5 reasons why I won’t tip you if you’re a waiter

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

 

Did you earn this tip?

 

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.

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12,129 thoughts on “5 reasons why I won’t tip you if you’re a waiter”

  1. I think its sad that you don’t appreciate what a waiter/waitress does. Not only do they bring you your food, but they refill your drink, get any condiments, napkins, clean your table, and get the drink for you that THEY have to refill in the first place. Not to mention they deal with your attitude, which from reading your views is almost certainly obnoxious and annoying. But they bare it with a smile on their faces so you have a good meal. All while getting payed their low salary. So sir, I ask you to reavaluate your heartless view of tipping.

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  2. I strap on my apron every damn day and give great service! I absolutely love my job, and love serving people with a smile! If people don’t tip me, I keep my mouth shut, and keep working like I’m damned supposed to. Period. We’re there to work, not wonder about the 5 or 10 or 15 dollars someone didn’t leave, you sulk and everyone else in the joint can see, and then see how much normal tipping folks leave you then when it’s written across your face that you’re pissed off and unconsciously take it out on them! Same if someone has a problem, if someone yells at you, suck it up and take it, we should be on our hands and knees taking care of the patrons who walk into our restaurant doors, we’re their for them and ONLY them, or guess what? We’re out a job that we were fortunate enough to get. My rate is higher than $2.15, it’s around $6/hr plus tips, and the hours I log, my paychecks are still pretty good. I feel that I’m worth exactly what I bring home, by exactly what I bring into work. Sell your great attitude, then check your tables…

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    • In reply to Oliver

      Oliver, you’re such a good boy! Just remember your place in life and you should be fine, sweetie. And remember that when I come into your establishment, that I am not going to tip you. I believe you are worth every penny of 6 dollars per hour however. But I must say I do love your attitude! When I bring my big hulking man, who works for a reputable Fortune 500 company, into your restaurant, we’re going to expect that you uphold your promise and expect you to deliver the prompt service, that you were hired to deliver, and of course based on what’s written in your employee handbook. You do that, we’ll have no problem. You keep a smile on that face, and we will to, we might even recommend your place to friends. But I have to forewarn you since you brought it up, we might sneer at you a little bit, because of your uniform. You see, when you strap that apron on, just remember to tie it tight and snug to protect those clothes that you *need* since you couldn’t afford too many shirts, but we just feel that anyone in uniform and apron is beneath us, so despite your smile if we sneer, don’t let that deter you from your job.

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  3. Sad @ the ignorance. I’ve been a server for eight years, taken care of my father, and am in the process of starting my own business. But I’m some unskilled idiot who didn’t want to apply herself? So much for everyone having their own walk in life. Everyone who thinks service is just putting your food on the table for you… well, it might be for you, because terrible people are easy to spot and we’re really not concerned with wasting our time and SKILLS on you anyway. When you can tend to 25 unforgiving people and all of their demands, help your other 14 staff members out, and run in and out of a kitchen for 8 hours that’s hot as hell and full of angry attitudes… all to be followed by two hours of clean up after the masses at the end of the night, then you can talk skills. sitting on your money looking down is not a skill, and the reason that you’re everything that’s wrong with society. forget about class and start thinking about humankind. disgusting.

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  4. No matter how you look at this, servers are hired as a convenience for you and do indeed perform a service.

    They’re there to make your dining experience more pleasurable, not all servers are amazing but they still try.

    When you go to a grocery store, do they go and grab everything you want from the shopping list? Well, I’ve never been to the store that does that. Do you go get your food from the kitchen at the restaurant? No, the server is bringing it to you. Refills your drinks, should ask if everything is good and do everything she or he can do to make your experience better.
    They put up with disgruntled people, ignorant people and tell you the specials. I’ve never been a server, and never will be but it’s much needed. Then again, I guess I’m the type of guy that if I see someone sad or depressed I confront them. I try to make them feel better, you’re talking down to all servers in general. By the way “TIPS” has a meaning behind it… “To Insure Prompt Service!”

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  5. TIPS means To Insure Prompt Service. Period. Now, FOR THE FUCKING RETARDS who don’t understand this, you are paying ME to insure you while your at the restaurant. Think of it as reverse-health insurance as in, if you stiff me, the next time around, I’m gonna pop 5 laxatives and take a complete and utter SHITTERIA on your goddamned food plate, table your face in your mouth on your 98 year old mother/grandmother. So, tip or else losers. Oh, you’re gonna call the cops huh? We don’t where name badges, i don’t tell you my name and I take employee info from office cabinet before I leave to ensure prompt cop evade.

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      • In reply to Paul

        I made these 2 assholes wait today because they’re known to be non tippers i made them wait 15 minutes. And when they complained i went up to them and blamed the managers for not telling the other servers there was a shift change. I do what I want and say what i have to to clear myself and blame others while make you wait like the hungry bitches you are at my mercy when you come to my place bitch. Then i took their food out missing somethings like cream cheese and a few others he was really pissed but he didn’t say shit. Of course there was no tip at the end but I knew these cheap pollocks to begin with weren’t tipping so you get shit service and i’m immune.

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    • In reply to heyyourmother

      Yes sir hello goodbye welcome to my donut shop gas station make your self read a magazine 6 dollar hello special today with coffee and croissant goodbye great day have you hello bathroom for customer only need key 50 dollar hello no touch cups at counter I give you 14 dollar small size coffee goodbye

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  6. When you walk into a restaurant, you’re paying for service. Otherwise, walk right up to the cashier and place your order with the host, an do not sit down at a table. I’m sorry that you don’t understand that you’re entering a social contract when you walk in and sit down, but alas that is what you are doing. Sorry :)

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    • In reply to Jake

      Jake it is your job to be my bitch I mean server. I am not tipping you because your employer hired you to do this job. I am not your employer. Take it up with management. If you don’t like the pay get a real job stupid.

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      • In reply to Melissa

        Well I have one thing to say to you and let me say that I have never been a waiter or server. You are a HUGE DICK HEAD!!!! Thanks and go fuck yourself you dumb mother fucking prick. This goes for any Cock that feels the same as this SHIT HEAD!!!

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    • In reply to Jake

      If you don’t want to wait on me hand and foot with no tip, get a better job. Since you are a failure of society I’m sure this is the only job you can do.

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      • In reply to Jack

        Jack I raised you better than that. Now come home to get your fixings your Father cut himself a switch and is ready to whoop you good boy. In fact, I think this may be it for you…. since I knew this day was coming I already purchased your grave site and head stone. I’m so sorry sweetie I just don’t see any other way to deal with you. I fear I can’t stop your father from dishing out the inevitable now. You just don’t know how to act in society and you will be removed from it.

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  7. You are a dumb ass if u hate waiters that much don’t eat out …. cook your own damn food.

    P.S. I’m a machine shop manager and shop helpers have it easy because they don’t have deal with dumb fucks like u just saying

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  8. This guy’s a completely useless waste of space lol. Can’t believe he puts his ugly, Ewok looking Haji face out there. You pay for service when you go into a restaurant, it’s a social contract. Otherwise, don’t think I’m going to help you if you start choking on your food .. because I don’t have to. I’ve seen too many tards choke on their shit and even though I’m trained in CPR, I won’t help you if you don’t tip. I’d rather see you die, lose your life; POOF, ..gone :-(

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  9. If you do not want to tip, do not come to a sit down restaurant. Order your food to go, stiff the cashier (who actually gets a wage) and take your cheap ass outside to eat.

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  10. I went to a really fancy French restaurant for dinner last night. The servers did a really nice job. The bill for my date and I came to $260. I left a $10 tip. My date went to the bathroom. The head waiter of the crew that waited on me tonight asked me if the serving team provided good service and if I enjoyed my meal. He told me the proper tip would be 20%. I said how dare you embarrass me like this I want to speak to the owner immediately. I ended up speaking with the restaurants general manager. He apologized profusely. and told me that this evening was on him. Told me to come back please and desserts will be on him. I learned two things from this. No good deed ever goes unpunished. Therefore I will never ever tip another server again. And how dare a waiter feel he is entitled to a tip or more money that I offer. That evening he made zero tips from me. And I believe he secured himself a place at the unemployment office. Waiters can be replaced customers that can afford these prices not so easily.

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    • In reply to Sierra Feeney

      You’re an ass… And a cheap one at that, You deserve to be embarrassed tipping someone who dealt with your sorry ass for probably over an hour while you scarfed down 260 dollars worth of food and tried to act like a big spender in front of your girlfriend when really you’re a cheap piece of shit who doesn’t like to pay for the service he’s been given and can’t even afford a 26 dollar 10 percent tip !!! which is the BARE minimum !!!! you tipped what amounted to 3 percent….. Sorry you got angry over being called out as walking excrement by the people who barely make a living wage after working 60+ hours a week. entitled dipshits like you are the reason this country is falling apart….

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      • In reply to UrAsshole

        So you think he should leave 20% like the waiter demanded. That would’ve been a $52 tip and knowing the waiter had other tables to wait on in the upscale restaurant, he probably makes over $100 an hour in tips alone. A $10 tip is more then plenty. Wait staff is the easiest job in the world. If you think this persons waiter deserves to make more then a heart surgeon then you need therapy.

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      • In reply to Waldo

        Waiting tables certainly is not an easy job. And it’s ignorant for anyone to believe that any server is only doing the job because he or she is “dumb” and can’t do anything else. Many choose to serve because they enjoy it. It takes a great deal of patience, personality, and respect for your fellow human to be a server. When that respect isn’t returned they are expected to stay quiet and take the abuse gracefully.
        If you do not want to tip, get your food To Go. Not tipping is your choice, but others shouldn’t have to suffer because of your un sophisticated, ignorant ideas.

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      • In reply to Waldo

        No, it isn’t the easiest job in world. Those of us who have chosen this profession do so out of any number of reasons, not the least of which is to make a living via providing good service.

        If I can not make a decent living at this game, I need to do something else. My training (and subsequent research) provides me with the tools to make your experience more enjoyable and complete. If you don’t want that aspect, stick to fast food.

        The social contract is very much in effect fine dining; to claim otherwise is to announce yourself as a practitioner of wage theft. Your choice.

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    • In reply to Sierra Feeney

      Hey asshole you should be embarrassed I go out of my way to expose cheap people at my restaurant. That way, you either act accordingly in society or you never return which is fine by us because we don’t want your patronage. You leave a 3% tip no matter who you are, you will be seen as a cheap piece of shit. You losers better get off this stupid argument already I know for a fact you retards wouldn’t have the balls to not tip since this retard admits to being embarrassed when he got his ass called out on it. Fucking losers the lot of you.

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      • In reply to Alex

        Alex they got their meal for free and the waiter was fired. Try that shit with a customer and the same thing will happen to you. He wasn’t embarrassed about his tip he was embarrassed about the behavior of the piece of crap waiter. He also said he would never tip again so I think he did it out of the goodness of his heart. 10 Dollars Is Way more than I would’ve tipped. My tip would’ve been zero.

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