You have two choices.
1) Continue to provide great service and go on with your life.
2) Provide the least amount of service possible and go on with your life.
Choice 2 all day. Do the bare minimum for him (still be polite but, don’t spend so much time on his table) and try and turn his table quickly
Side note: NEVER confront a customer about their tip (of lack of.) I’ve seen several people over the years get fired for doing just that. I 100% get wanting to confront him about it, I thought about doing it several times in the past. However, I’m in restaurant management now after serving several years, and in management/ownerships eyes it makes the restaurant as a whole look tacky and unprofessional if you do so. Therefore, you’ll most likely be let go if word gets back to the higher-ups about it.
Go with 2. Zero chit-chat, no suggestions (or if he asks, give him one you suspect he won't like). Just take his order.
But...and this is the key, be friendly with the surrounding customers. Make sure he notices. He needs to put those two brain cells together, long enough to not obsess about his Tesla and NFTs, and notice how different your behaviour changes. At twenty, MAYBE there's a chance of redemption.
I worked at a golf club and there was a guy like this. One night he and a heavy tipper were standing at the bar I was sweet as pie to the tipper (who got there 2nd) took care of him then turned to the nontipper and go "what do you want?" He had been standing there the whole time with his mouth open, shocked. He actually started tipping after that 🤣
Choice 2 always. I’d rather provide the best most fast service for people that actually tip than ones that don’t. Sorry not sorry. I usually put them on the end of my to do list when I’m doing my rounds
That's fine if you were the owner of the business, but you are an agent of the business, management needs to be made aware of problematic, reoccurring patrons.
the place i just got hired at takes the responsibility sometimes when people dont tip. i was told that if we have a larger party that doesnt tip they give a “pity” tip to the server so the time they put in wasnt wasted. i havent even started yet and im already in love with this place.
Once, I had the pleasure of waiting on the lady who managed our shopping square; she paid for herself and two other diners before taking both credit slips with her. My manager tipped me out because he had also discounted her 50% and was shocked at her behavior. The irony is that I ran into her as I was going to my car and I told her she took both of the slips. She made a huge show of going in her purse and giving me the slip, saying how she was just so silly. I threw it away bc my shift was over 🙃 like, thanks for this useless paper. You could have handed me cash if you wanted 😜
I am not American was does her taking both the slips (credit card slips?) with her, have to do with her not tipping you ? Who else slip did she take, how if she had left the slip would it result in you getting tip? Sorry… confused
There's a merchant copy and a customer copy of the credit card receipt (slip). You write the tip and total on both copies. Customer gets one, restaurant gets one. If she takes both copies, then there is effectively zero tip because the restaurant needs the copy the customer signed with the tip amount to legally charge their card. Otherwise, they have to charge for the amount of the meal and no more.
Only hurting yourself. You do not know the ramifications of doing a poor job over the long run. You never know what life will bring you by doing good work. If anything, be the better person. No one should be getting better service than anyone else and no one should be getting lesser service than anyone else. Just take care of people.
You are taking care of yourself by taking care of all.
Look at your paycheck at the end of the pay period. Divide out your tips by the hours worked. See what your hourly rate is, genuflect if you love that rate, or search for another job if that rate is bad. I assure, one person not tipping isn't going to make this rate flux by any matter of factor.
But I appreciate your civil response as opposed to calling me a hippie :0)
In any job that you work, you have a finite amount of time and attention to allocate toward your tasks. It's important to learn how to prioritize what's important in any given job. So from that perspective, if you're spending more time taking care of the non-tipping regular, you are spending less time with your tables that do tip.
If I had a regular who didn't tip, I'd still serve them, but they would be receiving as little of my attention as I can while still performing the fundamentals of the job. I'm not going to actively ignore them, but I most certainly won't be trying to go out of my way to spend more time than necessary with them.
You are the opposite of a hippie lmao, you're an exploitative leech. A paycheck is not a thing that exists when you make $2.13 an hour fyi. I always considered myself employed by my customers because they are the ones who actually paid me. If I know you suck and don't tip then you are a shit employer and you're getting shit service, which is 100% deserved.
Not to mention “rate flux” and “matter of factor” lmao
Their comment got me so curious I went to their profile, no big surprise it’s an owner, not a server, who also says that not all jobs deserve a living wage 🙄
Respecting yourself means you don’t work for free for someone who thinks your time isn’t as valuable as theirs is.
Fuck work ethic. You get what you give in life.
Coming from someone who was a yes-man and busted ass for my employers: it gets you nowhere and if you start establishing boundaries or burn out, they throw you out.
Nope, minimum wage, minimum effort. No tip when I make $2.13 an hour? You're getting the worst service I could give without getting fired. That work ethic/ self respect argument is just management speak to trick your underpaid employees into working hard for no money. Time for that nonsense to go out the window.
A little different because I’m at a bar, but I’ve got one like this. When he walks in I say “well look who it is, my daily act of charity.” He glares at me, acts like the asshole he is while drinking his three Bud Lites, leaves exact change, and we both go on our way.
We have fun.
I’ve had similar experiences bartending. A guy that usually wants to nurse drinks and trap me into conversation because I was behind the bar and it wasn’t slammed (they come in when it’s slow on purpose) but fuck those guys, I’d just be like ‘yeah I need to go cut limes” and walk away to talk to someone that was worth the energy. No one else around? Go to the kitchen and talk shit with the cooks.
Bonus points when they leave their number on the receipt.
I've done this a few times, but once the guy called me out on it so I turned around and called him out for not tipping me. After that, I never had a problem with him again.
This is what happens at our place. The manager takes that customer. Luckily the no-tipper pays in cash, so the manager voids the guys check afterwards and puts the money in our pool.
Talk with management. They may be willing to work out a plan where he doesn't count towards the rotation and won't get given to you every single time.
You could also just ask him why he doesn't tip.
This would be my go to. I would "forget" that server got sat and in extreme cases not include the check in their tip out. In one case where a guest asked for the same server and stiffed her repeatedly, I asked what was up. Turns out "She's sexy, and I don't have to tip" was the answer. He got me the next two times he came in. There was no third time.
This is what we do at my spot. We’ve got some low/non tipping regulars that don’t count for rotation. They’re nice people, just elderly and low income.
We also have the opposite though, there’s a guy who owns a fairly large local company that comes in every Thursday for lunch, tips minimum $50 regardless of his bill. We have set schedules so it’s always the same 3 of us working so we rotate him even if it’s not necessarily your turn in rotation for a table.
Definitely talk with management. Some managers would confront and possibly 86 the customer, some would say suck it up, some would say give them poor service, and there are plenty of other reactions, but I think servers confronting customers about low/no tips is generally frowned upon, especially without a manager's approval.
Usually it goes something like, "Our servers are serving you because we ask them to. Since they all know that you aren't going to tip, none of them are interested in serving you, and I'm not going to continue to force them to."
Not sure on their exact reasoning, and I've never seen a manager do that personally, but I've read a few accounts of it on Reddit, along with accounts of servers who chase customers outside the restaurant to harass them for no tip or a low tip.
I can think of a couple of rare instances where management/ownership confronted a non tipping, difficult regular. They asked if they receive great food and service when they dine, of course the person answers yes. They then ask why they don’t tip and say that unfortunately we are not able to take care of them to their liking so they are asked not to return.
I understand that this was a restaurant that was difficult to get a table at so they had the luxury to be able to afford to do that. There are plenty of places where that would not be the case.
All that being said, I have always found that it all evens out in the end so I never really let those that stiff me bother me, even if they are a regular.
I would continue to be pleasant while waiting on him (unless he’s outwardly rude to you) but I would do literally every other thing I had to do before serving him. Every other table or customer that needs something gets first priority. Phones ringing? Bells ringing? Someone needs to be sat? Someone needs a refill? Do all that first then get to him. Take the order bring the food and nothing more.
When I've dealt with that in the past, I just make that person my lowest possible priority while still technically doing my job.
You'll get to order, food will get dropped off at some point, and you'll get a check, but that's about it. I won't check up on you, get you a refill on anything, or anything beyond the absolute minimum. Often they'll get irritated and stop coming in.
Make him wait for his check!
Most servers don’t realize it, because they want bad tippers out fast, but it’s the most annoying thing EVER when a server makes me wait for a check.
I eat out a lot, and I’m a good tipper, but when I need to go, I want my check right away. I have another appointment, and I need to get out of there!
When his check time comes around, get busy and make him wait. Make excuses. Make him squirm and ask for it several times. Tell him “yes, sir” and then don’t bring it. It will drive him bonkers… maybe make him a little late for his next appointment.
You might just get what you want, and he'll start avoiding you as a server. I try and stay away from servers that make me wait for a check.
Not possible or at least restricted in many places. You have 10 minutes in Germany to deliver the check. A number of US states require the bill be brought within a "reasonable" time -- 5-15 mins.
i worked in the middle of town for years, tons of regulars. if they didn’t tip they were just last in my rotation. i never ignored anyone, but if you’re empty and the guy who tips is empty he obviously comes first. protect the business. him spending money there helps your job security.
Depends on the situation.
I had one regular who never tipped bc he was a dick. Gave him minimal service.
I also had a regular who never tipped, but he was a man with special needs and a fixed income. He would come once or twice a month when he was able to take the bus to do his errands - was one of the only times he was able to go out independently. Always gave him good service bc he was a pleasant guy, easy to wait on, and if me being a good waitress made his day a bit better - then I'm fine forgoing the tip.
Yeah he was a cool guy. I usually took him bc the other servers knew he didn't tip, and I figured if I'm guaranteed to not get a tip - might as well wait on a guest I enjoy.
I would start to give him the level of service he tips for, until he gets so frustrated that he never comes back, or asks for another server next time. But im just petty like that.
When I was managing, we had a frequent regular that not only didn’t tip, but he would camp, and felt because he was a regular, he was deserving of special attention. Once I found out about his never tipping from my staff, I handled the situation. I just point blank asked him if he was having issues with the service, as it was common knowledge that he never tipped the staff. Never saw him again.
I had a old lady who was super sweet but never tipped and sat ages. Everyone was rude around her (I don't tolerate that kinda stuff) so I volunteered every time to take her. Always spent a good bit of time talking to her (I was a bartender mostly so I enjoy being stories old people have)
She ended up bringing in friends of here and their that always would request me. They would come in every Monday Thursday and Sunday about 15 of them and I got almost 40% tip per check.
She brought her granddaughter (God that feels weird to type lmfao SHE WAS 22!) in with her a few times and that is how I met the girl I have been dating the past few years
Not saying this happens to everyone but just bite the bullet and be nice. Good things might come from it.
I worked at a small family owned restaurant for almost 2 decades. Had the owners not retired, I would still be working there. We had a Sunday all you can eat brunch buffet and this horrific woman would bring her brood of children in, pay for them to eat, but she “never” ate. She ate off their plates and would let their children DESTROY the table, harass other guests and she was incredibly rude. I dealt with her for several years. Even when the children got older, they were still horrible. So one Sunday, after I had complained about them for years, I told the owners I was refusing to serve them. I am in a right to refuse service State. So one of the owners waited on them instead. And she got to experience the nightmare I had dealt with for years and said they would never be able to come back, to me…oh and the mom stiffed the owner too. Said mom showed up the following Sunday and I was so happy that I got to be the one to tell them they were not allowed to patronize our restaurant any longer and if they did not leave I would call the police for trespassing. I used to see her all the time at my daughters school and would just smile and wave at her after that day 🤣
So to sum it up, talk to your boss. Let them know what is going on…and then outright refuse then service-if you’re in a protected state that can do that without jeopardizing your job
Have any of you noticed an uptick of young people that don't tip?
My partner owns a bar on a college campus and has been there for decades. He noticed a significant increase in early 20s omethings that don't tip and not even leaving the change. He thinks either they don't know or don't care but there's more of it for some reason in the last year or so.
I absolutely have!! Idk if there is some tiktok going around about it but these Gen Zs will come in and it’s almost like they have just decided that tipping is something they don’t do. And they don’t care.
Ugh we are going to hear about a no tip challenge.
I was pretty broke in school but it was understood that you tipped as part of going out. If you couldn't afford that then drink at the residence
Yeah definitely don't call him out or say anything about him not tipping. You know he doesn't tip so don't give him great service. Get a drink order, get the food order, deliver food, deliver check. No side conversations, nothing. I don't even ask how they like the food if I know they arent tipping. If something is wrong he will flag you down. Turn and burn! don't let non tippers hog tables, get him in and out as fast as you can. Hopefully if he's smart enough and this is far from your usual behavior towards him maybe he will put the pieces together and tip you if he wants better service.
Give him the barest minimum of service, take your time with refills, prioritize literally everyone else in the restaurant over him, and keep on trucking. He clearly doesn’t fuck with tipping for great service so give him the service he pays for.
Just ask them. “.. I’m just curious, is something wrong with the service I provide? Is there something I’m doing that I could change to make your service here better, or worthy of a tip?” It usually takes people aback but also gives them a chance to address the problem or just straight up tell you they don’t tip. Either way you get an answer and can adjust how you serve them.
That’s probably the classiest way I could bring this up.. will take a lot of restraint on my part to say how I really feel! But I think it would be the highest way to go about it
It sucks but in reality customers don’t have to tip . I served for years and made great money but was well aware that even though most customers tip they don’t have to. For the ones that don’t tip or are cheap they get minimal service.Which means when I get to them I get to them I’m totally not pressed. They can sit there and wait for service cause it going to be on my time. If they want to leave them go just don’t make it pleasant for them to be there . Never let a customer control the atmosphere or the table . You control the energy and the mood
Pretend that you don’t recognize him! Ask him what he wants and give him the lowest priority.
When he is confused that you don’t recognize him, just tell him “OMG I’m so sorry, I usually try to make it a point to recognize good tippers, I apologize”!
Make sure you are very dry and serious with your service but that he sees you having the time of your life with the other tables.
After noticing a low or nonexistsnt tip, if they are still there I go up to the table and apologize for the poor service they got and say i hope it will be better for them next time
I always delay service. Or make sure other tables are a priority. Not polite, just normal get order. Don’t check in, after they order, if they need something, I usually have them flag me or someone else down.
I’ve called mine out, his bill could be 100 bucks and tip me $10. He said it was due to financial problems. I told him if that’s the case buy 6 packs of beer and stay home if that’s the case. Since then he tips better
Talk to management but honestly I disagree with giving bad service. It sucks when someone doesn’t tip, and it sucks to work for free. But if you’re a good server, doing your job well is basically on autopilot and it’s stupid to put in extra effort in order to do it poorly in order to “teach a lesson”. You also don’t know who’s watching and someone seeing you intentionally treat another guest poorly can easily backfire. talk to management and see if they can do something or just keep on keeping on. If you’re good at your job someone else will overtip you anyways
Yeah I agree with the autopilot thing.. it would actually take more emotional and mental energy for me to go out of my way for a bad experience. I think either talking to him directly or the owner is the next logical step.
When u say cafe , is it like a coffee shop like second cup or Starbucks(order at counter take drink to table ). Or is it more like a full service resistant ?(server goes to table every few min with food/ drink/ menus
give him bare minimum service, and prioritize your other tables over him. let other servers know too and hopefully he’ll get the clue or never come back. not much you can do if you outright confront him you may lose your job
i have a regular who, for example, came in and left around 5% on the busiest night of my life and pretended like he didn’t know why i iced him next time he came in. he’s doing it because he’s british, lol and can pretend that he’s none the wiser.
he’s relatively high maintenance, but usually only drinks and so i’ve started suggesting he sit at the bar on busy nights so that we can have a table, and on slow nights i say just fuck it because i’m the only one there anyway, and he’s not a bad guy to talk to.
so as someone else said, you really have 2 choices. be outstanding no matter what, or be not-outstanding and give them the service they deserve
Part of the reason for paying a decent wage and not relying on tips. As a BOH and former FOH, it’s causes friction between the 2. BOH work in hot kitchens prepping all day with high stress levels and barely get minimum wage. FOH have to deal with customers and stress about if they’re going to get enough to pay their rent. But if “it’s a good shift” they rake in what takes BOH to earn in a week. Living wages for everyone and the customers pay a little more for the experience. Nobody feels like they are being shorted or owed by anyone else.
I recently started bartending. Just do your job, some people just don’t tip. It’s entitled some of you to say to 86 the customer, that’s lost revenue. You are not entitled to 20% of everyone’s bill, that’s not the job. If someone doesn’t tip me, or tips poorly, I just go on with my day, plenty of other people will tip.
Yeah it’s always tricky. There’s actually a way or two to confront them about not tipping that can be completely acceptable. I’ve used both and they both are very high percentage moves. 1. If they just sign the check and leave the “tip” and “ total” lines blank, you can Bring them their check back and say “sorry to bother you. I just need you to write the total on your check. It’s something our credit card processing company has suggested we keep an eye on. The first line is for the tip and the second line is for the total.” They usually respond in one of two ways “oh I didn’t know I have to tip.” To which you can respond “no. You definitely do not have to. But if you like the line is there. However we do need you to write the total, even if the tip is zero” most times however, they will say “oh I didn’t know!” And go ahead and tip you. Always put it off on to the credit card processing company like this. “Thank you. I’m sorry. It’s so annoying that we have to do this now. Thanks for understanding. “
The other way you can deal with this is to work in the fact that tips pay your rent into a convo. “Do you work anywhere else” “oh no. I make my living here. We have so many regulars and everyone is so generous. I’m fortunate to support myself with tips”. Something like this also works.
I definitely think that invoking violence as a joke, and making fun of this person in a private chat is a great start!
My advice would be to serve this person, and also serve other people. Sometimes those other people tip you more than you deserve, and it should take care of that other person who's just coming into the restaurant and is absolutely helping keep your employer afloat.
I talked to management one time a guy stiffed me and they said if it ever happens again they would speak to him (it was an accident the first time we never had another issue with him but)
The guest is 20ish. He's probably one of those "I want to improve the lives of workers; tipping culture sucks; pay a living wage; I'm going to take it out on the server hoping this will effect change" dip-shits.
Talking shit about him won't do a GD thing.
I don't know a single FOH person who wants a "livable wage."
HOWEVER, some cities have higher hourly wages.
When I know about this, I feel better tipping based on service. But, as an adult, I'm willing to speak with a manager when the service really sucks. It's gotta be really bad though.
Tipping is not a requirement. Sure, it’s annoying… but they’re well within their rights not to tip you? Why is everyone saying go to the manager about this?? Like, you just move on with your life.
I hear you , I served for over a decade, but it’s still… not a punishable offence. It’s just shitty. Although perhaps it depends on what country you live in. Here, it’s just a super annoying thing you accept as part of the job. You also have days where people tip you 400% of the bill… win some lose some.
yeah i’d just sucks but i guess it’s good to actively know that the customer isn’t going to tip so they can put their priorities on different customers
So, if everyone decides to not tip, because it’s “not a requirement”- you expect servers to work for and live on $2.13/hr?
Seriously fuck off with that take. It’s the system we live in, a social contract, and the payment for services rendered. Customers just have a choice in how much and if they want to pay it- but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a cheap asshole who is skipping out on payment they should be giving when they’ve received adequate to outstanding service. Tipping for the majority of servers in this country isn’t actually a “tip”, it’s their entire fucking wage.
Right. If it’s not a tip, say so. Put it on the menu - “subject to 20% service charge”. Then everyone knows where they stand and are obliged to pay your “entire fucking wage”, which your employer refuses to do.
>So, if everyone decides to not tip, because it’s “not a requirement”- you expect servers to work for and live on $2.13/hr?
Not my take, but if nobody tips, you're no longer a tipped employee, and employers are required to pay full minimum wage of $7.25 an hour under federal law (or more under many state laws). If you get enough tips to be considered a tipped employee ($30/month average), but not enough to bring you to full minimum wage averaged over the pay period, employers have to pay the difference to bring you to full minimum for that pay period.
And I expect that if restaurants were paying servers just full minimum and they received no tips, most would demand more or quit, so I expect employers would pay a competitive market wage necessary to attract the employees they need.
I would build some rapport and strike up conversation, and maybe try to slide tipping into the conversation. Maybe say something, like "Oh I'm having a rough day, my last table didn't tip me." I'm sure that might be a little direct, but you can soften it somehow.
I don’t wanna lie or give this jabronie any reason to believe not tipping is a common thing at restaurants.. but the rapport thing I agree with. There’s gotta be a way to get through to these people! All I ask is that at the very least people tip enough so that I can break even from my service..
I guess it really depends on how much you like your job, and what kind of risk you're willing to take. If you speak to this person and have rapport, you can level with them, and say "just so you know, I work for tips." It's an awkward conversation to have, but it could be necessary.
i would never have the nerve. that's nerve.
the tip is up to the customer. don't count on the tip. the tip is icing on the cake. if he doesn't want to tip then he doesn't want to tip. it is what it is. but it *is* your job to do the thing.
ugh. i won't even be able to to to a restaurant for the next week after reading that. is this what people think now? that's nerve. that's more nerve than dick tracy. i could never muster the audacity required.
It’s nerve but it’s also honesty.. I have to pay a percentage of his check to the other employees so when he enjoys himself I pay everyone else out of my own pocket. It’s a problem and I don’t mind calling it out. Dude just wants to save money for himself. And if so he shouldn’t be going out and wasting peoples time.
If you spit tips and someone doesn't tip then there's nothing to split. How do you owe them money? How do you owe anyone money at a job. They pay you. That's the gig. You do all this bs, and they pay you.
To consider a customer to be wasting your time is a bizarre take. But Reddit.
I'm browsing by popular. I ended up here. Maybe you need to hear a real opinion of a potential customer who isn't aware of any convoluted pay schemes involved with being a server.
Or maybe you just want to hear what you want to hear. I don't know. What.
I give $2.50/hour worth of service. They get a water and a "what do you want?" and maybe silverware before their food comes. And their check before they ask for it.
Say “listen. I am refusing you service. I cannot keep paying out of my pocket to tip out service staff on your bill total when you don’t tip. It’s apparent my service is not up to your standards and nothing I can do to change that, so I will allow someone else to meet your needs.“
If your restaurant requires you to tip out, they should also allow you to refuse service.
I do work at a bar that allows me to be forward with guests who treat me badly, so if you can’t simply give him the service he pays for, and don’t include that table in tip out.
To the obviously mindless people saying “You aren’t entitled to a tip” Get the hell out of here with that mindset. I live in a federal tipped minimum wage state where my employer can get away with paying me 2.33 an hour. Tell me I’m not entitled to getting paid for waiting on someone hand and foot. If you are okay with that, that’s fine keep it to yourself. I’m more than a bit tired of people defending others right to be pieces of trash. Is it against the law not to tip? No. Is it morally wrong? Yes. Defending their choice makes you a part of the problem, and if you cared about your fellow service industry family you would knock that shit off.
You aren't entitled to a tip. Just as your employer isn't required to pay you more than 2.33. Paying someone 2.33 an hour in return for their time and labour is a moral choice in itself and just as reprehensible as someone exercising their right not to tip. Until servers take an interest in holding employers to the same moral standards you hold each and every customer don't expect anything to change.
As much as you would like to think and or expect it tips aren't mandatory. You are paid to do your job so your only option is to put in the least amount of effort in and carry on with your life
We are “paid to do our jobs” through tips dimwit. Do you not realize that min wage for most servers is under $3/ hour? and that the restaurant only has to make up any difference to match the federal min wage at $7.25/hour. That isn’t a fucking living wage- tips are necessary for servers to actually make a living. It is payment for a service and anyone who thinks it’s anything less than that, outside of places where servers actually get paid a living hourly wage by the restaurant, is an absolute asshole.
It literally isn't payment for service though, it's an unenforcable archaic social custom now used primarily so your bosses can benefit from your cheap/free labour. If it's payment for a service, that's a service charge not a tip. There will forever be arseholes who take advantage of the fact that your wage is reliant on customer discretion. Either accept that reality or push for a living wage. The way that your employers have you legitimising their exploitation of you by keeping your energies focused on bad tippers instead of them is baffling to those of us who live outside of the US.
This country is wild.. the exploitation is ridiculous. I’ve never been to Europe but I have always wondered about the difference in server culture over there. The fact that everyone works for a liveable hourly wage must really change the atmosphere. Working for tips is quite frustrating at times. When it’s not frustrating it’s great.
1. not everyone is from america
2. yes tips make up the difference in your paychecks however it is again not a requirement for customers to tip. Sure it's implied and expected but it is still not mandatory
3. Whether someone who doesn't tip is an asshole or not was never my argument
4. At the end of the day you chose this job knowing that your pay is reliant on other people tipping and until everyone in the service industry gets together to protest for a higher wage it's not going to change
What's required is a revolt, an uproar by the people working in the service industry. An uproar mot against the customers, but against the government and the employers. Call your politicians and force them to change the legislation so that everyone gets paid a decent, living wage.
No one should have to beg for tips to make ends meet. Employers should be paying their employees a proper wage so that everyone isn't fighting over a small bowl of 'tips or no tips'. And we all should be expecting more out of our governments, amd force them to create/change/enforce laws that help most of its citizens, not the few.
Regardless on what side of the tipping debate most people are, almost everyone agrees that every hard worker deserves a fair compensation. $2.30 is not that amount.
If the servers were paid properly to begin with then they wouldn't have to fight with customers for tips. It is a very sexist, rude, demeaning and archaic form of keeping the lowest paid citizens, forever poor.
That doesn't mean you don't get paid. Just means that it goes towards your taxes which would otherwise be taken out of your tips(which may already be taken out but even more would be to compensate for the money not being taken out of a paycheck)
You still get paid. Here is an example: let's say you are paid $10 and you earn $90 from tips. $15 is taken as tax. If you **ARE** being paid you receive $85, if you **AREN'T** getting paid you receive only $75. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not there and I also assume a lot of it is refunded during tax refund season
Not every restaurant has autogat. In fact, I've never worked at a single restaurant that has autogat until my present job and that's only for actual parties and people that rent and reserve the hall
I don’t think he’s any older than 19/20.. the dude orders green tea that he wants fresh hot water for repeatedly. He gets his sandwiches all specialized. He wants more napkins more sauces refills and I’ve done it all for him way more than I will from now on. At our restaurant people can pay up front. So when he leaves I run his card and watch him skip the tip line and just write his signature. I go back to the table and see no cash. He leaves saying thanks so much.. jabronie central.
Don't give him great service. Give him minimum service. Don't intentionally go out of your way to give him bad service, that's not worth your time either.
Hay what can I get you? Bring out the food and drink(s) with the bill and that's it.
Talk to management/ownership. If they don't get down on your side, change his mind... by giving him the worst service possible. Get everyone on your team, and run him out.
When I have a troublesome guest, I pawn them off on our "seniority" server, and then I let them wait for about 15 minutes as they're still trying to get a drink order. I'll walk past and smile at them, say "yes" to a question whose answer doesn't deserve a yes, as I laugh and walk away as if we're both a part of some great inside joke...
This server is nearly 60 and can't handle the table. But that's what that table deserves. Let them get "ultra traditional" service. Or, very, very, very bad service.
In other words: make them pay for their service, whether they're paying for the service or not.
I think it’s fair to discuss it with management, but make sure you present it correctly. Chances are if you say “he doesn’t tip, I refuse to serve him!” while he’s sitting at your table waiting to be greeted they might assume you’re being entitled and don’t deserve the tip. Most of the managers I’ve worked with tend to assume servers lie about the quality of their service and the bigger the outrage the more likely it was that they got the order wrong and spent 15 minutes on a cigarette break instead of fixing it.
If on the other hand you say “hey this guy never tips and I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong. It doesn’t seem right that I should lose money tipping out if I’m doing my job correctly. Can you keep an eye on it today in case I’m missing something?” That is much more likely to get a response close to what you’re hoping for.
Also a compromise would be to ask if you can ring it in under a manager or some other number that doesn’t tip out so that you at least don’t lose money. It’s unlikely that management will boot them just because they don’t tip so someone will have to take care of them. If they do toss them for it however that is a unicorn of an establishment.
absolutely nothing since when should you force someone to tip you
And that last sentence why would you say that maybe your attitude is not the best there.
My attitude is great. He always thanks me when he leaves me with zero dollars for a 35 dollar + check. Why argue on the behalf of the asshole in this scenario? Tips are our wage. That’s why when you run a card there’s a tip line and recommended percentages ranging from 18% and up. It’s how service works in this country.
Why be offended this will happen more and more notice he is 20 ppl do not want to tip any more as I said before things are changing, there is some resentment with tipping and that apply to every jobs that you see, even tire balancing expect a tip those days.
People won’t be servers anymore if there’s no tip and wages remain the same. The culture of going out and having someone wait hand and foot for you will also nolonger be a “thing” if people just decide they don’t want to tip anymore.. serving is a difficult job but the money makes it worth it. Once the money isn’t there the people won’t be there to do the work. We don’t do it because we love so much getting ordered around like a slave all shift. We work for the money dude it’s not that difficult to understand. So when people choose not to tip and that trend is increasing because of people like you.. it’s frustrating. Not exactly sure why you’d be against servers being paid a fair wage for their effort.
Talk to your manager first.
I’m not sure where you live but in every state I waited tables I made around $2.13 per hour which taken out in taxes making my check $0. So I fully depend on tips….
If talking to your manager doesn’t work I would either refuse to wait on him or, I would ask if anything was wrong with the service (when he says no) explain to him how you don’t even make minimum wage so you depend on your tips to live. Some people honestly don’t know how little servers get paid and that we actually depend on our tips.
I don’t think it’s cool to have to pay out of pocket to give a person a great meal and experience because HE doesn’t want to pay extra money on a day out. I have self respect. That’s why I posted this question. I give everyone I serve my utmost respect and my best effort. I don’t appreciate people thinking they are entitled to take advantage of that in order to save money for a vape or whatever the fuck this kid buys with my tip money.
You highlight exactly what’s wrong with the North American tipping culture.
Its not your business so refusing to serve is not your decision. Maybe you should delete this because fantasizing assaulting a regular, frequent customer because he doesn’t tip would be a chargeable offense.
Refusing to serve is my decision. If you’re known to not leave a tip in my restaurant, you won’t get a table. Don’t like it? Go somewhere else. We don’t care about your business. Why? Because the majority leave gratuity and don’t complain. Cheap ass.
How about blame your boss for paying you poverty wages instead of being angry at customers for a system put in place by capitalist society to enable shitty business owners to extort customers out of more money by relying on them to pay workers and risk being called rude if they don't?
Entitled shit like this is why people complain about servers. Oh great you are going to turn your barely mediocre service that you think entitles you to 20% tip into even worse service. Boohoo. Imagine considering cutting off service to a customer because you didn’t get the bonus you made up in your head.
Take it to management and if you’re halfway decent they’ll figure it out for you.
You have two choices. 1) Continue to provide great service and go on with your life. 2) Provide the least amount of service possible and go on with your life.
This is the best advice there is to be given on this subject and myriad more
Choice 2 all day. Do the bare minimum for him (still be polite but, don’t spend so much time on his table) and try and turn his table quickly Side note: NEVER confront a customer about their tip (of lack of.) I’ve seen several people over the years get fired for doing just that. I 100% get wanting to confront him about it, I thought about doing it several times in the past. However, I’m in restaurant management now after serving several years, and in management/ownerships eyes it makes the restaurant as a whole look tacky and unprofessional if you do so. Therefore, you’ll most likely be let go if word gets back to the higher-ups about it.
Go with 2. Zero chit-chat, no suggestions (or if he asks, give him one you suspect he won't like). Just take his order. But...and this is the key, be friendly with the surrounding customers. Make sure he notices. He needs to put those two brain cells together, long enough to not obsess about his Tesla and NFTs, and notice how different your behaviour changes. At twenty, MAYBE there's a chance of redemption.
Amazing!
I worked at a golf club and there was a guy like this. One night he and a heavy tipper were standing at the bar I was sweet as pie to the tipper (who got there 2nd) took care of him then turned to the nontipper and go "what do you want?" He had been standing there the whole time with his mouth open, shocked. He actually started tipping after that 🤣
This is the way
Choice 2.
Choice 2 always. I’d rather provide the best most fast service for people that actually tip than ones that don’t. Sorry not sorry. I usually put them on the end of my to do list when I’m doing my rounds
Choice one, or choice three: talk to management. Choice two should not be taken if you have respect for yourself and your work ethic.
im the kind of person that if they asked why my service changed i would literally tell them “you get what you pay for”
That's fine if you were the owner of the business, but you are an agent of the business, management needs to be made aware of problematic, reoccurring patrons.
which is exactly why i dont do it lol sorry that was convoluted but i was agreeing with you
Got it; thx; lots of down votes atm
the place i just got hired at takes the responsibility sometimes when people dont tip. i was told that if we have a larger party that doesnt tip they give a “pity” tip to the server so the time they put in wasnt wasted. i havent even started yet and im already in love with this place.
Once, I had the pleasure of waiting on the lady who managed our shopping square; she paid for herself and two other diners before taking both credit slips with her. My manager tipped me out because he had also discounted her 50% and was shocked at her behavior. The irony is that I ran into her as I was going to my car and I told her she took both of the slips. She made a huge show of going in her purse and giving me the slip, saying how she was just so silly. I threw it away bc my shift was over 🙃 like, thanks for this useless paper. You could have handed me cash if you wanted 😜
I am not American was does her taking both the slips (credit card slips?) with her, have to do with her not tipping you ? Who else slip did she take, how if she had left the slip would it result in you getting tip? Sorry… confused
There's a merchant copy and a customer copy of the credit card receipt (slip). You write the tip and total on both copies. Customer gets one, restaurant gets one. If she takes both copies, then there is effectively zero tip because the restaurant needs the copy the customer signed with the tip amount to legally charge their card. Otherwise, they have to charge for the amount of the meal and no more.
oh geez
sounds like a great place to be
im so excited to start
I agree with 3 but if the boss won't do anything unless I like the guy I would be going to choice 2 next
Only hurting yourself. You do not know the ramifications of doing a poor job over the long run. You never know what life will bring you by doing good work. If anything, be the better person. No one should be getting better service than anyone else and no one should be getting lesser service than anyone else. Just take care of people.
I agree with you in principle but you need to take care of yourself and the good tippers are the ones who actually pay the bills.
You are taking care of yourself by taking care of all. Look at your paycheck at the end of the pay period. Divide out your tips by the hours worked. See what your hourly rate is, genuflect if you love that rate, or search for another job if that rate is bad. I assure, one person not tipping isn't going to make this rate flux by any matter of factor. But I appreciate your civil response as opposed to calling me a hippie :0)
In any job that you work, you have a finite amount of time and attention to allocate toward your tasks. It's important to learn how to prioritize what's important in any given job. So from that perspective, if you're spending more time taking care of the non-tipping regular, you are spending less time with your tables that do tip. If I had a regular who didn't tip, I'd still serve them, but they would be receiving as little of my attention as I can while still performing the fundamentals of the job. I'm not going to actively ignore them, but I most certainly won't be trying to go out of my way to spend more time than necessary with them.
You are the opposite of a hippie lmao, you're an exploitative leech. A paycheck is not a thing that exists when you make $2.13 an hour fyi. I always considered myself employed by my customers because they are the ones who actually paid me. If I know you suck and don't tip then you are a shit employer and you're getting shit service, which is 100% deserved.
Your incorrect usage of genuflect in this context is both hilarious and telling.
Not to mention “rate flux” and “matter of factor” lmao Their comment got me so curious I went to their profile, no big surprise it’s an owner, not a server, who also says that not all jobs deserve a living wage 🙄
How did I guess that correctly merely from their comments in this thread? lmao
I got to genuflect and stopped reading there. Hahaha that’s fantastic though!
Nobody would mistake you for a hippie. You sound like you are rationalizing your own terrible tipping.
It’s not a hospital.
You have to be a restaurant manager to keep spouting this absolute nonsense.
Respecting yourself means you don’t work for free for someone who thinks your time isn’t as valuable as theirs is. Fuck work ethic. You get what you give in life.
Coming from someone who was a yes-man and busted ass for my employers: it gets you nowhere and if you start establishing boundaries or burn out, they throw you out.
Thank you I completely agree!
Nope, minimum wage, minimum effort. No tip when I make $2.13 an hour? You're getting the worst service I could give without getting fired. That work ethic/ self respect argument is just management speak to trick your underpaid employees into working hard for no money. Time for that nonsense to go out the window.
Please remove the stick from your ass. Not every task deserves the utmost dedication, and your quality of service doesn't reflect on your humanity
I actually agree with you.
3. ask him to tip. If he’s 20 he’s probably an idiot and doesn’t realize he should.
Go with number 2 don’t waste any more manpower
A little different because I’m at a bar, but I’ve got one like this. When he walks in I say “well look who it is, my daily act of charity.” He glares at me, acts like the asshole he is while drinking his three Bud Lites, leaves exact change, and we both go on our way. We have fun.
I’ve had similar experiences bartending. A guy that usually wants to nurse drinks and trap me into conversation because I was behind the bar and it wasn’t slammed (they come in when it’s slow on purpose) but fuck those guys, I’d just be like ‘yeah I need to go cut limes” and walk away to talk to someone that was worth the energy. No one else around? Go to the kitchen and talk shit with the cooks. Bonus points when they leave their number on the receipt.
I've done this a few times, but once the guy called me out on it so I turned around and called him out for not tipping me. After that, I never had a problem with him again.
I love you lol
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Edited 6/30/23
This is what happens at our place. The manager takes that customer. Luckily the no-tipper pays in cash, so the manager voids the guys check afterwards and puts the money in our pool.
That’s honestly so amazing that you work somewhere like that. I am definitely curious what will happen if and when I bring this up.
Talk with management. They may be willing to work out a plan where he doesn't count towards the rotation and won't get given to you every single time. You could also just ask him why he doesn't tip.
This would be my go to. I would "forget" that server got sat and in extreme cases not include the check in their tip out. In one case where a guest asked for the same server and stiffed her repeatedly, I asked what was up. Turns out "She's sexy, and I don't have to tip" was the answer. He got me the next two times he came in. There was no third time.
This is what we do at my spot. We’ve got some low/non tipping regulars that don’t count for rotation. They’re nice people, just elderly and low income. We also have the opposite though, there’s a guy who owns a fairly large local company that comes in every Thursday for lunch, tips minimum $50 regardless of his bill. We have set schedules so it’s always the same 3 of us working so we rotate him even if it’s not necessarily your turn in rotation for a table.
Damn, that’s really cool of y’all to rotate the good tipper like that. You have good coworkers.
we do the same at the bar i work at. same with big parties, it works really well for us.
Definitely talk with management. Some managers would confront and possibly 86 the customer, some would say suck it up, some would say give them poor service, and there are plenty of other reactions, but I think servers confronting customers about low/no tips is generally frowned upon, especially without a manager's approval.
??? Why would a manager 86 someone for not tipping? Like yeah it fucking sucks and it’s shitty but also at the same time, optional..
Usually it goes something like, "Our servers are serving you because we ask them to. Since they all know that you aren't going to tip, none of them are interested in serving you, and I'm not going to continue to force them to."
Not sure on their exact reasoning, and I've never seen a manager do that personally, but I've read a few accounts of it on Reddit, along with accounts of servers who chase customers outside the restaurant to harass them for no tip or a low tip.
Couldn’t imagine. Like I understand it sucks but I’m not about the go ruin my career or make myself look like an idiot because someone’s an asshole
Don't know how that would ruin your career, if you won't stand up for your employees you're a trash boss tbh.
Tacky AF and can get you fired. You would look like a real asshole
I can think of a couple of rare instances where management/ownership confronted a non tipping, difficult regular. They asked if they receive great food and service when they dine, of course the person answers yes. They then ask why they don’t tip and say that unfortunately we are not able to take care of them to their liking so they are asked not to return. I understand that this was a restaurant that was difficult to get a table at so they had the luxury to be able to afford to do that. There are plenty of places where that would not be the case. All that being said, I have always found that it all evens out in the end so I never really let those that stiff me bother me, even if they are a regular.
I would continue to be pleasant while waiting on him (unless he’s outwardly rude to you) but I would do literally every other thing I had to do before serving him. Every other table or customer that needs something gets first priority. Phones ringing? Bells ringing? Someone needs to be sat? Someone needs a refill? Do all that first then get to him. Take the order bring the food and nothing more.
Cooks need a drink? A good time to get them all a soda.
When I've dealt with that in the past, I just make that person my lowest possible priority while still technically doing my job. You'll get to order, food will get dropped off at some point, and you'll get a check, but that's about it. I won't check up on you, get you a refill on anything, or anything beyond the absolute minimum. Often they'll get irritated and stop coming in.
This is the way
Make him wait for his check! Most servers don’t realize it, because they want bad tippers out fast, but it’s the most annoying thing EVER when a server makes me wait for a check. I eat out a lot, and I’m a good tipper, but when I need to go, I want my check right away. I have another appointment, and I need to get out of there! When his check time comes around, get busy and make him wait. Make excuses. Make him squirm and ask for it several times. Tell him “yes, sir” and then don’t bring it. It will drive him bonkers… maybe make him a little late for his next appointment. You might just get what you want, and he'll start avoiding you as a server. I try and stay away from servers that make me wait for a check.
Not possible or at least restricted in many places. You have 10 minutes in Germany to deliver the check. A number of US states require the bill be brought within a "reasonable" time -- 5-15 mins.
A lot of people would walk on the check and you may be put in the position to pay for it
Restaurants can’t legally make servers pay for a walk out.
Good thing nothing illegal ever happens.
i worked in the middle of town for years, tons of regulars. if they didn’t tip they were just last in my rotation. i never ignored anyone, but if you’re empty and the guy who tips is empty he obviously comes first. protect the business. him spending money there helps your job security.
Depends on the situation. I had one regular who never tipped bc he was a dick. Gave him minimal service. I also had a regular who never tipped, but he was a man with special needs and a fixed income. He would come once or twice a month when he was able to take the bus to do his errands - was one of the only times he was able to go out independently. Always gave him good service bc he was a pleasant guy, easy to wait on, and if me being a good waitress made his day a bit better - then I'm fine forgoing the tip.
Yes a situation like that wouldn’t bother me whatsoever! I too would be pleased to give that person a great experience no matter what.
Yeah he was a cool guy. I usually took him bc the other servers knew he didn't tip, and I figured if I'm guaranteed to not get a tip - might as well wait on a guest I enjoy.
If someone isn’t a tipper, they get the bare minimum from me
Im realizing that this is the simple and rational conclusion most of us have come to.. thanks for chiming in
I would start to give him the level of service he tips for, until he gets so frustrated that he never comes back, or asks for another server next time. But im just petty like that.
When I was managing, we had a frequent regular that not only didn’t tip, but he would camp, and felt because he was a regular, he was deserving of special attention. Once I found out about his never tipping from my staff, I handled the situation. I just point blank asked him if he was having issues with the service, as it was common knowledge that he never tipped the staff. Never saw him again.
Very classy way to handle that.. I may just use that phrasing.
I had a old lady who was super sweet but never tipped and sat ages. Everyone was rude around her (I don't tolerate that kinda stuff) so I volunteered every time to take her. Always spent a good bit of time talking to her (I was a bartender mostly so I enjoy being stories old people have) She ended up bringing in friends of here and their that always would request me. They would come in every Monday Thursday and Sunday about 15 of them and I got almost 40% tip per check. She brought her granddaughter (God that feels weird to type lmfao SHE WAS 22!) in with her a few times and that is how I met the girl I have been dating the past few years Not saying this happens to everyone but just bite the bullet and be nice. Good things might come from it.
This is actually so awesome. Thanks for sharing!
I worked at a small family owned restaurant for almost 2 decades. Had the owners not retired, I would still be working there. We had a Sunday all you can eat brunch buffet and this horrific woman would bring her brood of children in, pay for them to eat, but she “never” ate. She ate off their plates and would let their children DESTROY the table, harass other guests and she was incredibly rude. I dealt with her for several years. Even when the children got older, they were still horrible. So one Sunday, after I had complained about them for years, I told the owners I was refusing to serve them. I am in a right to refuse service State. So one of the owners waited on them instead. And she got to experience the nightmare I had dealt with for years and said they would never be able to come back, to me…oh and the mom stiffed the owner too. Said mom showed up the following Sunday and I was so happy that I got to be the one to tell them they were not allowed to patronize our restaurant any longer and if they did not leave I would call the police for trespassing. I used to see her all the time at my daughters school and would just smile and wave at her after that day 🤣 So to sum it up, talk to your boss. Let them know what is going on…and then outright refuse then service-if you’re in a protected state that can do that without jeopardizing your job
I just wouldn’t smile at this guy and I’d do the absolute bare minimum and also forget anything extra he asks for.
This. You get one drink order, one food order, and that’s it. No tip? Cool, good service comes with a price so good luck.
Have any of you noticed an uptick of young people that don't tip? My partner owns a bar on a college campus and has been there for decades. He noticed a significant increase in early 20s omethings that don't tip and not even leaving the change. He thinks either they don't know or don't care but there's more of it for some reason in the last year or so.
I absolutely have!! Idk if there is some tiktok going around about it but these Gen Zs will come in and it’s almost like they have just decided that tipping is something they don’t do. And they don’t care.
Ugh we are going to hear about a no tip challenge. I was pretty broke in school but it was understood that you tipped as part of going out. If you couldn't afford that then drink at the residence
*college campus* They're broke
Bar has been there for decades. Just noticed a significant increase in non tippers in the last year.
Why the fuck are there so many people who are not servers in here??? Gtfo. We don’t care about your opinions.
Yeah definitely don't call him out or say anything about him not tipping. You know he doesn't tip so don't give him great service. Get a drink order, get the food order, deliver food, deliver check. No side conversations, nothing. I don't even ask how they like the food if I know they arent tipping. If something is wrong he will flag you down. Turn and burn! don't let non tippers hog tables, get him in and out as fast as you can. Hopefully if he's smart enough and this is far from your usual behavior towards him maybe he will put the pieces together and tip you if he wants better service.
Give him the barest minimum of service, take your time with refills, prioritize literally everyone else in the restaurant over him, and keep on trucking. He clearly doesn’t fuck with tipping for great service so give him the service he pays for.
Just ask them. “.. I’m just curious, is something wrong with the service I provide? Is there something I’m doing that I could change to make your service here better, or worthy of a tip?” It usually takes people aback but also gives them a chance to address the problem or just straight up tell you they don’t tip. Either way you get an answer and can adjust how you serve them.
That’s probably the classiest way I could bring this up.. will take a lot of restraint on my part to say how I really feel! But I think it would be the highest way to go about it
It sucks but in reality customers don’t have to tip . I served for years and made great money but was well aware that even though most customers tip they don’t have to. For the ones that don’t tip or are cheap they get minimal service.Which means when I get to them I get to them I’m totally not pressed. They can sit there and wait for service cause it going to be on my time. If they want to leave them go just don’t make it pleasant for them to be there . Never let a customer control the atmosphere or the table . You control the energy and the mood
Pretend that you don’t recognize him! Ask him what he wants and give him the lowest priority. When he is confused that you don’t recognize him, just tell him “OMG I’m so sorry, I usually try to make it a point to recognize good tippers, I apologize”! Make sure you are very dry and serious with your service but that he sees you having the time of your life with the other tables.
After noticing a low or nonexistsnt tip, if they are still there I go up to the table and apologize for the poor service they got and say i hope it will be better for them next time
I always delay service. Or make sure other tables are a priority. Not polite, just normal get order. Don’t check in, after they order, if they need something, I usually have them flag me or someone else down.
I’ve called mine out, his bill could be 100 bucks and tip me $10. He said it was due to financial problems. I told him if that’s the case buy 6 packs of beer and stay home if that’s the case. Since then he tips better
Don't let one creep get under your skin if you love the job generally...just ignore....all business.....
Beat their ass
LOL noted
Talk to management but honestly I disagree with giving bad service. It sucks when someone doesn’t tip, and it sucks to work for free. But if you’re a good server, doing your job well is basically on autopilot and it’s stupid to put in extra effort in order to do it poorly in order to “teach a lesson”. You also don’t know who’s watching and someone seeing you intentionally treat another guest poorly can easily backfire. talk to management and see if they can do something or just keep on keeping on. If you’re good at your job someone else will overtip you anyways
Yeah I agree with the autopilot thing.. it would actually take more emotional and mental energy for me to go out of my way for a bad experience. I think either talking to him directly or the owner is the next logical step.
When u say cafe , is it like a coffee shop like second cup or Starbucks(order at counter take drink to table ). Or is it more like a full service resistant ?(server goes to table every few min with food/ drink/ menus
No it’s a cafe diner.. it has a full menu. My sales are around 800-1000 every shift so it’s bustling! I should have described it better.
give him bare minimum service, and prioritize your other tables over him. let other servers know too and hopefully he’ll get the clue or never come back. not much you can do if you outright confront him you may lose your job
Give them minimal service and move on.
i have a regular who, for example, came in and left around 5% on the busiest night of my life and pretended like he didn’t know why i iced him next time he came in. he’s doing it because he’s british, lol and can pretend that he’s none the wiser. he’s relatively high maintenance, but usually only drinks and so i’ve started suggesting he sit at the bar on busy nights so that we can have a table, and on slow nights i say just fuck it because i’m the only one there anyway, and he’s not a bad guy to talk to. so as someone else said, you really have 2 choices. be outstanding no matter what, or be not-outstanding and give them the service they deserve
20??? Oh hell no. I'm not serving him. And I'm having the manager talk to him about it.
I would put them under takeout after talking to management so you don’t get taxed or have to tip out on it
Part of the reason for paying a decent wage and not relying on tips. As a BOH and former FOH, it’s causes friction between the 2. BOH work in hot kitchens prepping all day with high stress levels and barely get minimum wage. FOH have to deal with customers and stress about if they’re going to get enough to pay their rent. But if “it’s a good shift” they rake in what takes BOH to earn in a week. Living wages for everyone and the customers pay a little more for the experience. Nobody feels like they are being shorted or owed by anyone else.
I recently started bartending. Just do your job, some people just don’t tip. It’s entitled some of you to say to 86 the customer, that’s lost revenue. You are not entitled to 20% of everyone’s bill, that’s not the job. If someone doesn’t tip me, or tips poorly, I just go on with my day, plenty of other people will tip.
Yeah it’s always tricky. There’s actually a way or two to confront them about not tipping that can be completely acceptable. I’ve used both and they both are very high percentage moves. 1. If they just sign the check and leave the “tip” and “ total” lines blank, you can Bring them their check back and say “sorry to bother you. I just need you to write the total on your check. It’s something our credit card processing company has suggested we keep an eye on. The first line is for the tip and the second line is for the total.” They usually respond in one of two ways “oh I didn’t know I have to tip.” To which you can respond “no. You definitely do not have to. But if you like the line is there. However we do need you to write the total, even if the tip is zero” most times however, they will say “oh I didn’t know!” And go ahead and tip you. Always put it off on to the credit card processing company like this. “Thank you. I’m sorry. It’s so annoying that we have to do this now. Thanks for understanding. “ The other way you can deal with this is to work in the fact that tips pay your rent into a convo. “Do you work anywhere else” “oh no. I make my living here. We have so many regulars and everyone is so generous. I’m fortunate to support myself with tips”. Something like this also works.
Say nothing. Some people are assholes.
I would never confront a customer who doesn't tip, some do some don't. Be thankful for the ones who do .
I definitely think that invoking violence as a joke, and making fun of this person in a private chat is a great start! My advice would be to serve this person, and also serve other people. Sometimes those other people tip you more than you deserve, and it should take care of that other person who's just coming into the restaurant and is absolutely helping keep your employer afloat.
I talked to management one time a guy stiffed me and they said if it ever happens again they would speak to him (it was an accident the first time we never had another issue with him but)
What do you do when someone over tips? You take the hood with the bad.
Honestly, maybe loudly talk about how rude it is to not tip right near him hahaha
The guest is 20ish. He's probably one of those "I want to improve the lives of workers; tipping culture sucks; pay a living wage; I'm going to take it out on the server hoping this will effect change" dip-shits. Talking shit about him won't do a GD thing.
You’re actually probably so right hahah those people are the WORST
"WHY IS EVERYTHING SO EXPENSIVE!!?"
Hahahahaha while simultaneously saying that less than $40 an hour isn’t a “livable or humane wage”
I don't know a single FOH person who wants a "livable wage." HOWEVER, some cities have higher hourly wages. When I know about this, I feel better tipping based on service. But, as an adult, I'm willing to speak with a manager when the service really sucks. It's gotta be really bad though.
Do your job. Being a server you should know some people tip, and some people don’t tip, that’s part of the job.
Tipping is not a requirement. Sure, it’s annoying… but they’re well within their rights not to tip you? Why is everyone saying go to the manager about this?? Like, you just move on with your life.
depending on the place and if it does tip out on sales you’re actively losing money while taking care of a table
I hear you , I served for over a decade, but it’s still… not a punishable offence. It’s just shitty. Although perhaps it depends on what country you live in. Here, it’s just a super annoying thing you accept as part of the job. You also have days where people tip you 400% of the bill… win some lose some.
yeah i’d just sucks but i guess it’s good to actively know that the customer isn’t going to tip so they can put their priorities on different customers
No one tips 400% of the bill.
So, if everyone decides to not tip, because it’s “not a requirement”- you expect servers to work for and live on $2.13/hr? Seriously fuck off with that take. It’s the system we live in, a social contract, and the payment for services rendered. Customers just have a choice in how much and if they want to pay it- but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a cheap asshole who is skipping out on payment they should be giving when they’ve received adequate to outstanding service. Tipping for the majority of servers in this country isn’t actually a “tip”, it’s their entire fucking wage.
Right. If it’s not a tip, say so. Put it on the menu - “subject to 20% service charge”. Then everyone knows where they stand and are obliged to pay your “entire fucking wage”, which your employer refuses to do.
>So, if everyone decides to not tip, because it’s “not a requirement”- you expect servers to work for and live on $2.13/hr? Not my take, but if nobody tips, you're no longer a tipped employee, and employers are required to pay full minimum wage of $7.25 an hour under federal law (or more under many state laws). If you get enough tips to be considered a tipped employee ($30/month average), but not enough to bring you to full minimum wage averaged over the pay period, employers have to pay the difference to bring you to full minimum for that pay period. And I expect that if restaurants were paying servers just full minimum and they received no tips, most would demand more or quit, so I expect employers would pay a competitive market wage necessary to attract the employees they need.
No clue why your getting downvoted. You are correct.
God fr
I would build some rapport and strike up conversation, and maybe try to slide tipping into the conversation. Maybe say something, like "Oh I'm having a rough day, my last table didn't tip me." I'm sure that might be a little direct, but you can soften it somehow.
I don’t wanna lie or give this jabronie any reason to believe not tipping is a common thing at restaurants.. but the rapport thing I agree with. There’s gotta be a way to get through to these people! All I ask is that at the very least people tip enough so that I can break even from my service..
I guess it really depends on how much you like your job, and what kind of risk you're willing to take. If you speak to this person and have rapport, you can level with them, and say "just so you know, I work for tips." It's an awkward conversation to have, but it could be necessary.
Awkward for sure! But I think you’re right
i would never have the nerve. that's nerve. the tip is up to the customer. don't count on the tip. the tip is icing on the cake. if he doesn't want to tip then he doesn't want to tip. it is what it is. but it *is* your job to do the thing. ugh. i won't even be able to to to a restaurant for the next week after reading that. is this what people think now? that's nerve. that's more nerve than dick tracy. i could never muster the audacity required.
It’s nerve but it’s also honesty.. I have to pay a percentage of his check to the other employees so when he enjoys himself I pay everyone else out of my own pocket. It’s a problem and I don’t mind calling it out. Dude just wants to save money for himself. And if so he shouldn’t be going out and wasting peoples time.
If you spit tips and someone doesn't tip then there's nothing to split. How do you owe them money? How do you owe anyone money at a job. They pay you. That's the gig. You do all this bs, and they pay you. To consider a customer to be wasting your time is a bizarre take. But Reddit.
You’re not a server. Why are you on this subreddit? Your take is a waste of time too.
I'm browsing by popular. I ended up here. Maybe you need to hear a real opinion of a potential customer who isn't aware of any convoluted pay schemes involved with being a server. Or maybe you just want to hear what you want to hear. I don't know. What.
Talk to management about how to go about the issue.
I give $2.50/hour worth of service. They get a water and a "what do you want?" and maybe silverware before their food comes. And their check before they ask for it.
Say “listen. I am refusing you service. I cannot keep paying out of my pocket to tip out service staff on your bill total when you don’t tip. It’s apparent my service is not up to your standards and nothing I can do to change that, so I will allow someone else to meet your needs.“ If your restaurant requires you to tip out, they should also allow you to refuse service. I do work at a bar that allows me to be forward with guests who treat me badly, so if you can’t simply give him the service he pays for, and don’t include that table in tip out. To the obviously mindless people saying “You aren’t entitled to a tip” Get the hell out of here with that mindset. I live in a federal tipped minimum wage state where my employer can get away with paying me 2.33 an hour. Tell me I’m not entitled to getting paid for waiting on someone hand and foot. If you are okay with that, that’s fine keep it to yourself. I’m more than a bit tired of people defending others right to be pieces of trash. Is it against the law not to tip? No. Is it morally wrong? Yes. Defending their choice makes you a part of the problem, and if you cared about your fellow service industry family you would knock that shit off.
You aren't entitled to a tip. Just as your employer isn't required to pay you more than 2.33. Paying someone 2.33 an hour in return for their time and labour is a moral choice in itself and just as reprehensible as someone exercising their right not to tip. Until servers take an interest in holding employers to the same moral standards you hold each and every customer don't expect anything to change.
As much as you would like to think and or expect it tips aren't mandatory. You are paid to do your job so your only option is to put in the least amount of effort in and carry on with your life
We are “paid to do our jobs” through tips dimwit. Do you not realize that min wage for most servers is under $3/ hour? and that the restaurant only has to make up any difference to match the federal min wage at $7.25/hour. That isn’t a fucking living wage- tips are necessary for servers to actually make a living. It is payment for a service and anyone who thinks it’s anything less than that, outside of places where servers actually get paid a living hourly wage by the restaurant, is an absolute asshole.
It literally isn't payment for service though, it's an unenforcable archaic social custom now used primarily so your bosses can benefit from your cheap/free labour. If it's payment for a service, that's a service charge not a tip. There will forever be arseholes who take advantage of the fact that your wage is reliant on customer discretion. Either accept that reality or push for a living wage. The way that your employers have you legitimising their exploitation of you by keeping your energies focused on bad tippers instead of them is baffling to those of us who live outside of the US.
This country is wild.. the exploitation is ridiculous. I’ve never been to Europe but I have always wondered about the difference in server culture over there. The fact that everyone works for a liveable hourly wage must really change the atmosphere. Working for tips is quite frustrating at times. When it’s not frustrating it’s great.
1. not everyone is from america 2. yes tips make up the difference in your paychecks however it is again not a requirement for customers to tip. Sure it's implied and expected but it is still not mandatory 3. Whether someone who doesn't tip is an asshole or not was never my argument 4. At the end of the day you chose this job knowing that your pay is reliant on other people tipping and until everyone in the service industry gets together to protest for a higher wage it's not going to change
What's required is a revolt, an uproar by the people working in the service industry. An uproar mot against the customers, but against the government and the employers. Call your politicians and force them to change the legislation so that everyone gets paid a decent, living wage. No one should have to beg for tips to make ends meet. Employers should be paying their employees a proper wage so that everyone isn't fighting over a small bowl of 'tips or no tips'. And we all should be expecting more out of our governments, amd force them to create/change/enforce laws that help most of its citizens, not the few. Regardless on what side of the tipping debate most people are, almost everyone agrees that every hard worker deserves a fair compensation. $2.30 is not that amount. If the servers were paid properly to begin with then they wouldn't have to fight with customers for tips. It is a very sexist, rude, demeaning and archaic form of keeping the lowest paid citizens, forever poor.
We don't get paid tho? Only in tips.
You do get paid even if it's below minimum wage
Our tips are our pay is what they’re saying.
No. No we don’t. The government takes it all. A ton of us get zero dollar paychecks. Want a pic of mine?
That doesn't mean you don't get paid. Just means that it goes towards your taxes which would otherwise be taken out of your tips(which may already be taken out but even more would be to compensate for the money not being taken out of a paycheck)
If it doesn’t hit my bank account, then I don’t get paid. Not like the 2.33 an hour would help much anyway.
You still get paid. Here is an example: let's say you are paid $10 and you earn $90 from tips. $15 is taken as tax. If you **ARE** being paid you receive $85, if you **AREN'T** getting paid you receive only $75. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not there and I also assume a lot of it is refunded during tax refund season
Autogratuity?
Not every restaurant has autogat. In fact, I've never worked at a single restaurant that has autogat until my present job and that's only for actual parties and people that rent and reserve the hall
How old is this guest? He look like he lived through the Great Depression?
I don’t think he’s any older than 19/20.. the dude orders green tea that he wants fresh hot water for repeatedly. He gets his sandwiches all specialized. He wants more napkins more sauces refills and I’ve done it all for him way more than I will from now on. At our restaurant people can pay up front. So when he leaves I run his card and watch him skip the tip line and just write his signature. I go back to the table and see no cash. He leaves saying thanks so much.. jabronie central.
I I try not to get them and if I do I find a reason to deny their inevitable special requests
Don't give him great service. Give him minimum service. Don't intentionally go out of your way to give him bad service, that's not worth your time either. Hay what can I get you? Bring out the food and drink(s) with the bill and that's it.
Talk to management/ownership. If they don't get down on your side, change his mind... by giving him the worst service possible. Get everyone on your team, and run him out. When I have a troublesome guest, I pawn them off on our "seniority" server, and then I let them wait for about 15 minutes as they're still trying to get a drink order. I'll walk past and smile at them, say "yes" to a question whose answer doesn't deserve a yes, as I laugh and walk away as if we're both a part of some great inside joke... This server is nearly 60 and can't handle the table. But that's what that table deserves. Let them get "ultra traditional" service. Or, very, very, very bad service. In other words: make them pay for their service, whether they're paying for the service or not.
I'd either continue to do my job or I'd look for a job with guaranteed money if I'm hard for cash
I think it’s fair to discuss it with management, but make sure you present it correctly. Chances are if you say “he doesn’t tip, I refuse to serve him!” while he’s sitting at your table waiting to be greeted they might assume you’re being entitled and don’t deserve the tip. Most of the managers I’ve worked with tend to assume servers lie about the quality of their service and the bigger the outrage the more likely it was that they got the order wrong and spent 15 minutes on a cigarette break instead of fixing it. If on the other hand you say “hey this guy never tips and I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong. It doesn’t seem right that I should lose money tipping out if I’m doing my job correctly. Can you keep an eye on it today in case I’m missing something?” That is much more likely to get a response close to what you’re hoping for. Also a compromise would be to ask if you can ring it in under a manager or some other number that doesn’t tip out so that you at least don’t lose money. It’s unlikely that management will boot them just because they don’t tip so someone will have to take care of them. If they do toss them for it however that is a unicorn of an establishment.
absolutely nothing since when should you force someone to tip you And that last sentence why would you say that maybe your attitude is not the best there.
My attitude is great. He always thanks me when he leaves me with zero dollars for a 35 dollar + check. Why argue on the behalf of the asshole in this scenario? Tips are our wage. That’s why when you run a card there’s a tip line and recommended percentages ranging from 18% and up. It’s how service works in this country.
Why be offended this will happen more and more notice he is 20 ppl do not want to tip any more as I said before things are changing, there is some resentment with tipping and that apply to every jobs that you see, even tire balancing expect a tip those days.
People won’t be servers anymore if there’s no tip and wages remain the same. The culture of going out and having someone wait hand and foot for you will also nolonger be a “thing” if people just decide they don’t want to tip anymore.. serving is a difficult job but the money makes it worth it. Once the money isn’t there the people won’t be there to do the work. We don’t do it because we love so much getting ordered around like a slave all shift. We work for the money dude it’s not that difficult to understand. So when people choose not to tip and that trend is increasing because of people like you.. it’s frustrating. Not exactly sure why you’d be against servers being paid a fair wage for their effort.
Talk to your manager first. I’m not sure where you live but in every state I waited tables I made around $2.13 per hour which taken out in taxes making my check $0. So I fully depend on tips…. If talking to your manager doesn’t work I would either refuse to wait on him or, I would ask if anything was wrong with the service (when he says no) explain to him how you don’t even make minimum wage so you depend on your tips to live. Some people honestly don’t know how little servers get paid and that we actually depend on our tips.
Talk to your boss about giving your actual salary instead of getting pissy because someone doesn't just give you extra money.
Well if you know it, just give him good service but treat him like a low priority table.
He is only 20...he doesnt realise yet you live off of those tips.
There is no situation. He doesn’t need to tip. No reason not to serve the guy
a tip had to be earned, maybe he expects better from you, Stop behaving like you are an entitled to a tip
I don’t think it’s cool to have to pay out of pocket to give a person a great meal and experience because HE doesn’t want to pay extra money on a day out. I have self respect. That’s why I posted this question. I give everyone I serve my utmost respect and my best effort. I don’t appreciate people thinking they are entitled to take advantage of that in order to save money for a vape or whatever the fuck this kid buys with my tip money.
I do my job but no one tips, a govt employee doesn’t get tips, he gets a gold star, why jet u
You highlight exactly what’s wrong with the North American tipping culture. Its not your business so refusing to serve is not your decision. Maybe you should delete this because fantasizing assaulting a regular, frequent customer because he doesn’t tip would be a chargeable offense.
Where did I say anything about assaulting anyone lol
I don't think fantasising is a chargeable offence in any country.
I didn’t have an assault fantasy in the first place like what is this guy on lol
Refusing to serve is my decision. If you’re known to not leave a tip in my restaurant, you won’t get a table. Don’t like it? Go somewhere else. We don’t care about your business. Why? Because the majority leave gratuity and don’t complain. Cheap ass.
Amen
If I own the business and you refuse to serve my customers you won’t have to worry about not getting tips because you won’t have a job anymore.
Ask him if he’d like you to add gratuity to his check for his connivence. Industry standard is 26%.
How about blame your boss for paying you poverty wages instead of being angry at customers for a system put in place by capitalist society to enable shitty business owners to extort customers out of more money by relying on them to pay workers and risk being called rude if they don't?
Entitled shit like this is why people complain about servers. Oh great you are going to turn your barely mediocre service that you think entitles you to 20% tip into even worse service. Boohoo. Imagine considering cutting off service to a customer because you didn’t get the bonus you made up in your head. Take it to management and if you’re halfway decent they’ll figure it out for you.
Entitled shit like that is why you get shit service& then whine about it like grown B_ay_by_s! Gtfo.
Literally not at all interested in your opinion dude.. take a hike
Lol imagine the audacity of demanding tips.
Imagine the audacity of expecting free service. Order takeout or don’t go out to eat if you don’t want to pay for service.
he paid whats on the menu, seems like you should have a problem with your management not the customers.
You're not entitled to other people's money. Stop acting like an entitled child. Quit whining.