How do you tip?

My mom was browsing the craigslist Rants/Raves today and she showed me a long thread devoted to what one should tip their server. It made me wonder if what the people on there said was typical of a broader populace.

I'm a server. Contrary to popular belief, it's a very difficult job. People, for the most part suck and timing is everything. I've given shitty service and I've also given fabulous service. (The shitty service, I always apologize for--long food times, spilled beverages, perceived bad attitudes, etc--and get a manager and more often then not, you get a free meal.) Servers don't get breaks. The closest thing--there are exceptions to every statement, but at least at the two serving jobs I've worked at, you only get a half hour break if you're a closer--we get are smoking breaks, and of course that's only if you smoke. Even then it's dangerous. In the amount of time you take a smoke break you could have been double or triple sat. (The bane of any server's existence. Yes, you get sat quicker, but I guarantee you the service is going to be shitty because greeting/serving tables takes TIME. More time at one table takes time away from another table and you can apologize all you want for a slow greet time, but some people are still going to be pissed.) We're also not allowed to sit down. Every so often there may be a glass rack laying around and we take about thirty seconds there, but for the most part, no sitting. At my old job, I had 8+ tables to take of. Granted, not all of them were sat at once, but still, people need to realize that they are NOT the only people I'm helping. And for the record--At Olive Garden, at least--our goal is to give you the best evening possible. Anyway, I digress.

Basically, what I wanted to know is what to you generally tip your server and why?

Me? I always tip at least 20% or more. Generally more. The only time I tip less is if someone really sucks. My paychecks are like $20 each because my tips are taxed, so I know how important good tips are. It's hard to live off of $2.00 a table especially on a slow night/day.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Denicalis

I have augmented this post to put stress on the important bits. Other than that I agree. To add my own "wow, that group was a dick" story to keep up with Radez, I once dropped a c-note on a waitress. She had a table of eight frat boys that were all over her and generally being dicks and then walked out without paying after she didn't like the idea of blowing them at the table. Apparently this was her problem.

So she got a hundred bucks for her trouble, and the next time I was around, I got her number.

How you like dem apples.

Will you come to Iowa so I can serve you? The best tip I've ever gotten was $30 on $90. ;_;

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Anazai

I usually tip between 20-25%. I'd like to tip even more than that if I had a really great time there but I can't afford it at the moment. I was working at the Olive Garden and I feel if you are going out for a nice dinner, or just going to the Olive Garden at all plan to leave more than a 2 dollar tip. I got sooo many of those, I can't even tell you.

The OG has a meal called the Soup, Salad and Breadsticks. You get as much as you want and it's only $5.95. People are such cheap asses and leave $2 when you are running your ass off to refills their bowls, I have even gotten a .98 cent tip on one of those.

The Neverending Pasta Bowl is worse. Both of them are gluttony at it's finest. Nothing is grosser than watching someone eat 6 bowls of pasta or 8 bowls of soup in one sitting.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

It's over now. We have some stupid Chicken Carbonara that we're pretty much required to SIE. I've been written up twice. Once because the host was a moron, sat a table that wasn't in any body's section, told me five minutes later that I had to pick it up and then we were out of breadsticks and apparently they really wanted breadsticks(I kissed ass and apologized, but I was still pretty new and forgot to get a manager I guess. They claim I didn't do anything, but I've always gotten a manager and apologized for even the tiniest thing wrong.) and wrote in and complained to corporate so I got written up and then some lady left me a tip on her credit card and totaled it wrong (should have been one dollar more than it was) and emailed corporate and told them I was stealing money.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

My manager told me I did everything correctly. I had to get written up because she said "crappy server" instead of just "server". So goes life.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Crash Landon

[*]Make me sit around waiting for the check when I'd like to leave.

Where I work, servers have their own bank on them and when someone gives us big bills we may not have the change for it. Then we have to find someone else to get change, find a to-go specialist, or a manager. All of which tend to be way busy. This means, even though I may be working as hard as I can to get your change, it's going to take me a while.

I've had people get really pissed off at this. What do you want me to do, NOT give you change?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Encephalon

This also reminds me... One time Frank and I were at a local restaurant that brews their own beer and we ordered a beer. Keep in mind, I'm there twice a week either to write my lesson plans or to work on some design.

I'm also known for being a damn generous tipper and I know every single server that works there so whenever I show up with anyone they only thing they wanna know is what my company is having for dinner because they already know what I want, "Liter of IPA, right? What's everyone else having?" Some new kid that had actually started working there and even though he'd already taken our drink order, he decided to card Frank. Frank didn't have his wallet on him because I was buying. This little prick wouldn't serve him a beer!

Needless to say, I didn't leave a single tip but Frankie, ever the sucker for being a kind soul, pulled him aside before we left and gave him a $5 tip for having brought me my liter of beer. I was still kind of pissed that this little shit wouldn't serve him so I just told Frank in mid-transaction, "What the fuck are you doing? I could've bought another pint with that." I left a penny on the table as well.

I'll tell you what though, they've never refused service to anyone who walks in with me after that and that boy never worked the floor again.

I can't serve people alcohol if they don't have an ID. That's sort of an asshole thing to do, really. He could have lost his job if a cop came in, saw Frank with alcohol and no ID.

I've known people to get fired for serving people they know are 21 but don't have an ID. So, really that was an asshole thing for you to do, he was just doing his job.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Meia

I know this is a silly question, but I often wondered about this. I hope the servers here could answer, does it actually matter whether if the tip is in cash or electronic? Does the electronic tip go to you specifically?

If you leave a tip on your credit card it automatically goes to the server. The computers keep tabs on it. At Village Inn at the end of the night they cash you out your credit card tips. At OG, we keep all the money given to us on us, so at the end of the night we either give OG the money that was given to us, or if it's less than we made in credit card tips, they owe us money.

You HAVE to claim credit card tips because they're already in the system. Which is why it's fabulous when people pay by credit card and then leave cash tip. That's one less dollar that's taxed.

At the Olive Garden, the computer automatically figures out the credit card tips to credit card sales ratio and you HAVE to claim that amount in cash. I've had a few rough nights where I've actually been required to claim more than I made because I had a few awesome credit card tips and then average cash tips.

Because my tips are taxed, I end up with paychecks that are about $30 a week. Before tax they're well over $150.

How ya doing, buddy?

My co-worker wrote this yesturday. I can only assume he had a shitty day.

Rules of Service

1. IF you can afford to go out to eat, but you can't afford to tip, hey guess what you can't afford to go out to eat.

2. This is 2008 people. 10% is not acceptable anymore. Standard tipping for GOOD service is 20%. If your server has given you GREAT service then tip a minimum of 20%.

3. Now, I understand that 10% is good enough for God. That's fine. But this isn't church, and you're not tithing.

4. Ordering a well done steak will constitute a longer ticket time you will be okay. If you wanted fast food, you should have gone through a drive-thru.

5. It is really not necessary to snap at me or wave your hand in the air like your having a spasm or get up and follow me. I saw you, I acknowledged you, and you saw me. hold the fuck on, and sit the fuck down. I am coming.

6. When I take the time to be courteous and introduce myself please don't be rude and cut me off. Sometimes the place I work at requires me to tell you about the specials and offer you an appetizer. When I ask you how you are doing please don't reply with what you want to drink, its called manners.

7. I follow a strict rule that you should never reward bad service with a good tip however; you should also never punish excellent service with a bad tip because you're a tight-wad.

8. Please don't take it out on me because you have had a bad day. I'm here to make it better. Relax.

9. When I deliver your food and ask if there is anything else, you can tell me. I asked didn't I? Don't get all bent out of shape because I'm not psychic and cannot read your mind. How the hell am I supposed to know you needed A-1? Also, please tell me the moment I ask if that's everything you need. If you have to think about it that's okay, I'll wait. I'd rather spend a few more moments at your table then running back and forth to the kitchen because you forgot you needed extra something or other.

10. I know sometimes you can't help it. But do you really have to ask for something every single time I walk past the table. I mean really. Jessica Simpson is not even that high-maintenance.

11. Hi, look around you. You are one of probably twenty people I am waiting on. Did you happen to notice that? So if you have to wait for a minute. Be patient. I promise I will take care of you.

12. Treating a server like a SLAVE because we are serving you is the quickest way to get the worst service you ever thought possible. We are people too and you are no better than me. I don't give a fuck what you do.

13. Just think about it like this. Your tip left on the table is how I pay my bills. I am making minimum (most of time $2 0r $3 dollars an hour.) So no, I don't get a paycheck. After taxes and claiming tips I'm lucky if I even see one. Remember that next time you decide to be cheap. Please also remember when using a To-go service, that the people that bring out your food don't always make 7 or 8 dollars an hour. Most of the time they work for tips too.

14. Don't assume that my job is easier then yours and I am some simpleton who can't get a better job. The restaurant business is a fast paced environment with a high stress level. You don't even see all the things we do behind the scene. So have some respect. I don't come to your office and treat you like shit for sitting on your ass all day do I? No. I don't.

15. Most people do not know that we pay taxes based upon what we claim to make. News flash, we have to claim at least about 10% (In most cases we claim 100% of our tips) of our sales. Often times we often must tip out other workers in the restaurant i.e. bussers, bartenders, and hosts. What this means is if you are one of the stingy people that can't tip, I just paid taxes on your meal that I worked to serve you. Thus, meaning that I just paid to serve you. Better yet, if you walk out on your tab, chances are I just paid for your meal! Karma people...Karma

16. You fuck with your server - your server will fuck with you. I know this may not be true in all cases, but there are times when servers come out on top! To all of you stingy people who don't tip or just treat servers like SLAVES in general - Remember this we will show you the same courtesy you show us. If there isn't a boss around to see something happen then I will surely pick up your well-done, charred steak that fell on the floor, wipe that rock off on my shirt and serve it to you. With a smile of course!

17. I also want to add...why do people think that it's okay to walk into a restaurant and eat when it's 15 minutes before closing???? FYI...there's a lot of stuff to be done after hours, i.e. cleaning up and Stuff like that! So if it is vacuuming and shit like that you don't want to hear when having a decent meal...then don't show up 15 minutes before closing time! Not only are you holding up your server from leaving the damn place, but you are also pissing off the individual who's cooking your damn meal...remember that!

18. People please teach your kids 'RESTAURANT MANNERS!' Restaurants aren't playgrounds! They will get hurt and it will not be our fault. Keep them seated!

19. Ranch is NOT the nectar of the Gods. It is however one of the main culprits of the obesity epidemic in this country! So yes I will get you ranch just tell me when you order.

20. Telling your server how wonderful they were, and how great they were DOES NOT pay the bills. Church pamphlets, monopoly money, or (my personal favorite) your number. Also DOES NOT pay the bills.

21. This is another one I would like to address; your server does not want your number. He or she is being nice because it is their job. They are not into you we usually date people in the industry.

22. We work double shifts, go to school or have multiple jobs, or all three, and sometimes our last day off was... well we don't remember. We do this because people don't follow these rules. Please help us out.

Speaking of the God things, you've no idea how many people leave pamphlets about Jesus. Chad has about 20 in his book.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

The reason it matters is because your food is going to take more than fifteen minutes to make. You are going to take more than fifteen minutes to eat. This is more directed to the people that come in fifteen minutes before we close and don't leave until a half an hour to an hour after we close. We can't kick you out. We can't even mentioned that we've closed because it's against policy. If you're gone before we close or just two minutes, that's not too bad and we don't really mind, especially if you're a really nice table. (I'm referring to attitude, not tip.) But if you're still there when we're no longer accepting more guests because we're closed, you can listen to us vacuum. It's your fault for not respecting company hours. Although, I did once have a manager vacuum hours before we closed and that was annoying. It's like, you know the floor around those tables is just going to get dirty again, and you're pissing off my guests, I'd be pissed.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

So you think it's perfectly acceptable to stay somewhere a half an hour plus after they've closed?
Last Monday a table didn't leave until 11:50. We close at 10:00. Basically you're saying we have no right to be upset at them even though they're the ones not respecting company hours. If we were to go by what Sass and Seris are suggesting, we wouldn't even begin closing until they'd left. Almost two hours after we were closed, simply because there was one table left.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I wasn't complaining. Nobody does anything to the customers. I'm just saying it's incredibly rude to think that you're entitled to stay well past closing time. They get the same treatment as everyone else. However, you can't expect to stay past close and have the ENITRE restaurant hold everything just for you. This goes for anything. I'm sure if someone was at Yonkers past closing time, everyone except the cashiers would continue to close as if it were normal.

According to my mom who's been a manager for about 18 years, if restaurants DIDN'T pay their servers so little and use tips, the cost of your meal would double because it'd need to include the cost of paying the servers. In essence we do it because it keeps you from having to pay $50 for a $25 meal. (I have no idea how accurate this is, just that that's basically what my mom told me.)

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by DarkMageOzzie

How on earth can it take someone 2 hours to eat their food? That is pretty inexcusable but you should be more mad at your managers for not telling them to get the fuck out. I work at a grocery store, so we deal with customer service. But the managers would never let someone loiter in the store more then a half hour after close. And we don't even have as much to do as a restaurant after close.



Funny you mention Noodles, I have a friend who works there. Yeah they don't accept tips, at all. They'd get people that won't take no for an answer and would slap down a tip and run out the door. Yeah, good going cause the manager is going to pocket it, not the person you gave it to.

I work at a corporate restaurant. Our managers would get fired for sending the guests away. There's a BIG difference between working for corporate and a local restaurant. You can get away with a lot more at a local diner or something.

For people telling 'me' to get a different job if I don't like it, that's BS. I do like my job, for the most part I love it. Like any job though, it has it's negatives. I'm sure servers aren't the only people who sometimes dislike their jobs. For the most part, servers are upset when there are jackasses that think they have a right to treat other people like shit, etc.

I was speaking idiomatically.