Comments on: What’s the deal with Tips?

By: jetgirl

jetgirl — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:41:31 +0000

Can you send us a pic of your face so i know to add a grat to your ticket should you come into our restaurant? That way you wont have to tip at all, my pay will be included in your price. In fact that’s a great idea! This would solve the problem! If you guys had a members card “People Who Stopped Tipping” show it to your waiter/cab driver/bartender well before you get service, we will then include our service charges to your ticket, saving you the hassle of having to deal with figuring the tip out yourself. Our management wont have to technically “pay” us and you can still eat your plate of nachos for 5 bucks instead of 9.

By: Jonathan Weatherhead

Jonathan Weatherhead — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:12:39 +0000

To Insure Promptness. A legacy from a century ago. Certain elements of tipping seem to survived, but I don’t think the promptness part has… Then again, the tip was supposed to be given beforehand to ensure the promptness so meh.

By: Acinonyx

Acinonyx — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 23:46:02 +0000

While I agree with some of your points, I think you and a vast majority of anti-tippers may be missing the point….not intentionally, but maybe about how the restaurant industry works.
Firstly, I can guarantee that there are bad restaurants, waiters, bartenders,etc…who will make what I say seem moot, but I can only speak for the general trend in the service business.
That said, I think tipping is an out-dated concept. Unfortunately, the vast majority of restaurants in the US would not survive if they were required to provide even the standard minimum wage their service staff. If these businesses increased prices to cover worker salaries/wage, the general consumer would be priced out of the market. We have become accustomed to paying what is essentially a discount on the food while you are given the option of paying for the service. Do you want to pay upwards of 50% more for your dinner? I know 50% is quite a bit higher than 15-20% tip, but in most service businesses your tips usually help pay a variety of workers not just the ones you are tipping. An example…your tip to a waiter is usually portioned out between waiter, busboy, bartender, hostess, etc…
Some states require that some of these positions are given the minimum wage, but most of these jobs are paid in the 2.13/hr and are dependent on portions of your tips.
Another consideration is worker benefits….there are almost zero benefits in the service business. The employer saves and you as the consumer reap the benefits in low-cost. States usually do not enforce usual standards as sub-minimum wage employees fall in a separate class.
The benefit to the lower costs is greater variety. Japan, Australia and Germany may have it right in the tipping department, but the average US city has a much greater range of restaurants than even Toyko.
I would prefer the tipping system abolished as a whole, but I also love to dine out and I would hate to see meltdown in the food business if it was.

By: w b

w b — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:58:16 +0000

Wow. Agree wholeheartedly with this article.

As for “US BARTENDER” I think you need to realize that a tip is basically a bribe. So you and other people that work in the food service industry are all basically slimy rats that must be tipped (bribed) to offer good service.

Are all restaurants run by the mafia? I personally will never leave a tip again, unless the service given could be deemed to have been above expectations.

I order a drink, I pay for it, you give me the drink.
I order a drink, you put an extra shot or something equivalent into it, I pay for it and tip for the extra, you give me the drink.

See how it works?
Standard service = standard pay, exceptional service = tip for above and beyond.

By: TEH PROOFREADA

TEH PROOFREADA — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:57:33 +0000

Abolish tipping and boycott establishments that would slander your name (see above) for not participating in this idiotic and antiquated practice. There is no tipping whatsoever here in Tokyo, and the service is fast and efficient… essentially light years beyond the USA. Waitstaff in Japan also don’t bother the customer every five minutes in the guise of providing “outstanding service” and getting the fat tips. A meal in peace. What a revolutionary concept.

By: winter

winter — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:03:50 +0000

I agree with you as well.

By: US Bartender

US Bartender — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:24:32 +0000

You’re a fucking idiot! I suppose you wonder why you get treated like shit by staff of restaurants and bars that you frequent more than once. Trust me – we remember you for the cheap prick you are. As a result, 1)yes, we are ignoring you on purpose, 2)we are slandering your name to other customers (i.e. the chic you are trying to hit on), 3) we are insinuating to violence prone regulars that you are fucking with them, and 4)we are overcharging you on purpose. Keep stiffin’ us on tips dipshit – it’ll end up costing you more in the long run!

By: yuwiedude

yuwiedude — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:41:29 +0000

I totally agree with everything you’ve said. I think tipping is stupid. And I actually read all of that other article; wow, the unwritten “rules” in US made my head spin, if I ever travel there, I will have to really think how much and who should I tip all the time…

By: Nephtali

Nephtali — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:50:39 +0000

I could not agree with you more. I posted comments on that article before because it basically goes against everything I believe. Tipping merely for the sake of tipping is one of the cornerstones to why our society is so ignorant and shows a great example of how we like to waste our money for social status.