Servers and food-service folks: a question (actually 2)

"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction) 04/10/2019 at 08:45 • Filed to: None

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There are lots of quick-service places now. Not fast food, but pretty fast, but not normal sit-down places where you order from a menu and have a server. So, at a place like this, where I walk to the counter and put in my order and pay, and get my own drink, and clear my own trash, where the only thing that the staff does is transfer my plate from the kitchen to the table, am I a raging asshole for not tipping in this scenario? Just making sure, because the places where I pay, and then they swing the POS around to let me click “no tip” sure are making me kind of feel that way.

Full disclosure: at a normal restaurant, I generally tip 20%.

Question number 2: at a normal, sit-down restaurant, when I get the bill back with my card, I fill it out quickly like this - I take 10% of the total, double it, add it to the subtotal in my head, and then round it up or down to the nearest whole dollar, write that down on the total line, and then do a quick scribble of my signature. For example, if the bill was $2 5.10, I’d write $3 1 .00 on the total line, sign and go. Does leaving the tip line blank make me a insensitive jerkwad ? Is this o bnoxious, from a server’s perspective, or n o big deal? I worked in a grocery store in high school, and then a paint store and a sign shop during/after college, so I just honestly don’t know. I do it because it’s simple and quick, but if it’s a pain, I’ll change.

Thanks.

Discerning > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 08:51

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Q uestion 1: no. I have never tipped at those locations . They should not be classified as wait staff and I do not believe they are receiving reduced wages that are supposed to be supplemented by tips.

Q uestion 2: why not fill in the tip amount? I enjoy math so I have fun with the tip. It drives my fiance nuts. She just wants me to tip whole dollar amounts, but I purposely bring the total to a whole dollar amount (always rounding up vs. Down)

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 08:51

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Nope. Because quick service ain’t actual service.

We have a Chipotle competitor locally that does ‘quick service.’ I go there occasionally because their burritos are huge and also much less likely to give me e.coli. If I eat in, the server brings only the burrito to my table. They do not bring me my drink. They do not bring me my side (unless I’m waiting on it.) They do not bring me refills for my drink or make sure my food is OK.

They take the food they made, from the kitchen, to the table. That’s it. That’s not something you tip someone for.

Cé hé sin > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 08:53

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Ah, the advantages of living somewhere we don’t have this huge tipping culture!

pip bip - choose Corrour > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 08:53

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if it were me, i’d say no tip to Q1

if you’r e doing the work, why should you have to?

no idea on Q2

E90M3 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 09:00

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Q1: Yeah, no I’m not tipping; just don’t visit the take out. Their views on tipping are asinine and misconstrued .

Q2: I usually always write the tip amount. The one caveat to that is when I’m hammered and I don’t want to do math, so I figure out what a reasonable tip is and just write the total. Then I write “math” in the line for the tip. I might be being a smart ass, but then I’m sure working at a bar you see a lot worse things. If that’s too much of an inconvenience , I won’t tip you next time. 

facw > Cé hé sin 04/10/2019 at 09:02

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I’d love to be rid of it here. Seem difficult to do though. I was hopeful when Uber debuted as a tip-less service, but they’ve clearly decided it’s better to pay drivers less and let them try to make it up on tips.

E90M3 > Cé hé sin 04/10/2019 at 09:02

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It was refreshing to visit two places last year without the same tipping culture: UK and Costa Rica. Really liked not having to tip.

When I was in Russia I did tip and that did get me better service. 50 people in front of me? No problem, what do you want? 

E90M3 > facw 04/10/2019 at 09:11

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I forget who started tipping first, I think it was uber, but that’s when I started using Lyft. 

facw > E90M3 04/10/2019 at 09:12

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I’m pretty sure Lyft put the option to tip in the app first (as part of their “not being horrible to drivers” branding) , though I think initially they still tried to play it up as only being for exceptional rather than routine service.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Discerning 04/10/2019 at 09:15

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2 - I could, I just don’t, for expediency. But if it’s a pain in the ass, I’ll start doing it. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks 04/10/2019 at 09:18

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That’s pretty much the way I look at it. I assume folks working at these places aren’t making the same (very low) base wage of a normal server - hopefully this post will suss that out. 

Mercedes Streeter > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 09:19

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I never tip in situation 1. I’ve noticed that some local area carryout pizza places have tip lines on their receipts and it baffles me. All that’s happening is the pizza is going from the kitchen, to a counter, to my hands, to my car...I’m not tripping for that!

I’ve sometimes done the same in situation 2 if I’m in a super rush. Not sure what impact combining the tip into the total without also writing it above has.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/10/2019 at 09:19

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Definitely my opinion on 1, but the guilt trip of that screen is real.

Ash78, voting early and often > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 09:20

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I worked at a quick service/fast casual type of place for a couple years in high school. We slung hot chicken around like a hibachi chef, served sides, made wraps, etc, all for just over four bucks an hour. It always pissed me off to no end when the girl who opened the door (or the stoner who cleaned the tables; both were good friends of mine) got tipped for basically doing nothing. It can create a lot of unnecessary drama among the staff, which is something that most patrons don’t consider. They’re not getting paid the lower server wages like they would in a full-service place, so tipping just creates tension.

All that said, if the guy cleaning the tables offers to refill your drinks for you or otherwise hangs out for a chat, I’d consider a buck or two for the help. But in no way would I tip a full 15-20% in any kind of a self-service setting. In a buffet I usually aim for 10% if the waitress at least greeted us and refilled our drinks. If she cleared tables, was friendly, and really on the ball then I’ll go higher.

EDIT: In proper full-service places I always aim for 15% as a baseline. Unless we were treated overtly rudely, I never stiff them. That sends a harsh message and you’d better never plan to return. 20%-25% if they’re really nice to the kids (and/or if the kids make a big mess!). 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3 04/10/2019 at 09:21

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My assumption is that, if the tip is good, that’s really what matters. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 09:24

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Don’t tip.

Leaving the tip line blank puts you at risk. Put in the tip amount some enterprising waiter doesn’t enter a number and change the total. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 04/10/2019 at 09:24

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Thanks for the insight. I definitely agree, if they’re doing more than dropping food (offering to refill drinks, clearing tables, etc. ), then that deserves something.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter 04/10/2019 at 09:25

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Hopefully we both get an answer to this! 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > TheRealBicycleBuck 04/10/2019 at 09:27

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Yeah, I’m aware of that, but not really that worried about it. And I always write  the dollar sign, so there’s really no place to add a “1" before or something like that. 

E90M3 > facw 04/10/2019 at 09:40

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I think you’re right, I couldn’t remember which one it is. My original comment is valid if you replace uber and lyft.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 09:50

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The way you tip at a restaurant is how I tip. For quick service places, I usually toss them a dollar or two. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 04/10/2019 at 10:02

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It’s funny, if I’m paying in cash and there’s a jar, I have no hesitation to put my change and/or a buck in, but when they turn that POS screen around, with gives me the option to tip 15-18-20%, “no tip” is the easy answer. But I’m sure there’s a button for a custom amount as well.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 10:07

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Q1: Generally, no. There are a few exceptions, for example there’s a Thai resturaunt that my wife and I both love. They are always super nice to us, occasionally hook us up with a free drink or something, so I always tip well and even tip when picking up carryout, though usually closer to 10%.

Q2: I usually calculate 20% off the total and then round to the nearest 50 cents or a whole dollar amount. It makes the math easier, and I don’t like leaving the tip line blank.  I’ve had friends get burned by that.  

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Snuze: Needs another Swede 04/10/2019 at 10:09

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Yeah, I could easily change and make my tip the whole dollar amount instead of the total. Back in the check-balancing days, the whole dollar totals were nice to have, but it really doesn’t matter anymore. 

66P1800inpieces > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 10:21

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Q1 I used to tip a buck or two at time of payment, but I have been starting to re-think that because they are probably normal hourly workers.

For those where tips make up part of the wage, I think my state requires everyone to make an hourly minimum wage . So the employer would need to cover anything not covered by tips.

Q2, I tip 20% on the amount before tax .

Anytime 6 or more I check to see if they already added in an 18% gratuity for large parties. Sometimes they try to sneak it in to and on a non-itemized bill so you end up tipping twice.

Azrek > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 10:53

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I always try to tip decent...but as for the sit down where you ordered and carried it all, I don’t tip.

As for restaurants, I do and generally tip well if they did a decent job.

However, tip where it is comfortable to your karma or morality. 

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 04/10/2019 at 13:03

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Thanks for posting. I’ve wondered about these same topics. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 04/10/2019 at 14:40

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Sure thing - I now feel much better about not tipping at a quick service place, but I’ve get to get confirmation about leaving the tip line blank (other than it being a potential way for a waiter to rip you off).