Cheapest celebrity tippers- Page 3

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 8:25am

Lauren, I honestly can't recall ever being in a situation like the one you describe, but I'd recommend using your discretion re: the tip and speaking to a manager directly. Always speak to a manager if you feel that you (or someone in your party) has been poorly served.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 8:45am

I can't imagine how only one person at a table get's poor service.

But...if you've explained your reasoning to your companions, what's the problem?


That being said, I do hate going out with others that have a radically different tipping "philosophy" than do I. (Although, I'm now at the age where we just usually split the bill, regardless.) Eating with younger people really sucks. They often forget to include tax and are pretty cheap when it comes to tipping. (Which goes to: if you can't afford the tip, then don't go out to eat.)

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/20/11 at 9:01am

That being said, I do hate going out with others that have a radically different tipping "philosophy" than do I.

I agree. However, if I noticed that a friend was leaving a tip that was decidedly lower than what I was leaving--or lower than what I felt the server deserved--I'd feel the need to bring it to my friend's attention. And I have, in the past.

[LaurenB]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 3:05am

"I can't imagine how only one person at a table get's poor service."

The first example: This happened many, many years ago. There were 4 of us dining at a restaurant called The Ginger Man in Beverly Hills (it was owned by actors Carroll O'Connor and Patrick O'Neal, and every weekend George Segal would be playing his banjo and singing with the Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band). One of the diners had a dietary problem and was asking the waiter if he could make some simple substitutions. I stress the word "simple" because his questions/requests were reasonable, simple, not complicated, something that any restaurant should be able to do. In hindsight, he was probably lactose intolerant, but this was before that term was in the general lexicon. Anyhow I thought the waiter's reaction was rude, like he couldn't be bothered. I actually felt embarrassed for the man. There's a way to say no, that is apologetic, and then there's a way to say no, as if one couldn't be bothered. The others didn't see it that way, including the man who asked the question (though I do think it was ego, and he didn't want to appear offended or like a wuss, plus this was a business dinner). But I will say that it bothered me and did affect my enjoyment of the meal when the food was brought to the table, because I knew he wasn't eating what he wanted to. I also think that the waiter had an attitude, like we were the peons among the hoity toity Beverly Hills crowd. Little did he know that the man who asked the question was an investment banker, who at the time had 4 homes in the NY, LA, and Aspin regions. He paid for the meal, LOL, so I am sure a proper tip was left. (This guy was loaded at the time, and today he is seriously mega-loaded. This was before the film Wall Street was released, and before the general public knew what an investment banker was.)

Second example: We were dining in a restaruant, something like a TGIF. One of the diners had ordered the BBQ ribs and had asked the waitress to bring some extra napkins when the food was delivered - a reasonable request. The problem was that the waitress never did so, despite being asked THREE times over the course of the meal, and politely. It was as if the waitress couldn't be bothered. When I see that happening to someone at the table, it does affect my enjoyment of the meal. This was a case where I thought it was appropriate to leave a lessor tip, but not everyone agreed, because "their" meal was OK.

I know there are more examples where one diner experienced bad service, I just can't remember them at the moment. But my tip will reflect my dining experience which includes my dinner companions. I never deduct for bad food or slow service, because it's usually not the server's fault.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 7:32am

In your first example, if the person in question didn't think there was a problem, there wasn't.

I also don't think that forgetting napkins singles out an individual -- it's just carelessness. My guess is that waitress would have forgetten many things that were asked of her. There is no way of the waitress knowing that ONLY that person wanted the extra napkins.

I suppose if it bothered me that much, I would have made sure the napkins got to the table.

[LaurenB]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 8:34am

"In your first example, if the person in question didn't think there was a problem, there wasn't."

We'll just have to agree to disagree. It's like when a person is bullied or demeaned by a mate in public, and then they shrug it off and say it was nothing. Just because they say it was nothing doesn't mean that an affront hadn't occurred. It only means they chose to ignore it.

Regarding the "carelessness", we'll again have to agree to disagree. I have been a waitress in some very hectic restaurants in Hollywood, and I know the difference between carelessness and someone ignoring a customer. And it did bother me, but not enough to do her job -- but enough to dock her on the tip.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:10am

"I think it's interesting that if the owner of the shop is who took care of you (a hairdresser for example), you weren't suppose to tip -- but now you are. It's all rather strange."


Who decides these things?! It's such bullsh*t.

I've just decided that every time I post in a thread, you all have to tip me as a courtesy. It didn't used to be that way, but now it is. Oh, and 25 percent is the usual rate. If I do a good job it's 85 percent of your total bill at the last restaurant you went to. And if you own a restaurant, you have to give me the restaurant after my next post.

I'm not sure when that started, but that's the going rate now.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:21am

Blame that bitch Emily Post for it.
http://www.oprah.com/money/Guide-to-Tipping

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:22am

The salon owner thing really bugs me. I used to splurge on my haircuts. My stylist was in Greenwich, CT, and charged $120 for a cut, but he was worth the drive and the price was something I could get over. I would tip my shampoo girl, which I think is a bit silly, but she did me a service. It never occurred to me to tip my stylist, since he is the owner. I just paid him $120. He charges more than any other stylist there.

We don't tip here except in extreme cases. Servers are always thrilled! lol

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:41am

AC, I find that entire link's comments to be a joke. Why should you tip a higher percent in a first-class restaurant? They're already charging an exorbitant amount for their food, and the percentage of a regular tip reflects that proportionately.

How about tipping more to the poor diner waitress who is busting her as$ to serve you that $4 breakfast special? Are you really going to leave her 60-75 cents? But if it were a $25 dollar breakfast in a fancy restaurant, you're "expected" to leave her $5? She's working just as hard as the diner waitress, but not any harder.

I think these tipping charts are made up by fools who have never waited tables and flunked basic math and economics. And for the record, I worked at two upscale restaurants, so I'm not saying this because I used to be that "waitress in the diner." I've never worked in a diner. But I see how hard and extremely well some of them work. And for what? 15-20 percent of a $5-7 special?

By the way, for this post, you all owe me 20 percent of the cost of your last restaurant meal. It didn't used to be that way, but that's the going rate now. And it's expected.

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 09:41 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 10:11am

I think that link's comments are, by and large, laughable too. Besty, your comments are more in line with reality. I eat breakfast at a certain diner at least 3-4 times a week. The waitress who usually serves me has become a friend. She's a single mother with a young child. I usually leave her more than 20%, especially if the price of my meal is significantly cheaper through a special or discount.

How about tipping more to the poor diner waitress who is busting her as$ to serve you that $4 breakfast special? Are you really going to leave her 60-75 cents?


The people who leave $0.75 on a $4 check because that's 18% and they're sticklers drive me mad. I never leave less than $1 on anything, no matter how cheap. And like you, I worked primarily at upscale, non-chain restaurants in New York, so it's not a matter of having been there. It's just a matter of sense to me.

Also, cash only or will a check do, b12?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 10:15am

I even take American Express and Diner's Club.

Now that's class!

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 10:16am

I'll PM you my card number. And my social, so you can verify.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 10:22am

Thanks, AC. At least SOME people understand how it's done these days.

The rest of you are just not "couth!"

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 11:07am

Besty -- what if I don't actually READ your posts? Am I still expected to tip? What if I think the info IN your posts is something I find unworthy? If you think I'll tip you for disagreeing with someone, then you are nuts!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 11:19am

Well, I think this goes back to the whole "water thing."

If you sit at a chair in a restaurant with friends and order nothing, but drink the water, you should still give me a thousand dollars just for taking up space in this thread.

... or in this world, for that matter.

Whether or not you enjoyed the water or actually ignored the menu and the waitstaff is moot. You still existed, therefore you owe.

It didn't used to be that way, but that's the new standard. It's expected.

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 11:19 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:26pm

Thanks Namo...all I can think of now is "Barbara Broadcast."

I think I love you. broadwayjim.

We don't tip here except in extreme cases. Servers are always thrilled! lol

I'm having fun imagining what qualifies as an extreme case? You bring your wife's niece, who is possessed by Satan. "The pea soup clean-up alone!"

Overtipping has become the norm for me, after reading Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickeld & Dimed." I start at 20% and go up from there. Paying it forward. Excellent karma. Helping somebody out. And all that.

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 12:26 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:48pm

Nickel and Dimed is a great book for anyone to read, but especially those who've never worked a service job before. It really debunks the myth that certain positions (food server, maid/housekeeper, etc) are "unskilled labor".

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:57pm

I worked as a bellboy in the dollar per bag era. I have never forgotten those who were extra-generous ("Hello, Alvino Rey and The King Sisters!!!").

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 12:59pm

Overtipping has become the norm for me, after reading Barbara Ehrenreich's "Nickeld & Dimed." I start at 20% and go up from there. Paying it forward. Excellent karma. Helping somebody out. And all that.

Also, unless you're eating really pricey meals the difference between 15% and 20% is pretty negligible. Plus, I figure that the server probably ISN'T getting 20% from most of his customers, so that makes me want to put down a little more. Waiting tables is hard, often thankless, work, and and as a customer, I just don't have any problem usually erring on the side of generosity and compassion.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:40pm

Here's a question: How much do you tip the delivery guy when you order in?

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:45pm

Something most people don't realize is that most delivery people have to pay for their own gas (if they're using a car) and do not get reimbursed for it. I usually tip around 20% of the cost of the order...maybe a dollar more if the delivery is super-fast.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 1:53pm

The poor bartenders at my neighborhood (str saloon so regularly experience the "clink" of a 25 or 50 cent tip that I have gotten the reputation for being an excellent tipper for leaving a buck per beer. This perception brings rewards.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 2:12pm

All I know is I'm LMAO at Phyllis's avi. Is that Danny DeVito?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 3:55pm

Something most people don't realize is that most delivery people have to pay for their own gas (if they're using a car) and do not get reimbursed for it. I usually tip around 20% of the cost of the order...maybe a dollar more if the delivery is super-fast.

And just because a delivery fee is charged, don't think that all (if any) of that goes to the driver. Reg, I usually do about 20% for delivery as well.

Stockard, it is Danny DeVito. It's a promotional picture for the new season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."