Local service

[Descant]

Originally Posted by garysanfran

During a boring Saturday, pre-Superbowl night...

Although I agree with the fundamental issue of helping out...and I have got up to get my own water refill frequently, do you tip the same for service not rendered? Tips have gone from 15% to 20%, and has service improved?

Maybe tips went to 20% when kids learning New Math couldn't figure 15% in their head. I giggle to myself when I see people take out their phone when the check comes to figure the tip.
Service HAS improved, but that may be because I go to better restaurants now. I've learned to be a better customer by asking more questions when I'm in a new place, and being very clear about what I want and when I want it. Learned some of this from watching my grandchildren (8 & 10) interpret the menu and then negotiate their order with the server. If we're a repeat and we've had good service, we ask to be seated "in Linda's section" when we make the reservation. "Linda" knows she's been requested before we're seated, and yes, the service is better.

[Biggd]

My wife and I went out to dinner with another couple last summer in the Boston suburbs. I always have cash on me and the other couple always pays with credit. We usually make the night of it so we occupy the table for a few hours and we leave a good tip of 25% because of it.
This particular night I could tell the waiter wasn't pleased because his table wasn't turning over. We got the bill and the couple we were with demanded to pay so I left the tip in cash in the middle of the table. When the waiter came back and saw there was no tip added on the credit card tab he lit into us for not leaving a tip and occupying the table all night.
I reached to the middle of the table and grabbed the tip I had left in cash and told him "for that outburst you're not getting this" and we walked out. We've never been back to that establishment.

[joey2665]

When I was much younger I performed a lot of manual hard physical labor and I was always taught by my father to respect others that perform these difficult service tasks. As such since I was a small child I have always been kind and courteous to wait staff and I even go as far as to assist with gathering dirty dishes or piling them to assist. I have almost always could the staff to be extremely appreciative of the help no matter what type of restaurant (high end, family style, pub ect...) and hopefully it means better service for me and a better tip for them. In contrast I had always found my ex father in law to be extremely tough on the wait staff and obten found it embarrassing to dine out with him

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Biggd

My wife and I went out to dinner with another couple last summer in the Boston suburbs. I always have cash on me and the other couple always pays with credit. We usually make the night of it so we occupy the table for a few hours and we leave a good tip of 25% because of it.
This particular night I could tell the waiter wasn't pleased because his table wasn't turning over. We got the bill and the couple we were with demanded to pay so I left the tip in cash in the middle of the table. When the waiter came back and saw there was no tip added on the credit card tab he lit into us for not leaving a tip and occupying the table all night.
I reached to the middle of the table and grabbed the tip I had left in cash and told him "for that outburst you're not getting this" and we walked out. We've never been back to that establishment.

5% more than average to occupy a table for a few hours, preventing, what, two more turnovers? How incredibly generous.

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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

5% more than average to occupy a table for a few hours, preventing, what, two more turnovers? How incredibly generous.

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I think $100 tip on a $400 tab is a respectable tip. It's not like we sit there and just take up space when the ladies are drinking $15 dollar martini's. This is not your run of the mill franchise restaurant. Anyway, he got nothing for disrespecting us!


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[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I think $100 tip on a $400 tab is a respectable tip. It's not like we sit there and just take up space when the ladies are drinking $15 dollar martini's. This is not your run of the mill franchise restaurant. Anyway, he got nothing for disrespecting us!


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It's not even close to a respectable tip for tying up a table for a few hours. Even at only turning over two tables, the server could have made $160 at 20%. Add a third in a few hours, and he's at $240.

You really showed him who's boss, though.

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[Biggd]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

It's not even close to a respectable tip for tying up a table for a few hours. Even at only turning over two tables, the server could have made $160 at 20%. Add a third in a few hours, and he's at $240.

You really showed him who's boss, though.

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Sorry but I disagree and he got what he deserved with that attitude. We go out to eat at least 3 to 4 times a week and never had an experience like that before. It's not like he only has one table to service. He's lucky I calmed down and left without calling over the manager.

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[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Sorry but I disagree and he got what he deserved with that attitude. We go out to eat at least 3 to 4 times a week and never had an experience like that before. It's not like he only has one table to service. He's lucky I calmed down and left without calling over the manager.

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If we have a party where some are paying credit and some cash or leaving a cash tip we always put it in the card folder with the credit card this way tere is no mistake.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Biggd

My wife and I went out to dinner with another couple last summer in the Boston suburbs. I always have cash on me and the other couple always pays with credit. We usually make the night of it so we occupy the table for a few hours and we leave a good tip of 25% because of it.
This particular night I could tell the waiter wasn't pleased because his table wasn't turning over. We got the bill and the couple we were with demanded to pay so I left the tip in cash in the middle of the table. When the waiter came back and saw there was no tip added on the credit card tab he lit into us for not leaving a tip and occupying the table all night.
I reached to the middle of the table and grabbed the tip I had left in cash and told him "for that outburst you're not getting this" and we walked out. We've never been back to that establishment.

To prevent this from happening again my suggestion would be to hand the waiter the tip instead of leaving it on the table unattended. I never leave cash on a table unless the waiter is standing there.
Being a waiter is one of the hardest jobs to have and sometimes it's because of people like you.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Rusty

To prevent this from happening again my suggestion would be to hand the waiter the tip instead of leaving it on the table unattended. I never leave cash on a table unless the waiter is standing there.
Being a waiter is one of the hardest jobs to have and sometimes it's because of people like you.

I'm in a service business and I would never treat a customer like that. I didn't leave the money unattended. We were still sitting at the table. In retrospect I should have put it in the check but we did not deserve that kind of treatment. I'm sorry but a waiter with an attitude needs to get a different job.

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[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I'm in a service business and I would never treat a customer like that. I didn't leave the money unattended. We were still sit at the table. In retrospect I should have put it in the check but we did not deserve that kind of treatment. I'm sorry but a waiter with an attitude needs to get a different job.

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Did the waiter give you good service during the meal?
The poor waiter probably lost over $200 for the night because you felt insulted. I sure have a hard time understanding why you couldn't have explained to the waiter that the tip is on the table instead of on the credit card. He might have apologized to you if you did.

[Major]

Originally Posted by Rusty

To prevent this from happening again my suggestion would be to hand the waiter the tip instead of leaving it on the table unattended. I never leave cash on a table unless the waiter is standing there.
Being a waiter is one of the hardest jobs to have and sometimes it's because of people like you.

Last time I checked, biggd, his wife and their friends were the customers. In the service industry, the customer is ALWAYS right, even when they are wrong. Like biggd, we like to take our time eating (2 hours), enjoy a cocktail or two, and then the meal when we're ready. The LAST thing I want to see is a server, who is serving me, annoyed by my preferences in eating. The fact that biggd noticed that the server was annoyed indicates that the server failed.

For the record, I'm pretty sure there are much, much harder jobs. Personally, I couldn't do it since I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. However, a server with a great attitude goes a long way in overcoming other deficiencies.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Major

Last time I checked, biggd, his wife and their friends were the customers. In the service industry, the customer is ALWAYS right, even when they are wrong. Like biggd, we like to take our time eating (2 hours), enjoy a cocktail or two, and then the meal when we're ready. The LAST thing I want to see is a server, who is serving me, annoyed by my preferences in eating. The fact that biggd noticed that the server was annoyed indicates that the server failed.

For the record, I'm pretty sure there are much, much harder jobs. Personally, I couldn't do it since I can't walk and chew gum at the same time. However, a server with a great attitude goes a long way in overcoming other deficiencies.

The waiter was absolutely wrong but the whole situation could have been avoided if the tip was in the pocket folder with the credit card payment

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by joey2665

The waiter was absolutely wrong but the whole situation could have been avoided if the tip was in the pocket folder with the credit card payment

The bad attitude started long before the check came. So I was giving him a good tip that he didn't deserve.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Biggd

The bad attitude started long before the check came. So I was giving him a good tip that he didn't deserve.

Understood. I think I missed that in your post.


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[baygo]

Originally Posted by Biggd

My wife and I went out to dinner with another couple last summer in the Boston suburbs. I always have cash on me and the other couple always pays with credit. We usually make the night of it so we occupy the table for a few hours and we leave a good tip of 25% because of it.
This particular night I could tell the waiter wasn't pleased because his table wasn't turning over. We got the bill and the couple we were with demanded to pay so I left the tip in cash in the middle of the table. When the waiter came back and saw there was no tip added on the credit card tab he lit into us for not leaving a tip and occupying the table all night.
I reached to the middle of the table and grabbed the tip I had left in cash and told him "for that outburst you're not getting this" and we walked out. We've never been back to that establishment.

I would've fired this waiter .

I train my staff to understand that some people may come to a restaurant in a hurry and others may be joining friends or family they haven't seen in a very long time which may lead to an extended visit. We are in the business to accommodate both and therefore need to recognize who is who. I discourage our staff from looking at an individual tip. I encourage them instead to look at the end of the month total and ask them self if it was worth it then.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by baygo

I would've fired this waiter .

I train my staff to understand that some people may come to a restaurant in a hurry and others may be joining friends or family they haven't seen in a very long time which may lead to an extended visit. We are in the business to accommodate both and therefore need to recognize who is who. I discourage our staff from looking at an individual tip. I encourage them instead to look at the end of the month total and ask them self if it was worth it then.

I was going to call the restaurant the next day and complain but by then I had cooled down and even though I wasn't happy I didn't want him to get fired.
I just refuse to go there even again.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by baygo

I would've fired this waiter .

I train my staff to understand that some people may come to a restaurant in a hurry and others may be joining friends or family they haven't seen in a very long time which may lead to an extended visit. We are in the business to accommodate both and therefore need to recognize who is who. I discourage our staff from looking at an individual tip. I encourage them instead to look at the end of the month total and ask them self if it was worth it then.

Completely agree with baygo. I used to be in the restaurant business, so I understand that servers need to turn tables to make more $$. But I also understand that sometimes people want to sit and have a chat over coffee, dessert, or cocktails. And those people should not be concerned with doing that. With that said, I am usually not one to do that, we usually have a couple drinks, eat our dinner, and go on our way. But if I wanted to sit there and chat with my family, I certainly would, and would not regret it for a second. As with all aspects of life, you have to take the good with the bad.

[Happy Gourmand]

On the tab there is a line for the tip.....simply write "on table". Problem solved.
This is what I do when I leave a cash tip.