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 am a server, and bartender. My job is completely meaningless and I’m ok with it. I make over 80k with no degree and no debt. You don’t have to tip me and I don’t expect you to. If you don’t, nobody will spit in your food, you watch too much television. But when Mr Moneybags strolls in who happens to tip well and is a regular I WILL ignore you and give him better service. I know it, you know it, and mr moneybags knows it. That’s why he tips. I’ll put his food ahead of yours and make his drinks ahead of yours. Is it right? That’s irrelevant, it’s the system that’s in place and I’ll take advantage of it. I provide a service, and regardless of how menial it is, you get what you pay for. Feel free to stiff me, but next time you come in you’ll have to wait, we have other guests to take care of.
Once some retard came in and didn’t tip the last time, so i drug his meat patty across the floor of the women’s room on one side and on the other side I smeared it across the floor of the service aisle and put it between two buns and served his burger just how he liked it: bloody and full of bacteria. Fortunately for us we have a policy that clearly warns against cuntsomers ordering rare beef LMAO!!!
You’re a piece of shit. There is no other way to put this. You are irreversably, undeniably, irrevocably, a piece of shit garbage who does not deserve to breathe the same air as the waiters and waitresses who work so hard busting their humps to make sure you get your double cheeseburger.
You must be pretty spoiled rotten and just plain stupid to have this kind of worthless unfounded opinion so let me lay it out for you: these waiters and waitresses aren’t getting paid “extra” for bringing you your food. They’re getting paid MINIMUM if even that. They don’t get minimum wage and tips ON TOP of that. They get 2 dollars an hour MAYBE plus tips and hope they make it there. If they’re really lucky the place they work for makes up the difference but it’s not always guaranteed. It’s good to know that you don’t care about the single mother who has mouths to feed or the college student who’s struggling to scrape up enough to buy their 800 dollar books every semester.
What you’re displaying here is not only an unacceptable amount of ignorance but a total and complete lack of humanity. I’ve never been more disgusted in my life. I’m not going to argue that it’s bullshit that restaurants have essentially used tipping as a means of forcing the public to pay their employees for them. But like it or not that’s the way it is and these people need to make a living wage just as badly as you do. If you don’t like it learn to make your own damn eggrolls. Learn to make your own damn ravioli. Stop burdening the public with your disgusting presence and just stay home for the rest of your life.
In reply to Maria
Maria why must waitresses like you always lie. You make the states federal minimum wage it is the law. You are not even worth minimum wage.
In reply to Maria
Maria the single mother with lots of bastard kids is not my problem. The kid going to college I don’t give a crap. Just bring me my food shut up and be happy that even your worthless ass has a job. By the way I don’t tip.
There are lots of low paid jobs that don’t receive tips, don’t expect tips, and even a few workers who are proud enough of their work they wouldn’t accept a tip if offered. Expecting a tip is a bare step above begging. There is nothing skilled, technical, or particularly entertaining about being a “waitperson.” It is one of many service jobs take by people who didn’t have a clue how to plan a career and ended up doing something the most likely hate.
Author is a cheap piece of shit. End of statement.
In reply to Matt
Matt I think you are a piece of shit. The author has the guts to say what 90% of the people out there don’t have the guts to say. I don’t tip and I am proud of it.
In reply to Giorgio
Giorgio, you are also a cheap piece of shit. Please stick to McDonald’s or at least have the balls to tell your server in the beginning that you won’t be tipping so that they can give you appropriate service.
In reply to Matt
You need to be a little more educated as to why servers get tipped. If you don’t want to tip… keep your ass in a drive thru. We don’t go into your job and demand things and run you to death. Then… leave you with no tip. We are also allowed to refuse service. Remember that! Keep going into your favorite restaurant and not tipping. You’ll never be able to eat there again cause no server is going to want to wait on you. If $5 is a lot of money to you…. then you need to go back to school. Like I said before… get some education :) by the way… your a huge piece of shit and I hope they do spit in your food. Have a good one!
In reply to jenna
Jenna, I think it’s funny waitresses feel they are entitled to a tip. What did you do that was so special to get a tip from me? You took my order filled my drinks and brought my food. Sounds like you just did your simple job. No tip for you bitch.
In reply to Grace
Hey Grace. If you can’t tip, keep your cheap ass at McDonald’s.
In reply to Lane
Lane I will make sure I bust the waitresses butt before I leave and not tip her. I will be thinking of you the whole time while I have dinner at Ruth Chris tonight. The waitresses paid to wait on me. If she doesn’t do a good job I will complain and probably even get a free gift card for another visit. Tipping is optional. Waiting on me hand and foot is not. Unskilled people are easily replaced. Repeat customers is what keeps a restaurant in business.
In reply to Grace
I worked as a waiter for 7 years, 2 of those years I made around 200 to 250 dollars a day, everyday, 365 without ever taking a sick day. That’s $182,500 for just those 2 years, 12% of that total number of wages got reported to the government, because most of it was cash that I chose not to report, with good reason and conscience. Thankfully, I’ve put most of that money away for myself and my family, I refuse to give any to charity or any other…people. I don’t believe in donating or helping out others, especially sick children; they keep showing these retards on their death beds pleading for their lives and begging for your donations. Don’t do it. Luck of the draw. I’m living happy now having invested smartly most of that money, and now it works for me since, I have no expenses that aren’t covered by the V.A.
In reply to Grace
You do also realize that tips do not just go to servers, they are actually split between everyone in the front of house making it possible for you to have a nice dining experience. Generally servers are REQUIRED to tip out bussers, hosts, bartenders, etc. based off of the amount of sales they have; not necessarily on how much they actually took in for tips. So when someone is proud of not tipping, essentially what they’re saying is that they are proud of the fact that they go into an establishment they place the expense of their service on the person who provided it for them. Not only are they not giving that person an income, they’re also making that person pay out of their own pocket to make sure others in the establishment are taken care of. On top of that fact, most waiters/waitresses make a little less than 3 dollars an hour because tips are supposed to balance out their wages. Then others have the audacity to deny them funds for the service they provide based off of some arbitrary emotions, that’s bullshit. If tipping is policy that you personally don’t support, then DO NOT go to a business that depends on them. If you do choose to go to a place that runs off of the tip system, then do it and deal with it. Don’t be a dickhole and place the blame on the people working there.
In reply to Jarrett
Jarrett you are full of shit. Fed law says you have to make at least minimum-wage including tips. Also you’re not going to tip out money you never got. The real question is how much you don’t report to the IRS. You are a lying sack of shit.
In reply to Matt
Yes it sucks employers don’t pay servers min wage but it is what it is u know it before you go out so deal with it or stay your “clearly single and bitter” ass at home. I don’t care what you’ve done for a living being in the restaurant industry is one of the hardest jobs and you are the perfect example why not only do we have to deal with complete chaos being quadruple sat and screaming cooks but we have to contend with assholes like you which as you mentioned above “yes there are more of you”. So on top if making less than four bucks an hour refilling a million kids drinks and running back and forth too the kitchen for 200 sides of ranch and more bread, we have to that with a smile on our face. That’s customer service. And I guarantee the minute you don’t get it you will bitch about that too. The fact anyone could pretend to like you should win them the Nobel fucking prize. You should be grateful anyone if tried even though they no doubt failed. How could a server know what you tip before your meal to spit in your food ? THAT IS STUPID. And for anyone who reads this we don’t do that maybe and it’s a big maybe fast food but I doubt it. It’s your own paranoid complete pick personality that makes you believe that because deep down you know you deserve it. Anyway have a good one and get your head out of your ass and tip your server.
In reply to Erin Mccormick
Erin Mccormick everything you described is a waitress simple job. This unskilled pathetic job is worth very little money. Get a real job, this is not a job for an adult. I am proud not to tip. I do enjoy making the waitress work her ass off.
In reply to Red
Are you nuts? What position do you hold that your so high and mighty. Havent you ever heard of common courtesy? I guess not. Cause adults in the 21st century would realize that tipping has been a common place since the late 50’s. Is it a skilled job? By no means is it. Does it take training and skill? Yes. I work 40-60 hours a week to make ends meet. Now i have my far share of customers who tip me plenty, and of course i get those who dont. Not tipping just shows your rude and inconsiderate. Get with the times people. Would i like tiping to be abloished and get a high wage? My god yes. But untill then always tip. Your doing yourself a favor, and being a kind person.
In reply to sean
Sean, because you have a crappy job and make chicken feed for pay. You want me to be kind and give you extra money for doing your job. Sounds like a welfare hand out to me. I will not tip you for doing your job. I don’t care if you have to bust your ass to make ends meet. You have a joke for a job that’s your problem. My job title is Director of Research Nuclear Medicine & Compounds at a pharmaceutical facility. Yes I feel your beneath me, and the maid that cleans my toilets.
To the people complaining about low wages, let me say this first I agree that everyone should get paid actual minimum wage (and go up from there for length/quality of work) and not depend on tips. As a front desk employee at a hotel I would rather get paid less than minimum and have to depend on tips since I would earn more than I currently earn. If people had to tip everyone that worked in some sort of customer service job (wait staff, hotel employees, flight attendants, etc, etc, etc…) than some people might be out of that poverty level. I;m not saying that I agree with this article, but I am saying that I agree with some comments on here when others say it is just part of your job to take the orders, bring the food, and some extra work such as refill the salt/pepper shakers. I did work in a partial sit-down/fast food restaurant and because the place had to pay minimum wage (actual minimum) we did all of that stuff and rarely saw anything extra even during planned parties at the restaurant. Was I happy when I saw a tip, of course; but it was never expected.
In reply to Front Desk Clerk
If a waiter doesn’t make minimum wage with tips. The employer has to at least make up the difference to the states minimum wage that is federal law. Personally I think two dollars an hour for a waiter waitresses is more then they are worth.
In reply to Giorgio
Cheap bastard. Go to McDonald’s if you’re not tipping. You better believe if you’re known for not tipping in a restaurant , you will definitely get shitty service .
In reply to nikki
Nikki give me poor service and I will do everything in my power to make sure you get fired. I will write letters to the corporate office to the district manager and the regional manager. You will be wiping your ass with your unemployment check.
You’ve obviously never worked in a restaurant. You are a piece of shit. Fuck you.
In reply to Matt
No I never worked in a restaurant before. The reason is because I have a graduate degree, money power and prestige. The waitress should be honored to wait on me without a tip. She is far beneath me. Her only reason of employment is to serve me. She makes adequate money without my tip.
In reply to Giorgio
And how are people without support from their mommy’s and daddy’s supposed to pay for college or a graduate degree? I am in college and work around 30 hours at a restaurant to pay for my education. You sir, are a prick.
In reply to Stephanie
Stephanie work at McDonald’s. Or suck rich guys dicks, I don’t care not my problem if you have problems paying for college
In reply to Giorgio
The waitress should be honored???? Beneath you??? Because you have a fucking graduate degree? Go fuck yourself you arrogant asshole! Your “power” and “prestige” don’t mean shit if you are horrible person who treats people this way. You are a bad person. Not because you don’t tip, because you think that someone who is working for a living is beneath you. You are a bad person because you think that a graduate degree gives you the right to treat people like shit. It doesn’t. Nothing does. Try being a better human being. Also, if she made adequate money without tips then the tip debate wouldn’t be a fucking thing.
Dude, you’re an ass. Do the job before you comment on it.
I am floored by all of the high and mighty people expecting impeccable service just because they have been blessed with a higher station in life. I too am very blessed as a large medical company owner. The waitstaff should be honored to serve you just because you make a good living? You most be living in a dream world. The profanity used by these people and the comments regarding being psychologically challenged are unbelievable. No professional that I know would ever put such degrading words in print. I worked my way through graduate school and medical school waitressing and know how hard these people work first hand. Tipping is customary in America as well as all of the industrialized countries throughout the world. If you don’t want to follow these customs then move to a third world country where your profession does not even exist or is not recognized as it is here. Personally I tip 20% at all times if the service is what it should be. If the service is poor then I give 15%. These people have families to support just as the rest of us do.
In reply to Teri
I don’t tip because I don’t think a waitress does anything to deserve a tip. Since when is doing your job deserving of a tip? I am nice to the waitress but I will never tip A person for simply doing their job.
In reply to Candice
Yea, pretty similar stance but a little different.
I have sporatic work and can’t often afford to give a tip, but I’ll have to attend a meeting or a date or something and I simply do not care to give a tip because I need to money just as much as them and if I tip them it just allows their shitty employers who underpay them to stay in business when they have no reason to be other than the rather obligatory charity of their customers.
If servers want more money, demand it from the asshole charging $30 for a cornish hen leg on a plate with some salt and pepper on it, not me.
I never tip because I see my lowly waitress approach me and my 5 fellas from Yale, when we grab lunch because she is 10 stations in life below me and expects me to hel p out wit rhe rent at her home. I see her apron pockets stufffed ful of dollars hang jingly coins that she dont report to our IRS which is our dear irs to help everyone trhough tax represent puropoises. Jah