You've got to be kidding me!

[Adam West]

I usually leave 15% even if the service is bad and more if the service is good.

I was a waiter when I was a struggling college student and although I did my best to offer exceptional service; there were times when things were completely out of my control (like the kitchen getting backed up with orders and patrons having to wait for food).

I remember receiving a penny one time because the kitchen was running behind. At the time, waiters were being paid below minimum wage ($1.50, maybe $2.00 an hour) and I think most wait staff still makes lower than minimum wage.

Restaurants really need to build some of the labor into their pricing so wait staff is at least paid minimum wage. That way a tip really is what it is meant for which is for prompt service and not to make up for a restaurant's reluctance to at least pay their staff minimum wage.

[Meule]

Restaurants really need to build some of the labor into their pricing so wait staff is at least paid minimum wage. That way a tip really is what it is meant for which is for prompt service and not to make up for a restaurant's reluctance to at least pay their staff minimum wage.

That's how it is over here

[Zemo]

My wife works in a restaurant and in cases like this the manager will always adjust the bill.

Bingo! Sounds like the owner was back tracking, in his statement.

[GAFan]

I think we all understand that waiters work on tips with a lower hourly wage, but if you aren't up to the job, you shouldn't get a tip for doing nothing. That's just teaching the staff to slack off on the bigger group since they'll get the tip anyway.

Also, if the management said they would comp the food, they could have done that and given the waiter the money left as a tip (even though they didn't deserve it).

I guess what I'm saying is that it shouldn't be called a tip if it is mandatory.

[Hector]

It is doubtful that the charges will hold up in front of a judge.

[Brue]

I've never understood the large party has amandatory tip thing.

if you supply a large number of customers to a restaurant you are penalized? if i come in with 8 people and say I want two tables of 4 it is less convenient for the restaurant and I have more choice. i find that the larger the party, the worse my service is as a rule. i have chosen not to return to restaurants because of the combo of lackluster service and an expected tip. perhaps the poor service is a result of the guaranteed tip?

[Mikey]

Waitesses do a nice job, but why do THEY deserve a tip more then your local policeman, construction worker, army guy, motorcycle rider or Indian chief ?

There's plenty of jobs out there that DESERVE a tip more then a waitress... and they get nothing

[toystalker]

It is doubtful that the charges will hold up in front of a judge.

some judges recieve very large tips lol


my bro in law is a high class chef, he earns massive money, he dont need tips, now the waiters and waitresses get good tips at his resturant, they are on min wage of course at around £5.80 an hour then in a 12 hour shif they can pick up around £80 over $100 in tips, the wage + tips per day is more than some folks earn in a week!
i mean come on now its just cooking, preparing or serving food... are they saving anyones life, tip a doctor or a nurse for heaven sake, these people are not heart surgeons!

my other bro in law wont tip anyone, no matter how the service lol he is the only one at a meal that wont tip, he says its £12 for a steak and thats what im paying, he would not tip the queen if she made him! tea lol

back in the day we would tip an waiter/waitress if they had been courtious, kind, freindly natured, helpfull and did the service with a smile, we used to tip folks who had bad days also, sometimes it may be the end of someones long day, they may be feeling ill, they did not do it with a smile but we still tip as there was nothing really wrong with the service provided and would just tip accordingly

all this mandatory tip stinks, when we are at a resturant we just deduct the charges and tip the waiter or waitress what we feel is a good reward for a good job done

[Raydeen1]

I rarely leave tips. If deserved, they get one. Otherwise, nadda.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

I just find that unbelievable. Tipping is not common here, but I also have been a waitress and know how much I appreciated tips, so I leave them if I think the service has been really good. If someone expected a tip from me, they certainly wouldn't get it...around here, it's a gift, not an expectation.

[toys2cool]

I believe in tips, I know most waiters or waitresses don't make crap, it's all based on tips, but if that's the case. Earn it

[Hulk]

I would have demanded to talk to the manager expalining why I wasn't going to tip. The bartender was the one who called the police, which is why the manager is backtracking, he never would have wanted the publicity. If I were arrested, not only would I fight it, but I would be calling a lawyer to sue, and I'm not a fan of lawsuits either, but that is embarrassing.

[Mikey]

About 3 months ago I went out to dinner at a decent local restaurant.

It was a nice mom and pop place and would best describe as any towns local steak and seafood restaurant.

It was a distaster ...

First of all I came in at 5:30 and wanted their dinner menu .... They said they don't serve dinner until 6:30 so they refused and gave me a lunch menu ....
BTW, this has NEVER happened to me before ---
Most, if not all mom and pop restaurants are happy to serve dinner's early because they cost twice as much --- not this place.

At the same time a party of like 40 people were in their "special" room for such partys (I think it might have been a wedding reception).

The restaurant had like 4 waitresses and they all tended that room and the main restaurant.

I ordered potato skins as an appetizer --- that took literally 45 minutes to come ....

My main meal was prime rib which came about 2 hours after I first entered the place...
The prime rib was inedible.
It was just basically grizzle and fat.

I complained to the waitress ... which she said sorry.
I told her I wanted to speak to the manager/owner ...

The owner came out and and I asked him for at least a partial refund or another steak.
He basically said ---- you didn't like it ? -- too bad ....
There was really nothing I could do except pay and leave ...

So I walked out of there paying about $35.00 for potato skins and waisting 3-1/2 hours of my life.

So is there a moral to my story ?

No, i'm just saying some restaurants suck

[hobub]

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/...052.html?yhp=1

What is happening to this country when tips are expected no matter the level of service?

I can see that happening in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. That is the sole reason that I worked in Pittsburgh for Ten years (my wife still works there "15 years strong") and we live in a remote area 40 miles away in Ohio.

Just another DAMN PA TAX!!!!!!

Remember the word Moonshine?? I find it amusing to ask people around here where that came from. Most people I talk to here in the Ohio Valley say "West Virginia?" or "Kentucky?". No, try Pittsburgh! Google the Wiskey Rebellion.

Not that tipping is bad in itself but if it is forced like this, it is nothing more than another tax! (my wife added that it's not a tax because the government doesn't get it but the same thing in my eyes). The case will probably be thrown out in court but couple will now be forced to pay court costs. They need to stand their ground and NOT pay for bad service. Tip someone for bad service. Absurd!

[Raydeen1]

There's no way I would've paid for that. You should've got up and walked out. Of course, I would've left as soon as I was denied the dinner menu but that's just me.

About 3 months ago I went out to dinner at a decent local restaurant.

It was a nice mom and pop place and would best describe as any towns local steak and seafood restaurant.

It was a distaster ...

First of all I came in at 5:30 and wanted their dinner menu .... They said they don't serve dinner until 6:30 so they refused and gave me a lunch menu ....
BTW, this has NEVER happened to me before ---
Most, if not all mom and pop restaurants are happy to serve dinner's early because they cost twice as much --- not this place.

At the same time a party of like 40 people were in their "special" room for such partys (I think it might have been a wedding reception).

The restaurant had like 4 waitresses and they all tended that room and the main restaurant.

I ordered potato skins as an appetizer --- that took literally 45 minutes to come ....

My main meal was prime rib which came about 2 hours after I first entered the place...
The prime rib was inedible.
It was just basically grizzle and fat.

I complained to the waitress ... which she said sorry.
I told her I wanted to speak to the manager/owner ...

The owner came out and and I asked him for at least a partial refund or another steak.
He basically said ---- you didn't like it ? -- too bad ....
There was really nothing I could do except pay and leave ...

So I walked out of there paying about $35.00 for potato skins and waisting 3-1/2 hours of my life.

So is there a moral to my story ?

No, i'm just saying some restaurants suck