More Greed to hit the Olympics

EagleSmack

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I think that might be tantamount to fighting ignorance with ignorance. People who are cheap or regard the waitress as a "peasant", may start changing their thinking when the waitress starts taking 10 minutes to acknowledge their presense. Best just to act classy and ignore the boors.

Well I think at the end of the day the waitress still gets ripped off if there is no tip. How does the waiter/waitress know if they are going to get tipped or not? She or he is going to bust their butt and when they pay the tab then they find out what they got. The only way the wait staff can get pay back is if they come in again.

I've always been a good tipper. 20% each time and it is not because I am made of money its just that I most likely make more than them. My own brand of socialism!
 

Avro

Time Out
Feb 12, 2007
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Well, if a restaurant is making an 18%, 15%, or 10% tip mandatory, such as in European countries as has been discussed in here, then obviously, they 'proper wage' is roughly that much more than they were making. Basically, rather than raising the prices on the menu 15%, they're calling it a 'tip'. It just seems silly to me.

If you give a tip in the U.K.they wonder what the hell you are doing. You just don't tip them.
 

YukonJack

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Dec 26, 2008
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"Well I think at the end of the day the waitress still gets ripped off if there is no tip. How does the waiter/waitress know if they are going to get tipped or not? She or he is going to bust their butt and when they pay the tab then they find out what they got. The only way the wait staff can get pay back is if they come in again."

Unfortunately, most restaurants in the U. S. as well as in Canada use the deplorable COMMUNIST way to share tips. All goes in the pot and the worst server will get exactly as much as the best.

If every server were allowed to keep what he/she EARNED by being courteous, polite and nice service everywhere would improve.

Until then we have nothing but louts robbing the industrious.
 
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karrie

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Jan 6, 2007
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What frustrates me is that we reward someone for doing their job. My husband doesn't get rewarded for being polite and courteous and performing his job efficiently. Pay people fairly, and expect that they will perform their jobs well. It seems like such a simple thing. But no... instead we have this ridiculous b.s. of bouncing back and forth, people not knowing what they'll get, waitresses ending up angry at one customer who they busted hump for and got nothing from... it's a stupid system.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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What frustrates me is that we reward someone for doing their job. My husband doesn't get rewarded for being polite and courteous and performing his job efficiently. Pay people fairly, and expect that they will perform their jobs well. It seems like such a simple thing. But no... instead we have this ridiculous b.s. of bouncing back and forth, people not knowing what they'll get, waitresses ending up angry at one customer who they busted hump for and got nothing from... it's a stupid system.

Yeah, it's funny that some jobs, people expect to tip. Others, you're just treated like crap.

Why don't you tip the cashier at Walmar?
 

countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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"I think the restaruant folks know that the city is going to be flooded with foreigners that simply won't tip. They never have and never will. Families of athletes are going to dine together with other families, groups coming from other countries to support their country, etc. I do not think it is greed but the fact that the restaraunts are going to be swamped and they will most likely be large groups that at the end of the meal will simply pay the exact tab and be out the door leaving behind a very angry wait staff."

There is a favourite riddle in Florida: "What is the difference between a canoe and a Canadian?"

Answer: A canoe tips.

That's a good one! :lol:
 

karrie

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Jan 6, 2007
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Yeah, it's funny that some jobs, people expect to tip. Others, you're just treated like crap.

Why don't you tip the cashier at Walmar?

One that always makes me wonder....

Why don't you tip your dental hygenist?

:lol:
 

countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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On the subject of tips themselves... I'd prefer a restaurant tell me that their waiters/waitresses are paid properly, and that cost is factored into my meal, and leave it at that. This whole notion of underpaying people and expecting it to be made up by customers is dumb imo.

It might be dumb, but it has been the practise for a long time.

I still like to be able to be able to reward the server for a job well done (or above and beyond) if I think it's worth it.
 

countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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It sounds to me less like a money grab, and more like an attempt to discourage large groups.

If you've ever sat down and dealt with a waitress in a group of 8 people or more, you'd know that it is way harder for them. It's harder for them to keep track of who ordered what, it's louder for other patrons. And, it seems to be more likely for the kitchen to miss something in the order when trying to coordinate the arrival of 8 plates at once.

Add to that the fact that people usually want the tab split up, and people seem to be more willing to short on the tip, assuming others will cover it.

I'd attempt to discourage it too, or at least to make sure it's worth the headache. On a normal day, it's probably not a big issue, but, with the Olympics in town, they probably realized right away that it could be a chronic issue causing constant headache as people move tables around and talk to someone 6 people over at the top of their lungs.

If a restaurant manager is on the ball, he'll assign 2 servers (or more, if necessary) to really large tables so that it can be handled properly. It's easy to do, especially for restaurants that take reservations. It's harder to do if they don't, but then, if it was easy, anybody could do it! :lol:
 

countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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I think the restaruant folks know that the city is going to be flooded with foreigners that simply won't tip. They never have and never will. Families of athletes are going to dine together with other families, groups coming from other countries to support their country, etc. I do not think it is greed but the fact that the restaraunts are going to be swamped and they will most likely be large groups that at the end of the meal will simply pay the exact tab and be out the door leaving behind a very angry wait staff.

Here in the states some wait staff do depend on tips as a portion of their wage and have to give a mandatory percentage of their tips to the bus boy and bartender at the end of their shift.

Some people tip, some don't. That's life. My daughter has had large tables that left no tip (sometimes it was deserved) but she's also been tipped $100 for breakfast for two. Her position on it? It all comes out in the wash, but I'm proud of the fact that she doesn't whine about it! (She got her basic training in a restaurant I owned, and whining wasn't an acceptable practise there - you just took the good with the not-so-good and were thankful we had customers!)
 

countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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I think that might be tantamount to fighting ignorance with ignorance. People who are cheap or regard the waitress as a "peasant", may start changing their thinking when the waitress starts taking 10 minutes to acknowledge their presense. Best just to act classy and ignore the boors.

...and be thankful you have customers to serve.
 

countryboy

Traditionally Progressive
Nov 30, 2009
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"Well I think at the end of the day the waitress still gets ripped off if there is no tip. How does the waiter/waitress know if they are going to get tipped or not? She or he is going to bust their butt and when they pay the tab then they find out what they got. The only way the wait staff can get pay back is if they come in again."

Unfortunately, most restaurants in the U. S. as well as in Canada use the deplorable COMMUNIST way to share tips. All goes in the pot and the worst server will get exactly as much as the worst.

If every server were allowed to keep what he/she EARNED by being courteous, polite and nice service everywhere would improve.

Until then we have nothing but louts robbing the industrious.

Not true, YJ. Granted, there are some that have an equal-share policy, but I think you'd find more that - if they have a tip-sharing arrangement - make sure the server gets the majority of the tip, a small percentage to the kitchen staff, and so on. Nothing too much wrong with that, as it takes the whole team to make the experience wonderful...for example, a server can be very courteous but if the meal gets screwed up or delayed in the kitchen, it will affect the tip.
 

countryboy

Traditionally Progressive
Nov 30, 2009
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One that always makes me wonder....

Why don't you tip your dental hygenist?

:lol:

'Cause they get paid more than an average server? Besides, will they make your teeth cleaner if you leave them a tip? I think the results of the job are defined narrowly enough that it doesn't leave them a lot of room for flexibility. And, I think they work under some different (than a restaurant server) conditions...like, maybe only "serving" one customer at a time? :lol:
 

countryboy

Traditionally Progressive
Nov 30, 2009
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On the subject of tips themselves... I'd prefer a restaurant tell me that their waiters/waitresses are paid properly, and that cost is factored into my meal, and leave it at that. This whole notion of underpaying people and expecting it to be made up by customers is dumb imo.

Karrie - there is another aspect to the discussion...a server is, in some ways, like a salesperson...part of their pay (tips) is based on results. The possibility of getting tips is an incentive for that server to do a great job, same as a salesperson selling lots of stuff. This can work well for both the employee (extra cash) as well as the employer (less risk on the fixed cost side).

I know many servers who love the incentive of the tip system and have told me they would be less enchanted with a fixed rate of pay. The fact that there is an incentive there is also a potential payoff for the customer, especially if they have a server who is on the ball and aware of a possible extra payoff. Of course, it doesn't always work out that way each and every time, but that's what makes it exciting...for some servers.

I did a little experiment when I owned a restaurant...I kicked around the idea of fixed rates of pay with no tip vs. lower rates with tips at staff meetings. Every single time, the servers opted for the tip system. Mind you, I took the time to explain to them the costs involved in the meals, etc. so they had a pretty good feel for the big picture. But again, their decision was to go for the tips in an effort to increase their overall net pay. Ah, they were a great bunch and they served our customers well. And got rewarded too.
 

EagleSmack

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Feb 16, 2005
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I've never heard of waitresses and waiters sharing their whole tip among other waitresses and waiters. Perhaps it happens but it is by no means the standard practice. The wait staff does tip the bartenders and bus boys clearing the tables.
 
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countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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I've never heard of waitresses and waiters sharing their whole tip among other waitresses and waiters. Perhaps it happens but it is by no means the standard practice. They wait stuff does tip the bartenders and bus boys clearing the tables.

It varies. Sometimes the kitchen staff get a share too. Depends on the restaurant.
 

EagleSmack

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Feb 16, 2005
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Well in my opinion I think it is a good idea for the Olympics. These folks, your fellow Canadians, are going to be busting their butts for lots of people who simply won't tip.
 

EagleSmack

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Feb 16, 2005
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If you give a tip in the U.K.they wonder what the hell you are doing. You just don't tip them.

This kind of made me laugh.

On the flips side I am guilty of watching "REHAB: Party at the Hard Rock" and this waitress got a cabana full of Brits. She was moaning throughout the whole episode that brits are known for not tipping or not tipping a lot. In the end she was right. They gave her a small tip and because of the size of the tip it all went to the bartenders and bar backs. She basically worked for free that day as the waitresses only work for tips.

SO...she chased the brits down and was trying to explain that the $200 will only cover the bartenders and barbacks and she basically worked for free that day. The manager came over and simply told the british guys to have a nice day and thanks for coming...then promptly fired the waitress.

"Enough with the tears" he said "They spent $3000 dollars here and you embarrassed them. You don't complain when people over tip you do you? Pack your stuff...you're fired."

:lol:
 

darkbeaver

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Jan 26, 2006
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Well I think at the end of the day the waitress still gets ripped off if there is no tip. How does the waiter/waitress know if they are going to get tipped or not? She or he is going to bust their butt and when they pay the tab then they find out what they got. The only way the wait staff can get pay back is if they come in again.

I've always been a good tipper. 20% each time and it is not because I am made of money its just that I most likely make more than them. My own brand of socialism!

You communist bassterd! ;-)