Industry Notes Chapter 2
Hey, doesn’t anyone tip anymore? I was having dinner the other night and there was a table with about 10 people at it. The bill came to $250 and the lady tipped $13. Her husband was mortified and called her back to increase it. She said she didn’t think it was required and left.
This kind of thing happens alot. As you probably have guessed, I am in the industry and I see it often. The waitress is excellent and works hard to make sure the customers enjoy themselves and then they pimp him/her on the tip. Well for those of you who are busy trying to make it waitressing or bartending, here’s some good news.
Check out www.bitterwaitress.com “>www.bitterwaitress.com and http://www.stainedapron.com“>www.stainedapron.com. Both these sites are a hoot and there are plenty of stories about lousy tippers. You can even add your own “worst tipper” dirt on someone.
There are really cool things you can buy like a T-shirt that has “20%” on the front. Next time you go to work where one. The thing is though I have no doubt some customer will ask, “Hey man, what’s the shirt for??” Duhh. . .have fun!
I HATE crappy tippers. I’ve never been in the industry but I have friends in it. I’m always sure to tip about 20%, unless its a small bill. When I’m having coffee at Linda’s Place (a little plug for my favorite diner), my tip is based on both the bill and how long I was there taking up a table.
Ironically, I just finished watching “Waiting…”
i think tipping is something you learn… if you grew up around crappy tippers or cheap people, you’re prolly a crappy tipper… however, if you’ve ever been a server, then that changes everything…
i started working in “the industry” at a very young age as a busboy and even waited some tables off & on and came to see most waitpeople “expect” the larger tip without really earning it. the waitpersons job is to take the order, bring the meals and make sure things are properly prepared and whatnot. to me, that deserves a minimal tip at best. i do my job (in retail) the best i can, making small talk with the customers, telling jokes, helping with the purchase and i do it well but i have never gotten a tip. what’s the difference? i, as a busboy have been tipped more than the waitresses on occasion because the customers said i was friendlier and more helpful. those days made me the tipper that i am…i have tipped 40% (on more than one occasion), in the past based on personality, and likewise, i have refues to give a tip at all due to very poor service but made a point to get the waitress and manager together to tell why. some poeple are just more suited to work with the public than others.
I agree with the John, my tip is a function of time and bill. I rarely *leave* less than 20%, and once or twice have left nothing – but it is always deserved and I leave a note. I was a waiter and I put up with a lot as a customer because I know that it is a demanding job and that they may be busy or being yelled at behind the scenes. I went to a bar the other night to celebrate my friend Mike’s new job (http://diogeneswsu.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/02/mike_got_the_ca.html) and we tipped $70 on $120 because there were 25 of us and she was friendly. Being cute didn’t hurt her tip either. :P
Thanks for mentioning my site, The Stained Apron, and for being sympathetic to downtrodden waitpeople.
I wish there was no tipping, but it is somehow our nonsensical custom, and I will follow it until restaurants compensate their servers fairly, as other industries have to do.