The tipping system is one of the most ingenious systems of all time. It serves as a reverse commission, one that is paid by the customer rather than the employer. Because tipping is based on a percentage, your server is encouraged to recommend dessert, or higher priced food or drink options, because the more you spend, the more you will tip.
It is not about them working hard. If I order a 6 dollar hamburger and a 3 dollar desert at a cheap diner a 20% tip is about $2. If I order a $40 entrée at a higher end restaurant, a 20% tip is $8. Is the food at the more expensive restaurant harder to carry to my table? Why should I give him 4 times the money I gave the guy at the diner? The guy at the diner carried more food, the guy at the high end place didn't even have to bring me dessert.
It's not about customer service. No where else in the customer service industry are the customers expected to pay the person giving them the service in order to be served. Can you imagine walking in a store and asking for information about a product and being told, "well that item is $100, if you pay me $20, I'll be happy to help you with it"
Restaurant owners in the US have set up a system where their employees are incentivized to sell more, but customers pay the incentive. Not only that, but because of this they are exempt from, or subject to reduced, minimum wage laws. So they get to pay employees 3 or 4 bucks an hour, while their customers pay out the commission. It's a huge win win for the owners.
One could argue this is still better for the customer, because if full wages were paid rather than tipping, menu prices would reflect the difference. So you would end up paying that %15 - %20 percent anyway and it would be mandatory. At least under the current system, you have a choice. But I am not sure that this is completely true, as other countries seem to find the balance without tipping. Also at least pricing would be more transparent that way, which I would prefer. Plus, it is the whole concept that I hate, more than paying the money.
I tip, normally 20%, because the system is set up that way, and I don't want to screw the server whose paycheck is set up in such a way that they need my tip, even if that is not my responsibility. But if the service is absolutely terrible (not the food, you cant blame bad cooking on the guy who carries it)I will rarely withhold it..
why are we expected to tip?
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The tipping system is one of the most ingenious systems of all time. It serves as a reverse commission, one that is paid by the customer rather than the employer. Because tipping is based on a percentage, your server is encouraged to recommend dessert, or higher priced food or drink options, because the more you spend, the more you will tip.
It is not about them working hard. If I order a 6 dollar hamburger and a 3 dollar desert at a cheap diner a 20% tip is about $2. If I order a $40 entrée at a higher end restaurant, a 20% tip is $8. Is the food at the more expensive restaurant harder to carry to my table? Why should I give him 4 times the money I gave the guy at the diner? The guy at the diner carried more food, the guy at the high end place didn't even have to bring me dessert.
It's not about customer service. No where else in the customer service industry are the customers expected to pay the person giving them the service in order to be served. Can you imagine walking in a store and asking for information about a product and being told, "well that item is $100, if you pay me $20, I'll be happy to help you with it"
Restaurant owners in the US have set up a system where their employees are incentivized to sell more, but customers pay the incentive. Not only that, but because of this they are exempt from, or subject to reduced, minimum wage laws. So they get to pay employees 3 or 4 bucks an hour, while their customers pay out the commission. It's a huge win win for the owners.
One could argue this is still better for the customer, because if full wages were paid rather than tipping, menu prices would reflect the difference. So you would end up paying that %15 - %20 percent anyway and it would be mandatory. At least under the current system, you have a choice. But I am not sure that this is completely true, as other countries seem to find the balance without tipping. Also at least pricing would be more transparent that way, which I would prefer. Plus, it is the whole concept that I hate, more than paying the money.
I tip, normally 20%, because the system is set up that way, and I don't want to screw the server whose paycheck is set up in such a way that they need my tip, even if that is not my responsibility. But if the service is absolutely terrible (not the food, you cant blame bad cooking on the guy who carries it)I will rarely withhold it..
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VinnyB
8 years ago
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Wow, that's a book sorry lol