The Tip Rule >:(!!!!!

Question

Ok I have yet to hear one good argument why I should tip waiters and waitresses. I do tip, but its only because society will make me feel like a jerk if I don't. So here are the Questions:

1. Why should I tip someone for doing their job?

2. Why should I tip someone when there are much more harder working people on minimum wage that do not get tipped?

3. If its money they need to have in order to live, why not look for a higher paying job, like I did growing up.

4. If I tip on behalf of the price on the food, then why doesn't the chief get tipped?

Someone convice me why tipping is a good thing when I was loading huge boxes in a truck for $6 an hour 5 days a week 8 hrs a day.

Answer 1

waiters don't make min. wage.  here in Michigan min. wage is 7.40 an hour, waiters make like 2 bucks an hour.  Tips should be built into the price or waiters should be paid at least the min. wage that everyone else makes, until that happens you should tip because that's how waiters earn a living.  

Answer 2

It's nice, if they did a good job they should get rewarded.

I wish I could tip people for doing a good job who aren't a waiter or waitress. But thats a bit weird so I don't.

Sometimes they can't or they don't want to.

They probably get paid more.

But in the end, it's just a nice thing to do.

And it matters where you work. Someone who works are a high end resterant is probably going to get paid more then someone who works are dennys.

Answer 3

You're a low class *** and if you want some fine dining go to Mc Donalds. I hope you know if you're a repeat customer anywhere and don't tip and/or act like a fool you're getting a little more than food on your plate once in a while.  

Answer 4

Waiter/ress' normally get paid way UNDER minimum wage. Chiefs and other cooks get paid a lot more than watier/ress'.

If the wait staff was to get paid minimum wage or more than the prices at the resaurant would be very high, and the average person would not be able to eat out on occasion.  

Also its a service, its customary to tip people in service roles such as waiter/ress, delivery people, manicurist, hairstylist ect....

If you were hired by a company to just load boxes then who is going to tip you if you don't deal with the public? The average wait person makes $92 a week if they worked full time without tips. You made $240 a week without tips.

Please don't get into that get a better job. If no one is willing to be a server in a reasurant, then they're wouldn't be a lot of nice sit down reasurants. That would take a lot of money out of local economy's. Also you have no idea what a persons situation is you can't just say get a better job and poof they are magically qualified for that job. Some people are high school and college students or its their 2nd job. If you don't want to tip then don't you seem to have a chip on your shoulder about tipping. Its really not that serious.  

Answer 5

Good question. There are still a few old traditions we just can't shake and this is one I don't think we'll ever be able to drop.

My wife waitressed for a while where her base pay was $10.00 per night plus a meal. The bulk of her income each night was her tips. Obviously this is not the norm but some restaurants still operate this way although laws are changing. My best thoughts on your questions...

1. don't tip for doing their job, tip for doing their job well

2. tip the fry guy at McDonalds just for kicks

3. hook your favorite waiter/waitress up with a couple want ads that could be an improvement for them

4. picket the restaurant with signs like... 'equal tips for all'... 'tip the chef'... and 'split the tips'

if you had loaded boxes at my company, I would have tipped you.

Answer 6

Waiters often get paid less than you do, and they work a h**l of a lot longer than eight hours.

Answer 7

I don't tip based on some percentage, as they say you are suppose too. I give tips based on what I am able to give. I am very poor though, so I can get away with that.

If you are not poor like me, then thats another story. In that case just double what the tax is on your ticket. Tax in my home state for example is 8%, so if the tax on  the ticket is $3.00 and I double that I will give a tip of $6.00 at 16%. That's way more then fair, especially if the service was only marginal.

Answer 8

This is a good question.Actually I waited tables for 4 years while I went to college and I paid my own way through college.

Yes it is the wait staffs persons job to serve you.This is a covenience to you to be waited on and have the person fulfill your needs.Your tip should be based on how well they serve you.

There are harder working people out there but waiters only make $2.13 an hour.They do not make minimum wage.This hourly wage pays taxes and for their benefits.Therefore a ussual take home check is around $10.00.

You should have respect for the fact that they are working in the first place and you and I dont have to support them.Waiting tables is ussually a well paying job.Some waiters make $60,000 a year in the right atmosphere.Its not just the money sometimes the schedule makes it an easier job for single mothers,students.You can wait tables on 4-5 hour shifts.

Actually some restaurants require the wait staff take a percentage of their tips and give it to the bus boy,chef and dishwasher.Most places pasy the chefs a considerable salary.

One of the reasons Starbucks is in trouble is because the mixo;ogists worked for $2.13 an hour and the Managers making $40,000 a year made them share the tips with them.

I hope I answered all your questions and maybe gained some respect for those of us that use the wait position as a stepping stone in our lives.

Answer 9

waiters often get paid MUCH less than minimum wage. It's legal because their pay is based on the fact that tips are expected.  

Answer 10

Why should I tip someone for doing their job?- well, your not tipping them based on the fact that they are working, but rather for their level of service.

Why should I tip someone when there are much more harder working people on minimum wage that do not get tipped?- it isnt really the waiters fault that other people work harder on other jobs. once again, i tip based on the level of service.

If its money they need to have in order to live, why not look for a higher paying job, like I did growing up.- understood, but sometimes its not that easy. sometimes you take whats there because you have to in order to get by.

If I tip on behalf of the price on the food, then why doesn't the chief get tipped?- the chief does the same thing. once he cooks your meal, that is it. the waiter is in charge of checking up on you to make sure you are taken care of after the meal is served.

honestly, i dont care to argue with you, because i see your point to some degree. i dont pity a waiter when i tip him just because his wage is low. i know his income is based on sales, and his effort. i tip people for a lot of reasons, not just at restaurants. it is a way to show your appreciation. sure, it may be 3-6 bucks, but it adds up, and i do that to recognize the effort that was put out for ME as an indivual, and not some random customer.

as far as your loading boxes for 6 bucks, that goes to your question

"3. If its money they need to have in order to live, why not look for a higher paying job, like I did growing up."

its not always their fault, its just the way it is, but if you dont like their service, then dont tip. if you were loading my boxes for me to help me out, i would have tipped. it just depends on the job and the situation.

take care.

Answer 11

Most servers are paid $2.25- $4.25 per hour and rely on tips to put them over that.  Businesses are not required to pay servers minimum wage because they get tips and must claim them on their income tax.

edit:  Hey, I'm an RN who works 12 hour shifts, too!  I know we work hard for the money, but I really don't mind tipping a good server well.  For those who didn't give  good service, I tip the minimally acceptable and then complain to the manager about the service.

edit: Wow, I answer a question in good faith and get called a liar.  My husband is a restaurant manager and I know what his servers are paid.  I didn't say all waiters, I said most.  It also depends on where you live and the standards in your city.  If you feel so strongly about the subject, just don't tip.  I wasn't looking for an argument.