Pressured To Tip

[Abraham]

Update:

When I called to speak with the owner about the tipping pressure tactics, the same person who attempted to pressure me answered the phone.

I requested to speak with the owner.

She imperiously informed she was the manager and wanted to know why I wanted to speak to the owner.

I responded that was between he and I.

She came back arguing that she was the manager and I had to talk to her first.

I said thank you, I'd be calling back to speak to the owner and hang up.

I will eventually get to speak with the owner and who knows what'll happen. Maybe, he's O.K. with her style of customer service or again, hasn't a clue...

We'll see.

[Cedar Park Dad]

Wife and I ate at a medium sized local establishment, the waitress was very attentive, my glass never got empty and every time she was in our area she asked if we needed anything else.

I don't mind tipping wait staff because of the poor minimum wage that they can be paid, and honestly, if they do a good job, I'm going to tip well.

As we started to check out, I added the tip to the bill and the cashier took the change and dropped it in a basket. I told to make sure that Christi got her tip and the cashier looked at me and explained that all the tips go into one location and then they are divided up at the end of the night.. HUH?

Turns out that it's the owner's policy.. that way none of the less experienced staff get lower tips.. Sheesh.

Guess I'll ask if they have to share tips from now on.

We ate at K-Bobs in East Texas one night and the waitress explained that since we ordered a beer, a percent of her tip had to go to the bartender..

Has it changed that much? Am I just out of touch here?

Give the tip directly to the server next time.

[G26ster]

My wife and I are always encouraging our daughter (13) to work hard, study hard because education and hard work are her best options to have a rewarding career. Anytime we receive bad service or a poor attitude from a minimum wage employee at any establishment, I usually turn to her and tell her, that is why you need to graduate college.

One day after being give the wrong order in a drive thru and getting eye's rolled at us when we politely requested they correct their mistake, as we pulled away she says: I have two things I say to high school drop outs: 1. You did your best and 2. I don't want pickles on my burger.

A college degree is a noble and worthwhile goal, but if everyone was a graduate with a degree, you'd have a lot of folks living in mom and dad's basement without work, and no one to build our houses, roads, build/repair our vehicles, plumbing, A/C, build our "Made in America" goods, paint our house, replace our roofs, and the myriad of other things we all require in life. There used to be a time in this country when pride in one's trade meant that actual experts and craftsmen in their field were available, but nowadays finding a true "craftsman" in darn near impossible. I guess I come from a time in this country where having a degree or not having one was not used to judge folks' worth to society.

Just a question. How do you know the poor service you received from a "minimum wage employee," was not a person enrolled in college paying their way through or earning living expenses? Are you psychic?

[cdc101]

I would have taken my business elsewhere, assuming that it is feasible to do so.

Thats fine if you know before services are rendered. However, in my case we has aready eaten the meal before the check was brought.

Every time I have seen this it was clearly sated on or in the menu that any parties over ___ amount will be charged a ___% gratuity. If that was not stated in the menu, I'd do the same as you.

[Cedar Park Dad]

My wife and I are always encouraging our daughter (13) to work hard, study hard because education and hard work are her best options to have a rewarding career. Anytime we receive bad service or a poor attitude from a minimum wage employee at any establishment, I usually turn to her and tell her, that is why you need to graduate college.

One day after being give the wrong order in a drive thru and getting eye's rolled at us when we politely requested they correct their mistake, as we pulled away she says: I have two things I say to high school drop outs: 1. You did your best and 2. I don't want pickles on my burger.

A college degree is a noble and worthwhile goal, but if everyone was a graduate with a degree, you'd have a lot of folks living in mom and dad's basement without work, and no one to build our houses, roads, build/repair our vehicles, plumbing, A/C, build our "Made in America" goods, paint our house, replace our roofs, and the myriad of other things we all require in life. There used to be a time in this country when pride in one's trade meant that actual experts and craftsmen in their field were available, but nowadays finding a true "craftsman" in darn near impossible. I guess I come from a time in this country where having a degree or not having one was not used to judge folks' worth to society.

Just a question. How do you know the poor service you received from a "minimum wage employee," was not a person enrolled in college paying their way through or earning living expenses? Are you psychic?

Fair point.

[J Wilson]

My wife and I are always encouraging our daughter (13) to work hard, study hard because education and hard work are her best options to have a rewarding career. Anytime we receive bad service or a poor attitude from a minimum wage employee at any establishment, I usually turn to her and tell her, that is why you need to graduate college.

One day after being give the wrong order in a drive thru and getting eye's rolled at us when we politely requested they correct their mistake, as we pulled away she says: I have two things I say to high school drop outs: 1. You did your best and 2. I don't want pickles on my burger.

The last time you paid an astronomical bll to a mechanic,plumber,electrcian,home repair person,or anybody else that works with their hands did you ask what college they went to???I spent 30 years in the printing trade,made pretty good money,and never stepped foot on a campus of higher learning.
Not everyone can,or wants to be a Dr., lawyer, or indian chief.

[ScooterSissy]

Before I start this and get flamed, My wife was a waitress for many years. So I know that the waitstaff depends on tips for their income.

We went to a restaurant with some friends (8 people) this past weekend and although there were 3 seperate checks, each check had a 15% gratuity added on. When I asked the waitress about this she stated it was policy for parties of 6 or more. I told her thats okay but that she had just lost out. She looked at me with a puzzeled look and I proceeded to explain that I tip according to the type of service I recieve. I explained that we had a $64.00 check before tip so her tip was $9.60. She said yes sir. I said that I had planned on giving her a $20.00 tip but that since I had already been charged a tip, that was all that she would recieve.

Now I could have given her more but I stand on the principle that you have to earn your tips, not expect or charge for them. Now what if her service had been lousy? I refuse to tip for lousy service.

I do similar. I typically do mental math for 15%, then round up.
If I'm presented with a bill that has a tip included, I always pay my bill.

[Tic Tac]

This is one area where I think the Europeans have it right. Tipping should be a reward for exceptional service, not just for doing my job. I understand the current economic situation but I don't know how Americans got conditioned into giving gifts for adequate service.

[Redneck_Buddha]

This is one area where I think the Europeans have it right. Tipping should be a reward for exceptional service, not just for doing my job. I understand the current economic situation but I don't know how Americans got conditioned into giving gifts for adequate service.

Wait, what? They add up to 24% to your check in Europe even if you are alone. You have to gripe to the manager if you don't want to pay the "service charge".

[3dfxMM]

Wife and I ate at a medium sized local establishment, the waitress was very attentive, my glass never got empty and every time she was in our area she asked if we needed anything else.

I don't mind tipping wait staff because of the poor minimum wage that they can be paid, and honestly, if they do a good job, I'm going to tip well.

As we started to check out, I added the tip to the bill and the cashier took the change and dropped it in a basket. I told to make sure that Christi got her tip and the cashier looked at me and explained that all the tips go into one location and then they are divided up at the end of the night.. HUH?

Turns out that it's the owner's policy.. that way none of the less experienced staff get lower tips.. Sheesh.

Guess I'll ask if they have to share tips from now on.

We ate at K-Bobs in East Texas one night and the waitress explained that since we ordered a beer, a percent of her tip had to go to the bartender..

Has it changed that much? Am I just out of touch here?

Give the tip directly to the server next time.

Who will just put it into the basket. :)

[Cedar Park Dad]

Then thats on them.

[TexasCajun]

Nobody gets a job waiting tables without understanding that it's a predominantly reward-based industry. Long-term servers would revolt at the idea of a standard wage without tips. They know that if they do well, they'll make a ton more under the current system.

I look at the car wash with a more critical eye. If they do an exceptional job & pay attention to details, I tip a standard $5. If they don't, then I let them know why they aren't getting a tip.

[MotherBear]

As we started to check out, I added the tip to the bill and the cashier took the change and dropped it in a basket. I told to make sure that Christi got her tip and the cashier looked at me and explained that all the tips go into one location and then they are divided up at the end of the night.. HUH?

Turns out that it's the owner's policy.. that way none of the less experienced staff get lower tips.. Sheesh.

My brother was a waiter for quite a while, and very good at it. He worked for a place where they did the tip-sharing thing -- he didn't stay there long. He was able to do much better on his own merit than dividing up the tips and sharing equally. I think places with that policy are setting themselves up for constantly losing the better servers, as those folks realize they can do better elsewhere.

[Frankie]

My wife and I are always encouraging our daughter (13) to work hard, study hard because education and hard work are her best options to have a rewarding career. Anytime we receive bad service or a poor attitude from a minimum wage employee at any establishment, I usually turn to her and tell her, that is why you need to graduate college.

One day after being give the wrong order in a drive thru and getting eye's rolled at us when we politely requested they correct their mistake, as we pulled away she says: I have two things I say to high school drop outs: 1. You did your best and 2. I don't want pickles on my burger.

A college degree is a noble and worthwhile goal, but if everyone was a graduate with a degree, you'd have a lot of folks living in mom and dad's basement without work, and no one to build our houses, roads, build/repair our vehicles, plumbing, A/C, build our "Made in America" goods, paint our house, replace our roofs, and the myriad of other things we all require in life. There used to be a time in this country when pride in one's trade meant that actual experts and craftsmen in their field were available, but nowadays finding a true "craftsman" in darn near impossible. I guess I come from a time in this country where having a degree or not having one was not used to judge folks' worth to society.

Just a question. How do you know the poor service you received from a "minimum wage employee," was not a person enrolled in college paying their way through or earning living expenses? Are you psychic?

Fair point.

Agreed, it is a fair point but I will assume the last question was a rhetorical one and since I feel it is boarding on a personal attack, I am not going to answer it.
I will however, quantify my statements by providing a little bit about me:
1. I am not nor will I ever be a college graduate.
2. I spent the majority of my teen and 20's doing exactly these types of jobs and often time multiple minimum wage jobs at the same time.
3. Like my father and his father before him, I enlisted in the military because I had no future in what I was doing.
4, I served honorable until I became injured and no longer met the physical requirements to serve. I was discharged and after 14 months of attempting to attending community college under the VA vocational rehabilitation program (Chapter 31) i left school to work full time for "minimum wage"

I encourage my daughter to complete collage so she has opportunity and options not open to those with out a degree. Since age 3 she has insisted on wanting to be a veterinarian. She can not and will not ever become a licensed veterinarian is she does not complete a college degree. I can appreciate all the "skilled" jobs you pointed out in your post but I can also appreciate that not a single one of us would ever seek the services of a physician, attorney, or the many other careers that require one to achieve a advanced degree.
My comment to regarding "that is why you need to graduate college" is not one directed at the person but the situation. I encourage her to achieve a higher education not for financial benefit, but the benefit of opportunity and to achieve the goals that she has set for herself.

If my post in anyway offend anyone or conveyed that I am looking down on or encouraging my daughter to look down upon people in service or "minimum wage" jobs, I apologize and assure you, this is not the case. It's not my place to judge my fell man but alas, I am human and privy to fault. So when I do judge people, it is based upon their actions not their job, income or education.