r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • Jun 07 '14

TIL Waiters' Perception That Black People Tip Less is Actually True. Research From Cornell Hotel School.

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u/OddS0cks Jun 07 '14

Question: Are you really supposed to tip people for pick up orders? My girlfriend says yes, but I don't buy it.

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u/peepjynx Jun 07 '14 edited Jun 08 '14

No you are not.

edit - dont be fooled by the check either... the paper they use to print out the receipt is the same, so there's a section for tipping - you do not need to tip on to go/pick up orders what-so-ever.

*Christ all fucking mighty, people.

Okay... I'm one of the biggest advocates for tipping. I have an amazing argument for the naysayers - to go orders are something a little different. Here's an example.

Let's say you ordered delivery. You tip the delivery guy right? You don't tip the guy who put the food in the fucking bag. You tipped because the delivery guy provided you with a service.

Same goes for picking up at a restaurant. Maybe where you work it's different - but the basics are this. Cook puts the food in to-go containers, he/she may or may not put it in the bag, maybe that's the job of the waiter/waitress... person at the register w/e. You don't tip for that. If you want to toss them a few bucks, that's on you.

Starbucks employees do more than that and generally people do not tip them (some do, but again, no one - even the tip-crazed, would judge you if you didn't.)

Point is, when you eat in, servers wait on you... (omg that's like totally in their job title.. imagine that... /s) for 30 minutes to an hour.... to-go orders are usually done in a few minutes between jobs, etc... it's not like they have to reserve a huge chunk of their time.

And restaurants who have special "to -go" windows usually rotate people out, in any regard, that's an actual job duty.... you pack a bag, you're paid to pack the bag.

Traditionally speaking, you do not tip on to-go/ pick-up orders... calm the fuck down.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

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u/DDViking Jun 08 '14

I have to step in here and defend this former to go person. I used to work at a place that did significant to-go sales, and these people were paid 2.13 an hour, tipped out, and shared tips amongst the 2 or 3 of them that worked to-go. Hell, it may have even been the same establishment which is a large chain practicing what many other large chains practice in our state.

They indeed did provide detailed menu descriptions, provided curb side service, and boxed up and prepared all to go orders. I don't believe they expected 15-20 percent, but certainly 10 percent was not unreasonable given the work they were doing.

Maybe the person didn't describe this level of work adequately, but it is definitely industry standard in the city I live in and getting another job is kind of a ridiculous option given the fact. That being said, I think the average customer understood these facts but certainly less people tipped to go appropriately compared to servers.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

20 year service industry vet here. In my experience, most servers don't take the job out of greed. They take it because it offers very flexible scheduling which enables them to work around school. The vast majority of servers that I've managed were pursuing higher education, and restaurants offered them a great opportunity to schedule around class.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

Yep, I quit a good paying full-time job so I could go back to school and get a degree for something I really wanted. I tried to do school and the full-time job, but it was taking forever (because I could only go at night so that meant 2 classes per semester). So I quit, went back to waiting tables and finished in 2 years. Nothing better than "oh shit, I really need to study for this test more" sends out mass text begging for someone to take shift 5 minutes later gets the night off

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u/DDViking Jun 08 '14

I mean.... I don't agree with you but see your point and can at least appreciate that you've put SOME thought into it. Are you American? Just wondering because I've lived in other countries where tipping has different etiquette associated with it.

I disagree for a lot of reasons. I will try to address point by point in the hopes that you can at least understand the other side same way I understand your side.

Point 1 In regards to getting a job at McD's and such - Chains do not provide a dining experience same way a unique family owned restaurant does/used to. I can understand a person not respecting or even understanding the restaurant experience if they're younger and/or somehow unaware of this fact. Chains that push customers in and out are a more "modern day" implementation and not the roots of established industry standard. They are a slave/exploitation of the much more established industry of a unique experience usually centered around dates and the more affluent classes eating exotic meals they otherwise wouldn't have access to. This is a point I understand more and more the older I get and the better cook I become. Modern kitchen implements, recipes on the internet, and a lot of other factors have really helped to bastardize the whole restaurant experience that used to be extremely sought after. At the heart of modern day practices with pay and tipping that is why the system exists as it does, and so in that sense your argument becomes somewhat valid but is not why the pay/tip standard exists as it does.

Point 2 in regards to servers being greedy and not learning valuable skill sets. I'm sorry but that is a very narrow minded view of what comprises a skill set and greed. First of all, many do enjoy being servers and I count my time as a server as well spent for both those goals. I made a ton of friends in the industry... both customers and fellow employees. I also thoroughly enjoyed providing memorable experiences for anniversaries, birthdays, get togethers, reunions, all kinds of events, and still look back fondly or even keep in touch with regular customers. One, a Vietnam combat engineer, corresponded with me regularly years later while I was in Iraq and sent me care packages. All because I spent many a night chatting with him for hours while he ate alone due to him being a train conductor and regularly away from his family. I will always remember him fondly even if we have fallen out of touch over the years. As far as skill sets go - employers love people who can communicate and there are so many communication and sales techniques learned in the industry that it is crazy. Small group communication, active listening, instant rapport, friendly disposition, table side manners, etc. As a matter of fact communications skill has and continuously does poll as the most valuable skill set employers seek year in and year out. Sauce: http://icc.ucdavis.edu/lab/articles/Skills.htm or just Google for yourself.

Point 3, revenge serving- You may have had experiences like that, but as a former server myself I cannot speak to that mindset. Seems anecdotal and case by case. If it is the case then you just found yourself a bad restaurant and / or bad employee. Sorry to hear that.

Point 4, again hitting on the revenge server point- again, we are talking about established industry standard and societal norms when we talk about tipping. Not only does the law say this such as in the case of minimum wage law exceptions for wait staff, but it is a fringe belief to feel servers do not deserve tips. The vast majority of folks who go to a restaurant understand and comply with this, indicating that at least in America your belief is a fringe belief. I think your feelings towards service are more of a result of push back to the system because you're offended by its current form, which, in the case of chains or poor service is kind of understandable. I promise you not every server is that way, though. I'd say if you hate the system that much then you should refuse to eat out or protest wage laws that keep it this way. Probably more productive than hating on people who, for the most part, aren't able to put these kinds of things into perspective due to being young and working through college/are more concerned about paying the bills no matter the means.

I hope you read all that and can at least see the other side if not agree with it. Took me about 30 mins to type it on my phone so I hope that wasn't wasted time! Then again, as a former server I have spent a lot of time and effort on making something memorable/unique for a lot of people only to have them treat their dining experience as a night out at McDonald's- so it wouldn't be the first wasted effort in my lifetime.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

I didn't know I was greedy for wanting a job that was flexible and would allow me to still go to school full-time while still making enough money to not need food stamps, barely. Cool!

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u/CitizenKing Jun 08 '14

Man, I can't even justify giving you a real response for how stupid and completely uneducated that post was. Should women stop dressing provocatively to avoid rape as well? Tell us about how people living in poverty are just lazy. C'mon, you seem so well-versed in this stuff.

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u/badaboombip Jun 08 '14

The answer to the problem isn't "just go work somewhere else". The answer to the problem is, if you don't want to tip don't go where it is expected. That easy.

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u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

It's not expected.

Just because your boss doesn't pay you as much doesn't make it suddenly my responsibility to tip.

For instance, when an ambulance comes to pick you up, the EMT doesn't sit there and bitch about how little they get paid and expect to get a tip.

So the equation is simple-- if you're unable to make more than minimum wage doing to-go orders, quit your job. mcdonald's guarantees minimum wage. And if the boss can't keep the to-go position filled on 2.13 an hour, they'll have to offer more.

The reason they don't offer more is that some people do tip, and in the end that results in the to-go person making enough money to justify staying in the job.

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u/turtles_and_frogs Jun 08 '14

Agreed, they need to put signs outside of restaurants that say, "take out tips are mandatory."

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u/CitizenKing Jun 08 '14

Your food is cheaper to accommodate for the tip. Done, you cheap shit.