Why do people go out to eat and not tip or tip poorly?

Question

I live off of my tips as a waitress, and always get screwed. I have to tip out 3% of my sales- which can be up to $30 sometimes, and when people don't tip or tip very badly, it leaves me making under 10% of my sales for the night. I always give excellent service, and treat everyone the same and with respect... I get lot's of compliments- many are verbal.... so I just don't get it sometimes. It can ruin my entire night. I served ten 15 yr old girls tonight, did everything I could for them, had their drinks refilled on time, everything.... even got the one a free birthday dessert. They left me a total of $2 on a $102 bill. So take 3% of that 102, that means I have to tip out $3- one dollar being out of my pocket.
Then there's the people who just look like they don't tip- and most of the time, they don't. So WHY do people go out if they can't afford a decent tip? And if they can afford it, why not pay it? I'm looking to leave the serving job, I'm sick of ppl and that's not me.

LOL I said, "I SERVED TEN 15 YR OLD GIIRLS" Not 10 yr old girls. Anyways, I DO NOT serve based on appearances, I'm stating a fact at least in our restuarant, this is what happens. I won't give anyone poor service no matter how bad they treat me. I've been with this company for a little over 3 yrs now. I am NOT one to judge people, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I am a very kind and caring, thoughtful person. I go way beyond what I should as a server. I agree that maybe the people who go there, lot's of new people who do, don't realize we don't get paid- we never see paychecks- all goes to taxes, so we do live off of our tips. Maybe they also don't realize we have to tip out.I gave everyone a thumbs up except for the lady who said I judge appearances. I'm not like that-come work with me one day, and you'll see what happens.I'm sorry, but it is very depressing when you see $4.15 on a 45.85 check- less than 10%. I don't go out to eat unless I have enough $ period.

I also have to add here that I don't plan on staying or making a career out of the job- I'm going to go back to college to finish my degree here soon, this is just to get me by for the time being until I can do what I really enjoy and will get paid nicely for.

Answer 1

Honey, because they have never been a server.
I have several dates accuse me of hitting on a waitress because I "overtip." They say "she doesn't deserve a tip for doing her job," To me the problem is just a lack of acculturation. People are not properly informed. None, of those chicks that make that remark ever had the pleasure of joining me for dinner again. I juts don't like people hat are uncooth. Its even worse if they don't tip because they are cheap. If they are just broke then they should be eating somwhere cheaper.

When I served. If the tip was small or no tip, I took the drinks of the ticket.

Answer 2

I understand how you feel. I always give at least a 20% tip and usually round it up. for example $80 tab 20% would be $16. totaling $96. If the server was really nice I would bump the tip by $4 to an even $20.- I would just make it an even $100.00.
I have been a waiter before and other jobs living off tips. and I have worked on commission only sales. so I have worked real hard and not been compensated properly. So that is why I generally over tip.

Answer 3

I don't know why some people, can be so cheap when it comes to tipping, if you can afford to eat out, you should leave 20% tip, unless the service was exceptionally bad, I'm sorry you are having a hard time, at the restaurant you work at, many restaurants charge an automatic gratuity for parties of 8 or more.My husband but himself Thur college waiting tables,some times he made more, than when he got a "professional", job. May be you are just working at the wrong restaurant, consider changing, serving tables can be a lucrtive job at the right restuarnt, and it's a bussiness, thats always in demand, sorry you are having a hard time.

Answer 4

Somtimes I don't realize how much the food is plus tax and I can't get home via transit or becuase my gas tank is empty. 15 year olds get money from their parents and many have a limit on what they can spend. I would agree with you thatif you have $102, you should tip. If its a cheap meal, ad one is broke then it can be ok. I always tell them after the meal and apologize for not being able to tip. I usually come back in a week or two and tip then as a gratitude for past service as well. My cousin was a waitress at a ski resort in mamonth mountain (california) and mentioned what you said to me so I understand now.

Answer 5

Because, unfortunately, pigs are allowed out in public.
I start tipping at 20%. It can go up from there. Or it can go down. I have no problem leaving a big fat 0 on the tip line if the service is just plain horrible. Those instances are very rare and are usually followed up with a long talk with the manager. I make allowances for, just having a bad day, crowded restaurant, complicated order and such.

Answer 6

I would look to getting a job in a place where good service is expected and appreciated. The typical rule of thumb is in a restaurant where parties of ten 15 year old girls hang out in groups is probably not a place people look to tip well. Look at a Ruth's Chris. The patrons there usually tip no less than 18% and likely and average of over 20%.

Answer 7

Because most people think servers make federal nontip minimum wage, as opposed to federal tip-based minimum wage.

That, and they don't understand what standard tips are. I asked a similar question to this a few months ago (link below) and a lot of people gave a lot of very different answers on what their idea of a standard tip is. One person suggested that Ann Landers wrote once that 7% is the standard tip rate. She did - in the 1960s.

Recently she said it was 15% (link two).

Yeah, most people are just ignorant about how restaurant staff get paid, and cheap. Combine them, and you have your situation there.

Answer 8

I was a server once, too. First of all teenagers don't even understand the concept of tipping. I would get teenage girls who would leave nothing, and then teenage boys who would blow their parents' money just to tip me and "flirt."

It's not just teenagers who are guilty, though. There are so many people who don't understand what it's like making a living as a server. It's one of the hardest jobs in the world, and your "paycheck" is a joke, so you depend on those tips!

I'm sorry. It's frustraiting. I couldn't handle it for more than 6 months.

Answer 9

I completely agree! If you don't have the money to tip at least 20 percent, you should cook at home or go to a fast food place.

I serve also and I feel your pain, but I also love to get a nice tip too. I would not make a career out of serving either, but if you have to stick it out and don't let the bad tips get you down and keep doing your best.

Answer 10

I think it's just ignorance and people with an over developed sense of entitlement.

Sadly I've heard the entire "reservoir dogs" argument several times, but it doesn't make sense. should a restaurant pay their employees a wage which made tipping against policy, the cost of food/drink would go up.So in turn you really wouldn't be saving any money by not having to tip.