I waited tables for a little European cafe for a few months, a couple years ago. I was a pretty good tipper before then, but a *very* good tipper after then - especially if you're very friendly or just generally a good server. Having been there, understanding what it's like to wait on people...if you haven't done it, I can't explain it to you. But I can tell you that you have to tip. You just have to. I understood this before waiting tables, and after doing it, I get livid about it.
Unless you live under a rock, you know that servers don't generally get paid a living wage - they get paid $2.13 pre tax. This is what I got paid. This is federal minimum wage for servers, and although a lot of states have laws requiring a minimum wage above $2.13, Alabama doesn't.
It's also generally accepted that 15% should be a bare minimum for restaurant service that is decently good - 18% is more the norm now, but 15% is okay for fair service. (Somehow, a good amount of people I've talked to about this issue flatly refuse to believe that fact. It's like saying you just simply won't accept that it's hot outside. It's hot. It's a fact. We all know it. If you don't believe it's hot outside, you don't get out much or you're from the Sahara.)
So your 5-10% tips, or your $2 tips regardless of the tab's total, don't cut it. If I was actually tipped the bare minimum for the number of tables I had while serving that would stay for hours, require hand-and-foot service, and spend $150-$200 on lunch, make huge messes with kids...that's all fine and well, if you are minimally friendly and leave a fair tip. But all that, plus treating me like an imbecile and then leaving less than $5? No. That's just poor humanity.
I love the blog Waiter Rant, and he recently came out with a book of his stories. He's hysterical...but besides the funny stories, I think you should go read his "Four Letter Word" blog post about tipping. If you "get" tipping, you'll appreciate it...and if you don't, you need to read it with an open mind. And with his closing lines - "Tips is a powerful four letter word that can stir up the strangest passions in the most unlikely places. And don’t forget folks, tips spelled backwards is spit!"
(Okay, I never did anything disgusting or illegal to people's food, but let's be honest...most people won't take your attitude and they will, without a second thought.)
Are you supposed to tip at Sonic? I'm so weird that I won't go there b/c I don't know if I'm supposed to or not.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you have to tip at the same rate at Sonic. From what I know they don't get paid server wage, but they don't get paid much over minimum wage if at all, so usually I at least leave my change or an extra couple bucks to be nice, but I wouldn't say you absolutely have to! Maybe it sounds harsh of me, but they're not the same as restaurant servers like in sit-down restaurants.
ReplyDelete"Tips spelled backwards is spit" - I wouldn't do anything like that either, but I like the phrase. I served for a while in a nice Italian place called Givanni's...
ReplyDeleteOne day:
"And what can I get for you, sir?"
"I will tip you generously if you could just put these in the microwave for me and bring them out on a plate." He produces some dieting food packages from inside his coat. One of those eating plans where absolutely everything you eat is from the diet plan, so you know exactly what your calorie intake is. Almost in shock, I took the packages with a smile and tried to make it seem like I got requests like this all the time. Givanni's was not a place you brought microwaved food into, but I thought to myself that a generous tip as he promised would undoubtedly be more than he would normally give had he ordered a dish of the menu.
So, steaming hot, on a Givanni's plate, topped with a nice little garnish of parsley I got from the bewildered cooks, I set down his microwaved food.
"Ahh, you know it's a good restaurant when they can add a little garnish!" He said happily. I smiled. I like to make people happy.
Three dollars.