Is it normal to be frustrated when people dont tip after you gave great service

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30 Comments

I have been a server for over 5 years in a bar/lounge. Its a pretty classy joint, our prices are comparable to the rest of the business' in the area, and quality is consistant. But... in the last two years I've seen a decline with tipping servers and bartenders. I'm not claiming to be perfect but I am a very experienced, attentive and personable server who never discriminates or has a bad attitude. I only make 2.30 an hour so tips are what pays my bills. I have always enjoyed this industry but I find myself wondering what has happened that people don't think they should tip? I thought people knew that for good service 15% is appreciated and for excellent service its 20% and above. I've had customers pull out a wad of 20's and 100's to pay for a $40 tab and leave no tip at all! It makes me so mad sometimes :-(I don't show that I'm mad of course but its like a stab in the heart since I put so much energy into giving the best service possible and insuring their experience is a great one. What do you all think?

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80% Normal
Based on 59 votes (47 yes)
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Comments ( 30 )
  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    I always follow the 15-20% rule. Poor service even gets 10%. Servers rely on tips to earn a living. I would even go so far as to say it's downright rude not to.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Use more tounge.

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  • shade_ilmaendu
    11 years ago

    I normally try to keep myself very friendly and cordial on this site, but this is going to be one of my mean moments.

    MOST OF YOU COMMENTERS ARE IDIOTS.

    I don't know how many of you actually read the entire story. Did you read the part where he's making 2.50 an hour? Servers in America are almost entirely reliant on tips as their income. It's not greedy, it's not presumptuous of them to expect to AT LEAST make enough tips to receive minimum wage. The wages for servers are so low because here, people are expected to tip. It's not required, but it sure makes you an asshole if you don't.

    Unless you'd really be satisfied doing what he's doing and making a fraction of minimum wage, you really can just gtfo. This website is exploding with ignorant little children.

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    • dom180
      11 years ago

      If customers don't tip then employers would need to raise the amount they pay employees anyway, wouldn't they? Otherwise employees don't meet minimum wage, which would make the employer legally accountable, surely? If you aren't making minimum wage then the employer has broken the law. Tell me if I'm just being naive, one of the "ignorant little children"?

      To make it clear, it's the culture of being expected to pay more than the price on the bill that makes me unhappy with tipping. If the amount you were expected to tip was just added onto the price of the product and then distributed to under-paid staff it would keep their incomes consistent and mean that the customer didn't feel under pressure to pay more than they're obliged to. The restaurant, bar or wherever can advertise that they don't expect tips because their staff already make a fair wage for their work, which might attract more customers. Everybody wins, don't they?

      Still an ignorant little kid? I'd normally be friendly and cordial to, but when I'm called an idiot for having an opinion I'll rise to it.

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      • uPSIDEOFDOWn
        11 years ago

        In serving jobs you can make less than minimum wage because employers figure, "hey, our customers are decent, they'll tip.

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      • shade_ilmaendu
        11 years ago

        Most of what I know is ancedotal, friends and family who were screwed out of large portions of paychecks from lost tips. I've not actually done a serving job, but I'm going to look into that once I have time.

        And I'm pretty sure I've seen you around and wouldn't classify you as such, definitely don't sound like it in this post. just noticed recently a lot of uninformed people being inflammatory.

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        • dom180
          11 years ago

          It's no question that a lot people do get screwed over. I'd lay the blame at the door of the employer though; if an employee doesn't make minimum wage it's the employer though should take the brunt of the moral responsibility and not the customer. But that's just my opinion really, I can't back it up with facts. You're as welcome to your view as you are mine :)

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  • NeuroNeptunian
    11 years ago

    I don't know about anyone else, but in the good ole South, tipping is a social grace. 15% at least. If you can't afford to tip then don't go out to eat. That tip is not only for the waiter, it goes out to the bus boys and host as well. No sense in withholding courtesy from them. The tax on tables is 8% anyway. If you don't tip, they lose money.

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  • chicken471bologna
    11 years ago

    Meh. I hate waiters like you because you people always think you're so good and deserve a shitload of money.

    One time I tipped a waiter $1 and then he gave me a "hey fuck you" look. So I was like "Ungreatful bitch!"

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    • Devyn
      11 years ago

      Sorry, if someone gives you a service and they rely on being paid for that service for a living, then you pay them. I find it very ironic that you refer to THEM as "Ungrateful"

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  • flutterhigh
    11 years ago

    I hate it when people throw nickels at me on stage. :(

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  • Kerry69
    10 years ago

    To Insure Promptness=TIP.

    Some idiots will leave a few cents only.
    I,ve seen it it USA & here in Australia.

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  • coolio75650932
    11 years ago

    heres a tip: never pee into the wind

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  • umadbro?
    11 years ago

    show them some boobies, that should work (for guys anyway...)

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  • Hamid37USA
    11 years ago

    in america i need work i will be when i buy ticket to america where options of work

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  • anti-hero
    11 years ago

    I always tip at least 20%. Some people are just assholes. If it is that big of a deal to you, find a job where you don't have to rely on tips.

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  • JuliusE
    11 years ago

    I was a waiter for 3 years and I was only stiffed a few times, and I wasn't even at a really nice place. If someone stiffs you then they are being reeeaal a-holes. There's no excuse for not tipping unless its really, REALLY horrible service (and the servers fault).

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Take a big sloppy shit in their coffee, that will show the appropriate level of enthusiasm for their non tips!

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  • brown.eyed.girl
    11 years ago

    yes its normal. my sister is a server at olive garden and she always tells me about how rude some of the customers are. she's a really good server too! but one time a guy tipped her 2 cents. i just think that is so inconsiderate.

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  • blondie28
    11 years ago

    To the last comment,, waiters expect to get tipped cause they only make 2.30 an hour, people who have office jobs make more money by the hour! That's why they expect it! As they should!

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  • dom180
    11 years ago

    Firstly, you don't get tips in any other job. You don't see tipping in office jobs, on construction sites or in factories. Feel lucky to be in an industry where anyone tips you at all.

    Secondly, tipping is more an American thing. In the U.K., where I live, it isn't really seen as ungrateful not to tip. Mainly because of the reason I stated above; in any other job, not doing your best would get you expect to get you fired... why do would waiters and servers expect to be given EXTRA money for what people in other professions are obliged to do for no extra at all?

    Lastly, as for the reason why people have stopped tipping as much? Economic recession. People don't have the money to throw it around unless it's mandatory, and tipping isn't mandatory.

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    • Devyn
      11 years ago

      Sorry, but I live in the UK and it is rude not to tip.

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    • uPSIDEOFDOWn
      11 years ago

      good fucking god! this poster is upset because they make TWO fucking THIRTY an hour. If they made nine dollars an hour and were bitching about tips, that'd be one thing, but im guessing that making such little money without tips would be hard to live on. holy shit i can't even believe i had to explain that.

      do you enjoy getting by? if ever you visit america, tip any good waiter you have. we have needs, too.

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      • dom180
        11 years ago

        Why should the onus be on the customers to make sure the employee makes minimum wage? In any other job, the onus is on the employer to pay the employee fairly, not the customer to pay the employee. Why not bring serving jobs in line with any other industry?

        I never said 2.30 an hour was fair. It isn't. But it shouldn't be up to the customer to pay more than the price on the bill, it should be up to whoever owns the place to raise the prices and pay the workers more. EMPLOYERS should pay workers, not CUSTOMERS. At least that's what I'm arguing. If you can't understand that through your blind hatred of anyone else with a different viewpoint to you...

        If you make less that minimum wage, which is a legal requirement, whoever employs you has broken the law. You ought to be able to take the company to court.

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        • uPSIDEOFDOWn
          11 years ago

          it is. not illegal. because tips. are factored into a paycheck. when a restaurant. looses ability to. tip its employees. that is when they go out of business.

          Let's say I was brought up to making what I do, as a waiter, tips considered--about 10 dollars an hour (maybe a little more, maybe a little less). Even if I were to start making that without tips, there would:

          1) have to be a menu price increase to pay me and the other employees that much

          2) still be the reality that it is your money, as a paying customer, that is giving me my paycheck.

          At this point I just want to make sure you still grasp that it is completely legal for a restaurant to pay their employees below minimum wage BECAUSE TIPS ARE FACTORED IN.

          So really, your choice as someone with a naive understanding of the food industry can either tip 20% like a gentleman (when you visit America, that is), or watch the prices on restaurant food fucking skyrocket.

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          • dom180
            11 years ago

            In my country, tips are NOT factored in. And a restaurant CANNOT pay a worker less than the minimum wage. Me presuming this was the case in your part of the world (as it seems the logical law to have) is probably the cause of our misunderstanding.

            If restaurant food was 20% more expensive, with the caveat that customers did not tip, you'd still receive the same amount (and it would be consistent, which is obviously do your benefit too). I'd rather see the price of food 20% more expensive and written unambiguously on the menu than be obliged by unwritten rules to pay the 20% myself. I realise I might be alone in that preference, but it's just my opinion.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Try giving "happy endings" if you want a little extra money. At least offering it cant hurt anyways.

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  • Subfinmatic
    11 years ago

    I hate coppers.

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  • RapidRat
    11 years ago

    I dont know much about this becuase im only 18, but i live in Australia and over here 'tipping' is nearly non-existant. Maybe people have stopped tipping you over the last couple years becuase the price living has gone up (fuel, etc) people these days just cant afford to tip much these days. Also, maybe what they can afford to tip (lets say $3) might not be as much as it should be, and can be seen as 'pety, or 'why bother'.
    But saying this, i dont know what its like, but that would be my guess.

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  • GuessWho
    11 years ago

    Haters gonna hate.

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