Interesting post re: tipping

Kate_C · April 2014

https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/04/everything-dont-know-tipping.html

I always worked in retail in high school and college, so never had a job where I received tips. For those who have worked in industries where tips are normal, I'm curious to know your take!

Kate_C · April 2014

I did not know servers have to cover ditchers. That seems sketchy.

I was happy to see that I fall into the average range on this chart. Phew.

superToots · April 2014

Add an ex server, that's an interesting read.. but I don't agree with always tipping regardless of quality of service. If you give crappy service expect a crappy tip. And if you rock then expect more than 20%. I tip is a bonus not a guarantee...you need to work for it!!

kara1204 · April 2014

I served for 9 years part time at a little smalltown bar and grill. Some people are sucky tippers no matter what you do for them. I almost always tip at least 20% now, but I'm also judgy if a server is really sucky and I give them a bad tip.

JSS1002 · April 2014

I pretty much always tip 20% at restaurants and at my salon, and for pizza dudes I just give 'em $5... I figure they need that money more than I do... I get awkward and confused at the asian nail places where I get manis and pedis, because usually they own the place, family biz, etc... but I Usually end up just tipping $5/ per service.

In MN the servers are paid minimum wage, so the concept of tipping kind of irks me -- but I do it anyway. I worked a ton of retail all through high school and college and after college, and certainly nobody was tipping me for working EXTREMELY hard helping customers, answering stupid questions, stocking shelves, looking through the back room for products, etc... In states where the servers only make like $3, I totally understand tipping in that situation.

Really I think the whole concept is weird. In England they don't tip - you just pay what you pay. I think it is a lot less confusing that way. After all, to mirror my example above, if I were a shitty server and didn't earn good tips, that's my own fault...but if I was a shitty retail employee, it doesn't affect my pay...I might ultimately get fired from either position, but at least I'm still bringing in the hourly wage.

love4b · April 2014

@JSS1002 - unfortunately England (London at least) is coming over to the dark side. My husband is there three times a year for three weeks for work and he complains about the recent addition of an automatic 12% tip to every food or drink bill. He's not against tipping per se, but the service hasn't improved over there and for the most part is pretty crappy. You can ask to have it removed from the check, but then you look like an ass, so it's a no win situation.

JSS1002 · April 2014

minxyglams said:

@JSS1002 - unfortunately England (London at least) is coming over to the dark side. My husband is there three times a year for three weeks for work and he complains about the recent addition of an automatic 12% tip to every food or drink bill. He's not against tipping per se, but the service hasn't improved over there and for the most part is pretty crappy. You can ask to have it removed from the check, but then you look like an ass, so it's a no win situation.

Did not know that! Boo! I haven't been there in a while!

pinottoparenthood · April 2014

I worked at a grocery store in high school, and sometimes I would get tips when I helped people out to their car with their groceries or loaded their groceries in the car when they pulled around. It was part of my job and a service that we offered everyone for free, but I appreciated the gesture. It was usually just a dollar or two.

I tip 20% at restaurants (15% for subpar service). I tip 15-20% at the nail salon and hair salon. That's pretty much it. I would give someone a couple bucks for helping me with my bags at a hotel or something, but that's what I have a husband for ;-)

love4b · April 2014

JSS1002 said:

minxyglams said:

@JSS1002 - unfortunately England (London at least) is coming over to the dark side. My husband is there three times a year for three weeks for work and he complains about the recent addition of an automatic 12% tip to every food or drink bill. He's not against tipping per se, but the service hasn't improved over there and for the most part is pretty crappy. You can ask to have it removed from the check, but then you look like an ass, so it's a no win situation.

Did not know that! Boo! I haven't been there in a while!

I know. It sucks! Drives him bonkers.

[Deleted User] · April 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

maxinelund · April 2014

I'm just an occasional lurker here, but I'm a server so I feel compelled to weigh in. That is one of the better articles I've read on the topic. I think something like this should be mandatory reading material. The service industry is a large part of our work force now, yet many people don't understand it.

An average tip is not a bonus when your paycheck ranges from $0 - $20 a week, like mine does. If I get a paycheck, that's a bonus! If the service is absolutely horrible, I can understand tipping less. I won't leave less than 20% ever. But, I know I'm more inclined to be forgiving in this case.

The problem is (and I'm not saying this is you, Supertoots) that people often cry bad service about things that are not the server's fault. If your food or drinks took too long, or weren't made right, most likely it was not your server's fault. Instead of tipping less, say something! Let me know if your steak isn't cooked right. I want you to be happy.

If your server didn't smile enough, remember that people have bad days. I've had to work shifts after a friend died, while sick, while injured, and in a ton of pain. Many of us don't have health insurance (until now, that is...Thanks Obama!) or sick days. So if we don't feel well, we have a choice: pay a lot of $ to get a doctor's note to get out of work, losing more money... or work your shift, on your feet, running around. And as knit faced said, this rarely includes a bathroom break.

One more thing. Being a good tipper pays off, especially if you are a regular. We remember you, and will often pay you back in free stuff.

*steps off soapbox*

arschm02 · April 2014

Prior to three months ago, our main household income (which was pretty good) was because of my husbands bartender tips. We would have had to be on state assistance for pretty much everything if customers would not tip. So yes, I agree with what many pp said. Tipping should be mandatory. Although, I also think if I have a piece of shit server who I can clearly see slacking and hardly does there job, I give an equally shitty tip. If I have someone who is doing a normal job: 20% and great job: >20%. Good tip karma, you know?

Also, in the "Ways to get more tips" section--- kneeling at or sitting at the table while taking the order? NOOOOO! I can't stand when servers do this. Get out of my bubble!

pinottoparenthood · April 2014

My biggest pet peeve is when I don't get my water refilled. I am a breastfeeding mom... I need to hydrate! But seriously, if my water glass is completely empty for more than 3-5 minutes, expect the tip to go down. I have eaten out and had ZERO water refills after drinking all of my water AND my husband's water. Unacceptable.

bumpuser5078523 · April 2014

We usually tip 20+%. If the service is crappy, they usually only get 10%. I don't think I have ever not tipped. But I have been close. We are very understanding, so if it's quality of food, we know it's not their fault.

Rudeness, not refilling glasses for quite a while and having to ask multiple times for simple items annoys me the most.

BellaBean76 · April 2014

I worked as a server and bartender for years. I always give at least 20%. If service is very good or if I frequent the place I give more. Delivery people I usually just give 10%.

danuli8 · April 2014

Good article. I always tip at least 20% unless the service is totally craptastic, and then I give 15% to the penny so they know I am pissed off. I have not worked as a waitress, but I did work at McDonald's in high school and it was the most uncomfortable, physically demanding job I have ever had.

Both my hair salon and my massage place have explicit no-tip policies. I hope this means they are paying their employees a proper wage. Truth be told, I'd rather pay higher prices and not have to tip.

Kate_C · April 2014

Important question: do I tip the lady at nordstroms doing my bra fitting??

cfattig · April 2014

Interesting article. I worked at 3 restaurants out of college (yep....8 years of restaurant work with a four year degree...go me): a counter place in a bar town, an Applebee's, and finally an expensive, sit down place for the last 5 years. I worked my way up and got better with experience, just as with any job. My "promotion" was getting hired at a better place where I made more money. I loved the service industry, and stayed in it so long because I enjoyed it and was good at it. Yeah, I got crappy tips...I even chased a couple really crappy tippers to the parking lot to return their crappy tip a couple times. Not one of my prouder moments. I do believe that if you can't afford to tip well for good service, do your own servicing.

Anyway, my point...I worked in the industry for a long time, and by the time I left, I was making more than I made my first four years of teaching. No benefits, and that was one of the reasons I finally left, so that was the one negative. I was good, and my income reflected that. And if I made as much as the newbie that just started and sucked, I definitely wouldn't have worked so hard, and I wouldn't have any drive to get better. So I do like the tip culture in that respect. It's very American to pay people to kiss your ass, but it's an ingrained part of our culture.

On the customer side, I married a cheap tipper, so eating out for us is a struggle. He's getting better, though. I tip 15% for bad service, 20% for good service, and more for really awesome service.

JSS1002 · April 2014

Kate_C said:

Important question: do I tip the lady at nordstroms doing my bra fitting??

No and that was sort of my point - why do some people get tips and others don't, in the state of MN where servers have to be paid minimum wage??? I get it if they only make 2 bucks an hour or whatever, but that isn't the case here.

That said I always tip just because it is the thing to do, but how come nobody tipped me for doing my job when I was AM'ing Restoration Hardware? Those were some picky bitches I had as a clientele!

elbou · April 2014

Growing up, I was taught that 10% was a decent tip. When I moved to the city for college, I was shocked to discover that that 10% was considered a horrible tip. I've always been curious when a 20% tip became the norm. Does anyone know?

pinottoparenthood · April 2014

JSS1002 said:

Kate_C said:

Important question: do I tip the lady at nordstroms doing my bra fitting??

No and that was sort of my point - why do some people get tips and others don't, in the state of MN where servers have to be paid minimum wage??? I get it if they only make 2 bucks an hour or whatever, but that isn't the case here.

That said I always tip just because it is the thing to do, but how come nobody tipped me for doing my job when I was AM'ing Restoration Hardware? Those were some picky bitches I had as a clientele!

Jeez... I should be getting tips from my students' parents!!!!! ;-)

arschm02 · April 2014

JSS1002 said:

Kate_C said:

Important question: do I tip the lady at nordstroms doing my bra fitting??

No and that was sort of my point - why do some people get tips and others don't, in the state of MN where servers have to be paid minimum wage??? I get it if they only make 2 bucks an hour or whatever, but that isn't the case here.

That said I always tip just because it is the thing to do, but how come nobody tipped me for doing my job when I was AM'ing Restoration Hardware? Those were some picky bitches I had as a clientele!

yes, but then you get taxed on any credit card tips. My H was payed minimum wage, 80 hour pay period, and with the taxed tips he never got a paycheck over $250. Tips were necessary for us to live...which is why we also tip in cash when we can.

JSS1002 · April 2014

arschm02 said:

JSS1002 said:

Kate_C said:

Important question: do I tip the lady at nordstroms doing my bra fitting??

No and that was sort of my point - why do some people get tips and others don't, in the state of MN where servers have to be paid minimum wage??? I get it if they only make 2 bucks an hour or whatever, but that isn't the case here.

That said I always tip just because it is the thing to do, but how come nobody tipped me for doing my job when I was AM'ing Restoration Hardware? Those were some picky bitches I had as a clientele!

yes, but then you get taxed on any credit card tips. My H was payed minimum wage, 80 hour pay period, and with the taxed tips he never got a paycheck over $250. Tips were necessary for us to live...which is why we also tip in cash when we can.

Well I get taxed on every penny I make now and every penny I made when I was working at RH -- and I bet that after you took tips into account, I made quite a bit less per hour than bartenders / servers when I was an assistant mgr at RH. I'm not questioning whether servers should be tipped, I just don't understand why, in a state where servers must be paid minimum wage, some people get tipped and others don't. Makes very little sense to me. I still DO it, I just don't GET it.

maxinelund · April 2014

Let me know how that part works out for you in the long run.

As for the rest, sure, I always tip 20% unless something was absolutely awful. But, a lot of other people work awful jobs, too, so I am not sitting around feeling sorry for "service providers". Maybe that is my UO for the week.

I'm actually fortunate enough to be on my husband's insurance now. And I definitely didn't mean to make anyone feel sorry for me. My job has its perks too.

I have also worked in fast food, retail, and pizza delivery. I certainly know there are other shitty jobs... and I feel those people should make more money. The difference is that my income is based solely on tips as a server. And because we tip a food runner, busser, and/or bartender based on sales, if you don't tip it actually costs us money.

When I worked those other jobs, I made more than minimum wage. Target even gave us paid vacation time! And nobody took away my paycheck when I made a mistake.

I totally get that's the name of the game, though. The good tippers make up for the bad for the most part. And I really do enjoy my job. I just wanted to share my perspective because many people have no idea how the industry works.

cfattig · April 2014

cind3r311a said:

Let me know how that part works out for you in the long run.

As for the rest, sure, I always tip 20% unless something was absolutely awful. But, a lot of other people work awful jobs, too, so I am not sitting around feeling sorry for "service providers". Maybe that is my UO for the week.

I'm actually fortunate enough to be on my husband's insurance now. And I definitely didn't mean to make anyone feel sorry for me. My job has its perks too. I have also worked in fast food, retail, and pizza delivery. I certainly know there are other shitty jobs... and I feel those people should make more money. The difference is that my income is based solely on tips as a server. And because we tip a food runner, busser, and/or bartender based on sales, if you don't tip it actually costs us money. When I worked those other jobs, I made more than minimum wage. Target even gave us paid vacation time! And nobody took away my paycheck when I made a mistake. I totally get that's the name of the game, though. The good tippers make up for the bad for the most part. And I really do enjoy my job. I just wanted to share my perspective because many people have no idea how the industry works.

One thing I really liked about my serving job was it kept me in shape...I worked at a restaurant where there were three small flights of stairs down to the tables from the kitchen....between that and being on my feet a whole shift, I was exhausted at the end of a busy night, but in the best shape. I don't think I could possibly work that job now at my age and chasing a kid. Kudos to you for doing that while also being on your feet at home as a mom...I guess that's one way to get back in shape after having a baby!

maxinelund · April 2014

cfattig said:
cind3r311a said:

Let me know how that part works out for you in the long run.

As for the rest, sure, I always tip 20% unless something was absolutely awful. But, a lot of other people work awful jobs, too, so I am not sitting around feeling sorry for "service providers". Maybe that is my UO for the week.

I'm actually fortunate enough to be on my husband's insurance now. And I definitely didn't mean to make anyone feel sorry for me. My job has its perks too.

I have also worked in fast food, retail, and pizza delivery. I certainly know there are other shitty jobs... and I feel those people should make more money. The difference is that my income is based solely on tips as a server. And because we tip a food runner, busser, and/or bartender based on sales, if you don't tip it actually costs us money.

When I worked those other jobs, I made more than minimum wage. Target even gave us paid vacation time! And nobody took away my paycheck when I made a mistake.

I totally get that's the name of the game, though. The good tippers make up for the bad for the most part. And I really do enjoy my job. I just wanted to share my perspective because many people have no idea how the industry works.

One thing I really liked about my serving job was it kept me in shape...I worked at a restaurant where there were three small flights of stairs down to the tables from the kitchen....between that and being on my feet a whole shift, I was exhausted at the end of a busy night, but in the best shape. I don't think I could possibly work that job now at my age and chasing a kid. Kudos to you for doing that while also being on your feet at home as a mom...I guess that's one way to get back in shape after having a baby!

It really is a good workout. Unfortunately(?) the food is equally good... haha!

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