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I'm going to preface this by saying that I always tip what's suggested to be the standard tip.

But god is the concept of tipping [expletive] stupid. Just include the charge in the [expletive] price of whatever good/service I'm buying. And employers can just pay their [expletive] employees what they're worth. If I have a problem with a server, I'll let them know, and if problems persist, I'll speak with a manager. If I'm particularly fond of a server I'll leave positive feedback. If it happens enough, that server should get fired or a raise, respectively. I never tip based on performance because service everywhere is exactly the [expletive] same 99% of the time. And when it is exceptionally bad, 99% of the time it isn't the one person's fault. People's salaries shouldn't be in the hands of the asswipes that make up the general population. And what about the situations where tipping is a questionable practice? Do I have to feel like an [expletive] if i don't tip? And don't even get me started on percentage-based tipping.

I'm thoroughly convinced that the practice of tipping is bad for customers, bad for employees, and bad for employers. Unfortunately it seems like one of those things that won't go away without legislation.

I pretty much agree w your points. I remember one nye my gf and I were the only two servers at this place in Grafton. We had a special that night. Something like a surf and turf of lobster and filet for 60. Buy two snd get a free bottle of wine or drinks snd a champagne toast. ..or something.

Anyway, I had probably 25-30 people that nighy and seemingly every single person ordered the special and ordered more drinks on top of the free ones. All in all I walked away w a bottle of wine and 300+ $. My gf, a better server than me, walked away w somewhere between 100 and 150. Same work...same amount of customers....1/3 of the pay. No fault of hers, I had customers comingnin wanting the special and drinking like fish while she sold like 2 and those people left a [expletive] tip.

Crazy. Nights like that.

i agree with the OP

i always tip well regardless of the service. I mean you have to be pretty [expletive] bad if i don't leave a good tip. I've never in my life stiffed anyone because i've been there and i know that everyone has a bad night and serving [expletive] sucks sometimes.

what about sonic? Who here tips at Sonic? i mean, i always leave like the change and i always feel bad about it, but like i dont feel like i should be obligated to tip a fast food worker. Is that bad?

The thing i hate the most is when you go say, a sub shop and there is a tip line on the receipt....like talk about guilt trip there. I never tip at places like that either.

go birds wrote:i agree with the OP

i always tip well regardless of the service. I mean you have to be pretty [expletive] bad if i don't leave a good tip. I've never in my life stiffed anyone because i've been there and i know that everyone has a bad night and serving [expletive] sucks sometimes.

what about sonic? Who here tips at Sonic? i mean, i always leave like the change and i always feel bad about it, but like i dont feel like i should be obligated to tip a fast food worker. Is that bad?

The thing i hate the most is when you go say, a sub shop and there is a tip line on the receipt....like talk about guilt trip there. I never tip at places like that either.

Yes I tip at Sonic. Usually a dollar. My typical meal there is about $4. I never tip at sub shops or places where there is a tip jar the register.

I think tipping is generally [expletive] and a way for the owner of the establishment to get out of paying a real wage, but of course I tip because it's not my waitresses fault the owner of the place she works is a [expletive] douche.

IMADreamer wrote:I think tipping is generally [expletive] and a way for the owner of the establishment to get out of paying a real wage, but of course I tip because it's not my waitresses fault the owner of the place she works is a [expletive] douche.

Waiters/Service workers make a lot more with tips than they would with a "real" wage. But I'm guessing in IMADreamerussia you would consider a "real" wage to be >$25 an hour.

As for tipping in general, as a former service worker (Domino's):
1. You don't have to tip based on percentage as long as you take care of the person, though most will still [expletive] about you if you choose not to. If you want my opinion on what a "good" tipper tips a pizza guy, tip a minimum of three or the first digit of the cost of your order (so if you order $59 of pizza, tip at least $5).
2. It's nice to tip when you carry out, but it is 100% not expected/required. This often leads to awkward situations, but the overwhelming majority of people do NOT tip for carryout, and they shouldn't, IMO.
3. Don't tip fast food workers, even at Sonic. If they want tips, they should get a real service job that involves more than walking your food out to your car. It's not your problem Sonics don't have drive through windows.
4. If you live close to the store that is delivering your pizza, it is not ok to stiff the driver because "you live so close." Since you live so close, get off your ass a pick the pizza up yourself.
5. If your server does something outside of their normal job for you (e.g. you ordered 10 pizzas and the driver had to haul a 30lb bag around), tip them more than you normally would.

I agree sort of, but be careful what you wish for. Your good, knowledgeable servers can make $50k+ ($100k at the right place in NY, San Fran etc) and paying that kind of wage would sink restaurants that operate on already-thin margins. So if they paid, say, $12/hr, the price of the food would go up and the level of service would go down. I think of professional servers more like independent contractors than employees of specific restaurants. I could really give a [expletive] where I'm at if I can do my thing and ring $1,000+. Last night it was $1,978. I don't know what I'd be doing otherwise, but if the job paid a standard wage I sure as [expletive] wouldn't be doing it. If you don't want to pay someone for facilitating your dinner, get it to go and fill your own water and bus your own dishes.

Waitress at our local cafe was offered a job making 18$ an hour and turned it down because she could make more as a waitress. Hours and such were also part of it but I guarantee you that the restaurant couldn't afford to pay her near what she pulls in in tips. She is darn good and works her butt off though. Others don't make nearly as much but if they would spend the time they do [expletive] about money and use it to be a better waitress they would double their tips.

Overall I don't think tipping is a bad practice, ya there are going to be times you get stuffed. One job i worked where i got tipped it wasnt the ones that should tip big that did but it seemed to even Out. Overall though I think it allows good employees an oppertunity to make more money.

Restaurants can afford to pay their servers. Just include it in the price of the food or include it as a separate flat charge on the receipt. It shouldn't be up to me.

go birds wrote:The thing i hate the most is when you go say, a sub shop and there is a tip line on the receipt....like talk about guilt trip there. I never tip at places like that either.

I know what you mean. I always tip at least 25-30% when I sit down, but not on to go orders. That tip line didn't used to be there on to go order receipts. They would just sat "sign here". I got some wings to go from BWW the other day and the cashier gave me the receipt and said "fill this out". Subtle, but suggestive. I just signed and walked out with my head down in shame.

stlouie_lipp wrote:

go birds wrote:The thing i hate the most is when you go say, a sub shop and there is a tip line on the receipt....like talk about guilt trip there. I never tip at places like that either.

I know what you mean. I always tip at least 25-30% when I sit down, but not on to go orders. That tip line didn't used to be there on to go order receipts. They would just sat "sign here". I got some wings to go from BWW the other day and the cashier gave me the receipt and said "fill this out". Subtle, but suggestive. I just signed and walked out with my head down in shame.

Don't feel bad. It's just there because the computer system prints the same way at all the terminals.

I like being able to tip more as a regular. There are a couple of bars I frequent and if it's busy I don't wait for drinks or whatever because they know I'm going to take care of them.