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ITA with you! I worked my way through college waitressing long hours! I always tip well for good service! Is this a 'buffet' style restaurant or one where he brings the food to the table? My dd was working in the buffet at the local casino and generally made about 10% of sales, but all she did was clear plates and bring drinks, so that makes sense to me.
__________________ "It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity." |
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I tend to leave 20% normally unless service is bad. I do not tip on tax and I don't tip 20% on alcohol. That said, this debate over tips/no tips is heated in our local paper and brings out LOTS of posters. The majority think that if you don't like your wage, get another job. Then you have those who say if you don't have the money to tip, don't eat at a restaurant whose employees need it as part of their wage. I wish that more states made a regular wage for wait people and tips were on top (I think CA is one....correct me if I am wrong). I like to leave a good tip but then again, I don't. I have been to places where tips are "pooled" and divided equally and it bugs me to high heaven that someone busting their butt is getting the same tip as someone who is a bad wait person. I've had horrid service and asked the manager on duty if I could just tip the busboy because our waiter was horrendous. Nope...have to tip one tip and they pool it. That sucks. I would never take a job where my wage depended on people "doing the right thing" (ie: tipping). Tipping is an extra and not mandatory and is viewed as such by many. From lots of people I know, they don't tip unless it's above and beyond service. I'm not saying it's right...just saying that with the economy...it's just how it goes. If I were your sons and angry about my wage and people who don't tip, I would look for a better paying job (which sucks I know)
__________________ Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003 |
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__________________ Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003 |
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I feel for you, also. I hope my kids each hold at least one "waiting tables" job in their lifetimes. It taught me more about life, math, predicting, being efficient, conscientious, etc. Probably more personal/professional skills were honed as a waitress (for me) than in any other job I've held! I feel for your son. When I waited tables, I had some walk-outs, many "stiffers" and also many generous people. I had some people leave me a larger tip than the amount their bill had come to! I had more than a few people leave me strange religious literature in lieu of a tip, as well. These (the walkouts, the stiffers, and the religious momento-leavers) were customers who had appeared satisfied - didn't complain, thanked me, assured me that their food was good when I had come to check on them, etc. In addition to the fact that I didn't get a tip from these people, it also meant that I lost the business of other tipping customers, who were seated in someone else's section instead of mine, which was occupied by stiffers. In the end, despite the strange exceptions, waitressing was always on overall profitable experience. The generous and fair tippers made up for the cheap-skates. But they shouldn't have to. People who don't plan to tip, and who don't care that wait staff rely on tips to compensate their meager hourly wage should consider grabbing take-out instead of dining in. Or opt for the restaurants where they carry their own trays of food, and bus their own tables at the end. It would save everyone a lot of trouble. In other words, OP, I feel for you and your sons!! But I wouldn't trade my waitressing experiences (good and bad) for anything. I really think that was a really big eye-opening experience for me! It takes all kinds, I learned that lesson well... TIPS - acronym for "To Insure Prompt Service" - I think that's the accurate meaning.
__________________ "The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell |
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I tend to over tip. I deliver pizza and also depend on tips. I think "most" people don't realize that we don't get paid that much and depend on our tips to make up the difference. Plus we also have to maintain our OWN vehicles.
__________________ ~~just open your eyes and see that life if beautiful~~ |
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I always tip, but I do tip based on the service received. While your sons may be good waiters, there are a good deal out there that are not. No way will I ever tip a so-so or bad waiter what I'll tip a good one. I had service so incredibly bad once, I left a penny. (The reasons had nothing to do with any other employee in that restaurant BUT her.) I can't imagine not tipping someone for a service. My husband and I disagree with the tipping of delivery folks. I say yes, he says no. I was so surprised at that, he's one of the kindest people I know! But his reasoning is that they get some kind of driving allowance. MY reasoning is if you can't get off your lazy butt and get your own food, SOMEONE deserves a tip, LOL!
__________________ *~*~*~*~*~*~* *~* Ambrianna *~* *~*~*~*~*~*~* |
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| I agree - that is horrible. It does nothing to "insure" good service when the waitperson knows they're pooling their tips, anyway. They must think, "Why should I bother going all out for these people?" I can see possibly pooling tips when a wait person is being trained, for a week or so. After that, everyone should be working for their own tips!
__________________ "The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell |
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IMO I think everyone should try being a waiter/waitress or deliver food in their own vehicle and get stiffed and see what it feels like, but then again some people are just CHEAP.
__________________ ~~just open your eyes and see that life if beautiful~~ |
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| One thing that I've never understood about waitstaff and restaurant management. Used to (back in the old days) waitstaff had a station and a certain area to work where all the tables they were responsible for were in. Nowadays, a waitperson will have one table here, one there and still yet another one way over there. I just don't understand why they're so spread out. Seems to me the service would be much easier and more efficient if the tables were all within a certain area. |
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Both of my sons are at sit down restaurants. One is a major chain all over the country, and the other is a smaller restaurant, in a few states. The one at the smaller restaurant is not a buffet necessarily, but a restaurant where you pick out your food then they cook it and bring it to you. They bring you side dishes to go with the meal and your drinks and refills. The servers are running all around trying to get everyone taken care of and work hard for their tips. I just want everyone who tips to understand that if you have a problem, let them know. If its not their fault (the cook burned something) then dont blame it on your waiter. My sons will do everything they can from bringing a free appetizer to make the customer happy. Also, dont tip on your after coupon price or if you have a $25 gift card and the remainder is $5, thats not the total. One of my sons gets lottery cards as a tip from time to time. The card is already scratched off with a $1 winner. He has a stack of them not sure what to do with them. (he doesnt play the lottery). If you go with a group of people, dont assume whoever is paying the tab is leaving the tip.
__________________ A mother holds her children's hand for awhile; their hearts forever. |
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The following is from the US Dept of Labor, and so should apply to anyone in any state Website: What is the minimum wage for workers who receive tips? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is the minimum wage for workers who receive tips? The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires payment of at least the federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages >>>if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips<<<. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference. Some states have minimum wage laws specific to tipped employees. When an employee is subject to both the federal and state wage laws, the employee is entitled to the provisions which provides the greater benefits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It looks like some people need to point this out to their employment places or contact someone in the DOL office to check on it - maybe the restaurants don't know, maybe they don't care (but will if someone contacts them). Not to say you shouldn't tip, just that the employees should get at least more then it appears some of them are getting even if you don't give it to them. |
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Thats what my son gets per hour. How do you prove how much you got in tips if the customer pays cash? They often get cash payment, and no tip. My son once was given a check, and the customer left before he knew there was a check. The restaurant does not take checks. By the time he got back to the table to see the check, the customer was gone. The check then bounced. It was over $60. They took that amt from my sons pay check. I was so angry. I contacted the restaurant for the info on the check. It was from a business. I contacted that business, and they knew it bounced. They werent planning on paying it. I threatened to contact the authorities, and they told me it was "just" a misdemeanor and it wouldnt hurt them. I kept on their case, and they finally went up to my sons employeer and paid their check (no tip of course). IT took me 3 months to get his money back. Since the restaurant didnt accept checks, they docked my son for it. Of course, the customer didnt know that (I guess), and by the time my son went back to the table, the customer left, so he couldnt tell them. Quote:
__________________ A mother holds her children's hand for awhile; their hearts forever. |
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OP, do your sons go pick up their tips before the bus boy comes by to clean the table? I remember one time my husband and I sat down at a restaurant and as soon as we were seated, a waitress came to our table and asked if we had seen the bus boy clearing the table across from us. (We knew the waitress). We asked why and she said that one of the bus boys had been taking the cash tips of the wait staff and they were trying to find out which one was doing it.
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we ate at Chilis yesterday and our bill was $76, our waitress was excellent so we gave her a $20 tip~ I hope she got to keep it!
__________________ Smile and the world smiles with you! Tami ~*~ |
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I'm not for sure if this is in all states or just here. But when you work on tips if you don't make enough to avg min wage then the company has to make it up. The Way it works here is say you work 8 hrs and only make 10 dollars at the end of your shift you turn in that 10.00 and the boss writes it down and turns it in to the company so they can adjust the wages for the night. Now some places do this by the week too. However, My personally views on this. If you are not willing to turn your wages in at the end of the shift where you have made say 100.00 for the night then why worry about the night you only made 10.00 . The 100.00 MORE than makes up for the slack nights as the one where you made that 10 bucks. I have worked in many restaurants during my working days. I didn't turn in my tips on the slow nights as the other nights well made up for them. Also, 1 reason restaurants pay only 2.15 an hr is because they or at least here have this in place so the employees are making min wages as the law requires.. Also, I'm sure it also has alot to do with the federal not being able to 'really" say how much money is being made in tips. Waiter and waitress ONLY pay taxes on whats earned unless that law has changed since I was last working in a restaurant. With that being said. Op if your son's are not making min wage then call your labor board and see if their employer has to make it up, Might mean them going without "pocket" money for the night or even the week, but they will draw a pay check based on min wage in your state. I only tip if service is good. I Will not tip someone that can't find their way back to my table to refill my drink glass, but yet can find their way back to see if I've left them a tip. |
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My biggest problem with the tipping system, aside from the unfairness to the wait staff, is the notion that I should tip more because my entree cost more. If I order lobster and an expensive drink, does the waiter really work any harder than if I order a burger and water? So why should I tip more? It seems like somewhere there's got to be a better system for solving this. My preference would be that the waiters get paid a living wage, period, and get rid of tips. I know the price of meals will go up, but I wouldn't have that extra 20% to pay at the end, either, so it would work out, I think. I'm sorry your son got stiffed so badly. The whole system of waiting on tables is very badly flawed, IMO.
__________________ Reading is Fundamental. |
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Plus the party of 5 gets to tip based on service given and not automatically. Thats why we have never gone back to eat there as sit ins.
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| I think a lot of restaurants do that for large groups (not that I would call 6 a particularly large group). I agree, it's not right. When a tip is mandatory, it's not a tip, it's an increase in the cost of the meal, meaning that Applebee's automatically increases the price of everything by 18% for a large group. I agree with you -- I wouldn't want to patronize a restaurant that does that.
__________________ Reading is Fundamental. |
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We always tip our waiter 20%. There are some instances were the waiter or waitress has had an attitude or just not been very good. In those instances we tip 10%, but that does not happen often. I know they work hard and happy to tip for good service. A smile and a friendly greeting go a long way for me and a waitress/waiter who listens to what I am requesting.
__________________ Check out my homepage http://julie.mycoupons.com/ |
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A waiter/waitress works the same no matter what kind of meal they bring to a table.I never understood docking an employee because a customer skips out, or bounces a check. Unless the restaurant doesn't accept checks and the employee already knows that ahead of time, an employee cannot control if a check bounces. Skipping out, same thing. A waiter/waitress can't STAND at a customer's table the entire meal, good Lord! Don't even get me started on the "tip sharing" thing.
__________________ *~*~*~*~*~*~* *~* Ambrianna *~* *~*~*~*~*~*~* |
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| is the notion that I should tip more because my entree cost more. If I order lobster and an expensive drink, does the waiter really work any harder than if I order a burger and water? So why should I tip more? It seems like somewhere there's got to be a better system for solving this. My preference would be that the waiters get paid a living wage, period, and get rid of tips Thats a very good point, and it all leads back to the tax system. Servers are taxed on the amount of the tips they claim. According to the IRS, servers are supposed to claim 100% of their tips, but IMHO most do not. They are supposedly safe from allocation if they claim 10% of their sales, but that may be an old server wives tale. So, if a server sells a burger and water for 10.00 they are taxed on that. If they serve a 100 dinner, they are taxed more even thought they didn't work much more. The IRS will 'allocate' tips based on sales and will go after servers they feel 'underclaimed' tips on their taxes. They will come up with a number and say if you didn't make xx.xx in tips, PROVE IT. Servers should keep a tip book, with amount of sales, amount of actual tips, amounts they tipped out, etc etc. Here in MN, servers get minimum wage (6.50?) PLUS tips! 10 minutes away in WI, there is a tip wage of 2.13. All the good servers drive to MN to work and you always get horrible service in WI.
__________________ "It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity." |
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__________________ "No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?" - George Orwell Animal Farm |
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We always tip generously for good service. Most people are not aware that when you work a job with tips the minimum wage doesn't have to be paid. People work hard, they keep a smile on their face no matter what and they deserve a tip.
__________________ The political system is broke and it's a joke. |
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We usually tip well. My daughter has been waiting tables now for about six years. She will be graduating from college next winter. She has received generous tips, and none at all. She has even received a hand written note with a prayer for her on it. Nice to know that people are praying for her, but a few bucks would have been nice. I don't think I have ever stiffed anyone on a tip. Even when the service wasn't that great, I would leave a tip, maybe not a big one, but at least something. Waiting tables is very hard work..
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Wow! I am shocked that some waiters do not get tips on a regular basis. My daughter, also in college, has been waiting tables for 4 years and only once has she not been tipped. Also, they do have to make sure you get at least minimum wage, so your sons need to assert that to the employers. My 15 year old is bussing tables and with the hourly pay and tips, she has never made under $10.00 per hour.
__________________ "When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream." John Lennon |
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I'm sure that we cannot generalize this, but are women considered to be stingier tippers than men? Those of you that work in the industry, if you see a group of women come in, is it assumed that you will not get as much than if it were a group of men? I do think women that have worked in the service industry tend to be very good tippers, but other women maybe not?
__________________ I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it! |
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Same for cruise ships. Pathetic.
__________________ Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing. |
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OMG, most women are horrible customers and tippers. I know it is a generalization but it is true. They are fussy...demand extra everything from specially prepared meals, extra lemons for water to extra ice in the cups, then want seperate checks, then leave you a dollar each no matter what the check was. Guys just eat and leave and never ask for seperate checks.......and tip at least $5 each. I just finished reading Waiter Rant by Steve Dublanica, a career server. It is a bit wordy, but parts of it are hilarious and sooooo true. He worked in New York City in a small upscale restaurant, not a chain, but every server will relate to some experiences!!
__________________ "It's not about how much baggage you have, it's about whether or not you can carry your own baggage with grace and dignity." |
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I tend to over tip, I try for 25-30 percent. I will tip even if the service wasn't so great, I will leave 10-15% because I don't know what may be the reasoning behind the servers attitude etc. Maybe that server who is giving me horrible service is just having a bad day (we all have them, should we bring our problems to work with us.. NO but sometimes things happen that we can't control) maybe the server is on his or her 2nd or 3rd day straight of working double or triple shifts just to make ends meet. Either way IMO they all deserve something for providing me with their service. As for delivery people, I always tend to tip $3-5 because when I order it is just for me and they are doing me the favor of bringing me my food so I don't have to go out.
__________________ ~~~~**Maryann**~~~~ I just got a firm grip on reality.... ![]() Now I can strangle it |
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I can't imagine people leaving your sons no tip at all. How rude! Even when I have horrible service, I leave at least a quarter or 50 cents...so that the person who did not deserve a tip is aware that it is a reflection of their service, not that I didn't know to leave one. For me, a less-than-average server gets a 10% tip, average, 15%, above average 18-20%, and 25-30% for an absolutely delightful experience. Horrible gets 25c to $1. cj/
__________________ I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips |
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I don't think it's legal for a restaurant to dock a servers pay for customers who dine and dash or otherwise don't pay the bill. If this has happened to anyone out there who waits tables, I'd contact your local labor board. I used to wait tables and I think that women are by far harder to wait on and more stingy with tips. I know this is going to sound bad, but men are usually easier to wait on and respond to a little friendly flirting with higher tips. The absolute WORST tippers are the after church crowd. They come in acting all high and mighty just because they came from church, run the staff ragged, complain about everything, make an unholy mess, let their kids run wild and then stiff the server. Or worse, they leave a tract instead of a tip. It used to happen every Sunday. I'm not the only one who thought this either. I've read several different server blogs/etiquette sites, etc. and this rings true. Now not all church folk are cheap and rude, my parents go out after church every week and tip at least 20% but its true more than not.
__________________ Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons! |
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| I agree. I don't see a big difference in the work/service. They are just as busy removing plates, refilling drinks, etc as the sit-down server, imo.
__________________ I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips |
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When I waited tables, my fellow waitresses and I came to the following "general conclusions" (for our area) regarding tipping (in order of lowest tippers to highest): Least likely to tip well while being most demanding- elderly ladies (.50 per elderly female was typical) They often required the most care and service, but the special requests they demanded weren't padding the bill at all (special orders, lemon, hot water, cold water and refills are free). Slighly higher were groups of ladies (another poster mentioned -separate checks, dollar tips per customer, etc.) Slightly higher still were families. Higher than that were couples. We found that if you were waiting on a couple, that you should make most eye contact with the FEMALE. If you mostly looked at the male while taking the order, or making small talk, the female would seem to intervene, and you'd get a bad tip! But if you attended to the female, and looked at her primarily for the followups, like "How is everything?" - she was happy, which made HIM happy, and our tips were better... It just rang true for us, anyway! Best tippers - men alone, or a party of men. Hands down. These were the parties to get! Whether their waitstaff was flirty or remained professional, they tipped best. I have heard that previous/former waitresses and waiters are the highest tippers. I'm sure that's true, too!
__________________ "The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell |
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this is a great thread, and ITA that men are better tippers, from just what I've personally seen
__________________ Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing. |
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Speaking of senior citizens..... when we visit MIL, she wants to go out to eat and of course she insists on paying. But when it comes to tipping, she either doesn't want to leave anything or thinks a dollar is enough!! We always leave the tip after she gets up because when we've left it when she's at the table, she will actually PICK the tip up and put it in her purse and then try to give it back to us when we get in the car!!! I've had to go back into a restaurant before to give the waitress the tip when we didn't see MIL take it from the table. I wonder if it has something to do with them living in the Depression? She's 83.
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I used to caregive for an older man he got haircuts and thought $1 was a good tip. I told him how the tips are taxed and that wasn't even 10% he didn't care he thought one dollar was enough. My Mom said the lady across the street who died a few years ago always left her hairdresser a fifty cent tip.
__________________ The political system is broke and it's a joke. |
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When my son received a check as payment, he didnt know they had left a check until they were already gone. He leaves a booklet type thing for the customer to put their pmt in along with the receipt for the meal. Often they leave the booklet with cash payment in it on the table and walk away. He came back to find the check, but they had already gone. He knew they didnt accept checks, but it was to late to chase the customer down, as they had already left the restaurant. My sons often get girls phone numbers along with the tip. Once even an older woman left her number for my 22 yr old son (looks like he is 28), and another time she came back with her husband and kids. Yikes! He never calls them. (he plans to meet his future wife at church). Alot of the time the service is out of his control if he does notice the food was wrong, he has to tell the customer, and then he gets a bad tip. I think leaving a 25 cent tip is just as bad as no tip. It tells him it was horrible service. I would like to hear from someone who doesnt think they should tip at all. anyone?
__________________ A mother holds her children's hand for awhile; their hearts forever. |
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My personal "rules" for wait-staff...lol 1) Don't touch me!, don't sit with me, etc, I /We are not your honey/sweetie, etc 2) Please don't ignore us...at least LOOK in our direction every so often! 2) keep your hair and fingers out of the food and I will be happy! We always tip well, I start at 20%+ and adjust according to service (pretty easy since our local taxes are 10.5%, yikes) I always felt bad and tipped extra when DS was a toddler/baby too! I know we can be kind of "demanding" since we can be picky (leave off this sauce, add mustard, etc) and we do tend to need a lot of refills. I can go through at least 2-4 refills at a meal and I hate to not have a drink. (I do put my empty near the edge of the table so it can be seen, I don't expect people to be mind readers!) I always "bus" our tables too, DH laughs at me for stacking stuff, etc ~One bit of advice (from Chicken Soup for the soul, I think) is always overtip breakfast waitresses! I liked that , they work hard but the food is cheap so they get juiced. I have never been a server but that's because I know I would suck at it! ![]() Ok, I will stop babbling now... |
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Believe it or not there are some people that don't tip because as in the case of our apple bees here its added automatically to the bill thus they don't tip based on they believe its already added to the bill. More and more places are doing this everyday. Then you have the ones that feel 1 shouldn't work in a place that they have to rely of tips since it is not mandatory and is a offer of kindness for service given. Again, if your son isn't making min wages you really need to call your labor board to find out why and if the place where he's working with holds money for a dine and dash then also make sure this is legal for the place to do this. I do know here if there's a dine and dash the police is called and a report is made, no one has to pay for that form their personal money if they waited on that table. |
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__________________ I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips |
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Nope not at all, but people will tip and some will not. Asking for the ones that don't tip because you have a family member that works for tips will not change their minds at all. The are going to post why, op will post why they should. People that don't tip have done it that way for well ever since they been eating out. People that tip usually do so because ( A. either they have worked that trade before or have family members that are-has, or (B. They understand the waiter is working for that tip to bring them to min wage. People that know the trade have more compassion and understanding than the ones that don't tip or else they WOULD tip... Debating on whether or not someone should leave a tip is a pointless fight, the people that don't tip couldn't careless whom you have in your family that works for tips.
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I think everyone should have to work for 6 months as a server and 6 months in a retail/customer service position. Then you'd see a lot of attitudes and actions shape right up! I so have a tipping question: What do you tip when you're going to a bar and just getting drinks/are at a casino and get drinks from the cocktail waitress, etc. where you just get drinks(alcoholic or not)and nothing else?
__________________ Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons! |
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closed thread....post limit reached
__________________ PM's are the quickest way to contact me I can also be reached at MapleLaine@gmail.com Live for today * Cherish Yesterday * Dream of Tomorrow |
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