Comments on: Why Should You Tip?

By: jeff

jeff — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:10:02 +0000

wow. I really can’t believe the arguments that servers leave in their own defense. You carry things. All day long you carry things from one spot to another. I ask you for something and you carry my order to a person who actually cooks it and then you carry that back to me. If I want a drink you tell a bartender who makes it and then you carry it back to me. You stop me from walking is all you do. If you can carry things to me in a polite fashion you get twenty percent or more of the total of my bill. How can you even begin to have an argument for always getting a tip? You walk from point a to point b! Get over yourselves. Anyone and I mean anyone can do your job that is why you get paid so little by your company. You are expendable. If they can ever get a cheap automated way to replace you they will. How low and lazy are you to try to guilt someone into tipping you when you can\\\’t even carry something well. When you have grown up and see how the real world works and how real jobs expect you to perform you will look back and wish you could go back to that job.

By: Waiting

Waiting — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:49:11 +0000

James: I’ve been to countries where the gratuity is added to the check automatically. The service sucked at every single place. The gratuity that was added was still only 12% or so – not enough for a person to reasonably live on. If the tipping system were remodeled to include 20% on each check then a lot of cheap people would just stay home or eat fast food. That would be fine by me but inevitably these people would call corporate offices to complain and change the system back so they can continue to be cheap dicks.

The conversation would go as follows:
Corporate: “I’m sorry that is our new policy because some people didn’t like the old system.”
Cheap asshole: “Well I don’t like the new system. I feel I am being penalized for other people’s actions. I want the old system back.”

Each corporation would cave because they are tired of hearing people bitch and those cheap assholes that called to complain (who were the problem to begin with) will go back to being shitty tippers or non-tippers.

The main argument for tipping in the first place is that it is a socially subscribed to system that gives incentive to servers to do a job that is above average. If gratuity is automatically added to each check then servers (not all but most) tend to lose interest to go above and beyond. Instead they will provide average service at best. If you think we feel a sense of entitlement when we do a good job and a guest even says “the service was phenomenal,” then you’re right. That is the system and if you are aware of THE TIPPING SYSTEM and you simply say “I don’t care, I don’t like the system, I will do whatever I want” then you are the problem not the solution.

As for people who argue that retailers aren’t allowed to accept tips there is also a reason for that. Retailers who accept cash from people might be doing it for either free merchandise or merchandise at a reduced rate (paying for a lower priced item and receiving a higher priced one for instance). The reason you can’t accept tips is because the corporation that you work for doesn’t want to encourage theft. Instead, retailers promote good service by offering other incentives – commission, profit sharing, bonuses etc. Also, you are not labeled by the federal government as working in a tipped position which means there isn’t a way for you or your employer to claim these tips as income. The comparison isn’t even remotely valid.

Also, if you can’t afford to tip then you really can’t afford to eat out. If your money is stretched so thin that an extra $5 per person is going to break the bank then you really need to learn how to live within your means.

By: gregg

gregg — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:10:29 +0000

Would it not weed out the people who would be stingy otherwise since it is already there? And like earlier stated…some places do that already either on customer size (amount of people) or whatever it may be

By: admin

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:46:06 +0000

Would consumers prefer an automatic 20% additional fee on their bill? -or- would you rather keep it optional and based on performance? Just food for thought. (pun kind-of intended.)

By: James

James — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:21:48 +0000

Excuse me! I am no douche-bag, that would be the manager or owner of the establishments in question. I never said I didn’t tip when I lived in America, I only saId it is advisable to live in a country that doesn’t tip. When I go back to the US I still tip even now though I can’t help but feel cheated since I am paying more and more than is listed. Why is it that every other country requires these costs in print so you pay the price you see? Seems like America needs to change it’s policies so we don’t feel so ripped every time! Even at the grocery store, you add up the costs you see on the labels and get to the register then you find out the tax. So stupid!

By: gregg

gregg — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:15:45 +0000

From what I have read, the main arguement for tipping is that it is for the service and if you don’t like it, eat home. Now I understand that point but I’m coming from a completely different industry and that is retail. In retail we service the customer with tasks that are far more confidential than “hot food” and tips in our jobs can get you fired. I am a manager for a large retail chain and worked my way up and here is what I see. If I help a customer lift a 50 inch tv into their car without scratching their car and making sure I don’t mess up the tv…I don’t get a tip…that’s a service but if I accept a tip…I will be fired. How about best buy geek squad…you are dealing with sensitive information that people are putting in ur hands. They ensure you have your files and things u need…they are NOT allowed tips for their service…they will be fired for it. I damn well expect someone to work on my computer with care and respectfulness…though I do not need it personally that is the outlook I have.

So these non food industry services aren’t tipped but I think are equal if not more important than hot food.

Now the point of tips cause you do not get paid enough well it is the choice YOU make. I am not forcing u to be a server nor am I telling u living off tips is wrong but it is UR choice to be in that profession and if you don’t get tipped well…you should look internally at the choice you made for a profession. If you make good money…rock out congrats…I prefer my salaried check every week knowing exactly how much I make and not worrying what ill be getting paid based on others rather than my employer.

Side note – I tip but don’t like people saying they deserve it…sorry no one deserves anything.it is about the choices you make

By: Waiting

Waiting — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:01:11 +0000

FYI: In lots of places servers do in fact make more than minimum wage. For instance, union servers in Vegas make $11.50 an hour. I WOULD NOT wait tables for a mere $11.50 an hour though – even if I kept every penny of it. In tips, I easily make triple that per hour.

Waiting tables only sucks if you have to wait on douchebags like Freddy & James. Most people have the common courtesy and decency to tip because they know that not tipping simply because you don’t feel like it is simply a dick move. Everyone knows that tipping is expected so if you fail to do so once you have been provided with good service you are simply a scumbag loser who is pretty much stealing from the waitstaff.

By: James

James — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:12:54 +0000

Tipping is for suckers! That is why you should move to a country that does not tip, like Japan. Prompt, polite (sometimes overly), and accurate service that is comparable to costs in america. The only difference is that the waiters in Japan make about 10.00 an hour and only pay a 6% tax to the government.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:53:00 +0000

Freddy wrote:
September 15th, 2009 at 2:00 am
This is the most ridiculous article I have ever read. Your manager is paying you a wage, Mr. Server. If you don’t like your wage, then quit your job. It’s simple. I shouldn’t have to pay extra money for an already over-priced meal, no matter how convincing your friendly attitude was, just because your job sucks. Cry more.

FREDDY: serving does not suck… and do you know that most servers make 2.13 an hour.. THAT is the FEDERAL minimum wage for servers. I as a server make about 800-1000$ a week. do you? my job does not suck, but it is part of dining out. If you can’t afford to pay for service then DON’T go out to a restaurant to eat.

By: Server

Server — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:22:11 +0000

Ok…I have worked in the service industry for 30+ years. It has afforded me a decent living, but by no means, will I ever become rich in the business. Waiting tables is a job that requires an extreme amount of organizational skills, tons of patience, an outgoing personality, and true care about your job. To the people who think tipping isn’t necessary, trust me when I say that if you frequent the same restaurant, you WILL be remembered, and you will get the service according to your tip. Servers have no authority over what the price of a meal costs, however, you should remember that included in this price is the cost of everything that goes into making the meal. Cooks and dishwashers have to be paid, as well as busboys, utilities, linens for tables, etc. Going out to eat is a luxury, just as being served is. If you don’t want to tip, stay home, cook yourself, buy your own groceries, wash your own dishes, and serve your own plate of food.

I provide my customers with excellent service, above and beyond the call of duty. I’m friendly, helpful, and do the best possible job for them. Occasionally, I have the misfortune of getting a party of people who expect to be served like kings and queens, which they are, and don’t appreciate what they get, leaving a tip that’s less than protical. I do remember their faces, and the next time they are seated at my table, they get what they pay for. I simply chalk it up to ignorance of the customer.

Should there be an occasion when I give less than great service, I don’t expect a decent tip. Also, when I receive my paycheck at the end of the week, it’s for the amount of $0.00, because I have to report everything I make. The hourly wage of $2.50 that I’m paid by my company is all taken up by taxes.

Be good to your server, and it will be returned to you 10 fold.