Why MUST you tip the waiter??

Question

I rarely go out to eat now because of this rule. The service industry is getting more arrogant and snobby these days. A tip is supposed to exactly what it is..A TIP! If the waiter does a good job and does something "extra" ordinary than you tip them. WTF is up with this mandatory tipping. If you're a waiter and don't like what I have to say than GET A DIFFERENT JOB!

The way I see it, it's your JOB to take our orders and bring them to the customers. Why should I pay you on top of what you're being paid from your employer? I don't tip firefighter for doing their jobs and I don't tip salesman that help me with the sale. So what make waiters special? And please don't give me that jargon about how you make a living off of tips.

Like I said before...That is a waiter's CHOICE and fault if they knowingly accept the job of being a waiter. If you go are employed as a waiter knowing that you make LESS than minimum wage, than that is your choice. If you don't like it there are tons of other jobs out there that pay minimum and more!

Answer 1

Before I get a bunch of thumbs down, I TIP 20%. More if great service, less if poor service, zip if horrible service.

But I totally agree with you KB.

You do NOT have to tip the waiter. It is not a requirement.

Like you said, they willingly go to these jobs and apply and get hired, knowing they are paid crappy to start with and knowing that people do NOT have to tip.

If EVERY waiter and waitress walked out of their jobs and refused to come back until the hourly pay was raised, then we would see a change in how crappy they get paid. But it won't happen, because there will always be someone desperate enough to take a crappy paying job, so people in those positions have to deal with the fact they won't be paid a good wage and have to depend on tips that they may or may not get.

Answer 2

I agree that most waiters and waitresses have a nasty attitude and lack the ability to say "you're welcome" every once in a while, or "thanks for coming in," or they generally do a crappy job. Those are the types of waiters I would leave a small tip. But it's true, they do make their living off tips. They make below minimum wage an hour. It has become mandatory because THEY wait on YOU. They take your filthy dishes, bring you food and drinks, you don't even have to go through the trouble to cook or anything, you sit and they bring it all out to you. You ought to get a job as a waiter to pay all your bills with and maybe you would learn that it's greatly appreciated when you receive a generous tip for your services.
If you haven't noticed, most of the people who are waiters are young kids, the elderly or the middle-aged working a second job since their other job doesn't cover their family's expenses. Young kids can't get a better job because they don't have enough work experience yet and older people work there because, well, they're getting old and can't do much more but still have payments to make. Most of the people don't have many choices for jobs. Anyway, some one has got to do the job.... Just think about it.

Answer 3

It is not "jargon", it is the truth. Our culture has set it up that way. Waiter and waitresses make quite a bit less than minimum wage. That is legal because it is a tipped job. So waiters do make a living from tips. Firefighter and salesmen, etc. are paid a living wage or at least minimum wage. It is not part of society's rules that you tip them for them to survive.

If a waiter insults you or ignores you completely, don't tip. If you get extraordinary service, tip extra. But if you get normal, adequate service, tip 20%. If you don't want to or can't, there is no one forcing you into the restaurant. Eat at home or at a place that serves from a counter without waiters. You don't need to tip anyone to get food. You don't need service or restaurant atmosphere to get food, either.

I know it's no fun to pay money for things. Especially when it feels optional, i.e. you won't get arrested if you don't pay it. But it is very rude not to tip a waitress or waiter. Frankly anyone who is sophisticated and knowledgable in the world does it without complaining. OK?

Answer 4

You don't have to, just like you don't have to say thank you/you're welcome to somebody, hold the door open for people, etc. It is a part of our culture in North America.

If you don't like to tip, go to a restaurant that doesn't have table service, or order food to go.

If you like going to $75 a plate restaurant and you have an issue with tipping and extra 20% or so, you probably should even be there.


Also, if waiters/waitresses WERE paid $10-$15 an hour, and tipping wasn't customary, the prices of the whole menu would probably triple.

Answer 5

Actually, in truth: for some waiters, your tips is their entire salary. It might be possible - for some - that they couldn't have gotten a better job because no one else was hiring. (Or maybe they just like serving other people?)
Better yet, the next time you go to a restaurant, why don't you ask the manager why you're supposed to give a tip?

Answer 6

I tip based on service alone! Not because they make 2 bucks an hour. It is their choice to take that job knowing what it pays. I will give someone what is owed. I tend to order out if I really want the food from a certain place. No waiter to tip and its the same food! I am not cheap, I just don't feel like I should hand someone money.

I agree 100% on getting a different job! They know how much it pays. Go get an education and go get a real job if you cant handle someone not tipping you! Gratuity derives form the word gracious. And last time I checked, it didn't have a dollar amount attached!

Answer 7

It's like this, if you don't want to tip....go to McDonald's. And your right it is a choice to work for less than minimum wage, but if all servers got another job, there wouldn't be restaurants to eat in. You can go to a buffet style restaurant or to a fast food joint if you can't afford to tip. And didn't you see the movie about servers.....believe me when you come into a restaurant and don't tip, servers remember your face and you might find a little something extra in your meal the next time you decide to eat there.

Answer 8

If you dont like the concept of tipping, move to China/Hong Kong. The restaurant service is 100 times better thank America and tips are usually refused by the waitstaff.

Answer 9

You only HAVE to tip the server if the tip is added to the bill. Otherwise, it is totally up to you if you chose to tip or not.

Without tips, servers don't make squat. With a 10% tip, they do ok. At 15%, they're doing well. And with a 20% tip, they are making damn good coin. Obviously, the more upscale the restaurant, the more the server will make on tips, based on the percentage rule.

It's up to you to give what you feel they deserve.

Answer 10

I dont know why it's like that but when I worked as a waitress I made 2.25 an hour...the tips ARE your pay. It is incentive for the waitstaff to give you good service. If they all made a decent hourly wage there would be no incentive to go the extra mile, they wouldn't care as much because they are getting paid either way. It's good that you stay home then, waiting on people like you sucked. Especially when you run your butt off and get stiffed.....Ill tell you what though, if you ever did that, dont go back to eat in the same place because they will remember your face. You should be VERY nice to the people who are handling your food.



to those who gave me a thumbs down: Im speaking from experience....Ive seen bad stuff happen to food of people who are nasty in a restaurant.