Replies to "To Insure Promptness"

My wife, who is a waitress says that any time someone wants to leave a tip, even if it is 82 cents, that's OK with her. You were quite fair in what you left. Just the stupid waitress that refused a fair tip!

       But that was just MY check, not the check for the entire table, and she knew that.

Reply #2

Well, I just read your rant about the tip. Let me tell you the whole problem to this.

Problem #1

Reply #3

On a more serious note, company policy was violated! The server should have lost her job!! Tipping is voluntary and any amount should have been appreciated!

       I wouldn't go that far though. It was just Denny's.

Reply #4

Personally, tips are a way of letting the owners of restaurants pay lower wages. Originally, gratuity was optional and mainly depended on the quality of service. There is rarely decent quality of service from waiters and waitresses nowadays, so why tip them. Since I have worked in restaurants as a cook and a busboy, I know from experience that waiters and waitresses have the least amount of work to do, yet they get all the credit-hence the tip. I've had a running bet with my wife for the last 5 years or so that the waitress will forget my milk every time and I have to ask for it repeatedly. Only twice have I lost. I've even been billed for it when they never brought me any. The main reason is they never returned to our table to check if everything is alright. Hence, my standard tip is nothing when this happens and the bill is less than $10. If you feel obligated to tip, offer a tip next time but tell the waiter/waitress to split it with the rest of the employees.

Reply #5

I agree with you completely. I happen to e a waitress at Denny's, in the State of New York. Although I think it was rude for the waitress to tell you she wasn't going to except the tip. We do live off our tips, and every last bit counts.

Reply #6

Wow! That's a waitress that needs to be fired! It amazes me that people take that sort of attitude... If she doesn't like the "small change" - she should consider a new job...

       Like I said, it was just Denny's.

Reply #7

Get a Life

       Yeah, yer cool.

Reply #8

I agree that this particular server was way out of line! I am a server (we are called waitresses anymore) at Denny's and in my opinion, the amount of the tip should be based on the service you get, taking many factors into consideration.

1) How busy is the restaurant
2) How visible is your server in relation to the business level
3) Is your server being pleasant, even under very hectic conditions
4) Is she also having to bus tables, run the register, seat the door, etc.

If you don't see her around in the dining room and it appears to be relatively slow, then I would agree that she's probably slacking off. If you see her running around the room taking care of multiple tables at once because they're shorthanded or they just got slammed (pardon the pun), then cut her some slack. If it appears she is doing her best, consider that before leaving your tip.

       Why do people not realize that this was not the table's check?

Reply #9

im a server at denny and 10 or 20% doesnt always justify the work. when i go anywhere to eat i at least leave 5 dollars no matter if i order a grand slam for 2.99 or a t bone steak. If you ever waited tables you would understand why are tips are so important to us. we only make 3.09 an hour and the they take are taxes from are tip out on my 2 week check im lucky to make 80 dollars then on slow businesses days we dont make anything in tips either and we still get are checks taxes drasticly. there has been nights after working 8 hours i only made 6 dollars in tip. 15% or 20% is good yes.....i agree but a lot of people stiff us and then we are claiming money that we dont even make, if i sound rude im really sorry, but you need to think that the person waiting on you could be a single parent trying to make ends met. I hope you understand and i would really apprecaite to here your response to what i have to say...

       It was NOT THE TABLE'S CHECK!!

Reply #10

82 cents is pretty cheap, as there were also two coffees ordered. Did you tip off of the coffees, and was she constantly refilling them? The thing about tipping waitresses is that 15 to 17% is standard gratuity, but if you are sitting in a waitresses section for a long time and then getting only coffee, it is fair to tip more than 15%. I think that you should tip a buck per cup if she makes more than 3 refills on your coffee or water.I also do not think your buddy was having a problem with the size of his dick... it sounds more like he just agreed that 82 cents is cheap for the comfort of having another person wait on you. If you are broke, you should just eat at home. That is what I do when I know I can't leave a good tip.

       Christ... there were TWO CHECKS! My check just had the sandwich. There was a CASH TIP on the table, and she KNEW THAT! Fuck...

Reply #11

I am taking a course on 'social ethics' and stumbled on your site.
I do question why you use profanity in your writings? you have good thoughts and I think that that is unnecessary in your essays.

Have a great day.
Kathy

       I write what I think and feel. I do not add profanity as an afterthought to spice things up. Then there are times when people just set me off. Not that they did anything that others haven't done as well, and they are most likely very cool people and don't deserve to be burned by my flame, like the following...

Reply #12

How would you like it if you spent an hour working, and recieved 82 cents as pay?

       Fucking stupid assed retarded mother fuckers that do NOT absorb all information before attempting to make me see the 'errors in my ways' should be bludgened to death with a 14" dildo...

Reply #13

All I’ve got to say is………… I’ve had the exact same thing happen to me and I feel your pain. Well, maybe not your pain, but when I told my story to people I got the same reactions. They always seem to take pity on the “servers” because they have to deal with all those people every day and they get paid jack shit for wages. Hey, you know what? If those wages aren’t cutting it for you, I got a tip for you……………. Get a different job. You don’t like the gratuitous tip that I leave behind for your almost always shitty attitude or service? Too bad! It’s optional! I’ll have you know that I do it mostly because I know that “servers” make shit wages. Half the time I don’t even feel like I should pay for the meal because the “server” didn’t bring me what I ordered. I know that you’ve been doing this for a while “Flo”, but you still should write down the customer’s order so that it’s correct and you don’t have to argue about that being what they ordered. I think the customer knows what they ordered. Ok, I think I’ve done my own rant here on more than one subject (I know I’m gonna get slammed for that one). I’ll shut up now. BTW, Love the site. \m/ (-_-) \m/ Rock on!

Thanks for the time,
Firm believer that tips should be earned

       Sigh... thanks for replying, and I do agree with everything you said, although my tip was not based on performance, it was based on tradition. I could have (and possibly should have) attached NO gratuity to that separate check because the party left a more then fair tip on the table. She assumed that my little $5.18 check would cover the table's gratuity even though she was aware there was already a gratuity on the table.

Reply #14

Man,
I have been a Denny's server. That chick should have taken her damn tip, and just shut up about. I mean, jesus, how does it look when someone does that? It just makes it shitty for the rest of the servers, as well as for anyone else you tip after this (( although, that is assuming you've let it fuck with you too bad...hope you haven't... )).

Before I worked at denny's, i was a Dennyzen for years. There was one server named Geraldine that was just like that, only she played favorites and if you didnt tip, she remembered you and gave you shitty service the next time you came. At the time, I was b-ass-roke, and many times i had only coffee money. Ofcourse i pissed her off by not being able to tip, and for a span of three years, I got shitty service, and she got no tip. Even when I had money, If i had her, she was screwed as far as a tip was concerned from me.

That is the problem. Yeah, sure, we need the tip, and a big one is good. But she was just being bitter, and the ill-timed comment of your friend only made matters worse.

In short, from a Denny's Server, you were not at fault.

-D-

       Never thought I was. I just thought I was pointing to someone that was very very stupid.

Reply #15

I seem to see a couple places I can give my thoughts, so I'll try to give my opinion somewhat clearly.

the first, is I was taught by my father the idea of a minimum tip. This was perhaps 20 years ago, when coffee was perhaps 25 or 35 cents, and my father would go to a coffee shop and purchase his morning coffee (free refills) and sit down to read the paper. Although he would stay for hours, he would only buy that single cup, so he would leave 25 cents (and later 50 cents) as the tip, because he felt an obligation to leave something appropriate for her time & service, and 5 cents would be a stingy tip to leave (10%-15% was normal tip 20 years ago).

I adopted that idea too, and my minimum tip is $1.00 even for a $3.00 latte at espresso shop. I think I sort of wean that 33% tip down to 20% at the $10 point, unless I really like the server/service/etc (then I'd leave more). So, from my perspective, I would prolly leave the $1.50 for the sandwich.

The other idea (I've noticed) which sort of seems to be the center of this is that it's sort of "expected" (though unspoken) that each "check" tips on it's own, even if it's from the same table. I think it's due to the "hassle/complications" of the server separating the checks and whatnot. So, the tips (hopefully) tend to be a bit higher for a server if she a table with separate checks. So, if there were 3 of me at the table with separate checks and we all 3 ordered a $3.00 sandwiches, we'd each leave a $1.00 tip instead of

So, as much as I disagree with the way she handled the problem, I do see her point, but she ought not have said anything. I'm guessing she was thrilled about getting a $6.00 tip (and she felt special), then she was informed it was only an $0.85 tip instead, and her smile wore off rather suddenly.

But, I should close with saying that each person's tipping is individual, and you ought not adopt someone else's tipping patterns unless they fit with who you are.

errr, this is quite a bit longer than I thought. I hope you don't mind!

Oh! I forgot to mention, if I'm with a group of friends and we are having separate checks, I often as how they tip, so we all don't get upset over each other's tipping (that can *so* easily happen!)

- Midnight

ps - I think modern tipping is 15% - 20% ....or that's what I'm led to believe.

       Um... thanks...

Reply #16

www.luciensimon.com

Here is my view of tips, waste of fuckin money thats what tips are.

Some restaurants in London have a service charge and recieve tips on top, thats a fuckin rip off, who gets the service charge then, huh, who gets it, not the waiters but the restaurant!, not my fuckin problem. And nothing is for nothing in this life, so what is a tip all about huh, waiters don't get paid much huh, you say, well, they can always change jobs then, no one gives me a fuckin tip for nothing!!, so you take a sandwich and a coffee in a shop pay for it and leave a fuckin tip too, whats that all about huh, frightened the waiters may snarl at you if you don't, sissy!. Do you ask for a tip everyday for just turning up to work, no, ofcourse you don't, so, what the fuck are you doing leaving tips huh!!!

Lucien

       Man, I went to yer site, and some of your artwork is incredible! As for yer reply, ya seem a bit on edge. Here's a sugestion, switch to decaf when ya wash down yor morning mescaline.

Reply #17

I can't believe that you are bitching about a couple of dollars. Get a life. I can picture the scene. Two losers with nothing to do taking up the booth of a nice waitress. Then leaving her some change. Waitresses make 2. dollars an hour. I bet you were sitting there half the night making her bring you coffee. Couldn't you have at least left her a dollar!? Cheap fuck. Do us all a favor and stay home. You shouldn't be allowed in public.

       Ryan, it is clear to me and to nearly everyone else who will read your reply that you are, without a doubt, one of the dumbest motherfuckers on the earth. A person with even marginal intelligence wouldn't say a word to a person like myself who clearly gets a kick out of pointing and laughing at people who piss me off with a last name like Sudick. I am biting my tongue.
       The "TIP" rant is a few years old, but I recently tagged the top with a disclaimer because I was getting a lot of mail from a lot of people who were a bit confused. You read the rant after I added the disclaimer, and ya still didn't get it! What, did ya just read every third word? And I wasn't bitching about leaving a tip at all, I was bitching at people's stupidity. The waitress thought I wanted to give her a 117% tip on my check alone even though she was aware there was a collective cash tip on the table- STUPID! My friend had to open his mouth from behind even though he didn't fully understand the problem- STUPID! Has anyone ever called you stupid?

Reply #18

I READ THE ARTICLE AND UNDER STAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. YOU TIP WHAT WAS RIGHT +MORE LEFT ON THE TABLE. UNDERSTOOD. MY COMMENT IS FOR THAT WEIMER, RUSSELL , GUY YOU EVIDENTIALLY DOES NOT HAVE A JOB WHERE YOU WORK WITH THE PUBLIC. CUSTOMER SERVICE JOBS ARE VERY STRESSFUL JOBS AND MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE THESE JOBS DON'T WANT TO DO THEM BUT, SOMEBODY HAS TO. WHEN YOU TEND TO GET PAID MORE IN THE FORM OF WAGES IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DO YOUR JOB. SERVERS AND SUCH ONLY GET A SMALL AMOUNT OF WAGES TO DEAL WITH A WHOLE LOT OF BS. THEY DEPEND ON TIPS TO DO THEIR BASIC LIVING AND WHEN YOU CONSTANTLY GET CUSTOMERS THAT COME IN AND RUN YOU FOR EVERY THING EVERY TIME THEY SEE YOU SOMEBODY WANTS SOMETHING. EVEN THOUGH THEY SEE THAT YOU ARE OVERLY BUSY THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIRS, THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED IN A SOMEWHAT TIMELY MANNER YOU HAVE GOTTEN ALL THAT YOU WERE REQUESTED THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE DONE SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB. THE BILL IS PRESENTED, THEY GIVE YOU $100. BILL YOU CHANGE IT, THE BILL COMES TO $ 44.5O (3PPL) AND YOU GET .50 YOU GET THIS MOST OF YOUR 4-5 HOURS HOW WOULD YOU FEEL. THIS IS YOUR LIVELY HOOD AND PEOPLE TREAT YOU LIKE SHIT.

       Do you know what you just did? You just knocked Seamus Martin out of the lead for the worst written email in the entire world. That is NO simple feat. I am impressed...

Reply #19

you are a moron

       I guess you now feel like a genius since you pointed that out. And because you are such a genius, there is no need to explain why you think I am a moron...

Reply #20

Hi Pat!
I have been thinking about this tipping business and I think that the restraunts should be made to pay the help at least minimum wage, and that you should not even have to give the waitperson a tip just for bringing you the food you ordered. Here in California, they make you pay sales tax on any food that "hits the heat" so to speak, so I feel that paying for the food, plus the tax for cooking it, should be enough. I say make the business owners be responsible for paying their help a living wage. When people work at the drug store, grocery store or any mall shop, they probably make minimum wage, and we don't tip them for doing their job now, do we?

Take care--
Nancy

       That argument has been made as long as I can remember, but unfortunatly, things are never going to change. Resturant owners want to make as much money as possible, and cry foul if they lose a nickle. That's understandable when you realize how difficut it is to keep a resturant open. When it comes right down to it, a tip is a bribe for better service. If tipping were eliminated, people would still tip, an others woud bitch like crazy.
       I once knew a guy who never tipped on principal, yet went to returants all the time. He shouln't go, but he's an asshole. I sort of understand him though. If yer a server, a don't like yer pay, take a typing class.

Reply #21

Ok, one more reply. I can't believe people would get so heated over such dumb shit, especially when it's so apparent that they only touched on points of the rant, without actually bothering to read it.LOL.They should've been appalled that a grown woman who "lives off tips" didn't have the self-preservation or wherewithall to learn how to figure out fucking percentages.And I mean, what the fuck? It was Denny's.

       Very true...

Reply #22

From: Bruce Malmberg (thaiguy147@yahoo.com)
Date: Friday, December 19, 2003 1:45 AM

I'm just glad I now live in Thailand...no tipping. I moved here from Maui where 20%+ is the norm. BTW, we have a Denny's and they serve the Moon over MyHammy. I refuse to eat there, it's a stupid farang place. When in Thailand, eat Thai food.

       In Southern New Jersey, if no one agrees to the same 24 hour diner (of which there are MANY), ya go to Denny's. It's the law.

Reply #23

From: "Dan" (maxpower2967@hotmail.com)
Date: Friday, May 28, 2004 5:55 PM

.82 cents, you are a cheap bastard. If you can't give a goddamned bill for that you don't deserve to be waited on and to also be completely indifferent to the plight of servers at a denny's who get stiffed often and preform actions for you is just ignorant. Yes it's not your responsibility, but for chrissakes asshole, give 20% make someone smile show them that you acknowlege their humanity and appreciate the service that they have done you. Tipping under a dollar at any time is an insult. Think twice about other people and their worth as human beings next time.

        Oh my God, I can't belive stupid mother fuckers are still missreading this one, even after I made it what I though was impossible to do so. Christ, how do these people manage to live past the age of 12 without falling down a well or getting hit by a bus?a

Reply #24

From: "aztriks"
Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 6:12 PM

I think that it was generous of you to add another tip on to your card after you left one on the table. I am a server too and we don't do this job to be assholes to people some of us do it because we enjoy working with people and you can make really good money. If your server was friendly to you and you had a nice time 20%. The minimum should be 10%. After she spoke to you like that I wouldn't have left her anything.

       She happened to be an awful waitress, too. She was eventually fired because of a bad attitude.

Reply #25

From: "A Denny's Waitress"
Date: Saturday, November 06, 2004 2:24 AM

I am a Denny's waitress! In response to Chad and Nova, I don't know what kind of restaurants you worked in as a cook and busboy but I've been with Denny's and other restaurants over the years and it's not just waiting tables! I am the hostess, the busboy, the cashier and the server! So how do you figure that I have the least amount of work to do? Sometimes I am the only one there besides the cook (late night during the week). I get paid by Denny's 2.13 an hour and (I am required by law to claim 8% of all my sales even when I don't recieve any tips on YOUR sale) when I'm not serving tables I'm doing preperation for the next shift, eg; cutting lemons for iced tea, cutting tomatoes and cucumbers and preparing for salads, sweeping the floor because the public are slobs! (I'd hate to see their kitchens!) cleaning out the food and trash from under the booths (Lord only knows how all that stuff gets shoved under there) plus numerous other things that need to be done by the end of a shift!

As for forgetting to bring your milk, I'm sure every waitress appologizes and it's not done intentionally, we are human...how many times have you forgotten things? We have more then 1 table to take care of at a time and most of us have to clean tables and seats, take cash, seat other guests, etc.

As for the people who think it's not required to tip your waitress should stay at home and cook your own meals and clean up your own messes! I agree that waitresses should all get another job! That would require all you cheap non tipping people to COOK YOUR OWN FOOD AT HOME BECAUSE WITHOUT WAITRESSES THERE WOULD BE NO RESTAURANTS! But that wouldn't be fair to those who appreciate the service they do get from waitresses and show us with a gratuity no matter how big or small, it's the attempt that counts...So we just have to put up with thieves who stiff us...Thieft Of Services!

Would you rather tip your waitress that gives you service, no matter if it's good or bad or have her/him live on welfare and still get your hard earned money for doing NOTHING! Atleast we have a JOB and TRY to please everyone of our customers (some there is just no pleasing them no matter what you do or don't do)

I think that employers should pay every employee what they are worth...maybe some of you would get "STIFFED" when you make a mistake and perhaps forget something, how would you like to have a mistake deducted from your pay...huh? Think about it...for every mistake you make they deduct it out of your pay and you might end up owing them! I think everyone that goes out to eat should spend one BUSY night in our shoes getting paid 2.13 an hour and not get tipped over and over after running around like a mad person trying to please everyone, before you judge us! Think it's easy...think again! Just think...you might have to wait on someone like yourself!

Oh my...I just had a nasty thought for the reoccuring non tippers! I have read where some servers take it to heart and do nasty things to your food/drink! I am not one of them because I have better morals but who knows...think about it next time you decide to frequent an establishment that you've "stiffed" the server over and over again...Happy eating!

Food for thought: Don't piss in your servers Cheerios, they just might get even!

       Oh my fucking God, people are still misunderstanding this article. I give up…