Tipping story

This is not my story - this is taken from a fitness message board I am part of and thought the forum members here would enjoy commenting thereon
(I have neither edited for spelling/grammar nor content)

Quote: fitness message board

Before I get into what happened, let me explain...

My views on tipping -

In a resturant, if someone orders a meal and a drink and it comes to $10 they are expected to tip about 15% of the order price. So $1.50
Now if someone orders a meal costing $100, the tip would be $15.
In both cases, both meals are 1 plate of food and 1 glass of a drink.
The waitress has to exert the same amount of effort in both cases.

Therefore, with my logic, I come to the conclusion that If I have a $100 meal or a $10 meal, if the effort required by the waitress is the same in both cases, I should tip no more for the $100 meal than the $10 meal.

I also don't think there should be an expectation for the customer to tip, atall, ever, it's optional, and should not be pushed on you, it's not the customers fault that they get minimum wage and mostly relie on tips.




What happened today -

Usually when I go out to eat I will spend about $30 for my meal etc, and I will tip usually 15%, so $4.50, I round it up to $5 because I'm a nice guy.

Today I decided to go to a more expensive resturant, my meal came to $120.50, I got a nice steak, it was a real top end fancy place.
Whilst I was waiting for my meal, I observed how much effort the waitress put into serving me my meals, I realised she only put in as much if not less effort than what my $30 meal would cost at the other place.

Therefore, using my logic, that because I tip $5 at the other place and get the same amount of effort by the waitress in both cases, I decided a $5 tip here would make sense.

So I leave a $5 tip and walk towards the exit, as i'm leaving the waitress walks past me and mumbles "cheap bastard", I turn around and say "excuse me?". She said "You heard", and walks off.

So I think to myself, fk this, I ain't taking this, I turn around and ask another waitress for the manager, she gets him, I explain to him what happened, he calls over the girl that called me a cheap bastard and asked her if what I said was true, she unexpectedly admited what she said and then went on a rant about how I was a scumbag for tipping so little, I acted calm and made her look unprofessional.

I tryed explaining to her why I thought $5 was exceptable and how she should be thankful that I even tipped atall (at which point the manager starts to lick my ass and thanking me for my tip) as I don't even believe the customer should even tip as it's optional and if it wasn't, why don't they just add a bill onto your order to cover for the waitors/waitress' efforts, as essentially it's the same thing.

So after about a minute of this, her manager says "Pack up your stuff, go home. You're fired".

She started cussing and raging even more, eventually leaving.

The manager actually gave me a full refund on my meal and apologised for her behaviour, then I left with a full belly and a smile on my face, satisfied.

I do think he has a point - should we be tipping based upon amount of work the wait staff performed or the amount of ability the chef has?

So that guy* is a scumbag. Being satisfied when he just got someone fired?

* assumes that guy isn't a forum member. If he is a member then just // the rest.

Quote: RS

So that guy* is a scumbag. Being satisfied when he just got someone fired?

* assumes that guy isn't a forum member. If he is a member then just // the rest.

I highly doubt he is a dual forum member (fitness and WoV)

Quote: aceofspades

This is not my story - this is taken from a fitness message board I am part of and thought the forum members here would enjoy commenting thereon
(I have neither edited for spelling/grammar nor content)

Guy is a cheap bastard. Tip is based on price; add or subtract based on service. Since she treated it no different than a cheap meal, maybe 10% was in order. You don't base your tip on extraordinary rationale that allows you to tip under 5%. Waitress deserved to fired. Nothin wrong with enjoying that and a free meal, except for the fact her comment was 100% accurate.

Cheap bastard, and a misanthrope to boot. Sociopathic qualities, he posted about it making himself the hero of the story.

oh weeeeeee another tipping thread

I like the guy's logic.

Tip on the effort, the service, not the price.

Cap all tips at three or four bucks per person, max.

Why pay more, unless it is actually earned?

Quote: MrV

I like the guy's logic.

Tip on the effort, the service, not the price.

Cap all tips at three or four bucks per person, max.

Why pay more, unless it is actually earned?

this isn't a new thought. People have been saying this for many many years. However, to play devils advocate. The waitress working an Applebees needs to know a lot less than someone working at Prime steakhouse. Working at a high end place usually means they have to know more about meats and seafood. Plus they are going to get questions about wines (yes I know some places have specific people for this). Does this mean they are worth the extra money? Probably not but you know this going in, so if you disagree with it then you either don't eat there or you stiff them on the tip.

Quote: GWAE

so if you disagree with it then you either don't eat there or you stiff them on the tip.

Who is to say that leaving four bucks per person is "stiffing."

There is no law, no rule that controls tipping.

Most people tip a percentage of total bill because they don't want to draw negative attention to themselves, which is silly, because really WGAS what people in the food service industry think about a patron?

Let your conscience be your guide, and to hell with what the common herd does.

Quote: MrV

Let your conscience be your guide, and to hell with what the common herd does.

I am actually starting to lean on this side of the fence. For most of my life I have been a 20+% tipper. However, with my money being tight now I have been a much less generous tipper in the last few months.

The guy might be cheap but that's his business. Her attitude was the problem. For all she knew, he was dying and it was his last meal and his last $5.

Do your job be polite some people will over tip some will under tip. The fact she gave at best an average service goes to show you they just expect 18%.

secretly watch 10 random waitresses pay for and tip on a $100 meal. it wont average even 14%

Quote: AxelWolf

secretly watch 10 random waitresses pay for and tip on a $100 meal. it wont average even 14%

I dont think 10 random waitresses will be eating $100 meals.

Quote: bw

I dont think 10 random waitresses will be eating $100 meals.

paying for 3 kids and a broke boyfriend at dennys might be close.

Well I understand the logic, but I've got some issues as well. First of all, ordering a $100 meal may require more effort than a $30 meal (such as more courses). Let's assume that this is the same. So physically, the waitress pretty much just brings you the food.

Tips should be based on service, so if you are dissatisfied with the service, tip less. If the service is great, tip more. I would not tip less to the point of being obscene, but the amount would clearly indicate service was sub-par. I think the lowest I've gone is maybe 8-11%?? To go lower, I think the service would have to be significantly worse to the point where it would be more appropriate to complain to the manager outright than not even giving a tip in the first place.

Now, the waitress's attitude and response to the tip was completely inappropriate. From a customer service perspective, it is not appropriate to make any insulting remarks at a customer. In fact, there shouldn't even be an expectation of a tip to begin with.

The logic of how the tip is calculated in this story is based on the amount of effort to bring food to the patron. Not rocket science here. However, there is no consideration apparently given to the waitress for carefully bringing food that is valued and priced at a $100 versus food that is priced at $30. How can you assume that either waitress handled the food with the same amount of care and effort? What if dropping that food would come out of your paycheck? Losing $30 hurts less than losing $100.

I find it a bit disturbing in that the individual took pleasure in getting someone fired(hard enough to get a job, work in a service industry whose livelihood is dependent on tips, etc). They instigated these series of events to test/prove out a viewpoint on tipping? Wouldn't it be better just to send out a survey? I mean really, it all feels a bit callous.

Quote: GWAE

this isn't a new thought. People have been saying this for many many years. However, to play devils advocate. The waitress working an Applebees needs to know a lot less than someone working at Prime steakhouse. Working at a high end place usually means they have to know more about meats and seafood. Plus they are going to get questions about wines (yes I know some places have specific people for this). Does this mean they are worth the extra money? Probably not but you know this going in, so if you disagree with it then you either don't eat there or you stiff them on the tip.

Kudos GWAE, did not even mention the education factor in my last post. You are absolutely right, if you're working in a high end steakhouse, you are probably required to know more than your average server. Also, the qualification requirements may be higher. However given the waitress's response, it's clear she was ill-trained. If she had an issue, she should have asked the patron or manager if everything with the service was alright.

Quote: Asswhoopermcdaddy

Well I understand the logic, but I've got some issues as well. First of all, ordering a $100 meal may require more effort than a $30 meal (such as more courses). Let's assume that this is the same. So physically, the waitress pretty much just brings you the food.

Tips should be based on service, so if you are dissatisfied with the service, tip less. If the service is great, tip more. I would not tip less to the point of being obscene, but the amount would clearly indicate service was sub-par. I think the lowest I've gone is maybe 8-11%?? To go lower, I think the service would have to be significantly worse to the point where it would be more appropriate to complain to the manager outright than not even giving a tip in the first place.

Now, the waitress's attitude and response to the tip was completely inappropriate. From a customer service perspective, it is not appropriate to make any insulting remarks at a customer. In fact, there shouldn't even be an expectation of a tip to begin with.

The logic of how the tip is calculated in this story is based on the amount of effort to bring food to the patron. Not rocket science here. However, there is no consideration apparently given to the waitress for carefully bringing food that is valued and priced at a $100 versus food that is priced at $30. How can you assume that either waitress handled the food with the same amount of care and effort? What if dropping that food would come out of your paycheck? Losing $30 hurts less than losing $100.

I find it a bit disturbing in that the individual took pleasure in getting someone fired(hard enough to get a job, work in a service industry whose livelihood is dependent on tips, etc). They instigated these series of events to test/prove out a viewpoint on tipping? Wouldn't it be better just to send out a survey? I mean really, it all feels a bit callous.

Theory versus practice is a lot different - I think we are all, from time to time in the face of bad service, peer pressured into a standard tip despite the poor service so as not to reflect poorly not he group we are dining with (especially if it is somewhere we usually eat). Now, if this was a one-off, then that might be different. But then, you would have people arguing that any place you are only going to visit once (i.e. on vacation) would require you to leave a sub-par or even no tip at all.

OT: I find it amazing that in modern times, as technology advances, service (airlines, restaurants, etc.) declines.

She got the nuclear option.

Quote: aceofspades

Theory versus practice is a lot different......

OT: I find it amazing that in modern times, as technology advances, service (airlines, restaurants, etc.) declines.

A lot of different ways to test out a theory. I could believe the cure to for cancer is one toxic elixer away, but I wouldn't test that out on someone.

Have you flown Virgin America? I was surprised you can order food and drink from the screen menu. That's a big improvement when you fall asleep and the cart passes you by. But then again, I remember a time when the meals in domestic were free on most flights. Now you're lucky you don't get charged for any drinks or crackers.

Quote: aceofspades

This is not my story - this is taken from a fitness message board I am part of and thought the forum members here would enjoy commenting thereon
(I have neither edited for spelling/grammar nor content)




I do think he has a point - should we be tipping based upon amount of work the wait staff performed or the amount of ability the chef has?

I think it was wrong on both parties. I tip at least 20% usually. If I'm dissatisfied with the service I tip 15% and never go back. That is besides the point.

It is a common expectancy that service gets 15%. No matter where you are a $10 joint or a $100 joint. Someone losing their job is not a joke. If you are cheap you are cheap. Fine. I have had to go back and tip people because of cheap friends who think " the service is not different ". These people have real jobs with a real expectancy of what their wage is. I'm not applauding bad service but let's be real these people need their jobs

The part that may be missing is section size.

Sure, that server at FantsyPance Steak & Seafood is carrying the same number of plates per patron as the one at Grizzlebee's is doing, but that's not all of it.

The server at Grizzlebee's may have 10 tables in their section, turning once an hour.

The server at FantsyPance may have 5 tables in their section, turning once every two hours.

I expect that the server at FantsyPance will be more attentive, since their attention is less divided. This can greatly improve the "experience" of the meal, since they're not interrupting at inopportune moments to see if you want another diet cola.

And if you don't want to tip, you could always go to a sub shop, or somewhere that wants to know if you want fries with that.




*Restaurant names fictionalized, hopefully obviously.

oldie but goodie

Quote:

then I left with a full belly and a smile on my face, satisfied.

Really, this is all we needed to know about this Poster and his/her motives for posting the story.

Quote: midwestgb

Really, this is all we needed to know about this Poster and his/her motives for posting the story.

Agreed. Nasty customer. I don't think his stance is justified.

Back in my drinking days I probably would have tried to take her home with me, seeing as how she wasn't working. I kinda like her.

Everybody should be fired at least once, it helps you keep your perspective.

If she was any good the guy did her a favor. The comment about being cheap is correct, a boss worth working for would have had words for both of them.

Anything to do with food service is hard work.

edit: check my post count, woo-hoo

Quote: Asswhoopermcdaddy

Well I understand the logic, but I've got some issues as well. First of all, ordering a $100 meal may require more effort than a $30 meal (such as more courses). Let's assume that this is the same. So physically, the waitress pretty much just brings you the food.

Tips should be based on service, so if you are dissatisfied with the service, tip less. If the service is great, tip more. I would not tip less to the point of being obscene, but the amount would clearly indicate service was sub-par. I think the lowest I've gone is maybe 8-11%?? To go lower, I think the service would have to be significantly worse to the point where it would be more appropriate to complain to the manager outright than not even giving a tip in the first place.

Now, the waitress's attitude and response to the tip was completely inappropriate. From a customer service perspective, it is not appropriate to make any insulting remarks at a customer. In fact, there shouldn't even be an expectation of a tip to begin with.

The logic of how the tip is calculated in this story is based on the amount of effort to bring food to the patron. Not rocket science here. However, there is no consideration apparently given to the waitress for carefully bringing food that is valued and priced at a $100 versus food that is priced at $30. How can you assume that either waitress handled the food with the same amount of care and effort? What if dropping that food would come out of your paycheck? Losing $30 hurts less than losing $100.

I find it a bit disturbing in that the individual took pleasure in getting someone fired(hard enough to get a job, work in a service industry whose livelihood is dependent on tips, etc). They instigated these series of events to test/prove out a viewpoint on tipping? Wouldn't it be better just to send out a survey? I mean really, it all feels a bit callous.

Why complain to the manager when you can just not tip? I've not tipped before, didn't see any need to complain, try and get someone fired, and then leave money on the table for my efforts.

Quote: petroglyph

Back in my drinking days

So...earlier today?

Quote: Sonuvabish

So...earlier today?

lol

Naturally this guy doesn't tell them his thoughts before he eats. He is actually getting a free ride from the tippers. If a restaurant made tipping mandatory with the meal, it wouldn't stop us but he would stay away making someone else's service sub par. If you don't want service or don't want to pay for it, get take out.

If we're going to pay people strictly on effort, a man loading and unloading heavy sacks and crates from trucks to/from a stockroom should earn millions. And a waitress doing an average job should earn more than a prick who can't even make the effort to spell "at all."

Quote: midwestgb

Really, this is all we needed to know about this Poster and his/her motives for posting the story.

Based on the details in the story, specifically being called a 'cheap bastard', can't we safely surmise the gender to be male?

What would a female call another female who she felt was being cheap?

Things would be simpler if tipping were abolished in all of its forms.

Ridiculous custom.