Okay, so I'm sure I'm gonna ruffle some feathers with this post, but I'm here to educate the masses. So please understand that the statements made in the proceeding blog are based on my own personal experience. Some servers may contradict my opinions, but I highly doubt it. But the bottom line is that some people just don't know how to tip. So, read the following with caution as I address some stereotypes, situations, and scenarios and see if any apply to you. And if they do, then get your act together. And if you don't like what I have to say, then do something to change the stereotype by educating your friends, family and foes.
Let me start by saying that I understand that tipping is never a guarantee, HOWEVER, when you receive good service tipping should start at a minimum of 15%. If you are too cheap to include this as part of dining out, do all of us in the industry that rely on tips as a part of our income a huge favor and go eat fast food...or stay home...we don't care which you choose.
#1- Canadians.
Now, I have encountered a few exceptions to this rule. But for the most part, you know you are doomed from the first "ay". In Canada, servers make a higher hourly wage, and I have been told that they just get tipped less because its considered a bonus. But here in the US, servers make less then minimum wage, so pony up. The bottom line is that you're here because its cheaper ...on your weekend shopping trips or three months in Florida. Prices of food in most restaurants are cheaper as well. Say it with me you silly Canucks. 15%! And the kicker, Canadians are sooooo flipping nice. Easiest tables in the world. Polite, easy going, but cheap. And I can't pay my bills with your niceness.
#2- The Verbal Tippers
"Sinful, we come here all the time and this is the best service we've ever received." FML. That is the kiss of death. Sure enough, 10%. $10 on $100. Are you kidding me? Don't fool yourselves, servers talk. You always receive crappy service? That's probably because your server has been informed by the last server you 10 percented that you are a cheap ass. I can't call up Sprint and tell them that they are "the best phone company ever" and only pay half my bill. (Nor would I because Sprint sucks!) Simply said, put your money where you're mouth is. If you receive excellent service, then tip 20%. Servers also tell other servers when they get the hook up. If you become known as a phat tipper in your favorite bar or restaurant, you'll be surprised by the consistent, amazing service you receive.
#3- Gift Cards/discounts
Look here you cheap ass, you tip on the original total. I can't tell you how many times I have processed a $50 gift card on a $75 check, processed the remaining $25 on a credit card and received a tip around $5. Let me break it down for you. Most servers tip out to bartenders, bussers, and host. That tip out is calculated on the original total. So if you tip based on the final price after your gift card and coupon, you aren't using in lube as you rape your server
It goes like this. Lets take a standard corporate restaurant. Here's the math.
$75 check
-$50 gift card.
=$25 on your credit card.
You tip %20 on your credit card total or
$5.
The server is required to tip out %3 back to the support staff or
$ 2.25
So, of the tip you left, your server pockets $2.75 on a$75 check. Do you see the problem here?
The same thing goes when a manager is kind enough to comp a dinner that you didn't enjoy or the kitchen stay cooked wrong. Your server didn't overcook your steak or serve you cold green beans. The kitchen staff failed to do their job properly. Don't punish your server because they didn't stick their fingers in your mashed potatoes to make sure they were scalding hot before they reached your table.
#4 Campers
When you walked into the restaurant, did it say KOA on the door? Probably not. Tables are like real estate. If you stay longer than a typical table turn, you are costing your server money. Most restaurants aim around an hour to get you in and out. But, if you want to sit and share family vacation photos or catch up with a girl's night out for longer than that, then don't be a squatter.
Most servers are in sections. That means when you sit there nursing your water for 55 minutes waxing poetic about little Jimmy's ability to drool on himself and still look cute, your sever can't just pick up another table somewhere else. Tip your server for their time and loss of income. If you owned rental property, you wouldn't just let your tenants not pay their rent for two months. Servers, don't have the luxury of evicting their squatters. And for flip sake, if the restaurant is on a wait, get the hell out of dodge. Or don't complain about the next time you have to wait longer than quoted.
#5- Ghetto Fabulous
DISCLAIMER: I am not a racist! I am observant. These are generalizations based on my personal experience with the majority of African-American customers over my twenty years in the industry.
I understand that some demographics don't grow up with fine dining experiences or the knowledge of proper tipping procedures. Heck, I had a friend of mine, a lovely self-described trailer trash white girl from rural Virginia that didn't eat in a restaurant until she was in college. And when I finally explained to her that she needed to tip her server, she was mortified that had didn't know.
I have had some African-American diners that have been pleasant and tip extremely well. However, the majority of the minority doesn't get it. And I'm not talking 10%. Just last week, I had three ladies leave me $3 on $100. And these tables aren't usually easy: demanding, rude, and generally ordering the most expensive thing on the menu with a billizion modifications. I work with several African-American servers that say that it's even worse on them because they are expected to give them the hook-up. And when they don't, they generally get stiffed.
My point is simply this. If you know someone who is ghetto fabulous or if you yourself are ghetto fabulous, please tip your server for their service. I'm not expecting you to come in acting like Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It's cool. I love your swagger, but if you insist on acting like you're part of 50-Cents posse, please tip like you have some class and integrity. That's all I'm saying.
I'm sure I'm going to get some slack for this, but after what I did in dry storage last night...I'm pretty sure this is the least of my worries. Be good people and remember the next time you go out to dine, be kind. The staff will love you for it!
No comments:
Post a Comment