Originally Posted by DFW_Airwolf (Post 18557785)

NOT MY PROBLEM if someone cant get a job or earn a decent living. I work hard for my money & will TIP or NOT what I feel is appropriate. If I can afford $400-$600 dinners, it is because I am SUCCESFULL at what I do. And that doesnt mean throwing money away to someone who doesnt neccesarily deserve or earn it.

Originally Posted by Igor718 (Post 18555898)

Here is something you should know about restaurants and their 20% gratuity that they so nicely add to the bill without even asking.

Most people, tourists especially do NOT question this 20% charge. Like fools they simply pay it.

Here is how to avoid being a schmuck (if I spelled it right)

My Story #1:
So we (2 couples) sitting in a nice NYC restaurant. After a few hours there with nice service, we get our bill .... it's $576. Now .... the food is actually $480 but they added 20% "service" and that's an extra $96.

Now .... I have no problem of tipping 15% and sometimes 20% on a smaller bill, BUT $100 tip??? for 4 people? Nope. Not going to happen.

So, I nicely called the waiter and asked for the 20% to be taken off the bill. He took it back and gave us a new bill of $480. We felt that $50 tip is more than enough.

P.S. I believe that tip should NOT depend on how much you spend. It just doesn't make sense.


Story #2.
In NYC .... 2 couples ... we couldn't catch a cab for 10 min so we grabbed 2 of those petty bikes or whatever they are called. You sit back and the guy peddles to get you to your destination.

Before we got in he said $2 per block. Now ... we actually had to go about 18 blocks (15 min ride). I am assuming $40 per ride and we'll give $10 tip.

As we arrive at our destination says $60 per person..... $120 !
We tell them that we're not tourists and $60 total is what they're getting.

My bike "driver" is kinda OK with it. Takes $60 from me and done.
My friend's driver is not but before he even starts to b*tch about it, my friend kinda get into his face and tells him that he should be happy, he just made $60 in 15-20 min. Be happy man and go on. And so he did.


Lesson .......... prices, tips, etc are not created by God. All of these things are created by "man". It's ok to question things and it's ok to refuse to be taken advantage of.

Originally Posted by brewdog11 (Post 19887694)

Many people are dependent on tips. Here in the United States, the minimum wage for tipped employees is somewhere around $2.00 (give or take a few cents). That is not enough to buy a pot to piss in, especially if you work at a restaurant that is not very busy. On top of that, a tipped employee is responsible for paying for rent, transportation, health insurance and health-care-related expenses, childcare, etc.

Originally Posted by brewdog11 (Post 19887694)

Although I do agree that tipping should be voluntary and based on the level of service received, I must admit that I find the attitudes of some posters toward working people in this thread obnoxiously ignorant and appalling.

Many people are dependent on tips. Here in the United States, the minimum wage for tipped employees is somewhere around $2.00 (give or take a few cents). That is not enough to buy a pot to piss in, especially if you work at a restaurant that is not very busy. On top of that, a tipped employee is responsible for paying for rent, transportation, health insurance and health-care-related expenses, childcare, etc.


Think about that. If you're so bent out of shape about tipping, why don't you lobby for higher prices so working people can be paid a living wage. That way, you'll never have to worry about grubby poor people extending their calloused hands for "handouts."

Originally Posted by planemechanic (Post 19889685)

3. Not all states allow the employer to play the tipping game with their employees by paying them $2.13 an hour and hoping the tips make up the difference. California for one mandates that all employees make the minimum wage, and the CA minimum wage is higher than the Federal minimum wage.

Instead of getting angry at those who refuse to play the game why don't you contact your government officials and pressure them to adopt California's law instead? This will do FAR MORE for these employees than whining here. And it will force the employer to pay the costs that he should be paying in the first place.

Originally Posted by cbn42 (Post 19890307)

Unfortunately, most customers, even California residents, are not aware of the laws. The restaurant industry has done such a good job of advertising the $2.13 figure that everyone believes it. The tipping customs in California and other states with similar laws are still the same as the rest of the country.

Originally Posted by planemechanic (Post 19890401)

But in California the benefit of tipping goes into the pocket of the employee, not the employer (who elsewhere benefits through lowered wages).

Originally Posted by nkedel (Post 19890562)

The $8/hour minimum wage in CA is barely a living wage around here; minimum + tips at most places are still going to be on the expectation of a fair amount in tips, or you'd not see anyone ... or at least anyone here legally ... working those jobs.

Originally Posted by edaimler (Post 18603993)

You can afford a $500 meal, but are going to stiff the waiter with just 10% (for very good service)? You cannot afford a $500 meal, then.

Tragedy of the commons. Tips are a social construct by community and in the US, you are inventing your own standard if there is a $ ceiling beyond which tips should not go.

You may notice that restaurants are judged on food, service, and decor. They are not based on "warm enough" food served behind a McDonald's counter.

I am going to guess that such an opinion comes from someone who 1)has not worked in a service profession dependent upon tips (e.g., as a waiter); and 2) does not, and probably has not, lived in NYC or any other similar cosmopolitan 'Global city'.

For an economic argument, you may have noticed that wait staff varies in quality. That quality is not incidental to the pay that they receive which incents higher-quality personnel to be at restaurants with better paying clientele. By stiffing the wait staff, you are essentially mooching off the other customers and violating the social contract.

Originally Posted by CubsFanJohn (Post 19891121)

I was at a Resturant in Nashville, TN about 3 years ago. When I went to the bathroom they have one of those bathroom attendants or what ever there called (I can't stand them) hand me a paper towel. I told him thanks and he asked "Where's my tip. You know this isn't for free." Stupid me I gave him a buck and said thanks. My friends went to the bathroom later on and same thing. Yes they did give him a buck each. We should have complained to Management but we didn't feel like it. We just wanted to get out and continue touring downtown.