Why tipping is the best investment ever

I think it is all about economics, unfortunately for people in the service industry.  I hate going to a restaurant anymore, as it has gotten so expensive.  Now you cannot eat out without it easily costing $50 or more for two people (usually much higher), a twenty percent tip brings that to $60.  I feel sorry for all of you that depend on this income for your livelihood, but in all honesty with our economic situation, this is an extravagance we can do without.  We have taken to eating at home more often, or when going out doing more fast food (gasp) or counter service.

I think that the food service industry as a whole will have to figure out a way to make this more affordable...or not getting a big enough tip will be the least of your worries.

Exceptional Service 20%

Good service  10-15 %

Bad Service    0% or a penny on the table to get the point accross

What I have seen in the past couple of years is that is people expect this:

Exceptional Service 25%

Good Sevice   20%

Just doing your job good or bad    10-15%

Now I really don't have a problem with the changes in the first two but I have a real problem with the last one...I absoulutely refuse to pay anything for less than good service.......but people absoulutely expect you to pay it...

God help you if you refuse to pay when you have bad service with a party of 6 or more and get thrown jail because you refused to pay.....

My wife will tell you I am more than generous when it come time to pay the bill....heck I give the high schoold kids at Sonic a dollar tip for a dollar drink....and like some of you if for some reason I receive a discount I usually give that discount to my server in addition to the regular tip....But just don't get all jack up and out of balance when I flat refuse to pay for bad service or just because the server thinks they should get paid because they served me.

I forgot to say... waiters also tip the bartenders who make the drinks for their tables, as well as the busboys/girls who clear and reset the tables. All of that comes out of the tips the servers make. So if a waiter makes $20.00, around $4.00 of that goes to the bar and another $2.00 (or more) goes to the bussers, which leaves the server with around $14.00, which they are then taxed on.

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I'm not saying waiters don't make a profit, but it's entirely dependent on them doing their best and having people appreciate it in a monetary fashion. Here in the U.S., in any case.

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As someone said earlier, tipping is considered insulting in many parts of Europe, but the fact is that outside of the United States, people in food service actually receive a living wage and AREN'T reliant upon tips. Considering your attitude toward these hardworking people, perhaps you'd fit in better across the pond.

Md12516, that is exactly the attitude that will give you poor service at a restaurant. Most servers do enjoy their job to a point, but when they have to serve a customer who feels ENTITLED to everything they have, they usually get a little fed up. You can bet, next time that server will remember you and make sure you wait a little longer.

Servers rely on tips as a very large part of their income. This is part of your bill, not matter what the actual check says.  This pays their rent, their car, and anything else they may have. Quite a few servers I know, myself included when I worked as a waitress, are working their way through college. That money pays their tuition. So no, the wage is not between the server and their employer. That wage is between the server and the customer. If you don't have at LEAST 15% to tip, as this is the minimum that should ever be tipped, please don't go to a restaurant.

As a human being and as a person, I am deeply offended by vagueries and vulgarities of the base topics of monies.

Regardless, it is one of obviously many opinions.

Let me begin with some stories of my recent experience and move to more distant ones that I now can only vaguely remember.

At an establishment I sometimes frequent, I recently went to one of the bartenders, and, having misplaced my wallet recieved complimentary drinks with no tip asked, encouraged, or expected. In gratitude I gave as generously as my meager funds are of allowance in return for his earlier understanding.

Hopefully, I returned and made up for his kindness in fold.

As an ex-taxicab driver, I quickly became sullied by the demaning behaviors of my fellow drivers, and disgusted by having to evidence any greediness on my part for expecting further recompense than that listed on the meter for an honest ride. I soon became aware, that for those not accustomed to tipping not only didn't require lectures, but the mere inconvenience of any comment or behavior to signify it was expected and appreciated, became unappreciated and unexpectedly unwanted moreso by myself than the unfortunate non-tipping passenger(s). This in turn led to the discovery that accepting payment, weather tipped or not, a simple sincere thank you might not perhaps lead to a tip, but more than once became recuperated on other occasions, perhaps from different people. Example: waiting in the **** for my turn at the next ride, a dismayed bell person went from cab to cab until he arrived at mine. The question was "would I be willing to take a couple accross the street." Bored and uncaring of of my position waiting, I said sure. I drove the couple in question accross the street, expecting very little and not wanting to exaggerate my own importance. To cover the tab for a few dollars ride, I recieved a fifty and several explanations and apologies.

This brings me to my last point: vacationing in Paris, I felt extremely gratified to have a simply delicious meal. I gave generously as I saw fit in accordance with a rough accountancy paired with the excellence delivered. After taking the check, the waiter returned in an outrage-am I implying that he cannot afford to live on his meager wages, that he cannot keep his wife clothed nor his children fed?!?!?! This eventually led to another disscussion and so forth; the remedy was achieved when I offered to take the money back and he suddenly realized it was meant as an honor signifying my pleasure with the food and service rather than an insult.

One thing I must stress to all, on another occasion, even less pleasant, do not make the mistake of refering to the waiter as Garcon, like in the movies. Garcon (pronounced gar-son) apparently means "boy." That was a bit of a sticky wicket.