Pulaski

In a competitive market there are restaurants at different price points, so even in a non-tipping market the customer ultimately decides how much to pay, ..... and dining at home is always an option too.

lansbury

and the cook doesn't expect a tip.

Pulaski

Sometimes they get one though.

Yorkieabroad

All these comments about tipping being optional here make me wonder......is it really? Sure, it may not be legally enforceable, but for most people, I suspect the occasions on which they refused to tip are so infrequent and so exceptional that they can probably remember the specific instances when they didn't. When it becomes such a societal "norm" to tip, the social pressure to do so becomes such that it really isn't an option not to in most cases.

excpomea

I have a close friend who is the manager of a very nice golf club restaurant.
It's open to the public and very popular for lunch.
Her servers can get a pretty good idea before the guests have even ordered who is not going to tip.
Her 'non scientific' survey figures that 50% of African American guests will not tip the Caucasian servers.
It got so bad that the girls were arguing over having to serve these guests because they knew they were not getting a tip.
Maybe they are onto something, don't tip and force the owners to pay a living wage.
Can't see it happening. Gun control would come before they did that everywhere.

Pulaski

From what I have heard "good church members" round here are often mean tippers - some 10%, some habitually just a dollar no matter what.

excpomea

I can recall when 10% was the suggested norm.

Anian

Sometimes you are even more unlucky and get those bits of paper that look like money, but unfold into something about Jesus. It's even worse for the waitress who is already Christian.

Pulaski

It's best to work only in a restaurant that serves alcohol. It might not eliminate the risk of such "tips", but it greatly reduces it.

excpomea

Oh dear me, I would be a tad upset.

RoadWarriorFromLP

For the tipping system to work effectively, the consumer has to tip appropriately.

Poor service should not be rewarded with the same amounts that are paid for good service. And if the service is rude and hostile, you should leave nothing but a note and one penny.

sir_eccles

If the service is horrible you should talk to the manager not leave a passive aggressive note.

Pulaski

You should also talk to the manager when a server goes above and beyond. A generous tip is nice, but exceptional service should in addition be notified to the manager.

sir_eccles

Absolutely!

username.exe

I've done this a couple of times.
The look of fear and trepidation on the server/managers face when you ask to speak to someone can be quite sad. They really have to put up with some awful dross.

I was in Trader Joe's yesterday and encountered two of the most entitled and obnoxious people I've had the misfortune of sharing a shopping space with. My FIL claims it's just the Baby Boomers who are like that... but is it?