Outing your bad tips: awesome blog

[BeerNuts]

The IRS requires servers to report all tips as income, not just credit card tips.

Publication 531 (2010), Reporting Tip Income

It might vary from state to state when it comes to state income taxes.

No one does this, you would be retarded to do so. At the end of the night there is a little piece of paper that asks how much in cash tips you received. I have never seen anyone not put zero. How is the IRS going to come prove otherwise? There are no 1099's or anything to rat you out. You say that table gave you $1, instead of $20. The only person who can resolve that is the customer.

 

[lschmidt]

eliquid,

I agree with you about tipping. I do not like to tip, and generally do not tip at all. I don't believe in the principle of the customer paying part of a server's wage. I pay for my food, and the restaurant should pay the waitress's wage. If they have to increase their food prices to increase the servers wages, then so be it. But I will not do it. Especially because servers today seem to forget that the idea of tips are to reward good service -- instead they simply expect a nice tip no matter what.

However, I disagree with you about the idea that people should simply choose another job. Just like any job, *somebody* has gotta do it. It's just how the job market works. Plus, many servers want a server job BECAUSE of tips.

Until wages are increased, and the idea of tipping is deprecated (which will never happen), people will WANT to have a server job because of the prospect of getting good tips. Hypothetically if that did happen, however, then the desire for a server job will still be there because of increased wages. In any event, whether it comes from tips and/or wages, a server job will be just as competitive in wages compared with other similar jobs like you've listed.

So, my point is that you should not direct your anger towards the people who choose to take a server job. They are making a rational decision, given the fact that many people will tip, and they know it. Instead, be upset with the fact that society has created this notion of a customer's obligation to directly pay part of a server's wage.

 

[Jizzlobber]

I like to tip well. Besides, by the time the chick shows up with my food I've already dreamed of sticking my dick into every possible orifice in her body. My way of saying thanks for the fantasy and for the uncomfortably lengthy pause while I watch her work the grinder and crack pepper on my Ceasar.

 

[kingfish]

No one does this, you would be retarded to do so. At the end of the night there is a little piece of paper that asks how much in cash tips you received. I have never seen anyone not put zero. How is the IRS going to come prove otherwise? There are no 1099's or anything to rat you out. You say that table gave you $1, instead of $20. The only person who can resolve that is the customer.

I 1099 anyone I tip.

If I gotta donate to the government charity why shouldn't they?

 

[eliquid]

I like to tip well. Besides, by the time the chick shows up with my food I've already dreamed of sticking my dick into every possible orifice in her body. My way of saying thanks for the fantasy and for the uncomfortably lengthy pause while I watch her work the grinder and crack pepper on my Ceasar.

I never thought it like that, thanks for putting this into perspective.

 

[eliquid]

eliquid,

I agree with you about tipping. I do not like to tip, and generally do not tip at all. I don't believe in the principle of the customer paying part of a server's wage. I pay for my food, and the restaurant should pay the waitress's wage. If they have to increase their food prices to increase the servers wages, then so be it. But I will not do it. Especially because servers today seem to forget that the idea of tips are to reward good service -- instead they simply expect a nice tip no matter what.

However, I disagree with you about the idea that people should simply choose another job. Just like any job, *somebody* has gotta do it. It's just how the job market works. Plus, many servers want a server job BECAUSE of tips.

Until wages are increased, and the idea of tipping is deprecated (which will never happen), people will WANT to have a server job because of the prospect of getting good tips. Hypothetically if that did happen, however, then the desire for a server job will still be there because of increased wages. In any event, whether it comes from tips and/or wages, a server job will be just as competitive in wages compared with other similar jobs like you've listed.

So, my point is that you should not direct your anger towards the people who choose to take a server job. They are making a rational decision, given the fact that many people will tip, and they know it. Instead, be upset with the fact that society has created this notion of a customer's obligation to directly pay part of a server's wage.

i dont have anger, I sleep well at night not tipping. I just dont like people posting in here that they tip and we should all tip as well, but they dont tip other people in other professions like mechanics, veterans, baggers, etc.

 

[eliquid]

I 1099 anyone I tip.

If I gotta donate to the government charity why shouldn't they?

that would be kinda awesome to have some in your pocket to drop off at the table....

 

[Russ86]

I don't mind the tipping structure, because it allows me to either reward someone for the service they provided, or on the other hand, basically give them the middle finger by leaving a 1 cent tip.

What I absolutely disagree with, is tipping delivery drivers that work for a company that has a built-in 'delivery fee' added on to your order. I've heard people say that they never see that money, if that's the case, don't work for that company, or sort it out with them, because that is not my problem...

I'm not going to pay a 4 dollar delivery fee, and then turn around and tip my driver another 4 dollars, that is insanity.

 

[-joe-]

Actually I do if the service is good. It's actually funny considering I'm not like all you ballers on here who are bitching about a $20 tip.

So you'd tip someone working in say, Walmart, as often as you would at a restaurant/dominos?

 

[music4mic]

I guess I just look at it like, you chose the job/situation your in and if its bad you just change it instead of how people complain they should get paid more or get tips or get free welfare, etc....

I would never work a job for $2.13 an hour. Not because Im better then that or whatever, but because that just would not pay for anything even if I was homeless. Trying to depend on tips if like counting your chickens before they hatch, I just could not do it.

As far as the common sense thing you mentioned, yeah if you were to just give out money like YT cracker or some billionaire walking down the street and passing out $100 bills, everyone is gonna be your best friend/give you a handjob/smile at you and be at your beck and call. Personally, I dont pay to have friends though.

Dont take me wrong. I understand your logic and reasoning and such, but on the other end you gotta see it my way too. If I started giving everyone 20% more that I met in my life, everyone gonna love me. I just dont see why we do it for wait staff/bell boys, and not the entire world we come in contact with ( actually I do as any normal person would be flat broke if they did give 20% to everyone, I just dont do it for wait staff as they make more then most people if they work the right places/times/locations )

I actually do understand your logic, but I don't consider tipping welfare,I think that's really where we disagree. I'm actually highly opposed to welfare (although I think charity is totally different and can be good- another topic for another thread I guess.) I could not agree with you more that you make your own choices and reap both consequences and rewards.

If you're tipping someone, I assume they performed some kind of service that you probably could, but didn't want to do yourself. If I go sit down at a restaurant I do so because I don't want to cook and I don't want to want to serve the food. I generally go out because I want to focus on my company and relax.

Same thing goes for delivery guys. I could go pick the food up. But that takes time and energy. I ordered in a lot for lunch so that I can keep working, or because I just don't feel like going out. I'll be honest, I do think that 20% is a little bit much more tipping delivery guys. $3 on a $25 ticket seems sufficient to me, only because I know that these guys make minimum wage or a little more.

As far as taking the job where you make $2.13 an hour- out of the 30 or so servers I worked with, 9/10 were students. They weren't looking for welfare, they were just paying for school. I don't think many people say, "when I grow up I want to wait tables." It's more of a transient job that most anyone can do and make near a livable wage while hopefully trying to accomplish other goals. And I go back to the fact that if these guys were paid $15/hr to serve food, the cost of your food is going to go up, and I'd be willing to bet it would go up more than 15-20%.

 

[eliquid]

I actually do understand your logic, but I don't consider tipping welfare,I think that's really where we disagree. I'm actually highly opposed to welfare (although I think charity is totally different and can be good- another topic for another thread I guess.) I could not agree with you more that you make your own choices and reap both consequences and rewards.

If you're tipping someone, I assume they performed some kind of service that you probably could, but didn't want to do yourself. If I go sit down at a restaurant I do so because I don't want to cook and I don't want to want to serve the food. I generally go out because I want to focus on my company and relax.

Same thing goes for delivery guys. I could go pick the food up. But that takes time and energy. I ordered in a lot for lunch so that I can keep working, or because I just don't feel like going out. I'll be honest, I do think that 20% is a little bit much more tipping delivery guys. $3 on a $25 ticket seems sufficient to me, only because I know that these guys make minimum wage or a little more.

As far as taking the job where you make $2.13 an hour- out of the 30 or so servers I worked with, 9/10 were students. They weren't looking for welfare, they were just paying for school. I don't think many people say, "when I grow up I want to wait tables." It's more of a transient job that most anyone can do and make near a livable wage while hopefully trying to accomplish other goals. And I go back to the fact that if these guys were paid $15/hr to serve food, the cost of your food is going to go up, and I'd be willing to bet it would go up more than 15-20%.

I understand that, but here is the MAIN MAIN focus I would just like to get an answer on. Many people say you tip for a job/service you dont want to do, but could.. but didnt. You have said it, several others have meant it when they said "cook your own food/drink if you dont want to tip" in this thread.

Here is what I purpose though, that I would like answer on:

Im sure almost everyone here could paint a room in their house, stain their deck, maybe even change the oil in their car. These are all service we could do, but roughly prob. none of us do ourselves. I know someone in here would say "not everyone paints well, changes oil correctly", but to that argument I say not everyone can cook well or mix drinks correctly.

Anywho, if this is about providing a tip for jobs/services we could do, but rather not.. why isn't tipping normal for your mechanic for an oil change, a painter painting your walls, or someone to stain your deck?

If someone can concretely answer me that, without basing it entirely on the fact that wait staff make $2.50 an hour ( because if that is the main point of all this, then tipping for doing a service you could do yourself, but rather not, is moot.. because now its all based on wages ), then I would be more inclined to think this over more. If it does all come down to wages, then I have to stand by my point of, you should get a different job where the pay is more gar. per hour.

 

[music4mic]

I understand that, but here is the MAIN MAIN focus I would just like to get an answer on. Many people say you tip for a job/service you dont want to do, but could.. but didnt. You have said it, several others have meant it when they said "cook your own food/drink if you dont want to tip" in this thread.

Here is what I purpose though, that I would like answer on:

Im sure almost everyone here could paint a room in their house, stain their deck, maybe even change the oil in their car. These are all service we could do, but roughly prob. none of us do ourselves. I know someone in here would say "not everyone paints well, changes oil correctly", but to that argument I say not everyone can cook well or mix drinks correctly.

Anywho, if this is about providing a tip for jobs/services we could do, but rather not.. why isn't tipping normal for your mechanic for an oil change, a painter painting your walls, or someone to stain your deck?

If someone can concretely answer me that, without basing it entirely on the fact that wait staff make $2.50 an hour ( because if that is the main point of all this, then tipping for doing a service you could do yourself, but rather not, is moot.. because now its all based on wages ), then I would be more inclined to think this over more. If it does all come down to wages, then I have to stand by my point of, you should get a different job where the pay is more gar. per hour.

You're right, I seriously doubt I would tip the guy who paints my house or changes my oil. As these things are included the cost of the contract I set with him when he agrees to do the job.

However, when you order food at a restaurant you are paying for the food and perhaps the environment, but not the service. In other words, when you get the food to go, it costs the same amount as when you eat in house and get service. The way restaurants can do this is by paying their staff a low minimum wage and letting the quality of their work determine how much they make. It's almost (although not quite) as if they are subcontracted the way we are through affiliate networks. The restaurants want high quality service, and probably won't keep a crappy waiter around, but at the same time they are able to keep costs low(er) by allowing tipping to cover the cost of service. There are restaurants that provide service and don't allow tipping, and from my experience they tend to cost about the same as dinner plus tip where tipping is allowed.


Personally, I like being able to determine how much I pay for service, it gives me a certain level of quality control. Much like if the contractor who paints your house does a poor job, or doesn't complete the job as agreed you probably have a strong case to not pay him, tipping keeps staff on their toes. They aim to please and do things right because they fear a poor tip if they screw up.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.

 

[music4mic]

Just curious, assuming you have been to a strip club, do you tip a strippers to get extra attention? You pay a cover to get in, may have to buy a girl a drink, but do you tip the strippers so they'll rub their titties in your face?

 

[IMHopeful]

eliquid: I respect your point because it's a mature one and you're backing up your reasoning with good logic. At least you're not basing your beliefs on childish ones (like tipping good-looking people because you're too afraid to face rejection from hot women that wouldn't give you a second look if you weren't giving her money.)

Tips are usually given to offset the low wage people are paid, in light of what music4mic pointed out: Restaurants pay a lower wage and let you decide whether the service warrants more money. Not just the table service though, since servers almost always have to share with the rest of the staff.

Contractors don't get tips because most people feel that: a) they get paid too much as it is. b) they're ripping you off already, so why pay more? Not everyone feels this way though and if you're going to a quick lube for your oil, it isn't uncommon at all for them to receive tips (ask them if they ever get them.) A mechanic is a different story, but customers who appreciate the service will tip so the mechanic remembers them the next time (though most will view them as a professional, who gets paid a fair wage already.)

Threads like this will always lead to a battle though, since those who do and those who don't will never likely change their ways (I was raised on tip money and have heard too many hardship stories.) Would you tip the girl at the coffee shop $.20 cents rather than wait for the nickels and pennies they owe you? I've personally got better things to do and I know it probably adds up to an extra bag of milk, or loaf of bread for their family at the end of the day.

Does it add up? Sure.

Will I regret my act of human kindness if my life takes a turn and don't have a penny to my name? Nope, that would make my generous act quite pointless.

Despite my opinion, I also hate that tipping is an expectation -- because there are many people who don't deserve one and I don't want to encourage that kind of behavior by rewarding it.

 

[clockwork84]

Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.

Wow, I so totally failboated that quote. Alzheimers is obviously setting in.

 

[DanWesson]

I know nothing is free, but the wages of the bartenders/servers is not actually connected to the profitability of the venue. For example:

Trip 1: tab - $50 of booze billed for $50, tip $15
Trip 2: tab - $50 of booze billed for $50, tip $15
Trip 3: tab - $40 of booze billed but drank $60 worth (both sides feeling out each other now, "the dance", tip $25
Trip 4: tab - $8 of booze billed but drank $60+ worth, tip $30.
Tip 5, 6, 7, 8..... (repeat trip 4) ROI well over 100% if you're a regular.

Tipping is like a like a profitable campaign, it's data driven.

QFT

4chars

 

[MyOwnDemon]

Worked in the food service industry as a cook for like 6 years when I was younger. It sucks, I would rather clean public restrooms rather than ever go back to that shit existence of working in greasy ass kitchens and getting yelled at by highschool dropout managers day after day. Low pay, just a complete dead-end job.

It really takes it toll on you. I don't understand how people can work in that industry their entire lives. I could write a book on the shit I've seen and the needless drama created by miserable co-workers. It's fucking horrible. I'm so glad I found other opportunities as I got older and got the hell out.

But back on point: I always tip well.

 

[GreeLee]

I tip well. Know why? Yeah part of it is I know they don't make shit so I help cover them for that. Also if I'm at a place a few times as a good tipper suddenly my steak comes out quicker, my food is cooked better and lo and behold my mixed drinks are suddenly 99% alcohol instead of the normal watered down profit making mix they normally sell.

^^ This.


Thank God I don't have to bee seen in a restaurant with any of you cheap bastards. You can tell the crowd that has come into some accidental money, they're the same ones that don't tip.

I go out to eat w/ my father-in-law, and he's constantly complaining about poor service and bad food, and then he leaves no tip. I constantly ask him "Don't you see that you're the main factor in this never ending cycle?" But he doesn't see it.

The food at the restaurants I frequent is always cooked perfectly, and the wait staff fight over serving me. A few bucks to not have to be my father-in-law is worth it.

 

[kingofsp]

Did I? A lot of shop workers work hard and have children as well, do you tip the person who serves you in a store?

Sometimes, if I'm in Vegas. In other cities it seems like employees are instructed to refuse them, so I don't even bother anymore if there isn't a tip jar around or if it's not a service you generally tip for.

And if any of you are hung up on feeling like it's expected that you tip even when you get shitty service, you're obviously going out to eat at the wrong restaurants.

I went to lunch today and I think the bill was like $30 or so, so I tipped $8. That chick was awesome. I pretty much always double the tax, and if the server was particularly cool, I'll add on to it.

And the talk about regular tipping = perks is dead on. It's not about saving money to me, it's about giving my money to the people that need it more than the owner who is never there anyway and probably doesn't give a shit about them. It's my punk rock roots. I stick it to the man whenever I can.

Oh and ELIQUID IS CHEAP.