Why don't people know how to tip waitresses?

Question

I waitress at a Ninety-nine restaurant, and nobody seems to know how to tip, and I always wonder what the reasoning is behind it.

Do they just not really care?

Do they not know the tip percentage?

Do they not realize that the only money we really make come from tips?

For example, I had a party of 10 people the other night, they were very loud and obnoxious and rude (no thank you, no please, etc) and their check was for $170. They left me ten dollars. That wasn't even a ten percent tip. (our restaurant doesn't believe in an Added Gratuity for large parties) It doesn't make sense. I bust my little behind running around getting a thousand drink refills and plates and extra napkins and sides of this and sides of that, and nobody seems to realize that most waitresses make LESS than minimum wage. I make roughly five dollars an hour. I can work a 40 hour week and my paycheck is less than 200. So basically, ALL my money comes from tips. I'm trying to make my way through college and when I work a Friday night and only make $60, it's very very depressing.

And yes, I have already considered the fact that maybe I'm just a bad waitress, but when I have a super nice table with no complaints about anything and then they leave me a 10% tip, I'm very discouraged and question myself, which is so unfair.

And for the record, when people take their kids out to eat and let them color on menus (which i have to scrub off) and throw food all over the place (which I have to break my back sweeping under tables) ask yourself, "Would I let my kids eat like this in my own home?"

"A tip (also called a gratuity) is a payment made to certain service sector workers beyond the advertised price. The amount of a tip is typically computed as a percent of the transaction minus taxes.[1] These payments and their size are a matter of social custom. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry. Though by definition a tip is never legally required, and its amount is at the discretion of the person being served, in some circumstances failing to give an adequate tip when one is expected would be considered very miserly, a violation of etiquette, or unethical. Tipping is considered by some to be a social custom in restaurants having traditional table service. The customary tip for a restaurant meal in the United States historically ranged from 10 to 15 percent of the total bill (before tax) for good to excellent service. Today 15 to 20 % (before tax for good to excellent service) is apparently now the norm."

Answer 1

I honestly think people just don't know.  I tip 20% most times and even though I have no problem doing it & I'm well educated about how waitresses are paid....sometimes it is a little jarring to get a bill for $200 bucks and have to add $40 to that when usually the bill is high because of wine.  

Answer 2

I have worked as a waitress before so believe me I understand what you are talking about.  However, I still do not tip, only because I don't have that much extra money and I usually spend so much on the meal I don't really have any more to spare.  I know that's a bad excuse but if I had more money I would gladly leave a tip.

Answer 3

You need to find a more sophisticated, less price-focused, less child-friendly restaurant.

It's not you, I'm sure you're a good server. Most people who eat at downscale restaurants don't have the extra money for a tip or they're just too ignorant to tip. My theory has always been that if you can't afford to add 20% to the bill for your server, then you have no business eating in a full-service restaurant. Find a self-service restaurant instead.

The more sophisticated your guests, the better your tips will be. It's that simple.

Answer 4

I think that some teenagers can't afford it, and some adults just don't care. In Germany, I understand that tips are included with the total bill; I don't know if all of Europe is this way, but that's also another possible conclusion.

Would you call it a 'fancy' restaurant that you work at? I think some people are more inclined to tip simply based on how upscale the restaurant is.

I don't think there's really a definite answer to your question, because while some people will intentionally not tip, others might not be aware. It's just the sad nature of the business that your pay is contingent on the good graces of your customers, not your hard work itself.

Answer 5

If you can't afford the tip then you shouldn't be eating out in a restaurant. My husband and I always tip 20%. When our grandchildren were small tots, they would make such a mess that we would tip 30% because their Mom and Dad didn't think it was a big deal leaving that horrible mess for someone else to clean up. I have never worked as a waitress but part of the pleasure of eating out is to have someone waiting on you. The waitress who keeps coming back to see if everything is OK gets the highest tip. The waitress who never looks up to see you wave at her or never comes back to the table to see if we need anything gets 15%. If I have to get up and get it myself then I might as well stay at home. So we go out to eat to have great food that we don't have to cook and to let someone wait on us. We are willing to pay for that service. If people don't tip enough or at all they are either cheap or have no class. Unfortunately, the world is full of both.

Answer 6

This is why in most European countries they include service in the price of the food, and pay their servers a decent wage. It would be nice if this happened in America, but most likely the restaurants would raise the price but still pay their servers minimum wage.

I always tip 20% for dinner and 15% or so for lunch. Maybe 10% for buffets with beverage servers. Even if the service is so-so, I always assume that the restaurant is understaffed, or that there were problems in the kitchen, and that the server was doing their best.

And I totally agree with you that people who are short on cash shouldn't go to restaurants to eat! If you can't afford a tip, why are you paying for a meal you could make at home for a lot less? Sure, there are some dishes that are difficult to make well at home, like Pad See Ew from Thai restaurants, but if you are strapped for cash that is a luxury that you don't need.

Answer 7

I, too, was once a waitress, and I ALWAYS tip 20% or more. If I had been in that party, you'd have gotten $40.00, as well as smiles, please and thank you.

And I agree with someone above--if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to eat out!

Answer 8

people are cheap these days, I like to leave a large tip if the waitress was great even so I know they are working hard and I appreiciate it