Tip no less than 10% at a restaurant...even for terrible service

[muses_nightmare]

Occasionally waiters and other customer service types will go above and beyond for their customers, I've done it myself many times. These particular instances should be reason for some servers to earn themselves a good tip.

The thing is we've established a protocol whereby a 15% tip is to be expected for standard service.

And other customer service people don't? I'm sorry but that is very very offensive. Servers are not the only people that go above and beyond for customers, not by a long shot. So I call BS on that one.

I don't see the logic in tipping someone for something they're already getting paid to do, that is what the hourly wage is (and yes I'm aware of the whole wages based on tips thing in the states, that's a bit different), that's what ever other customer service person works for, I don't see how it's different for servers. Hell I've known some to make more than I did, so this logic of "we need tips to live" thing is utterly pointless especially in places where there is no special wage for servers, if I could live on less than what they were making while working the same hours then they can too.

See the 15% thing I've only ever heard about in the past couple years, and usually only online. I was under the impression that 10% was standard for average service. I'm not usually the one that calculates the tips anyway, I'm bad with math that way. So I really don't know what percentage we tip on average.

[muses_nightmare]

Of course, for most restaurant jobs, the last time I checked anyway, they only get paid like 3 dollars an hour. If the restaurant had to pay them 7.50 an hour then your meal would cost $12 instead of $8, so you wouldn't really be saving any money by not tipping, but your service will probably go waaaay down because your waiter/tress doesn't make anything extra regardless of if they go the extra mile for you or not.

Not true. The servers here in BC make at least $8 an hour (our minimum wage) and our food prices aren't astronomical. And how would the service go down? Does it go down in other non-tipped jobs? no. If the servers give crappy service then they aren't doing their jobs and people will complain and they will get reprimanded or fired. Besides that they are working for their wages, that's what the hourly wage is for.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

And other customer service people don't? I'm sorry but that is very very offensive. Servers are not the only people that go above and beyond for customers, not by a long shot. So I call BS on that one.

Either you confused what I said or I am not understanding what you said, but let me restate my point. I was saying that ALL customer service people who go above and beyond should be deserving of recognition (monetary) or otherwise if the situation calls for it.

I know full well it's not just servers who go all out to help their customers and I was saying that I do NOT agree with the "tip for standard service" model of the restaurant industry. I am sorry you got offended, but you may have misunderstood my post.

[muses_nightmare]

I'm sorry, I think I did misunderstand. Blame it on finals :P

[Boozy]

Though here in Canada waiters and waitresses are paid at least minimum wage if not more.

No. That may be true in BC, but not in all of Canada. Servers in licensed establishments in Ontario get paid less than minimum.

Please, if you dine at a full-service restaurant in Ontario, tip more than 10%.

[smileyeagle1021]

Does it go down in other non-tipped jobs? no. If the servers give crappy service then they aren't doing their jobs and people will complain and they will get reprimanded or fired.

Sadly, to the first question, yes. I've been to places like Starbucks both with and without a tip jar... guess which one I get better service at... yup, the one with the tip jar because the employees want me to put my dollar in the jar.
As far as the crappy service... we've all been on customers suck... we've seen the cursing out coworkers threads and morons in management threads. People who do a crappy job routinely get away with it. If they didn't those two catagories wouldn't exist. I've before had a person scream at me "fuck you mother fucker" over the phone, I complained to the manager, and a week later, guess who was still answering the phone. I've had a waitress who blatantly ignored my boyfriend and I while she flirted with your stereotypical return missionary a few tables over. Complained to management, the manager point blank said that no disciplinary action would happen because he was going to take the word of his empoyee (who he watched blatantly ignore us) over some bitter gay couple. I've had many other examples too... so forgive me if I defend the tip system because at least with that I know the server gets the punishment of getting only my two cents for serving me since they so often won't get anything else.

[Rapscallion]

Seems odd to me that people are only being nice to you because of money. Wouldn't feel right to me to go to a place knowing that, now I think about it. If someone's in a non-tipping job and being nice then they're either enjoying their job or just doing it right.

Rapscallion

[muses_nightmare]

I've never once said that tipping should be done away with, sure tip for good service, but don't bitch about people not being able to afford to go out if they can't pay the extra fee of a tip on top of a meal. They have every right to be there and be served, regardless of whether they give the server the extra money they are expecting.

And hey if you want to leave a penny to show that they gave shitty service, have at it. It's the obligation of it that I have a problem with.