Waiters are understandably upset about why I don’t tip and have given many illogical reasons in support of this ridiculous practice. Here’s a rebuttal of the most common ones.
Bullshit 1: We only Pay for the Food. Service is Extra
The menu price doesn’t include just the cost of preparing the food and paying the chef. It includes the restaurant setting, the tables, the cutlery, the effort and investment that the restaurant owner has put into the dining area. Now guess what? Since I’m paying for it, the restaurant has to give it to me. And how do they accomplish this?
Waiters. Ding ding!
See without waiters, the restaurant has no way of delivering the dining experience to me that I’m paying for. I’m paying for sitting down in a nice place. I’m paying for the air conditioning. I’m paying for the nice tablecloth and for my food to be delivered to me in a reasonable time. The menu price covers all this. Waiters are just the restaurant’s way of bringing me my food. Of fulfilling their part of the contractual obligation.
Bottom line. Servers are not independent contractors. They’re not an “extra” that you have to pay for. By hook or crook, the restaurant needs to deliver the product. Whether they use waiters or conveyor belts (a term that many seem to object to), is not my business. I don’t care. The waiters can just melt into the background and let me enjoy my food in peace. If the menu includes free refills or whatever, then waiters are required to deliver that as well. Why? Because…wait for it….I paid for it!
Bullshit 2: It’s the custom. It’s ‘merica!
Yeah right. You do realize that not all customs are created equal don’t you? Slavery was a “custom” back in the day and so was race and sexual discrimination. Anyone with an ounce of integrity does what they feel is right. There are many harmless customs in the world like bowing instead of shaking hands, or using chopsticks instead of forks etc that are morally neutral. It really makes no difference if you follow them or not.
But tipping? Hell no! It’s not morally neutral. If you get better service because you’re a good tipper, then you’re essentially paying a bribe to servers to get them to do their job properly next time. All customs have a limit. And tipping is such a convenient custom isn’t it? Hell, I wish I had a custom in place for people to just throw money at me.
And just in case someone feels I don’t appreciate the US, there are many great things about this country that I love and I’ve blogged about repeatedly. Freedom of expression, the way Americans show respect to their armed forces, the politeness of people as you walk by on the road, the work culture, the individuality.
I just don’t like tipping. It’s not as if a person has to blindly accept everything in a country without judgment. There are good things. And there are bad things. Just like everywhere else.
Bullshit 3: The cost of food will increase dramatically
Someone needs to do basic math. Increasing the price of food to pay minimum wage to waiters will not double the price of food. Some have even gone so far to claim that it’ll increase 4-5 times. Ridiculous. Totally, utterly ridiculous. Let’s dissect this rubbish.
As an example, I’ll take Chili’s. A waitress at Chili’s was so kind as to comment saying that the price of food at her restaurant will increase by 3 times – $30 for a $10 burger. Using the statistics she herself gave in her comment, there are 12 waiters (at full capacity) who need to be paid minimum wage. That’s $5 extra per hour per waiter making it a net total of $60 per hour that has to be added to the price of food on a full day.
$60/hr? For 12 waiters. That’s it! It’s peanuts. If you assume even that each waiter is serving just four tables. That’s $5 an hour extra they have to make from four tables. Even if we say that each table sits for a massive two hours, the extra paid per table is way less than $5. On the total bill. Worst, worst case scenario.
You know what? Customers won’t even notice. So stop the garbage about the prices of food going up several times to pay minimum wage. It’s utter nonsense. The only reason waiters don’t want this system in place is because they earn a hell of a lot more than than minimum wage using our tips. And they come across as the victims.
Waiters are Struggling Mothers/Students
Look, it’s not as if I don’t have sympathy for those who struggle in life. I just don’t think it’s my problem. And I specially don’t like it being impinged upon me. Generosity is one thing. Having money demanded from you is something totally else. Any tip I give is out of the generosity of my heart and I expect some gratitude for helping those in need. It’s not something I have to do since…refer to Myth 1.
Bottom line: Socially mandated tipping is a scam. I can’t believe how intelligent people have been hoodwinked into it. Probably because they like to come across as “nice” people and feel sorry for servers who hover around looking expectantly. Well, I find that irritating and I won’t buy into it.
Haha. Are you serious? Have you ever been in the service industry? Clearly not. I, without a doubt, guarantee you that you are one of those douchebags (and every server knows exactly what I’m talking about) that everyone goes and talks about in the back, making a fool out of you. Not sure if you have some self esteem or mommy issues or what the fuck is wrong with your mind, but you… Sir ;)…. Are quite close to being equivalent to the scum of this earth. An enjoyable meal is accompanied by enjoyable service; servers WAIT on you. We take care of your nasty ass, bring you drinks and food with a smile on our face even though the whole time we just can’t WAIT to get in the back to talk to our fellow severs about the piece of shit sitting at the table in our section. I hope you are cursed with horrible service for the rest of your life because you deserve nothing else! Humble yourself and get a job in the service industry before opening your unintelligent and ignorant mouth. Not sure who your parents are, or how the fuck you were raised but you’ve got some serious problems that I would consider therapy for. Don’t worry, you don’t have to tip your therapist :p Get your ass to a fast food place or go indulge on a buffet of cold, mushy food because no server deserves to have you as a “customer”.
Something you seem not to understand is that servers often don’t make even minimum wage. They literally live off of tips. I have never been a server but even I can understand that. If you don’t tip your server, you’re punishing the employee for something that they have NO say in and no control over. I get that you think the system is fucked up, so do most of us, but punishing and refusing to pay your servers for their hard work (and yes, it *IS* hard – customer service is one of the hardest jobs out there, thanks in part to dicks like you) does nothing to change it, and only hurts people just trying to survive. Bottom line, it’s not their fault, so don’t take it out on them.
In reply to TF
It’s also not our fault they don’t get paid enough. So why not go find a better paying job? What happened to self worth? If you value yourself better than that, then start a career and not serve food. This is the problem in this country, there are people who think they are entitled to everyone else’s share of the profits. I work damn hard for my money, so if I decide I want to tip, then it should be something a waiter is extremely thankful for. No one is entitled to anything.
As for the messing with people’s food thing? Great logic. Maybe the firefighter should mess with your dying mother in her burning house because he didn’t get a tip right? Get real. You want to make a decent living, get a better paying job.
In reply to anonymous
Hey there anonymous,
Before I destroy your debate on why you don’t have to tip let me say this. I would love it if you replied to my response, but with some facts. What you have said so far is just your opinion on the matter and a rather selfish uneducated one at that. At least TF took the stance that they have not been a server and is speculating that it must be hard. So please respond with some facts to back up your debate.
Now for your education on the matter. Servers typically are perusing a education. Most of the time you need a education to have a career these days so your argument there is just stupid. The job works around most school schedules and while it may not be the best paying job on the planet it pays rather well most of the time, otherwise why would a college student waste their valuable time doing it.
No when it comes to you not tipping you are just being selfish. Not only is it a costume here but it was so much of one that the government saw fit to write laws for it. There are two types of employs. A server is what you call a “Tipped Employ”. This is how that system works – The government after determining minimum wage for the state then looks at what the average server (bad, good, nice restaurant, cheap restaurant) declares. Taking that and adds the appropriate number to make it minimum wage.
Now this is where you are making things worse for the server and even more so the restaurant you keep going to because you love it. When you don’t Tip the restaurant actually pays the difference. Your server is not some person who feels entitled to your money, they are a person that perform a job then based on their performance and because the government says they get tipped versus a regular paycheck expect a Tip. Its a contract they signed with the government and their employer. Its no different then the contract you made with your employer besides you agreed to one that says you get payed hourly or get a salary.
If you don’t want to use your “hard earned money” to Tip then don’t go out and expect some poor server to do a job that the system is set up for you to Tip to make their hard earned money.
I hope that all made sense. If it didn’t please read the links bellow I hope they add some more insight and educate you on why you should tip. Also please respond if you have a valid and BACKED argument. Don’t want to hear your opinion unless you have some facts to support yourself.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/tipped-employees
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Minimum%20Wage%20Order%2031.pdf
In reply to Brian
Hey Brian, how funny is it that you try to “destroy” someone’s “debate” (it’s called an argument) by stating they need to use facts and not just opinion when you do the exact same thing! For one: there are no “facts” that people must provide to state why they don’t like to tip. Their reasoning is based off of personal, subjective opinions. Please explain how the person’s opinion was “selfish” and “uneducated” because you sound completely fucking retarded. Secondly: the word speculation is synonymous with opinion, they’re the same thing, yet it’s completely ok for the one person to base their arguments of a jobs difficulty on opinion, yet anonymous is not allowed to provide opinion, only facts correct? The fact that you even say, it’s jut your opinion on the matter (which is a view on something not based on factst or knowledge) and you tell him to provide evidence… Again, you sound fucking retarded.
So, Brian the dumbass, where are all of your facts at? I see an opinion that servers are typically perusing? Oh, pursuing an education. So, where’s your evidence for that claim? Is that what the typical, majority of servers are doing? Please provide facts rather than speculation. Ummm, perhaps you ought to look-up the fucking word CAREER because nowhere does it state that careers require an education. ANYBODY CAN HAVE A CAREER. Career: a job one has had for a significant amount of time that has opportunities for progress. Again, where the fuck are your facts at for these aims you’re making? Is it a fact that the job works around most school schedules? Your unsupported claims are completely irrelevant here and erroneously assumes yet again, only college students work as servers. I don’t know Brian, why would a college student waste their valuable time doing the job they’re paid to do? You apparently have all the facts right?
Hate to break it to you Brian, but tipping was never actually a costume, it was a custom. Please provide your facts for that claim as well. Also, rather than thinking maybe some people can’t afford to tip, you just claim they’re selfish for not giving extra money to someone whom I’ve interacted with for less than 5 fucking minutes my entire time at the restaurant… But, these people are selfish for not giving people more money. Please provide your facts to back that up.
The governments made laws requiring all workers are paid a minimum wage (labor laws) and so they can tax those tips. Are you fucking dumb? Servers do get regular checks. And GOOD! LET THE FUCKING RESTAURANT PAY IT’S FUCKING EMPLOYEES, I DIDN’T SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THAT SERVER STATING I WOULD PAY THEM SEPARATELY FROM THE RESTAURANT. Also, way to completely contradict yourself by stating “your server is not some person who feels entitled to your money” and then in the same sentence stating “they are a person that perform a job and because the government states they receive tips instead of paycheck so they expect it”! EXPECTING A FUCKING A TIP IS FEELING ENTITLED TO MY MONEY DUMBASS! They shouldn’t expect any tips because their employer will still pay them minimum wage, just like most jobs in the country.
Ok, THEY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE EMPLOYER NOT ME, THEREFORE I AN NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THE SERVERS WAGES.
Now, if the receive their money whether or not they get tipped, then how is the system set up for them to make their hard earned money through tips? The system is set up for your to report tips as income. Also, every fucking court or judge will tell you that gratuity and tips are not mandatory or illegal to withhold from the server as the fucking definition of tipping is a voluntary act on the part of the customer. And please state any facts you presented rather than opinion. You’re fucking stupid, seriously.
In reply to Luca Delvecchio
You did read my comment right. Majority of it is facts. See below, I even included links for them in my comment.
“No when it comes to you not tipping you are just being selfish. Not only is it a costume here but it was so much of one that the government saw fit to write laws for it. There are two types of employs. A server is what you call a “Tipped Employ”. This is how that system works – The government after determining minimum wage for the state then looks at what the average server (bad, good, nice restaurant, cheap restaurant) declares. Taking that and adds the appropriate number to make it minimum wage.
Now this is where you are making things worse for the server and even more so the restaurant you keep going to because you love it. When you don’t Tip the restaurant actually pays the difference. Your server is not some person who feels entitled to your money, they are a person that perform a job then based on their performance and because the government says they get tipped versus a regular paycheck expect a Tip. Its a contract they signed with the government and their employer. Its no different then the contract you made with your employer besides you agreed to one that says you get payed hourly or get a salary.”
Now for the parts that I did read and feel I should respond to to make you shut your mouth. Because your saying a lot of words for not saying anything at all.
When it comes to most servers being college students. The U.S. Census has put the number of servers that claim to be in school at 71%. Thats a lot. If you have ever been a server and I am making a wild guess that you have not because if you had you would know that majority of a servers hours happen after 4pm. Giving them plenty of time for their day classes. They could also work in a restaurant that only servers breakfast. If that is the case they will almost always be done by 2pm giving them time for night classes.
“Hate to break it to you Brian, but tipping was never actually a costume, it was a custom.” WHAT? That made no sense. Also if people were only paid for the time they interact with a client and not for all the behind the scenes work they do to get a job done, everyone would make close to no money. Using that way of thinking almost all manufacturing, accountants, lawyers, real-estate agents, city employees, most government officials, the military, ect…….
would never get paid! There is so much more going on for your server then you actually see. There job is not to be seen besides to help provide a pleasant experience. The fact you only see them for 5 minutes is a good thing. Unless you like your server hovering on your shoulder.
Next, “The governments made laws requiring all workers are paid a minimum wage (labor laws) and so they can tax those tips.” All money is taxed, duh. If you understood what you read then you would see that the government made something called a “Tipped Employe” so they can regulate their pay because of tips. I said that and if your reading comprehension was better then a 4 year old you would have seen that. See below and try again!
“This is how that system works – The government after determining minimum wage for the state then looks at what the average server (bad, good, nice restaurant, cheap restaurant) declares. Taking that and adds the appropriate number to make it minimum wage.”
“Now, if the receive their money whether or not they get tipped, then how is the system set up for them to make their hard earned money through tips?” Yep see above and try again!
Now for your argument and probably the thing I have to explain to most people on here. “LET THE FUCKING RESTAURANT PAY IT’S FUCKING EMPLOYEES, I DIDN’T SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THAT SERVER STATING I WOULD PAY THEM SEPARATELY FROM THE RESTAURANT.”
If this is how you really want things then this is how it will look. Take your say $8 burger, and add tip to that. I would normally at least give $2. Just easier then giving $1.50. Now for the state of colorado the minimum wage for a server is $2.13. I would provide a link but you didn’t bother looking at the other two i gave last time so why bother. Just google it! Now the regular minimum wage for Colorado is $8.23. So we just took your $10 bill with tipping a server to $16 dollars with tipping not being allowed. Why……… would you want that? JUST WHY?
Also grow up. If you are going to slam someone leave cussing out of it.Sure I might let one or two slip through a long debate/argument but really. Find other was to do it. One it makes you look more intelligent and that you have a vocabulary, and two people tend to respond better.
Thank you for playing, I look forward to your next response. Hopefully with some facts to contradict the 2 posts I have made filled with them.
i used to wait tables and I loved my job aside from pricks like you who don’t tip because we waiters/waitresses do a lot of work for you (the customers) you think those tables got cleaned and ready for you on its own?! You think those refills upon refills upon fucking refills are easy to balance in a restaurant that doesn’t allow you to make multiple trips. How do you think the salt and pepper shakers got filled and the floor got swept?! Hello!!! I did that! And for $2.15/hr without your tips how can someone survive like that?! And beside that we HAVE to report all our tips because it is AGAINST THE LAW not to. Entitled assholes like you are the reason that wait staff hate serving certain people, and yes, we can tell who you are. Maybe we didn’t cook the food, but we bust our asses doing pretty much everything but. Polished silverware, clean and sanitize the soda fountain, etc. all done by us *lowly* servers.. You deserve to feel like shit when you do more than your best and somebody stiffs you like you do severs.. Asshole.
In reply to Seriously?!
The auto grat is also a fantastic way to deal with shit heads like this lol. I have a master’s degree in social work and a bachelors in engineering and work a full time job but still bartend and serve on the side frankly because the money is too good to pass up. I can honestly say that being a bartender and server is probably one of the most demanding jobs I have had and if it weren’t for the tips why would anyone do it?? I am a firm believer in tipping for service. You don’t go to a restaurant because you need food. You go because you want food and an experiecne. Your server/bartender should know the menu from top to bottom, know the proper drinks to pair with meals, and be prompt and courteoius. All while doing this for say 5 other tables. Not too mention the amount of tedious prep and post work done on the shift. If you can’t appreciate that then maybe you shouldn’t be going out to eat.
Not being from the US, there are a couple of things I don’t understand here…
Firstly, if the US has a “minimum” wage, how can anyone be paid below that? In the UK the minimum wage is strictly enforced and businesses are fined if caught paying less.
Secondly, why does the tipping system work on a percentage (15%?)? If I order a $20 steak, I tip more to be served than if I order a $10 burger? Is the service better if I order steak?
In reply to Neil
1. Most servers get paid about $2.50/hr. Minimum wage is $8.15/hr. At the end of the year servers have to claim their tip money on their taxes. If the wages INCLUDING tips comes to less than minimum wage than the difference is given to them during tax season. They can only get that money during tax season though and only if the wages plus tips come to less than minimum wage when averaged out for that whole year ((tips+wages)/total hours). So it’s a balancing act. They can’t get that money until the end of the year though so if they don’t make good tips in the meanwhile then they can’t eat/pay their bills/etc.
2. Tips working on a percentage scale I think has more of a basis on trying to judge how many items a person is ordering more so than how expensive each item is. The more food items or drinks someone orders the longer time they will take up that table for and also the more work the server usually has to do to serve them (or same if they’re larger items or items that take longer to make it can have similar causes). Servers usually have a set number of tables in their “section” so the longer someone sits at a table the less people they can serve during their shift (and therefore less number of tips). Also, if it’s a large group eating together under one bill then it makes the job of serving them much more difficult (and sometimes it might even take TWO servers to get the job done – then they have to split the tip!)
It’s certainly not a perfect system but it does make SOME amount of sense for the style of work if you really think hard about it. Also, it just IS the way it is. It’s a VERY widespread custom (used at every restaurant in the country for the last century at least) therefore it’d be very, very difficult to change. So if you ever do come to the U.S. and eat in a real restaurant (non-fast-food) then please do tip!! (Unless the service is absolutely atrocious, but that’s a whole other story)… The tip money is a server’s livelihood here!! Certain other service jobs receive tips too but for servers in restaurants it’s most important because they get paid soooo little.
I’m going to say people that don’t believe in tipping have never served and if they have then they served at some mom and pop place. Serving is a skill. If you can’t see or tell that it is then grab a serving position somewhere just to see how it is. Bet you lose your head trying to satisfy all your guest. There’s a lot of people who can’t handle it. To juggle and make 3 to 6+ tables happy and satisfied is harder than you might think. I believe they should be tipped by how well they do according to the bill. What’s funny is the people that don’t tip that come back and back to restaurants don’t realize… we remember you so when we see you with another server we talk and let them know the kind of table you are. In the 12 years that I was a server I’ve never messed or saw anyone mess with a tables food. So it’s not like that but we will pay more attention to the other tables that will tip or possibly tip better than you. It comes down to a skill and if you can’t appreciate that or that we seriously try to make your meal as pleasant and as happy as can be. Well then get fast food or order to go.
(Usually people that don’t tip well are people that don’t go out and we can tell who you people are within the first few minutes.) But if you do go out regularly and don’t tip which you most likely suck as a guest too and give the staff a hard time… well just cause I haven’t seen, heard or done it myself doesn’t mean no one has ever messed with your food.
I’ve been a server for years. I get paid $2.13 an hour. I live off of those tips and claim everything I receive for taxes. People like you don’t deserve the priveledge of sitting down in a nice restaurant and enjoying the food we bring to you. We not only bring you your food. We roll the silverware, we clean the tables, we have a list of sidework we have to do on top of deal with people like yourself who feel entitled to the best experience every time and act as if you’re the only person in the restaurant. So please take your undeserving ass to McDonalds and never go to a restaurant if you have no intention of tipping the server who has to deal with you.
If you don’t want to tip your server, stay home and cook your own meal. If you don’t want to tip your bartender, stay home and drink a beer.
The issue is that the government has said that it’s ok to pay servers less than minimum wage because the government expects you to tip your server. So, servers make $2.13 an hour, which no one anywhere in the united states could possibly live on.
And to those who say that the employer makes up the difference if the server doesn’t make at least minimum wage after tips, that is legally true, but in practice is rare. It’s common for a resteraunt to say something to the effect of: “If you aren’t making enough in tips to make at least minumum wage without us paying you more, you must not be a good server, and so we should fire you.”
So, if you don’t make enough and try to get more from your employer, you run a very real risk of being canned.
As for paying percentages, yes, you sort of plan to recieve better service when you’re paying for a 25 dollar meal than when paying for an 8 dollar burger. The percentage system basically makes server positions at more expensive/exclusive resteraunts a more desireable position, ensuring that the best servers gravitate towards the more expensive resteraunts.
After reading the articles and been a server. Im not hating towards you because it is your opinion. I actually laughed. Money working can be great and not so great. What people fail to realize is that most of the waiters have degrees and not their only job. I will forever remember the day one very rude regular, never tipped, saw me coming to save his life working as a paramedic after he stiffed me the day before. The face he had.
Back to my point, if you don’t want to tip its your right but how about before you order tell your server you won’t be tipping. Then we know to just serve you, no talking, nothing. To do the job you think we do. It would save you time from being annoyed and save us time as well. Ive had this happen to me. I honestly didnt care and was pleased because it saved me time and his. Not going to be a bitch to the guest either.
okay so, you go to a restaurant, sit yourself down, get the menus yourself, get the water yourself, get the drinks yourself, go write a note to the cook of what you want, you can’t get your questions answered like “what comes with this? what is your special of the day? what are the dessert options? I’m indecisive what do you like here?”, when your food is ready you get up yourself and get the food yourself, when you’re done you bust your own table and deliver them to the kitchen, then go up and cash out. But you can save all that trouble by tipping 2 dollars. Asshole.