[gunnyg]

Have at it!

[Xenalyte]

Well, Mr. Gaines, except for the fact that the "to insure promptness" business has absolutely no basis in etymological fact, therefore rendering your premise moot, it was a great article.

[Xenalyte]

It is indeed true that waitstaff are paid below the federal minimum wage. The federal government is totally aware. The IRS assumes that waiters combine their tips with their hourly $2.01 (which it was when I was a waitron) to receive the minimum wage each hour. Furthermore, the IRS assumes that your tips and your hourly rate ALWAYS match or exceed the minimum wage.

[dennisw]

If you are a cheap, ego-centric bas*ard (libertarian??) you should only dine at places where tipping is not traditional. Certain caferterias, buffets and the like.

Go to McDonald's, Wendy's, Checkers drive through. If you don't tip there you won't get angry scowels.

[Young Rhino]

I tip good service 20-30%. I tip nothing for lousy service. It is my suggestion that the incompetent/disgruntled waiter/waitress find other employment.

Before I'm flamed regarding the latter, I worked my way through undergrad as a waiter. I know when to pin the blame on the waiter or waitress for lousy service as opposed to the kitchen.

[R. Scott]

As an ex-cabdriver, I tip. If I can’t afford the cost plus tip, I order something cheaper. I also believe in tipping after service is rendered. I can then tip appropriately. I don’t base my tip on a percentage of the bill – that would be meaningless. I tip based on what the service was worth to me. If in a restaurant or bar and I receive great service I tip an amount equal to what I would charge to carry the food or drinks to a stranger. If the service was mediocre, it would be less. If the service was bad or the person was impolite I generally leave two pennies – the traditional way to say that “your service was worth two cents, and no more”. That way the message is clear, and the tip is not construed to indicate that I’m just cheap.

[aruanan]

Why do we tip? So we can go to the same place twice and be assured that nothing bad is going to happen to our food before it gets to us. Well, so we can be a little more assured that nothing bad will happen to our food before it gets to us as a result of not having previously tipped.

[Amelia]

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.

This is certainly true. On a really slow day (very bad weather, etc.) it's possible for a server to make less than minimum wage, although this doesn't normally happen for good waiters and waitresses at busy restaurants.

After hearing stories from several family members who worked themselves through college by waiting tables, I'm a bit more sympathetic to those who seem to be trying, and a good bit more generous to those who do a great job.

[SBprone]

Mr. Pink has returned!

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

A bit off-topic, but a quandary: Domino's Pizza (and some others) now charge a $1.00 delivery fee for pizza. Since they are now charging extra for delivery, is tipping still de rigeur? I always tipped well in the past, three or four bucks for a $15-$18 order. Should I not tip, tip the same as before, or tip the same as before minus one dollar?

Maybe this sounds trivial, but there doesn't seem to be an etiquette for this that I know of. The reason I tip pizza delivery drivers is because they are risking their lives every time they go out on a call, whether to bad drivers, going into bad neighborhoods, or getting a bomb strapped to their neck. Plus, if I ever get the same delivery guy in the future, I won't worry about my food being spit on. I guess tipping has become a form of bribery in that respect.

I do tip commensurate with service in restaurants, however. And if the service is bad, I won't go back there anyway, so no worries about food tampering.

[mtbopfuyn]

Anyone who dares voice an opinion contrary to tipping, is immediately attacked by tippers--the majority--therefore, mob rule prevails.

Hear, hear! I'm pissed and have taken back my right NOT to tip sorry, no good, crappy service. It never fails the waitstaff has some chip on their shoulder. When you're being taken to your seat they run and leave you far behind rather than lead you as a polite hostess should. They can't seem to count and never have the correct amount of menus or place settings. They rattle off the menu at lightening speed so you have no idea what they disinterestedly mumbled and heaven forbid if you ask for a repeat. Of course you meal takes forever and your still left waiting for a place setting. In the past, waitstaff could remember what dish went to which patron, but now it's always mass confusion. Mr. M always tells them he drinks LOTS of water and it would be easier for them to leave a pitcher, but Noooo that's just not possible and it's impossible to get their attention later. We usually have to call another table's waiter over to help but he/she isn't the one who pockets the tip. And forget about the check, we usually give up and pay at the front desk. Service today is so bad I consider it a chore to go out anymore. I always feel it's a waste of time. I'd rather have a root cannal than to go to all the trouble of getting ready only to be disappointed with the outing. As to the "but I don't get paid enough" and "it's expected" reasoning for tipping, well it's hogwash. A tip is for service above and beyond the call of duty, not a requirement. Hear that? Above and beyond. It's not my job to suppliment their salaries. They agreed to accept the job at X salary and that's that. Do other workers get tips? No, the rest of us may get a raise or bonus IF and only IF they perform above expectations.

[CroftonFreeper]

These people are working hard making a living, paying there way. Cheap bastards that complain about tipping "piss me off" Stay at home or go to the fast food joints. Could you imagine having to serve an SOB like you ? Thats worth atleast 15%.

[Cronos]

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

[Cronos]

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. Tipping is too french.

[visualops]

The IRS assumes that your tips are a percentage of the establishment's earnings. 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. The IRS also expects you to report the value of "non-cash tips" from customers, such as tickets, passes etc. The other item to remember is the taxes to be paid on reported tips are not simply federal income taxes, but social security, medicare, and state income tax as well.

[NittanyLion]

I tip because servers are willing to do something I would no longer choose to do myself. Often they're young kids trying to put themselves through college or supplement their incomes; I did similar jobs as a kid. I realize that I'm in a fortunate enough position now to give them a generous tip, since people did the same for me.

[Yeti]

below minimum wage and they needed the tips. I'm not sure that is even so and/or legal.

Well, do some research, DICK gaines.

[Huck]

I tip 20% or more when dining. I tip delivery guys at the house too. Mainly because I have been (by my standards anyway) financially successful the last few years, and I want to spread the love around a little. It's fun to be nice to someone.

[ghostrider]

Everything about our society is phony. We don't even declare war anymore. Why should anyone expect the posted price to be honest. Tip, tip, tip, tip, tip....

Or, ignore the brainwashing, carry your own bag, open your own door, and live like the classical American, rather than a tight pants French wimp.

[varon]

........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.

Have you considered upgrading from bars with food to higher class resataurants? ;-)

[JoeGar]

I tip according to the quality of service I receive. Bad service, bad tip. I thought this was the way it is supposed to work.