I am a waitress at a steakhouse, where the bills can range from 20-200. Last night I had a couple that ate all you can eat crablegs for 20 each with a side and a salad. There total came to $55. I know the service was great because I only had one other table. However they only left $5. I wasn't sure if I had done something wrong but they seemed really happy with everything. Do some people just tip the lowest amount possible even if they get great service and the food was good?
2007-09-13 03:36:26 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I forgot to mention that they each got 3 orders of crablegs. So that is alot of extra time going back and forth to their table, which means they also drank more so more refills were made. I just think anything let than 10% is an insult.
2007-09-13 03:52:10 · update #1
grumpyfriend-
It should depend on anything. If you get geat service and you enjoy your food than why would it matter if the place is high class restaurant or a ruby tuesdays?
2007-09-13 04:01:18 · update #2
Let me make this clear. It is a high class dining restaurant. NOT A BUFFET. I went and each time and cleared their plates and then brought out their crab legs. I also refilled their drinks everytime.
2007-09-13 04:45:57 · update #3
If you kept me in crab legs and beverage, I would have tipped you at least $10
Having said that, I think you know waiting tables is a numbers game. You have o count it all out at the end and not worry about each table's tips or you will just get frustrated.
I used to wait table at various places for years.
One time, This guy came in and was on a first date and was trying to impress this girl so much and could barely afford dinner and a movie for this girl. He snuck back while the girl waited and he was so apologetic and he only had two dollars to give me and felt so bad. I smiled and told him to not worry about it and to have a great date.
He actually came back a week later when I wasn't there and left a note and a fiver in an envelope at the cashier for me.
What a guy!
: )
2007-09-13 03:43:36 · answer #1 · answered by tabulator32 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Not even 10%? That's pretty insulting. Some people are simply extremely thrifty and there's nothing you can do about it. It's my opinion that if I can't afford a decent tip in addition to the meal cost, I need to be sticking to my budget more tightly.
I was a waitress, too, so I feel your bafflement.
PS
Oops. I realize I forgot to answer your question.
Minimum $10, but probably $15. I know how messy crab legs can be.
However, I will say that people do make mistakes. I have left a $5 bill myself when I meant to leave $10. I often figured it out later when I checked my wallet to find the remaining bills. If the restaurant is in my town, I'll go back that evening or the next day to leave the additional tip specifically for the same person.
2007-09-13 03:45:26 · answer #2 · answered by Buttercup 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You should be happy you GOT tipped.
I tip 20% usually. Sooo, depending on the service, the tip would start at $11 and go up/down from there.
Did THEY walk back and forth to get the crab legs, or did you get them refills of their crab legs?
If they went and got them, I could understand why they only tipped 10% since all you were basically doing was refilling the drinks and clearing the plates. (I still would have tipped 20%)
2007-09-13 04:39:22 · answer #3 · answered by Terri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was a waiter I experienced the same kinds of things. I once served a dinner for 2 that was something like $60 - $70...The service was good but he only left me a dollar. The other waitresses told me he was just a cheapskate. Also, however I've received a $5 for serving an icecream sundae...so you get all kinds. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I was also a cook at the same restaurant and one night a guy and his wife came in and ordered prime rib - medium rare. So I put out 2 prime ribs, medium rare...he sent it back saying it was too done. If anything it was more on the rare side...so I gave him another one that was rare....he sent it back saying it was too done...He did this 6 times and my boss was getting on my butt about it but when he talked to the guy he leared that this customer was just a prick who wanted a free meal. After eating several bites out of 6 prime ribs he got his free meal and left....
That's why I'm glad to be out of the food service business. I liked it, but sometimes you have to put up with more than the job is worth...
Have a good day!
2007-09-13 03:50:30 · answer #4 · answered by ndn_ronhoward 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I would have tipped at least 10 if the service was anything above awful. I would have gone more like 15 for normal to good service, 20 if I were really pleased or trying to look like a nice guy to my date.
But maybe they just kind of "rounded up." If the bill were $51, you might have had $9.
However, it does seem like they were being cheap, especially if they got quite a few orders.
2007-09-13 03:46:32 · answer #5 · answered by Bucky 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some people are just cheap. You'll find these kind among your customers. I guess there's nothing you can do about it. I've heard of waitresses who then asked the people "Did I do something wrong? I was just wondering why such a low tip?" But that is wrong to do. A tip is just that, a tip. Not a salary. I agree you got way too little tip, but hold your head high and keep doing good work. I always tip 20%.
2007-09-13 04:17:26 · answer #6 · answered by red 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It differs from person to person. 10% of $55 is $5.50. 15% would've been $8.25. Personally, I like to leave anywhere from 15-20% if I get really good service. The people you served were probably just 10%ers. Don't take it personally. I remember when I used to work as a waitress and got cruddy tips when I'd worked my butt off to make sure people were taken care of. I once got a quarter from a group of 4 people. ONE quarter. As in 25 cents. I was sooooo mad!
2007-09-13 03:47:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
my tip is normally 15%,and add a little if the service is
extra good (and if the food is good). I would have tipped
between 8 and 10 bucks.('cause I know the food was
good and you were great -- even though I'm not that
crazy about crab legs.)
From the answers I see, I guess maybe I'm a little cheap too.
;0{
2007-09-13 03:46:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would have tipped about $10-$15, but there were times that we were on a fairly close budget and decided that we would go get some food from a decent restaurant, while we understood that waitresses make their wages that way, we've had to leave a smaller tip just because we couldn't afford to tip higher.
It may have just been that they haven't been able to afford dining in a long time but decided they deserved it maybe this one time but just couldnt afford to tip higher.
Or maybe they are just friendly yet cheap people XD
2007-09-13 03:45:30 · answer #9 · answered by alyssa p 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I would have tipped at least 20%. Normally I only tip above 15% for good service but since this was an all you can eat and you had to visit the table several times to clean up it warrants additional tip.
These people didn't even leaveyou 10%. They were just cheap.
2007-09-13 03:44:52 · answer #10 · answered by tamarack58 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋