[paulandjean]

regarding dunkin donuts, I never tip those kind of stores. Would you tip at burger king,KFC, and the gas station.

[redwitch]

I've tipped at Dunkin' Donuts, BK, etc., but it was for truly exceptional service. Otherwise, I don't. I know they only get minimum wage there, but, sadly, that is their skill set. Servers at restaurants, on the other hand, do not get minimum wage.

And SWR, you're right -- it would be nice if servers would get the minimum wage and tips would rightfully get to them. Hostesses, expediters (they check the plates before servers take them to customers to ensure it is the proper order, etc.), busboys, dishwashers, those working takeout (takeout customers rarely tip even though it is more work to bag the food than it is to bring it to the table) should get more than minimum wage. But, that's not the way it is. And restaurants would go out of business if they had to pay fair wages -- they can only raise prices so much before diners would go elsewhere or stay at home. What needs to change is the law that alllows restaurants to pay less than minimum wage so that it would be universal.

BTW, Crispers does pay more than minimum wage and, unless you hand the tip directly to your food deliverer and specifically state this is a tip for that server, all tips go into a tip jar for the United Way.

[beartrack]

There really is no correct answer to the posts in this thread. It is very sad but true, none the less. Redwitch says the laws should be changed to insure that servers and all other restaurant employee's get paid the minimum wage but, then she goes on to say that if the owners were forced to pay a fair wage they would have to raise prices to a level that most of their patrons could ill afford. They would soon be out of business. Of course red is a good person and means well but, what is the answer. As a restaurantuer I have been searching for that answer for more years then I care to admit in public. I firmly believe that there is no answer. In my quest for a fair resolution to this matter, I got lots of opinions, especially from people that were never in the business. Those opinions that I got from folks like me that worked in the trade and then risked all to have their own place, gave me the same answer. There is no answer.

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by beartrack

As a restaurantuer I have been searching for that answer for more years then I care to admit in public. I firmly believe that there is no answer. In my quest for a fair resolution to this matter, I got lots of opinions, especially from people that were never in the business. Those opinions that I got from folks like me that worked in the trade and then risked all to have their own place, gave me the same answer. There is no answer.

I'm curious about something. Forgive me for hi-jacking the thread, but what would you pay someone working for you if there wasn't a minimum wage? I just wonder if you've ever thought about the answer to that question.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by redwitch

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BTW, Crispers does pay more than minimum wage and, unless you hand the tip directly to your food deliverer and specifically state this is a tip for that server, all tips go into a tip jar for the United Way.

Seriously? Seriously?? Ser-eee-us-leeeee??? Ya gotta be kiddin' me!!!

So who is getting the tax write-off for the charitable contribution.

Norma Rae Boomer

[beartrack]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

I'm curious about something. Forgive me for hi-jacking the thread, but what would you pay someone working for you if there wasn't a minimum wage? I just wonder if you've ever thought about the answer to that question.

I have no idea what you are talking about or what your question has to do with this discussion. But to answer your query anyway. Thanks to tipping I did not have to pay the minimum wage, even though I always did. As a matter of fact, if the tipping exceded the minium wage, I was not obligated to pay any wages at all. So to answer your question: No, I never thought about it. Why would I ?

[redwitch]

One thing to remember is that if you ask a GOOD server if they would be willing to give up tipping for a better-than-minimum wage, the majority will say no. If they are in an area where the average tip is 18%, they have regular customers, they get all of their tips even though they're still tipping out other staff, they're ahead of the game. A good server in a decent restaurant making decent tips usually makes $10-15/hr.

The problems are in areas like TV where the average tip is anything but 18% and where the work is actually seasonal rather than steady year-round.

As to the solution. There isn't an easy answer but if all restaurants were required to pay the minimum wage, then all restaurants would be raising their rates accordingly rather than just the restauranteur who wanted to be fair to employees. You might lose some customers, but it won't be to the competition. At the very least, servers should not be required to subsidize their co-employees. Those not receiving tips should be paid at least a minimum wage. Tips should not be pooled -- if you do a lousy job, there's no reason you should be rewarded at the expense of your co-worker who hustles to keep customers happy.

[thistrucksforyou]

I do tip well, but I have always wondered where it started that the customer has to subsidise the help to get them to do there job....Why not tip the truck driver or mail person, brick layer ,contractor, realtor, we all want good service from these people to ,,,RIGHT ?

just a thought

[otherbruddaDarrell]

Don't forget the guy that hauls that 160lb liquid oxygen vessel up the stairs so that you can breathe.

[redwitch]

Once upon a time, TIP meant To Insure Prompt Service and was given prior to service. Over time, it was discovered that tipping in advance was an exercise in stupidity. So, if you wanted good service, you let the server know you would tip after if you were happy (and if you didn't, you weren't surprised if your horse lost a shoe or your carriage a wheel).

In the 40s and 50s and part of the 60s, tips were not expected but highly appreciated. They were only given for exceptional service. Then, it became a thing of keeping up with the Joneses, who probably had a child working as a server; the guy impressing his date; and so on. Tips became SOP. The owners saw this and started paying servers less. Minimum wage laws were created in the 1930s. By the 1950s, minimum wage laws had exceptions for those tipped -- namely gaming dealers and food servers. As time has progressed, diners are expected to help pay the wages for servers and the servers are expected to help pay for the non-wait, non-managerial staff. If the diners boycott tipping, the only ones hurt are the ones you're trying to help. If the servers speak up and try to not tip out or not pay for credit card fees, they lose their jobs. It is not a pretty business when you think about it.

[nonseniorresident]

Originally Posted by conn8757

Remember - don't tip on the tax portion.

Tip on the total amount. The servers have to tip out on this portion (to bussers, hostess, and bar) as well as pay taxes.

[nonseniorresident]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I like to tip good service well, e.g., 20+ percent. I also pay attention to happy hour discounts. As an example if after golf the table tab is $20 for drinks at Mallory at happy hour (50% off drinks), I make the tip based on $40.

Glad to see others have common sense. Also with coupons, gift cards, or other discounts - you saved money which is even more reason to tip on the ORIGINAL amount. The server shouldn't suffer because you got a deal. Same with if something was taken off the bill because you didn't like it, or it wasn't what you expected etc. That isn't the servers fault. They still have to tip out host/busser/bartenders and pay taxes based on the total amount regardless of your discount!

[nonseniorresident]

Originally Posted by memason

Sorry Opus, I'm not picking on you.... Why in the world would you leave anything for poor service?

What is a tip for anyway? Who should you tip? ...your hairdresser, waitress, waiter, hostess ??, guy who washs your car, the guy who drys it, the guy sacking your groceries.... My problem is, it never ends!

I guess I'm a bad person, but I would never consider tipping a person in a donuts shop, no matter how long I used their time...that's what they're there for and the last time i looked, they were called employees and should be paid a fair salary by their employer...

do you tip the counter person at Panera's ? How about Starbucks ? SHould I tip my Sales Rep, when I'm there in May???

Sorry for the rant...I'm just really confused by some of the comments . . ..

It's not so cut-and-dry. If the service was bad because the server was too busy, overwhelmed, or made mistakes, THEY ARE HUMAN. They won't expect 20% but if they are apologetic and still did the best they could then they had a rough night, still tip them 15% or even the full 20% if you are sympathetic and want to return for another go.

Now on the other hand - if the service was AWFUL (beyond poor) as in the server didn't even try, didn't care, and was flat out rude...that is when it is appropriate to tip 10% but honestly any less is just WRONG. Servers get paid almost HALF of minimum wage which disintegrates into NOTHING once they are taxed on the hourly wage as well as total sales AND they have to pay a percentage of their sales (regardless of amount of tips) to bartenders, bussers, and often hostess. So if you tip nothing, they are PAYING to work, LITERALLY. They cannot pay bills or make a living i.e. feed their kids, pay rent, gas, utilities, etc. You mentioned salary...they don't get one.

As far as Panera - no, there is no tip jar. Starbucks, a dollar or left over change is courteous but not expected. Sales rep...I know you are being facetious but they make commission, servers at restaurants DO NOT and rely on tips to survive.

[jblum315]

Always 20% and always in cash

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by nonseniorresident

It's not so cut-and-dry. If the service was bad because the server was too busy, overwhelmed, or made mistakes, THEY ARE HUMAN. They won't expect 20% but if they are apologetic and still did the best they could then they had a rough night, still tip them 15% or even the full 20% if you are sympathetic and want to return for another go.

Now on the other hand - if the service was AWFUL (beyond poor) as in the server didn't even try, didn't care, and was flat out rude...that is when it is appropriate to tip 10% but honestly any less is just WRONG. Servers get paid almost HALF of minimum wage which disintegrates into NOTHING once they are taxed on the hourly wage as well as total sales AND they have to pay a percentage of their sales (regardless of amount of tips) to bartenders, bussers, and often hostess. So if you tip nothing, they are PAYING to work, LITERALLY. They cannot pay bills or make a living i.e. feed their kids, pay rent, gas, utilities, etc. You mentioned salary...they don't get one.

As far as Panera - no, there is no tip jar. Starbucks, a dollar or left over change is courteous but not expected. Sales rep...I know you are being facetious but they make commission, servers at restaurants DO NOT and rely on tips to survive.

Just for your information. You know that you can add to the post that is already posted by hitting the edit sign at the bottom. You are new here and several of your posts are in succession so I thought that you may not be aware of that feature.

Are you a server? Just wondering about your choice of screen name on here...NON SENIOR RESIDENT? You are a LOT younger?