Originally Posted by
TheAccidentalFlier
I hate it also, I wish they would just bring a bill that said, "We expect you to pay this much" and be done with it.
Regarding the capitalist incentive that was referenced, I'm not sure how effective that is if the tips are shared among the staff.
I have been to an Indian restaurant that was, in effect, no bill and all tipping - order what you like, then pay what you like.
It's not effective if tips are pooled and shared. However, if tips aren't shared, other than perhaps tip outs to bartenders and bussers, they can be effective. Mr. Kipper and I go to the same location for breakfast every Sunday, and always ask for the same server. She knows us, knows our drinks and food order, and takes care of us as far as ensuring that we have our fill of biscuits and drinks. She receives far more of a tip from us that she probably does from most, but then again, she knows when she sees us that if she does a good job, she's guaranteed a tip that amounts to something close to 40% of the check (check is usually about $25, she usually gets a $10 tip). She has an incentive to take really good care of us.
Another good example of how it's effective was our dinner on Saturday night. Mr. Kipper had a certificate for a free burger for his birthday at Red Robin. (Yes, Red Robin. Sometimes, it's a burger type of day). I have very low expectations for service at Red Robin. Saturday, we had a server who you could tell was doing her absolute best for all customers. We never had to wait on drink refills (she'd bring drink refills before we'd finished drinks), she kept offering additional french fry refills, and was generally very on top of her game. Our check was $15 after the certificate. We gave her $30 cash to cover the bill and told her to just keep the change. I'd think she learned that by doing her absolute best for customers, she'll earn more than by doing an ok job. FWIW, we also talked to the manager on the way out and told her how great the service was that night.
Originally Posted by
JayhawkCO
Just out of curiosity, I pose this question to the FT masses. If a local restaurant that you hadn't visited before advertised the fact that they didn't allow tipping and paid their staff a living wage, would you be more likely to visit the restaurant?
Or perhaps a better question. If there existed two franchises of the same restaurant, and one worked under the current "system" and one didn't allow tipping. At restaurant #1, a burger costs $10. At restaurant #2, a burger costs $13. Assuming everything else is the same (and they're the same distance from the house, yadda yadda yadda), would you prefer one restaurant over the other?
EDIT: Not trying to be snarky here either. I myself, as a server, think that tipping is stupid too. That said, if I don't make the same amount of money and the restaurant doesn't make the same amount of money, it'll never go away.Chris
Generally, no. I'd figure that the employees had no incentive to go above the minimum at a restaurant that doesn't allow tipping, but rather, paid everyone a living wage.
I'd guess that at restaurant #1 in our scenario, good servers would want to work there, knowing that if they did really well, they'd earn more in tips. I'd guess that so-so servers, who didn't want to go above the minimum effort, would want to work at restaurant #2, where they knew they'd make a certain amount of money each night.
My general experience has been that many servers who are very good at what they do earn a lot in tips, and therefore, wouldn't want to switch to a non-tipping system.
Originally Posted by
nacho
+1 I will feel more comfortable eating there. For me, going out to eat is to eat the food there, I don't care about service. I got hands and legs that I can fetch the food myself.
For me, part of it is the service. If I want to fetch food and drinks myself, I'll either go somewhere that is fast food or buffet style, or will stay home and cook.