Am I the only one that thinks mandatory tipping is stupid?

Question

Isn't a tip supposed to be for exceptional work? It bugs me that resteraunts now put the tip on the bill or expect you to tip 15% even if your waiter/waitress didn't do anything great. I would rather pay more for my meal so that the waiters and waitresses get paid more so they don't have to depend on tips. In my opinion, tipping is just getting out of hand. Workers should get a good wage and you should just pay for whatever your are buying. IF the worker did something fantastic, then it's your choice to give an extra tip to them to say "hey, great work! you were exceptional."

But why should I tip them for just doing their job? (by the way, I do tip because I understand employees don't get paid enough and depend on the tips, but I think that whole concept needs to change).

That's debatable Fazzaile. I've hard large groups in resteraunts where they order like 3 party platters and pitchers of coke. That's MUCH easier to serve than individual dishes and drinks for each person.

Mr Cadillac Jones: LMAO that's hallarious.

Answer 1

I thought i was the only one that thought that way. The whole idea of tipping is a joke. That's their job, why do they get money directly from their customers. I would like to tip cooks more then useless waiters. I appreciate the food, not the service. It's getting out of hand too. everyone wants tips now. Boy why don't i get tips for sitting at my desk all day. i should charge my boss $15 bucks a day for sitting at my desk nicely.

Answer 2

Oh wow I am amazed at some of the answers here! I am a waitress and also have a full time day job. I get paid 2.13 an hour at the restaurant. Does anyone else get paid that amount? I didn't think so... Yes I COMPLETELY agree that the industry needs to change, I would love to get paid minimum wage and be able to consider tips as a bonus. But right now tips are my INCOME. Not bonus. I also agree that you should tip according to service. I try my hardest to do a good job at EVERY table and be friendly and outgoing. But when you do all of that and still get a $3.00 tip on a $50 tab it gets frustrating. My check every 2 weeks literally comes out to be $1.14. What the hell am I going to do with that! That doesn't even buy gas. I tip exceptionally well because I know that serving is a hard job, if you don't think so maybe you should become one.

Answer 3

Whoa! I totally changed my answer based on some of the other ones I just read.

When I go out to dinner, regardless of the size of my group, I do not go with the intention or the desire of being rushed through my meals. I read one response from someone who had the gall to complain about parties of 6 or more b/c they need more extras and they sit there and talk and blah blah blah. Honey, if you don't like your job, no one is forcing you to stay there. I understand that some days you make more money and that's great! Good for those servers. However, don't expect to rush a party through what is supposed to be an enjoyable experience b/c you want more money! That's totally rude and I wouldn't leave a good tip if someone did that to me. You would be lucky to get what was left over from the change of the bill.

I think the general consensus is that if you are a good server, you will be taken care of by the people at the table, most of the time. If you act like a snot, then you're tip will most likely resemble your actions. When you do get a crummy tip, think to yourself, what did I do or how can I improve. Don't look to point the finger to your patrons b/c without us, you wouldn't get and f-ing tips!

Answer 4

I also tip well, for good service, but I don't like mandatory tipping at all. And there has been times when that has actually hurt my waitperson. I would have left them more than what was on the bill. I know I could have anyway, but because I felt an arbitrary amount was forced on me, I didn't. Tipping is supposed to be a compliment for a job well done, not an expected. I know it's an hard job with lousy pay, but you don't know what kind of day I've had either that made me want to be waited on and maybe I just need another diet coke.

Answer 5

Absolutely agree. I tip - and usually generously PROVIDED the service is good. If the service is lousey, I don't tip at all.

My view is, if you depend on tips, then go the extra mile to please the customer. It is not the customer's fault you are being paid peanuts, and you are not entitled to expect the customer to compensate you for that no matter how you treat them.

I do think that hospitality wages, especially in the USA, need to be addressed NOW. It is NOT an easy job - they work hard and often get less than minimum wage. It's unfair, immoral and employers need to be forced to do something about it.
If that means I pay a couple more bucks for my meal, so be it.

I'll still tip in appreciation of good service anyway.

Answer 6

The 15 percent is normally tacked on for parties of 6 or more. I agree that it should not be added on regardless. My family tips good even when the service id not so good because we know that this is the way the person makes their money. And anyone can have a bad day. However, if the amount was not added on they would have probably received a tip larger than 15 percent. I do not feel obligated to give more if they go ahead and tack it on.

Answer 7

Unless it is stated on the menu, or hung in a prominent place in the restaurant, mandatory tipping is illegal in most states.

You need to write your state Attorney General and file a complaint against the restaurant. Also, the credit card companies have rules regarding mandatory tipping and if a restaurant gets enough complaints, they can have their ability to accept credit cards suspended.

The last time I was in a restaurant and they added the "mandatory" tip, I refused to pay until it was removed from my bill. They threatened to call the cops and I threatened to pay with my credit card then go home and report the charge as fraudulent, as I never authorized this item on my bill. I have never been back to the restaurant and do not understand why anyone else allows them to extort money this way.

And, btw, I am a great tipper. I know how hard of a job it is, and I know how lousy their base wages are, but I will be damned if I allow anyone to illegally extort my money!

Answer 8

I agree that mandatory tipping is stupid. I have received horrible service at restaurants before and then I am required to tip the wait person. It doesn't make sense. On one occasion our service was bad enough that we spoke with the manager and he took the tip off of our bill. It seems that some wait people know that they are getting 15% for a large party so why take good care of them. I was a bartender for four years and some customers would not tip, that is the only defense I could understand for it.

Answer 9

If you look on the bill and it says (service charge included) then you don`t have to tip.
You only tip when or if the service and the food that you recieve is good. As far as i know, tipping isn`t mandatory at the moment. They will just remember you the next time you go in, and i think it`s only 10% minimum
The staff do get a low pay and many appreciate the tips.

Answer 10

Im not sure about servers, but in valet tips are our pay out. We have to turn money, the bass charge, into our bose to pay for the garages. So if you dont tip as some night no one has I might make like one dollar an hour for 7 hours. Now as fun as that sounds we do this to pay rent and stuff while Im in school. But if someone does a crappy job or is rude, no you should not tip them. I find people who dont tip have never worked a industry job. Thats not a jab, but really think about it next time you just dont feel like tipping someone.