Why don't Americans just pay their waiters properly ($15 - $40 per hour) an just get rid of this tip nonanse?

Are you serious? How about you give me your money if you like throwing it away so much?

A good friend of mine was a bartender years ago and he's the same way, he thinks it's a good idea to leave huge tips.
He's also out of work, broke, borrowing money from his in-laws to pay his bills, and has $30k in credit card debt.
I don't leave huge tips and I am financially comfortable. Correllation?

I will tip 15% IF and only if the service is very good.
Average service? 10%
Poor service? a penny.

I pay for the meal and that price is set and does not include a tip. The service is seperate and what dictates if a tip if it is warranted.
I never could understand that whole treat a tip as charity thing.
If someone doesn't make very much money on their job they should have paid more attention in school, it's not up to me to give them a handout.
A tip is not automatic, it is not maditory, it is not assumed and it is not an entitlement. It must be earned.

I stop in a donut shop every morning on the way to work to buy a cup of coffee.
I walk up to the counter, give him $1.25 and he pours a large coffee for me. And he has a big tip jar on the counter. No freaking way.
He actually expects a tip for pouring some coffee into a styrofoam cup? I don't think so.

Back when I was your age ...........

$40 an hour for a waiter? not hardly.

She'd better be HOT and give you a little sumthin' extra in the VIP room...err...wait. I'm thinking of strippers.

Nevermind.

when a buddy spots my lunch I drop the tip...always. if service is crap I give a standard tip. good service I tip generously because I can afford a couple extra bucks. jeez Sammy you sure can be cranky .

Back when my dad was alive (he died in 1992), when he, my mother & I would go out to eat when either I visited or they did, I would estimate the amount of the bill if he said he was going to pay. Then I would put the approximate cash amount for an appropriate tip in my pocket. When we left, I would put it on the table. The reason was he only tipped 25 cents - ever.

service folks remember..
so drink up..
by all means eat ...

Rika

Why shouldn't ampeodwssional waiter who songs yes of thousands if dollars putting themselves through service school in Switzerland not be properly remunerated?

Dayum I hate that!!!!

Love going out with my drinking buddy... at the end of the evening we throw our CC's on the table and split it 50/50.

I always tip 20% unless service is bad I'll cut it to 10%... if service is REALLY bad... I can sense it before I get served and walk out.

And what exactly are you going to give him in exchange Sam ? ;)

Snipe's no dummy. If he's buying for a date, she will see he is generous, and this is a big plus for women. If the waiterss is a woman, SHE will remember him. And if he eats there often, he will get extra service on all levels.

I don't think it is costing him as much as it probably pays...

Another tipping thread. I have carded the tab many times on business trips where I was dining with local Pelicans. I always tip and, when doing my expense report, divide the receipt amount by the number of attendees, back out the alcohol from my share and that's the number I submit. Plenty of times I've handed in a receipt for $180 and only asked for $25 in reimbursement. I think this honesty keeps the boss and accounting folks off my back when I have more questionable charges or lose receipts.

You gotta really suck to get less than 20% from me, but I tip on the pre-sales tax amount only.

this is the really f'ed up part. people wanted some of their money back instead of saying they'll kick in a few more?:eek::confused:

I've been in the situation where someone didn't do the math correctly. I just put a $10 bill on the table and said she was cute and the service was pretty good. no one likes to be embarrassed, no one likes sucky tips. give a little now, get a little later.

Sounds like the guy is insecure. Don't waste your energy/time worrying about it.

20% minimum is my rule unless the service is horrific. If I'm in a group and someone shorts the server I will add money to the tip to cover it. Thankfully that rarely happens these days. I guess I have good friends that give a crap about people who actually work for a living (ie the ones slinging the food). Interestingly enough, many of them are artists who don't make a lot of money. But they never seem shy about tipping at a restaurant. That is in marked contrast to some exec/business types I've eaten out with who are flat-ass cheapskates.

Exactly. These people are working hard and need the money. If someone is friendly and provides good service, I'll tip generously.

Light tippers offend me. Particularly when they make good money themselves. Can't stand cheap pricks.

Same here. If someone says anything I just say "cannot see a waiter/waitress get stiffed on a tip" and let it go with that.

Having worked my way through school in all faucets of food and booze service (except the actually cooking), I can only say your sentiment is spot on.

How a person tips is an unerring bellwether of doochnozzleness or lack of.

this thread is crying out for this video


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I've never met a waiter around here that spent anytime going to school to learn to wait tables....


And $40/hr ?! thats Pharmacist level pay here....

I know a waiter in an upscale restaurant that makes $100K+. I know of a certain bartender who is very professional averaging $75K+ per year.