Why are some people so ignorant when it comes to tipping?

Question

I am a server at the Olive Garden. I served 2 ladies, and 1 of their sons. They ordered 3 drinks (3 soft drinks with free refills/not water), 1 glass of wine, (5!) entrees, 2 appetizers, and the usual salad and breadsticks that come with the meal. I gave them 4 free wine samples each. I brought their food remarkably fast (I only had 2 other tables). But they asked for 3 extra scoops of dressing on the salad, with 3 extra salad dressing cups on the side. 1$ person didn't want olives on her salad, so I brought out extra olives for the 2 others who wanted it in cups on the side (since there was no room on their table for another salad). They asked for so much cheese that I had to use 2 FULL cheese graters for the salad alone. I refilled the drinks 3 times, and even boxed the salad and breadsticks, even though I am not obliged to do so since it is unlimited, and only the entree is required to go in the box. In short, I gave great service. The bill came to 87.00 and they left 6.50. Why?

I'm not great at math, but I added it, and they left me about 7.5%. I worked my butt off for an hour and catered to their every whim. It took seven minutes standing at the table explaining every dish.... I just want to know WHY?!?

I was very pleasant, as I always am. I take pride in my appearance (cleanliness, getting my uniform pressed, etc). I treat all customers the same, even if I think they won't tip well (and for the record, I thought this table would tip well considering the amount of money they spent and the work that was done). I LOVE my job, but I am very saddened when people don't have the courtesy to leave even 10% (which can be attributed to ignorance... anything less than 10 is just plain cheap and rude), and I appreciate it, even though the norm is 15-20%. For instance, if someone orders a meal that is 10.00 and leaves me a dollar, I don't take offense. They might be: financially challenged, ignorant, etc... at least they tried. I live in the South; I expect that. But in this situation, that wasn't the case. I went OUT OF MY WAY to make their dining experience outstanding. I tip the bussers/bartenders 15% of my tips (even if I didn't use them) Why cannot they extend the same courtesy to me? Ahhh!!

Answer 1

I'm so sorry that happened. The honest truth is, some people are incredibly rude, demanding, and don't think they owe you a thing in return for your time and service. My mother in law eats out frequently (twice a day), is extraordinarily demanding and openly rude to waitstaff, and then leaves tiny tips behind. When we eat out with her, I always make sure to leave a tip because I know she always gives $2 - no matter what the order was, how many people were served- it's always $2. Don't take it personally. Some people are simply rude and don't know any better.

Answer 2

Not that this is a good excuse, but how was your demeanor through this all? Were you pleasant and chatty or somber and ready for them to leave soon!?

Unfortunately some people are ignorant to tipping. If the service was ok, I tip 15%. If it was awesome then I'll tip anywhere over 20%, however, if the service was horrible...never got a refill, had to wave the waitress down for anything, took forever to get a to go box, BUT the bill was right there soon after the food arrived! Well, they're lucky if they get 5% from me.

It just sounds like these people weren't thinking about WHY you were waiting on them for every little thing. Almost kinda like you owed it to them! Some people are just morons that way.

Answer 3

I hate people like that. I had a guy who had 17 refills on his lemonade and left me a $1 tip. He thought that it was hysterical that he could drink so much. I was wishing that his bladder would explode and he would drown. And no I wasn't very pleasant after the 8th or 9th refill since he was being an asshole and I did have other tables. And the manager wouldn't allow a pitcher or extra drinks (corporate rules). Yeah some people are assholes but like someone else said karma will get them!

Answer 4

I deliver pizza. The drivers get a basic $3.00 per delivery so like you, we depend on tips to make doing this worthwhile. Over time we learn who tips and who doesn't and provide service accordingly. My personal tipping practice is 15% for average service and 20 and more % for extraordinary service. Tipping can be taken to extremes, however, diners should realize that most servers are students working evenings to put themselves through college or people in a similar situation. Pizza drivers are normally people who have fallen on hard times and are desperately trying to work themselves out of debt or trouble. Pizza drivers, like servers, bring food to the client and it is EXPECTED that a 10% or better show of appreciation will be given. Unfortunately we represent somebody else's business, so we cannot "educate" these ignorant folks. It is our lot to bend over and take it up the wazoo and hope the next person will be generous.

Answer 5

Some people get off on treating service industry workers like modern day servants. This day in age it is also hard to get decent service in most restaurants. I have a rule of thumb:

If you are my server and you didn't serve me anything except a drink and the bus boy or another person brought out my food - YOU ARE NOT GETTING A TIP, but I will give one to the person who did all the work.

If you did what you were supposed to do you will get a min. of 20% and if you are superb the sky is the limit. I worked in the industry myself for many years and I have gotten some hefty tips. $50, $100, $200, $600, $2000 and I'm forgetting some others I'm sure, but my point is don't let it get to you. For every person that's not so savvy in the manner of tipping there is another who will more than make up for it.

Answer 6

That is so irritating! Get this...my friend is a server at Houlihan's. She's going to school to be a certifiied signing interpreter. She gets a table w/ 2 women who are deaf. She signs to them through their entire dinner, was very fast with their drinks, appetizers, entree and dessert and they left her NO tip whatsoever....nice, huh? I mean, how many servers actually know sign language? She said that they acted like she OWED it to them to know sign language. It's obvious that some people have never worked with the public and thus don't realize how hard it can be at times. Either that, or people don't know how to figure out 15% of a bill....

Answer 7

If the provider is solid, I tip properly. It the provider grow to be ideas-blowing I tip better effective. If the provider grow to be unfavorable or the server grow to be rude. the end is going down, now and again to $0. contained in the realm I stay, waiters and waitresses sense like they deserve a tip, even at the same time as they're rude and the provider is awful.

Answer 8

They're just as you described . . . ignorant. Extremely ignorant. Not to mention cheap. I mean, I always leave 15% tip in the least for good service. That's a minimum. I myself often leave $20 tips when the total is over $50, however, I know that's uncommon. I'm sorry for you.

Answer 9

Don't take it personally. It had nothing to do with you. From the sounds of the evening, they were not the most refined group of people. And, as we know, refined folks rarely follow protocal or understand manners. In fact, I have friends who think a tip is whatever you have in your purse to give. It has nothing to do with percentages. Chuck this up as a loss and realize you did your part to make sure they had a nice dining experience. Remember, kharma is a *****, so they'll get theres one day!

Answer 10

You know what kind of service to give them if they ever come back!

I always think of it in terms of averages. In terms of how much I made overall throughout a week in a percentage. I think you will find that it will all work out to be around 16-18% every week (if you're working 30+ hours). That should help you to shrug the losers off.