CNN has recently run
some articles about “the tipping culture” which have gotten me to start
thinking…
How did American
consumers get suckered into paying a portion of an employers wage to their
employees? Why does the government that
requires a minimum wage let food service owners blow it off? And why does the tip depend on the price of
what you have ordered? Service will be
the same if your ordered filet mignon or chicken pasta.
The last few times we’ve
eaten out I’ve paid attention to the amount of time the server has directly
been serving me.
After being seated, one
is handed a menu and asked about drinks… 45 seconds max.
In hopefully less than 5
minutes returns with drinks and asks for your order… 2 minutes including getting the drinks
poured.
Ten to fifteen minutes
later (or more) brings out food… 3 minutes to put food on tray, carry over, and
set down. Any time spent getting items
that should have already been available is on them.
If you are lucky, a zip
by check of your drinks mid-meal. 30
seconds.
End of meal check to see
if you want dessert. 15 seconds.
Back with check... 15
seconds.
Bye bye!
You have seen this
person less than 7 minutes.
Now lets say you had a
nice steak- that will be about $50 or more total costs. The little electronic pad wants you to tip
18% or 20% or 25%. Going the middle
road, that is $10. Now figure they turn
6 tables in an hour and that everyone’s bills are similar or more. This server has earned $60 an hour.
Even worse is when there is a tip expected running a cash register.
My friends who were once servers said it was good money… yeah, I
think so.
Other countries expect
waitstaff to provide good service as a standard.
I’ve decided enough is
enough. Good standard service will get 10%. GREAT service will get more (since it is such
a rare thing). Crappy service will get
nothing… and I won’t be back there either.
Don’t even get me
started on places that CHARGE a fee for groups over 6!
