i know there already have been threads about how much to tip, but i have a question for those who have been waiters.... a few days ago i went to a mediterranean restaurant with 11 people. on the bill there was an 18% "service charge". i gave the credit card and when i got the card receipt to sign of course there was a blank line for "tip"... i wrote "included" on the line since i've always assumed the "service charge" was basically a tip since other restaurants sometimes use the phrase "mandatory gratuity" but my question for you waiters - do you get all of the "service charge"? or does the restaurant keep some of it.
I have two friends that work as waiters at a restaurant that requires a gratuity if over eight are served at one table. They have told me that they indeed get all of this gratuity.
thanks, thats what i wanted to here... i asked the hostess who seemed confused and told me to put a tip on the extra line - which may have simply been confusion at my question, or double dipping - but since my "service charge" was $30 bucks already i decided to not put anything extra.
I hate gratuity. I'm not a high school student, and therefore all my friends and I tip well. if I'm out with a large group of people the server would be much better off with not charging grat and doing a good job for standard tips. Some of the worst service I've had have been times I was with a large party and on gratuity, and a couple times I had to get a manager involved and get gratuity removed from the bill. The last time this happened, the bill was probably upwards of 300 bucks at a very nice restaurant. Needless to say, we were pretty ticked off.
Although I can understand people who say 'i'm a good tipper so they shouldn't have put the auto gratuity,' you only have to bust your ass on a few big tops that tip crap to go ahead and do it when you can. they don't know you so you shouldn't be offended when your group gets the service charge. Unless your service was affirmatively poor then you should feel free to leave over the 15-18% that was automatically added if you're normally a 20% tipper. bronxfan - it was good to ask when you were confused. doubledipping by waitstaff who leave that spot open after already putting the gratuity isn't really an honest move on their part.
How do you tip extra? Maybe the system automatically does this. Tipping is overrated. some of the waitstaff make quite a bit of money and still complain they don't get enough.
Yeah that is a dumb thing to say I make $2.15 an hour and make all of my money from tips. We have to declare our tips so the taxes come out of our paycheck. Any money I get is from tips. When you bust your butt for a large party and they all leave you $1 it is just not fair or worth it. I had a table last week who tipped me $2.50 on a $75 tab. It was a family and I gave them good service. It sucks when you work for 6 or 7 hours and leave with like $40 sometimes. I have been stiffed and some people just dont know how to tip I guess. Anyways you have to remember that this is how people pay there bills and survive. if you can afford it then help them out. I tip 20% now that I have been there and know how crappy some people can be. I have never added automatic gratuity on my large parties but about half the time it ends up being a mistake.
Ok let me rephrase my point. Pay your wait staff $8.00 and hour or whatever and do away with tipping. In some european pubs, its not expected nor wanted for a tip. Yes, I tried waiting briefly. It sucked. I sucked. Not the hard work, but the piss poor attitude of the servers that turned me off. All it was about was "the tip". I've worked some labor intensive jobs for near minimum wages. I got a clue. I went and got a career. There are people who work a whole lot harder than waiters and much much less than they do ... because they don't have a career or a degree. The mexican that is being paid minimum wage to do my landscape (not lawnwork) deserves a bigger tip.
For some reason I'm not suprised you sucked as a waiter. My wife is a damn good waitress and she works her (hot) ass off for the tips she brings in.
Why is the tip based on the cost of the meal? Is it harder to carry a plate with a lobster tail on it than a plate with a burger and fries? Pay waiters minimum wage and get rid of tipping.
