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.
I myself am a server and if you don’t want to tip all you have to do is tell your server you will not be tipping them before you even so much as order your drink. I’m sure after you’ve done that you’ll receive everything you asked for in your above statement. Also you say waiting tables doesn’t take skill? We’ll I’d like to see you try an run a 5 thousand dollar hour and see what you have to say after that. If you’re are reading this I thank you for actually taking the time to read this and don’t just being an angry prick.
I have a degree and spend the majority of my time overseas using it. I am currently a server for the duration of my time in the U.S. and while I appreciate the thoughts put into this post… pigeon-holing servers and the industry into the U.S. for one, is wrong. Be happy you’re Canadian, I guess. This happens to be the way the hospitality industry works here- you get a dining experience, not just “food carried to a table.” We provide the service you can’t get at home, including a genuine smile. I’m a horrible liar, so if I’m smiling and asking about your vacation, I actually get something more than a tip. TRUST ME, we servers know when you folks are at our table. And we’re better than you knowing you help keep us below minimum wage, we still try and make you happy.
You are a total moron.
Maybe YOU should work in the industry for a minute and see how we’ll you can hack it dickhead.
Maybe YOU should work in the industry for a minute and see how well you can hack it dickhead.
Fair enough. But do tell your server you do not tip ahead of time. That way, you assured not to receive any service. Thanks
Fucking Loser. Stay In Your Own “Bloody” Country Then!
Why does everyone assume servers don’t report their tips to the IRS? Most computer systems require you to claim your tips minus tip share that you have paid as a minimum…most of us claim our cash tips (which are few as most people tip on credit cards) as well. I paid $4000 in taxes out of pocket in addition to recieving not a single positive paycheck for last year alone.
The long and short of not tipping is stealing. Wether you agree with the way in which servers are paid or not you are agreeing to a certain set of rules by patronizing an establishment. If you receive my service and don’t pay me then you are stealing. If you go to an accountant and have them do your taxes and then decide you don’t feel like paying them and you walk out it is no different from receiving my services and stiffing me.
There are things in other cultures that I object to as well but until you can change the industry with your nonsensical asinine rantings I suggest you refrain from taking it out on those who are simply trying to make a living
Wow. Talk about crass.
Learn about the culture you come to. It’s amazing to me that someone will complain about American customs then have a stick up their ass about rude Americans not respecting their cultures.
Understand that in other countries the gratuity is included and your food is more expensive. You’re paying that money regardless.
I can tell you a secret about the service industry. Because of people like you, servers hear an accent and they do not want your business. They know that 9 times out of 10 you’ll be demanding as fuck and tip shit and they would rather you leave and let someone who deserves it have that table.
I am an immigrant rights activist and a dual citizen (france and us) and I think people like you are just straight scum and give all hard working good immigrants a bad name.
You made good points in the article but I’m a server and my only response is this if you all you want is food and nothing extra then go to a fast food restaurant or buy your own food at a grocery store and cook it and serve yourself. You go to a restaurant not just for food but for the experience and your server has a direct effect on that experience and that’s why you tip them not because they make the food but because of how you felt so get over yourself and do the culinary world a favor and just cook your own food