Tipping at Restaurants

[knights68]

Recently I was at some restaurant & I overheard some of the employees complaining about people not tipping on take out orders. I always given tips when I eat my meal at the restaurant. & when food is delivered to my house. I have never given a tip on take out orders. Does anyone here tip on take out orders? Is it considered rude not to or were the employees just be whiny and greedy?

[snowdenscold]

I don't tip if I go into the restaurant for take out orders. If I'm parked at Outback and the guy runs out to my car with my food and runs back in to swipe my credit card (which I think is just silly - sometimes I have just walked in there myself) then I'll add a dollar or so tip.

[knights68]

Wow, a buck? I don't even do that, although this one place I go to (THE best hot wings!) they get the change from a dollar from me when I go pick up an order.

[Brian12215]

Take out guys only make $2.13-3.40 an hour just like the servers. If you don't tip those guys, they don't make very much money. Also they do a lot more work preparing your food than you might imagine. If you were dining in, the cooks set up your plate. However for to-go, it is the take out guy's job to do it. I think you guys should tip for to-go orders if they do a good job with your meal. If not then don't. I will say that just giving them the change left over from a dollar is like a slap in the face to a server/take-out guy. Sorry for my soapbox, I work in restaraunt management.

[YmoBeThere]

No extra effort other than standing there handing me my food garners $0.00 from me. Agreed, if they do something, well I'll tip. Its sorta like tipping the guy at the Vegas Casino who opens the taxi door for you. I mean I give a tip, but most of the work is being done by the taxi driver...who if he takes me the shortest route or provides interesting conversation gets a significant tip.

[YmoBeThere]

Take out guys only make $2.13-3.40 an hour just like the servers. If you don't tip those guys, they don't make very much money. Also they do a lot more work preparing your food than you might imagine. If you were dining in, the cooks set up your plate. However for to-go, it is the take out guy's job to do it. I think you guys should tip for to-go orders if they do a good job with your meal. If not then don't. I will say that just giving them the change left over from a dollar is like a slap in the face to a server/take-out guy. Sorry for my soapbox, I work in restaraunt management.
Puts a different spin on it, thanks for the info. I will be more generous in the future.

[Brian12215]

Let me clarify that I am talking about the take out guys at restaraunts like Outback, Applebees, Ruby T's, etc. I don't know much about TO guys at a chinese or pizza place.

[tombrady]

Wow, a buck? I don't even do that, although this one place I go to (THE best hot wings!) they get the change from a dollar from me when I go pick up an order.

It is rude to not tip at Outback take-out style places. If you go in and pick it up, I usually tip a buck. If they bring it out, I'll usually tip 15%, no less than 2 or 3 bucks. These people are running back and forth between the kitchen, putting together orders, taking phone calls, going in and outside in the elements (hot in the summer, cold in the winter, rain, etc). Also doing random tasks assigned to them to help out the rest of the restaurant run. Its not easy.

[Channing]

what are the thoughts on tipping at a place like Chipotle where you just go down the assembly line. I am never sure if it is proper to tip in that case or not. Perhaps I am incorrect, but I always viewed a tip as compensation in thanks for good service and a pleasant attitude. At a place like Chipotle they don't bring me my food, they don't refill my drink, and they clear away the table after me. I always figured the price of my meal would cover the bare bones minimum.

When the people at Chipotle barely acknowledge me, and just put together the food as I give an order I dont think that deserves a tip. If however the person behind the glass is kind and friendly, I will give a dollar or two. I just sometimes feel awkward when I see the tip line on a credit card receipt and dont feel like they have earned it.

[snowdenscold]

It is rude to not tip at Outback take-out style places. If you go in and pick it up, I usually tip a buck. If they bring it out, I'll usually tip 15%, no less than 2 or 3 bucks. These people are running back and forth between the kitchen, putting together orders, taking phone calls, going in and outside in the elements (hot in the summer, cold in the winter, rain, etc). Also doing random tasks assigned to them to help out the rest of the restaurant run. Its not easy.
Hmmm, you all make good points. I would still prefer to just walk in myself at the side door though... or is that like restaurant taboo?

[Clipsfan]

Do you all tip at fast food drive-thrus as well? I don't tip at take-out as they're just taking my money and giving me a bag generally. They do the same thing at a fast food drive-thru, and those guys also make minimum wage. What's the difference between the guy at the fast food window who bags the food and takes your money and the guy at a take-out window who does the same?

[tombrady]

Hmmm, you all make good points. I would still prefer to just walk in myself at the side door though... or is that like restaurant taboo?

You can order food at the bar, and it usually comes out pretty quick. If you really want to save the 3 bucks, go to the Outback (which you were going to do anyway), order at the bar and sit there for 10 minutes and watch TV. The bartender will hand you your food (no waitress, etc) and you can be on your way.

[tombrady]

Do you all tip at fast food drive-thrus as well? I don't tip at take-out as they're just taking my money and giving me a bag generally. They do the same thing at a fast food drive-thru, and those guys also make minimum wage. What's the difference between the guy at the fast food window who bags the food and takes your money and the guy at a take-out window who does the same?

Throwing a prepackaged burger and fries into a bag is different than gathering together a meal with several elements like at a nicer restaurant (outback), putting the items into seperate boxes, gathering all the condiments, running back and forth between the kitchen, watching for cars, going outside, etc etc. You also have to keep like 7 meals at a time straight, whereas baggers at fast food just do one at a time in the order the cars are at the window.

[Channing]

I'll be honest, I have never heard of places like Outback, Chilis et al. bringing food out to the car. I always just assumed I was supposed to park in the special take out parking spot, walk in the side door, and tell them I had arrived. Am i supposed to call when I get there and tell them I am outside?

[snowdenscold]

You can order food at the bar, and it usually comes out pretty quick. If you really want to save the 3 bucks, go to the Outback (which you were going to do anyway), order at the bar and sit there for 10 minutes and watch TV. The bartender will hand you your food (no waitress, etc) and you can be on your way.

I tip the full amount to the bartender (granted I sit there and eat it) that I would the waiter/ress for the food.

And I think clipsfan does have a decent point though - I am not convinced of the vast differences by your statement above.

[Clipsfan]

You can order food at the bar, and it usually comes out pretty quick. If you really want to save the 3 bucks, go to the Outback (which you were going to do anyway), order at the bar and sit there for 10 minutes and watch TV. The bartender will hand you your food (no waitress, etc) and you can be on your way.

How is the bartender doing anything different than the people at the cashier at a restaurant who gives me the takeout? Maybe things are done differently out here, but I only know one place that they bring the takeout to the car (and that's because the parking is impossible there). Wouldn't you tip the bartender by your reasoning?

[Channing]

How is the bartender doing anything different than the people at the cashier at a restaurant who gives me the takeout? Maybe things are done differently out here, but I only know one place that they bring the takeout to the car (and that's because the parking is impossible there). Wouldn't you tip the bartender by your reasoning?

the bartender is the functional equivalent of a waiter aren't they? I just tip them what I would tip a waitress.

[Clipsfan]

the bartender is the functional equivalent of a waiter aren't they? I just tip them what I would tip a waitress.

Oh, if you're eating at the bar that's definitely the case. I think that the poster I was responding to (Tombrady?) was saying that you can get takeout from the bartender and as a result not tip.

[tombrady]

I'll be honest, I have never heard of places like Outback, Chilis et al. bringing food out to the car. I always just assumed I was supposed to park in the special take out parking spot, walk in the side door, and tell them I had arrived. Am i supposed to call when I get there and tell them I am outside?

If its legit, they'll see you arrive and come out with your food.

[tombrady]

Oh, if you're eating at the bar that's definitely the case. I think that the poster I was responding to (Tombrady?) was saying that you can get takeout from the bartender and as a result not tip.

i'd tip a buck.

[tecumseh]

I never know what to tip if you are eating at a buffet where the server does about half the work of a regular waiter/waitress? 10%? Any thoughts.
I sometimes would tip very high percentage wise if a place offered kids meals and I was out to eat with 4 kids as the total dollar amount would be quite low if you gave the standard 15-20%

[JStuart]

Take out guys only make $2.13-3.40 an hour just like the servers. If you don't tip those guys, they don't make very much money. Also they do a lot more work preparing your food than you might imagine. If you were dining in, the cooks set up your plate. However for to-go, it is the take out guy's job to do it. I think you guys should tip for to-go orders if they do a good job with your meal. If not then don't. I will say that just giving them the change left over from a dollar is like a slap in the face to a server/take-out guy. Sorry for my soapbox, I work in restaraunt management.

So, why don't you pay this type of worker more, rather than expect us to subsidize your low pay scale? I'm paying a fair amount for the product anyway, it's not like I'm getting a discount for take-out, right? There's got to be a better argument for me to want to pay more for takeout.
JStuart

[throatybeard]

Always, always tip a bare-as$ minimum of 15%. But 20% is better. If you can afford to eat out, you can afford to tip decently.

And more if she's hot, unless your wife disagrees that she's hot.

[Exiled_Devil]

Always, always tip a bare-as$ minimum of 15%. But 20% is better. If you can afford to eat out, you can afford to tip decently.

And more if she's hot, unless your wife agrees that she's hot.

Changed original to reflect longer marriage.

Exiled

[Exiled_Devil]

Take out guys only make $2.13-3.40 an hour just like the servers. If you don't tip those guys, they don't make very much money. Also they do a lot more work preparing your food than you might imagine. If you were dining in, the cooks set up your plate. However for to-go, it is the take out guy's job to do it. I think you guys should tip for to-go orders if they do a good job with your meal. If not then don't. I will say that just giving them the change left over from a dollar is like a slap in the face to a server/take-out guy. Sorry for my soapbox, I work in restaraunt management.


Nope. If the restaurant wants to pay someone so little for that job, then that is between the restaurant and the employee.

It is not my job as the customer to pay the remainder of someone's paycheck when the restaurant won't. I tip based upon service: if it is adequate, they get 15%-20%. If its good, they get more than 20%. If it is poor, they get less than 10%. If they are not doing anything more than handing me my bag of food, they get exactly what the guy at McDonalds gets - zip.

I also don't clear my own table at fast food restaurants - when did this become a norm? Why is it a norm? How is that these service companies convinced customers that they had to do work in order to get their product? This gets my ire up. It is especially true at the new Mexican-subway type paces. If I am paying $7 for a burrito and chips, I am not clearing my own table.

Don't tip if you are not sitting at a table (or the bar) and eating. If the restaurant's business model is to underpay someone to address take-out orders specifically, they are responsible for making that work, not you as the customer. (Like JStuart says). Don't 'feel bad for the kid' or feel 'that youa re being rude' This transaction is not between you and Mr' Nice bag-boy. It's between you and the restaurant.

Sorry for my soapbox. I have issues with corporations taking advantage of people's emotions to cut costs.
Exiled

[tombrady]

Sorry for my soapbox. I have issues with corporations taking advantage of people's emotions to cut costs.
Exiled

so you're gonna take your frustrations and issues out on the 20 year old working nights while going to college full time? just to somehow prove to yourself as you drive away "hah! i really showed that restaurant!"

the 3 dollars means a lot less to you than it does to them. have some compassion. write a letter to the company if it bothers you that much.

(besides, you're actually tipping them more. if they don't claim all their tips as income, as no one does, its tax-free for them. boom, your $3 becomes $5, essentially).

[johnb]

I tip relentlessly, but these cash jars are everywhere, at least in NYC. Everyone I get anything from (coffee baristas, guys who hand over pre-made sandwiches, my girlfriend when she "gives" me the sports page) expect a dollar, and it does seem that the jar becomes a way to increase the company's profit rather than the worker's income.

[snowdenscold]

(besides, you're actually tipping them more. if they don't claim all their tips as income, as no one does, its tax-free for them. boom, your $3 becomes $5, essentially).

Isn't it your $3 doesn't become $2.25 ?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I tip relentlessly ... my girlfriend when she "gives" me the sports page) expect a dollar

Oh, is that what we're calling it these days - "the sports page"? ;) ;)

Somehow, I think if I ask my wife for "the sports page", it's not gonna happen...

[Exiled_Devil]

so you're gonna take your frustrations and issues out on the 20 year old working nights while going to college full time? just to somehow prove to yourself as you drive away "hah! i really showed that restaurant!"

the 3 dollars means a lot less to you than it does to them. have some compassion. write a letter to the company if it bothers you that much.

(besides, you're actually tipping them more. if they don't claim all their tips as income, as no one does, its tax-free for them. boom, your $3 becomes $5, essentially).

Nope. I am not going to let you, or a company, try to personalize their sub-pay business model. Its as simple as that. I don't tip unless I am served. Handing me a bag, just because it is done by the same person who normally brings food to my table, is not service - except in the broadest sense. If that is service, then logic extends tipping to cashier and bag boy at the supermarket.

Again, note that I do tip when I am served, and I use tips as a sign of how good the service is. So if someone does a good job serving my table, I tip very well to let them know. If they do poorly, they get tipped poorly as a sign of the quality of their work.

[Jfrosh]

Nope. If the restaurant wants to pay someone so little for that job, then that is between the restaurant and the employee.

It is not my job as the customer to pay the remainder of someone's paycheck when the restaurant won't. I tip based upon service: if it is adequate, they get 15%-20%. If its good, they get more than 20%. If it is poor, they get less than 10%. If they are not doing anything more than handing me my bag of food, they get exactly what the guy at McDonalds gets - zip.

I also don't clear my own table at fast food restaurants - when did this become a norm? Why is it a norm? How is that these service companies convinced customers that they had to do work in order to get their product? This gets my ire up. It is especially true at the new Mexican-subway type paces. If I am paying $7 for a burrito and chips, I am not clearing my own table.

Don't tip if you are not sitting at a table (or the bar) and eating. If the restaurant's business model is to underpay someone to address take-out orders specifically, they are responsible for making that work, not you as the customer. (Like JStuart says). Don't 'feel bad for the kid' or feel 'that youa re being rude' This transaction is not between you and Mr' Nice bag-boy. It's between you and the restaurant.

Sorry for my soapbox. I have issues with corporations taking advantage of people's emotions to cut costs.
Exiled

Agreed. I always tip 20% at restaurants and consider myself a good tipper. At a bar with drink specials I will tip even higher. But I tip for service. If someone is just handing me food, even if they take care putting it in a bag, it is the restaurants job to pay them a fair wage, not mine.

[EarlJam]

Doesn't it seem like Chick-fil-A could do some kind of great promotion around:

Cow Tipping?

Not sure what it would be exactly. Maybe a charitable thing where the Chick-fil-A cows are in attendance at select chains, and they stand out in front of the store like Salvation Army vols do during the holidays, collecting money for charity. Would be a good cause and give them even more good publicity/visibility as well.

Just an idea.

-Earljam

[Shammrog]

Oh, is that what we're calling it these days - "the sports page"? ;) ;)

Somehow, I think if I ask my wife for "the sports page", it's not gonna happen...


Frequency of receipt of the sports page is inversely proportional to the link of the marriage.

[Clipsfan]

No one has yet said that they tip at a fast food drive through, yet those guys provide identical service to someone at a take-out window. They're also underpaid, so why don't people feel that they should help the drive-through people get through HS or college? I actually find myself on the side of Exiled in this situation, as I think that tipping can get out of hand. Tip for service, not for just taking my money and giving me what I bought. Soon, cashiers at Blockbuster would expect tips if people get tipped for just putting what I'm paying for into a bag and giving it to me (in other words, their job).

On this note, I got some take out last night from the Mexican place around the corner from me (a little hole-in-the-wall). I paid with a credit card, as I tend to do, and they gave me my bag of food. There wasn't even a place on the receipt for me to fill in a tip, so it's obvious that they don't expect one for just giving me the food I paid for. This is true even though they do have a few tables in the place that you can take your food to in order to eat in the place.

No one has mentioned this, but tipping is anl AMERICAN habit.

[Channing]

The issue is that the restaurant industry has managed to carve a niche where they are not subject to the standard minimum wage laws.

In the case of a table server the carve out is probably legitimate, as they are providing services to the customer and earning their tip. The problem arises if, as I just learned in this thread, other employees who are not serving tables or working at the bar are also subject to these low wages. Either the entire restaurant should pool their tips, and tip out the take out people, just as they tip out the bus boys, or the position of take out person should be subject to minimum wage. Its as simple as that.

[Jarhead]

I have always considered 15% the standard. The 20% rate has a sort of snob character to it, and is more than inflationary. However, if service is in any way exceptional, I will go as high as 20%, but I won't brag or complain about it. I will sometimes go below the 15% rate if the service is not as expected. If I want the tip to go to a waiter personally I hand it directly to her/him instead of entering it on the credit card receipt. I might then add 5% or so on the credit card receipt.

I never get take out at a regular restaurant, and I only go to a fast food place as a rest stop when traveling. I have never noticed anyone tipping at a fast food place. I do tip at Panera's and Starbuck's when there is a tip jar, and at a lower rate.

I prefer the customs that were followed in Germany when I was spending a lot of time there. In a restaurant the gratuity was included in the bill, but I would add something on a sliding scale up to 10% for exceptional service and food preparation.

My ideas are based on recommendations in travel guides that my wife always buys before we go on a trip. Some tipping guides recommend tips for all kinds of service people. I noticed one guide put out by a travel agency that suggested tips for bank tellers and airline check-in personnel. I say thank you to the tellers, and I restrain myself from yelling at airline employees.

[JStuart]

"I say thank you to the tellers, and I restrain myself from yelling at airline employees."

Outstanding; Post-of-the-Month caliber!

[JStuart]

Exiled_Devil,
You've phrased well what I've been trying to put into words for many decades. Tipping is fine, and a way to show satisfaction with service, but the whole concept of a tip being expected regardless of service and quality of food, etc. bothers me. I don't get paid extra just for doing my job; why should they?

[merry]

Changed original to reflect longer marriage.

Exiled

Change to reflect an even LONGER marriage:

And more if she's hot, unless your wife notices first that she's hot.


PS why can't I multuquote?

[billybreen]

Exiled_Devil,
You've phrased well what I've been trying to put into words for many decades. Tipping is fine, and a way to show satisfaction with service, but the whole concept of a tip being expected regardless of service and quality of food, etc. bothers me. I don't get paid extra just for doing my job; why should they?

Service industry jobs are based on the expectation of a tip. They are payed below normal in the expectation that a standard tip will compensate them normally and anything beyond is a bonus. That's not getting paid extra just for doing your job.

[throatybeard]

I'm not sure how much longer Exiled has been married than I have. Merry I'll definitely defer to.

[dkbaseball]

No one has mentioned this, but tipping is an AMERICAN habit.

Exactly. Consistent with the custom of American corporations to squeeze out every last dollar of profit they can, usually by squeezing labor. In most other countries, employees would be embarrassed to work behind a tip jar. It's a point of pride with them that they put in an honest day's work, and expect to get paid a living wage -- by their employer.

One consequence: You don't find yourself getting hustled out of a restaurant as soon as you're finished eating, so the next customer/employer can be seated. In most of Europe, you have to flag the servers down just to get your bill. The business model of paying employees a decent wage seems to work for restaurants in other countries. Don't know why it wouldn't here.

[YmoBeThere]

Ask those servers who provide excellent service which system they would prefer?

[dkbaseball]

Ask those servers who provide excellent service which system they would prefer?

How much any of the servers make is subject every day to how much business the establishment brings in, and the whims of their customers. Personally, I'd rather go to work each day knowing I was going to be making a living wage. But a "flexible" labor force is now the American way.

[YmoBeThere]

Having known a few good servers(including my sister) many are making much more than a living wage...and yes, we are a risk based society. That is why there is the reward of a very good tip.

[dkbaseball]

Having known a few good servers(including my sister) many are making much more than a living wage...and yes, we are a risk based society. That is why there is the reward of a very good tip.

OK, so you're fine with a business practice that allows employers to pass off a substantial portion of their labor costs to customers, and lets them force employees to bear more of the risk of diminished traffic. But to return to the sub-thread, what about employees who do nothing more than sit behind a tip jar, taking your money and giving you the product? Does the same rationale allow employers to pay them less, on the assumption that customers will make up the difference with tips? It's rather hard for these employees to distinguish themselves by their "excellent" service. It's not a reward for good service, it's a surcharge the customer is subtly compelled to pay.

This is really the crux of the matter -- to what degree are merchants going to succeed in passing along their labor costs by making customers think of employees as their responsibility? They'll certainly push it as far as they can.

[Cavlaw]

I always found Bill Maher's take on it amusing (paraphrase):

"If you're standing behind a counter you're not waiting on me, I'm waiting on you."

[YmoBeThere]

But to return to the sub-thread, what about employees who do nothing more than sit behind a tip jar, taking your money and giving you the product? Does the same rationale allow employers to pay them less, on the assumption that customers will make up the difference with tips? It's rather hard for these employees to distinguish themselves by their "excellent" service. It's not a reward for good service, it's a surcharge the customer is subtly compelled to pay.

This is really the crux of the matter -- to what degree are merchants going to succeed in passing along their labor costs by making customers think of employees as their responsibility? They'll certainly push it as far as they can.

Yes, but in this case the charge is more direct and gives the person being compensated fairly good feedback on how they are doing in the eyes of the patron. In most products, the cost of labor is included(I certainly don't work for free)and are non-negotiable. Here, you get to negotiate. From my vantage point, your statement doesn't make sense. All costs are ultimately borne by the consumer. Ultimately, that is who is paying.

To go back to your earlier question, in most cases, I will now observe what the people are doing and compensate them how I see fit. I am not compelled to do anything. You don't ever have to put money in the tip jar or for that matter tip the server. I just wouldn't plan on being a repeat customer.


OK, so you're fine with a business practice that allows employers to pass off a substantial portion of their labor costs to customers, and lets them force employees to bear more of the risk of diminished traffic.

Yes, because they also garner the benefits of increased traffic. I don't know of any risk that is only one sided.

[feldspar]

Service industry jobs are based on the expectation of a tip. They are payed below normal in the expectation that a standard tip will compensate them normally and anything beyond is a bonus. That's not getting paid extra just for doing your job.

Point 1: And I'll tip them if they do their job. If they don't, they're getting exactly a penny, just to let them know I didn't "forget" about the tip. Just as an employer wouldn't pay an employee for work they didn't do, I won't tip someone for service they didn't provide, ie, poor service.

Point 2: I've been burned too many times by Outback/Applebee's take-out services that, at certain and specific restaurants, I won't tip for this service. The problem is that you don't usually find out if your order is completely correct until after you've paid the tip. If their service ever improves, I'll revisit my tipping habits for that particular establishment.

Point 3: Pet peeve of mine is when people don't tip when their food isn't cooked correctly. Understand, people, that the SERVER is not responsible for doing the COOK's job right. Holding the SERVER responsible for improper COOKING of food is stupid and selfish. If you feel you should be compensated for the improper cooking of your food, take it up with the MANAGER.

[dkbaseball]

All costs are ultimately borne by the consumer. Ultimately, that is who is paying.

Well, that is where something called the free market comes in handy. There are limits on the degree to which restaurant owners can pass along their labor costs to customers. If their prices go too high, people can eat someplace else. Someplace where the need to squeeze out profit isn't so great.

[gadzooks]

I tip for take-out at restaurants that provide sit-down service. My reasoning is, it's a place where the servers are ordinarily tipped. When someone is working the carry-out counter, they're usually not waiting tables and thus not getting tips from that. I have heard that some restaurants pay the person working carry-out more per hour to compensate for that, but not all do, and I have no way of knowing which do, so I go ahead and tip. I tip a smaller percentage than I would for table service, since they only have to make one trip to my car or the counter, usually around 10%. Having worked tipped jobs before (pizza delivery), I know that the extra couple bucks doesn't make a big deal to me, the customer, but makes a big difference to them. If I can't spare a couple bucks, I probably shouldn't be ordering out in the first place.

Yes, the American tipping system is unfair and illogical, but it's just the way it is, and I'm not going to accomplish anything by withholding a tip, beyond punishing someone who isn't responsible for making things the way they are.

[kexman]

If everyone stopped tipping the practice would end pretty quick. I used to give a flat 15%...but now I'm very variable in what i will give for a tip. I will reward good service and I will punish bad service. It comes out about the same to me, but I reward people who do an excellent job. Probably won't punish at places that I frequent unless it is really bad...ej

[YmoBeThere]

If everyone stopped tipping the practice would end pretty quick.

Sorry, that horse is done outta the barn...

[Channing]

not a huge surprise that tipping is down, but an interesting article nonetheless.

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/business/stories/2008/02/20/tips_0221.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=6

[CMS2478]

Many of you know that I am a school teacher and because we don't make a hefty salary (I can see the shock on your face now) I have to work a second job catering for a restaraunt. I was shocked to hear that the take-out people in some restaraunts make what waitresses do, bc where I work the take out people make your typical $6.15-$8.00 an hour. But I have come to bring justice to all the people out there who are catering for a living. TIP THEM PLEASE!!! When I cater I get tipped about 50% of the time, and it usually ranges between $10 - $100. I only serve the people for about one hour which is why most people feel the tip is unnecessary. I had one guy tell me, "well you guys get paid by the hour don't you and you only worked for one hour." SO...............let me set the record straight. We get the minimum wage per hour, YES. However, if I am serving you at say 12:00 pm, I will generally get to the restaraunt at around 9:00 am. I spend about 2 hours preparing the food and then leave around 11:00am. I get there with about 30 minutes to set up and prepare and then serve from 12:00-1:00pm. Then I drive 30 minutes back and spend about another hour cleaning everything up. All in all, I spend about 6 hours doing a cater. Which if you are getting minimum wage is not all that much as far as money goes. So keep this in mind if you have something catered. A waitress spends maybe 30 minutes to an hour serving you at a restaurant and you may leave her $5.00. But a caterer spends about 6 hours on your meal and they often get nothing. We also serve a lot more people than a waitress. The restaraunt I work for will send one person to serve up to 100 people. So if you have an event catered, make sure you tip those guys or girls because they work extremely hard to make your "event" a good one and they are not getting paid a whole lot to do it. The tip is NOT included and should be around 10% of the total bill. If you have 100 people there ask everyone to give an additional $.50 and that will be a $50 tip. Just looking out for all the caterers out there!!! :D

[gus]

One consequence: You don't find yourself getting hustled out of a restaurant as soon as you're finished eating, so the next customer/employer can be seated. In most of Europe, you have to flag the servers down just to get your bill. The business model of paying employees a decent wage seems to work for restaurants in other countries. Don't know why it wouldn't here.


It's funny - I think this is a bad thing. In NY, when I was ready for the check, I got it. Here in Europe, I find the wait for the check, and the second wait for the change/credit card to be agonizing. I've waited for an hour to pay before.

[gus]

I never know what to tip if you are eating at a buffet where the server does about half the work of a regular waiter/waitress? 10%? Any thoughts.

My wife worked at a restaurant in college that had both buffet and non-buffet, and said the buffet was just as much work as a non-buffet (and sometimes more). She still had to bring out drinks.Though she didn't bring out food, she had to bus a lot more dishes (in many states it's a health code violation to bring a dirty plate up to the buffet). I'd encourage you to tip 15% for the buffet waitstaff.

[merry]

My wife worked at a restaurant in college that had both buffet and non-buffet, and said the buffet was just as much work as a non-buffet (and sometimes more). She still had to bring out drinks.Though she didn't bring out food, she had to bus a lot more dishes (in many states it's a health code violation to bring a dirty plate up to the buffet). I'd encourage you to tip 15% for the buffet waitstaff.

There's a lot of variation on how this kind of thing works. For example many many years ago I was a Pizza Hut waitress. We did everything except cook: seat customers, wait tables, run the cash resgiter, restock the salad bar, make iced tea, bus tables & clean up the dining area etc. Most people did not tip if they came in during the lunch buffet, and yet we had to bring the drinks and plates, check on them and see if they needed more to drink or were ready for the check and bus their tables. Non-buffet was a little more work but mainly it was thought work - getting the orders right etc. In terms of physical labor, buffet and non-buffet were about the same. In fact, buffet was a little harder because usually tables turn over faster during a buffet since there's no wait time for the food to arrive at the table.

Some places have separate staff to bus tables/clean up, sometimes a buffet/salad bar is restocked by cooks or kitchen workers, some places you get your drink and plate and pay when you come in (think Golden Corral) and all the server does is check on you and bring more plates/drinks as needed. I still tip in those places, but I tip less than I would if you have real wait staff doing all the normal work of waiters/waitresses.

[bjornolf]

Service industry jobs are based on the expectation of a tip. They are payed below normal in the expectation that a standard tip will compensate them normally and anything beyond is a bonus. That's not getting paid extra just for doing your job.

My wife worked at mutliple restaurants, including a truck stop and a cracker barrel, while working her way through college. She told me that when she worked the register/takeout/hostess position, she got full pay, not the cut pay of a waitress. When she worked as a waitress, she got half pay. She told me that when she worked there, that was the law in VA. Only the wait staff could be paid less. Maybe that's changed in the last fifteen years.

Also, by one person's account, the takeout guy has to deal with 7 meals at a time. He does not, however, have to refill drinks, bring extra courses, listen to kids screaming and have food thrown at them (by the kids I mean), etc. He can also handle about 15-25 orders an hour, so if you tip him the full 15% he's going to make a killing!

On a side note, my only job in the sales/service industry was as a blue shirt at a Blockbuster. I did, however, know my movies and used my 5 free rentals a week to up my knowledge to better help customers. Most of my fellow employees sent people with questions to me. As a result, I actually did get tipped once in a while. My best tip was when a harried father came in with his three little kids and had his 7 year old daughter ask me "do you have the third one where the kids do karate?" I had just happened to have seen a commercial the week before for the release of "3 Ninjas Knuckle Up". I smiled, asked them to stay there, and walked back, got it, and handed it to him. He gave me the change from a $20, which was almost $17 back then. That was the proudest moment of my blockbuster career, and I got ribbed by my buds for a week for it. But hey, with minimum wage what it was in 1992, that was almost 4 hours of work tax free. I'll never forget that. :cool:

[Acymetric]

I worked the Southpoint chic fil a for 2 years. I got tipped exactly once by an older lady. At the time I was surprised, because I mean who tips fast food employees. Now I actually think it should happen more often. Not 3 or 4 dollars, but keep the change kind of stuff. Ten cents a person for me on a big day could add up to 30+ bucks a day. Look at it like this. Waitress works for maybe 30 mins, gets a 5 dollar tip. Fast food working sees you for a minute or 2. So 5/30 would be 15 cents. Add in the fact that you have to deal with more a holes (more people period, plus since people see you at fast food a lot of them assume you're an idiot). I think we earn something like that. Thoughts?