Los Angeles Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
To Tip or Not to Tip
What are your tipping policies?
What are the occassions you think tipping is unecessary?
What places requests tips that make you kind of laugh?
I had my lunch delivered today and when I tipped the guy I gave him $2.00 for a $11.25 meal. He looked at the receipt like is this it and then mumbled "oh tip $2.00". I really dislike ungrateful people and wanted to erase the tip amount and say fine if you prefer 0..:)
The company that delivers already charges for delivery and I thought for getting out of the car and walking his ass to my door (1/2 foot) $2.00 was generous. I'm I wrong..lol
Re: To Tip or Not to Tip
To answer my own questions. (excuse the spelling I just noticed after I re-read)
What are your tipping policies? I'm usually a really good tipper and do the 15% and above depending. I usually always tip too and have only walked away from maybe 1 or 2 establishments that really didn't deserve a tip.
What are the occasions you think tipping is unnecessary? pick-up orders.
What places requests tips that make you kind of laugh? The donut shop by my in-laws house. My in-laws go every Sat morning when they walk the dogs and sometimes on the weekday. It is an older couple who owns the shop and they have their little tip jar. It makes me chuckle, because they make the donuts, they serve the donuts and have no hired help. Although for all of this they might just deserve a tip, but you really don't share your profits with anyone (employees.etc).What are your tipping policies? I tip about $3 for a $20-$50 meal. A little more depending on the amount of people being served. Generally never more than $10 to one person though.
What are the occasions you think tipping is unnecessary? When I order at a counter.
What places request tips that make you kind of laugh? See second question answer.
Okay, so maybe I'm cheap and I'm gonna get flamed for this but I was a waitress at one time and have found that it requires no skill at all. None. On average, most waitresses handle 3 tables an hour so if everyone gives the waitress $3= $9/hr. plus min. wage of about $8(in CA), they're making $17/hr! I know people who spent a few years in college and are not even getting this kind of wage. Its ridiculous to suggest more IMO. And the additional income is tax free! When I was a waitress I never expected tips but was happy when I got them. I just hate when people try to make me feel bad for not wanting to give more. Just my honest opinion.
And I don't think its the patrons' responsibility to make up for any low wages the restaurants are paying their employees. Minimum wage should be what they're getting at the very least from them.
My husband is never ungrateful, he'll take any tip he gets (besides an obvious none), but I have to disagree that being a waiter/waitress takes no skill at all. I guess it depends on the restaurant/environment.
We tip at 20% if not more. Only very few things like rude service would warrant us to tip lower, and even then we give 10-15%.
Waitering is good money (DH takes home about $200/5-hour shift from his job, but they're a very expensive restaurant), but I think it's challenging... just like some people are suited for having desk jobs, some people are suited for the service industry.
lol Okay maybe I'm lying...some waiters/waitresses have excellent memories( that is definitely a skill) but I feel very uneasy when those few are taking my order withour writing it down. I think at least half the time things turned up okay.
And your comment about your husband's wages goes to my point exactly; his tips are earning him about $40/hr! That is really good! Not many people, even those who spend years in college end up making that kind of money. Where as with waitressing, you don't need to go through all that 4+ years of pain!
But yes, I have to agree it can be a stressful environment but the same goes for my current job as well. In fact, the last time DH and I ate out, our waiter only took our order, brought us our wine, and finally the bill. Everything else, salads, appetizer, main dish, was all brought by different people.
That's it! I'm quitting my job and going to work at Flemings Steak house! lol
LOL
They divvy the tip amongst them, though. (Where DH works is upscale, Westlake Village... their evening menu doesn't even have prices... so we're not talking about Chili's or TGIFriday's or anything) So if DH gets a $20 tip, a %age goes to the runner (who brings food to the table) and a %age to the busboy (who sets up, clears, etc.) so DH might only bring $10 of that home.
I think DH's hourly wages are so high, though, because wine is one of their specialties. All waitstaff is expected to be well-versed in the many, MANY wines they carry, their differences, etc. It's the wine that makes the bill higher, and therefore the tips higher.
The hardest think for people in the service industry is that their wages really fluctuate with the economy. Luckily for us, it seems like the people who patronize DH's restaurant aren't feeling it as much, but plenty of other places are closing due to it.
$3 on $50? Yikes.
I tip very well. And always say please and thank you. It's a good thing.
I prefer to tip generously, like 20%, at the hair salon or at a nice restaurant. If I've enjoyed the experience, I want the person who served me to know it.
Unneccessary: I sometimes tip at places like Starbucks or a deli -where there is a tip jar. Really, a tip is a reward for a job well done, not an obligatory thing. People get paid to hand me coffee or a sandwich, but again, if it's a good experience and they are super courteous or something then I'll drop in a dollar and change. When we do a pick up order somewhere, and the space is on the receipt, I won't tip; delivery, yes.
and makes me laugh? You know I saw a tip jar out someplace where it totally didn' belong, and I can't for the life of me remember where now..
YIKES! WOW!
1) I'm a SERVER part time. Most people who were servers don't call themselves waitresses. Anita - where were you a server at that it didn't require skill?
2) $3 on a $50 bill is way way way way too low. If you left me that - I would not serve you again and our managers ask that we point out people who don't tip. In their opinion - if you are going to go out to eat at a restaurant where people are serving you, do so keeping in mind that you are going to have to spend another 15%.Otherwise, stay home.
3) We really don't make that much money - we have to tip out cooks, bartenders, people who bring you the food, hostess, etc.
4) I have a 4 years degree, hell I even have my law degree. Most people who are servers don't do it as a career, they do it to help make ends meet. So don't EVER assume that the person serving you isn't educated.
5) You know that servers really don't make minimun wage right? You have to report your tips and that amount is deducted from your overall wage.
If you ever come to eat in El Segundo - warn me please.
I don't want to start a war here, but I truly think a tip should be left to the descretion of the person being waited on it. A tip is not mandatory and for that reason I don't think anyone should be upset if they don't receive one. I also feel that a person should not be pointed out or have their picture plastered on the wall as a bad tipper. What if you are a bad server? Do you still expect a tip?
Everyone has their down days. Today, if I received tips for my job (I wish), I would not be expecting one. I have done my job and finished all my tasks, but have been knotting the rest of the time..lol
I do agree with the rest of your numbers. I just fill it is a bit harsh to expect something from somebody, which is not required.
lol Oh I knew this was going to be controversial. Okay I don't think I've ever actually only left $3 on a $50 bill but its probably because our bill rarely goes over $25; we prefer not to eat at fancy places.
But...I actually don't recall saying that waiters/waitresses are not educated; what I meant was that the job doesn't require an education. And for that, I can't fathom someone making more than X amount of dollars for a job thats relatively simple. And come on, I know because I worked in this line of business, but even if our particular establishment makes us report tip income, many, many people understate it. Not saying that any of you or your loved ones do, but I know that this does happen.
And yes, I agree that the hard thing about this industry is that it fluctuates so I will definitely give that some credit. But I completely disagree with the belief that if people do not want to tip X amount then they should not eat out at all. Would we prefer if many restaurants had to cut their workforce or shut down completely if people started doing this? No. I'm sure all of us would prefer any business rather than no business.
I just had the talk with my mom earlier tonight. We went out to eat and split the bill. Rhian started acting up at the end of dinner so I gave my mom money and asked her to handle my check so I could take Rhian outside. I had a coupon for buy one get one free entree and my mom only left a tip based on the total minus the coupon, not the full check. This is a place I frequent often and I always leave 18-20%.
Anyways to answer the questions....
I always leave 15-20% at a sit down meal, depending on the level of service.
I hate tip jars at coffee places and sandwich shops. I did give holiday gifts to the employees at my old coffee shop in LB but didn't leave daily tips.
I always tip delivery people. I was a delivery driver for a pizza place for a couple of years. They charged a delivery fee but only a small amount went to the driver. This was back in the late 90's and I was paid minimum wage, $.75 per delivery (delivery fee was $2.00), plus tips. I did end up making great money but it was a lot of wear and tear on my vehicle and wasn't a very safe job.
My starting point is doubling the tax. It only goes up from tehre. If it was great service or a place I go to a lot, then it is usually more.
Only once I left a 2 cent tip with a note. The note said, "here is my 2 cents, try better service and you will get a better tip." It was an extreme case and it made me feel really bad to do it. But the waiter took our order, then we never saw him again. Our food was all wrong, never got drink refills, and everytime we tried to get the waiters attention, he would look at us then turn and walk the other way.
I am late on this. But I tip generously also. $3 is not much for $50. If I get horrible service then I still tip but not as generous. I also let them know why.