quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Let's admit it:

This phrase "do you need change?" from a waitstaff person doesn't actually mean they expect you to say "yes" back and they bring you change and then you leave a tip from that.

They expect you to say "no, keep the change" when they ask it.

I usually hear "I will bring you your change", then I will say yay or nay.

I generally tell them to keep the change if it's within range of a normal tip, the few times I'm asked it's no big deal, it's just a question I can say yes or no to...

Have you ever considered yourselves a bunch of cheap bastards? You have that right, of course, but it doesn't change the fact. I have favorite servers. I tip them generously. I want to. And those servers do a good job. Yes, I sometimes do give 50%. But I do get good service from them.

A story. After retiring, some 14 years ago, I got to take my wife to lunch. We both worked, and it wasn't a normal thing to do. These days we go out almost every day. I'm kind of on a diet. I eat one meal a day. I really don't care about how much it costs. We have kind of settled upon places to go. I often tip 50%, but to my favorite servers. I don't mind one bit.

Some places 17% seems high. The service is lousy. They clearly don't deserve that much. We don't go back to those places.

Since that has happened to me, I just tell them how much i want in change back.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
Have you ever considered yourselves a bunch of cheap bastards? You have that right, of course, but it doesn't change the fact. I have favorite servers. I tip them generously. I want to. And those servers do a good job. Yes, I sometimes do give 50%. But I do get good service from them.

A story. After retiring, some 14 years ago, I got to take my wife to lunch. We both worked, and it wasn't a normal thing to do. These days we go out almost every day. I'm kind of on a diet. I eat one meal a day. I really don't care about how much it costs. We have kind of settled upon places to go. I often tip 50%, but to my favorite servers. I don't mind one bit.

Some places 17% seems high. The service is lousy. They clearly don't deserve that much. We don't go back to those places.

C’mon man. I worked in the restaurant industry for years. No server is worth 50% tip unless it was the most phenomenal job you’ve ever seen in your entire life but to insinuate we are all cheap because we aren’t tipping 50% is just ridiculous.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
I often tip 50%, but to my favorite servers. I don't mind one bit.

C’mon man. I worked in the restaurant industry for years. No server is worth 50% tip unless it was the most phenomenal job you’ve ever seen in your entire life but to insinuate we are all cheap because we aren’t tipping 50% is just ridiculous.

Don't think he was insinuating anything.

You have to understand that tipping is an emotional act, not a business transaction.
If one is so moved then tip whatever you like, who is to say it is wrong.
On the other hand, tipping as a requirement for poor service or otherwise quality is just plain wrong and even ridiculous as you say.

In summary:

"People who don't tip 50% are cheap bastards"

Virtue signaling takes many forms

quote:

Originally posted by hjs157:
Well, at least one other member here feels simply asking "do you need change?" should result in immediate dismissal from employment.

I’d say that either you are stretching it a bit, or I’ve mellowed in the *four and a half years* (Holy necropost Batman!) since I wrote it.

If it wasn’t clear, that was the one (maybe petty) thing that *I* was going to be adamant about if I owned a restaurant. Not that every other restaurant owner should have the same priorities.

Different places have different standards. The steakhouse I worked in way back in college was cowboy themed, but they were very tightly managed. They’re still around, have several restaurants, and appear to still be printing money for the next generation. A lot of that is probably due to attention to detail and how you make the customer feel about the experience. Really, that’s why folks come back.

And the boss makes the rules, but if the boss doesn’t make the rules clear and train the employees on the rules, it isn’t likely to go the way they want.

quote:

Originally posted by Andyb:
In summary:

"People who don't tip 50% are cheap bastards"

Virtue signaling takes many forms

To qualify for a 50% tip the server must be a young attractive female who spends some time under the table.

I think it depends on where you're eating when it comes to a tip percentage. If two servers are putting in the same amount of work, but one is a $20 meal, and the other a $100 meal, is the value of their labor that much different?

I've left plenty of 50%, 100% or even more at places like Waffle House.

She possibly forgot, or did get confused. Or, she saw all that gold and diamond hardware you had on and just assumed you were a big spender.

I always expect change, but nowadays I usually use a credit card to pay my bill so I can address the tip when I am ready versus trying to determine where the waitstaff might be while I’m having a conversation with the dinner group.

Like the trope of the hotel bellboy holding out his hand, sometimes accompanied by clearing his throat, I find "do you want your change back?" to be crass. I pay with credit cards anyway, although I'm a little apprehensive when they take it into a back room with them. (No fraudulent charges have resulted from this, but it's a possibility.)