(another) question about tipping...?

Question

Sorry if this has been asked already but I really dont get the 'compulsory' tipping thing in the USA. If the wages are so low and tipping 15-20% is more or less mandatory and not just an indication which shows you got GOOD service, why would it be any different in a buffet restaurant. Surely the staff there are being paid just as poorly as the waiters in a full service restaurant so why pay one more than the other? Also what about the pot cleaner in the kitchen.I'm sure he doesn't get paid more than the waiter and from what I understand most tips go directly to the person not shared between all staff. Doesn't seem fair.

Answer 1

actually, wait staff usually makes less than everyone else, based on the fact that management expects them to make it up in tips, and to do that you need to give good service...no it's NOT mandatory to tip, if service is REALLY bad i tip a penny so they know i didn't simply forget to tip!

Answer 2

waiters only get paid $3/hr and maybe $3.43/hr because of state law just changed it.

pot washers and people who are not getting tipped make more than waiters, they have their own minimum wage.  the only people that usually also get tipped from the waiters is the people who clean the tables.

Answer 3

idc how much i spend or what the tip price is i just tip em how much i want to.

Answer 4

a simple thing to do is just double the tax

Answer 5

tipping should be based on service given, yet anymore the servers just expect it so they give sloppy service. I tip according to service.

Answer 6

You're right, it's not fair.  The tipping system in the US is partially responsible for the low wages that wait staff get.  And surprisingly, sometimes it's less than dishwashers, as it assumes there will be tips.  

You tip wait staff for their service (seating, taking orders, delivering food, solving problems), which is different than at a buffet.  

And most places where I worked as wait staff, we would always tip the busboys.

Fun fact:  Eleanor Roosevelt never tipped.  She would leave a card that said "Tipping is un-American.  Thank you for your service."  Probably pissed off a number of wait staff!

Answer 7

buffets - servers paid minimum wage....

pot cleaner in kitchen makes more than server approxd 3 x's....

all front of house personell, bus boys, servers, hostess, bartenders, etc get cut of server tips.