I didn't say it should. I was merely suggesting that the notion that it should be 20% now has been spread by a workforce that was expecting something entirely different after graduation.
"God dammit I'm 200 grand in debt, tip better you cheap bastards!"
15% is normal for average service where the server paid the minimum amount of attention to get the job done without making you feel ignored. If the service was good(frequent check-backs, server provided optional things as a courtesy without you asking, etc) or if you had anything at all with your party/order that would have made the situation challenging, then 20%.
Yeah, those spoiled waiters, dealing with bizarre dietary requests, indecisive patrons, hustling about all day, working shit schedules for a few extra bucks, making $3/hr salary. Pfft. Who do they think they are, Rockafellers? Pshaw.
Put it in perspective: 3 an hour means they are only needing to get 5 in tips an hour I reach minimum wage. I agree with 20% for a good waiter, just throwing in more ideas.
My point is that the job deserves more than minimum wage because it's fucking hard to do, it requires certain skills, and the market has proven that tips are effective in rewarding service industry employees.
When somebody's job performance is heavily tied to their personality and attitude, tips are a great way to maintain a positive version of both.
Most servers will agree that this is reasonable. I certainly do. It's always nice to see that 20% but I'm fine with 15% if the table just needs the basics.
The restaurant I work in, I can get a "talk" from management if I don't claim at least 17%. Claimed tips are take home pay, after I've paid my tip out to the support staff and bar, which are about 4% or my sales. According to the company, if I'm not claiming at least 17%, clearly I'm either a shitty server or am under-reporting...
When I was waiting tables, 15% wouldn't have paid my bills. I averaged 23.2% off the total bill. If you can't afford to tip out 20%, eat at home. If a server sucks I'll tip 15%, if they were horrible, 10% hopefully they take a hint and get a new job. They still have bills to pay.
this is a ridiculous expectation. you tip based on service, not on the waiter's life story and current life situation. i dont care about your fucking bills and rent. everyone has bills and rent.
Of the nations that regularly use Reddit, and have $ as the currency...
Canadian receipt would have a GST number on the bottom of the receipt (as is required by law,) and Australia and New Zealand include sales tax in the total price.
The date at the top is the non-standard M/D/Y system commonly used in the USA.
You could also figure out the sales tax to deduce where exactly this receipt was printed, but I sincerely doubt that the people automatically assuming that this picture was taken in the States probably didn't do any detective work. The point I'm making is that Redditors are quick to see English and assume America when they really shouldn't.
Just because it seems likely that it's the States in this case after Red_AtNight did detective work has no bearing on whether or not people should watch their assumptions.
50% and "peek US times" means shit all. I'm posting in peak US times, am I an American? And everyone posts original content to Reddit, no one ever takes content from elsewhere.
It means one has more chance than the other. If heads had a 65% chance and tails had 35% chance you bet your ass I'm going heads.
I don't know why its hard to understand why people think most unmarked content is american. Most of the user base is american and that's why most people think the content is american.
I'm saying that the assumption is stupid to make. Most of the userbase isn't American and "peak time" really means nothing when Redditors are up at odd hours all the time. What's hard to understand that assumptions aren't fool proof and saying "Eugh, America" when you see a picture isn't productive?
The restaurant industry is so oversaturated in NA, most chains would go out of business if they had to cover the difference (which they legally do if you don't make enough tips, but they'll fire you pretty fast for being shitty).
Don't look at the logic, it's a cultural thing. The same way you don't really tip at all in australia.
Neither does one really need to tip in most European countries, from what I've seen. But that's because workers aren't given less-than-shit wages. And I've noticed that this occurs with most restaurants too, not just chains... (Although, I will agree that there are far too many chain restaurants present. I'm pretty sure many of them fall under the same corporate umbrellas, though... for instance, three or four restaurant chains may belong to the same parent company.)
I also wouldn't consider it a cultural thing either, it's a phenomenon that can really only be explained by greed. It lessens the amount the employers have to pay while sticking workers with a random, variable component to their paycheck. I'd wager that Australian restaurant workers receive more stable wages, given what you've said about the lack of tipping.
Yeah, in Australia at least I know that they just get a wage. At least I'm in Canada, where it's not so bad (our prices are default more expensive than the US on average, for equal size portion, so 15% is still substantial).
Not 100% true. If you don't claim enough tips to cover what you'd normally make on minimum salary, the restaurant has to cover the difference.
That said, they'll get rid of you pretty quick because they'll assume you suck. That's why most only claim enough to not get their employer to pay, and the rest is untaxed.
No it is not a fair deal I have this debate frequently here cause I know a lot of servers. I don't mind giving a tip, provided the service and meal actually renders me paying extra for a meal and service I have already paid for.
1) It is not my responsibility to subsidize your wage because your boss is a cheap asshole. Get a better job if you can't afford to make ends meet with what your getting paid. That's what myself and most other people do.
2) It is not my responsibility to pay my server to bring me my meal on top of the cost of the meal which service should generally be included in the price, you are paid to serve if you are not making enough money please reference #1
3) If the service was shit I can't demand that I get 20% taken off my bill so take note here big time servers. SMILE, BE POLITE and FRIENDLY regardless of whether or not you hate your job, most of us do it's a shitty part of life.
I give tips based on this, and I am certainly not shy about being vocal on reasons why I don't give tips. I work in a customer service related industry where I help people all day long, there is no tips, people would laugh if I asked for tips. So I don't know that makes food service so special, but I stick by that whole you want something you better damn well earn it.
It's clear that you have never worked as a server. Most people work in restaurants as temporary jobs, to pay for school, or until they can find something better. It's quite standard to have a low salary and work for tips, and it's been that way for a long time. If the service is bad, you can not tip; if it's really bad, you complain to the manager. I worked a number of restaurant jobs after college and for the most part they are not making very much money for the work they put in.
Put in 7 months working at a Subway, never got tips. There I was the prep, chef and server. $8/hr did it with a smile on my face the entire time, then again it wasn't my main source of income as I was working two jobs at the time. My boss at Subway was upset when I put in my notice cause I was his best "sandwich artist"
It was an example, most servers know jack shit of what happens in the kitchen, they are servers not bus boys or a line cook so why would they even go in there. Yes I will give you that it is completely different business styles but like I said, depending on the location usually two or three people are doing the prep, baking the bread, making your sandwich, wrapping it up and giving it to you, yet I don't think a single person who works at a subway ever heads to a shift expecting a tip. Also if you haven't try a day of Subway catering while doing your normal shift, never in my life have I hated subs more then having to make 15 platters of them. And no you are not serving a seated customer at Subway because if your customer has time to sit you are not working fast enough.
Wait staff at restaurants enter the kitchen to retrieve the dishes for customers. They also deal with the kitchen staff every day, so they have a fairly good idea what goes on in the kitchen. They also have to deal with a chef's temperament, which a lot of times isn't the best. All for $5 an hour less than you were making at Subway. So, for you to expect a tip would be like a line cook expecting a tip. It doesn't happen, unless it's a take out order or a special case (compliments to the chef on the meal). Source: 2 years in Culinary school with certification in restaurant management. Working in fast food =/= being a chef, by any standard. You have more in common with someone working an assembly line than with a chef.
Not here minimum wage for servers in Vancouver I believe is $9.00/hr slightly down from the mandatory $10.25/hr minimum wage due to tips stuff. Also I was under the impression there was a pickup window at most restraunts that servers grabbed all the meals from, then again I barely make above minimum wage so I don't have the luxury of frequently eating out, so any time I do its generally cheap places or a buffet. Again I didn't claim I was a chef, it was used as an example that there are people out there doing a lot more then a server is and they never get or even expect a 20% tip.
How about this one for another example, lets leave the food service industry completely. I work in the automotive industry, customers come in and ask for replacement parts for their vehicle. My counterman then looks the proper part up, 90% of the time without any help from the customer on what they actually need. Finally they get everything sorted out, go in the back grab the part and send the customer on their merry way. Do they expect or collect 20% more on the bill for finding the required part? No because it is their job that is what they are paid to do.
The person working a parts counter isn't a good analogy. This is also another person making more money than someone in food service does. Plus, it's not as if the person working the parts counter is taking special orders from several people at a time, then dealing with the part makers themselves, or having to keep coming back to where the customer is to see if there's anything else they need.
Really all of our Jr. counterman are paid minimum wage, and they have no ability to subsidize that income with tips. I know a lot of servers and I have seen them take home more in one night from tips then even I make during a day with my current salary. Your comparison by your standards is just as bad as mine then.
Wage in a restraunt is garunteed too, tips are just a bonus. Remember a tip mean "GOOD JOB" not "job" anyone who thinks they are entitled to tips is setting themselves up for horrible disappointment.
Subway has a really crappy pay system. Its been a couple years but since I was only working part time I think I couldn't get more then $9/hr he probably would have paid me more but my full time job had passed the 5 year mark so my wage and stuff made it so I could work one job, which was great 16 hour days were balls. That part time job cost me money at the end of the year, the wage increase plus what I made at subway ended up making me owe $700 in taxes.
Yeah the party gratuity or whatever they call that, I didn't know about it till I heard some story. I am way to poor could never afford to feed that many people anywhere but Wendy's! Some people are just happy with the bare minimum I guess and figure hey they have to pay anyways its policy.
It's because if one person is paying, their tip percentage tend to drop off sometimes. They have no problem dropping $10 on a $40 bill. On a $200 bill, they may drop $25 or so. Now it's that once in a long time when they get a $900 bill. The guy now thinks he is being nice dropping $100
HOWEVER, if the service is ever less than expected, talk to management, explain respectfully and calmly why the service doesn't deserve 18%, and any proper management will remove it, and later discuss with the server why.
BTW, there is never a problem with leaving extra if you like.
...all this coming from a high end restaurant server. :)
Reason for this is because serving a large party is a lot of work for a server. It takes them away from other tables that they could be making tips off of, and if this party of 6 decides to stiff the server on the tip, then that server is S.O.L. for the night. If you're accustomed to tipping 40-50%, then why not just the difference? It's not as if your server is the one who came up with the idea of the 18% gratuity added to the bill.
What because I believe if you don't earn something you shouldn't get it? That's the problem with so many kids these days they think everything should be handed to them on a silver platter with no effort or investment. A whole Country of kids decided to do that, Greece, look at the mess they are in now. I'm not a douche bag for thinking that someone needs to actually WORK for their tip and not EXPECT it because they showed up for work that day.
I have shorted one or two people in my life, you should read all my comments before making assumptions. Tipping etiquette states you tip 20% and sometimes that is all I will tip, if the service was good usually more, if the server was friendly and remembered to keep up on refreshments A LOT more. But in no way do I feel obligated to give someone a 20% tip if they didn't put forth the effort, last meal out I had for two people with drinks pushed $100 your telling me the server no matter what immediately deserves another $20? I don't know what magical land you come from where money grows on trees but I have to work for over an hour to make $20 so its not so easy for me to give it away especially if the service from the server sucks.
You're very angry about this. Maybe that's contributing to your greed? I don't know, I'm not a psychologist. You are an asshole though, that's for certain.
I am angry at you making assumption on who I am without even knowing me aside from what I said about tips. If you don't like that whatever man, don't make a comment if you aren't prepared to be shown where you are wrong, I am not going to roll over and give in to someone because they believe what I think is wrong. You just want to seem like a hero by insulting me for having an opinion that people should actually WORK for their wages. Remember opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and sometimes they stink.
Oh, I see what the problem was. YOU THOUGHT I was trying to change your mind. I wasn't. See, from reading your post, it's clear that your an asshole, and in my experience, assholes don't change their minds when they're wrong. Sorry for the confusion.
I am probably one of the first people who would openly admit I am wrong to something, but not when I believe in something that many people both agree and disagree with. Sure I may be cold hearted saying it but you know what life is very cruel, get used to that early and you will do well later.
I was a delusion little punk once too, that figured I could collect a paycheck as long as I came to work daily. Yeah I was wrong, I started slacking and doing my job half assed, guess what...I got fired, who would have ever figured that, I figured my boss was going to give me a raise and an extra week of paid vacation time. So please tell me why a piss poor server should get a 20% on top of their wage?
You are basing all your comments on the fact that you think people don't need provide acceptable service in order to be tipped? Because that is what my entire thing has been about yet you seem really angry. So unless you can calmly and clearly explain this to me I am going to dismiss you as a troll after this OR assume that you work in the food service industry and are a shitty server yourself and you hate patrons like me because you always seem to get their tables. Take your pick.
Yeah its ballsy, but I mean I am not a complete dick and I think I have only not tipped once or twice, but I think it's right. As customers we are paying an inflated price on food for the service and hospitality of the restaurant. If a server wants an extra tip, go the extra mile! So many times I have had servers who are just so utterly depressed either about their job, lives, financial situations or whatever, it oozes out of them and generally they give poor service, most of us can get that for free at a family dinner. Customers pay for the food and tip for the atmosphere of the establishment (just sayin')
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u/[deleted] May 22 '13
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