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Having been a waitress once, many moons ago, I can say it is some of the hardest work I have ever done.

However, one thing the restaurant made clear is that the customer is always right. Most people like to sit and relax after eating, not bolt it down and run. Maybe they were on a date, or catching up, or just like to take their time. They may have felt the tip was fair. OR, they may have felt that she was rushing them to get out of there, and decided to draw it out. Who knows? I understand her frustration, but to blast them publicly and name the restaurant was wrong.
quote:
Originally posted by jmbo35660:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201...dd_facebook_firing_1

Don't blame the waitress at all for complaining. After all, how much more money could she had made that night had this couple not sat at her table for 3 hours?


If 3 hours is ALL they sat, that is minor compared to some that come in around 6pm and then close a restaurant down here in the Shoals. I waited tables in college and while it is annoying -- it is not rude or inappropriate. Obviously she didn't check on them too much or they would have felt the need to give her a better tip. If she was polite and friendly and "oh hang out as long as you want" -- we would have left her at least $5-10. If she was a snarky in her attitude as she obviously was in her facebook post -- she was lucky to get what she got. Most people that "park" will tell you at some point -- we are going to be here a while and that it's no big deal for you to ignore us. Also, it's not like she didn't get paid for being on the clock past her scheduled time. She could have told her manager -- these people are parked -- can I clean my section, turn the table over to someone else and they can have the tip and I can go home. I've never had a manager that wouldn't do that unless I was the last server on the floor.

There used to be a waitress at Quincey's a long time ago and I remember her getting a $1 tip for her mediocre service and her walking up to the customer as they were leaving and asking them if they were displeased with the service. She was fired on the spot. You can't bad mouth a customer to their face or to their back and expect to get away with it.
I was once at a night club in another state and had went to the bar to get another beer. To my surprise, the waitress/bartender refused to serve me. She was being a real smart *** and said something like "You aren't getting served because you have yet to tip me." At first I thought she was joking, then I saw the look on her face and I realized she wasn't kidding. So I got a little perturbed -- after all I was the customer here. If she doesn't like customers, I guess the bar can just shut down, I thought to myself.

So I said rather politely "can I please just have a beer." And she started literally hollering at me. I was flabbergasted that someone would act like this just for not being tipped. I mean yeah it sucks not to be tipped, but acting like a child is uncalled for. I was only like 22 and was a typical broke dude working for pennies, so I thought surely I can't be the only guy who can't afford to tip after each beer. So I started getting a little ticked off and said "WTF is your problem." About that time the owner/manager walked over. I fully expected him to tell her to calm down (remember I am the customer). Instead he looks at me and says "you shut your mouth or I will throw your *** onto the street." He then looked at my buddy who was just sitting there watching (my friend didn't say a word the entire timed) and told him "you too, I will throw your ass out too." Then he started saying something about how he doesn't tolerate people that don't tip in his bar (even though my buddy was tipping).

It took all I had in me not to charge over that bar and beat the sh*t out of the dude (and I am not the type to anger easily). My friend was grabbing me and pulling me away. About that time the owner was picking up his phone like he was getting ready to call the cops, so we rounded up the girls we were with and left.

This guy was basically calling me a criminal for simply not tipping (even though I was paying the outrageous $5 for each beer). It's not that I was being a tight-wad, it was just I was too broke to tip. Maybe if they lowered their beer prices, I could afford it!

I don't even expect this treatment in the most redneck bars here in Alabama. This place was an upscale joint (in a state up north) where I thought people were a bit more cultured. Then my friend told me "You aren't in Alabama anymore, people here expect tips and they just aren't very friendly in general." He acted like the whole incident was no big deal. He has lived up north his whole life so I suppose he is used to the unfriendly attitude most people have up there. (I have ran across a number of people that were born and raised up north and I simply have never liked any of them. They are all smart ***es, even if they don't try to be. It's just the culture up there).

I guess it's fine if the waitress sneered at me for not tipping, I somewhat expect that. But what I don't expect is for her to call me out on it and then be threatened with violence from the bar owner.

I later read that some states have laws where tipping is actually mandatory. This state, however, was not one of them and I don't think the laws apply to alcohol anyway (I think the laws only apply to restaurants where the restaurant has a right to append a tip to the bill automatically).

Ever since that time, I have been anti-tipping. I don't mean that I don't tip, I mean I am against the whole tipping model of pay for servers. I think it puts undue pressure on the servers, who apparently are ready to commit suicide if someone doesn't tip them. It also allows the bar/restaurant owner to get by with paying his employees peanuts (what is it, like $2.50 an hour? And even then the owner still gets a cut of the tips, which, imo, is highway robbery). Even worse, it makes customers feel as if they are bandits for not tipping a gal $5 for merely lifting the cooler lid, grabbing a beer and twisting the top. I am sorry, but it's not my responsibility to make sure she gets paid for doing mundane duties. She should be getting a decent salary from the bar owner.
I served for many years to get me through college. I have read many forums where servers/former servers have given advice that I think the public (espeicially those who have never served before) should consider. This is a good example of the things servers deal with. During the "non-busy" times, I had no problem with people sitting at my tables. If they just wanted to chat and said they were done, I would tell them to not hesitate if they needed anything else. The problem arises in the busy hours. Servers are only assigned a certain number of tables. So if a group comes in and sits for 3 plus hours, the server has lost out on any further tips from that table since there are people squatting. I would always continue the generosity even then, but it does get frustrating when people do that with no regard.
I can see how the server was peeved. I think it is very inconsiderate of people to sit in a busy resturant, especially when there are people waiting for tables to be seated. That really chaps my bacon. Be considerate. If you want to sit and talk and catch up, go to the park and find a bench. Those tables are for the resturant to make money, and if you are done eating, and there are folks waiting, get up and go some where.
The whole world would be a little better off, if people thought a little more about how their actions affect those around them.
And BTW, if you can afford to buy a $5 beer, you can afford to tip, I don't care if you are on a budget. If you can't afford to pass a little back to the girl who was serving you, go get a 40 ounce of Schiltz at the convenience and hold on to your money.
no one said there were people waiting.... and if it was close to closing, then there probably wern't many people there at all. if it was not closing, then I would assume the next waitress would have taken over. and as someone said before, they may have been catching up, or whatever, but a lot of people around here go out with friends to catch up. one thing we do is first think of a place that wont mind you staying a while... Dale's or Lahacienda are our favorites, and do remember that if you stay a while that you MAY be costingthe waiter/waitress an extran tip. if you left, someone else may have been seated there and they would have gotten another tip. so all we can do is keep this in mind then next time we go to eat, and drink a little, and stay a while, and one of our great Shoals restaurants. (and some waiters/waitresses have to split drink tips with the bartender, so keep that in mind also) I've heard tip at least a dollar a drink. or if you're a couple and drinking beer, (a lot), most tip a dollar for 2 beers. from what I've seen.
In my opinion people who do not tip well ruin service for those of us who do. If a server does a good job then award them. Even if they are horrible I tip 15%. Next time a server acts like they could care less about you It may be because a group of six came in, made a complicated order like well done steaks that take more time and loaded mashed potatoes minus sour cream and chives with extra cheese and the bacon and butter on the side and a salad with no romaine lettuce and extra pine nuts in the reduced fat dressing, and then tipped 5 dollars on an $80 bill.
quote:
Originally posted by teyates:
I think it is very inconsiderate of people to sit in a busy resturant, especially when there are people waiting for tables to be seated. That really chaps my bacon. Be considerate. If you want to sit and talk and catch up, go to the park and find a bench. Those tables are for the resturant to make money, and if you are done eating, and there are folks waiting, get up and go some where.
The whole world would be a little better off, if people thought a little more about how their actions affect those around them.


I never said their were people waiting for a table. This was like 2pm & only one table besides mine that had people seated. Our chat time was approx. 45 minutes after our meal & the waitress was well tipped for her time.
quote:
Originally posted by canade:


However, one thing the restaurant made clear is that the customer is always right.


while it is true that 'the customer is always right', this doesn't mean that the customer isn't a rude obnoxious idiot.

i have, as a manager, escorted people out of the place i was in charge of because there were being obnoxious to the staff.

whether the customer is "right" or not, there is no reason to ever accept abuse from them.

Ever.

as to tips? i tip what the server is worth. i get good service, they get good tips. i get poor service, they get poor, or no, tips. i don't base a tip on the quality of the food, the server can't help that. if the steak is cooked wrong, remember that all the server did was deliver it. it's the cook that can't tell medium rare from medium well.
i've ordered a plate of wings and a coke, and left a hundred on the table, because i'd been there before and always gotten great service from that particular server, so felt the desire to reward them for it.
i've also had a bill for over a hundred bucks for just my wife and i, and left no tip at all because the sheer horriblness (is that a word?) of the service. when we were seated there were only 2 other couples in the place and we waited 30 minutes for the server to come to our table. she gave us silverware and left. 15 minutes later she came back to get our drink order and give us menus. when she brought the drinks about a minute later she asked if we were ready to order. we asked for a few minutes to look at the menu. she let out a huge perturbed sigh and walked off. 30 minutes later she camed back and said 'you ready Now?"

this was an expensive " High Class" place, btw. one that no longer exists.

the food was great, and once we decided to ingore this horrible woman we had a good night. when she brought us our food she also tossed the bill on the table and we didn't see her again for the rest of the night. going away and leaving us alone was the best thing she did for us the whole night. total time spent there was probably 2 and a half hours or so. we paid with cash - left exact change on the table because we didn't trust her with plastic. besides, she never came back, so we couldn't have given her the card if we had wanted to. i spoke to the manager on the way out, told him the food was great and the girl was godawful.

yadda yadda yadda... anyway.. i didn't tip her. i don't care why she was having a bad day. if she was dealing with something that was so horrible that she behaved that way, she shouldn't have come to work.
15 % is standard i guess.. i give that for acceptable adequate service. they give me the bare minimum, they get the bare minimum. if you tip people no matter how horrible the service is, you're just rewarding poor service and encouraging it. if they are gonna get 15% regardless, what incentive do they have to treat you above the minumum?

in other words - either you pay for what you get, or you get what you pay for.

( oooo.. profound, huh? lol)
She should have just been polite to the customers, then gone to the breakroom to complain.
I thought 20 percent was standard for good service?
Thenagel- I agree- there has to be some element of "incentive" for really great service.
My pet peeve- bringing the entree when you're still eating the salad.....everything just always seems so rushed. Kinda takes the pleasure out of it. And when Ifeel the waiters urgency to turn the tables over, I get all kinds of irked...
Hi all,

First of all, a "tip" is a "gratuity" -- meaning a "thank you for good service." When service is good -- I will leave a very good "gratuity." As a matter of fact, my wife complains that I leave too much. When service sucks -- I will leave nothing.

According to the article, this lady said that, "The customers kept her at work an hour after she was supposed to clock out."

That is bull. I have been in many, many restaurants when the waiter or waitress's work period ended. He/she would come to me and tell me that he/she was leaving and that another would finish waiting on us. Now, if his/her service had been really pleasant, I would give him/her the tip right then -- just to make sure that no one got shorted.

But, this lady claiming she had to work an hour overtime because her table was still busy -- is bull. Personally, it sounds to me like she is just a spoiled brat.

And, yes, I have worked at a restaurant serving people. My first job in Sheffield, at age 14, was working as a car hop (yes, this one had male car hops) at a restaurant. And, when I was serving my very first customer, a young man dressed in a suit sitting in the car with his date -- while trying to learn how to connect the tray to the window -- I dumped a big glass of ice water in his lap. I guess that cooled his ardor for the night. And, can you believe it? He did not leave me a tip!

So, I do know what it is like to serve people in a restaurant. It is hard work; but, a good waiter/waitress can make pretty good money in tips/gratuities.

We cannot believe all that we read in the newspapers or hear on TV news. Isn't that surprising?

Just my thoughts.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill
Two points:

1. I had a boss one time years ago who was a horrible. He did, however,say one thing with which I agree: "The customer is NOT always right, but the customer IS always the customer."
2. One of my children was a server in a popular restaurant through half of high school and all of college. Trust me, if you leave a bad tip or -- even worse -- a card with a Scripture rather than a tip at all, you WILL be remembered. Also remember that not all delays are the fault of the server. A cook who didn't show up, etc.
quote:
Originally posted by vplee123:
quote:
card with a Scripture rather than a tip at all, you WILL be remembered

are you kidding me? Do people really do that??


I won't mention the name of the church, but it is one of the larger ones in the area. My understanding is that they have stopped this practice. The cards had a Scripture verse on one side and said "Why weren't you in church?" on the other. WWJD? The reason this person wasn't there is because he/she was serving these so-called Christians to earn textbook money.
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Gray:
Hi all,

First of all, a "tip" is a "gratuity" -- meaning a "thank you for good service."


In theory that's correct. But when federal law allows employers to pay only $2.13/hour, it's not just a "thank you." It's a necessary part of the server's minimum wage. The employers are putting the burden on your back to pay their servers.
Clover_Dale, above, said:

[QUOTE]I was only like 22 and was a typical broke dude working for pennies, so I thought surely I can't be the only guy who can't afford to tip after each beer.[QUOTE]

Elsewhere Clover-Dale tells us he "was paying the outrageous $5 for each beer."

I have just one question for Clover-Dale. Why would any "broke dude working for pennies" be sucking suds at some place that charged $5 for a single beer? Get real! If you could pay $5 for each cool one you were downing, couldn't you have afforded a little tip for that hard-working waitress? CHEAPSKATE!
quote:
Originally posted by falcon1234:
Two points:

a card with a Scripture rather than a tip at all, you WILL be remembered.


Don't be surprised if your normally cheerful server seems irritable on a Sunday afternoon, either.

the "church crowd" is notoriously loud, rude, condescending, high maintenance, HORRIBLE tippers.
It would be nice if the employers paid minimum wage for waiters/waitresses, but I don't think that will ever change. I do tip what I think they deserve. One thing that DOES bother me is going into a restaurant and hearing the employees talk about how little money they made that night. I think that should be out of earshot from the customers.
quote:
I won't mention the name of the church, but it is one of the larger ones in the area. My understanding is that they have stopped this practice. The cards had a Scripture verse on one side and said "Why weren't you in church?" on the other. WWJD? The reason this person wasn't there is because he/she was serving these so-called Christians to earn textbook money.


Unbelievable. That is probably the most obnoxious thing I have ever heard....wow.

"First of all, a "tip" is a "gratuity" -- meaning a "thank you for good service." "=
not really, unless the establishment is paying min. wage.

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