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.
to M: Can you please tell me why Common Sense isn’t correct by saying that restaurants are marked high enough as it is instead of resorting to ad hominem attacks? Many countries around the world don’t expect tips yet you seem to believe that if people don’t bribe, they are considered “classless”?
Stop your jack about “asking for handouts”. Even so, it has nothing to do with tipping. Stay on topic please. And yes, I am not responsible for the welfare of servers since labor is not only voluntary but good service should already be included in the dining experience as opposed to being a “separate” charge. Then why does the a server get a higher tip if I order something expensive, even though the same amount of work was done when someone was ordering something less expensive?
Maybe you are wrong.
In reply to Dan
These servers think we are stupid. Yes, a lot of people can be fooled with the tipping BS but not everyone of us. Have you seen the prices on restaurant dishes? Is there any doubt that those prices already include a hefty margin for all the staff including the owner? There’s no way food can be that expensive otherwise. Yet we are expected to pay separately for service? Why? Because the restaurant owners are screwing over servers and they are too dumb to understand that?
Oh right I’m sorry that isn’t the case is it? I forgot the servers are perfectly happy with the tipping solution and playing the poor victim card because why settle for $9/hr minimum wage when its known fact that most servers already make $30-50/hr with tipping. As far as I am concerned this serving job has turned into a conning business and the real attitude of servers in this thread is ample proof of that.
In reply to Andy
You realize that you are not paying ONLY for the cost of the food, right? There is a high amount of overhead that goes into running a restaurant. If you only want to pay the exact literal cost of the food itself, then go to the grocery store and make your own damn meals at home.
In reply to How to Faint
The restaurant already charges more than the bare food price.
If waiters want to be paid separately by the customer, present a bill and have the charges written on the menu when you give it to me.
That’s how businesses conduct their operations.
Hello,
I have been in restaurant management for years now. I am also a former US Marine too. While I think the article has been a little harsh and vindictive I can’t argue with the facts in it.
But one issue that should be known is that the government has waitstaff on a lower minimum wage than other jobs (which creates a problem). All jobs should follow the same standard, and waitstaff should have the same minimums… But one thing people do not realize is they in fact DO receive the minimum, from the employer, if their tips don’t make up to at least minimum wage.If they aren’t getting the minimum, the law is being broken. Check the Department of Labor’s official web-site for details.
I must agree that tipping, just because society tells us to is just dumb. While I understand the server has bills to pay, so do the rest of us. The workers at McDonalds don’t get a tip along with countless other job fields. Why do servers get tips and not these other people? I do understand the job is stressful but so are many others.
But that’s just philosophy. The fact is the employ must be responsible for paying the proper wages for their staff, NOT the customer! Tips should, and are frequently EARNED, but they should never be expected. I am a tipper, and a generous one at that, but since I moved to China, where tips aren’t even accepted, I have learned that servers in the US really expect too much. It’s a job and it’s what it is. Not to sound harsh but servers are not the only people that need money beyond the bare minimum, and they don’t deserve it “just because”.
I am NOT saying serving isn’t hard because I have been there as a server when I was a boy. And as a Marine I know hard work (and nobody ever tipped me for it). I’m not suggesting that they shoulden’t be tipped either. But it’s the EMPLOYER resposibility to pay for hard work, not the customer. If the server is so great, which I have seen many, they should have a pay increase. And if they are exeptional, the customer can always give a little extra to say “thank you” and it should be appreciated.
If you hate tipping, or love it, you should still DEMAND the government level the playing field and make the minimum wage the same!!! This way if you don’t wish to tip, there is no harm. And if you do want to tip, all the better for the hard working server!
In reply to Ryan
absolutely agree with your post. Thank you.
Again let me tell yall that in California, tipped employees also receive the fed (not the state) minimum wage.
You, sir, are a cocksucking asshole.
Your a cheap phuck and an asshole. They have A bad job so you cant throw 2 bucks and show them appriciation for being nice enough about it. If they bring u food with a pleasant attitude throw’em something. You say there basiclly worthless so help them out a little. I doubt your job is hard or requires so much more skill. All you do is write about stuff. Great contribution asshole. Atleast they bring me food you just write bullshit scumbag.
If you don’t like tipping…take it up with our government that allows restaurants to pay their employees tipped income wages!! Or better yet, stay home! We really don’t want to wait on people like you anyway!
In reply to Leilita
Unionize. You can’t expect me to fight your battles for you. The nerve – do you not feel ashamed asking someone else to lobby the government on your behalf?
If you don’t like tipping…stay the F home! You are paying extra for prompt service without an attitude! You are not helping their situation by sitting at their table(that someone with half a heart could be sitting at), taking up their time and being rude! If you REALLY think they deserve better wages, contact your local government…boycott eating out all together until thing change! But don’t come to my job and tell me it is my fault that I work here…not everything is cut and dry/black and white!
In reply to Leilita
Excuse me, but why should I fight for the waiter’s interests? It’s their job, their wages. They have to lobby the government! The amount of entitlement expecting others to fight your wars for you is breathtaking.
In reply to bhagwad
Look at it this way– I work at a very popular chain restaurant. My employer actually informed me that a big reason our prices are so reasonable is due to the small amount that they are required to pay the waitstaff. So if they changed the model to where our employers were paying us decent wages, you would probably still be paying the same amount for your meal in the end (assuming you tip properly under the current system). Now, since you don’t feel that tipping is a necessity, then you are truly taking advantage of the entire system. You’re enjoying cheap food at the server’s–or do you call them servants?– expense. Don’t try to pretend that you feel as though the issue lies in the employer’s or the government’s hands. Obviously you don’t care about “unskilled” people who are below you and your totally awesome blog.
And about number 1, I’m extremely offended. Whoopsie daisies, I’m a person. I have personality. I’ll try to be more of a robot next time.
It seems to me that you truly lack the ability to view service personnel as human beings. We have lives outside of our jobs, and places we are going that surpass them. Nobody chooses to be a server; it’s just what fits into their life at the time for whatever reason. It’s NOT an easy job… walk back into the kitchen one night and see if you can wrap your pig-head around what’s occurring. Odds are you wouldn’t be able to, although I can guarantee that not ONE of us will be spitting in your food. That’s disgusting and rude. Perhaps you KNOW being a cheap fuck is wrong and you’ve developed a guilty conscience that leads you to believe that people are tampering with your food, but in reality, no one does that.
To go back to taking advantage of the servers, by not tipping them properly, you’re forcing them to pay taxes for money they didn’t earn, and to tip hosts, bussers, bartenders, etc. with money from their own wallets. Our tip outs and taxes due are calculated based on SALES, not based on claimed tips. So if you tip me $2 on a $90 bill, my 5% for tax (that’s an estimate) and 10% for tipout (that’s an actual number) on that $90 has to come from SOMEWHERE. You might as well grab a baseball bat, smash my car window, and steal a few bucks from my wallet because essentially, that’s what you’re doing.
YES, our employers are robbing us blind, but taking advantage of that fact by robbing ME blind isn’t going to fix anything.
We’re not in the wrong profession. And I won’t even say you’re in the wrong fucking country. But perhaps you’d be better suited for a previous time period in America when it was acceptable to have people wait on your every need without financial compensation. I may be “under-educated” at the time being, but I have the same basic needs as you do. At least in that time period you’d be providing me with a home, rather than potentially robbing me of my very livelihood.
In reply to Emma
Well said, and I see a lack of response from this person? Hah. All I can say is thank goodness for those who are considerate of others and oh, how I LOVE that he doesn’t respond on any of the posts that call him out logically. If you hate servers and don’t want to tip, go to counter service/fast food places. Simple.
No reasoned argument here. This is just me telling you to kill yourself you worthless piece of shit.
I remember your face. If you ever come to my restaurant, I’m going to cum in your food.
wow, a lot of immature children here.
Cum in your food? WOW that is ridiculous. That means you have to stimualute your penis in the kitchen, get yourself erect in front of your employers and then ejaculate on the dish. Doesn’t this pose a problem for the people’s who dishes that are being cooked in the kitchens that DO tip?
OK Manny, you mentioned 2 bucks. On a $10 dollar bill, $2 is 20%. OK what about a $20 bill? If I left the SAME amount as a $10 bill, even though I am only ONE person, I order ONE dish that was $20 VERSUS $10, then answer me this…WHY DO I HAVE TO LEAVE MORE OF A TIP????
Is it more labor intensive if the dish is $20 versus $10? Again remember, I order one plate only, it just so happens that this plate is priced higher.
What gives?
Manny, I live in California. All wait staff receive minimum wage, so do I stil have to tip here in California?
Also, if California restaurants pay their employees more than Texas employees ($8/hour versus $2.13/hour), then why are California and Texas restaurants (lets say Applebee’s) priced the same?
Why is the food already marked up? Let me tell you I was in the manufacturing business for food and not all food is SEVERELY marked up in restaurants. What gives?
1) You’d rather they were rude?
2) This is your problem if you choose to go in to a restaurant. You clearly understand that this is part of the system in America – if you don’t approve of the system, don’t participate in it.
3) No one says this because it doesn’t make sense. Tipping happens after the food is already out. If, however, you continually go to the same restaurant and continually abuse the same servers, you’re putting yourself in a position to be abused in return.
4) The market has clearly decided that serving is an occupation worthy of tips. It’s not “extra” money, it’s a scalable amount tied to your ability to judge effort (your ignorance and selfishness do make a counterargument to this system your limp essay fails to, however).
5) GREAT POINT – THAT’S WHY YOU TIP PEOPLE WHOSE WAGES ARE DEPENDENT UPON IT.
In reply to DS
Only legal systems matter. I draw the line at “social systems” as soon as they start costing me money.
Good try though. Must be nice to have a “custom” where people randomly throw money at you.