To tip or not to tip...

[MRK20]

Just wondering what people thought of tipping when it came to a restaurant or a delivery. I recently became a delivery driver and it definitely has its perks. Most (not all) people tip me whenever I deliver. Some go beyond the 10-15% recommendation and jump into the 20-25%.

The best example that I can think of is when I made a $50 delivery and got a $10 tip. That was amazing! Never before have I been given what I consider "free money". The boss gives me $2/delivery which usually is more than enough to cover for the gas. The boss just tells me to pocket the rest along with the tip which I like. On good days, I take more home than what I make hourly.

I don't eat out a lot, but when I do, sadly to say...I don't really tip. All my friends think that I'm the devil for not doing it. I'm hesitant to say this. I...don't...really...see...a problem, since I don't personally know the waiter. It's not that I'm a bad person. I just don't really see a reason. If I were to stop and think why I do what I do, it might be because I think it's kind of a waste a money (I know many people will disagree, sorry). All the money I've ever made since I was 14 working either for relatives or big business was saved or spent on myself or my family. I have no problem spending money when it comes to my parents or my brother so don't get the wrong idea.

In my defense, when I deliver $30 and I don't receive a tip, I say to myself...at least I get those $2 dollars. Does everyone here tip and if so why? Does everyone actually want to? Or do you feel like you need to because you don't want to look cheap? If I get a tip, it's just free money...

[jasonandre]

All I have to say on this is that you do have a point...when it comes to delivery drivers. They usually make minimum wage.

As for some waiters/servers, they usually do not make minimum wage. In fact, some are still making well below minimum...$2 per hour, so a tip means everything.

[NIGHTHAWKSI]

yup, a waiters'/waitress' paycheck is based on the 15% tips that they make. technically if you dont at least give them the 15%, they are paying for your meal. although i have left a really shitty tip before when they definatly deserved it(never left a 0 tip).

[brazilianguy]

i ALWAYS tip, sometimes more than i should, but it all depends on service, they do a good good then good tip , if not then i give a low tip
i know most waiters around here make their money out of tips, they get between 2-4 dollars an hour, so the tips is what pays the bills


once in a restaurant i was with my girlfriend, and i had awful awful service, then at the end i asked for a to-go desert because we were in a hurry, and i told the waiter that, she took 20 minutes to make my deserve, i have her 1 dollar tip, and she had the guts to complain about the tip when i was walking out, she was lucky i was in a hurry or i wouldve gone back and talked to the manager
on top of all she had the courage to tell me she was "busy", im a waiter and i know restaurants, she had 3 tables and they were all done, she had put down the bill

[MRK20]

Originally Posted by jasonandre

All I have to say on this is that you do have a point...when it comes to delivery drivers. They usually make minimum wage.

As for some waiters/servers, they usually do not make minimum wage. In fact, some are still making $2 per hour, so a tip means everything.

A tip would mean a lot for the waiters that you just described. However is it bad to not tip? I just got back from a restaurant and I felt pretty bad because I didn't leave a tip to the waiter (my co-worker) since I know him. That's the reason I started the thread. I just feel like (and I hesitate) that it's kind of like...throwing...away...money in a sense. I don't really have that luxury. School books cost a lot, as do car payments, and not to mention Christmas which is also coming up.

[918civic]

Yeah I usually tip around 15 - 20% depending on the quality of service. With Pizzas usually around 2 bucks.

Its true at least in Arizona. Many waiters and waitresses make less then minimum wage and really need tips to make it. I have heard a lot of stories from people in the food industry talking about how they worked all night for like 20 bucks.

Go watch the movie Waiting....

[jerhunter]

I've been a waiter before....though I agree some service can be shitty. I always tip at least 15%.

[Way2Short]

I am a waiter and I only make $2.15 an hour without tips. Sometimes it's a good night and I do ok but sometime I get really pissed off when I don't make anything from tips. Some times I get like three cents and I'm like WTF. I wouldn't say that I'm really good but I get the job done. If you feel that giving tip is just giving away "free money" then I guess you can't complain when you don't receive a cent from your deliveries. I'm sure your not happy on $2 an hour even though it might cover gas...

[JZILLA]

I work as a delivery driver and yes you should tip because it is MINIMUM wage and gas is expensive and our cars take a beating and as the other two said you should tip a waitor and waitress

[zenith931]

Waiters and waitresses don't make more than $4/hr. It is almost necessary to tip. That's how a waiter/waitress earns most of her money. It's very rude to not tip your wait staff. If they recognize you when you come in next, you're gonna get shitty service.

I'm in college, too. It sucks paying for everything, but when you eat out, you tip. It's just what's done. If they're shitty waiters/waitress, then you can make your point at their service by failing to tip, but your waitstaff should always be tipped. It's how they pay for THEIR bills.

Get a job as a waiter. You'll learn, then. I'd recommend you start tipping your waitstaff. It's rude not to and if I was with some guy on a date who didn't tip, I'd think him a cheap ass.

[MRK20]

Originally Posted by Way2Short

I am a waiter and I only make $2.15 an hour without tips. Sometimes it's a good night and I do ok but sometime I get really pissed off when I don't make anything from tips. Some times I get like three cents and I'm like WTF. I wouldn't say that I'm really good but I get the job done. If you feel that giving tip is just giving away "free money" then I guess you can't complain when you don't receive a cent from your deliveries. I'm sure your not happy on $2 an hour even though it might cover gas...

I agree when you say I can't complain when I don't receive a tip after a delivery. I don't really complain. If I happen to get $3 for a tip, I'm quick to say thank you and have a nice night. I had no idea that there were places that didn't pay at least minimum wage though... I worked at Sears doing sales, and even though we got $4.5/hour, if we did crappy and didn't make minimum wage, we would get an adjustment which meant that we would get whatever money we needed in order to get paid minimum. It doesn't work that way in restaurants?

[galaxygrey13]

I ussually tip like 3 dollars cause i eat out by myself sometimes. I took a girl out the other night and the ticket was 45 dollars at chilis. I was going to leave 4 dollars. She took out a calculator on her phone and said the tip should be like 6 or 7. I got mad, got up and told her I paid for the meal you pay for the tip. I did not get some afterwards but i aint gonna have someone tell me how much i should tip. I think 3 bucks for me alone is fine since im not rich and i just paid you for a 30 minute job when you were only at my table for about 5 minutes.

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by galaxygrey13

I ussually tip like 3 dollars cause i eat out by myself sometimes. I took a girl out the other night and the ticket was 45 dollars at chilis. I was going to leave 4 dollars. She took out a calculator on her phone and said the tip should be like 6 or 7. I got mad, got up and told her I paid for the meal you pay for the tip. I did not get some afterwards but i aint gonna have someone tell me how much i should tip. I think 3 bucks for me alone is fine since im not rich and i just paid you for a 30 minute job when you were only at my table for about 5 minutes.

I congratulate the girl. You should at LEAST always tip 10% unless the service was poor.

You, sir, are a tight-ass cheapo.

Originally Posted by MRK20

I worked at Sears doing sales, and even though we got $4.5/hour, if we did crappy and didn't make minimum wage, we would get an adjustment which meant that we would get whatever money we needed in order to get paid minimum. It doesn't work that way in restaurants?

Nope, the restaurant knows that wait staff gets tipped, so they pay $2-4/hr and let the customers make it up in tips. Wait staff has to work hard to even get paid minimum some nights. So be nice, always tip.

[MRK20]

You must spread some reputation around before giving it to galaxygrey13 again.

[MRK20]

Originally Posted by zenith931

I congratulate the girl. You should at LEAST always tip 10% unless the service was poor.

You, sir, are a tight-ass cheapo.

That's pretty lame of you to start insulting people like that...

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by MRK20

That's pretty lame of you to start insulting people like that...

I think it's pretty lame he can't tip properly. I'm not going to encourage him, I think his date was in the right.

I know a few waitresses, they work real hard to get you your food and your drinks and whatever else you want, just to get less than 5% tip? It's like, thanks a lot, jerk.

[jasonandre]

Originally Posted by MRK20

I worked at Sears doing sales, and even though we got $4.5/hour, if we did crappy and didn't make minimum wage, we would get an adjustment which meant that we would get whatever money we needed in order to get paid minimum. It doesn't work that way in restaurants?

This is true...it's the law that businesses who pay less than minimum wage to their employees must cover the difference if that employee doesn't make at least minimum wage. But trust me...that employee won't stay hired for long. No establishment will keep a waiter/server onboard if he/she isn't making at least minimum wage just on tips.

[jasonandre]

Originally Posted by zenith931

I think it's pretty lame he can't tip properly. I'm not going to encourage him, I think his date was in the right.

I know a few waitresses, those guys are dicks.

Let's try to keep the personal insults out and the intelligent discussion in.

[galaxygrey13]

I am not a tight ass cheapo but if the person only dropped the food off and never came back until i called them to come give me the ticket they should be lucky i thought of giving them a tip. I said not that night but the night after....whole different story with the same girl. And calling me a cheap ass will not get u a date with me. lol

[zenith931]

Originally Posted by jasonandre

No establishment will keep a waiter/server onboard if he/she isn't making at least minimum wage just on tips.

Which is why it's important to tip!