Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire The Restaurant 'Server' Tipping Con

Okay Dudes,

So I took a break from the restaurant scene and ordered a Domino's tonite. Everything is fine.....including the timing and Brooklyn-style pizza.

But.............I could see it in his eyes and facial expression..........he wanted 20%........and he expected it........

I give the delivery guy a few bucks for his trouble and the convenience of my not having to go out. You don't? Your just a cheap bastard all the way around. lol Unreal.

I waited tables and bartender for years.
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One constant in every state is servers don't pay chit for tax. Typically you'd see people claim maybe 10% of their sales or their credit card tips, which ever was higher. Maybe. Many claim far less.

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Depending on where you work you can make a decent penny. You sure as chit aint gonna retire early! I've worked at joints that averaged $50 a shift, which sucks, and I've averaged $150 a shift, which is enough to keep a college kid in booze and puss. Most I ever made in a day was probably about $600. Not bad for a kid working part time.

I know some that make considerably more, $200+ a shift on average here in WA, sometimes much more, while collecting $9 sumptin an hour from the house and claiming practically no tips. A grand or so a week, in cash, for essentially part time work, 25 or so hours.

Since they claim so little of their tips, most are eligible on paper for government aid. Many collect food stamps, have kids on the public dime and other bullchit. Almost none have any health insurance. I've known more than a few to claim indigent care and then drop 5k for a set of bolt on knockers.

I no longer work in restaurants, but still work closely with them. While I've lived off tips in the past, and still tip better than most today, our culture of tipping is totally fugged up. It is out of control.
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Nearly all feel entitled to 20%.
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I always thought it'd be interesting if servers paid the house to work sections and shifts. Kinda like a hair dresser pays to use a chair in a salon. Then the server could negotiate a percentage of goods sold to be paid by the house. 1099 the servers at the end of the year. The house could choose the best to represent them, the server would be self employed and control his/her future. If the house wants to go cheap and hire idiots, let em go broke. The smart ones would hire the best and pay the going (living) rates. Let the house pay some else to do side work and clean.

I dunno, ain't got the answer but don't like the out of control culture of tipping and bullchit that goes along with it.

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I give the delivery guy a few bucks for his trouble and the convenience of my not having to go out. You don't? Your just a cheap bastard all the way around. lol Unreal.

Went to Chili's today for lunch. Had a chicken caesar with a water. They had this new gizmo (a tablet type thing) sitting on the table that let's you pay right there with your debit card. Your server.....who actually did take and deliver your order.........is no longer involved after you chow down. I tried it out. After sliding my card........the gizmo summarized my order and bill and prompted me forward with a 'default tip' of 20%. It did, however, allow me to scroll back to 10% or so........with some figuring out.

WTF??? Server doesn't have to wait on me to bring me the check and take my money.............but still gets 20%? I want my balls sucked for 20%.....or even 10% for that matter......anywhere. This machine doesn't do that. Whatever happened to the good 'ol days when Betty would actually wait on you?

Can't even call the fawks waiter or waitress anymore. They are now 'servers'.......cuz the other names are degrading to them and make them feel less than you and like they may have to actually cater to you. Classic liberal and modern societal political correctness. YOU gotta make THEM feel good in order to tip them.

Also.......who decided that the old standby waitstaff tip of 15% wasn't enough? First it went to 20%.........and now they don't even have to wait on you for that?? WTF??

Go to a buffet these days and all you say at the entryway cashier is 'buffet bar with water' and you pay there. The wait staff brings you plates and a few extra napkins (if you ask)......and doesn't even discuss food. You always have to ask for extra plates, too. You've already paid at the check-in, so the waitstaff doesn't even bring your check and process your payment. Why is a tip even due here?

Oh, but the poor waiter and waitresses in this country. They are sooooo hardworking. Most are single moms and college students.........true American sufferers. After all, why shouldn't they be due 20% without having to actually work for it..........or even be thought of as what they are?

The restaurant business as a whole has really struggled since the economy crash for these very reasons. But most restaurants still ain't gettin' it and changing their ways. I have absolutely no sympathy for the biz.

I'm gonna stick to fast food for a while. Foods cheaper........and the tipping pressures and bullsheet are non-existent.

Do you guys tip the gas station attendant? How about the hardware store guy, your garage mechanic, your Dr., nurse, or your mailman? Nobody tips me and I've worked all my life. When is the last time you bought something and ADDED 20% to the price?

And if servers made minimum wage, which in most states they don't, your "math" would maybe be close.

In NH a server is pad $3.27/hr. And in case you don't know or have never done it, waiting tables isn't easy job. So now go apply your math and see what that same server makes.

How much do you guys tip a car salesman?

$3.27 an hour, plus $10 or $12 an hour for tips still isn't bad money.

I've know "servers" who made $700 to $1,000+ weekly in tips. They were very good at their jobs, and worked at high volume places that served food and booze.

My point is, lots (and lots and lots) of jobs pay a whole lot less, and one can live on a whole lot less.
You want to make good tip money, be very good at your job and work at a place that gives you the opportunity. In the world of jobs, waiting tables is far from the bottom.

I remember when tipping was 10% The tip is a percentage of the total. So when food prices go up do do the tips. We shouldn't have to increase the percentage.

When is the last time you bought something and ADDED 20% to the price?

What infuriates me are servers who repeatedly breeze past my table en route to other tables, after I've been sitting there for ten minutes, w/o even bothering to make eye contact. It's as though I'm completely invisible. I realize that I may not be sitting in their "station," but for God's sake acknowledge my existence and assure me that my server will attend to me sometime this century. It's simple courtesy.

It "infuriates" you? I understand bad service is disapointing but no need to get your nose all out of joint that easily...and actually - no it isn't just common courtesy. The person that is breezing past you to other tables is tending to the customers in his/her section and likely hasn't even noticed how long you might have been sitting there unattended. They are hopefully providing their customers with prompt attentive, service.

If you have a problem with the wait you're experiencing, find the host/hostess and say something. Most of the time the host/hostess can do something about it. Move you to another section, make sure the waitperson knows you're there.

It takes an entire team at a restaurant to provide good service. It's not always the fault of the wait staff if there is delay or problem. In a good operation, everything runs smooth, but even in those there are hiccups.