waiter unhappy with tip
Discussion
parabolica said:
Yet another tipping thread where the vast majority of people have obviously never worked in the hospitality industry.
So what. There are millions of people talking about footballers on TV who are not professional player. Just because someone has not done a job doesn't mean they can't have an opinion about it. Look at all the stick politicians get and how many of the people commenting are not politicians. You may not like people commenting on your profession, but you can't stop them.
GT03ROB said:
parabolica said:
Yet another tipping thread where the vast majority of people have obviously never worked in the hospitality industry. Doesn't matter; when I was waitering you could always tell a mile off who was unlikely to tip and who was. Don't want to tip? Fine you get the normal service; likely to tip? You get extra attention and nothing you ask for is any trouble. That's the way the game works. Wasn't uncommon for us to go home with 3-figure tips per night from the hotel I was working in. Good times.
That said chasing people out the door because they didn't tip enough is a dick move.
How did you tell??That said chasing people out the door because they didn't tip enough is a dick move.
parabolica said:
@GT03ROB: mainly their attitude (towards the waiting staff in particular) as soon as they enter the restaurant; you find out very quickly within the first interaction what kind of customer they are going to be. If they were dismissive or ignored you when you were serving them, you knew they were just here for the food and drink and that was it. Fair enough, they still get served to a good standard, but I'm not going to put in any extra effort for them if it's not going to be appreciated. There were exceptions to the rule, but were few and far between.
@xjay1337: prime example is responding to special requests from the customer, i.e. them asking for something extra or done a different way which would take you more time to complete than normal. That might seem a bit banal written here, but when you're in the midst of a service with 100+ people to attend to, you need to ration out your time to each table and if you get asked to do something that will take 5 minutes to do instead of 2, you're more likely to be willing to accept the request if it's for a decent guest.
There are other things of course; the banter (if they're up for it; American tourists love a bit of scottish patter), recommendations (especially ports, whisky, wines etc), suggestions for additions to their courses, etc. When I was working at the hotel, tourists especially would be appreciative of advice and info about nearby attractions/walks/activities etc. Sometimes it was a short game - I.e. you'd see a tip at the end of the night; sometimes with the tourists you played the long game in the hope of getting a sizable tip at the end of their stay. Although I will admit you were more likely to see this going on at a 4 or 5 star hotel rather than your local travel inn.
I always found it was exceptional service that got tipped, and it's the same theory I use today sitting on the other side of the table.
Doesn't that just become self-fulfilling? You think someone isn't likely to tip, they get average service, they possibly notice other tables getting better service, they don't tip? @xjay1337: prime example is responding to special requests from the customer, i.e. them asking for something extra or done a different way which would take you more time to complete than normal. That might seem a bit banal written here, but when you're in the midst of a service with 100+ people to attend to, you need to ration out your time to each table and if you get asked to do something that will take 5 minutes to do instead of 2, you're more likely to be willing to accept the request if it's for a decent guest.
There are other things of course; the banter (if they're up for it; American tourists love a bit of scottish patter), recommendations (especially ports, whisky, wines etc), suggestions for additions to their courses, etc. When I was working at the hotel, tourists especially would be appreciative of advice and info about nearby attractions/walks/activities etc. Sometimes it was a short game - I.e. you'd see a tip at the end of the night; sometimes with the tourists you played the long game in the hope of getting a sizable tip at the end of their stay. Although I will admit you were more likely to see this going on at a 4 or 5 star hotel rather than your local travel inn.
I always found it was exceptional service that got tipped, and it's the same theory I use today sitting on the other side of the table.
parabolica said:
@GT03ROB: mainly their attitude (towards the waiting staff in particular) as soon as they enter the restaurant; you find out very quickly within the first interaction what kind of customer they are going to be. If they were dismissive or ignored you when you were serving them, you knew they were just here for the food and drink and that was it. Fair enough, they still get served to a good standard, but I'm not going to put in any extra effort for them if it's not going to be appreciated. There were exceptions to the rule, but were few and far between.
@xjay1337: prime example is responding to special requests from the customer, i.e. them asking for something extra or done a different way which would take you more time to complete than normal. That might seem a bit banal written here, but when you're in the midst of a service with 100+ people to attend to, you need to ration out your time to each table and if you get asked to do something that will take 5 minutes to do instead of 2, you're more likely to be willing to accept the request if it's for a decent guest.
There are other things of course; the banter (if they're up for it; American tourists love a bit of scottish patter), recommendations (especially ports, whisky, wines etc), suggestions for additions to their courses, etc. When I was working at the hotel, tourists especially would be appreciative of advice and info about nearby attractions/walks/activities etc. Sometimes it was a short game - I.e. you'd see a tip at the end of the night; sometimes with the tourists you played the long game in the hope of getting a sizable tip at the end of their stay. Although I will admit you were more likely to see this going on at a 4 or 5 star hotel rather than your local travel inn.
I always found it was exceptional service that got tipped, and it's the same theory I use today sitting on the other side of the table.
Doesn't that just become self-fulfilling? You think someone isn't likely to tip, they get average service, they possibly notice other tables getting better service, they don't tip? @xjay1337: prime example is responding to special requests from the customer, i.e. them asking for something extra or done a different way which would take you more time to complete than normal. That might seem a bit banal written here, but when you're in the midst of a service with 100+ people to attend to, you need to ration out your time to each table and if you get asked to do something that will take 5 minutes to do instead of 2, you're more likely to be willing to accept the request if it's for a decent guest.
There are other things of course; the banter (if they're up for it; American tourists love a bit of scottish patter), recommendations (especially ports, whisky, wines etc), suggestions for additions to their courses, etc. When I was working at the hotel, tourists especially would be appreciative of advice and info about nearby attractions/walks/activities etc. Sometimes it was a short game - I.e. you'd see a tip at the end of the night; sometimes with the tourists you played the long game in the hope of getting a sizable tip at the end of their stay. Although I will admit you were more likely to see this going on at a 4 or 5 star hotel rather than your local travel inn.
I always found it was exceptional service that got tipped, and it's the same theory I use today sitting on the other side of the table.
steveo3002 said:
paulwirral said:
I'm guessing your a waiter ?
Do you tip everyone ten percent minimum?
Tipping is , and always should be a personal choice , and people shouldn't judge others on their choice of doling out their money . If I worked in your house would you tip me ten per cent for carrying my tools and materials into your house , or would you question why my invoice had increased by ten percent from my original quote when I'd finished the work ?
do you call everyone that doesnt a bellend ?Do you tip everyone ten percent minimum?
Tipping is , and always should be a personal choice , and people shouldn't judge others on their choice of doling out their money . If I worked in your house would you tip me ten per cent for carrying my tools and materials into your house , or would you question why my invoice had increased by ten percent from my original quote when I'd finished the work ?
Cotty said:
parabolica said:
Yet another tipping thread where the vast majority of people have obviously never worked in the hospitality industry.
So what. There are millions of people talking about footballers on TV who are not professional player. Just because someone has not done a job doesn't mean they can't have an opinion about it. Look at all the stick politicians get and how many of the people commenting are not politicians. You may not like people commenting on your profession, but you can't stop them.
Spumfry said:
Doesn't that just become self-fulfilling? You think someone isn't likely to tip, they get average service, they possibly notice other tables getting better service, they don't tip?
And your point is? I enjoyed the work and gave everyone a good level of service (you never wanted to get on the bad side of the owner if someone complained about the service) - some customers were receptive and other not so much. In an industry where it's pretty common for people to tip cash-in-hand for exception service, you're damn right you gravatate to those more likely to appreciate your service. I took tips in the form of beer also.ETA: I'm in agreement with the OP; a waiter chasing someone out of the restraurant is a dick move. But the thread has decended into the usual 'why should we tip' debate, hence my input.
Edited by parabolica on Thursday 15th August 10:57
petemurphy said:
talking of tip anxiety ive just booked a holiday in a hotel thats way above our normal league and wondering if i will need to tip everyone as we're at the limit of our budget! v annoying as its the not knowing whats the done thing that causes stress which esp on hol you dont need.
If you tip the other guests they will think you’re weird. Hopefully that’s taken a bit of the stress out of it. 
What country will you be in?
Roman Rhodes said:
petemurphy said:
talking of tip anxiety ive just booked a holiday in a hotel thats way above our normal league and wondering if i will need to tip everyone as we're at the limit of our budget! v annoying as its the not knowing whats the done thing that causes stress which esp on hol you dont need.
If you tip the other guests they will think you’re weird. Hopefully that’s taken a bit of the stress out of it. What country will you be in?
Only tip if you feel like your want to and then only when you receive exceptional service.
You’re in a posh hotel, very good service should be normal.
Enjoy. And don’t forget to steal the slippers!
Edited by talksthetorque on Saturday 17th August 12:14
talksthetorque said:
We occasionally stay in hotels way pager than we would pay for on loyalty points.
Only tip if you feel like your want to and then only when you receive exceptional service.
Your in a posh hotel, very good service should be normal.
Enjoy. And don’t forget to steal the slippers!
I'm emptying the room Only tip if you feel like your want to and then only when you receive exceptional service.
Your in a posh hotel, very good service should be normal.
Enjoy. And don’t forget to steal the slippers!
bad company said:
Many of the London hotels have a service charge then there’s a place on the bill for a tip. Why both?
It implies the staff don't see any of the service charge. You could argue that it goes towards their wages but it doesn't represent an immediate financial reward given to them by customers happy with the service they have just received. Robertj21a said:
I really struggle with the idea of adding a service charge when the organisation is there in order to provide.......a service.....
I think it's really just separate on the bill so the food menu can appear slightly cheaper? I don't mind tipping when I get great service (and I always do), I just hate the expectation to tip.
I also found it annoying when we went on holiday to Mexico last year. You were pretty much expected to tip at every interaction with a staff member, which meant having a constant supply of small denomination notes on you at all times. It also defeats the purpose of spending thousands of pounds for an 'all inclusive' holiday.
DickyC said:
bad company said:
Many of the London hotels have a service charge then there’s a place on the bill for a tip. Why both?
It implies the staff don't see any of the service charge. You could argue that it goes towards their wages but it doesn't represent an immediate financial reward given to them by customers happy with the service they have just received. Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff