Comments on: Are You a Terrible Tipper? http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/ Alcohol's Official Weblog Fri, 16 May 2008 03:57:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Chuck http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-11112 Chuck Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:29:37 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-11112 Tabs suck for me. Granted our beer is cheap, so that's a big factor. If I were to get a buck for every other beer from a cash customer, and the equivalent tab for 10 beers is $20, 25% is a must, just for me to break even! F&B folks are indeed the best. Nobody else could really understand the BS we deal with daily. When I'm on the other side, a buck per beverage is standard, unless my wife insists on a daiquiri! Tabs suck for me. Granted our beer is cheap, so that’s a big factor. If I were to get a buck for every other beer from a cash customer, and the equivalent tab for 10 beers is $20, 25% is a must, just for me to break even! F&B folks are indeed the best. Nobody else could really understand the BS we deal with daily. When I’m on the other side, a buck per beverage is standard, unless my wife insists on a daiquiri!

]]> By: JohnnyRnR http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-601 JohnnyRnR Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:14:10 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-601 As a bartender my average was 25% of my ring, and that's what I tip now. That's also the quickest way to get on the preferred customer list. Butch; the benefit for you of paying the server's wages directly is that there's a cost savings. At the most basic servers can skimp on paying their taxes, and the restaurant can avoid FICA and FUDA payments. This allows the server to set a lower mental wage because they're receiving the money in mostly tax-free cash. If the house was paying a server market wage for their time and hassle (and it would be fairly expensive) you would see much higher wage related prices on the food and drink, plus the differential for taxes. Our system just disguises the fact that restaurant folk are paid well. As a bartender my average was 25% of my ring, and that’s what I tip now. That’s also the quickest way to get on the preferred customer list.

Butch; the benefit for you of paying the server’s wages directly is that there’s a cost savings. At the most basic servers can skimp on paying their taxes, and the restaurant can avoid FICA and FUDA payments. This allows the server to set a lower mental wage because they’re receiving the money in mostly tax-free cash.

If the house was paying a server market wage for their time and hassle (and it would be fairly expensive) you would see much higher wage related prices on the food and drink, plus the differential for taxes. Our system just disguises the fact that restaurant folk are paid well.

]]> By: Mike http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-591 Mike Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:52:59 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-591 That's a good point, Rick. 20% would be much easier. Either way, I tend to throw down more money when I'm a little drunk. :) In general, I do wish tipping simply didn't exist as a de facto standard. Bartenders and wait staff ought to be paid a living wage rather than scrounging for tip money. Tips really should be on top of already good wages. That’s a good point, Rick. 20% would be much easier. Either way, I tend to throw down more money when I’m a little drunk. :)

In general, I do wish tipping simply didn’t exist as a de facto standard. Bartenders and wait staff ought to be paid a living wage rather than scrounging for tip money. Tips really should be on top of already good wages.

]]> By: Darcy http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-568 Darcy Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:42:09 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-568 Honestly, and I'm a bartender, I think a buck a beer is stupid. At a snails pace a bartender can dish out 60 beers an hour and most bartenders I've met don't deserve to make more than a doctor. I'm kind of against the tipping system as it seems to be getting out of control. Everybody wants to be tipped. Plus employers in the F&B business get a significant advantage that other business don't get. I'd rather just have a normal pay system and be tipped for exceptional service. It would also force crappy bartenders out and allow good bartenders to earn what they deserve. Having said all that, I love a good tip. Honestly, and I’m a bartender, I think a buck a beer is stupid. At a snails pace a bartender can dish out 60 beers an hour and most bartenders I’ve met don’t deserve to make more than a doctor.

I’m kind of against the tipping system as it seems to be getting out of control. Everybody wants to be tipped. Plus employers in the F&B business get a significant advantage that other business don’t get. I’d rather just have a normal pay system and be tipped for exceptional service. It would also force crappy bartenders out and allow good bartenders to earn what they deserve.

Having said all that, I love a good tip.

]]> By: Butch http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-564 Butch Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:13:44 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-564 I tip 15% of the post-tax total and/or $1 per beer at the bar. I hope that’s not bad, but I really don’t care if it is. We have a screwed up system that demands we pay for a business’ employees directly. They should get the same wage as anyone else a tip should be just that: a tip for above average service. I tip 15% of the post-tax total and/or $1 per beer at the bar. I hope that’s not bad, but I really don’t care if it is. We have a screwed up system that demands we pay for a business’ employees directly. They should get the same wage as anyone else a tip should be just that: a tip for above average service.

]]> By: Rick http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-555 Rick Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:12:11 +0000 http://daysthatendiny.com/2007/12/19/are-you-a-terrible-tipper/#comment-555 I think if you're ordering beer, a buck or two is fine. If the drink is a bit more complicated, a few more bucks. If I open a tab, and the bartender doesn't ask me my name everytime I put a drink on it, I tip 20%. But that's mostly just because 20% is a lot easier to calculate when you've had a few. I think if you’re ordering beer, a buck or two is fine. If the drink is a bit more complicated, a few more bucks.

If I open a tab, and the bartender doesn’t ask me my name everytime I put a drink on it, I tip 20%. But that’s mostly just because 20% is a lot easier to calculate when you’ve had a few.

]]>