[delnisfernan]

That waiter is an ass...

I might sound like a jackass.. but when I was 16 I used to work as a gas attendant, full serve. I'd pump, clean windshields and check oil/tranny fluids etc.. busted my you know what.. I used to do this with a broken hand, with a cast and everything. I don't think a lot of people felt bad for me and I didn't get too many tips. ( Yes.. i was nice and friendly )

Anyway, I got paid to do what I do.. I didn't expect tips either way. I have friends who bartend that make more than I do now at my full time job (I've got a decent job too) and they do this part time, fri/sat/sun nights.

Their boss should pay them.. not us. I've had this argument before with many of my friends, if the job sucks.. don't take it.. even my fiancee worked as a bartender in the past.. she thinks bartending is the hardest job ever.. riiight.. I've destroyed my shoulder and my back from some shitty jobs i've worked at to provide extra money to help my parents.. I feel like some bartenders/waiters just love complaining.

By the way, I'm not saying everyone is like this, just from the people I've spoken to. It's like tipping is the easy way out for owners to skimp out of paying their employees.. or maybe I don't get it..

Edit: Ps. I still tip.. just because I know how it felt to get a tip when I was younger but for good service.

[lmHVYs8e]

There is no law that says you have to. In the US, waiters and barkeeps make money off tips. If you do not want to tip, no one will force you. I wouldn't expect good service though.

It is funny though, tip and all we still pay less than you guys, and you complain about the tip!

Yeah, but in the US, if you don't tip they get aggravated over it. A radio programme presenter I listen to often tells the story of when he was in a restaurant in America and forget to leave a tip and when he left the waiter came running after him!

[Vedun*]

delete sandwich.

[lollypopz]

Yeah, but in the US, if you don't tip they get aggravated over it. A radio programme presenter I listen to often tells the story of when he was in a restaurant in America and forget to leave a tip and when he left the waiter came running after him!

Happened to me too. A lousy waitress had the nerve to run after my friend and I in the parking lot after we didn't tip her. I haven't been back [rolleyes]

[Suvuseh]

Happened to me too. A lousy waitress had the nerve to run after my friend and I in the parking lot after we didn't tip her. I haven't been back [rolleyes]

That can happen, usually the waiter is out of line, but, there is one thing that can drive that... Regardless if you tip or not, the waiter will be taxed for 8% of your tab/bill. i.e, they just had to pay to serve you.

Anyways, you can always forgoe this by simply asking that the gratuity be added to your bill.

[delnisfernan]

I think tipping is normal or expected in North America. I was in Europe last summer with my fiancee, my cousins are sitting with me as I'm paying for their drinks and I give the waiter 4-5 bucks tip ( 10% of whatever the bill was ). This is all converted btw. Anyway, my cousins turn to me and were like.. "Are you nuts? Why are you giving him extra money?" The waiter was a nice guy though, my fiancee spilled a glass of wine and he cleaned it up so fast, no attitude etc, and offered to get her another free of charge, very friendly. When converted it was quite a chunk of change for him

Still, I felt when I was there ( I haven't been in 11 yrs btw ) that there's a difference in just leaving 'change' and 'tipping'. The latter I don't think it's common.

[Shiplyopidomi]

Yeah, but in the US, if you don't tip they get aggravated over it. A radio programme presenter I listen to often tells the story of when he was in a restaurant in America and forget to leave a tip and when he left the waiter came running after him!

You have to think in that, because the person's income is based upon on how well they serve, they attempt to give better service in order to try and get a larger tip. Atleast, that is the idea behind it

[lmHVYs8e]

You have to think in that, because the person's income is based upon on how well they serve, they attempt to give better service in order to try and get a larger tip. Atleast, that is the idea behind it

People should be paid a proper wage, and they should give good service anyway - that's their job. If they're crap at their job they should be sacked.

[Shiplyopidomi]

People should be paid a proper wage, and they should give good service anyway - that's their job.

Well what you think is not what everyone thinks so...doesn't work that way here [thumbup]

[lmHVYs8e]

Well what you think is not what everyone thinks so...doesn't work that way here [thumbup]

If you went in to a computer shop to buy a new system and the shop assistant was really helpful and helped you choose exactly the right system for you and answered any question you had in a helpful manor would you give them a tip? No. So why should any other kind of employee expect one?

[Suvuseh]

If you went in to a computer shop to buy a new system and the shop assistant was really helpful and helped you choose exactly the right system for you and answered any question you had in a helpful manor would you give them a tip? No. So why should any other kind of employee expect one?

We didn't invent the tip... You guys did.

[Shiplyopidomi]

If you went in to a computer shop to buy a new system and the shop assistant was really helpful and helped you choose exactly the right system for you and answered any question you had in a helpful manor would you give them a tip? No. So why should any other kind of employee expect one?

That does happen though, a lot of shops offer commission for sales

[Annewsded]

I remember there was this $1 drinks evening at a bar in San Diego. We all go out and party and there is plenty of people since the drinks are cheap as.

Only thing is I took the special literally and was only paying $1. I forgot about tipping because there is an advertised price. [rofl]

Good thing was there were so many people I was getting away with it.

[lmHVYs8e]

We didn't invent the tip... You guys did.

Whoever invented it, it's stupid...all imo of course.

That does happen though, a lot of shops offer commission for sales

Yeah but when buy something you don't get extras added on afterwards. The price you see is the price you pay.

[Suvuseh]

Whoever invented it, it's stupid...all imo of course.

Yeah but when buy something you don't get extras added on afterwards. The price you see is the price you pay.

It is all relative though. While you may not pay more, in certain merchandise situations, you can certainly pay less if you know what your doing, thus, you are often paying more than you would if it was tip based. Americans know about the tip, understand the tip and seem to overall have no problem with the tip based payment system. I am curious how the non-tip transplants like zoolook or others who have lived in the states for an extended time now think of it.

[MichaelfromSpace]

Dude you are way too nice. Guy would have got a bitch slap from me.

[Hamucevasiop]

People should be paid a proper wage, and they should give good service anyway - that's their job. If they're crap at their job they should be sacked.

You have made this argument before and it still doesn't hold any water. As I explained a while back people in the service industry almost entirely rely on tips as their hourly wage consists of a couple dollars at most. I made a little over $2 an hour when I worked two different waiter jobs in GA. If they are crap at their job, they get poor tips but here in the US if they are good at their job, they deserve to be compensated.

I have absolutely no problem with people leaving little to no tip if the service was terrible but then you have people like Little_Lenny that "may not agree with the pay structure" but use that as an excuse to be a cheap ass. Sure you may not agree with the way payment is handled, I know I didn't at all when I offered great service and received very little tip from some but by not tipping or tipping very little, you aren't sticking it to the system but the server trying to make money.

You could look at your argument from the exact opposite perspective as well why would a server go out of their way to give excellent service rather than passable service if they are receiving a flat rate?

[Injurnerona]

I almost always tip... and usually weigh it up based on the persons personality, the complexity of their job, and the commitment to service.

For example... if someone is friendly, or if they look like they are working hard I treat the tip as my way of rewarding them for going beyond the call of duty. I agree with many folks here that is they are doing their job, then they already get paid for that... but if they are able to provide a smile, a gesture of kindness and good service then I love to help them out, and feel bad not to.

Keep in mind that most of the time, good service relies on good customers too. Don't expect to come in acting like a twit and still get a smile from any of the service staff.

I also always tip cab drivers, becuase they have a very difficult job and have to deal with a lot of crap... however if they are totally hopeless and don't know where they are going, I treat the extra bloody meter time they wasted as their tip. lol

[JosephNF]

It's unfortunate for the workers in the service industry, because there are a lot of ignorant people who do not understand that their wages are entirely dependent upon tipping. I know of people who dine at expensive restaurants, get excellent service, but refuse to leave a decent tip. Also, in my experience, foreigners tend to be the worst tippers because they do not understand the concept of the wage dependent tips. I've had people order $200+ worth of food, and think that a $10 spot was more than generous. I've been to England, Ireland, and Scotland, and in my experience the service was much poorer than it is in the sates due to their salaries not entirely depending on tips.

[lmHVYs8e]

You have made this argument before and it still doesn't hold any water. As I explained a while back people in the service industry almost entirely rely on tips as their hourly wage consists of a couple dollars at most. I made a little over $2 an hour when I worked two different waiter jobs in GA. If they are crap at their job, they get poor tips but here in the US if they are good at their job, they deserve to be compensated.

I have absolutely no problem with people leaving little to no tip if the service was terrible but then you have people like Little_Lenny that "may not agree with the pay structure" but use that as an excuse to be a cheap ass. Sure you may not agree with the way payment is handled, I know I didn't at all when I offered great service and received very little tip from some but by not tipping or tipping very little, you aren't sticking it to the system but the server trying to make money.

You could look at your argument from the exact opposite perspective as well why would a server go out of their way to give excellent service rather than passable service if they are receiving a flat rate?

Yes I have said it before and I don't mind saying it again. Like I've said countless times people should be payed properly for the job they do. In most other professions you don't get paid extra for doing a "good job"; you do a job and get paid for doing it. If you don't do a good job you get the sack.

At a couple of places I frequent regularly you order your meal and drink and pay for it there and then and then they bring your meal to you afterwards so there's no opportunity to tip. I show my appreciation for good service by giving them my continued custom.