tipping cheat
Aug 20, 2008 | 11:16 pm
#152
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,930
Then why don't you ask management to do away with the auto gratuity? If you say nothing, they will take that as your tacit approval of the policy. While I have no way of knowing what your true feelings are, I would think that most servers like the insurance policy of a guaranteed 18% tip (which may cost them 2 - 7 % on average) over a non-guaranteed tip. Add me to the group that normally tips 20%+ but refuses to do so if an auto tip is included. If you really believe you would be better off without the auto tip, you should speak up. Perhaps not in your case, but the auto tip has to take away some of the motivation for some servers to provide good service.
Chris
Aug 20, 2008 | 11:30 pm
#154
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA GS MM, Marriott Life Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Southwest Alist pref, various others of little note
Posts: 2,873
I'm a server at a chain steakhouse. Let me chime in. With the computer system that we use, whenever the automatic gratuity is put on (18%, parties of 6 or more), it shows the gratuity on the itemized receipt. When you run a credit card, it will print up in the area where the tip line normally is something to the effect of "A gratuity has already been added for your convenience." Unfortunately, if, during the process of authorizing the credit card, you either exit out of the table, or reprint the receipt, the credit card slip will print out without the notification of the gratuity.
I know when I'm busy, I've noticed that I've exited out of the screen while it was authorizing and therefore it didn't print out the gratuity information. That said, if I notice this, I inform the guest about the gratuity and thereby use the tip line as an additional tip line. So, it CAN be the result of an honest mistake if the server wasn't paying attention.
That said, there's obviously some dishonest servers out there. And I'm sure some are doing it on purpose.
As a side note though, everyone please remember the auto-grat is not the ONLY tip that can be given. If you get the best service of your life, and see an auto-grat is on the ticket, don't just sign the ticket and assume 18% will thrill the server (I know, I know, we're happy with ANY tip, right?
). Even if there's not an additional tip line, you can always add (and take away for that matter, in cases of particularly bad service).
Chris
I know when I'm busy, I've noticed that I've exited out of the screen while it was authorizing and therefore it didn't print out the gratuity information. That said, if I notice this, I inform the guest about the gratuity and thereby use the tip line as an additional tip line. So, it CAN be the result of an honest mistake if the server wasn't paying attention.
That said, there's obviously some dishonest servers out there. And I'm sure some are doing it on purpose.
As a side note though, everyone please remember the auto-grat is not the ONLY tip that can be given. If you get the best service of your life, and see an auto-grat is on the ticket, don't just sign the ticket and assume 18% will thrill the server (I know, I know, we're happy with ANY tip, right?
). Even if there's not an additional tip line, you can always add (and take away for that matter, in cases of particularly bad service).Chris
Aug 21, 2008 | 2:37 pm
#155
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,930
If the server wants to shoot for a higher tip he or she is welcome to waive the auto tip and see what I give out. If the auto tip is there. that's what the server is getting. If the server doesn't like it, he/she can take it up with management or find an establishment that doesn't have that policy.
As I posted a little higher up, I have brought it up with management, and they told me if every last server agreed, we'd take the policy off the menu. A couple servers disagreed so it stayed. To say that I should then find another establishment without the policy is a somewhat ridiculous leap in logic. I'm sure your job has policies with which you disagree, but you don't go hopping jobs every time one pops up. And, for that matter, I don't know of a single restaurant that doesn't have an auto-gratuity for some size of party.
Chris
Aug 21, 2008 | 3:57 pm
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,947
"I really hate this as they calculate the total including the tax-you should not have to tip on the tax."
Yeah, actually you do. Plenty of tight asses try to skimp on the tip this way, but you tip on the overall cost of the meal.
In the case where you felt jaded by them adding a gratuity, you should have mentioned this to them instead of talking about it with people on a website. In the end, it was shown on your bill. The onus is on you to review your bill.
Yeah, actually you do. Plenty of tight asses try to skimp on the tip this way, but you tip on the overall cost of the meal.
In the case where you felt jaded by them adding a gratuity, you should have mentioned this to them instead of talking about it with people on a website. In the end, it was shown on your bill. The onus is on you to review your bill.
It is a socially accepted norm in certain cultures so it might be expected (and is, obviously), but is NOT required. If you walk out of a restaurant without tipping, they'll call you a tightwad, but not the police.
There is no " YOU HAVE TO " and anyone who believes that is giving into peer/societal pressures and nothing more.
sheesh - I feel better
Aug 21, 2008 | 4:21 pm
#157
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 642
I love how there is this negative attitude that you're cheap if you don't tip.
The people with that attitude don't seem to care that the restaurant owners are cheap because they don't pay proper wages.
What about the fact that you could pay a server 10 times as much to do the same job if you're in a more expensive restaurant or order an expensive bottle of wine? (Yes someone please tell me how carrying a $100 bottle of wine to the table is somehow more difficult than carrying $40 bottle of wine to the table - especially when both probably $10 at the LCBO)
If you go to buy a TV you don't tip them because they've helped you, if anything the serving staff would get a higher commission if they've sold a more expensive product.
This is all backwards.
The people with that attitude don't seem to care that the restaurant owners are cheap because they don't pay proper wages.
What about the fact that you could pay a server 10 times as much to do the same job if you're in a more expensive restaurant or order an expensive bottle of wine? (Yes someone please tell me how carrying a $100 bottle of wine to the table is somehow more difficult than carrying $40 bottle of wine to the table - especially when both probably $10 at the LCBO)
If you go to buy a TV you don't tip them because they've helped you, if anything the serving staff would get a higher commission if they've sold a more expensive product.
This is all backwards.
Aug 21, 2008 | 6:15 pm
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,784
Apropos of very little, but speaking of auto-tipping:
Once in NYC about a decade ago I went to a restaurant with MrsNKEdel (albeit a couple of years before we got married) and despite being a party of only two, had an auto-tip on the bill of 15% pretax.
I complained about it, and despite nothing to that effect on the menu or posted, the waitress indicated that it was policy to include it after 10pm and that there was nothing she could do about it herself, but did I want to speak with the manager? I didn't bother - it was a chain place we'd dropped into for convenience, and I wasn't likely to ever be back there, and the service had been good up to that point.
Oddly enough, when my charge slip came it was the regular amount, without the auto-tip. So I left my usual closer-to-20-than-15% tip, and I assume I could have simply written zero or crossed off that line and copied over the total.
Still seems weird; has anyone else seen auto-tipping for smaller parties late in the evening? Or was the original receipt just a hamfisted case of "suggested tipping"?
Once in NYC about a decade ago I went to a restaurant with MrsNKEdel (albeit a couple of years before we got married) and despite being a party of only two, had an auto-tip on the bill of 15% pretax.
I complained about it, and despite nothing to that effect on the menu or posted, the waitress indicated that it was policy to include it after 10pm and that there was nothing she could do about it herself, but did I want to speak with the manager? I didn't bother - it was a chain place we'd dropped into for convenience, and I wasn't likely to ever be back there, and the service had been good up to that point.
Oddly enough, when my charge slip came it was the regular amount, without the auto-tip. So I left my usual closer-to-20-than-15% tip, and I assume I could have simply written zero or crossed off that line and copied over the total.
Still seems weird; has anyone else seen auto-tipping for smaller parties late in the evening? Or was the original receipt just a hamfisted case of "suggested tipping"?
Oct 13, 2008 | 12:36 pm
#159
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
Survey on auto tipping and tipping in general
Let your voice be heard ^
http://consumerist.com/5062367/is-it...t-a-restaurant
http://consumerist.com/5062367/is-it...t-a-restaurant
Oct 13, 2008 | 12:43 pm
#160
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ewr,swf,fll
Posts: 835
If you were five persons you should not have to pay the auto service charge.
I really hate this as they calculate the total including the tax-you should not have to tip on the tax.
I would rather tip for the level of service recieved rather than having to supplement some poor servers meager income.
I really hate this as they calculate the total including the tax-you should not have to tip on the tax.
I would rather tip for the level of service recieved rather than having to supplement some poor servers meager income.
Oct 13, 2008 | 12:53 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
I just spent time in Idaho and Wyoming. Food service in all the places we ate or tried to eat was often very poor.
Orders were very often filled wrong. I've never had this happen so often on one trip!
The one restaurant where I got a good meal with decent service was at the Wort Hotel in Jackson Wyoming. I tipped the waiter 15% and he was thrilled and said that it was very unusual to get anything over 10%.
Is this typical in Idaho and Wyoming?
Orders were very often filled wrong. I've never had this happen so often on one trip!
The one restaurant where I got a good meal with decent service was at the Wort Hotel in Jackson Wyoming. I tipped the waiter 15% and he was thrilled and said that it was very unusual to get anything over 10%.
Is this typical in Idaho and Wyoming?
Oct 13, 2008 | 12:59 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
I just spent time in Idaho and Wyoming. Food service in all the places we ate or tried to eat was often very poor.
Orders were very often filled wrong. I've never had this happen so often on one trip!
The one restaurant where I got a good meal with decent service was at the Wort Hotel in Jackson Wyoming. I tipped the waiter 15% and he was thrilled and said that it was very unusual to get anything over 10%.
Is this typical in Idaho and Wyoming?
Orders were very often filled wrong. I've never had this happen so often on one trip!
The one restaurant where I got a good meal with decent service was at the Wort Hotel in Jackson Wyoming. I tipped the waiter 15% and he was thrilled and said that it was very unusual to get anything over 10%.
Is this typical in Idaho and Wyoming?
Oct 13, 2008 | 2:41 pm
#163
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,110
Your logic is the reason I always tip very very well at places like Denny's. I figure that the server is taking my order the same number of times, carrying the same number of plates, refilling my water the same number of times, and bringing the same number of checks as the server at a swanky restaurant.
Oct 13, 2008 | 2:48 pm
#164
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,110
Almost all of my tipping is out of my own pocket-I do not get reimbursed for tips even on buisness expenditures.
The Only exception is my New Years tip to service providers for the estate-those I expense.
But the others add up to over $500 a year,excluding dining on my own time.
So that is a bit out of my flesh actually.
The Only exception is my New Years tip to service providers for the estate-those I expense.
But the others add up to over $500 a year,excluding dining on my own time.
So that is a bit out of my flesh actually.
Are you really saying that when you go out for dinner, your employer covers the cost of food and drink but not the tip? I have never heard of that!
Oct 13, 2008 | 3:00 pm
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,947
some poor servers meager income? lol. if you dont tip you are a scumbag. period. servers count on tips as part of their salary. belittle someone for their income? what are you 15? put your salary up and we'll compare. i could use the laugh. hint unless it is at least 7 figures dont bother.