The Tipping Divide: Study Finds Differences in Tips by Black, White Restaurant Patrons

National Public Radio ^ | 7/11/2003 | National Public Radio

[07055]

July 11, 2003 -- A new study finds many waiters and waitresses feel that black Americans generally tip less than restaurant diners who are white. The study, by a researcher at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, found that blacks tip on average 20 percent less than whites. In addition, restaurant workers of all races dislike waiting on black people because they assume the tips will be less no matter how good the service. NPR's Juan Williams reports.

The study found that 63 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites didn't understand that the standard restaurant tip in the United States is 15 to 20 percent. The difference between how blacks and whites view tipping has serious ramifications for restaurants, including lawsuits and lost profits, Williams reports.

"The average tip from a black customer is about 13 percent of the bill. The average tip from a white customer is about 16.5 percent of the bill," says Dr. Michael Lynn, the study's author.

In some cases the difference in tipping may be the result of poor service, but blacks interviewed in one of Lynn's studies rated the service slightly higher yet still tipped less than whites, he says.

Jerry Fernandez, president of the Multicultural Food Alliance, which represents food servers and restaurateurs, says the expectations of a lower tip from blacks can often lead to poor service.

"If a [waiter] says, 'I don't want to wait on that table because they're black or they're Hispanic, then they tend to give less service and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy," Fernandez explains.

He says cultural elements -- blacks have avoided sit-down restaurants in favor of take out or self-service eateries -- institutionalized racism that exists in the restaurant industry and education about tipping are all behind the discrepancy. "How do people learn about tipping? If you don't go, you don't know."

Lynn suggests that the American restaurant industry begin a campaign to inform people about the basics of leaving a tip. He urges the use of advertisements, educational pamphlets, and even putting tipping information on menus. And Lynn suggests that restaurants could introduce a game in which dining parties would have to tip at least 15 percent in order to be eligible to win a contest.

[TontoKowalski]

Hey, Hair, is this guy bothering you?

You want me to cyber-whip his ass?

Oh, I forgot to ask. What were you wearing when you got sunburned?

And, totally off topic: Can you run bleach through a pressure washer?

[dogbyte12]

Picture somebody who is a waitress at an exclusive restaurant in Manhattan or San Francisco. They have an 8 hour shift, and the food being prepared fresh takes time. Say an average of 120 minutes at a table. They just have three tables they are responsible for on their shift so they can be attentive. The place is trendy and it is booked solid. They just have 12 customers the entire shift. Each table averages out to a $110 bill, some a bit more, some less. If... they only tip 15% on average, this waitress is taking $198 in tips for the day. Don't cry for her Argentina.

[HIDEK6]

Its still weird to dangle money in front of people so they will treat you better.... IMHO....

I agree that you do have a humble opinion.

If you want to be a bigshot, you'd better tip like a bigshot.

[Just another Joe]

So we'd get along great till we started spilling drinks across the table, at which point we are hopefully beyond embarrassment anyway! ;~D

You got that right.
Although that would guarantee a GREAT tip for the wait staff. ;^)

[Alberta's Child]

I nominate myself as FreeRepublic's official "Best Tipper."

I gave a $100 tip last month after dinner (for two) at a great Italian restaurant.

[07055]

Because they have more money to spend. Easier for a wealthy person to tip the standard 15-20 per cent, don't ya' think?

If you can't afford to pay the bill (with tip), then you should order something less expensive. Not stiff the waiter and blame "society" for your actions.

[mtbopfuyn]

You're going to pay the waiters anyway; either you'll tip (in which case you can decrease or withhold the tip if service is bad), or you'll pay an extra 15 or 20 percent for everything on the menu regardless of the quality of service.

Yeah, but I resent having to tip. I do tip but resent the heck out of it. I'd much rather have the extra included in the original price. It shouldn't be the customer's job to evaluate the waitstaff. I go out to eat and expect the owner to have already pre-screened his employees willingness to give good service, if he wants return business. It shouldn't be the customer's job to evaluate the waitstaff. Most go out to have a nice relaxed evening but how many times does it turn into who's going to pay the tip, how much, or gripe because they didn't bring you water before you had to wave them down, blah, blah, blah so you're stressed out again. Just pay the staff a decent wage and fire them if they screw up just like in any other industry.

[07055]

Celebrities with brains always tip very well. I have read blurbs in gossip columns about good tips that they left.

[Just another Joe]

Hey, Hair, is this guy bothering you? You want me to cyber-whip his ass?

Now see, Hair, here is a man that's angling for a great tip.
He's taking care of a customer, even to the point of protecting from harassment. ;^)

[ido_now]

Welsh Rabbit Recipe



4 slices of bread, toasted

4 cups American cheese, grated or cut in pieces

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup water

cayenne pepper

seasonings to taste



Put butter, cheese, water, pepper and seasonings in a sauce pan. Melt slowly on fire, stirring constantly. When melted, this will form a smooth paste. Pour it over each piece of toast. This dish must be served hot. When obtainable, beer may be used instead of water, the result being better. Vegetables

[Welsh Rabbit]

I've found that my fellow Christians pretty much suck at leaving reasonable tips. 'After-Church' self-righteous pricks who demand, demand, demand, then leave a few pieces of change and of course a "Gospel Tract."

LOL! I guess it depends on which church group. My fiance, who was a waitress for years, told me 'After Church' groups either leave a very generous tip, or next to nothing. She once showed me something that looked like a $20 bill, but was really an advirtisement for some church that was left by one of these groups in lieu of a real tip.

[HairOfTheDog]

I return and give them more business.

Of course! - I am a firm believer in the 'regular place'. Drives some that I know nuts, but I like to go to the same couple of places, where I know it will be good, everyone knows me, and I them.... I have no interest in exploring new places, but then I am a hobbit through and through. ;~D

Being a regular though, I get to see the regular waitstaff on good and bad days, some days they are on top of their game, some days, they are dealing with troubles like the rest of us.... I tip them the same usually, because I can dig it.... If I were new I might think they were always scattered or didn't care... But I know them.... a good tip on a bad day for someone might turn it around for them in some small way. I wouldn't feel that way about a stranger at a place I've never been.

[GilesB]

I used to wait tables at a resort in St. Thomas. Sure, I liked the tips, but I didn't feel like my job was to hustle tips. I figured that over the long run, excellent service would yield above average tips - and I was right.

Two of my most memorable tips:
Two ladies from Denmark, who nobody else wanted to wait on because they tipped poorly; so I took them, gladly. I understood why they tipped poorly (European custom of adding the grat automatically) - but I didn't think they should be given poor service just because they didn't understand our customs. Their last evening there, they gave me a five dollar tip (on an $80 - $100 meal) and since their normal tip was a buck I was overwhelmed with their "generous" expression of gratitude...think about it - they honored me with 5 times greater praise than they gave anybody else.

The other one was a poor guy who got stuck with a $480 tab, after I had rendered impeccable service and expected a C-note in the bill folder. But, when I observed the poor guy getting stuck (he didn't order the most expensive meal, the appetizers or the several bottles of wine) with everybody else's good time, I knew my tip was hosed. I was right - $35. It made my manager mad, because he had watched my service, and he wanted to say something to the guy; but I wouldn't let him, because I figured the poor dude had had a bad enough night as it was - and after all, he wasn't the piker, it was the other 7 people at the table who dropped it all on him.

[Political Junkie Too]

I don't have a problem with restaurants that add on the gratuity with large parties...

The problem I have with large parties is being the party of two at the table next to them.

Large parties usually take two or three servers to handle them, and the small parties get lost in the shuffle. I was at a restaurant where the waiter never came back after serving my food because of the large party, and the steaks were overcooked to the point of inedibleness. We finally flagged down a manager who comp'd the whole meal, drinks, and dessert, and then gave us a coupon to come back another time.

We left no tip, partly because of the bad service and partly because there was no bill. We did go back, had a great meal, and tipped appropriately.

-PJ

[Lijahsbubbe]

.... If I were new I might think they were always scattered or didn't care... But I know them.... a good tip on a bad day for someone might turn it around for them in some small way. I wouldn't feel that way about a stranger at a place I've never been.

Just stop it! Yer gonna make me cry!

[Alberta's Child]

Celebrities with brains always tip very well.

At the restaurant I mentioned in my last post, legend has it that an NBA star came to dinner with his family within the last couple of years and left -- get this -- a $1,500 tip.

[takenoprisoner]

They swore they didn't slight them in any measure regardless. I was proud of them for that.

Until we informed my dad a few years ago (after my daughters became servers) he wasn't aware of the proper tip. Now he does and tips proper...and he would be one of those after church crowd. :)

[TontoKowalski]

LOL!

I just love her! We crossed paths on a naughty swimsuit thread, and I'm a big fan!

[Just another Joe]

Being a regular though, I get to see the regular waitstaff on good and bad days,

I tip them the same usually, because I can dig it.

I can see your point here.
I just don't go out enough to be a regular anywhere.

[HairOfTheDog]

Hey, Hair, is this guy bothering you?

Not at all Tonto, we have come to an understanding! We aren't gonna worry about it, and just get drunk. But thank you for your gallant offer of defense!

Oh, I forgot to ask. What were you wearing when you got sunburned?

Trust me, it was discreet..... I am above all else, realistic.

And, totally off topic: Can you run bleach through a pressure washer?

I don't see why not! - Rinse clean water through it afterwards....