Post: #76

Quote:Divide again by a 1000 and then subtract by itself to equal zero.

Like I said before. Low skill or high skill, "educated" or not doesn't matter. If there's a high demand for their services and they're working off commission and busting their ass for it...why put a limit on their income?

Wait...I smell jealousy...

I'm unionized so it's not jealousy you're smelling. Soap is inexpensive.

You think they should be tipped just b/c there's a demand for them. Ok. I have to elaborate: Waiting is easy to learn, anyone here with legs and at least one arm can do it. The lack of skill means said waitresses are easily replaceable. Why reward someone for being an interchangeable cog? She scribbled 3 words and walked 30 yards...do you want to give her a Purple Heart too?

Post: #77

(02-29-2012 12:19 AM)Goldin Boy Wrote:  

Quote:Divide again by a 1000 and then subtract by itself to equal zero.

Like I said before. Low skill or high skill, "educated" or not doesn't matter. If there's a high demand for their services and they're working off commission and busting their ass for it...why put a limit on their income?

Wait...I smell jealousy...

I'm unionized so it's not jealousy you're smelling. Soap is inexpensive.

You think they should be tipped just b/c there's a demand for them. Ok. I have to elaborate: Waiting is easy to learn, anyone here with legs and at least one arm can do it. The lack of skill means said waitresses are easily replaceable. Why reward someone for being an interchangeable cog? She scribbled 3 words and walked 30 yards...do you want to give her a Purple Heart too?

I'll ask this question again and this time to you...have you worked as a server in a restaurant (or similar service job that paid in tips)?

If you have ways to live comfortably with minimum wage we're all ears.

"Stupid easy to learn," sure can't argue with that... but lots of people want to pay for what these servers learned, who are you to stop these servers from earning their keep?

Let's say you got a huge pay raise from your boss that will be enough to buy a mini-mansion and retire you in 2 years. How would you feel if your union took more dues from you because they feel "you're earning too much" for your skill or educational background?

If you don't want to pay, by all means be my guest. I have to warn you though, if you return to that same restaurant with the same server you might get "extra sauce, drippings, and shavings" almost undetected with your food. Believe me...I once went #2, didn't wash my hands so I had a little somethin'-somethin' on my hands, and *volunteered* to serve the a-hole who didn't tip last time after kissing his ass, meeting his needs, and serving him as soon as the food and drinks were ready. I literally made a person eat shit.

Post: #78

(02-28-2012 10:19 PM)reaper23 Wrote:  you guys also forget that from those tips is where the bus boys, water boys, hostess et al get paid.

the servers have to "tip out" to each of them. it can be up to 20-30% of gross tips.
Only sometimes, more then half the restaurants I've worked in those are hourly positions


also, when you assholes are figuring out their "hourly" wage, don't forget the two hours on each end of the shift that they have to do "side work" where there are no paying customers.
Servers do not do 4 hours of sidework, sorry you're just wrong, its about 2 hours, 1 before and 1 after. If a server makes $150 a night ($10/table x 15 tables across 5 hours so 3 tables an hour) with 2 hours of sidework thats still $16/hr if they claim every dollar of it

then take into account that this is a "commission" only business in that they only get paid if the place is busy.

there are plenty of times that they come to work, shit is slow, and they don't get paid.

it is normal to get compensated for that risk.
Thats only if you have shitty managment. Slow shifts at a well managed restaurant will have minimal servers and usually 1 or 2 on-call servers just in case.

i'm an over educated, white collar, entrepreneur/executive - but coming up, i waited tables.

you arrogant twits should be required to do the same.

@Enfant

I have no issue with how much money servers make, like I said I tip 20% or more whenever I go out, my issue comes from the fact that I appreciate how much they make more than they do. Most servers make a ridiculous amount of money relative to their education/workload yet complain nonstop.

Chef In Jeans
A culinary website for men

Post: #79

I made around $20/hr. waiting tables while in college, at a chain restaurant, too. Met a few chicks, and if my game were tight like it is today, I'd probably have pulled a chick a week.

Waiting tables is a lot more stressful than Chad suggests. Whether it's more stressful than being a cook, I can't say.

Then again, the cooks would often miss work because they were in jail. You could have a rap sheet and become a cook.

So there are some legitimate reasons for the pay disparity.

Post: #80

(02-29-2012 03:20 PM)Chad Daring Wrote:  

(02-28-2012 10:19 PM)reaper23 Wrote:  you guys also forget that from those tips is where the bus boys, water boys, hostess et al get paid.

the servers have to "tip out" to each of them. it can be up to 20-30% of gross tips.
Only sometimes, more then half the restaurants I've worked in those are hourly positions


also, when you assholes are figuring out their "hourly" wage, don't forget the two hours on each end of the shift that they have to do "side work" where there are no paying customers.
Servers do not do 4 hours of sidework, sorry you're just wrong, its about 2 hours, 1 before and 1 after. If a server makes $150 a night ($10/table x 15 tables across 5 hours so 3 tables an hour) with 2 hours of sidework thats still $16/hr if they claim every dollar of it

then take into account that this is a "commission" only business in that they only get paid if the place is busy.

there are plenty of times that they come to work, shit is slow, and they don't get paid.

it is normal to get compensated for that risk.
Thats only if you have shitty managment. Slow shifts at a well managed restaurant will have minimal servers and usually 1 or 2 on-call servers just in case.

i'm an over educated, white collar, entrepreneur/executive - but coming up, i waited tables.

you arrogant twits should be required to do the same.

@Enfant

I have no issue with how much money servers make, like I said I tip 20% or more whenever I go out, my issue comes from the fact that I appreciate how much they make more than they do. Most servers make a ridiculous amount of money relative to their education/workload yet complain nonstop.

Nah I'm fine with you Chad I know where you come from and more importantly, you know how it is. You're right, those female servers shouldn't complain if they're making over $100 a night.

What can you do? They're women, they want more more more.

I have a problem with the cheap, arrogant dopes here who underestimate what it's like to be a server and have to hustle for that money.

Post: #81

Here's real receipts from the real 1%, not the faked up hoax receipt from some Southern Cal blog loser that started this thread.

A $29,581.20 tip



A $22,510 tip



A $24,689 tip



Here's some actual London Bankers. On top of the £7,956 service charge, they tipped an extra £10,000:

Post: #82

Quote:I'll ask this question again and this time to you...have you worked as a server in a restaurant (or similar service job that paid in tips)?

If you have ways to live comfortably with minimum wage we're all ears.

In my state minimum wage is $7.25.

1) Live within your means. You don't need a smartphone with a mandatory $50-a-month data plan or a new car every 2-3 years.
2) Find a roomate(s).
3) EBT can defray food expenses.

I can give more methods that I've actually done when I worked minimum wage jobs but you'll conveniently redefine "comfortably" to suit your point and invalidate whatever I say.

I've never been in a car crash but I've read and heard enough first hand accounts from people who have been involved in them to know that it's physically painful and expensive. So it doesn't matter if I haven't had the intimate experience of taking the 25 minute course on waiting tables.

Tipping's not an obligation just for doing the bare minimum. Maybe they'll spit in his food and it will give them/you momentary satisfaction. Back in reality they're still just a waitress with a GED and he's the rich banker who makes her salary in a month(plus tips lol).

Post: #83

do you guys tip for coffee? like at a starbucks coffee house.

Post: #84

(03-01-2012 12:02 AM)Dream Machine Wrote:  do you guys tip for coffee? like at a starbucks coffee house.

Coffee chain like that no. Unless they make latte art, or serve tea/coffee with nice drinkware + sugar / honey / cream + pastry hookup on the side, bring it to my table, and kiss my ass then depending on coffee cost I'll tip.

Post: #85

(02-29-2012 11:57 PM)Goldin Boy Wrote:  

Quote:I'll ask this question again and this time to you...have you worked as a server in a restaurant (or similar service job that paid in tips)?

If you have ways to live comfortably with minimum wage we're all ears.

In my state minimum wage is $7.25.

1) Live within your means. You don't need a smartphone with a mandatory $50-a-month data plan or a new car every 2-3 years.
2) Find a roomate(s).
3) EBT can defray food expenses.

I can give more methods that I've actually done when I worked minimum wage jobs but you'll conveniently redefine "comfortably" to suit your point and invalidate whatever I say.

Fair enough, a "comfortable" lifestyle depends on location and needs. But the fact that you don't want servers making more than $50 (a night?) waiting tables IF there's a significant demand for their services is abhorrent in that you devalue their work and right to live well because they didn't go to Harvard or they didn't go through apprenticeship.

I've never been in a car crash but I've read and heard enough first hand accounts from people who have been involved in them to know that it's physically painful and expensive. So it doesn't matter if I haven't had the intimate experience of taking the 25 minute course on waiting tables.

I'll just leave you with these:

-if that server had to hustle for that to get paid $100 (or more) a day, that server deserves every bit of that money. I say the same for anybody who works a job where their service or product is wanted.

-Experiencing things yourself is more meaningful, you don't really know till you're there. Until then you're just a spectator.

Post: #86

shitty servers get weeded out pretty fast. there is a reason they are always bouncing from place to place.



again i ask you guys, have you ever been served be a true professional? their knowledge and skill is truly something to watch and can actually make the entire experience.

i've seen "servers" whose mastery of the dining room, menu, preparations, ingredients, customers etc was artful and worth every penny of the $150 they earned just from our table that night.

Post: #87

Servers in some countries in Europe need to go to school for it. They learn many facets of serving, proper etiquette, how to serve, pour drinks, even the back room stuff of stocking supplies etc.

Usually in north america places where servers are wearing ties, or are conservatively dressed would be the most knowledgeable.

As for the bottle service girls making crazy tips, well good for them.

For waitresses and waiters if their service was top notch, they do deserve a tip if they earned it in your eyes. However how much is the question.

Post: #88

those you talking shit about servers:

would you trade places with them?

i think that answers your question about "how good they have it"

Post: #89

(03-01-2012 10:41 AM)reaper23 Wrote:  those you talking shit about servers:

would you trade places with them?

i think that answers your question about "how good they have it"

Ive tried getting serving jobs to make extra cash, they always end up with the managers trying to hustle me into the kitchen

Chef In Jeans
A culinary website for men

Post: #90

(02-27-2012 09:57 PM)tomtud Wrote:  We don't even know his side of the story.

That was my thought as well. Generally people do not behave like assholes without a reason, and if he's American he must have had a damn reason to leave only 1% tip.

Post: #91

I'm very interested in this topic. I'll do a bit of preparation tomorrow and give you all some quality information tomorrow evening (after my shift).

In the meantime ... check out the "yourdailytip" channel on youtube. I would post a link but I'm under the 10 post requirement and I'd rather not fill the forum with fluff.

This guy has some very insightful videos that are worth watching to those who have never worked in the service industry. I'd recommend starting with his earlier ones.

Post: #92

I've always wondered how much the staff actually gets to keep of these tips for huge bills at high end clubs. Even if the waitress has to tip out the other staff, that's still thousands of £'s per weekend night. Does the club take a cut? Do these girls work on straight commission (no salary)?

Post: #93

Tonight was an average night at work, could have been better ... but I won't complain.

I woke up at noon, checked e-mail and dicked around on the internet until 1pm, worked on my German until 2pm, then walked to Starbucks to meet with a friend for a bit. I had breakfast/lunch at a Cuban bakery nearby and people-watched until 5pm, then walked in to work. I'm going to go for a run later tonight, then watch netflix until 5am. I'll have my monthly bills payed by the 7th.

Floor shift: 5:30pm -11:00pm (closed the restaurant, stayed until 12:30am)
Tipped hourly wage: $4.29
Food and beverage sales: $880.13
Tips: $158.00
Tip average: 18%
Tip-Out: $28.24

$129.76 <--- My "Take Home"
$30.03 <---- My hourly pay (pays my taxes and insurance, more or less)

On a shitty night I'm grossing $22 an hour. Ideally, I'd work a five hour shift and walk with the same amount of money. Is it good money? No ... but for the work? Sure it is. I put in 30-40 hours weekly, have health, vision, and dental insurance as well as paid vacation. I can work as little or as much as I like. I have more than enough leisure time to devote to things I enjoy. Living in Tampa is cheap, and there's plenty to do. I could be happy tending bar, serving, playing gigs, and pursuing my passions for the rest of my life.

In the end, it's usually the guy trapped with a bitch wife and three shitty kids paying my wages (one of the reasons that at the end of the day, I can just shrug off all the attitude and disrespect with a chuckle). He might tip me %10 and treat me like dirt, but if he comes in enough and pays attention, he'll notice that I can read the day he just lived right off of his face without a second glance. I can give him exactly what he came in for. He'll eventually understand that I do this kind of work because I'm good at it. I'm dedicated to perfecting my craft ... and that's worth the extra %10. He'll be one of the patrons that balances out the next weak tipper that comes in. If you work in a quality restaurant or bar long enough, you'll eventually have earned a solid 20% + across the board.

Whether one agrees or disagrees on WHO should pay the wages of the waitstaff, I believe that it's a duty as an objective member of society to recognize the cards that have been dealt. Respect the person who put the time and effort into perfecting their craft. At the very minimum, realize that it's a human being at the receiving end ... and that they have bills to pay.

Post: #94

Anyone in the finance sector knows that banks are getting fucked right now.

I don't know where this bankers = the top tier of the 1% is coming from. The argument could be made for the top execs and maybe investment bankers.. but bankers? Not so sure about that.

In the area of finance that I'm more familiar with, bankers are viewed as nothing more than used car salesmen.. harsh but true.

The real $ is made in money management nowdays

Post: #95

(02-28-2012 03:31 AM)Enfant_Terrible Wrote:  If you want higher wages for servers (and everybody else for that matter) so there would be no need for tip. Support the following policies/issues:
-make it easier for restaurants to open and maintain their business if they do their jobs. Less bureaucracy, please.
-Low or zero income taxes. More money to spend and pump into the economy.
-No government subsidies on food. Subsidies make food expensive.
-Allow smoking areas in restaurants. More G's dropping cash on your resto.
-No costly, undeclared wars. Money spent in wars to kill people could've been spent paying off that debt that will keep on taxing us financially and psychologically.
-feel free to add...

What?

did you become a server because you failed economics?

Post: #96

I always hates this tipping bullshit. Servers should get paid by the hour like any other position.

Your a good server?:you get a raise
Your a bad sever?: you get minimum wage.

If I could I would only tips the cooks/dishwasher. They are the ones making sure my meal is clean/good.

I can get the food/ drink my damn self

Post: #97

(09-21-2017 12:21 PM)Thrill Jackson Wrote:  I always hates this tipping bullshit. Servers should get paid by the hour like any other position.

Your a good server?:you get a raise
Your a bad sever?: you get minimum wage.

If I could I would only tips the cooks/dishwasher. They are the ones making sure my meal is clean/good.

I can get the food/ drink my damn self

I worked at a pizza place in Missouri when I was in school. Probably the best thin crust pizza in the world, anyone from St. Louis can guess the franchise. I was hired as a cook. The owner had some serious anger problem, was known to throw a pizza if someone simply cut it the "wrong way," but still was always cool with me. The place was geared towards delivery. In the kitchen there was a computer that kept a running tab on the days sale versus the payroll down to the minute. If it was getting late in day and payroll was getting too high when compared to the sales, the owner would send people home. If the drivers went home then I was stuck doing dishes that night and the next morning. I worked pretty hard and was his fastest cook by far. The owner made a deal where as long as I worked fast enough that I didn't need to work with another cook, he would pay me 150% of my wage. This allowed for the freed up payroll to keep drivers there long enough to do the dishes and help clean.

I'm not sure everything was above board since he varied my pay based on how well we did and sometimes I got off the book pay with my check. One other thing to note is this place mostly employed guys since we didn't have big dining area and most sit in customers came for buffet. You could try to pay women different wages and I think shit would fall apart pretty quick.

Post: #98

(09-21-2017 12:21 PM)Thrill Jackson Wrote:  I always hates this tipping bullshit. Servers should get paid by the hour like any other position.

Your a good server?:you get a raise
Your a bad sever?: you get minimum wage.

If I could I would only tips the cooks/dishwasher. They are the ones making sure my meal is clean/good.

I can get the food/ drink my damn self

Why do you hate tipping? And if you do, you better not be a libertarian.

Tipping is one of the few situations where the customer gets complete freedom to set the price however he sees fit.

I think a lot of people hate tipping because true freedom is too much work.

I don't agree with you about the worthlessness of waiters. I would rather have a good waiter in a pretty good restaurant than a bad waiter in a great restaurant.

A good waiter can turn your whole night around, can steer you clear of shady specials, can make you look like a genius to your date, can leave you alone when you are obviously deep in conversation, and then suddenly appear the minute you need a drink refill or dessert, or almost anything really.

I used to work in a really classy restaurant in college, one I could never afford eating in, and I won a free meal there. I ended up in the section of the best waiter they had, and it was amazing how my workplace was transformed from table cloths to change and plates to drop into an excellent experience.

Because the guy serving was so on top of things from the start, I could just sit back and relax and enjoy the experience, the awesome view, and the company of my girlfriend. It was like a changed reality.

I didn't have to worry about ordering the wrong thing, looking like a fool with the wine list (I was 19 so maybe I should say the soft drink list.) or like rube choosing wrong appetizers with right meals. The dude came in, and made it all smooth, correcting some of my choices seamlessly, making it seem like it was my idea, complimenting me, and then my date, without hitting on her.

How often do you just get to sit back and have a great experience without having to think ahead about what can go wrong?

You can even show up at a restaurant stressed out and frazzed, and a good waiter can put you at ease and give you a good experience, and make you look like the man to your girl.

And here is the kicker. If he doesn't you don't even have to pay him.

I love tipping. It offers instant feedback to the worker and keeps him on his toes, an awesome incentive, really for any worker. And it give you as a customer total freedom to set the price any way you want to.

I am aware that there is too much tipping in the culture, end even baristas want something just for pouring a cup of coffee. It has gone overboard for sure.

For some jobs though, it works exactly as it should, and waiting tables is one of them. And even if you do have a waiter who isn't the best, think how you would feel if you had to collect your paycheck one dollar at a time off a table. It isn't an easy job, and there is an art to it.

Having a good waiter is like having a personal butler (that has been with you for years) for about an hour. It is a personal service, not a rote trade. It allows the common man to feel like a rich guy for a while.

Post: #99

I hate tipping. Pisses me off.

What I loved most about living in Anglo countries is not having to tip, but leaving a small tip anyways. In the UK, I always threw a pound or two extra in when I bought my drink to the bartender. After doing this 3 times, I had the bar locked down and was getting free drinks passed to me.

In America, you have to tip upwards of $50+ to get that level of service at a bar. Fuck that.

Post: #100

(09-21-2017 01:53 PM)Number one bummer Wrote:  

(09-21-2017 12:21 PM)Thrill Jackson Wrote:  I always hates this tipping bullshit. Servers should get paid by the hour like any other position.

Your a good server?:you get a raise
Your a bad sever?: you get minimum wage.

If I could I would only tips the cooks/dishwasher. They are the ones making sure my meal is clean/good.

I can get the food/ drink my damn self

I worked at a pizza place in Missouri when I was in school. Probably the best thin crust pizza in the world, anyone from St. Louis can guess the franchise. I was hired as a cook. The owner had some serious anger problem, was known to throw a pizza if someone simply cut it the "wrong way," but still was always cool with me. The place was geared towards delivery. In the kitchen there was a computer that kept a running tab on the days sale versus the payroll down to the minute. If it was getting late in day and payroll was getting too high when compared to the sales, the owner would send people home. If the drivers went home then I was stuck doing dishes that night and the next morning. I worked pretty hard and was his fastest cook by far. The owner made a deal where as long as I worked fast enough that I didn't need to work with another cook, he would pay me 150% of my wage. This allowed for the freed up payroll to keep drivers there long enough to do the dishes and help clean.

I'm not sure everything was above board since he varied my pay based on how well we did and sometimes I got off the book pay with my check. One other thing to note is this place mostly employed guys since we didn't have big dining area and most sit in customers came for buffet. You could try to pay women different wages and I think shit would fall apart pretty quick.

Imo's?

Aloha!