Why do people tip servers so crappy?

Question

Don't you know servers only make $2.50 an hour?

Answer 1

Because sadly, they don't see the value in the service offered to them by the servers.

Answer 2

Actually in Texas you only get $2.13 an hour. It's a fact, check the Department of Labor website if you have doubts about this. Some states set their own minimum wage so in some cases, west coast mainly, progressive thinking states, servers get a little more an hour. Did you know the minimum wage for servers, tipped employees on the federal level, with the exception of a few cents, has not changed in TWENTY YEARS??? $2.13.....As for lousy tips, some people are just cheap and won't part with a dollar regardless of service. They like that little bit of power over your life and relish every single moment of it in their small little lives. Twenty years in the business and I have literally seen millionaires and celebrities do this. Really no joke, millionaires and celebrities - don't be fooled by the public persona. Don't think you are going to get an appropriate tip just because proper etiquette or good manners dictate it. It's disposable income and if they don't have to give it up they won't, period, exclamation point. This is why you can't get good service in family or chain restaurants as much anymore, the pay is so low professional servers & bartenders can't afford to stay in the business at that end anymore. My friend has a "glass is half full" viewpoint for this when he gets an undeserved tip - "if you use it to buy salt, you'll never run out". Anyway if you are getting a lot of this activity you may need to move up to a more high powered restaurant where people are a little bit, a little bit more sophisticated about tipping

Answer 3

It is absolutely not true that servers make only $2.50 an hour. As for tips, I will tip if the service was good. I've had many crappy servers who weren't worth a damn. They were rude or they never came back to the table, etc. However, if we get good service we are very generous tippers. A good server makes a dining experience all the more pleasant and I'm willing to pay for that.

We once had a server who was obnoxious, rude and criticized my friend's choice in food. He didn't politely suggest she would probably be better off picking something else from the menu. He actually snorted and made a rude comment about it. He was terrible. I couldn't believe they let someone so unpleasant be a waiter. We left him a dime and a nasty note explaining the dime. Then we talked to the manager.

Answer 4

If you are referring to yourself,

Don't want to sound rude.....

but.... You may not be cut out to serve.

Either that, or you are working at the wrong restaraunt... I regularly pulled in about $50-$100 a night when I was waiting in Tulsa, though I only made $2.13 an hour, (I worked for every penny though, cleaning up after little kids whose parents thought that it was cute that they just dumped their plate of rice on the floor)

I went to another restaraunt and had better tips, but not as many tables, and wound up with less $$ and had to quit from there.

If someone has never had a server position before, then they do not know the effort that is required to get things done in a timely manner and keep all of your customers happy. They also do not understand that your tips pay everything, because your whole check that the company writes you (assuming that they take out taxes) is sometimes $0.00 because of the taxes that are taken out of it.

Those that have waited before understand this, and will typically tip on the service provided at their table, and other tables judging on how well their server handles stress from the other tables, forgets drinks, etc.

For me, If I was still waiting, and had one person at a table have an empty drink at any time (unless I brought one out, and they declined it) then I would not expect a tip off of that table, because everything was not correct, or if the order was wrong and it was my, (not the cooks) fault

If I have someone forget my drink (or anything else that I have to ask for more than once... unless they are VERY busy, then their tip is depleted from that.), or if they are rude to me=$0, I do not have to put up with that.

Just as a point of reference, the most that I have tipped on the minimal check of about $5-$10 was $10... but everything was right, and I did not have to ask for ANYTHING, but... on the other hand, on a $50 check, I have left maybe a dollar...... It all has to do with the service that is provided, and is it what the customer wants. (for me, but remember that most people have not had a servers position in their life)

Answer 5

People are very inconsiderate of others. Their selfish and expect something with out giving anything in return. They feel life owes them something. If they had to walk a mile in a waitress or waiters shoes they would not be able to handle it. I think if your going out to a restaurant and your not prepared to leave a nice tip then you should have to stay home and cook the dinner and serve the food and do the dishes. Not a dishwasher but actually hand wash every single piece. My daughter is a waitress and so is my niece. I was when I was younger and so was my sister. There will always be people who just plain don't care about Etiquette, Other People, or Just Plain doing the right Thing. I think restaurants should just add the tip 20% with the check.

Answer 6

Some people are just very ignorant but there are many times that servers don't do a good job and think they are owed a tip.
I tip very well for good service, but I feel that if a server wants to receive a good tip than they need to provide good service - period!
If a person chooses to be a server than they need to do their job just like anyone else.
I don't get tipped at my job, yet I work hard every day and do what's expected of me and more.
To those servers who work hard - I appreciate what you do and appreciate your kind and attentive service and in return tip well.

Answer 7

if they get 2.50 an hour, the owner must have determined that there are a lot of generous tippers in that establishment. and that's to keep the servers perky.

if the tipprers are really generous usually, the owner might even require the waiters to rent their job from the amount of tips they get.. hehe just kidding.

Answer 8

no, I did't know that was the pay.
and probably there are others like me that didn't know either.
I say take out an ad on the front page of the paper and let the world know!

How much should I tip at a buffet? When I go get my own food?
the server brings the driink, takes away the dirty plates.

Answer 9

We don't all tip servers crappy. Some of us ALWAYS tip 15% and more often 20%.

Answer 10

Don't you know that money doesn't grow on trees? I only get 8 hours a week maximum at the job I'm working, so I don't even want to hear your b.s.

Here's a "tip" for you: If I were at a restaurant and my server had the same whiny self-absorbed attitude with me that you're displaying right now the only tip I would give them would be for them to go f**k themselves. It's the ones who are polite despite what they have to go through who truly deserve the tips, because it's easy to be polite when people are being polite to you.

Answer 11

Stop moaning and do something. Get another job, unionise, complain to the management about pay, Why should I pay you? I already had to pay through the nose for an expensive meal I could have cooked myself in half the time at half the cost. I pay extra for the environment I chose to eat in, servers come with it. I work nightclub security, when I break up a fight I'm likely to get punched, not paid, but that's MY JOB.