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 hope this article is a joke? You, fat, lazy, entitled piece of shit. The reason you pay extra is for the atmosphere, and for THE SERVICE!! Someone is doing your dishes and bringing you a fully prepared meal right in front of your fat mouth. That’s why your “tipping”. You’re supposed to be, at least.
    If you can’t afford to top, then eat at home, or eat at McDonald’s. You’re paying for the novelty of a special cuisine, and for someone waiting on you, hand and foot.
    I’m not a server, and I never have been. But, have some respect for your fellow human being here. You know that’s how they make their money. and, you’re going to sit there and take up someone’s space and opportunity to make a living. You’re a pathetic, Asshole. I hope someone spits in your food and I hope they pass on AIDS to you. You’re welcome.

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  2. Gabi,
    You hit it directly on the head. ;)
    Hard work is beyond both “Deb’s & Dr Mariachi’s” pretentious comprehension. I hope they don’t rely on people in the service industries too much. ;) After all, we must be below them in worth to choose to work with the public at any point in our lives. Lol
    Too bad riches are only good here on earth.
    I LOVE putting a smile on dozens of faces a day. Especially when someone like those two took it off in the first place. What a terrible life to live in such negativity.

    Hire a personal chef and the cost of service will be included along with not needing to communicate with an awful stranger. Menus in restaurants… As well as checks state that gratuity is NOT included in a dine in bill. Further more… Waiters & Waitresses are not paid more than 1/4 of minimum wage. They honestly believe this is what ANY individual is worth? Sickening.

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  3. I’m not sure why people can’t see that this is an OPINIONS page and someone who posts opinions against the cultural norm, who clearly isn’t American from what I have seen, is just looking for a way to get a rise out of people? Yes. This post can be very offensive to all waiters in the country but at least if you ever see his face sitting at your you’ll know exactly how to treat him. No one needs to boost this mans Ego by contributing to the argument. I tip well over 20% if I feel the waitress was excellent and it is always nice to be recognized for your hard work. We could also say that sitting behind a computer screen spewing out uneducated posts that are purely built on opinion is unworthy as well but that would be a whole different post.

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  4. The author’s “reasons” and their explanations are garbage. Here, I’ll show you what each of your reasons sound like to someone who is not a piece of shit:

    (1) “I’m not tipping you because you are friendly to me when I dine at your establishment and that offends me!”

    (2) “Even though you are, by law, paid under minimum wage and American culture makes it clear that tipping is expected when I dine at this establishment, I’m not going to do it.”

    (3) “I made this up because no server who values their job would ever say this!”

    (4) “I’m only describing one aspect of your job in an attempt to undermine what you do on a day-to-day basis to justify my shitty opinion.”

    (5) “I’m complaining about not having enough money to tip, but here I am partaking in the luxury of dining out.”

    You are a pimple on the ass of society. None of your arguments are valid. If you don’t like the fact that businesses expect you to tip their employees, do everyone a favor and stick to quick-service and fast food. We don’t want your business. Your snobby attitude is disgusting. I hope you lose your job and you are forced to work as a server.

    tl;dr

    Go fuck yourself

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  5. I am general Manager at a Restaurant. I worked my way up. We had regulars that would come in and not tip week after week. Great staff was tired of it and would quit. I decided to let the guests know they are no loner welcome to eat at my restaurant. Guess what happened. They went to the news paper and social media. Then guess what happened. The restaurants sales went threw the roof!!!!!! People responded with love and appreciation. I have the greatest staff now cause every server in the CITY knew we care about our staff. SO GET THIS GREAT STAFF= GREAT CUSTOMERS= GREAT SALES. OMG. Who would have thought that a large % of “Professionals” like yourself apparently. Worked in the industry.
    Don’t tip don’t live in our country where politicians decided all this tipping.
    By the way the owners gave me a big fat raise and basically let me run the restaurant however i want giving me so much freedom. As i know how the industry works. Obviously you have no clue.
    Lets be serious you don’t tip cause you don’ have money. Plan and simple. The Queen of England doesn’t get free service why should you.

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    • In reply to General Manaager

      Everything you wrote is Bullshit. Rich important customers is the reason a restaurant remains in business. I don’t tip but you’ll take my money for that $200 meal I guarantee it. You will thank me and tell me to come again. In real life I’m sure you’re just the restaurants dishwasher.

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      • In reply to Pat

        I’m no bleeding heart, but Ted sounds a lot like this guy: “Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.” “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

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      • In reply to Ted

        You Ted seem like a royal prick. Look just because you don’t tip because you are clearly an ass doesn’t mean you need to write a story proving to the world what a miserable prick you are. I’m not in the industry but you cannot hold these people accountable seeing as how that has been the way that industry has been ran since long before you were around. The world would be a better place if there were less people like you. So now I have a tip for you, play in traffic. Rush hour is the best time.

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      • In reply to steve

        1. Don’t eat out if you don’t wanna talk to people. Money is not the only thing on our mind. We are trying to make sure your satisfied with the food and service.
        2. We don’t pick our pay rate. Our rate is lower for tax reasons. We have to claim our tips.
        3. Who the hell ever threatened to spit in your food. I Agree They Should Be Fired, But It Is CUSTOMERS like you that would even make us want to joke about it.
        4. If your so impressed with the cooks that actually prepare the food them tip them they would appreciate it…I’m a cook and server.
        Here’s a tip try keeping a room full of hungry people that all expect you to have the food drinks and bill out at a certain time happy and after they leave clean it all up. Come serve for me one day and then judge how easy it is

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      • In reply to steve

        You don’t tip cause ur a big fat slob who has only money to stuff ur fat face assho le how bout eating at home tightwad I’m sure ur lonely ugly and miserable anyway oh and go back to ur own country

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    • In reply to General Manaager

      In my area the waiter DOES NOT get all of the tip one leaves, busboys and other wait help gets a share, do not know for a fact but some even share with the cooks. I blame who ever started tipping in the first place. I think each person on staff should get a wage. Then if a waiter does a great job then tip a little extra. Most do not deserve a tip but it is the right thing to do since they only make $10-20 wage which sucks big time.

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    • In reply to General Manaager

      You’re disgusting and run a shitty managed okace if you tell customers that spend Money at YOUR restaurant. Like the person said if you’re that fucking desperate for your waiters to be tipped then include it in the bill dumbass OR actually pay your staff good and they wouldn’t have to quick. You don’t have to be extra skilled to be a manger. LOL WHAT A JOKE. I have came to realize it’s rare to come across a decent waiter now days. If you’re a good waiter you’ll be topped and if you’re a shitty waiter then fuck off. It’s said when you have to actually walk up to a waiter and ask for a fucking bill because they would all rather watch the sports on TV THEN TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS.

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      • In reply to Courtney

        Well it’s obvious you work in a restaurant and probably will the rest of your life. And not by choice either. Good Lord your grammar, spelling and punctuation were atrocious.

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  6. Wow after reading the extremely long page of uneducated comments it explains to me why nothing gets resolved in this world. From threatening someone, through the internet I might add, which is well let’s be honest pathetic to calling others names for no reason. I am a hairstylist. Yes I work for tips. In fact my tips help me live along with my check. However I don’t expect it from people. I do what I do because absolutely adore it. Unfortunately there is always one in the crowd that can make your day a little more stressful. This goes for anyone whoe deals with the public. Most people are good some are ridiculous. I stand on my feet all day. I have to fix others mistakes. I’m expected to be a magician, sometimes I have to take the blame from other stylists not living up to a good name and believe I get the brunt of all that, etc etc. I paid a lot of money for what I do. What people don’t realize is it has chemistry involved along with anatomy along with a lot of studying and a lot of hours to prove to the instructors that I am capable to go out into the world and be the best damn stylist I can be. But like I said I do it because I love it! I love getting immediate satisfaction out of changing someone’s day for the better. Or making someone who doesn’t have such a high self esteem and making them feel beautiful for once. I get to do all that and that is what makes the job important not the tip. So for those of you who think waiters and waitresses and hairstylists and all the other jobs that include tips only do it for that you are mistaken. Yes tips do help. They help me live. And when you tip me it is a form of appreciation in my eyes. A little something saying an extra thank you. But if you don’t tip I try my best not to take it personal. And the next time you come in I will not treat you any different. Even if you have all the money in the world or you don’t have a dime to your name. I will always treat you like you have tipped me $100 everytime. Some people may not even know to tip. Unless your the asshole who posted this article in the first place. Please sir stop and think for a minute before you compare people to a conveyer belt. No one likes a grumpy gus! If the waiter or waitress asked for a tip then yes in my opinion it is rude. However maybe they are trying to be nice to you not because they want to be your bestie for life but because they are truly trying to give you good service because they are a decent person. You never know that person who waits on you may be trying to save up for college with those tips they receive to get a better paying job so they don’t have to wait on people who are closed minded such as yourself.

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  7. I am going to ignore a lot of the shit that was said here, seems pretty uneducated for a number of reasons. I will make one comment…. Nobody will spit in your food because you didn’t tip them. How do I know this? Because most adults who eat out understand the chronological order of events: greet the table, take order, bring food, deliver check, prep table for next guest. There’s a lot more involved obviously, refills and your multiple requests that you ask for only one at a time. But you may have noticed people don’t pay (tip or no tip) until they are ready to leave. Meaning you already ate your food. But good job on this article.

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  8. I’ve worked in the restaurant industry for a long time, and I love serving. I also love the idea of tipping in general. The difference between good service and bad service when you’re dining makes an astronomical difference on you’re entire dining experience in general. I love interacting with people, so when you think I’m trying to be your BFF just to get a tip that’s wrong. I really am just trying to give you a pleasant dining experience, and hey if you enjoy some conversation I’m more than happy to talk forever. If you don’t want to talk that’s fine also but I’ll still be pleasant to you because that’s how I interact with people, not just when I’m working. Also, I adore the thought of being paid according to how YOU thought I serviced you. I work soooo hard, making sure you get exactly what you want, how you want it, when you want it; however I know that’s not the case with every server. I like to the that people tip me based on how I presented the meal and how I made the overall experience in general. So when your server isn’t pleasant, and doesn’t exercise proper product knowledge, and isn’t attentive to you’re needs(drink refills and making sure you actually get extra sauce), I’d like to think that you would notice the difference in your experience. I’d like to think that you pay for the meal and then pay for the service, the experience.

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    • In reply to Jami

      The only reason I go to an upscale restaurant is for the food. That is the experience. The waitstaff is just the uneducated conveyor belt that brings it to me. You are the hired help, there’s nothing special about you. Certainly nothing you do is worthy of a tip. You have a delusional value of self worth. In reality you are a servant to serve my needs, nothing more. My tip to you is don’t speak unless spoken to.

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      • In reply to Beth

        Actually people with high education and class are the best tippers. That’s says a lot about you beth. I worked in fine dining for a long time before finishing nursing school, and I’m so glad I never had to encounter douche bags like you in the time I was there. People who could spend 70 dollars steak had no problem to tip me 20% for my work. You my friend are just a disgrace of human being

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      • In reply to Beth

        So, because I am a server I am an uneducated conveyor belt? I use the money I make serving to pay my tuition bill every semester, I am 19 and enrolled at a university campus (as are about 75% of the servers I work with) so how dare you say that the waitstaff is uneducated. This is infuriating to me. I am working my way through college and I do not see how that makes me uneducated. And for you to say “don’t speak unless spoken to” ALRIGHT, so I’ll just let you sit there at your table until you get really upset that you’ve been waiting 20 minutes for someone to get your drink order. Oh you’re ready to order? You can come find me then since I can’t go up to your table and ask if you’re ready. You need a refill? You can find the drink station since I can’t ask if you would like one. You’re ready for the check? Good luck trying to print and close it out, since you know you don’t want to be spoken to.

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      • In reply to Alli

        I have worked in a restaurant since I was 18. I have worked hard to provide for myself because I did not expect my parents to have to while I am finishing school, not because I am some uneducated, failure at life. I understand that some people do not feel the need to tip, and that is fine. I can not make you tip me, that is 100% percent your choice. Believe it or not, most restaurant workers have more of a problem with the way we are treated more than we do not being tipped. Don’t get me wrong, I hate not being tipped but I would never say anything to anyone directly. I do however; have a problem with people being rude and disrespectful to me, my co-workers, and my managers. We do expect to be treated as a human. I am just trying to make an honest living, like I am sure you are and no one deserves to be treated poorly while performing their job. I would never be rude to you at your job, and I expect others to treat me with respect.
        My point is, if you don’t feel you should tip, don’t tip. You need to change your rude and entitled attitude on being better than your waiter/waitress.

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      • In reply to Beth

        This is all going to be great, the next time you go to a restaurant and no will serve you, because of this article. Servers work hard, and most of them are well educated, it’s very closed minded of you to think you’re more important than they are. I’m sure you wouldn’t enjoy eating your food at a restaurant without any service, but please try it out and see how pleasant it is. I’m guessing you have problems paying a mechanic to fix your car? Seeing as you HAVE to pay for their services.

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      • In reply to Beth

        Please do not rebuttle if you cannot spell, it makes it hard to even read such a sad comeback. And once again, do not go out to eat if you are too cheap to pay for the overall service. Here is more advice, never date. No woman will ever want a man that cheap and boldly arrogant about it. Especially one who cannot spell. That is all…

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  9. This blog has left me speechless on numerous occasions, mostly as a result of the hate and spite of the comments posted below. Not being born and raised in America I was never really aware of how much waiters and waitresses earned on an hourly basis. Over in the UK, waitresses earn the same amount as other minimum wage jobs. Yes, if working as a waitress I would of course be pleased about receiving a couple of tips here and there (may even expect a few) but on the whole I would personally not want people to feel cornered or emotionally forced into doing so. (After all, if I were already being paid ‘fairly’ for the job anything else would feel like a pleasant gift on top of that.)

    However, with that being said, if I was a waitress in America or in reverse, if I was the customer I would feel obligated to tip whoever is serving me (regardless of their service). What waitresses earn in America is simply not enough to live on and if someone is in a more comfortable position finically, they should in theory be compassionate to others in less fortunate circumstances.

    Waiters and waitresses are NOT lazy people who deserved to be stepped on and treated like shit. Even if anyone and everyone can technically be trained to do it, it is still a demanding, stressful job with long hours and usually little or in some cases ‘no breaks’ in between.

    I think sometimes people can be all too quick to judge and forget about the concept of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. Yes those PRO do have a point somewhere underneath all the arrogance and bitterness – it should be the employers job to pay their wages not them. At the end of the day though (behind all the frustration), this is ultimately not the case; employers will not be the ones suffering for this, the employees will be.

    The employees who work hard and try their best to offer a good service are not doing it for the sheer fun and pleasantries of it. They do it because they NEED to. Regardless of WHY someone is a waitress, those with a comfortable income do not have a right to pass the hand of judgement nor do they have the right to look down upon someone.

    The way some people are addressing other people here they really should be ashamed.

    – Now that works both ways. I don’t agree with the concept of food spitting (which I think only happens in movies by the way) or kicking customers out/ refusing to serve them if they are not willing produce a tip. Actually, I don’t agree with the concept of demanding a tip at all; tipping should be seen as an act of kindness and graciousness rather than an obligation but like a lot of things in this world it’s messed up and backwards. (Especially the system in place in America.)

    The bottom line is, waiters and waitresses simply shouldn’t be put in a position where they feel finically forced and encouraged to ask for tips in the first place. In truth I personally feel that they deserve to earn more than other minimum wage jobs. I think it’s often underestimate how difficult/ stressful the job can be. That in contrast doesn’t mean I agree with the ‘entitlement mindset’ that some staff radiate but I can sympathise and appreciate the fact that, in my opinion, it is underpaid and is more demanding than most other customer service based jobs.

    All in all, actions have consequences. If no one tipped, that waiter or waitress wouldn’t be able to afford even the very basic things that everyone should be entitled to in this so-called developed country such as yours/ ours. Yes it shouldn’t be an obligation to tip but that’s the system and without the help and contribution of those willing to rationalise and sympathise most people in this job role would simply not earn enough to get by.

    On one final note, I would just like to say, if someone is in the position that they can comfortably and happily afford things, then what may be regarded as ‘pennys’ to you may have a large impact on someone else’s life. It may make a real difference in ways you can’t imagine. I don’t know if that counts for much anymore but I’d like to think that it does.

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  10. “You don’t deserve more for your work over and above what your employer should pay you.” – But the employer doesn’t pay what they should because it’s assumed the employee will receive tips. I don’t agree with this system either but you realize waiters don’t even get minimum wage right? So you’re saying all people who rely on tips deserve less pay than a McDonald’s worker. Maybe instead of foregoing a tip, you should just not eat at restaurants. And maybe instead of slamming waiters who work way harder than you think (I’m not a waiter by the way. I’d never want a job where I have to serve shitty people like yourself while pretending to enjoy it) you should slam the owners who refuse to pay decent living wages to their staff.

    Also, you do realize your tips get shared with the entire staff, right? So you’re not just tipping the waiter. You’re tipping the hostess, the cook, the waiter, etc. Maybe before you write an article you should do a little research on what you’re writing first.

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      • In reply to Fred

        For some people that’s all that’s available. It is a really job and it’s a lot of work. And if you have read any of these other comments, I would also like to remind you that many people working as waiters are trying to put themselves through college. I’m sure you had a medial job at some point in your life. Get off your high horse and show some empathy.

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