Posted on 11/26/2005 9:50:03 AM PST by smoothsailing
Bad tippers and bitter waitresses
By Jack Kemp (not the politician) Nov. 26, 2005
Once, years ago, I heard a heard a lecture by a rabbi on dating. He advised that if your date treats a waiter/waitress or a busboy in a condescending and mean manner, that is the way they will treat you after a while if you were to marry them. Today's New York Post had an article about cheap celebrity tippers listed on the website www.bitterwaitress.com.
I went there to see how many well known political "champions of the little guy and gal" rated. I cross referenced the website with liberals from Bernard Goldberg's One Hundred People Screwing Up America.
........
Let's see. First up, Michael Moore, 3% tip.
Tipper's Name: Michael Moore (yes THAT Michael Moore)
Where it happened: Los Angeles
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $452.25 / $17.74 / 3%
What happened:
OK I ran my ass off for this guy and his friends. Funny I didnt know this guy had friends, maybe they were kissups. 2.5 hours they spent shoveling food down their fat faces. Numerous refills. By the way MM is a pompous ass judging from his treatment of the staff.
............
Let's see again. Barbra Streisand, 2% tip.
Tipper's Name: Barbra Streisand
Where it happened: New York
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $457.00 / $10.00 / 2%
What happened:
She demanded the best table, acting rude to everyone and then barely tipped.
..........
Next "champion of the people," Jessie Jackson 9% tip.
Tipper's Name: Jesse Jackson
Restaurant: Sam's
Where it happened: Kansas City
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $228.00 / $22.00 / 9%
What happened: rude,arrogant,demanding and cheap
.........
Next up, Sen. John Kerry, 2% tip.
Tipper's Name: John F. Kerry
Where it happened: St. Louis
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $773.24 / $20.00 / 2%
What happened:
Added $20.00 on the signature line and then scribbled a little note to vote for him. What a load of crap.
......
Kerry's former running mate, Sen. John Edwards, 2% tip.
Tipper's Name: John Edwards
Where it happened: Washington, D.C.
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $746.25 / $13.75 / 1%
What happened:
This is the guy running for Vice President Sat in our private section for 3 1/2 hours and left less than 2%. Jackass.
.........
Former VP Al Gore. 8% tip.
Tipper's Name: Former VP Al Gore
Where it happened: Alexandria, VA
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $40.00 / $3.50 / 8%
What happened:
Al and Tipper Gore were regulars at the restaurant I used to work at. You'd think this would be cool, waiting on a former Vice President. And it would be, if not for the fact that Al Gore is cheap.
Last time they came in, Tipper actually spilled her beer on me (it's not smart to gesture wildly with a bottle of Corona on your table). She didn't apologizehe apologized for her. Still. Less than 10%. You'd think they'd know that the 'underclass' the Democrats claim to represent are people like waitresses in VA making $2.13 an hour. Guess not.
.........
Lastly, Sean Penn, 0% tip. Nada. Zip. Zero.
Tipper's Name: Sean Penn
Where it happened: New Orleans
Total bill / Tip amount / Percentage: $450.00 / $0.00 / 0%
What happened:
Sean Penn is in New Orleans filming & came into my restaurant with 3 other people. Waited on them hand and foot. The bill $450.00 the tip: none. Cheapskate.
........
There you have it. The champions of "fairness" and "the little guy." Yes, President Bush and VP Cheney made the website as well. But who is claiming them as champions of the poor and oppressed victims, advocating extra government payments to make up for past suffering, etc.?
.............................
Thomas Lifson adds:
I have followed Bitter Waitress for years. It is well-known in the food and beverage industry, and at least at the upscale restaurants, it has a big following among the wait staff. When one of these bozos comes in, they usually will not treat them overtly rudely. But vengeance of another sort may sometimes occur. Let the diner beware.
Most people realize that watitrons (that's the non-sex-specific term favored theses days, believe it or not) are usually paid less than minimum wage, and that tips provide the margin of survival (to use leftist terminology) for them. To stiff a tip is to relegate someone to below minimum wage. This makes the behavior of these compassionate liberals all the more phony. Judge them by their deeds not their words.
I absolutely agree with Jack's rabbi that the best way to judge someone's character is to observe behavior with those who have no power or standing, and to do so in private in the case of celebrities and politicians. I have used this as a guide to friendships for almost my entire life, and it has proven highly reliable.
"Then the salad line has to take those extra steps, and THEN your waiter has to remember that you had special orders and verify them."
Yup.
The waitress needs to write "no croutons" on the order and then LOOK AT THE PLATE before delivering it.
Look at the plate
Look at the order
Look at the plate
Look at the order
Look at the plate
Look at the order
DO THEY MATCH????????????
This isn't rocket science. If the waitress doesn't even compare the order with the plate, she shouldn't be in the business. Occasional mistakes are one thing, but I get about an 85% error rate on the "no croutons" instruction.
I'm convinced it is simply managerial incompetence. There should be somebody in the kitchen checking that orders are right and then the server should do the same. When the order comes out wrong, it means neither the kitchen staff or waitstaff bothered to look. Bad management seems to be the standard in the restaurant industry.
I'm trying to remember the last time I sat at a table of 4 or more people and everything came out as ordered.
Don't get me wrong. I never send my food back or complain to the server. I know exactly what can happen in that case. I do my complaining with my feet. Given the number of places I stopped patronizing that went out of business, I'm a pretty good judge of quality.
I tried a new pizza restaurant for lunch today. Undercooked crust with canned sauce pretty much seals their fate. I wonder what kind of restaurant will be in that store next year.
entitled to the Presidency because he's "so sophisticated" and "so progressive" and "so international"
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Don't forget "Nuanced."
I think it's french for "Arrogant-Bastard."
ROTF!
If it is automatically deducted I ask to opt out.
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Of course, but if it is automatic it will be posted.
Even if it's automatic I like to give an additional tip if I get really good service.
That is a beautiful story. Permission please to send it to some pals (and who came up with it BTW). Thanks.
Uh, Tipper is the alpha part of that team.
I was a waitress for a while - $2 plus tips - and then discovered there was work for typists! I probably didn't make as much as I would have waiting tables, but it was steady pay.
Your tipping program is about like ours. I tip more on the rare occasions when our whole family goes out, because there are 9 of us, and it's a big job for a server, even if it's a buffet and the waiter just brings drinks and stuff.
I remembered my last perfect service!
It was at Emeril's in New Orleans. Everyting was absolutely perfect. If you haven't tried Emeril's banana cream pie, you are missing one of the true culinary delights in this country.
You can get it at his restaurant in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as well.
Don't forget he's on an allowance.
"where did Tipper get her name?"
It refers to cow tipping, not restaurant gratuities.
Should really be applied to Hillary instead, especially by the waitress she stiffed. Calves that only a cow could love....
Remember the richest diner did not eat. So while the other diners had to make up the missing man's share they did not purchase the missing man's dinner (average $10). So in reality, they were approximately $42 short - but still short.
"And don't forget to "toke" the dealers at the Casino either."
Absolutely. I was taught the ropes early on by a couple of doctors from L.A. about craps table manners, especially tipping the dealers, and buying anyone who wins you money a drink, and it makes all the difference. I've learned more about the game from the dealers, just for throwing them $2 CE bets, and giving them a percentage when I win.
One place i tip where it makes no sense, is at bars. I don't drink, but go to shows with friends, and I tip for water, coffee, soda, whatever. I often get asked if I'm the designated driver, and when I say yes, I get free refills - and I tip more.
People just don't cook anymore. Eating out is hugely expensive compared to the same food prepared at home.
Elizabeth Edwards doesn't look like she's a stranger to Wendy's.
LOL - nothing like the poker gods catching up to a guy, and then watching him muck the winning hand at a showdown! That was a good story!
Gee, funny you should mention that. This program was probably initiated during the Clinton misadministration.
Did you marry her (or him)?
Last time I checked, Wally World didn't have brioche or fois gras. ;>)
I'm planning a trip to Charlie Trotter's next year. I consider the airfare from Dallas to Chicago to be an incidental part of the bill. I'll spend more money in the restaurant.
/john
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