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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.

Where do you people come from?! You are so sweet, I'd probably still be complaining about my tip!

Those stories make me want to go do something nice for someone!

Re: Your post #153

I don't know if you're ever going to be an economic success, but you're certainly a winner with your attitude. I suspect you're a very happy person.

Thanks for those stories.