Do People Really Not Tip Waiters/ Waitresses?

[Mitchell]

I'm sure the forum members who are waiters and waitresses can answer this better than I can. My question is: Do you have times where people dont tip you, and if so, is it often?

I go to many buffets. Usually, the price is under $10 for lunch, but I always tip the waiter or waitress at least $1 for each person I'm with. Even though the waiters and waitresses dont serve the food at the buffets, they bring drinks, clear tables, etc. I couldnt see not tipping them. At sit down resturants, as I've posted before, I usually tip more than 15%

While I havent been a waiter professionally, I do know the challenges of being a waiter. In my last summer at summer camp, the older kids had jobs somewhere on campus. I used to serve three meals a day, seven days a week, , in two shifts, to different sections of the campus, and could never eat my meals until the campers were served, and everything was cleaned up. I was much thinner and weaker back then, so it was difficult. My only days off that whole summer, were when I was in the infirmary for a week, with a virus. Besides that, my summer was very few camp activities, all work. I enjoyed being a waiter. I hope this is okay to post, but.. my first kiss was with a 17 year old waitress, when I was 14, behind the dining hall, lol. It happened with a girl who my friend Adam still knows, and sees at temple. It didnt go any further than that.

Anyhow, sorry to digress. The point of the threed is this: For waiters and waitresses, do people usually tip you? I hope so. I think not tipping is cruel, as I know how difficult such work is.

Mitch

 

[ticklemepls]

Im guilty of not tipping at buffets... I honestly don't think about it mainly because the buffet we used to go to in Maine you had to even get your own drinks... so we didnt tip at all... (i know i know dont yell at me!)

In a restaurant I've left a single penny as a tip before- just so they knew we didnt 'forget' and that we were indeed VERY unhappy with her. She was rude, took the order wrong, refused to help fix it, abrupt and inconsiderate... that was the one and only time... typically I do 15%, if the service was 'eh' then I drop it to around 10%... if it's HORRIBLE- I will ask for management and they better fix it 🙂

 

[Mitchell]

Pls, i'm not going to yell at you, lol. As I said before, you're not the only one who is "guilty" of not tipping at a buffet. Others do it in Lancaster too.

I think a single penny is funny, lol. I understand about talking to management about a rude waiter, etc.

My maternal grandfather told me that waiters, etc, depend on tips to supplement their income. I know that. He was a good tipper. I occasionally saw him tip less if he had a rude waiter, etc, but I dont recall him not leaving anything.

My friend Barney (A CPA) is very bad about service in a resturant. I dont see him often, because he lives in NY, but when I used to go out with him when I lived there, if we had a slow waiter, he would say "No tip", and I'd end up either having to give them half of what they were really entitled to, from my half of the check, or, if I felt he was being harsh, covering the tip myself.

I will be very interested to see the replies to this topic.

Mitch

 

[LD_Tickler]

I tip pretty well, closer to 20% than the 15% that's the norm here. But yeah, buffets, I'll tip low to nothing.

 

[maniactickler]

I usually tip in the 20% to 25% range

 

[Mitchell]

LD, and maniac, it sounds like you guys are pretty good tippers.

I try to be "middle of the road" They say that 15% is the "average tip" at a decent resturant, and 20% for either excellent service, or at a fine place. I'll usually split the difference at a sit down place that's "decent", and tip about 18%, with the only time 20% either at a very expensive place. (Rare for me) or for exceptional service. (There's one Asian waiter at the Red Lobster I go to here, who is awesome, in both personality, and service, so I give him 20% usually, and sometimes even a little more).

Mitch

 

[General Zod]

I always tip at the truck stops. Generally 20-25%. I know the wait staff earns their money,by putting up with us truckers.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

I tip based on how well they do their job and if I leave with a great experience I'll tip huge. I used to be a waiter so I certainly respect the hardship of dealing with the masses and everything that goes on behind closed doors in the kitchen as well as the dull and boring staff meetings whenever there's a menu change. But if I have a waiter who just expects a tip and seems to do nothing I'll look around first to see how many tables they're working. If they're super slammed I'll totally understand. If the place is damn near empty and they're just texting forget it.

I remember one waitress who was working an entire section by herself, something like seven tables all at once during lunch. My food was late and she was super apologetic but just from watching her work her ass off around me I didn't mind at all. She had one table next to me with like a party of six that gave her shit and I could tell by the look on her face after they left that they didn't leave her a tip. I'd ordered lunch for two people but I left her with a $30something tip to make up for whatever the other table didn't leave her.

To answer your question though, when I was a waiter I got tipped and usually got tipped well. 🙂

 

[Mitchell]

LOL Zod. You're a good guy, and I';ve known plenty of truckers who are good guys.

Marquis, it sounds like you have a good philsophy about tipping. I have to laugh when you say, "Experience". I have a friend who loves to use that word.

Mitch

 

[goddess_nemesis]

Unless the waiter/waitress was rude to me or to anyone I'm with, I always tip 20%. I use an app on my phone to calculate the amount to tip, rounding up to the nearest dollar. I also always tip 20% to bartenders. Though I've never worked as waitress or a bartender, I know in most places they aren't paid minimum wage because they make tips. By tipping them well, I'm saying "I appreciate your hard work."

 

[GEORGIATKLER]

Years go I worked part time at a medium priced national chain restaurant doing kitchen prep. The waitresses did not make all that much due to the modest prices on the menu. I felt so sorry when the waitresses would be in tears over getting stiffed on a tip. I think this mainly happened when the place was slammed and it was really out of their control. They did their best and were blamed for it being Sunday lunch rush. I try to tip 15-20% and will tip even if bad service is given. If you cannot afford to tip, then drive-thru for you!

 

[Speedbump]

Man, fuck tipping people for doing their job. A lot of them don't deserve their base wage, let alone anything extra.

 

[kered]

I tip unless the person is really awful or the place catches on fire.

 

[Mitchell]

nemesis,. it sounds like you are a good tipper. I dont go to bars, because I dont drink alcohol, due to my BP meds, as I've posted before, but I'm sure if I did go to bars, I'd be a good tipper.

Georgia, thats terrible about the waitresses at the place you worked at getting stiffed for tips.

kered, I understand what you're saying, and I agree.

Mitch

 

[ZenTickling]

LOL I watched Reservoir Dogs for the first time last night and there was a long discussion in the beginning of the movie about whether or not you should tip.

 

[Jagermeistered]

I tip using gratuity as the center, and judge with service. These positions are low paying jobs, but if you love your job, company, establishment: prove it! Even if your a liar!

Living in Vegas(which is a service industrial town), most are great! And, others should mop the floor; keep there mouths shut, and not serve consumers!