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 apologize—he 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.
[Leftists, it seems, are only generous with other people's money.]
Great observation, PC, and this needs to be repeated.
[Leftists, it seems, are only generous with other people's money.]
Sorry. You are right. I serve none of that grass food around here:') (just kidding) There is plenty of good Tex/Mex though. Have a good time.
Since I don't believe that one, I'd pose the question: could not some of the bitter waitstaff with their horror stories not be influenced by political bent, regardless of wing? I'm just sayin'
I say screw them and the horse they rode in on.
That is just plain bassackwards.
The tip comes after the service, and the quantity is reflected by the quality.
The wait person goes in expecting a particular percentage, and presumably bases their service level on that. If they fall short, so will the tip; if they excel, so will the tip.
It is up to them to EARN the expected percentage, otherwise it really is a "gratuity": given gratuitously, without reason or merit.
Now if I could just get these folks to leave a tip when they stick those tracts on my windshield. ;-)
Tell it! I've noticed that in large groups, there's a always a bad apple or three that will chip in only for their own entree, withhold on their drink ("I only had water!") and tax ("uhhh... and what would that be?"), and weasel out of the tip, too, if they can.
I worked for a very short time at a restaurant, but I quickly learned to appreciate what servers have to go through.
I tend to tip 20% on average, rounding up so the total bill is a round figure. If possible, I tip in cash, even if the bill is paid on a credit card. I am very generous with a skilled or courteous server, or one who appears to be trying his/her best. I think we have to recognize that in most instances, once the server drops the order with the kitchen, getting the food back is beyond their control - how they handle that situation, if it occurs, will have a big influence on my tip. A simple thing like bringing coffee, or more bread, or something goes a long way. If they can get the house to comp a desert or something to make up for problems in back, or a sudden overwhelming surge of customers - then they're going to hit the jackpot with me.
One of the things I take into consideration is how many tables the server has, and what sort of people are in them. The servers are largely not in control of this - sometimes someone calls in sick, or they'll get an unexpected party of 15, or a family with a bunch of kids, or a couple of arrogent or drunk fools. If their service slacks off a little bit, despite their best efforts, because they're dealing with a situation beyond their control as best they can, then I take that into account.
If the place is dead and they only have one or two tables and they disappear for 15 minutes at a time, I take that into account as well. However, I seldom, if ever go below the assumed percentage for tax purposes, which I believe is 13%. I figure that leaving that figure and having a conversation with the management explaining my displeasure goes a lot farther than stiffing the server.
Conversely, in exceptional circumstances, an outstanding gratuity, and a good word with the management are warranted. If they're busy, then I'll follow up with a call to the restaurant later in the evening, or at a slow period the next day. Always get the name of a good server - then you can request them next time.
One thing that I've always wondered - why do most servers drop off the bill and then disappear for 15 minutes? I see this a lot when I go to new places and I don't understand it. We're done eating, we have nothing to do but talk, we may have an engagement to go to next - it doesn't take more than a few seconds to review the bill and take out a credit card or cash - if I have questions about the bill, then I need the server there anyhow. IMHO, servers would be well advised to leave the bill and wait, or drop the bill, then come back with a pot of coffee or pitcher of water within a minute or two.
Good food, good friends, good life.
/john
Great story about your dad. It reminds me of one I remember about mine also in the early 1960s. We were at a family restaurant in northern Virginia, ready to leave and my dad noticed the waitress made a math error in adding up the bill (of course in those days they had no other system). It was a huge difference and he called her attention to it, showed her where she'd made the error, and wanted the bill to be right. She thanked us profusely, mistakenly assuming my mom was in on it. When we were in the car, my mom asked him, "why did you have to point that out?" (We were far from wealthy [although as kids we had no idea.]) My dad said, "don't you realize that the difference will have to come out of her pocket? How could I do that?" Mom had no reply. My dad has taught us a lot about how to treat people.
[I think EVERYONE in life should work in a restaurant setting.]
I agree. The years I worked waiting on people was a great education in so many ways.
I always tip very generously when the staff is doing their jobs. But if the server is incompetent or rude I won't tip and make sure to tell the management WHY I didn't tip.
Well this is getting long ... probably no one wants to hear about the Kerry table ...
;-)
Ping me if you do - its a good story. :-)
Nice topic. I have eaten thousands of restaraunt meals in the last 30 odd years and am quite appreciative of good servers. Nobody else has mentioned it but I think men are far better tippers than women. I belong to a international fellowship group that is about 80% women. Everytime I go out to eat with them I notice how chintzey they are. They come from all backgrounds and income levels but I have never been at the table when this group of women has overtipped. I have on a number of occassions gone back to the table and thrown some more money on the table to make it a respectable amount. My experience with dining with men is that nobody wants to look cheap. We remember things like that. With women it doesn't seem to matter as much. What's up with that?
I worked as a security officer and a server to earn some extra money while in college and even after. Working in either one of these jobs actually is a good thing aside from earning money. It is a good experience and helps you to become a good observer of people characteristics. I was in Arkansas most of my adulthood so, I never get a chance to serve those celebrities. Now living in LA, I might try to do it again. After reading all your comments, I am hoping I will get a chance to meet one of these "champions" for the poor. I will most probably say something that will make them feeling guilty,.. if any of this leftist has any guilt.. what with all the superior qualities they think they have inherited. Shame!
My two friends and I get together for dinner every few months and usually take quite a while (talking). Last time we gave 25% for average service (we felt guilty for taking her table for so long) and the waitress was so grateful that she came back to personally thank us for being so generous. Then she said we could sit there for as long as we wanted and talk.
The pubbies OVERTPPED in New York at the convention.
I don't think leftists feel any responsibility towards individuals, only "the masses." I don't give a hoot about the masses, but when I speak to a security guard, I always call him or her "Sir" or "Ma'am," just as I would for a military or police officer. Maybe it's not really comparable, but it sets a good example for the children.
I recall my husband and I were at a fancy fundraiser dinner a couple of years ago - when I was about the same stage of pregnancy I am now, 6-7 months - and I asked a middle-aged black female security guard how to get to the bathroom. "Excuse me, ma'am, but can you tell me which way to the ladies' room?" She gave me the directions and then said, "Sorry it's such a long way, honey ... when are you due? They shouldn't make this so hard on you!" (It was a stand-up cocktail and snacks thing.) I thanked her and said, "Well, at least I'm not working at this hour! You've been a big help!"
I tell my children that people like waiters, security guards and delivery drivers are doing a job that we don't want to do, and so they deserve extra-good manners, unless they're truly obnoxious.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.