Tipping

[IdaHawk]

Hello... Long time lurker, first time poster.  I need some advice.  I have a friend who I go out to dinner with occasionally, and whenever she pays, she only leaves a 10% tip.  I'm a server/bartender, so I try to leave money to make up the difference, and she ALWAYS argues with me about it...like I'm offending her.  She HATES having to feel like she has to tip, and that's how I make money.  Any suggestions?

[Bloodfart]

Paging Dr. fanning

[michigancat]

You need new friends

[420seriouscat69]

Unless the service sucks, tell her to stop being such a cheap ass. If you can't tip correctly, you shouldn't be going out to eat. If you're filling up this filly, just slip the tip when you're walking out so she can't see. Having friends who are horrible tippers is embarrassing, just a pet peeve of mine. She should know better and if she is your "friend", she would respect your work and those that do it. 15-20% is the going rate these days.

[hemmy]

Mods, please merge with the master tipping thread.

Actually, that might be the pizza thread come to think of it.

[SwiftCat]

goEMAW disagrees with me, but how the US (and you) view tips is silly. Why does the server/bartender automatically deserve more than 10%?

[Bloodfart]

goEMAW disagrees with me, but how the US (and you) view tips is silly. Why does the server/bartender automatically deserve more than 10%?

15% or GTFO IMHO.

[Dr Rick Daris]

goEMAW disagrees with me, but how the US (and you) view tips is silly. Why does the server/bartender automatically deserve more than 10%?

why do you think it's silly?

[michigancat]

goEMAW disagrees with me, but how the US (and you) view tips is silly. Why does the server/bartender automatically deserve more than 10%?

why do you think it's silly?

because he's been to europe!

[SwiftCat]

why do you think it's silly?

To me, a tip is for above average service. I have absolutely zero problem tipping, but it shouldn't be an obligation. If the server needs the tips as part of their wage, just raise the price of the food 15% and pay them with that money.

[Trim]

I'm normally against getting separate checks, but maybe you should do that and outtip the crap out of her.

So why does she even leave 10%?

[Dr Rick Daris]

why do you think it's silly?

To me, a tip is for above average service. I have absolutely zero problem tipping, but it shouldn't be an obligation. If the server needs the tips as part of their wage, just raise the price of the food 15% and pay them with that money.

well that's certainly an option. seems like two very similar options though and i'm kind of surprised that someone would think one is "silly".

[Trim]

why do you think it's silly?

To me, a tip is for above average service. I have absolutely zero problem tipping, but it shouldn't be an obligation. If the server needs the tips as part of their wage, just raise the price of the food 15% and pay them with that money.

No, not tipping is for shockingly poor service, like probably should be fired service.

[Dr Rick Daris]

why do you think it's silly?

To me, a tip is for above average service. I have absolutely zero problem tipping, but it shouldn't be an obligation. If the server needs the tips as part of their wage, just raise the price of the food 15% and pay them with that money.

No, not tipping is for shockingly poor service, like probably should be fired service.

yeah, didn't think of that. i mean you either have a vote and give the person 15% for average service or more for really good or less for pretty bad. having the restaurant add 15% automatically to the bill seems like the worst option for the consumer. also, i always just give twenty. people that suck get 15. a few got ten. those few also received very stern looks.

[SwiftCat]

No, not tipping is for shockingly poor service, like probably should be fired service.

yeah, didn't think of that. i mean you either have a vote and give the person 15% for average service or more for really good or less for pretty bad. having the restaurant add 15% automatically to the bill seems like the worst option for the consumer.

If the person is getting fired, you will probably get a free meal out of the deal, not be out your 15%.

[Dr Rick Daris]

No, not tipping is for shockingly poor service, like probably should be fired service.

yeah, didn't think of that. i mean you either have a vote and give the person 15% for average service or more for really good or less for pretty bad. having the restaurant add 15% automatically to the bill seems like the worst option for the consumer.

If the person is getting fired, you will probably get a free meal out of the deal, not be out your 15%.

well now that just makes no sense. also, you seem like a communist. 

[420seriouscat69]

Swiftcat, curious question? Have you ever been a server/bartender?

[Trim]

JFC, can you imagine fanning being your waiter? 

sd, jmart, michcat, would he be better or worse than the vegas espnzone guy?

[SwiftCat]

also, you seem like a communist. 

No, denied.

[420seriouscat69]

JFC, can you imagine fanning being your waiter? 

sd, jmart, michcat, would he be better or worse than the vegas espnzone guy?

 

[SwiftCat]

Swiftcat curious question? Have you ever been a server/bartender?

Nope, I have not. I think I would rather just be paid more by my employer, and be rewarded for above average service. But its easy to say that having never served.

[Dr Rick Daris]

Swiftcat curious question? Have you ever been a server/bartender?

Nope, I have not. I think I would rather just be paid more by my employer, and be rewarded for above average service. But its easy to say that having never served.

3 quick questions...

1)why would you care who is paying you as long as you get paid?
2)you realize that one would be fully taxed and the other wouldn't be?
3)did you understand question #2?

[SwiftCat]

3 quick questions...

1)why would you care who is paying you as long as you get paid?
2)you realize that one would be fully taxed and the other wouldn't be?
3)did you understand question #2?

1. My apparently flawed logic that a tip should be extra. No real reason, I suppose.
2. Yes.
3. Yes, though technically you are supposed to report tips, just like you are supposed to report everything you buy on the internet sold with no sales tax.

[nicname]

I usually just tip 20% regardless.  Though I can understand using 15% as a base and giving 10% for poor service or 20% for exceptional service.  As someone who has been both a server and a cook, I find it humorous the "woe is me/ them" attitude towards servers and their wages.  It is no one's obligation to give the server a certain amount without merit.  Servers, generally make good money, much better than the cooks in the back of the house.  If you really want to be cool tip the guy who made you a nice steak.

[Dr Rick Daris]

3 quick questions...

1)why would you care who is paying you as long as you get paid?
2)you realize that one would be fully taxed and the other wouldn't be?
3)did you understand question #2?

1. My apparently flawed logic that a tip should be extra. No real reason, I suppose.
2. Yes.
3. Yes, though technically you are supposed to report tips, just like you are supposed to report everything you buy on the internet sold with no sales tax.

in regards to three...yeah. guess what? no one does. no one. i think (probably wrongly) that you pretty much have to report whatever would take you to minimum wage or there can be some issues, but beyond that good luck...

how many people do you think wait tables or bars or whatever for a living in the states? one bajillion? two bajillion? if the us switched over to your method of tacking on 15% to the food and then paying their employees that extra 15% directly then those full time people would immediately start taking home much, much less every year. dunno how much (10% on average?). if you're making 30k a year as a full time bartender or waiter/waitress then just 10% is $3,000 extra using the current system versus the one that has the restaurant paying the employee directly by raising menu costs. still sure that you would want that system if you were a waiter?