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.
WAITERS DON’T GET PAID UNLESS YOU TIP! the cost of food does not include a waiters tip. We make $4.75 an hour and if you don’t tip not only did we make nothing but we have to take money out of our pockets to cover all the other costs of the hosts and bartender… We basically pay for you to eat there unless we get a tip. So don’t hate on servers for wanting tips if you don’t even know how the cost is broken down. grrr!
In reply to Ignorantnontippers
You just contradicted yourself.
YOu said “waiters don’t get paid unless you tip.”
Then you say you make “$4.75 an hour.”
Obviously, you DO get paid. You get paid $4.75/hour.
So what? Find a better job. Work at wal mart, where they pay $9.50/hour.
Your pay=not my problem.
In reply to Common Sense
Common sense where the hell do u work to tell someone to work at Walmart. Are u the CEO of world Enterprises and also how come u defend Bagwad every time. Seems to me that being a server or working at Wallmart is way better then being Bagwads little whinny ass bitch.
In reply to Common Sense
How about you try to live on 4.75 an hour? Or how about you don’t go out to eat or order to go so you don’t look like a cheap ass. You want to know what else doesn’t grow on trees? Jobs. It’s not that easy to get. Different job. You must have been born with a silver spoon up your bum.
In reply to Kate
I chose not to live on 4.75/hour because I know I am worth at least $30/hour (which is what I am making currently). I know it isn’t easy, so I chose to go to school, acquire the credentials and live.
I lived with my parents during school so that made it easier. I didn’t spend too much. I went to a state school (public) so tuition was cheap.
ANyways, your ills mean nothing to me. Just serve me my food and be happy you are making $4.75/hour and NOT $0/hour.
In reply to Common Sense
30 an hour huh? I make between 60-150 an hour in tips plus $8.50 an hour wage as a bartender in an extremely high volume bar in NYC (I also have full benefits) . I went to university briefly and decided I wanted to travel and live with a feeling of freedom. I make more than you, so get off your high horse. I make as much as I do not only because I have a very loyal following of customers but because, unlike you sir, the majority of our population follows this custom of tipping. You don’t have to follow it, quite frankly I have a feeling you live an extremely boring life, with no adventure and fun what so ever. I have traveled this world because I chose to LIVE vs being tied down to a single city and a demanding job, jobs will always be available in the food and beverage industry, that will never change. Anywhere I go, I can find work in a bar. People will always eat out, and always drink… And always tip.
Oh, and by the way auto grat is not mandatory. It’s simply an unwritten contract you sign into when you sit down in an establishment but you most certainly can refuse to pay it, if you don’t mind the shame and humiliation that will come with that. So maybe you should get your head out of YOUR ass. :-)
In reply to Kate
Good for you. Now you know you are worth somewhere between that particular pay range.
Obviously, you are proof that tips do nothing but artifically inflate your wages.
You are making, if you approx based on a 40 hour week, over $120,000 a year. I’m happy you make more than me, but at the same time, i have more reason NOT to tip.
Why would I need to tip you?
I’ve travelled to. Guess what? Most places I’ve been to have no problem with me not tipping. England, France, The Middle East, Hong Kong, India–i don’t tip, and they don’t care. I even ask them up front what is the normal tip percentage. They tell me whatever you want we are fine with it.
I don’t drink, btw. I do eat, however.
“unwritten contract?” No such thing. Something has to be written in order to have proof that it exists.
With all of that malarkey above me, you pro tippers should get your heads out of your asses. Making $60/hour? Why do I need to tip you if you make that much?
If I don’t tip you, count your blessings. You are already making $60/hour, so you don’t need my extra $2.
Entitled, liberal, yuppie, democrat kids that don’t know any better.
When you say “majority of the population” do you mean the US or the world? Remember, only about 400 million people live in the US and there are billions more out there. Just because the US does something, does that make it automatically right? Don’t give me the cultural bullshit because slavery was also apart of the “culture.”
In reply to Common Sense
Your comparison of tipping to slavery is just foolish and comical.
I average about 30 hours a week actually, and a 6 hour work day… And my schedule is around my life, not the other way around. Pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself
In reply to Kate
sweet deal, right?
More reason for me not to tip you.
Again, more reason for me not to tip. Perhaps ALL wait staff should disclose their wages before I decide what to tip. If a waiter is making only $8/hour, I am more inclined to tip that person than a self entitled liberal brat that makes way too much money and still demands a tip, right?
Just because the example is “comical” doesn’t make it any less true.
How about in China, where they used to kill babies that weren’t boys? Maybe if you visit China, you’d do the same? Its the culture, right?
Don’t eat in American restaurants. In fact, dont even come here. Stay in your backward third world Class System toilet you call a nation. Problem solved.
so I get this Indian man and a woman who looked like she had an on off button on her forehead from the airport and they wanted to go to the Excalibur Hotel(one of the cheapest places on the strip surprise surprise)so i took them Knowing full well that The Stiff was coming.they asked me how long it would take to get there. I told them to Jal park their asses in the back and we will be there when we get there.I wrap them around the back of the city took them through the back of the hotel. 33 dollars later I got my credit card receipt and sure as Indians smell like curry there was no tip. No problem this was expected. I hope these people were happy with their 33 dollar ride.
In reply to johnnycab
I was with this white kid, man they are so entitled. As a kid, his parents (divorced) bought him EVERY single toy whenever he wanted. He was never spanked and he actually swore at his parents.
They think they can go to other countries, shoot their missles and do whatever they want without reprucussion. Also, they talk REAL big at their workplace but are SUPER lazy and never commute more than 10 miles from their homes and ALWAYS demand for ridiculously high wages, never care for their parents, etc etc.
Its a good thing white kids do nothing but spend. The rest of us are disciplined, outrank them when it matters, buy out their debt for our own good, and use math to fool them.
Yea, I can talk that way too.
Born and raised here, doesn’t mean I will tip.
I would suggest making your server aware that you’re not going to tip them at the beginning of your meal, that way you won’t get any of those fake interactions you don’t want to pay for, and the server doesn’t have to waste their time on you.
First and foremost I respect your opinion.
However your article is terrible. I used to be waiter while I was attending College to pay the bills and I know what it is like. We get payed less than minimum wage and most of our income comes from tips.Moving on in most places there is a thing called a cashout, where you give a percentage of your TOTAL SALES to the kitchen from your own tips(5% for me). Therefore if someone orders a $100 worth of food and doesn’t leave a tip, I lose $5 from my own money. When people don’t tip I never got mad just a little disappointed that’s all. Bottomline you should always tip, and here is why:
-we offer a good service(most servers)
-the right thing to do, common decency
-don’t be cheapass
-if you can afford to eat out you can afford to tip.
-if you ain’t gonna tip go to Mcdonalds, or order a damn pizza.
Also when you wrote “you deserve to be waiter rest of your life” just disrespectful man. Some people like waiting tables and don’t mind doing that for the rest of their life.
The way I was raised is you always tip because its the right thing to do 10%, 15% or 5% doesn’t matter just tip something.
In reply to JR Carter-Thompson
But aren’t your wages better than $0/hour? Shouldn’t you be thankful that you are receiving a wage in the first place?
Just because your wages are screwed up doesn’t mean I HAVE to tip.
Decency? Please, this is capitalism. We get our shirts from sweat shops from Bangladesh for crying out loud. Lets forget about decency.
I have EVERY right not to tip. I am not legally obliged to do so.
Have some decency to acknowledge this right of mine please.
In reply to Common Sense
Is that u Bagwad.
In reply to dhjdhdhdhd
nope. Perhaps you pro-tippers have to get your heads out of your asses. I’m just saying.
Bhagwad Jal Park,
There is nothing I can say that others haven’t already, but for some reason, I sit hear reading all of these comments and feel compelled to respond. I have been serving for over ten years as a second job because there is no other position that allows the flexibility and payout as a restaurant/bar.
I have had my share of customers that didn’t tip and it doesn’t bother me. We servers have to learn to take the good with the bad. That for every customer that doesn’t tip, we know there’s another waiting for us that will compensate what you don’t provide.
So, go ahead, live your life saving your $10 on a tip and spend it on something that will provide you empty happiness. Just as someone said previously, there’s nothing better than taking care of guests that truly appreciate your services. It no longer becomes about the money. It becomes about experiences. You can learn a lot from other people. I work in a well known restaurant chain that resides next to an expressway through the city and I come across all kinds of travelers. I have met people from England, Canada, France, Germany, Scotland and then there are multiple cities within our own country. Talking and getting to know these individuals, in a way, is so fulfilling.
We all have such different backgrounds, but there is a global society that we are all bound to and can relate. It’s such a small world after all and servers have it all at their fingertips. We are the friends that can offer companionship to those who are on a business trip away from their family. We are confidants who can offer another perspective in life to those who offer a piece of their mind.
Unlike you, people come to restaurants for the “experience.” To tell you the truth, I would never go to a restaurant for the food. I can make similar or much better dishes myself. However, if I find a good server/bartender, I will frequent their restaurant more often.
Bhagwad, I can objectively appreciate how you don’t want to tip. There are many countries who pay their servers a “living” wage and don’t require their patrons to tip. However, you must go with the old adage “When in Rome…” You are in the U.S. or you are in “fill in the blank.” It’s only customary to adopt the ways of our culture. I’m sorry if you don’t approve, but as you say, it’s capitalism. You say you just want your food. I say, we just want your money. You don’t tip police officers or doctors in the U.S. because they are paid a “LIVING” wage. Whether in Thailand or Bangladesh, although they’re wage is poor, it’s a different economy than ours and doesn’t correlate. Apples and Oranges, my friend.
Yes, we did choose this profession, but this profession promises us tips. :) Taxes exhaust our paychecks so we always end up paying the difference each year. The IRS requires us to claim 10% of our sales, regardless if we’re tipped that or not.
Bottom line, you get what you pay for. If you are unwilling to pay for services rendered, expect the consequences. It’s just too bad we have to wait 45 minutes to find that out. Don’t you worry, though, servers remember. If I were you, I’d rotate the restaurants you attend.
My last point I’ll make is simply that the one thing that connects us all in our beliefs is the golden rule. “Treat others as you would want to be treated.” I can understand African Americans not tipping because many of them just don’t know because they spent their entire childhood never attending any restaurants due to their socioeconomic status. How are they to know? However, you know exactly what society requires and you just show no regard to the rules. Talk about integrity. Integrity is about doing what is right. It’s not right to stiff a server….ever. Enjoy your life, Bhagwad, I imagine it’s going to be a miserable one.
In reply to secondjobhavens
why even have living wages? Why just have wages based on whatever you and the employer agree with? Why even have a minimum wage (Norway doesn’t have a minimum wage)? Why have “fair wages?” Wages are wages. If they are fair, great. If they don’t seem “fair” tough luck.
It isn’t “apples and oranges.” You go to work, you get your money, you buy things. Its as simple as that. Regulations just make it WAY more difficult.
Now let me ask you, if I don’t tip (unless auto-gratted), am I legally responsible?
You are giving us Indians a VERY bad name right now. I Am Indian and please know that this guy does NOT speak for all Indians. Bhagwad, are you forgetting the concept of Karma??
Indians mainly dont tip because, tipping is NOT a custom in India. All the fees are included in the price of the meal. Indians that have a predisposed opinion about things tend to be stubborn, thinking that if they are somehow proved wrong, that would mean that they are weak… It is generally the older Indians that do this, those in their mid 30’s to 40’s I usually tip based on service, but the minimum is 15%… In India most of the time, people of lower financial status arent treated with the respect they deserve. That’s why I love America so much more. All men are created equal…
Bhagwad, you say that you bow in china, and shake hands with people of other cultures…but draw the line when it comes to tipping??? why do you have the attitude of an Untouchable…??
You claim that you hate it when the waiters “try to act like your best friend”… you can let them know from the start you dont feel like having conversations, and then will comply. Understand, that in India as a child we are thought that Discipline is the number 1 thing, and dont encourage children to be more social. AMERICANS ARE VERY SOCIAL, and thats why they assume you are too. Amiercans prefer waiters that are social. So they want to make sure you are having a good day, and assess your mood so they can provide service accordingly. It was hard for me when I first moved here, honestly I am not a very social person. But slowly I learnt the ways and got over my social anxiety and became more social.
You claim that this is an issue the waiter should take up w/ the management, and management is the one to blame for the low wages..??? No. It is just the way the restaurant businesses are setup in the U.S. WHY is it setup this way??? I dont know, im not a business professional, but I know that it is unethical in SO MANY ways to not tip. not to mention the BAD Karma…
I’ve got friends that love waiting tables. And let me assure you that they can do more things than a conveyor belt… They have to be really good at solving various problems while constantly being on their feet, and they have to put up with a lot of shit from customers (such as yourself).
When most Indians come to US they dont have a lot of savings so they tend to hold on to as much $ as they can . (not trying to justify anything, but this is just a possibility)
Also, in some Indian cultures it is considered rude to tip someone. As if that receiver of the tip is a low class person. The case is quite the opposite in America.
You are correct about 1 thing. You arnt legally obligated to tip. You are within the bounds of the law. This is comparable to the activities of Westborow baptist church in Texas (www.godhatesfags.com/) They are the ones that protest at Military Funerals, claiming that All gay people are going to hell, and this dead soldier is going to hell because our president supports gay marriage. Is it legal what they are doing, yes they are staying a certain distance away and protesting loudly with signs. Although they are within the bounds of the law, there activities are in VERY BAD TASTE, such as your behaviour when it comes to tipping, Bhagwad…
I Am a son of the republic, an American and represent the goodness in this world, and represent the values of our forefathers. You can choose to be stingy, knowing that your actions are constitutionally protected. But if someone (a waiter) that has read this article and sees you in public, you will get the service you truly deserve.
So go ahed , continue to live on this earth with your poor , predisposed attitude, your actions are protected. But when it comes time for your Judgement day, you will feel the consequences of your poor actions…
In reply to Sidd A
You seem to make a lot of incorrect assumptions. One, just because I’m Indian doesn’t mean I’m religious or believe in “karma”. Even if I did, you have a lot of other things to prove. I’m also an atheist, so your threats of judgement day fall flat.
Second, you make the absurd assumption that I’m not treating waiters with respect. An unwarranted conclusion that I don’t mention in my post. In fact I specifically mention that I show them the same politeness I show everyone else. I draw the line when it comes to tipping because it costs money. Not because of some stupid concept of untouchability. How did that come up?
So stop addressing me as if we have some connection. You and I happen to be born within the same random boundaries by chance. It doesn’t mean anything. No one pays me to be the spokesperson of India and I don’t give a damn what “image” it creates.
In reply to Sidd A
what if a waiter from japan sees this? It won’t phase him/her since they don’t tip in japan, right? What about norway? They don’t have a minimum wage.
Wages aren’t our concern as consumers. Deal with it.
Money and “respect” are not mutually exclusive. Just because i’m not polite doesn’t mean i tip and just because i might tip doesn’t mean i’m necessarily polite.
In reply to Common Sense
Trust me. We have No connection… im NOT addressing you as such…
And why do you draw the line when it comes to money?? is the bank about to foreclose on your home?
Yes, you have a choice. A choice is given to you , either choice you make, your true-colors are shown to those around you… Its not just restaurant business, if I see someone trying their hardest to cater to my needs then that WILL NOT go unnoticed. It shall be rewarded. Its kind of like the concept of “pay it forward”.
“mr. common sense” , i dont care about what other countries are doing… we are talking about America right now…
so.. “bhagwad” if you, or your buddy “common sense” happen to be going out to eat in an American restaurant. Please print out this original “article” first , “5 reasons why i wont tip you” and just hand it to your waiter before hand. And explain to them that you’d rather have a conveyor belt bring you food.. This will save you + the waiter a lot of time..
In reply to Sidd A
“And why do you draw the line when it comes to money??”
Isn’t it obvious? Manners cost me nothing, whereas I’ve worked for the money I earn. In either case, you linking this to untouchability is supremely ridiculous.
Guess what? A walmart cashier also tries his/her hardest to cater to my needs within the ambit of their job. I’m willing to bet you don’t tip them a percentage of your grocery bill do you?
In reply to bhagwad
its just the way its setup here. Your stubbornness seems to not allow you to be open minded…
In reply to Sidd A
Forget Wal Mart–a LAFD EMT makes minimum wage. A person that SAVES YOUR LIFE makes minimum wage. I’d say they are trying hard. Trust me, I know LOTS of EMTS and they make minimum wage (just because it is a stepping stone to FD or PD or even security). So why can’t I tip them?
Why can’t I tip the police? in south America, rich people tip the police. So rich people in South America receive better service from their policemen while poor people, who don’t tip, receive very poor service from their police men.
O wait isn’t that bribery?
I will tip 9% from now on, how is that? I will also tip my police officer, congressman 20% so they can provide me extra service.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/q-a.htm
In reply to Sidd A
I don’t think you read your own link. If you had, you’d know that the law demands that employers make up minimum wage for any employee for whom tips do not exceed that amount.
What is your complaint exactly?
In reply to bhagwad
bhagwad is right. If you don’t make minimum by the tips, your employer has to make it up. Again, read your own links.
AFTER on has provided you services you can attempt to tip them regardless what ever profession they work in . if they happen to refuse, then its their loss
In reply to Sidd A
Sidd A
In America, slavery was once legal, so what?
Also, in America, if I’m not contractually obligated to do something with my money, I don’t have to do it.
You can’t call the cops if I don’t tip so therefore I am allowed to do so.
If you are a waiter and don’t like your job, no one is forcing you to work as a waiter. Work at Wal Mart instead.
I will hand the 5 reasons to my waiter AFTER I eat. It is my right as an American to do so.
You guys treat non-tippers like Nazis i swear. I honestly think that if you had to chose between Hitler or Osama and a non-tipper, you guys would chose Hitler or Osama as better people. Its so comical.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm
read your own link. In California, it is THE LAW to pay minimum wage, regardless of tip or non tip.
I just sent this a few months ago.
I am literally laughing out loud.
Do your homework.