Why is tipping based on $ amount and not per service?

[Anonymous]

I never know when to tip and how much to tip, and I never have cash on me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:P.S. Some of you are cold. Do you think the people at Starbucks are rolling in the money? I never tip there. But the jar doesn't bother me.

I don't think they are rolling in money, but I do think if they want to be rolling in tips they should have filled out a job app at a full service restaurant instead of Starbucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. Some of you are cold. Do you think the people at Starbucks are rolling in the money? I never tip there. But the jar doesn't bother me.

I don't think they are rolling in money, but I do think if they want to be rolling in tips they should have filled out a job app at a full service restaurant instead of Starbucks.

You're pissed at the wrong people. It's the customers that have made this happen. They insist on leaving tips and it's much more awkward if there's no jar out. Some people just don't like to carry change and like to drop it when they get it back.

[Anonymous]

Whether tipping would exist at all, or in what form, if you were in charge of designing a perfect universe may be an interesting theoretical question. But I hope you do not try to unilaterally bring about your tipping "nirvana" by screwing your servers, who, as many people have pointed out, in the current universe are paid less than minimum wage because they depend on tips.

[Anonymous]

I always tip 20% in restaurants, and I also always leave a dollar at Starbucks because I have one of those obnoxious orders, plus I'm hopeful that it will enhance my karma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never know when to tip and how much to tip, and I never have cash on me.

You sound like a man I once worked except he had cash but it was always $100.00 bill and he could never contribute to anything because no one had change. Tip 20% and carry cash so the tip is tax free to the waiter.

[Anonymous]

I waited tables for a few years in DC. Waiting is basically a sales job. So look at tipping as a commission. PPs who said that DC waiters are paid about $2/hr are correct. Also, in many jurisdictions, they are automatically taxed at 15% of total sales (that number is the income figure reported to IRS as earnings) so if you tip low you are really screwing someone over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never know when to tip and how much to tip, and I never have cash on me.

You sound like a man I once worked except he had cash but it was always $100.00 bill and he could never contribute to anything because no one had change. Tip 20% and carry cash so the tip is tax free to the waiter.

Why tip in cash so the servers can avoid paying tax?

[Anonymous]

The waitresses that I knew at college were making a decent wage. And I know you can live fairly well of a waitresses salary. In the end it is really not so bad.
Having said that I really do not like going to restaurants. When I go I buy 2 kids meals, and for me a soup. I like to drink water. The bill does not come to much. I see disappointment in the servers face when I make the order. Sometimes I feel bad and descide to order dessert just fluff up the bill a bit, and that is when I discover that my bill is already printed, the waiter is not around.
And some restaurants make the servers pool the tips, and staff not related to waitressing get their share

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with you, but we still do it. The "rules" need to change, but I don't know how to make that happen. Also, if you tip, the money goes to the waiter/waitress, rarely the bus boy or even the cooks. It's really not a fair system.

This is not true. Waiters give a portion of their tips to busboys because if they don't their tables won't be cleaned. Cooks are paid a salary and should not be tipped.

There is definitely a system in place in nicer restaurants. Waiting tables is one of 3 jobs I worked to pay for undergrad. I worked in a nicer restaurant - not top tier, but entrees in the $25-30 range. At the end of the night, I had to distribute a portion of my tips to 3 other staff as follows:

- bartender(s) - 10% of tips
- table busser - 10% of tips
- food runner (server who assembles orders and helps bring food to tables to ensure prompt delivery) - 2% of gross sales

If I sold $1,000 worth of food and drinks on a night, let's say I got 180 in tips (assuming 18% average tip since most people tipped btw 15-20%). $18 each to the bartender and busser and $20 to the food runner, leaving me with $124 on top of my $2.52 per hour (this was many years ago in another state).

I often gave more, especially if it was a busy and successful Friday or Saturday nights as my success depended on their help. Since I was known for being generous, they were more willing to help.

It was good money as a student, but hard work. Glad I don't have to do it anymore, but I am a very good tipper because I have been there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
If I sold $1,000 worth of food and drinks on a night, let's say I got 180 in tips (assuming 18% average tip since most people tipped btw 15-20%). $18 each to the bartender and busser and $20 to the food runner, leaving me with $124 on top of my $2.52 per hour (this was many years ago in another state).

That is a very good salary for one night of work.
And to think there are people working at Walmart and MacDonalds getting maybe $8 per hour!!