Why Do We Suckers Tip?

Gunny G's Globe and Anchor Sites & Forums! ^ | 27 September 2003 | Dick Gaines

[gunnyg]

Tip means To Insure Promptness, or Tips, To Insure Promt Service... Numerous writings regarding the history of "tipping" would indicate that tipping came about centuries ago, and was paid up front to insure prompt service subsequent to you providing a gratuity. Now, the gratuity is paid after the fact; just another aspect of how backasswards things have become.

Gone are the olden days when the innkeeper's daughter was the servant administering to weary travelers at wayside inns. But today, tipping has grown into an institution unto itself, and we are "conditioned" to this with obedience, and without question, no resistence, not so much as a whimper.

In fact, we Tip with extreme loyalty and pride, as we do paying our "taxes"! Anyone who dares voice an opinion contrary to tipping, is immediately attacked by tippers--the majority--therefore, mob rule prevails. Recently, I chanced to post some of my thoughts on the above to a Internet bulletin board, and was lambasted unmercifully as a tightwad, flake, and just plain mean-spirited (where have I heard that b4?).

Some of these irate responses came from enraged waiters, waitresses, etc. (excuse me, "SERVERS") who felt that they were entitled to tips, since their employers paid them below minimum wage and they needed the tips. I'm not sure that is even so and/or legal.

Others stated that they certainly would not take another job at higher pay and have to pay taxes on that pay, ending up w/less in their pockets; whereas otherwise they did not report their total tips, etc. Hmmm...

This topic is not limited to servers, etc. Today, everybody under the sun seems to be an eligible tippee and expects a tip--and big ones too.

If you are inclined to respond/post on this board, please attempt to do so with the big picture in mind, and not personally biased, e,g., as you would if you just happen to be one of the countless tipped/insufficiently tipped servers, taxi-drivers, bellhops, etc., etc. You may respond/post on any or all of those things mentioned above, and/or related information, questions, answers, etc.

Actually, I may have been motivated on this topic after reading an article on the Internet (by a U.S. Marine, moonlighting) who was badmouthing consumers in general for thinking that they should pay only the traditional 15% tip--this arrogant xxxxxxx was sure he had more coming him, and, indeed, was irritated/enraged that some were daring enough, depriving him of his due.

Personally, I am damned sick and tired of "servers" kneeling at my table, referring to me/us as "you guys," and hearing their "sorry bout dat," (which means xxxx you!) And what really pisses me off is when I'm sitting on the end in a booth, and some jerko waiter stands on my outboard foot w/his size 12 gunboats! No, I'm wrong--what really pisses me off is sitting there waiting for my check so I can get the hell outta there, after being pestered to death from the time I was seated with service above and beyond, only for them to disappear when it is my desired time of departure--this is when they show up after you finally catch their attention and wave them down, and they still pressure you to order desert after you ask for your check! Then, if you want change, there's another wait till they come back again.

Don't get me wrong--I am not opposed to tipping because of the above listed grievances--I am opposed to tipping in principle--I work for my pay like most others--and I don't expect/demand a handout. I just thought I would pitch my favorite bitches here while I'm at it, since the opportunity presents itself.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Sounds like you and Mr. M. go to some pretty crappy restaurants to eat.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

"Could you imagine having to serve an SOB like you ? Thats worth at least 15%."

LOL. So true. For this reason alone, I usually tip 20%.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

First of all moron, if employers paid their waitstaff, the cost of your meal would simply increase by 15% - 20%. Secondly, "tipping is too french" shows your complete ignorance. Tipping in France is not the norm, other than giving the coins received after paying your bill.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Very good point.

[wimpycat]

In Chile, and in many other countries, the waiter actually buys the food you ordered from the restaurant, then sells it to you. Sort of like beauticians who rent their 'stations' from the owner of the establishment, or cab drivers whose cars are marked with a cab company's logo and phone number, but are actually owned by the cab driver.

So the waiter is, in effect, an independent distributor. It's in his own personal interest for the restaurant to cook good food and to give you good service. If someone refuses to pay for a meal, the waiter loses out, not the restaurant.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

They are much more laid back as far as service goes.

[ghostrider]

....where no tip is involved some employees garnish foods with various bodily fluids gratis. To seek to reduce one's chances of such an encounter is not so much yielding to extortion as it is exercising prudence.

My how the brainwashers have succeeded. If you pay extra our of fear, then you have been extorted. The brainwashing and political programming is blatantly obvious on this thread. Waitron, waitperson, pay so they don't spit or piss on your food...Argh!

[Helen]

We also tip well for a pizza delivery. They get the same dollar amount from us now - pizza minus delivery fee plus tip - and if they want to label a dollar of our tip as a delivery fee, that's up to them.

[Petronski]

"Waitron" seems to me to be a term made up by exasperated wait staffers frustrated by the way customers and/or management expect robotic service, and how mindlessly robotic that work can seem.

But then, I don't know.

[TommyDale]

Many restaurants pay their employees HALF minimum wage, and expect them to make any income from tips. Until this nonsense is corrected, I feel morally obligated to supplement their income with tips. Since most waiters/waitresses are students, it is even more reason to help them.

[gunnyg]

Ah, the conditioning is so strong!

[The Coopster]

Why Do We Suckers Tip?

Because most of us "suckers" are grounded in reality. You can act all high and mighty, like it's some big conspiracy/scam, but the fact is - that's the system. Most realists know/are ok with not tipping for lousy service. When I tended bar/waited tables, I was grown-up enough to know when I received a poor tip due to poor service.

However-

I made excellent money during those years because I did a good job. And 90 percent of my bad tips came from either: 1.Certain demographic groups who always tip poorly (black folks, nascar hillbillies), or 2. People who come from countries where tipping doesn't happen.

The intent/meaning of your post comes through quite clearly. If you have a problem with tipping, dine at Golden Corral with all the folks from choice 1 in the paragraph above. Don't take your bad attitude out on someone who's simply trying to put there way through school, or support a family.

[Graybeard58]

"political programming is blatantly obvious on this thread. Waitron, waitperson"

...Thanks ghostrider,too much gender "correctness" here for me too.

[The Coopster]

Lay off the heroin, guys. you tip at the END of the meal.

[SunTzuWu]

If the local waitresaurus can't make it to my table in time, I help myself. I have no problem going to the waitress station to help myself to whatever I can find. Tea, coffee, soda, napkins, silverware. It embarrasses the hell out of them. Want the manager to take notice? Go into the kitchen grab a plate and serve yourself and your friends. After he hears why you are there you will be treated like a king every time you return.

[Cronos]

First of all moron, if employers paid their waitstaff, the cost of your meal would simply increase by 15% - 20%.

First of all, Mr. Liberal, it is a religion of peace (which bring up other questions), you dont' seem to be able to read: "but refrain from abusive attacks", secondly, you say "if employers paid their waistaff". Well, if they don't then do they keep them as slaves? If the employers don't pay them, it's illegal. Your assertion that the meals would cost 20% more doesn't stand up to the fact that Japanese restaurants don't allow tipping and yet are cheaper than American, why?

[Graybeard58]

"I made excellent money during those years because I did a good job".

...In the summer of 1989 my son was making $100 per day in tips, working Fridays and Saturdays at Steak & Shake. he was a hard working personable young man and that's what it takes. Not bad for a 14 year old kid!

[Cronos]

So, More on, Waiters in those countries make a decent wage from the restaurant, did we say that waiters shouldn't make a decent income? No. Let the employers pay them decently.

[gunnyg]

I guess what you really mean is, "it's for the children"!
But you may not even realize that!