Why do servers complain about their tips?!?

Question

In europe and in Japan, there is no such thing as tip. Why? because you're paid to DO YOUR JOB. When eating out..do you NOT expect to receive good service? and at 15%..when combined w/tax...your paying 25% more for your meal.
A tip should be what it was, extra $ for superior service. If a waiter is always on top of getting your drinks and checking on your food etc... they deserve a couple extra bucks...but if a friend orders a $20 meal and I order a $100 meal..why do I owe $15 and my friend only $4...for the same service (the server didnt cook my meal).
There is an argument that waiters get most of their wages in tips..if it's unfair..quit. and if they do...and you don't get tipped enough to cover minimum wage, by law the employer must pay the difference up to min wage. and If that happens, you probably have poor customer service. There are plenty of jobs just as hard if not harder that never see tips: i.e. dish washers, retail, garbage men. Smile & do your job, or quit.

Answer 1

I'm a server. Most generally I make really good tips (20% and up). I try to know what my customers need before they realize they need it and if they always order the same thing, I have their order turned in the moment I see them walking in the door and try to learn their names. (I take my job REALLY seriously)

If I bring your drink and appetizer to you right away, your food comes out hot, fast, and correct, I check with you to make sure it's good, keep your chips & salsa full, you never have to ask for a refill, I bring extra napkins when yours looks crumpled, offer a box if you're slowing down, and remove your plate when you finish and lay the check, and haven't been hanging around your table the entire time... yeah.. I think deserve a good tip! if it's a $100 ticket not just a couple extra bucks. I think a good tip shows appreciation for the effort that was made, because if you just had a good dining experience, you should encourage the server that waited on you, if they were good, they need to be acknowledged. Just like everyone else, we really don't like to work for free, even though it happens all too often.

That's why people eat at dine in places, rather than fast food... for the service... people should expect to have to pay extra for that. And, personally, if people don't want to tip, I think they should just eat at Taco Bell or home.

BUT I think we should do our job GOOD and NOT expect a tip if we didn't.
yes, the employer does have to make up the diff if you don't make min. wage. Our restaurant usually gets around that by having the computer set up where you can't claim less than 15% of what you sell. So on a $100 meal I would have to report $15 whether they left $15 or nothing. And I get taxed for it. Our register does not add gratuity to the bill, any size, it's entirely up to the customer.

The cooks do get paid to cook, but people are more than welcome to tip our hardworking cooks and dishwashers if they want to. :)

Answer 2

I am a waitress/student and from experience when you said " if a friend orders a $20 meal and I order a $100 meal..why do I owe $15 and my friend only $4...for the same service ,the server didnt cook my meal " The server did not cook your meal you are right but this server has to tip out to the busser, food runner, bartender, and sometimes the hostess, if you know how a restaurant is runned you'll realize that, plus if you think about it should this server have to pay out of her own pocket so u can have your little 100 DOLLARS meal and only tip $ 4. This is AMERICA if you dont like to tip then dont dine out, this is how it works here, plus think about what I am going to tell you know= If servers were to get paid a flat hour wage, no matter what, do you think they'll care all that much about their customers? no because the'll be getting paid no matter what. SERVERS are the main persons in a restaurant without them and how they work their as ses off, a restaurant could not be runned even if the management was great! thanks.

Answer 3

You are mistaken, servers in Europe do get tips, it is built into the check.

In the us servers are paid well below minium wage [sometimes as little as $2 per hour] and their tips make up the lack. In any event servers are taxed on a percentage of their total sales. If they don't get at least a 10% tip then end up losing money.

Yes, servers should be paid more, but most american diners are not willing to pay the higher prices that would result from that. Not everybody wants to pay $18 for a burger.

Answer 4

If all servers could get is minimum wage, you wouldn't want to eat out. Remember the last time you had real quality service, the type that made your evening that much better. Well, that server and all like him/her won't be there for you again because no one is going to do that kind of work for minimum wage. Look, it's unfair for servers it's unfair for diners, but in the usa that is just the way it works. Why make a server suffer because you don't like the system none of us have the power to change.

Answer 5

From a server: Every two weeks I get a paycheck. It says "This is not a paycheck", because taxes eat every cent of what I am paid. Therefore tips are the only money I receive for my work, work that is listed as one of the most stressful jobs there is.
Granted I work in a high end restaurant and make very good money. I'm not complaining at all. Many people don't understand that your tip is split among the server, bartenders, hosts, bussers, and often times dishwashers. I keep about 55% of any money I earn. Is the tipping system a bit out of whack? Maybe, you won't hear a complaint from me. But I'll tell you one thing, if servers were not compensated for the hard work they do, you won't find enough workers who would take the abuse many diners feel it is their privilege to dump out.

Answer 6

If you don't want to tip you just need to stay home. You can fix yourself whatever you want, deliver it to yourself in a timely fashion, relax, and clean up after yourself and you don't have to worry about forking out the few extra bucks for someone else doing this for you. After all if you can spend $100 on yourself for a meal and don't see why you should tip at least 15%, that's the minimum by the way, you probably need the money more. Go to McDonald's if you can't tip!

Answer 7

Agree with what you say. But somehow the law has allowed certain workers like waiters and bartenders to be paid by their employers pennies an hour because they customarily get tips.

I guess I can live with customs, but now what is happening is that employers are changing how customers receive their food but still expecting the customer to tip at the same rates. For ex, some buffet restaurants, the waiter doesn't bring your food. They bring your drink and clean the table when you leave, but the employer expects the customer to tip the customary amount.

Answer 8

because they get paid **** to begin with. The other jobs you mentioned pay more per hour. A steady wage. The waiter does more work running around getting you things and kissing your ***, they deserve a tip, If you're too cheap to leave one, eat at home. Prepare your own meals. If you're gonna go out you have to pay and not be so frickin cheap!

Answer 9

I agree. Besides, I think a tip is a compliment. If the waiter sucks, he shouldn't expect 15%.

Answer 10

i dont always tip. i agree only when they've gone out of their way or are at least extremely polite do they get extra money off me.

ps.what makes you think servers in europe dont get tips?
cos they do and its usually 10%