Why do people not find it necessary to properly tip their servers?

Question

I, obviously, am a server. I work at a relatively high-end restaurant and I spend my nights doing everything in my power to give my guests a perfect night out. They are not just out for dinner, they are out for a celebration.They are also not just spending $30-$40 a meal, it's more like $80-$100. The end result is my guests telling me what a wonderful time they had but sometimes tipping only 10-15%. I'm glad I could make their night memorable, but my landlord won't accept their compliments in place of rent. If you can't afford to tip your server, why are you going out to eat? Why not stay at home?

Answer 1

Having worked in the food/bev industry while in school, I think the answers are as diverse as there are stereotypes of humans.

I found Professors the worst tippers, to which I attribute them having some false sense of superiority, this commonly goes for celebrities, politicians etc.

I honestly believe older folks who don't dine out much, are totally unaware that servers are dependent on tips or remember what they were taught by their parents (which was likely 10% or less)

Yet others attribute lack of tip to racial or sexual bias, where blacks might tip a black server more or a female may tip a male server more etc.

Personally, I consider it an insult to get a bill with 15% added as I tip 25% to 50% for outstanding service and 10 to 15% for poor service. Generally, if I get 15% added, I will mention to the server that they would do better not to "grat" my table, hand them some extra cash and ask for them next time around. If I get the same 15% next go round, that is all they will ever see.

Answer 2

There are a number of situations in which it is common to leave a tip (sometimes called a gratuity), although you should not feel that you have to do this if you cannot afford to do so or if you were not happy with the service provided. - Restaurant or café Usually people only pay a tip in a restaurant or café when there is a waiter service (not for takeaway meals or self-service meals). Normally people add about 10% to the bill and make the amount a whole number of pounds. Check the menu and the bill to see if a service charge is already included in the price. For example, it may say: "A discretionary 10% service charge has been included" or "service is included", or you may just see that 10% has been added at the bottom of the bill (you can refuse to pay this part if you were unhappy with the service). If the service charge is not included the bill may say "Service charge not included" or "Gratuities are at the customer's discretion". - Hairdresser's It is common for people to leave a small tip (maybe one or two pounds) as a tip. - Taxi It is common to add 10% to the taxi fare. - Hotel You may want to give a small tip (perhaps 1 or 2 pounds) when a member of hotel staff gives you a special service. For example, a tip may be appropriate if a porter carries your baggage to your room when you arrive, if the concierge helps you (for example by helping you to buy tickets, book a restaurant or plan your shopping or sightseeing, or by keeping your bags safe before check-in or after check-out) or if a doorman finds a taxi for you. It is more polite if you do not show the money when you are giving it - put it in your hand, say thank you, shake the person's hand and press the money into the person's hand.

Answer 3

A lot of people think it is the responsibility of the restaurant to pay their servers an adequate wage not theirs. They could be right; however, they would be the first and the loudest to complain if the restaurants raised their prices 20% in order to increase the servers pay. If they can afford to pay $80-$100 for a meal, they can afford to leave an adequate tip. We need a leader to get us unionized like Martha Rae done for the clothing manufactures down South. Any takers?

Answer 4

12% is what the rest. taxes the employee wheather you tip or not.Please don't get hung up on the 12%. It is just a reasonable example. I recommend tipping 15% on the alcohol and 15-20% on the food. 10% on the wine is perfectly acceptable if the bottle is over $30.00. Whether to tip 15 or 20 percent would depend in large part on how helpful the server was in choosing the wine serving it and making your night special.

Answer 5

I'm with you and I.m against you on this one. As a person who has had to eat in restaurants a lot on the road the norm is 10 to 15% as allowed by the IRS as a business expense. And also that is usually all your companies will allow for tips on your expense account. You have to bear in mind that is three meals a day for every day you are out. That is on the one hand and where I am against you.
On the other hand when going out on a special occassion I agree with you about leaving a good tip for good service because I know that most of your income is from your tips. I also you in some cases have to give part of it to your bus boys as well.

Now here is something you might not be thinking of. A lot of up scale restaurants and super clubs add on the tip to bill automatically. So your patrons might be thinking they are tipping you a little extra (under the table) for your good service , thinking the tip is already added onto the price of the meal.
Here is something else they might be just barely making ends meet like you are doing and that is all they can afford. Or they might be there because they have someone in the hospital they are having to stay with around the clock and needed to get away from the hospital for a little while.
And then there is the prople who seldom ever eat out and think that you are getting paid a decent wage and leaving a tip is not necessary. They don't realize most of your income is from you tips.
But of course there is always the cheap skates that won't leave their own mother a tip. And form what I've seen of those types they are also the hardest to please. Had the displeasure of being seated at the table next of several of those types, and I to knock the sh***t out of them myself for the way they were teating their server.
And by the way if the person you are serving is a teach and she is a bit grouchy just smile and think about her having had to spend the day with thirty or so screaming snotty nosed brats. And think to yourself better her than me.

Answer 6

I agree with you, and I've never been a server in my entire life. I have an appreciation for people that do a job I could never do. I'm not nice enough to be a server, so I usually tip about 20%, even if they just poured me a beer. I know lots of people that are horrible tippers, because they believe that the resturants charge too much for food, not knowing that servers get paid below typical minimum wage.

Keep working---There's people that will appreciate you!!

Answer 7

Most people think 10-15% is a normal tip. I will leave 20% or more if I have a good or great server, but if the server isn't so good, he/she will get less to none. Maybe 10-15% is what people think is right...

Answer 8

Totally understand i worked in the food business for a long time well 5 years. I am baking now and I still get tips but not too much.. I would suggest a job change maybe a second job to help until you get your own regulars

Answer 9

15 % is the standard tip if service was satisfactory ( i tip more personally) however there is no rule that you must tip, thats a chance servers take, precisely the reason i work for an hourly wage as a host, even though i "might" make more as a server.

Answer 10

That sucks... I always tip 20% even when it makes me gasp. The only time I go down to 15% is when the service is down right horrible. Probably, like most things, people do it because they can get away with it... Some people suck.