African Americans and tipping?

Question

First and foremost, this is not meant to be a racist comment or anything among the nature...

I have worked in the restaurant business for a good amount of time and over the years, I notice more and more that african americans do not tip, or tip very poorly. Why is this?

First- to the black people who think I'm being racist- get a life, and stop thinking everyone owes you the world- It's not a matter about being racist, it's a very common thing among black people and NO I don't give any different service to one customer to another- I always try my best and give the best service- obviously, if I didn't, then I wouldn't have lasted in this industry.. It's a hard industry and a lot of people don't realize how hard servers actually work and the BS they have to put up with- especially when we rely so strongly on tips to pay OUR bills and make life happen. The restaurant doesn't pay servers anything- and this is something you should think about when you ask your server for a million sides of ranch, your kids make a mess, and you guzzle your drinks down and then don't leave a tip...

I do not treat blacks any different than whites or any other races.. and especially when it comes to the service that I give them. I could care less the color of your skin- but yes, I have chosen to point out blacks because it it more common than a lot of other races not tipping. I notice a pattern and that is why I ask.. It's not a race issue, it's a pattern. Maybe instead of making me pay for something that my family, nor I, never did 150 years ago, realize that we're all in this together and help out- oh wait, that would be asking too much...

Answer 1

I think it is because they think that great service is just one more thing that they are "entitled" to. Besides, poor tipping is the least of their bad habits.

Answer 2

Seeing is not always believing. In other words, you could have missed something such as the African Americans could have included a gratuity if they had paid by check or credit card. Maybe they couldn't afford to leave a tip. If you want to judge people, (Afro Americans) you or anyone else that this applies to should use better methods. A suggestion would be to actually survey the people that you are targeting and then perhaps you will have a more accurate number. Or to make it more chanelling, why don't you survey all people randomly to see what they do and how much?

To answer the question/statement about black people thinking that the world owe them is not true for all. Try saying some people instead of all. I'm pretty sure that not every African feels that the world owes them anything. Perhaps you and others with the same opinion should open up your minds and wake up and stop blaming innocent people for your bad sense of judgment.

Red blood runs through all of our veins. One does not have control over what race or nationality that one is born into. However, one does have control over what one says and does. Think before you speak and act. Please for heavens sake, stop making assumptions. I have seen other people (non Africans) not leave tips (cash) on the table. Should each person be judged because things has been overlooked, or unknown? I say not. Lets keep it real people.
"Can't we all just get a long?"

Answer 3

This issue was actually on tv not too long ago I think it was the Chelsie Handler show...even the black guy on there was saying he'd heard of it happening and that he purposely over-tipped to compensate for this problem.

Apparently there seem to be a lot of blacks on here who are racist towards whites cursing out a man who had the guts to ask a simple question (one asked on NATIONAL TV no less!).

To all those people who say that these people are ignorant and don't know any better. Ignorance is NO excuse...if your ignorant of a law and you are picked up for breaking it you are STILL sentenced and jailed. Not to say there is a maximum punishment for not tipping or anything.

Not only that but from reading all the comments left the people who are most respectful with their language towards blacks are the Americans who list NO other country before their own. By saying that you are African-American you set yourself apart from this country...sure it's one thing to be prideful but it's another thing to be so disrespectful of your own country...it's like saying you'd rather be back in Africa instead of being proud to live in a country where you can do anything or SAY anything! I don't walk around saying I'm German-American and how I've been mistreated because of the whole Hitler thing. Or that I'm Asian-American and that I can't get an education because of Pearl Harbor. Or that I'm Italin-American and I can't lead a decent life because everyone expects me to be a mobster.
Get a life the only people holding you back in your life are yourselves.

End of Rant.

P.s. I'm sorry if this comes off as racist to those of you who have a job and work hard for their money

Answer 4

This is a legitimate question and one that most people would be afraid to ask and take all the grief that this asker has gotten. Its amazing how many people are so eager to jump on others without even knowing that person or their situation.

It is true that blanket statements should never be used since they are never true for everyone; it is an individual's choice no matter where he or she comes from.

Recent studies have shown that the main reason that there may be tipping discrepancies between cultures/races, is the lack of knowledge of service industry tipping procedures.

I've attached a study that carefully examined this topic and to sum up the findings, it found that when people did not tip the restaurant norm of 15 to 20% of the check, it was from not knowing that this was the expected amount. Some people don't realize that waitstaff are paid a lower minimum wage than regular hourly workers and that the remaining money is expected to be paid by the customers in tips. Without this division of pay, the server would have no incentive to do their best job taking care of you when you dine.

Of course, this is assuming the food and service are satisfactory and making excuses for bad service being a reason for poor/no tips is an exception rather than the rule.

From my years of working and dining, I've realized that 15% should be the minimum unless there is some real poor service given (for me it would be not refilling my pop!!!!) and even in those situations, I will give 10%, since you should always pay for the service rendered. An excellent server will earn 20% or more, depending on how expensive the restaurant is (I'll give more %% at less expensive places since they work just as hard as places that charge more for the food!).

Answer 5

I'm white and I've never delivered food so I cannot really speculate as to why you're encountering this problem... aside from maybe the place where you work is in a neighborhood with a lot of lower income families that cannot afford to shell out the extra money. It is wrong to "expect" a tip because you are not a waiter/waitress (they can "expect" a tip because their hourly wages are based on receiving tips); however, it is *traditional* to tip food delivery drivers. In our house, we tip a minimum of $5 to delivery drivers regardless of what we spend because we feel it's a convenience and like you mentioned, that person is shelling out money for gas & maintenance on their car that isn't covered by their employer. We also find that the drivers have caught on to this and typically do a great job of delivering to our house quickly to get their big tip. The only real advice I could offer would be to see if you can get a job doing the same thing in a neighborhood that seems more affluent. This way you're improving the clientele which you're serving and almost guaranteeing yourself more tips over time.

Answer 6

1. I am a white woman and ALWAYS tip well. I qualify below poverty level but know how to use money. I do NOT eat out unless I have tip money. I use NO credit cards. Cash only.
Why would someone on welfare be eating out anyway? Welfare should be stopped. It was never meant to be a long term thing.
2. Why do women eating out alone or with another woman get such poor service half the time? Twice in my lifetime my meal was never even brought to me (after waiting over an hour!). When I complained upon leaving I was told my waitress had tables with big groups. SO? These were very nice restaurants. And btw, I was NOT offered anything for my bad experience!! I just never returned there and made sure my story was told to many people. I have heard that waiters think I won't tip because I am alone. Wrong! I have tipped $5 for an $8 meal. Excellent service with a nice smile helps.
3. This is off-topic in a way but I have never understood why people are called African-Americans? What's wrong with Americans? I don't call myself German/Welsh/English American. How stupid would that be? To me, a true African American is someone born in Africa that moved here. Makes sense to me.

Answer 7

OMG. If you go through and read ever answer as I just spent the last 30 minutes doing--several reoccurring themes emerge.

1) You treat this particular racial segment of the population badly and deserve no tip white boy. Hmmmmm-smacks of a little racism against the fellow who was just asking a question.

2) How dare you say that particular racial segment of the population doesn't tip well--I am part of that particular racial segment of the population and I tip well. Hmmmmm-arrogance and I know how to tip. Chip on the shoulder thing going on.

3) Since we(you know, this particular racial segment of the population) have been so poor and oppressed and uneducated, we(this particular racial segment of the population) don't know that we(this particular racial segment of the population) are supposed to tip a percentage of the total bill. Hmmmmmmm---this doesn't wash anymore as the opportunities that are available to this particular racial segment of the population are the same or better than what is offered to the general population. It is a matter of what you do with the opportunities that are presented.

4) Other waiters/waitress' of the same background as the asker of the question and of this particular racial segment of the population agree that the lack of and/or low tip is a reality in many areas of the country. As is the fact that this particular racial segment of the population seems to demand that they receive all the attention and their every command be obeyed. Hmmmmmmmmm-maybe the young man has a point and there is a lesson to be learned. Tolerance and not treating other human beings like slaves is a two way street.

5) Generalizations made by white people about this particular racial segment of the population are bad and should not happen but generalizations made by this particular racial segment of the population about whites or Hispanics or Asians or whoever should be acceptable. Hmmmmmmmmmm---let me think--entitlement to special priviledges when it comes to speaking our minds? Double standard.

6) Poor people don't tip well because they are poor and they only have a certain amount of money for a night on the town. Generally, if the person was raised well and knows the facts about waitstaff wages, they make sure that the funds that they have will cover their purchases and the appropriate amount of the tip. Hmmmmmmm--or at least that is the way this poor little white girl was raised.

7) The last theme is the saddest of all--on both sides there are those that are so angry/ignorant that they resort to name calling and slurs--you my friends make me sad and I truly hope that you do not reproduce and that your felony charges keep you from voting and there is no Hmmmmmmm to that at all.

Answer 8

WOW! I am so sorry you have that experience. If my service is good I tip really well...I love to tip (my friends often tell me I do too much). However, if I have poor service, I usually still tip just not as much, but I try to tactfully let the waitstaff know why. Now as far as waiters/waitresses treating African-Americans differently, I can honestly say that I HAVE experienced that firsthand. I am part of a racial reconciliation group and sometimes we (blacks and whites) go out and do things in public to see if racism still exists and the answer is YES! and I have seen it a lot in restaurants, probably because many white staff think like you and have already pre-judged before they can even have an opportunity to provide good service. Be honest with yourself. If you've experience poor tipping a lot from an identified group of people then I am sure that you approach their table with some sense of doubt and as good as you might think you are at hiding it, I'm sure many perceive your contrived efforts as fake; thus yielding a negative encounter with your customers. If you don't, you are a rare breed....trust me... and I applaud you.
A little something to think about from an African-American woman with locs (oh my-LOL)

Answer 9

I also first noticed this as a cultural trend when I first began working as a waitress several years ago. Mind you, I was raised to treat and think of all people as equals, so when I started to notice this, it really bothered me. However, over the years I've worked in other areas of customer service, such as hospitality, and there can be no doubt that there is a definate difference in the mannor in which African-Americans have a tendency to treat customer service workers.

My best guess, without going into pages and pages of my own personal experience and analysis of each, is that there simply seems to be a different standard of customer service expectations and a different standard of respect towards those around them amoung many African-Americans. This in combination can often conclude in those who must work with them unfortunately coming away with a poor experience and a poor impression of African-Americans as a whole. It's unfortunate.

Answer 10

I don't know why, but it's true. I'm Hispanic, and I've waited tables for over 20 years, mainly coffee-shops. African Americans as a rule tip very poorly and are very demanding in their wishes. 9 times out of 10 if a customer sends their food back, they are African-American. Wish I knew the answer. It would solve a lot of my frustration.

Answer 11

I hope you learned this from your question and all the answers that when someone starts off a question and/or comment with I am not a racist or this is not meant to be a racist comment or some other variation what they are about to say is usually if not always racist in nature.

If you truly did not intend to be racist then I suggest you educate yourself on what racist and prejudice behavior is, because you are clueless.

Since you appear to believe this stereotype that all "African Americans" (bravo on your attempt to be politically correct), do you think that perhaps your animosity towards this group of people impacts your attitude as their server for the evening? You may or may not be conscious of it but I would guess that you are making your guests from the Black Community feel ever so less welcome than your guests from the white community. I would not tip you generously either if you made me uncomfortable or gave me not quite the same service as other guests of a different skin color. And, as a white woman, if I notice that you are making African American tables wait longer or providing them with poor service, I'd give you less of a tip and let you know why. Examine yourself and your attitude towards your different patrons and I'm sure you will find your answer!!

By the way, at first I might have dismissed your question and not thought that you intended it to be racist. however, all your additional comments indicate that:
1) Your questions is racist in nature and that was your intent or at the very least you were quite aware that it would be taken as racist by any thinking person.
2) You are racist - be it a closet racist or not.
3) You lack education and knowledge (you may have a Master's Degree you however still display ignorance) when it comes to social issues; and
4) You are one angry white man.

Anger management might help you build a bridge and get over it. Like a previous answer said, some people leave good tips and some people leave bad tips. Some waiters provide , friendly, courteous and efficient service to all guests and some do not.