Tips for tips: advice on being a server

[cardsfan2222]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

There's no reason you can't cook te same food at home for probably less money.

If you don't like the practice of tipping don't go out to eat, or get take out (which you should still tip a dollar or two on), instead of screwing over those of us that simply bring you your food and drink.

I never said I don't like the practice of tipping. I don't see any reason to tip 30% or more though. How exactly is tipping the standard 15-20% screwing you over?

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Tipping takeout? Everyone there whi had a hand in taking care of you is making minimum wage or more. Why don't you come to Lowe's and tip me if you ask any questions? If I am helping someone for 5-10 minutes and they buy $500 worth of crap should I expect even $1 for the personal service I gave them?

[Beantown]

Tipping takeout? Everyone there whi had a hand in taking care of you is making minimum wage or more. Why don't you come to Lowe's and tip me if you ask any questions? If I am helping someone for 5-10 minutes and they buy $500 worth of crap should I expect even $1 for the personal service I gave them?

Because people in Lowes actually see a check. Servers do not. I have yet to get a single check in the year plus I have been serving at this current restaurant. It all gets taken out in tips. Totally different situations.

[st67]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Tipping is an extremely stupid cultural thing we have. Plenty of countries don't do it. But we just kind of have to, because they're paid with the assumption they'll get tips.

[Beantown]

I never said I don't like the practice of tipping. I don't see any reason to tip 30% or more though. How exactly is tipping the standard 15-20% screwing you over?

Yeah, my edit never went through. Didn't mean to single you out, just used your post a jumping off point. Sorry.

Also, 30% should be saved for places that you're a regular at or if the service is absolutely incredible.

20% should be the average though. Sorry again for seemingly singling you out.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I've never tipped for takeout because I didn't think getting takeout required a server.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I don't tip by percentages. I usually go by the increments because I'm OCD like that.

If the bill comes out to 19, I'll put 25 or something.

[st67]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Yeah, my edit never went through. Didn't mean to single you out, just used your post a jumping off point. Sorry.

Also, 30% should be saved for places that you're a regular at or if the service is absolutely incredible.

20% should be the average though. Sorry again for seemingly singling you out.

I'm curious. Why should 20% be the average, exactly? Who decides this, and why?

Percentage based tipping makes absolutely no sense in the first place - but I'm curious how people always come up with their "x% should be the norm".

[OSUFan_88]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Didn't know there were so many Anti-Tipites in this place.

[Beantown]

I've never tipped for takeout because I didn't think getting takeout required a server.

Depends on the restaurant. A place like Outback a dedicated takeout person, where as my restaurant the bartender takes the order, packages it and brings it to you.

And I don't mean tip a percentage of the bill. I literally mean a dollar or two. Not that it's a big deal but those are the kind of things that are just nice to see from people.

[Beantown]

I'm curious. Why should 20% be the average, exactly? Who decides this, and why?

Percentage based tipping makes absolutely no sense in the first place - but I'm curious how people always come up with their "x% should be the norm".

The standard % a (corporate) restaurant, that I've come across out here, will add as a gratuity to large parties is 18%. That is what the restaurant seems worthy.

Most servers round up to 20% because the extra 2% covers the tip outs that we has to do at the end of the night to hosts/bartenders/bus-boys/runners.

Thats, truthfully, where the 20% comes from with the logical ones. Others are just greedy. Plus 20% is a nice gesture for the person that just waited on you so you didn't have to go to the grocery store to buy food and then go home to cook it.

Truthfully, unless you're a horrendous tipper (and yes, 10% and below is considered horrendous to us) that doesn't bother me much. It's the people who go to restaurants and act like us servers are their slaves that piss me off. Why people feel the desire to **** with and piss off the people that handle their food is beyond me.

[Sublime12089]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I have to report my full income, they should to. Simple as that. And who are you to say that a server could use that money more than me? I'm a decent tipper, but there's no reason they deserve 30% to bring my food and refill my drink.

In my experience most places make them report most of it, but they will never report their full cash tips. Why would they? Would you?

As far as your redlight analogy, that creates a public danger, servers not claiming 100% of their cash tips does not.

And because many low/mid level servers have trouble getting by, much less going out to eat a similar meal that you just did.

I tip 30% at places that know me, but 20% for good service is satisfactory. 10% is not. Additionally, in other places (Europe) servers are paid a real wage, here they are not.


Edit: Many of you are coming across as extremely petty in your reasonings. "I don't get tipped, why should they? (they don't even make minimum wage, even many that handle your takeout) and "I have to claim all my income, so should they (the economic realities of your life and theirs are likely totally different).

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I wasn't aware that only rich people go out to eat.

[SuperBowlNachos]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

Because people in Lowes actually see a check. Servers do not. I have yet to get a single check in the year plus I have been serving at this current restaurant. It all gets taken out in tips. Totally different situations.

I'm not saying not to tip at all I know they rely on tips. My whole thing goes back to the math I did earlier. Four tables an hour. $6 tip per table. Four hours a night. Five days a week. That is $480 for 20 hours of work. That is my low estimate since there will be tables that leave $10+. Which the person earlier saying $10 is a bad table is just flat out ridiculous.

Im only a bad tipper at restaurants. Its totally different at a bar where you are pretty much placing an order for each drink you get.

[RockinDaMike]

Re: Tips for tips: advice on being a server

I been a server, busser and been in many tips jobs. You can't control what people will tip you. All you can do is control what you do and work hard.

Don't listen to all this chatter about cheap tipping, this all BS everyone is talking about right now. This is about how you can be a server and make money becoming a server.

First off, do your research and pick a restaurant that would fit your skill set. Since you are new, maybe a chain restaurant with an easy menu would be a good start. Also you want to be in a place that serves alcohol. No free refills and people want to drink.

Check the out the prices in the menu, cheaper the items, smaller the tips will be. My sister is right now working at buffalo wild wings and this is her first time being a server. She does ok but I think she has the skills and experience to move to bigger restaurants now. Don't get stuck in one place, you can gain the experience and move up to bigger restaurants.

LEARN THE MENU like the back of your hand. Know every drink/combination there is possible and be confident that you know what every item taste like. I would suggest even eating everything at least once when you start.

Tips on serving:

-You're an actor out there, no matter how bad your day was or how bad the previous table, NEVER bring it the next table. Be upbeat, happy and you will get that person who will tip good because you are a good server, but if you bring a bad attitude to the table, people are going to feel that and will have a bad experience with you. The goal is to impress everyone and they will become your regulars and you will get tipped more from these people.

-Don't ask, assume. Don't say "What would you like to drink?" Better off, "We have great beer coming off the tap right now, I suggest trying our Pale Ale or are you a dark beer drinker" or come at a group of guys or girls and straight up say "How about a round of shots to start off the night?" They'll either take you up for it or they'll tell that just want water. Start high and work your way down.

When its a couple, for sure mention the wines and get to know ALL YOUR WINES and what food its good for. You may not be at this type of restaurant right away but if you do, that's a big money maker.

Alcohol is a great way to add on to the tab. If a group is having a great time and your helping, they are going to order more. Be attentive and check on your tables frequently. Like I said work hard.

-When its time for the food, if its a high end restaurant offer one of the highest items on the menu. Offer the prime rib with crab right away and tell its the best you've had. If they go for it great, that bill goes even higher. Of course go over some of your favorite appetizers. If they are thinking big dinner, couple it with a small appetizer.

-If you can get a dessert, great. A lot of times they can be too full, so offer a dessert a couple or a group can share. You may even come by before half way of their dinner and say "Hey if you want to save some room for dessert we can box that up."

That's the skill you will need to learn, how can you keep adding to that bill and you will do fine. More often you will have people tip the right way and not worry about the bad tippers.