Waiting Tables and why I don't do it anymore- Page 3

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 11:41am

i would hope that those people are few and far between.

You've got more faith in people than I do, RobbO.


Lots of people can't afford that, and therefore can't go out for a meal.

But again, that's the not the fault of the server. It's a system that's been in place for decades. Lots of people can't afford to do lots of things due to individual circumstances. If someone has gone out to eat at a restaurant where they are to be served, they know the drill.

And here's that article I keep yammering on about.

My Week as a Server

Updated On: 4/19/07 at 11:41 AM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 11:51am

Yes, Kringas, that's why in that exact same post I said, and I quote, "it's not the fault of the servers."

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 11:53am

read the article. it didn't sound so bad.

oh, and i think it is funny that a customer is supposed to magically know about all the ins and outs of the restaurant business, low pay, how many tables the server has and care but the server doesn't have to have the same empathy for the customer who may not be in the position to overtip becky for being barely adequate at her job that she spends most of her time at flirting with chip (who's too busy flirting with brad to care about becky...).

i should write an article on some of the horrific experiences i have had as a patron. it would make clive barker blush.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 11:57am

The article sounds no worse to me than most jobs. Is it easier being in retail, or teaching children/teens, working at a nursing home, or being demeaned by corporate execs?

Updated On: 4/19/07 at 11:57 AM

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 11:58am

i say "no" to the last one. now give me a dollar.

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:00pm

Sorry, Rath. I know you (nor most of the others on this thread) are holding the servers accountable or in contempt for the system at hand.

And RobbO, you're right. You can't expect everyone to know the ins and outs of the restaurant industry.

Edited to add: I never meant to imply that the article made serving out to be worse than other jobs. I just remember being struck by the line I quoted, which is why I mentioned it.

Updated On: 4/19/07 at 12:00 PM

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:04pm

i would, however, like to slap some customers for the way i hear some people treat their servers. but mom doesn't like it when i hit dad...

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:17pm

Ultimately, I do think the way it works is a flawed system and sets up a very weird balance of power between the employer and employee and customer and staff.

A lot of people don't realize that the most of the time the tip they leave for a server isn't going to the server alone. I've known restaurants where the servers had to tip out as high as 30%. I don't know what's to be done about it (although for me what was to be done was to get out of the food service industry, which I was bittersweet about, because there were a lot of pros to that being my primary source of employment), so I just try to compensate accordingly when I go out. Unless the service is completely wretched, my starting tip is usually at least 20%. Even when it is bad, I normally can't in good conscious leave much less than that.

Updated On: 4/19/07 at 12:17 PM

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:20pm

but how will they learn?!?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:20pm

But see, again, that SUCKS, and it's NOT the fault of the customer either. I do not understand how an entire industry gets away with not paying their employees.

[Pippin]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:23pm

Interestingly, in my experience as a former server, I've found that the "Pricks" are the ones that tip better, as long as you please them. I don't know if that is the power trip that they are on, rewarding you if you managed to somehow meet thier expectations, or what, but they usually tip better than the people who are full of "please" and thank you's". Sometimes I think that the polite people think that a verbal praise takes the place of a monetary tip.

of course that's not everyone. I am one of the most patient and polilte people to servers, and unless the service was God Awful, (Like a rat in my soup or something) I always leave 20%.

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:45pm

RobbO- I suppose they won't, at least not from me. I understand your point, though. And there are plenty of people out there to teach them, at least from my experience. Besides (and again, this is all from personal experience) I've also been given really sh*tty tips by people who went out of their way to compliment my service, so I don't really know what sort of learning curve there can be.

Rath - I don't understand it, either. I've never understood how restaurateurs get away with demanding anything of their employees when they pay them $2.13 an hour (although my last waiting job was a whopping $3.90 an hour!), but that's the way it goes. Like I said, I know it's an unfair system, but since I know, I feel like I'm complicit in the whole thing when I go out to eat, which means I'm always going to tip well.

Reading this thread, though, I suppose I'll just consider myself lucky, because my positive dining experiences far outweigh my negative ones.

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 12:48pm

as an "insider" kringas, did you and other servers talk and BS and say "man, i didn't do anything all night and got great tips!" did you guys raze the bad servers and tell them to bring their game up? anything like that?

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 1:03pm

as an "insider" kringas, did you and other servers talk and BS and say "man, i didn't do anything all night and got great tips!"

No, but I can honestly say that I tended to work pretty hard. On the nights when I felt I was doing a crappy job (which happens with any job) I'd never say that I deserved more than I got. My crappy performance nights were few and far between, though, I think.

did you guys raze the bad servers and tell them to bring their game up? anything like that?

I never really gave unsolicited advice to other people who were on the same level as me. If someone asked me what I thought the problem was I'd tell them, though.

My former "insider" status now only affords me the luxury/curse of knowing what's it like at a restaurant. I'll fully admit that I overtip 99% of the time, but as long as I can spare a few extra bucks each time I will.

[Calvin]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 2:41pm

Having worked as a waiter myself, I usually have great sympathy for anyone in the food service industry. But whoever wrote that Starbucks thing needs to find a new way of supporting him- or herself, because human interaction doesn't seem to be his/her thing.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 2:48pm

I used to care, when I was younger...now that I'm older and crankier, and it's been 20 years since I waited on a table...I dont give a crap..20% only for excellent service...bad service will get you a very measly tip, unless I can tell it's not your fault, and I always complain to the manager.

I have also complimented to the manager...but good service is so rare.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 2:49pm

Yeah, the Starbucks thing is a bit much. Besides, I have worked both food service and as a barista and its like comparing swimming the English Channel with swimming in a pool.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 2:50pm

...but if you cant swim...both are bad.

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 3:34pm

they make waiters swim the english channel now?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 3:37pm

for 20%, they better!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 3:51pm

Listen to this ep of This American Life.

http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=172

[readyfortheDISCO!2]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 3:56pm

So what's the Starbucks ordering joke?

[peach]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:03pm

I waited tables for years, all through college and for a few years after to make extra money. While it was often frustrating, I enjoyed it as a line of work. My attitude was that if I had a really bad customer, chances were that after an hour and a half, I would never see the person again. It made dealing with the nightmare customers a bit easier (and it is true that some people are difficult for the sake of being difficult. I often wonder if they go out to dinner with the INTENTION of finding something wrong).

Since I worked in the industry, I am pretty forgiving of servers - I can tell if they are having a busy night. As long as they are pleasant and make an effort, mistakes are forgiveable and will not affect the tip. When tipping, I start at 20% for good service and go up or down from there. Great service is going to get 25% from me. Decent but just okay service is going to get 15-18%. If you're just a complete ass, I go 10% or lower.

I only stiffed a waitress once. We were sitting at a table that was in a higher traffic area, and my friend's chair may have been sticking out a bit. The waitress came flying by and the plates she was holding lost balance. Food ended up all down the back of my friend's cashmere sweater. My friend was a little perturbed (she wasn't being very nice, I admit). But instead of apologizing, or getting a towel or even getting the manager to take care of it, the waitress said to my friend "It was an accident, I don't know why you're being such a bitch."

That was out of line. That's the one time I didn't tip.

And yes, the Stabucks barista clearly needs a new job! I have fab baristas at my Starbucks. And I tip them!
Updated On: 4/19/07 at 05:03 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 5:58pm

Nice Guy Eddie: C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't tip?
Mr. Pink: Nah, I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make ****.
Mr. Pink: Don't give me that. She don't make enough money that she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie: I don't even know a ****ing Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you don't ever tip?
Mr. Pink: I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue: Hey, our girl was nice.
Mr. Pink: She was okay. She wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue: What's special? Take you in the back and suck your dick?
Nice Guy Eddie: I'd go over twelve percent for that.

Mr. Pink: I'm very sorry the government taxes their tips, that's ****ed up. That ain't my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government ****s in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn't do that, I'll sign it, put it to a vote, I'll vote for it, but what I won't do is play ball. And as for this non-college bull**** I got two words for that: learn to ****in' type, 'cause if you're expecting me to help out with the rent you're in for a big ****in' surprise.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 4/19/07 at 8:21pm

Borstalboy, thanks for this. I try to over tip because I realize it's such hard work. I worked behind a desk, then took change at Burger King, then cleaned bathrooms, bunch of other stuff I'd rather forget - now I work behind a desk again. Believe me, I appreciate you. I leave a tip at a pizzeria for being handed a slice. My question is - when you pay by credit card and there's a place on the ticket for the tip - does that tip really get to you?