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.

[nightdriver]

"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."

So enter the meddlesome federal gubmint who taxes restaurants on 8% of their gross take, ASSUMING that more money was involved in the transaction than was indicated on the receipts. Should be a totally illegal tax. Even our "friend" Bob Dole was complicit in passing that little jewel.

[Kaslin]

Japanese don't tip -- it's not in their culture.

Wrong. I used to work in several hotels and the Japanese guest left a tip every day for the maid in the room

[StACase]

It's fun to be nice to someone.

Yes, I tip the high school kids who pack my grocery bags. I packed those bags over 40 years ago and appreciated those few people who gave me a tip. I'm returning the favor of all those many years ago.

[The Coopster]

What? I expected a little more intelligent response from a gunny.

But then I read the rest of your posts here.....

What I meant is what I said. If you don't like tipping, eat at restaurants that cater to your level.

[gunnyg]

Apparently, you're exactly what you sem to be....

[lodwick]

This is why God made grocery stores and grills.

Cheers.

[avenir]

"If you do not report at least this amount (8% I believe), then the difference will be tacked on to your W-2 as allocated tips."

Many waiters, including myself, used to believe the 8% myth. You can be sure that the IRS expects you to report ALL tip income. They have a nifty thing called The McQuatters Formula which they use to determine what you should have made based on info they get from your restaurant's credit card receipts, etc.

When I worked in the biz many moons ago I got nailed for underreporting (and for believing that blasted 8% Myth!) and after interest and penalties...yipes. Afterwards I reported ALL TIP INCOME and never had another problem.

[nmh]

If I don't like the service I do NOT reward them with a tip. If they ask, I tell them why. I feel NO obligation to reward people because they expect it.

[Grit]

It is so. Waitstaff make $2.13 and hour. It is legal. If you don't tip a hard working waiter, you are pretty damn sorry.

It is not necessarily so. My wife has worked as a waitress and earned min wage plus tips. It is up to the owner of the establishment.

Also, I think that even Gunny will tip a "hard working waiter". It is the not-so-hard-working waiters that we are talking about. No one is *entitled* to a tip. I don't care what the waiter's base wage is.

[NY.SS-Bar9]

I work part time in an upscale steakhouse to supplement my families income so I know what I am talking about. My personal goal is a 20% tip on each table (this at a place where the check avg. is $50.pp.) and I usually get it.

You may not like the system, but it is what it is. I pay taxes on my tips.

I agree that service in general stinks - and it is appropriate to tip accordingly.

However, everyone here has omitted one reason for poor service - namely the attitude of the customer. Treat the server rudely, and you get what you deserve.

If you are a "nice" person to deal with, you can expect more attention and better sevice. Start the evening with a scowl, treat the server as an annoying but necessary intermediary between the kitchen and your table, and guess where you wind up un the servers priority list.

Sit down, smile, order well, and you will receive much better service.

[Starshine]

25 yrs ago, as a recently divorced mother of two, with only a high school education, I could have gone on welfare and received food stamps as many of my democratic counterparts would have done.........you know let the government take care of me.

I chose however to WAITRESS. For sure the $1.89 an hour that I made would have had to be supplemented with something if all my customer's had been like you. I don't know who's right or who's wrong in this debate. But until our server's begin getting paid at least minimum wage, let's not take out on them, the fact that the establisment they work for is the one reaping the benefits.

[Yup!!]

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.

I do that too. Drives my family crazy!! I give the waiter/ress plenty of time to come to my table before I get up and serve myself. One of my major pet peeves is when you order something that people usually eat with condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc) and they bring you the meal with no condiments. Then you have to sit there and wait for them while your meal gets cold. Very few waiters will bring you these things before they bring you the food. Now I ask for these things when I order my drink. I don't usually get them, but I do ask.

We rarely go out to eat anymore cause the service is so poor these days. No smile, no thank-you and a bad attitude.

[A. Pole]

And that's one of the good points of Japanese culture which we ought to emulate! The waiter should be paid by his/her employer the amount he/she deserves.

Are you a Socialist or what?! Don't you believe in the invisible hand of the market?

[Grit]

I got a better idea than all the ex-waitstaffs' calls for minimum wage (never thought I'd see so much of that on FR).

How about we just eliminate the Min wage and pay people what they are worth regardless of profession.

[The Coopster]

Which is what? You haven't made a cogent reply to me yet.

[A. Pole]

"which it was when I was a waitron" .. Couldn't find that "word" in three different on line dictionaries, even spelling it as another poster did, watron. I suppose if it is not a word, you can spell it any way you want to.

This is called a "neologism" . Check it out!

[SamAdams76]

I hate tipping (but I do it anyway out of social pressure). My viewpoint on tipping was exactly laid out by actor Steve Buscemi in the opening scene of Reservoir Dogs.

[Grit]

Also, the waiters[esses] that I know could work for no wage and still be better (alot better) than min wage.

[mtbopfuyn]

but (tipping)gives them a boost

Ahh, see, there's the rub. You are the customer. The employer hired and expects the waitstaff to give you, his customer, good service. You, as the customer, should be able to take for granted good service from the waitstaff. It's their job. Eating out is all about the customer or the business fails. It's not your responsibility to give them a boost, it's their responsibility to give you a boost so you, the customer, have a pleasant experience and return. Upon entering the establishment, you and the owner have entered into a contract which his employees are obligated to honor.

[Jeff Gordon]

we Tip with extreme loyalty and pride, as we do paying our "taxes"!

Sorry. This is as far as I got into the article.

For most of us, paying tax is not voluntary. When, how, whom and how much we tip is voluntary. The fact that the author does not see this difference tells me he truely out of touch with reality.