Andre Roberson Leaves a less than expected tip in ATX

Either tips are mandatory or they are not.

If they are de-facto "mandatory" such that everyone is expected to pay it, then the lower prices are fake because the true price is 15-20% higher anyway.

At the end of the day, $100 bill + $20 tip expected = $120 bill + tips not allowed, which is how it is in Europe and Asia.

The only way it is cheaper is if the customer stiffs on the tip. But since that is not an acceptable option, just include it in higher prices or as a fixed gratuity

 

I doubt the guy just took the bottle and put it on the table. In fact even if it was a "pooled" tipping system that 0.50 cents would go into a pool that gets divided. For small bars or clubs that money goes to a bartender and barback who is possibly also cleaning the cups that are used and polishing them. If it is champagne or something that is meant to be chilled then they are making sure you have a clean bucket of ice, clean utensils to use to pick up the ice, and make sure all other items to make that drink enjoyable are at your disposal. So the bartender who did all that work came in early to restock the fridges, make sure your bottle is properly chilled or at the right temp and if it is a good wine is properly airated opened, not corcked all the person has to do is take the vessel and drink doesn't deserve more than 0.50 cents? If you don't want to be served then stay at home clean your own cups. Chill your own wine champagne, wine, liquor, and beer. Provide yourself with whatever you like your drink with, and then clean up after your own mess. As in wash your own cups and put everything away. The money they make off that item they just sold you is going to some porter, electricity, lease or whatever that tip does not go to. Most restaurant owners are making dirt. They make their money after they have opened a few and then can take a little bit of dirt from each place and it definitely is not much.

 

If you are implying that I undertip, then you are incorrect. I tip 20% which I consider at least average if not slightly higher.

But I do it only because the system expects customers to in effect pay servers separate from the main bill. I would prefer just one bill with meal and service included. If I don't like the service, I can always write the owner or just stop going.

 

So I assume you also believe that people shouldn't make commissions, or bonuses for doing their job. Spiffs, perks or any other form of pay for doing their job.

How about you avoid all industry that requires tipping. Better yet tell the owner of the next restaurant you frequent, that you would rather pay double for your steak so that the server can earn a proper wage.

 

Tell me this. If the tipping system is so critical for profitability and service and server income, etc. why isn't that the case in Europe and Asia?

The point isn't that people in the US shouldn't tip. Clearly they should because it's expected here and servers depend on it as they might otherwise be underpaid.

The point is that it is inferior to the system that exists outside the US where tip is "included" either in higher prices or fixed gratuity, at least in the opinion of a significant number of people.

 

Not the case in all of europe. The system you described is implemented in Great Britain for example (tip is included in the bill), but here in Germany there's nothing like that. Rule of thumb is you tip roughly 5-10% of the bill's amount. It works better than in the USA though, as the prices are a bit higher, leading to better wages for waiters and waitresses.

 

If I go to a restaurant and have to choose between two wines, one costing $50 vs $1000. I don't expect the waiter to do any more work but why is it expected of me to pay $10 tip for one and $200 tip for the other?

The problem is that everyone expects Andre to pay more because he had a big pay day. Just because you make more doesn't mean you're expected to spend more.

 

I don't understand why people are still arguing the merits of the tip system. It exists. It's how it currently works. You KNOW this before going out to eat/drink. Here, you cheap phucks. I'm not at 10mil/yr, but this is a check from 2 rounds tonight.

Did it take much effort to open 4 cheap ass beers? No. Did I get ripped off on them since I could've gotten about 40 of them for the same price at a grocery store? Yes. Did we sit there for an hour and enjoy ourselves, while taking up the servers opportunity to make more money? Yes. Do I feel bad about it? No.

$12, or a 25% tip, seems appropriate. Cheap bastards.

 

I'm assuming you can't afford a $1000 bottle of wine. If you did, you wouldn't be crying about the tip.

 

I'm assuming you can't afford it either based on your 3 coors lights

 

lmao nice try... I considered posting this one before, but I didn't so as to not look like a douche. So I posted a more 'normal' tab from tonight, and you tried to mock me for drinking Coors Lights. LMFAO. Cheap b*stard. (btw, this was for a daytime pool party)

 

Now let's see that $2750 tip.

Regardless, the $1000 wine question was a hypothetical one that doesn't have a true answer to it except "it's just how it is."

Point still stands; they do not do more work but expect more pay.

 

They didn't get $2750, but they did auto-grat so it was ~$2k. That's another thing... if restaurants/bars would auto-grat above certain limits (rather than patrons), then we wouldn't have these issues either.

I refute your $1000 wine question with this: people who work in restaurants that serve $1000 wines have more training and are better prepared to deal with/serve people that are ready to spend that kind of money on wine. Your average server at Buffalo Wild Wings probably couldn't do the same job (and I'm not a wine snob at all).

 

If salary plus tips do not add up to minimum wage a restaurant is required to pay the difference. Nice try though. Plus, a lot of waiters only claim half their tips so they don't get taxed on that income. Sorry if I don't bend ass backwards to reward unskilled labor. Why should a guy get $100 for bringing a bottle to a table. A lot of Doctors don't even make that hourly rate.

 

I understand your point completely. But US tipping is more of a "commission" system than a "service fee" system.

 

Damn, Andre Roberson denying Dion Waiters what he deserves. Gotta love that defense

 

El Gnomo. You are obviously a very generous person and I respect that. But even you draw the line somewhere correct?

Do you tip when you go to Starbucks? Do you tip if you pick up your dry cleaning? Do you tip for fast food? Surely the high school kid that made your big Mac did more work than Gaby your server right?

Most people who disagree with the system do so because they have seen a better way. They are not cheap and gladly give gratuity when expected. But they are usually attacked for being cheap by people who don't fully understand their argument.

It's a slippery slope and I live in a place where you have to tip everyone for everything and I hate it. Want a driver's license? Better tip the cashier or else you'll be waiting hours. Want to pump your own gas? Sorry, full service only. Need a building permit? Tip first You get the idea. Surely you don't want that right?

 

So once again, you don't believe that anyone should make bonus, or commissions for doing "their job".