Ah, Christ Almighty... A Tipping Thread

[Jurassic]

Not that I am a tight fisted git, I do tip if it is deserved, but why do people expect a tip everytime, after all said and done they are being paid to do a job, the onus is on them to earn a bonus and if they don`t like it get another job.

[Duchess]

I don't know how it is where you are but, servers here don't even make min. wage, not even half that...Not only that, they are taxed on what the IRS "thinks" they may get as a tip.

[The Antagonist]

Not that I am a tight fisted git, I do tip if it is deserved, but why do people expect a tip everytime, after all said and done they are being paid to do a job, the onus is on them to earn a bonus and if they don`t like it get another job.

Many service personnel here work for tips only. When I was working in salons many places I worked for tips and commission only.

The government adds 15% (maybe more now) to your gross pay on your W2 form to figure in tips for income taxes.

Most wait staff work for a minimum base salary of like $2.50 / hour and the rest is tips. Same tax percentage is taken by Sticky Fingered Uncle Sam.

Tips are not a bonus here and I'm pretty damn sure it's the same if not close to the same by you in the UK. That would definitely make youa skin flint.

[newbiecollector]

I am not sure about now but there were many popular places some years ago that you had to give HALF of your tips to the resturant/bar or business.

[Jurassic]

Things must have changed a bit over in the UK, they supposedly brought in a minimum wage which is somewhere about £5.75 an hour.

Admittedly though there are some who pay well under it and it usually the illegal immigrants who earn those sort of wages.

As for the tax side of life, I don`t have the answer on that one, but how can anybody be taxed on a guesstimate.

[ihatefucktards]

When I waitressed back in college We got 2.13 an hour plus tips. We HAD to claim 10% of what we made to cover the rest of the min. hourly wage.

I also did the bend down thing but that was because it was in a sports bar and you couldn't hear for shit.

Usually Do the double the tax thing too. Unless we have booze then I tip way more!

[The Antagonist]

Things must have changed a bit over in the UK, they supposedly brought in a minimum wage which is somewhere about £5.75 an hour.

Admittedly though there are some who pay well under it and it usually the illegal immigrants who earn those sort of wages.

As for the tax side of life, I don`t have the answer on that one, but how can anybody be taxed on a guesstimate.

We have minimum wages here too. Service related jobs do not have to pay minimum wage because of the tip factor.

They estimate at 15% because tips are cash and most times cash is not claimed. For years before that was implemented no one claimed the amount of tips that was even remotely a realistic figure and the tax man just couldn't believe there were that many people in the service industry making so damn little, so they implemented the estimated percentage for tips.

Plenty of tips are still hidden and not declared because they are taxed at a flat rate now.

Newbie.... no more is that allowed I think. Jesus, when are you remembering back to? The industrial revolution period or something? ::blink::

[Momster]

I don't know how it is where you are but, servers here don't even make min. wage, not even half that...Not only that, they are taxed on what the IRS "thinks" they may get as a tip.

Yeah, in TX you mae 2.13/hr

[SyberBitch]

I'm not sure what servers make her, but it's well under min wage. Some places, the servers pool the tips and split them at the end of the night. Some places, the owner still takes a percentage of the tips (here at least).

Our tax is 6%. I will usually leave $3-$4 on about a $20 check. If service is poor, I will leave $1 or less. If the service is REALLY poor, I will leave nothing and write in on the check WHY I left nothing.

[Middle Finger]

If the service is REALLY poor, I will leave nothing and write in on the check WHY I left nothing.

Nice move ...

[Momster]

If the service is REALLY poor, I will leave nothing and write in on the check WHY I left nothing.

Nice move ...

as long as you're paying cash, or the dumbshit now has your full name and credit card number... no bueno

[SyberBitch]

If the service is REALLY poor, I will leave nothing and write in on the check WHY I left nothing.

Nice move ...

That way the manager gets to 'read the note'

I can be an evil bitch.

[Liquid]

As some of you know, I have owned multiple restaurants/bars, managed, and worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. In general I have found the following to be true (again in my experience).

1) Standard tip for normal prompt service is at least 15%
2) Standard tip for better then average service is at least 20%
3)Most "industry professionals" (ex - people who work at another restaurant or bar) will tip 25% or more.

The customers forget that you do not have to leave a tip ever. It is a courtesy that has become the norm that we do leave a tip.

The servers (and bartenders) forget that a tip needs to be earned, BUT ALSO that they will not always get one. And if they do not get tipped, or get a crappy tip that this CAN NOT effect how they perform or serve the next person.

[SyberBitch]

As some of you know, I have owned multiple restaurants/bars, managed, and worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years.

I wasn't aware of that.

As an owner/manager... what would you think if you saw a table cheque with something written in like "No tip left - orders taken incorrectly, drinks never refilled, server poor attitude"?

[Liquid]

As some of you know, I have owned multiple restaurants/bars, managed, and worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years.

I wasn't aware of that.

As an owner/manager... what would you think if you saw a table cheque with something written in like "No tip left - orders taken incorrectly, drinks never refilled, server poor attitude"?

is the customer still in the facility or is this after they have left?

[SyberBitch]

As some of you know, I have owned multiple restaurants/bars, managed, and worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years.

I wasn't aware of that.

As an owner/manager... what would you think if you saw a table cheque with something written in like "No tip left - orders taken incorrectly, drinks never refilled, server poor attitude"?

is the customer still in the facility or is this after they have left?

I would imagine they would have left by the time you would see the comment.

[Liquid]

As some of you know, I have owned multiple restaurants/bars, managed, and worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years.

I wasn't aware of that.

As an owner/manager... what would you think if you saw a table cheque with something written in like "No tip left - orders taken incorrectly, drinks never refilled, server poor attitude"?

is the customer still in the facility or is this after they have left?

I would imagine they would have left by the time you would see the comment.

Well assuming I can not personally talk to the customer, which is always what I prefer to do - then it is time to speak with the server in question directly. I would ask them directly about the table, the entire meal ticket, and exactly how the cover went from start to finish. After listening to their story and assuming it mimicked the comments, I would have to make a determination on what a) additional training was needed with the server, b) if the server can do the job at all and needs to be removed from the schedule. It is always a case by case basis with complaints and every complaint needs to be dealt with a solution, which is almost always more training or staff changes.

[SyberBitch]

It is always a case by case basis with complaints and every complaint needs to be dealt with a solution, which is almost always more training or staff changes.

Good enough... I mean no way you could know if EVERY manager would follow up on such comments, but it's heartening to know that it would be reasonable to expect some would. In cases like that, I rarely make a fuss at the register and expect and discount or anything, because I think that's tacky and they will assume I'm making a fuss just to GET a discount, which isn't the point. The point is to improve the service of the establishment, if possible.

[Liquid]

if an establishment has management/owners who do not care about their customers feedback and comments, then they normally do not last very long....

[WhiskeyTaintgo]

I think that 10 bucks was sufficient. I would have been happy to recieve that.

I tip 15-20%