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What you see should be cost
Published Thursday, June 19, 2008
Jerry Barney
Waitresses are some of my favorite people. (Or should I refer to more than one waitress as “waitri”?)
Anyhow, after being served by a restaurant waitress who is new to me, I’ll say, “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to tell you that tipping is against my religion.”
Before the waitress’ eyes go completely dim, I will add, “But because of your super-efficient service and delightful personality, I am giving you a gift.” I will then hand her a fairly generous amount of money. The light will then return to her eyes and a smile will come to her face.
When the same waitresses serve me more than once, they know they will receive gifts — but not “tips.” And I usually get very good service.
My anti-tip stance is not exactly a religious belief, but it is firm. I do not believe in “tips.”
I don’t mind giving waitresses a little extra money, because I know waitresses are usually overworked, unappreciated and underpaid. And they’re nice, friendly people. But I want to feel I giving them money out of voluntary generosity, not mandatory obligation.
See, when I eat in a restaurant, I feel the price listed with any item on a menu is not only for food, but also for good, fast, efficient, courteous service. I don’t think a customer should be expected to pay extra for service.
To expect that an extra “tip” be paid for service represents bait-and-switch tactics. That’s my hang-up right there.
(Actually, I feel there should be a legal requirement that menu prices — and all price tags — should also include the amount of sales tax one is required to pay. But that’s a separate argument.)
The price that a person sees — on menus or price tags or whatever — should be the maximum amount a person is expected to pay. If a person wants to pay extra, that’s his or her business. But there should be no legal or social obligation.
Another time I got uptight about a different — but-similar principle — was a long time ago when I joined a record club. The ad to which I responded when I joined said that if a prospective customer agreed to buy six records at the regular price over the next three years, he or she could get another six records, right off the bat, for only 10 cents. The ad said nothing noticeable about having to pay “packing and handling” costs on any of those records.
After I was committed to the club by getting the low-priced records, the company let me know in plainer and emphatic language about those “packing and handling” costs — which I found not only aggravating, but prohibitive.
(These were vinyl LP records, so you know it was a long time ago.)
Back to the restaurant situation: a customer can be enticed into thinking he or she can purchase a meal for a certain amount, but then finds out there is social pressure to pay more. I still say that’s bait-and-switch tactics.
But I guess I’ve adjusted my attitude to where I can make a game out of it and have some fun by flabbergasting the waitresses by handing them money while I surprise them with exorbitant, extravagant, lavish, compliments about their highly-professional serving skills and delightfully-scintillating personalities. As a matter of fact, I enter restaurants trying to think of how I can outdo myself with new and increasingly-flowery compliments.
Often, as I hand them the “gifts,” they will say, “Oh, you don’t have to do that.” I’ll respond, “I know, but I WANT to.”
On the other hand, I don’t want to think I am leaving extra money out of any kind of obligation. After all, a person shouldn’t have to pay any more than the price he or she sees.
Jerry Barney is a Fergus Falls resident. He is a former Otter Tail County newspaper editor.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by whostruth (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ditto ,I like you Barney!
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you still want to get your breakfast at a resturaunt for under 10.00 bucks you may want to continue to tip.
If the resturants were required to pay more and not allow tipping then I can assure you prices for your food and services would go up. If that happens then I'm sure you would be complaining about the high cost of going out to eat. Cmon here, people don't make a living off the jobs, they make a living off those tips. Further, if you can open your wallet to go out to eat then you can certainly tip the folks who are serving it to you. Tipping may not always be required but it is ALWAYS the right thing to do. I normally never tip less then 2-5 dollars over what minimum tipping is 10-15%. Why?
Because I have worked those jobs and I know what that money means to those folks. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to make good money and to be comfortable whereas some of these folks are scraping to get by.
I also do this because it's an opportunity to help out folks who most likely have much, much less then you.
Bottom line, ALWAYS TIP AND BE GENEROUS IN DOING SO!!!!!!
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Quit flirting with the waitresses Barney :)
Posted by lnelson (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tipping goes further than at the local restaurant. Make sure you also tip your hair stylist, massage therapist, dog groomer, mail carrier, etc. They'll remember your generosity!
Here's my rule of thumb on tipping: hair cut $5, cut and color $10, 1 hour massage $5, pet grooming $5, I've even given my mail carrier homemade goodies at the Holidays. As for a waitress/waiter: if they gave me "okay service" 15%, if they give me "over the top - but not annoying service" 20% plus. If I know the young person, they'll get more. Also, please be kind and gracious to the folks who are being trained in.
I worked in the industry for 5 years and believe me, I know what the meaning of "overworked and under-appreciated"! Most days would start out with cleaning the toilets, filling condiment containers, then the rush of folks would come in and many times I made the food and washed the dishes after they left. I appreciated every tip I was given.
Here's a tip to the young folks just starting in the business: show up early, be kind, smile, do more than expected, be human and be thankful.
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's another tip - fill the condiment containers BEFORE you clean the toilets.
Posted by andtongs (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Always tip???? If I get bad food, bad service, and a waitress with bad attitude? I should still tip? I don't think so!!!!
Posted by username (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WWJT? (what would Jesus tip)?
Posted by bucksteel (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
andtongs - maybe you get bad food, bad service, and a bad waitress because you've been in that restaurant before and they remember your attitude and the fact that you don't tip. Think about it.
Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who isn't overworked and underpaid these days? Based on that......everyone should get a tip. Sometimes in restaraunts where I've received bad service, I'll give tips
like: " You're the 1st table service personnel I've seen in my area. I've been sitting here so long I had to shave again."Tip: Your service needs to improve here. or "My food isn't cooked properly and the vegetables are still partially frozen". : Tip: You need to hire a cook or learn how to use a micorwave. I think those can be valuable tips. As for expecting a tip after each meal......When the meal starts costing less than I make in a day,then there might be $ left over for a $ tip. Yah, I know........ but, but, but!!!!
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think some folks here are over stating the obvious.
If you get bad service, then feel free to leave a small tip, if any but to not tip out of some mis guided principal is just silly. Tipping has been a standard for what, maybe hundreds of years. If your not on board with the standard then maybe you should just eat at home.
Posted by TheVikingman (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When I have the option to go back and pick up my order then I will feel obligated to tip. Otherwise it is based on the level of service received. If the wait person takes my order, brings the food, then my check they have done the bare minimum and have not earned anything extra. I will tip and tip well if the service is good. Heck I will even tip well if the service is fair but the resturaunt is packed. I figure it isn't the wait staff who decided how many people should be at work.
The EXPECTATION that I HAVE to give a tip to anybody is insane. I go to work everyday with the knowledge of what is required of me to make a living at what I do. I would assume most people that work as wait staff understand that same basic concept. I would hope that they can put together good/friendly service equals decent tips and surly/rude service gets you a big fat nothing. People that tip bad service basically are telling the wait staff that it is ok to do their job half assed and still get paid.
It is a sentiment that seems to be running rampant in our country...
Posted by Woodtick (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with you TheVikingman. I am a firm believer in tipping someone quite well if they do a good job. I will also tell them and/or their manager if I think they are doing a good job. The same goes for one of those surly/rude servers. I will tell them and/or their manager that their service is subpar. The notion of an expected tip is ludicrous. To me, tips are like respect. You don't "get" them/it, you "earn" them/it.
Posted by gumball (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Barney is dead-on! Bucksteel & I were bartenders and we got "gifts" for good service, jokes, and being personable with people. And this was at the EAGLE'S, which is not known for tipping. Just greeting them by their name and knowing their favorite drink made them feel special. We would tell jokes all thru Happy Hour and fill the front bar. It was a blast and the "gifts" were nice as we both were in college at the time. Thanks for the story Jerry!!
Posted by Hennepin (anonymous) on June 22, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hometown,
Wait staff should be paid at least minimum wage. That is pure bull that you could not eat out if they paid their employees at least minimum wage. Let's say the average waitron handles maybe 20 customers per hour? 30 cent increase in meal meal price could add $6 per hour to their wage. No other reatail industry gets away with this slave wage BS and neither should restaurants!
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe in Minnesota, however Many years ago I waited in Fargo ND and they only had to pay 2.00 dollars an hour. This may have changed however have you really ever tried to live a decent lifestyle on minimum wage without help via either a second job or from the state or county?? I highly doubt it. And You said it, the word COULD. You said "could add up to 6$ per hour to their wage". Some resturants are only busy at certain times of the day thus making it a crap shoot if you make out well or not. I still think that if you stopped the tipping method and had the cost put back on to the businessess then you would see an incredible price hike on your food and services that have almost never been seen in this country before.
Posted by Hennepin (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well hometown,
Grocery store service Delis with cafe's starting wage is $8.00 per hour and we do cook over a hundred meals per week. Our top priced breakfast with choice of meat, eggs, toast and coffee is $5.99 a plate. $10 breakfast is BS outside of the Metro.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
at 15% tip that comes to 6.89$ almost 7.00 bucks. that's before tax as well. So with tipping your already looking at 7.25 to 7.50 with tax and tip. If you went away with tipping and had the resturants pay for the extra cost I assure you that the 3 dollar gap from 7.00 dollars to ten would close rather quickly.
Posted by Hennepin (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, 1 more time, there is no tipping in the grocery stores. That is why they pay $8 to start. The average wage is $10 so once again, there does not need to be $10 for a breakfast. Can I be any clearer? Oh, I did start at minimum back when it was $1.25 per hour and worked my way up, nights weekends, holidays. I currently have a restraunt in my operation and my avergae wage is $10 per hour and the top breakfast price is $5.99 got it?? Sheeesh. I am done this this topic.
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