Why are so many people poor tippers? No I am not a waitress. Used to be?

Question

To qualify I used to be a waitress, and I typically was tipped very well. Some of my friends are embarrassingly bad tippers. I hate eating with some of them.

I'm not talking about people who tip poorly out of meanness. Or people who get bad service and tip the server accordingly.

I mean people who just don't know any better. Growing up my parents always made a big deal about tipping 20% for good service, more for really good service. 10% is an insult to a server who makes 2 bucks an hour.

Do people just not realize what the proper amount is? Or are they just worried that the extra money will break them? If that is the case why don't they eat in or at a non tipping resturant?
Do they hate tipping and think that a server is paid more than $2.13 an hour? I have heard comments that 'a tip is a gift', to which I counter; if people don't tip well the resturant may just raise the prices to salary the waitstaff. It is not unheard of. Or when you return, they may 'know' about you.

You all are incredibly selfish. Now I understand why this occurs, makes perfect sense. People only thinking about themselves=bad tipper even when STANDARD for good service is 20%.

Sad but makes it clear now.

If you can't afford it why take food out of the servers mouth. They often have to pay a percent out of sales to the host and bartender. This is why you idiots get poor service, YOU DESERVE IT!

I AM NOT A WAITRESS READ THE QUESTION!

I am not saying when they get bad service. I am saying that a lot of people tip shitty regardless.

Obviously because they are broke and don't know how to cook.

And thankyouverymuch I am a college student.

Answer 1

I don't know for general decent service I tip 20% except in buffet restaurants and then I tip 15% as they make minimum wage and regular servers in full scale places only make like $2.13 an hour. If service is really made I just leave 2cents which is what my grandma did you cannot expect to get paid and you don't do your job for really good service I have tipped as much as 30% especially when my kids were younger or when I take my grand kids out. One it teaches them and if you pay special attention to the kids it makes them feel good and my youngest daughter always insisted on giving extra to the ones who paid attention to her as a kid. Also my kids and now my grand kids are not to leave a big trashy mess on the table eat as if you were at home respect should be shown anyplace you go and use your manners people seem to think servers are slaves to be treated any kind of way and then not paid either. This leads to bad servers as some get the attitude well you aren't going to give me much of a tip so I'll give you little service please everyone tip accordingly to your service standard is 15% now not 10% and tip more for exceptional; service also if you leave a penny with your tip it means the service was extra good not just a penny either for those who think that would be funny Also don't blame the server for the cooks mistake as long as they try to make it right when you complain

Answer 2

According to Emily Post, fine dining standard tip is 20%, before tax, +/- based on service, while standard restaurants and lower the tip rate is 15%. A buffet style restaurant max is usually 10%, if drinks are not self service, since you really only have a bus person, not a server. This is what I follow.

Many people do not seem to realize that the servers get paid so little and make their money on tips.

Conversely, I have also had a lot of servers that seem to think that their tip should be automatic, no matter how poor the service was. If I get poor service, I give a lower tip. Unfortunately, many servers seem to think this just means I'm stingy and won't stop to think if they gave poor service. I worked at a restaurant where my wife and I ate as well. I would listen to the servers who I thought did a poor job always ***** about the "crappy customers." If I get to the point I won't leave any tip, I also speak with the manager, which can sometimes mean I don't pay for the meal at all. It's my understanding that in that case, the server usually ends up paying for the meal as well as losing the tip.

Answer 3

Personally, I tip according to service and less about what percentage of the bill it is. So excellent servers get excellent tips and poor servers get poor tips. However, mathematically, I can understand how some people justify being poor tippers. Minimum wage in my state is $5.15 per hour. I'm not saying that waiting tables should be a "minimum wage" position, but it's definitely not up with the professional positions. And if your server waits 5 tables within an hour's time (doesn't seem unreasonable, to me), and each of those tables leaves just a $2 tip, then your server has made $10.00 in addition to the minimum for servers. More money than I make, in a professional position. So in theory, an excellent server who goes above and beyond the call of duty could be making excellent money - more than if they were in a professional position, anyway. But instead of thinking along these lines, I try to think of the assistance I would have needed in those situations. And if I can see that the restaurant is slow and the server really took his or her time helping me and my table since there were no other customers, they're going to get a tip far above and beyond the scale. I have, in the past, tipped as much as 100 percent of the cost of my meal for truly extraordinary service.

Answer 4

I used to be a waitress, and well, I got paid alot more than $2.13 an hour (I got paid 5.90) but the real reason is... People that come in to eat are already paying for their meal and within that payment they think that pay for the food, part of your wages, the elctricity bill etc. and some people think that really what's the point in giving extra money to a server that just gave them food and a drink. It would be different if you washed their car and baby sat their kids, AS WELL. but as for just clearing tables, preparing drinks and having to deal with a few cranky people, waitressing is a pretty freaking easy job to do. I am no longer a waitress but a chef and a cashier at a grocery store (and no I don't accept tips anymore). So really, take a breath, finish your studies in college and start to really understand that the lower end part of the hostptality industry is not where you make money.
In other words, people really don't have to give you a dime if they don't really want too.

Answer 5

Most people, I don't believe, know how waitresses are paid. Some don't care, obviously, from some of the responses. I have had experience with waitresses because I worked around them and your gripe is righteous.
My father really pissed me off when we would go out. He would leave 50 cents or sometimes he would really be a big spender and drop a buck. And the girl would have worked her tail off, too. When I started making my own money, I would put a 5 either on the table or seek out the waitress and give it to her. At least, I felt like I was making up for a little bit anyway.
But the mentality is the thing you are dealing with and our society has become so callous to so many things, it is no surprise that people act as they do.

Answer 6

I completely relate to your question. I also used to be a server and I believe that so many people are poor tipper because they do not know how much they should tip. Ex. One night I had a $250.00 tab and the whole table complemented me on such good service I was sure that I was going to get at least 15% (standard). That would have been about $37.00 right? they left me with $25.00 so I thought they were blowing smoke up my tailpile but then they came in again a week or two later and requested me. But on the other hand, I know some people that tip $5.00 for a $4.00 cup of Starbucks. People in America just do not teach their children proper etiquettes. And it is a shame that we do not know proper etiquettes American are consided rude because of it.

Answer 7

I don't think it is a matter of selfishness or rudeness, I think it might be a combination of education in etiquette and socialization. Many people don't understand the concept of tipping because they haven't had to earn tips or simply they may never have had to really consider leaving a tip because someone else might have done it for them. I think that society today eat out more than in and so in retrospect maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea for restaurants to include the gratuity on the bill for parties over a certain number. On a personal note, I live in a state where the Tax is 10% so I generally try to leave double the tax amount written on the bill. That's just a trick I learned as deciding the amount of a tip for good service has always been a debated question.

Answer 8

I strongly agreed w/your comment and hope those poor tipper would read what you have to say. I am a waitress myself and know exactly what you are saying. I have a lot of customer who are poor tipper at the restaurant I worked with wonder they always get serve last. Bad tipper= equal bad service. The mathis not that hard to do. Waitress are just trying to do their jobs they are not beggers. Alot of customer except waitress to kissa$$. I strongly disagree with that. I don't need to kissa$$ for the tip. I just do my job correctly and in a professional way.

Answer 9

Several thoughts here - some people don't have the money so they leave a little something. And from the cusotmer's side - the TIPS means To Insure Prompt Service. Nothing is a given and u have to be polite, attentive and helpful. Even if the kitchen messes up an order i give a good tip if the person does things right.

Answer 10

i used to be a waitress and i have delivered pizza, and from what i can tell is people are cheap, they dint care what u do, how much u run your *** off for them, as they see it, they paid for there food and the server gets a check from the restaurant for working so y should they give more money.

when i go out to eat if my server is good about bringing out my drinks and food and fixing any problems i may have i am willing to leave a very very good tip. and if there is a problem with the food i am aware that it may not be her fault, its the cooks. and i wont take that out on her by not tipping her. my sister is one of those people u want to choke, she will sit there with her phone tip calculator and figure out EXACTLY what to leave. and that's not how u do it. if u leave happy, and u got everything the way u wanted it, then u treat them they way they treated u.

I have seen drivers take food to a place where the total in food is over a hundred dollars and come back with a two dollar tip. it makes me wonder, u have the money for all that food, but u cant tip the ppl that bring u food cause u are too lazy to either cook or come pick it up. and yes the drivers "remember" who u are. and yes servers "remember " u the next time u go there.