to raise your wage or go find another job. Tips should be voluntary. Not a requirement.
In reply to Victor
You sound like a very angry person. ..and kinda dumb.
In reply to Kat
Yeah it’s called a job. You’re already paid to do that.
In reply to Veritas
It’s just a nice thing to do, alright? I know that every penny I get helps to save up for college, so I am grateful for every dollar that goes in to my pocket. It’s just a kind and generous gesture to help your server out, that’s all.
In reply to Kat
I LOVE that the most articulate and cognizant posters on this thread are servers and waitstaff in general. EVERYONE should have to work in the public sector; preferably in a tipping environment. NO ONE earns their keep like the FOH/BOHS.
Here’s a tip.. if you can’t afford to tip DONT EAT OUT. It’s not the server’s problem that you write for a living, why don’t YOU find a real job. Maybe then you’d have enough money to leave a decent tip. Let’s be honest you’re probably only paying for one person (I can’t imagine many girls/boys want to go out with a narcissistic prick like you), so what your meal is about $10 and leaving a $2 tip is breaking the bank for you? Sounds like a personal problem. Good luck living alone forever, but at least you have the internet to hide behind right?
In reply to Cameron
Here’s a tip… If you can’t afford to pay fair employee wages DON’T OPEN A RESTAURANT. It’s not the writers (or anybody elses) problem that you serve tables for a living, why don’t YOU find a real job. Maybe then you’d have enough money not to rely on peoples, other than your employers, hard earned cash. If a girl didn’t want to date me because I don’t tip, the chances are she wasn’t somebody worth dating in the first place. No biggie, but I’m not struggling there. Calling me narcissistic is calling the kettle black. Servers think they’re God sent and that them agreeing to a 2 dollar wage is my fault, and I should pay 20% on top of the already over 100% inflated price of the meal to include paying your wage. I have to pay your wage through the inflated menu prices AND 20% extra to cut out the middle man whos screwing you in the first place? It’s not about breaking the bank, it’s about being forced to take the blame for your employers actions. It’s because servers (like employers) pawn the responsibility of giving the servers fair wages on me, somebody who has no obligation to make sure you are able to live off your employment. The consumer has ZERO obligation to ensure your livelihood, that burden falls on your employer. You should be able to survive without tips, and receive tips OPTIONALLY for service that was above and beyond your job description (refills, taking orders, knowledge of the menu,being polite, not looking miserable, and bringing me my cheque). Sorry I’m such an asshole and feel that your employer should pay you fairly instead of relying on the chance a stranger with no financial responsibility for you gives you a couple bucks more than they are required to. Servers logic.
Oh I love the originality of your comment. What do you do all day? Sit behind a computer, pretend to work, and really waste all of your “hard earned” money away buying useless shit on Amazon?
I love how every who does not believe in tipping cannot even come up with an original insult, or retort.
Retarded people are fun to laugh at. They are like clowns without the make up.
As I live in the UK we have a minimum wage over here which I dare say is a fair reasonable way of getting by.
But to be honest if I go to a restaurant I will still leave a tip as I do understand that working in a restaurant is long hours hard work and putting up with abuse by pi55heads .
But I have to say that that the restaurant owners extract the urine whilst paying out such extreme diabolical low wages.
Although I never tip barman its just something you just never do over here and if you did everyone would think your wierd.
In reply to Paul
restaurant work is hard, but so are many other jobs that do not demand tips. waitresses that get the minimum wage still want to spit in your food when you do not give them a tip. A tip might be a good idea when you have excess money and want to spoil the person who brought your food from point a to point b, but that is all it is. if i have $11 left in this world and I am hungry, and the cheapest thing on your menu is $9.25, why should you get the remaining $1.75 that I have to take the bus home
In reply to lola
If you have $11 left in this world, you don’t go and eat out at a restaurant, you go to the grocery store and buy a 25 cent packet of ramen, you idiot. Please never reproduce!!
In reply to lola
That’s ironic. If you were that poor, I and many servers I knew when I waited tables would’ve brought you EXTRA food and tried to get the restaurant to comp your meal. A select few might’ve even paid for it out of their own money. We certainly wouldn’t expect you to give us the less than two bucks you have. You are targeting the wrong people in bucking the system, and you fail to justify what is basically greed.
I bet you don’t go out much anyway. Who would want to hang out with a pompous windbag like you? I would not. Yucky.
In reply to Beth Elle
Hi beth I’m not sure what point your trying to make here apart from the infantile criticism of an honest reply.
I’m not sure whether you’re a bit sad and lonely or you crave attention but you seriously need to get out more and bag a fella to ease your frustration.
As for being pompous and yukky believe me Darling you wouldn’t want to turn me down my charm and good looks makes me a hit with the ladies. Bye for now x
Restaurant owners should not be allowed to pay minimum wage. people should not deliberately go to a job interview where they will get $2 and hour knowing that customers do not have to pay tips. I go get food outside the house because I am hungry not because I want some special treatment. even to take my food to go some restaurants want me to tip (no bueno)
Wow fuck you dude. You’re a piece of shit. If you don’t wanna tip then don’t go out to eat and cook your own god damn meals you son of a bitch.
Dude you have no idea what your talking about. Should your waiter walk up and bitch you out and be a dick? Or try to be your friend and make your night that much more special. I don’t think you should go out in the US then, go back to where being a total dick bag human being is acceptable. I work as a cook for a fixed rate but my servers make the customers keep coming back and keep me employed.
In reply to Ken Siddoway
I have NEVER once in my life been like “hey that food sucked, but the server was awesome! I’m going to keep coming back”, or even, “That food was awesome! I’m coming back because of the awesome service though!”.. but I have said (and heard) “That service was trash, but the food was amazing. Id still go back”. In other words, if the service is bad but food is good people will come back. If the service is good but food is bad, chances are people wont come back.
Servers are not what keeps customers coming back, unless they’re creepy old men who love to think the servers into them. People go out to EAT, and therefor come back because they enjoy the food. If i want to pay for attention ill go to a strip club.
I’m sure that on occasions people do go back to a restaurant because the service was good, but not nearly as often as people go back to restaurants because they enjoyed the food.