Couple arrested for not paying tip

dunkman

The Jeagler wrote:

dunkman wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

i assume bus drivers make a decent wage, waiters do not.

that may be the case and thats a flaw in the hallowed system...
?

how is that a flaw :?:

because a bus driver earns a decent wage if 3 people get on his bus throughout an 8 hour day.

a waitress gets 3 people through an 8 hour day will mean she earns $3 an hour plus the 3 people's earlier tips.

to me, and the rest of the civilised world, thats clearly a flaw Captain America :thumbup:

dunkman

South of Seattle wrote:

The Jeagler wrote:

dunkman wrote:

that may be the case and thats a flaw in the hallowed system...
?

how is that a flaw :?:

Waitstaff should just be paid more per hour and then we wouldn't have to worry about the tip.

Although that would just make your Cheeseburger cost $16.75 instead of $8.50 at the local diner though.

food cost would double? how does McDonalds get away with charging $4 for a burger?

if people tip 15% on average, then raise the cost of the food 15% and pay them a decent hourly wage. A burger will still cost the same as it would have done because the 15% tip you would have paid is now in the cost.

simples

_Crazy_Mary_

Ok, last night I waited on an official asshole table.
It is a man & woman. I walk up to the table to tell them the specials. Before I have a chance to speak, the man (who looks like a much older version of my evil ex-husband) says "we're not ready yet." I explain, I'm only here to inform them of the specials in addition to the menu. I tell the specials and come back several minutes later when they've had time to look over the menu. They ask me, "What is that man eating?" and point to another table. I tell them that's the Grouper. They ask me if I've tried either the grouper or ahi. "No, I can order dinner at the end of the night, but I haven't tried either of these specials." The man says, "Sounds like you got a Cheap Charlie running this place." So, the woman orders "your most humble glass of sauvignon blanc." It's our cheapest wine by the glass, it's only $6. Then she orders the grouper and he orders the ahi, medium. Who eats ahi medium? They have no appetizer or salad. When I bring their meals the guy says, "Did you sample these on the way out? Why is mine so much smaller than hers? I want you to pay up for the portion you ate." Real funny. So I just laugh and say, "Oh, but I had your permission, right? haha." They LOVE their meal. When the busser goes to clear the plates, the man says, "How does it feel, knowing you're a busser? You clear plates and pick up trash for a living." Ok, what the F is wrong with this guy?! They don't order dessert or coffee and their bill was $72.84. They ask for their bill, I bring it, I run his credit card & he leaves me $7.16. Talk about Cheap Charlie!!!! My boss tried to look him up in the phone book. We couldn't find his name, which is good, hopefully he doesn't live around here.

redrock

What's ahi? Is it a faux-pas not having an appetizer or a salad? Or desert and coffee? You and the busser had to deal with his stupid sense of humour but you got just under 10% (guy rounding up his bill to a neat $80.00) for taking down an order and bringing two plates (single course) and a glass or two of wine to a table. Not bad I would say when you consider the amount of time you spent on these two people (10 minutes maybe?).

Heatherj43

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

Ok, last night I waited on an official asshole table.
It is a man & woman. I walk up to the table to tell them the specials. Before I have a chance to speak, the man (who looks like a much older version of my evil ex-husband) says "we're not ready yet." I explain, I'm only here to inform them of the specials in addition to the menu. I tell the specials and come back several minutes later when they've had time to look over the menu. They ask me, "What is that man eating?" and point to another table. I tell them that's the Grouper. They ask me if I've tried either the grouper or ahi. "No, I can order dinner at the end of the night, but I haven't tried either of these specials." The man says, "Sounds like you got a Cheap Charlie running this place." So, the woman orders "your most humble glass of sauvignon blanc." It's our cheapest wine by the glass, it's only $6. Then she orders the grouper and he orders the ahi, medium. Who eats ahi medium? They have no appetizer or salad. When I bring their meals the guy says, "Did you sample these on the way out? Why is mine so much smaller than hers? I want you to pay up for the portion you ate." Real funny. So I just laugh and say, "Oh, but I had your permission, right? haha." They LOVE their meal. When the busser goes to clear the plates, the man says, "How does it feel, knowing you're a busser? You clear plates and pick up trash for a living." Ok, what the F is wrong with this guy?! They don't order dessert or coffee and their bill was $72.84. They ask for their bill, I bring it, I run his credit card & he leaves me $7.16. Talk about Cheap Charlie!!!! My boss tried to look him up in the phone book. We couldn't find his name, which is good, hopefully he doesn't live around here.

I just don't get this! The guy spent $80 bucks at this establishment, yet the boss tries to look him up in the phone book? Also, I don't feel tips are promised, even for good service. No one HAS to give a tip, unless its posted and automatically taken out, which I feel is wrong. I also know that many people leave a high tip, that should take care of those who tip too low or not at all.
Do you run after the people who tip too much and give it back? No you don't, so don't mess with those who leave a low tip or no tip.
I understand that wait staff are taxed a percent according to how much the restaurant made, but take that out on your legislator or boss. Regardless, at the end of the day, the tips equal what they should according to what you are taxed, and it really should not matter how they got to be the right amount.
Tipping use to be for above the norm service. Not for good service, but for above the call of duty service. I hate that its expected.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

redrock wrote:

What's ahi? Is it a faux-pas not having an appetizer or a salad? Or desert and coffee? You and the busser had to deal with his stupid sense of humour but you got just under 10% (guy rounding up his bill to a neat $80.00) for taking down an order and bringing two plates (single course) and a glass or two of wine to a table. Not bad I would say when you consider the amount of time you spent on these two people (10 minutes maybe?).

there is SO MUCH more to it than that. Believe me, a waiters job doesnt begin and end with the ten minutes he or she is at your table.

if you can't afford a decent tip (15% to 20%) for good service dont go to a restaurant. go to Mc Donald's. Waiting tables require too much bullshit for crappy tips. you really arent paying enough for quality service if you tip poorly.

i have very little respect for bad tippers. sorry. if i even catch a friend or relative giving a shitty tip (that isnt called for), i wont go out with them unless they make up for it.

The Juggler

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

Ok, last night I waited on an official asshole table.
It is a man & woman. I walk up to the table to tell them the specials. Before I have a chance to speak, the man (who looks like a much older version of my evil ex-husband) says "we're not ready yet." I explain, I'm only here to inform them of the specials in addition to the menu. I tell the specials and come back several minutes later when they've had time to look over the menu. They ask me, "What is that man eating?" and point to another table. I tell them that's the Grouper. They ask me if I've tried either the grouper or ahi. "No, I can order dinner at the end of the night, but I haven't tried either of these specials." The man says, "Sounds like you got a Cheap Charlie running this place." So, the woman orders "your most humble glass of sauvignon blanc." It's our cheapest wine by the glass, it's only $6. Then she orders the grouper and he orders the ahi, medium. Who eats ahi medium? They have no appetizer or salad. When I bring their meals the guy says, "Did you sample these on the way out? Why is mine so much smaller than hers? I want you to pay up for the portion you ate." Real funny. So I just laugh and say, "Oh, but I had your permission, right? haha." They LOVE their meal. When the busser goes to clear the plates, the man says, "How does it feel, knowing you're a busser? You clear plates and pick up trash for a living." Ok, what the F is wrong with this guy?! They don't order dessert or coffee and their bill was $72.84. They ask for their bill, I bring it, I run his credit card & he leaves me $7.16. Talk about Cheap Charlie!!!! My boss tried to look him up in the phone book. We couldn't find his name, which is good, hopefully he doesn't live around here.

that guy kinda reminds me of ron burgundy ....but that is a piss poor tip job. i'd have given you a solid $14 or so.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

When the busser goes to clear the plates, the man says, "How does it feel, knowing you're a busser? You clear plates and pick up trash for a living." Ok, what the F is wrong with this guy?! .

it amazes me how some people treat waitstaff like subhumans. i've seen so many people who get so irate about not getting their well-done steaks out at the speed of a McDonald's drive thru, then yell at the waiter. i'm like, "in what other situation would you be so angry to talk down to a fellow human being that way?" Its like when it comes to food, people turn into animals.

_Crazy_Mary_

What's wrong with this is the guy referred to my bosses as Cheap Charlie, then his wife ordered the cheapest glass of wine because it was the cheapest. And they didn't order salad or soup or apps or dessert, I assume, because he's cheap. Then, on top of talking shit, and me being as pleasant & accomodating as possible the bastard leaves a 10% tip. 10% is bullshit. If you can't afford to tip at least 15%, then you should eat at place where the staff doesn't depend on tips. The table next to them, two guys, tipped me $50 on $220. I would have much rather the asshole couple not come in to eat, so that other people could have sat at that table, people that actually wanted to enjoy themselves.

_Crazy_Mary_

redrock wrote:

What's ahi? Is it a faux-pas not having an appetizer or a salad? Or desert and coffee? You and the busser had to deal with his stupid sense of humour but you got just under 10% (guy rounding up his bill to a neat $80.00) for taking down an order and bringing two plates (single course) and a glass or two of wine to a table. Not bad I would say when you consider the amount of time you spent on these two people (10 minutes maybe?).

ahi is tuna best served rare. That man upset the whole staff. The things he said were incredibly rude. There is no reason to insult the busser. She is doing her job. He must have an awful job if he needs to put people down to feel better about himself. And I would have preferred to have waited on other people. You have to consider that the hour and a half they were sitting at my table is an hour and a half that I've just lost. Plus, I pretty much lost money waiting on them. I had to tip out $2.20 of the $7 he gave me and I'm paying taxes on that precious $7. It's recorded as part of my wages.

redrock

MrSmith wrote:

there is SO MUCH more to it than that. Believe me, a waiters job doesnt begin and end with the ten minutes he or she is at your table.

if you can't afford a decent tip (15% to 20%) for good service dont go to a restaurant. go to Mc Donald's. Waiting tables require too much bullshit for crappy tips. you really arent paying enough for quality service if you tip poorly.

i have very little respect for bad tippers. sorry. if i even catch a friend or relative giving a shitty tip (that isnt called for), i wont go out with them unless they make up for it.

I've been a waitress... I know what it's like. But maybe, due to my age , I was still 'old school' waitress. Very different to what it is now.....

One always expects good service when one goes to the restaurant. That is part of the staff's job - at whatever level. You have a job, you do it well. OK.. you may come back and speak of the 'abuse' waiting/bussing staff get but that's in most professions, just expressed differently (see another thread about the corporate world). A true tip is for EXCEEDINGLY good service, not just the good service one would expect.

As to the poster deciding that the customer should have had his tuna rare but asked for it medium... who is to judge? I like my meat 'blue' and I even like meat raw (steak tartare). A lot of americans (and British!) I know like their meat cooked to death. So what. Making the assumption that they only ordered a main course because they were 'cheap'. Maybe that's all they wanted. Maybe it could be they don't have much money and this was a treat for them... again.. who are you to judge.

And what is this kind of reaction... looking up the people in the phone book. For what? Send 'the guys' around? Check out where they live to see if they are 'worthy' of the restaurant?

As to the rudeness of the guy... the manager should have stepped in. Rudeness is unacceptable but that has nothing to do with tips.

Also the way one pays taxes on tips, that tips are part of your wages, etc... take that up with the government, not with the customers. I don't go in a restaurant asking staff how much they earn, how much of their tip they keep and it their tips are part of their wages. That is not my business. My business is to have a nice meal (whatever I choose, however much I want and however I like it cooked) with good service.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

redrock wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

there is SO MUCH more to it than that. Believe me, a waiters job doesnt begin and end with the ten minutes he or she is at your table.

if you can't afford a decent tip (15% to 20%) for good service dont go to a restaurant. go to Mc Donald's. Waiting tables require too much bullshit for crappy tips. you really arent paying enough for quality service if you tip poorly.

i have very little respect for bad tippers. sorry. if i even catch a friend or relative giving a shitty tip (that isnt called for), i wont go out with them unless they make up for it.

A true tip is for EXCEEDINGLY good service, not just the good service one would expect.

.

no it isn't, not in this system, and not for the price you pay at a restaurant. a tip is the price you pay for the service, period. if its better than normal, tip more. if its worse, tip less.

and people need to understand this: its BETTER FOR THE CUSTOMER because it gives them a choice of what to pay for service! without it, the bill would just be a lot higher, and the service would suck because they arent motivated to work harder, or else restaurants would just shut down because margins are pretty thin already nowadays. you'd end up with very unfriendly, unknowledgable people shoving you your food like your at McD's. But people have to abuse the system by leaving cheap tips, and it hurts everyone.

and i think the manager being pissed above would be more for the crap the customer said to the busser, not because they got their fish cooked medium. i assume.

redrock

MrSmith wrote:

. a tip is the price you pay for the service, period.

Then it's called a service fee. A tip is a gratuity.

MrSmith wrote:

and people need to understand this: its BETTER FOR THE CUSTOMER because it gives them a choice of what to pay for service! without it, the price of the food would just be a lot more, or the service would suck because they arent motivated to work harder, or else restaurants would just shut down because margins are pretty thin already nowadays. you'd end up with very unfriendly, unknowledgable people shoving you your food like your at McD's. But people have to abuse the system by leaving cheap tips, and it hurts everyone.
.

Doomsday outlook.... or is this just the American way? Gratuities seem to work in other western countries.. why not in the US? Do Americans not have pride in their work, whatever this may be? If they have a feeling someone is not going to 'tip', are they going to give bad service on that assumption? Waiters/waitresses are part of ther SERVICE industry and that is their job.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

redrock wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

. a tip is the price you pay for the service, period.

Then it's called a service fee. A tip is a gratuity..

use whatever word you like.

MrSmith wrote:

and people need to understand this: its BETTER FOR THE CUSTOMER because it gives them a choice of what to pay for service! without it, the price of the food would just be a lot more, or the service would suck because they arent motivated to work harder, or else restaurants would just shut down because margins are pretty thin already nowadays. you'd end up with very unfriendly, unknowledgable people shoving you your food like your at McD's. But people have to abuse the system by leaving cheap tips, and it hurts everyone.
.

redrock wrote:

Doomsday outlook.... or is this just the American way? Gratuities seem to work in other western countries.. why not in the US? Do Americans not have pride in their work, whatever this may be? If they have a feeling someone is not going to 'tip', are they going to give bad service on that assumption? Waiters/waitresses are part of ther SERVICE industry and that is their job.

gimme a break. its not doomsday scenarios. do they really work in other countries? most of the ones i went to the service was pretty inferior, or else they were desperate for a job. dont give me pride in your work nonsense if you are making half minimum wage. its assumed one gets a good tip for good service in America. get over it.

and you are damn right they are going to give bad service for a bad tipper. if they are lucky. food service workers have other ways of returning the favor. one shouldnt fuck the person who handles their food!

redrock

MrSmith wrote:

and you are damn right they are going to give bad service for a bad tipper. if they are lucky. food service workers have other ways of returning the favor. one shouldnt fuck the person who handles their food!

Nice.... again someone who expects something for nothing... and wants 'revenge' if he/she doesn't get it.

Half minimum wage? The beef is not with the customer but with the people paying you and/or with legislation. After all, why should a customer make up defiencies from a boss? If he/she wanted to pay a decent wage, he/she could.

And most people would take pride in a job well done.. sorry if you don't.

Let's put things in perspective... I work in distribution for a large bakers which supplies hundreds of shops. I deal with customers all the time (and they only call me when they have a problem...). I know what my job is (ie give the service required) and I get a salary for that. I am expected to perform at a certain level of service. I have reviews every six months. Should I perform according to expectations, I get a thank you, well done, I don't get a disciplinary and I get to keep my job. Should I perform above expectations, I may get a bonus (equivalant to the tip). I pay taxes on all of this too. Waiting staff get appraised at every table they wait on. They peform above expectations, they get their bonus (tip), they don't - they get nothing or something minimal.

If people are rude, it is the manager's job to sort it out as it happens. Not look the people up in the phone book after they left :roll:

Remember SERVICE industry... the job is SERVICE.

WaveCameCrashin

Cosmo wrote:

prfctlefts wrote:

Yeah I would have just paid the damn bill. The hell with gettting locked up and having to spend the night in county. But on the other hand I think tipping is getting out of control.Every where you look now these days somebody has a tip jar out on the counter. Just the other day I was at D.Q. and they had a tip jar and it said " Tipping is not a city in china" :lolno: :wtf: I mean cmon man They don't bring you your order or anything out of the ordinary so why should they think that they deserve a tip. Don't get me wrong I tip anywhere from 18 to 25% when I go out to eat or a bar tab,and I also tip my barber,cab drivers, but that's about it.

...
Wow... agreement, here. Must be because it's not in the Moving Train, right?
And I agree with the 'Tip Jars'. Some of them i can sort of understand... like at a Starbucks or a Smoothie Bar.... maybe. They get the lose change... including those damn pennies.
But, the Taco Bell? Uhhh... nope. I go to the Taco Bell because I DON'T have any spare change.

'Yeah..I think a lot of us would be shocked at how much we probably have in common when you take Politics out of the picture. As far as coffee bars are concerned I will tip if I order something other than just a regular coffee like a Carmel Machioto or something like it. and you know I have thought about tipping bus drivers but I never have maybe I will sometime like for the holidays would be nice I guess cos those guys and gals do put up with some shit every now and then.Ther is one driver that wont get a dime frome me and here is why. One day I was downtown heading back across the river and I had to get a transfer ticket. which gives you like a 2 1/2 hour window before it expires. Well the machine printed out the wrong time. It was an hour behind. So when I got to the point of trasnsfer I still had somemore shopping to do and I ended up spending like two more hours doing so. anyway when I go to get on the bus to go home I explain to him that the time on transfer ticket was an hour behind and he says to me that it's not his fault and that I would have to take it up with the other driver and I was like excuse me :wtf: But don't you work for the same company and keep in mind I ride this same bus almost every day and have been for over two years.
So I said to my self "fuck it whatever " i just paid for another bus fare and took my seat. Well when I Got to my stop as I was getting off I said to him that what I thought what he did was wrong and asked him what his name was because I felt that it was necesary that his boss should know what an asshole he was being about the whole thing . The driver tells me that he didnt know his own name, Im like what you don't know your own name? Are you freakin kidding me ? Even some of the other passengers are like WTF is wrong with this douchbag.Then he tells me if I don't get off his bus that he would have me arrested.and I wasn't even making a scene I just wanted to know what his name was. :evil: :evil: By this time Im really shitinabout the whole damn thing.
So I got off got home called the bus station and told one of his superiors what a jerk this guy was. It wasn;t about the money I just couldn't believe what a dick the guy was about the whole thing cos it wasn't like the money was coming out of his pocket. They were suppose to send me a 10 day pass but I never got it.

redrock

prfctlefts wrote:

I just wanted to know what his name was.

Don't need to know the name to make complaint. All the bus company needs to know is the bus number, date and time......

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

redrock wrote:

MrSmith wrote:

and you are damn right they are going to give bad service for a bad tipper. if they are lucky. food service workers have other ways of returning the favor. one shouldnt fuck the person who handles their food!

Nice.... again someone who expects something for nothing... and wants 'revenge' if he/she doesn't get it.

Half minimum wage? The beef is not with the customer but with the people paying you and/or with legislation. After all, why should a customer make up defiencies from a boss? If he/she wanted to pay a decent wage, he/she could.
.

your not getting it. there is no deficiancy. its got nothing to do with wanting something for nothing or with the government or the employer. its already factored in. the bill is cheaper, and customers pay the server for service directly rather than giving it to the restaurant. its a win win. customers get a choice and waiters are motivated to give great service. its just too bad some ignorant people can't handle the responsibilty of having that choice. if more industries could do it, it would be better for them.

redrock

MrSmith wrote:

your not getting it. there is no deficiancy. its got nothing to do with wanting something for nothing or with the government or the employer. its already factored in. the bill is cheaper, and customers pay the server for service directly rather than giving it to the restaurant. its a win win. customers get a choice and waiters are motivated to give great service. its just too bad some ignorant people can't handle the responsibilty of having that choice. if more industries could do it, it would be better for them.

But there IS a deficiency..... there is a minimum wage for a reason. Any employer choosing to pay less than that and leaving it up to their employee to compensate IS a deficiency. Legislation allowing such practices IS a deficiency. Nothing is already factored in. If it were, the wages would be decent and the customer will have the REAL choice of leaving a gratuity for exceptional service or not (and whatever amount) without having to read posts like in this thread and without the risk of having his food spat in the next time he visits the restaurant.

This is not a win/win situation for all. It's a win for the employer because he gets away without paying his staff properly, therefore less overheads/more profits for him. How can one not see that the employee is being taken advantage of?

When it comes to motivation.... it should always be there. A waiter/waitress doesn't know ahead of time if the table will tip or not and how much, does he/she?

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

the waiter gets there money either way (but more money if they work harder), the owner can lower the cost of eating out a little (though im sure they could afford to pay a little more), and customers get a better experience than at a place where the employees main motivation is to do just enough to avoid getting fired.

thats it, we are at an impasse. the time for negotiation is over! just dont eat at a restaurant in America.