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. Top 5 Reasons to why people hate you,

    1. All you think about is yourself, you want instant gratification, and expect everyone to bow to your will

    2. You are so uptight about your money, and you have more then your fair share that you can tip 2 or 3 dollars for to the person that has to put up with your self-righteous ass.

    3. You are the type of person that every waiter hates, you think your god gift to the dinner industry, no its not your fault that somone has to work the job, though you make it hard on everyone who has to wait on you.

    4. your just a dick, in 5 minutes of reading you have shown that you don’t care about others, so why should others care about you

    5. Your goal in life is to have as much money as possible before you die, but think about it, your legacy is that of someone, that no one will rember, you will be forgotten, and you will have made no diffrence in the world.

    FYI Tip your waiter or waitress, maybe they can use that money to help their kids make a better life for them then they can for themself.

    Reply

    • In reply to Anthony

      I don’t care about the waitresses illegitimate kids by three different fathers. I am only paying for my food. Not my problem she is a failure of life. The 10 dollars I saved not tipping is the price of one movie ticket for after dinner.

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  2. What a total moron! I’ll kill your child if you don’t give me a million dollars??!! Sounds like a poor sense of logic and a lack of testosterone is what ails this man.

    I wouldn’t worry about anymore spit in your food, Sir…I’m sure you’ve already swallowed a ton of it and other gross things if that’s how you treat others. I actually feel sorry for this person and his heart, that kind of blind hatred and stress is very unhealthy.

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  3. You’re completely missing the point of tipping, and you’re quite frankly an asshat.

    Waiters get paid the minimum to keep prices down and it encourages the wait staff to provide excellent service to earn their income, as opposed to just bringing out food, which like you said is not hard to do.

    If asshats like you decide not to tip, and if tipping wasn’t the norm here, the price of your meal would simply be 20% higher and they’d get the same income.

    It’s not hard to understand.

    Reply

      • In reply to Hall

        Notice how he continues saying waitrESS and nothing about waiTERs, even when it’s used in a previous message.
        Not only is he a snobby arrogant shitbag, he’s a sexist, snobby, arrogant shitbag.

        I bet you’re one of those asshats who degrades the women serving them by calling them sweetie or honey and winking at them.
        You make me sick. Who the hell do you think you are?
        Royalty?
        Even royalty doesn’t treat people this awfully.
        You don’t deserve anything people in the customer service industry gives you.
        Why don’t you do everyone a favor and stay out of the public eye.

        Reply

    • In reply to iSteve

      The waitresses services to me is worth zero. It’s not hard to understand. I really wish the restaurant would give customers the Choice to bring our meals to the table at the restaurant without having to speak to the underlings (aka waitress.) How shameful an adult would do this for a living!

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      • In reply to Jan

        I eat at upscale restaurants several times a week. Do you know what I hate the most about this? The waitstaff kissing my butt the entire meal. Filling my water glass every few minutes, feeling the need to clear dishes immediately and constantly being bothered. I want to speak directly to the head chef and place my order. I want to bring my meal to the table myself. I want to eat my meal in peace without being bothered by a moneygrubbing waiter. Then I want to leave the restaurant without more butt kissing. The so-called services the waitress provides to me is worthless and that is the reason I don’t tip. However the restaurant feels the need to try to guilt customers into tipping but it won’t work with me. I refuse to tip for a worthless service. This stupid job should be eliminated 100% from all restaurants. This would greatly improve the dining experience.

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  4. This article comes from a truly poor bastard. In heart, mind, and wallet. I am highly successful and most likely get paid more than dear old Gregory. Silly proletariat I may add. Good customer service is a dying entity and I am more than happy to slip over 30%. Don’t let this ruffian spoil attitudes towards the astute. He knows absolutely nothing about stimulating the economy one person at a time.

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    • In reply to Ryan

      I stimulate the economy by purchasing a new Lamborghini you troglodyte. Tossing pocket change to the little people accomplishes nothing. One person at a time, that is like trying to drain the ocean with a teaspoon. Giving foolish people money will resultant in foolish expenditures. If I gave the waitress $100 she would just piss it away on alcohol and drugs. This is how she she became a waitress in the first place. This is why it is better for me to spend $100 on a round of golf at the country club.

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  5. I have been a server for about 3 months now and Ill tell you what, it pays and it is an amazing job to have while im still in High school studying for my EMT basic, for me this job started off to help me get money for myself after I get back from the military for college. And I may be young but its a better job than any other one I had. I love coming to work because I like meeting new people, I want to say that a lot of people are nice and like to hold a conversation but most don’t and I understand that, im not going to be a paramedic because of the crappy people in this world but more because I just want to help others. To make this simple, I have had plenty of experiences with nasty people, just because there having a bad day and I try to make theres just a little better, if I can, then I accomplished my goal for the day, if not I tried, but for people that are just jerks, I try my best to not bug them, they want their food, I get that, they don’t want to have side conversations with me, I understand, if the cook makes your food wrong but I put it in the system correct and your mad and dont give me a tip? Perfectly fine by me, I stride to do my best everyday. But on that note, I am making my LIVING off of serving other people, I may not make as much as you, but please don’t look down on me as a higher being because of it, I have feelings to, and I feel bad when I make a mistake and try to fix it! So not tipping me is more like spitting in my face rather than me doing it to you, not tipping is like standing up look me directly in the face, call me a piece of shit and slap me in the face, for me im not angry at it at first(I am at the end of the night and I only make 25$) Even if im left 2$ I say to myself that better than nothing, and I’m getting paid a Hell of a lot better than I was at Wendys! If anyone wants to comment on this please do…

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    • In reply to Zach

      I will look you right in the eye when I write zero on your tip line. As far as I’m concerned you didn’t do anything except your job. I would rather get the food myself but I have to go through you because somebody wants you to have a job and it’s not me. Why a waiter ever thinks their deserving of a tip is beyond me. All you did for me was bring me my food from the kitchen to my table and then you can be dismissed.

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      • In reply to Zach

        First of all I am not a nigger. I am the customer. I vote with my wallet, so my opinion is fact. I am never going tip you for doing your simple job. You should feel blessed, I spend my money at your restaurant so that you can have a job. I will never be rude to you, however if you give me poor service you will be working at Wendy’s. I promise you the corporate office would never allow you to get away with any shenanigans. In the past, whenever I had a problem and went to the corporate office I always received a gift certificate. This is why I laugh my butt off every time waitresses threaten that they will give poor service because we did not tip them last time.

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      • In reply to Dale

        Thats fine, its up to you if you want to tip or not, I consider people “guests” not customers, im just saying I make my money off of people being nice and tipping me, my job may seem simple and well it is, but once you start taking care of 5+ more tables, maybe what? 3 people at each table thats 15 people that you have to think about, its multitasking, so the job simply isnt about how easy it is to take care of one person (yourself) but of everyone that the one person, being your server, is taking care of. If you call corporate on me, thats fine, its happened before, if you always want something free i’ll have my manager come over and you can tell him because im not aloud to go get you some free food or gift card (easy way to get fired) but you can’t get me fired for trying to take care of you, not trying to be mean, but when I finally get out of my medic class and join a fire department, I hope you wouldn’t treat me the same way when im saving your life

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      • In reply to Dale

        Clearly you have never worked in a restaurant. People like you are not wanted. The company doesnt want your money if you aren’t going to tip your server. Your server, not servant. The person who brought you your drink, your refills, took your order, brought your food, took your finished playes away, brought you any extras (because you sound like one of those pain in the ass customers) , brought you boxes to take your food home, was nice to you even though you are clearly a dick. Who brought your bill, amd then cashed you out, thn after you left and didnt leave a tip, that server had to pay 3% out of their pocket for you to eat there. Because there is tip share at 90% of dine in restaurants. Then that server has to clean your table, and then set it up to do it all over again. Amd you think it is an easy job. Im sure your desk job is really exhausting. Keep your rude ass at home.

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      • In reply to Stephanie

        Everything you wrote is your simple job. Maybe you should learn to shine shoes that might get you a tip at least it is something useful. Even that requires more skills than being a waitress. Get a real job I would be really embarrassed if I had to do your job because I had no education or skills for the future. Your restaurant would love me as a customer because I can afford to eat out regularly and it is still your job to serve me with no tip. I will still be nice to you even if I think you have an embarrassing job.

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      • In reply to Dale

        Aren’t you an entitled fuck. If this is how you treat people you don’t know, whose entire job it is to facilitate your needs, I feel really bad for people you actually know. Just stay home and cool and limit your exposure to other humans on general because you are a priiiiick !!!

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      • In reply to Dale

        Dale, if you don’t want to tip, that’s fine! Just make sure before EVERY meal, you look the server in the eye and say, “I won’t tip you because I don’t believe in tipping. I don’t want you to try and chat me up, just bring me my food and we’re cool.” That’s all you have to do, otherwise you’re just cheap.

        Reply

      • In reply to Dale

        Just to let you know your tip is our pay. Try being a sever for one day and I promise your whole way of thinking will change.

        Reply

  6. wow! Let me start off with yes you are right, it is your choice to tip or not. But you have to remember that most of servers need tips for bills. Most are going to school along with living on there own. And a lot of their pay check is taken out for taxes. I am not a server, but my husband is and with out his tips we would not get by. And by saying a lot of those things makes you very arrogant. You are the type of costumer my husband comes home and complains about. When they don’t get tipes it hurts them financially! So next time you desire not to type think about their children or their living situation.

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    • In reply to marrah

      Last time I checked you being able to pay your bills and feed your kids is not my problem. I don’t give a crap about your personal problems or financial situation. All I care about is that my food is prepared properly and hot when I receive it. It’s a minimum wage job for minimum-wage pay. http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm I honestly believe two dollars an hour is fair pay for what your husband does. He should feel very privileged to be overpaid. I went to college for four years and only make around $90,000. I’m not going to waste any of my money on your husband because he walked from the bar to my table with a 18 yr old single malt. I would never even start a family until I have about 500,000 in savings. That way when my kid starts college he will never have to do demeaning work or worry about money because his parents were stupid and poor when they had him.

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      • In reply to Dale

        Overpaid? I would love to see you try this job. You couldn’t do it. It isn’t as easy as you think, and servers do more than enough work to earn their money AND their tip. You are free to have your own opinion, but you do not need to be rude, disrespectful, condescending, or an ass with it.

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      • In reply to Renee

        Being a waitress has to be one of the easiest jobs there is. No skill, no college, high school dropout you’re hired. Dumb as a box of rocks, no motivation, no hope of advancement or responsibility. This job is so simple you don’t even have to train the person. I imagine the waitress might get lost walking from the customers table to the kitchen a few times but she’ll get the hang of it one day. When a person gets fired from McDonald’s they become a waitress. One of the few jobs mentally retarded people can handle. It is such a simple job that even a retard can do it. The funny thing is if the waitress requires training the retard can train her. Waitresses should be trained how to shine shoes at least they could do something useful.

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      • In reply to Renee

        The only qualification you need to be a waiter waitresses is that you have to be retarded or extremely stupid and lacking ambition.

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      • In reply to Dale

        Dale, I don’t think you need to worry about having that $500,000 to start your family. If this is how you really are, in real life, no woman in her right mind is EVER going to settle down with an arrogant prick like you. You really should take a minute and re-evaluate your life and how you treat others. There seems to be something really lacking in your life to make you think and act like this.

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      • In reply to Dale

        Frankly, you seem like the type of guy who has to pay for sex. Do you tip your prostitutes? I don’t think you’ll ever have a family because any woman crazy or dumb enough to date you, let alone marry you probably shouldn’t be having kids anyway. You are a turd. I feel sorry for you.

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  7. You ignorant ass wipe piece of shit. I talk to people because that’s the point of being human. Sorry for doing what is natural to me and millions of other people. Yes sometimes I want to spit in your God damm overpriced Plate of empty calories. But that too is also natural. Tell me that you’ve never been so mad that you just wanted to vandalize shit. Lying fucking cunt. I work at a buffet and get drinks for people. I’m the fucking face of this company. I’m going to treat you right because I have something you don’t. Pride bitch. I strive to be the best. This isn’t fatass McDonald’s where the cups are made out of plastic or whatever the hell they’re made of. We use reusable cups cause we’re saving the shit faced environment prics like you created. First, all the companies need us to get their shit together. We organize where people go, how much they pay, and listen to what they want to eat. Waiters are the RAM to this system. We get the shit done. You may believe you’re a clean ass saint and don’t make a mess whatsoever, you’re wrong. if you’re not going to clean up after yourself, you better leave a motherfucking tip. For a party of 15 it takes me 20 minutes to clean up when they leave. Should I ignore everyone else just to clean up??? Hell to the no dumbass. I’m doing you a favor by cleaning up and getting ready for the next gentlemen who will leave a tip. I also really hate the fact that Niggers don’t tip. Only Niggers with fedoras tip. I have seen two in the past year. Niggers don’t tip. You don’t tip. Therefore you are, in fact, a nigger. Fuck you. Stay the fuck home nigger.

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    • In reply to Rich

      Rich, boy to me you’re nothing but a house nigger. No customer wants to speak with Lowlife waitress trash. The real reason that you do this job is because you are not qualified to do anything else in this world. I know you’re jealous of my clothes and BMW I arrived in. Truth is, it is your job to serve me just like a servant. Your master pays you minimum-wage that is all you need. My tip to you is piss me off and you’ll be wiping your ass with your unemployment check. No, I never get so mad that I feel like breaking shit because I am an educated man. I think things through before I act which is the reason I am not a waitress. If a waitresses is lucky enough to make $10,000 a year. It would take 15 of them to equal my paycheck. I would call this punishment for fucking up your life.

      Reply

  8. I LOVE that you are so honest about this! I like most people here arguing with you, am in the service industry. I however am not upset with your opinion at all! My only suggestion to you is that you say your peace up front when the server initially greets you so you can be waited on the way you prefer

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  9. I LOVE that you are so honest about this! I like most people here arguing with you, am in the service industry. I however am not upset with your opinion at all! My only suggestion to you is that you say your peace up front when the server initially greets you so you can be waited on the way you prefer

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    • In reply to Kelsie

      Whether I tip or not, should have no bearing on the service you provide me since it is your job. You signed up for the low wage that you receive not my concern. Fact of the matter is, your job is to serve me. Even though I am not going to tip you, your service better be excellent. If you really do give me bad service I will complain. The outcome will be in my favor. It will look very very bad for you because my letter to the corporate office will detail all the events of your poor service. From past experiences when I receive a gift certificate of $100 or more, I never see that waitress again. My thoughts on this are the customer is truly appreciated and the waitress can be replaced.

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      • In reply to Jackie

        I should thank you, I no longer wait tables so I don’t have do deal with little dick jerks like you anymore. However I have found reading your posts to be very amusing. The way you keep trying to justify being an asshole is great reading. By the way, bragging over the internet about how much money you makes it seem very believable. You can give it up, we all know you are just some pathetic troll using his mom’s laptop. Thank you once again for the laughs, at your expense of course. Now give your mom her computer back.

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      • In reply to Nick

        I don’t tip the waiter because I don’t give a shit about him. I go to a restaurant to eat not contribute to the waiters paycheck.

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      • In reply to Curtis

        Say what you want little man. The truth is you don’t tip because you are a miserable, pathetic asshole and you just want other people to be as miserable and pathetic as you are. I thought I told you to give your mom her computer back.

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  10. I’ve been working in the service industry for over 20 years. I’m college educated, both undergrad and graduate school. This is the career path I’ve chosen. I work for tips. As far as I can tell I’m neither mentally challenged, nor a trained monkey.

    I can almost make sense of the original post, but it’s so full of stereotypes, ignorance, and assumptions that it loses credibility. In the end the OP comes across as another self entitled, condescending, stereotype just trying to save a buck.

    This would be a much more convincing argument if the OP had actually worked FOH and had an appreciation for what goes into serving people. Just as stockbrokers don’t just sit in a chair screaming buy buy sell sell into their phones, servers don’t just bring food and refills. Never assume you know what others endure.

    Reply

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